DEVICE FOR REMOVING OIL OR ANY OTHER FATTY SUBSTANCE FROM THE SURFACE OF A LIQUID IN A BASIN

Abstract: A device is disclosed for removing oil, any other fatty substance or impurities from the surface of a liquid in a basin. The device comprises a rotatable drum (9) with annularly disposed bristles (10) on its surface and a comb-like scraper means (6) disposed relative to the drum so that the teeth of the scraper means extend inbetween the bristles (10) of the annular bristles (10) in the tangential direction of the drum. A collector means (7) is disposed in connection with the scraper means so that substance detached from the bristles by the scraper means can be directed to the collector means. The drum is located in a casing-like body (1) open at least on one side (2) so as to allow liquid to enter the casing and to contact the bristles (10) of the drum. The device is adapted for attachment or suspension at the edge of a basin and it is equipped with adjusting means (5) for vertical adjustment relative to the liquid level in the basin. Furthermore, the casing-like body comprises laterally outwardly directed liquid discharge nozzles (3) located substantially at the liquid level and generating a surface current in the basin, so as to continuously absorb fresh surface layer into the device as the drum rotates. The drum (9) may be rotated by an electric motor (8).

Description: Device for removing oil or any other fatty substance from the surface of a liquid in a basin The invention relates to a device for removing oil, any other fatty substance or impurities from the surface of a liquid in a basin, the device comprising a rotatable drum having annularly disposed bristles on its surface, and a comb-shaped scraper means mounted relative to the drum so that the teeth of the scraper means extend inbetween the annular bristles in the tangential direction of the drum, a collector means disposed in connection with the scraper means and into which the substance detached by the scraper from the bristles is directed, the drum being disposed in a casing-like body open on at least one side so as to allow liquid to enter the casing into contact with the drum bristles. The conductor and hydraulic oils commonly used in industries get admixed with the cutting fluids during daily working routines. When the machines stop, the conductor oil forms a thick uniform oil film on the surface of the cutting fluid. This film prevents oxygen from reaching the cutting fluid and the nitrogen compounds thus produced will deteriorate the cutting fluid rapidly. It is vital to remove the oil film. Removal of the oil film allows unnecessarily frequent replacements of the expensive cutting fluids to be avoided. The object of the present invention is to provide specifically a device by means of which the harmful surface layer mentioned above can be removed and which at the same time has a construction which is straightforward and easy to install relative to the tank or basin design, while being also adjustable so as to achieve optimal collecting conditions. The invention is based in the finding that, with some modifications, devices of the type described in the preamble, which have been conventionally used to collect oil from the sea water, in harbour areas etc. (cf. FI patent specification 70443), can advantageously be used for the present purpose as well. The invention is characterised by the feature that the device is adapted for attachment or suspension at the edge of the basin and that it is equipped with adjusting means for vertical adjustment relative to the liquid level in the basin, and that the casing-like body comprises laterally outwardly directed liquid discharge nozzles, which are disposed substantially at the liquid level and generate a surface current in the basin so that fresh surface layer is continuously absorbed into the device as the drum rotates. The remaining characteristics of the invention are defined in claims 2 to 4. the invention and its other features and advantages are explained in greater detail as embodiment examples below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention figure 2 shows the construction of the bristle drum and figures 3 and 4 show the construction of the cleansing comb. The device of the invention has principally the shape of a casing 1 open on one side 2. The casing is preferably made by welding from aluminium sheet or stainless steel. A drum comprising a cylindrical central part 9 made of e.g. nylon and bristles 10 annularly attached to this have been mounted on bearings transversely within the casing. The drum desing is shown in figure 2 and the drum bristles 10 are partially shown also in figure 1. The drum is rotated by an electric motor 8, such as a direct-current motor, attached to the casing. The bristle drum is rotated so as to absorb the surface water, which entrains the oil film formed on the surface into the collector device. The cleansing comb 6 is illustrated in figures 3 and 4. On its curved side 11, the comb is attached to the sides of the casing 1 and the peaks of the comb extend in a manner known per se inbetween the bristles 10 of the drum, so that the comb clears the bristles by forcing away oil and fat as the drum rotates. The removed oil flows over the rear part of the comb into a collector pipe 7 open at its upper end, from where it is further directed by means of a not-represented hose and possibly a pump to a receiver. The casing has been designed so as to be easily attached for instance to the edge of a cutting fluid basin. To this end, the rear side of the casing comprises a projection 4, into which a vertical threaded bar 5 equipped with a lever has been pivoted. The lower end of the threaded bar, not shown in the figure, may be supported for instance by a horizontal flange provided at the outer edge of the basin, allowing the vertical position of the device to be adjusted with the threaded bar 5 relative to the liquid level in the basin. For the device to be operative, it is vital that the lower edge of the casing 1 is located adequately below the liquid level to allow the lower parts of the bristles 10 to be cleaned within the liquid. In the receiver, the device generates a surface current based on absorption towards the collector device generated by the rotational movement of the bristles. In terms of the desired current, it is also vital that the casing sides comprise outwardly directed discharge nozzles 3 below the liquid level, the nozzles producing circulation in the cutting fluid basin so as to allow oxygenation of the cutting fluid and to prevent the production of harmful nitrogen compounds. The device in accordance with the invention is practically maintenance-free, since it does not comprise separate filters requiring regular cleaning.

Claims: Claims 1. A device for removing oil, any other fatty substance or impurities from the surface of a liquid in a basin, the device comprising a rotatable drum (9) with annularly disposed bristles (10) on its surface and a comb-like scraper means (6) disposed relative to the drum so that the teeth of the scraper means extend inbetween the bristles (10) of the annular bristles (10) in the tangential direction of the drum, a collector means (7) disposed in connection with the scraper means, the substance detached from the bristles by the scraper means being directed to the collector means, the drum being located in a casing-like body (1) open at least on one side (2) so as to allow liquid to enter the casing and to contact the bristles (10) of the drum, characterised in that the device is adapted for attachement or suspension at the edge of a basin and is equipped with adjusting means (5) for vertical adjustment relative to the liquid level in the basin, and that the casing-like body comprises laterally outwardly directed liquid discharge nozzles (3) located substantially at the liquid level, in order to generate a surface current in the basin and to continuously absorb fresh surface layer into the device as the drum rotates. 2. A device as defined in claim 1, characterised in that an electric motor (8) has been connected to the drum (9) in order to rotate it. 3. A device as defined in claim 1, characterised in that, for vertical adjustment of the device relative to the liquid level, a vertical threaded bar (5) has been provided, which is supported directly or intermediately on the horizontal surface in the basin. 4. A device as defined in claim 1 or 3, characterised in that an electric motor is provided for vertical adjustment of the device, the device comprising a float known per se to control the electric motor.

Inventors: NORDSTROEM MARTTI-R, NORDSTROEM, MARTTI-R.
Applicants: LMP PATENTS LTD AB OY, NORDSTROEM MARTTI R, NORDSTROEM, MARTTI-R., OY LMP PATENTS LTD AB
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E02B15
IPC codes: B01D17, E02B15, E03F5