Abstract:
A skimmer unit for use with a body of water. The water skimmer comprises a housing, a basket for collecting debris, and a partitioning baffle with upper openings and optionally lower openings, a skimmer chamber, and other chambers. The baffle&#39;s lower opening is preferably positioned below the rim of the perforated basket and its upper, screened or gated opening is positioned above the rim of the basket for allowing water to pass in the event of debris clogging the first opening, overflow conditions, larger flow demand, and/or filter demand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/748,973, filed Dec. 29, 2003, entitled “Skimmer and Filter”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,612, which itself is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/436,758, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Pond Skimmer and Filter, filed on Dec. 27, 2002. This application is also related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/586,109 filed Jul. 6, 2004, entitled “Water Skimmer”. A related PCT application 11/176,165 entitled “Water Skimmer” is filed concurrently herewith on Jul. 6, 2005. The specifications and claims of all said applications are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field) 
   The present invention relates to a water skimmer. Particularly, the present invention relates to a water skimming and filtering device for removal of debris from ornamental bodies of water. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Skimmers and filters are often used in conjunction to clean and treat decorative bodies of water for landscaping, such as ponds and waterfalls. In general, skimmers skim debris from the surface of the water and filters remove smaller debris or particulate matter from the entire depth of the water. Skimmers typically filter larger debris from the water surface with a coarse net or basket, while filters incorporate filter media, which can be a variety of materials including but not limited to mats, rocks, and nylon mesh, all of which have limited capacity for water treatment. Often one or more pumps are used to draw the water to the mouth of the skimmer or filter. Once the water has been skimmed or filtered, i.e., processed, it is returned from the skimmer or filter to the body of water. Skimmers and filters are usually installed external to the body of water but in proximity to it as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, many skimmers and filters are installed in the ground adjacent the body of water. 
   Often various passage ways in filter/skimmer configurations can easily become clogged by leaves which have fallen into the water and accumulate in the filter/skimmer. This is particularly troublesome when dealing with filter/skimmer configurations having only one passageway from a first coarse filter to a finer second filter. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an enhanced water skimming and filtering apparatus and method for debris removal from bodies of water, particularly ornamental bodies of water. The water skimmer can be used to care for e.g. a decorative pond. The water skimmer preferably comprises a housing located near the pond and an opening for receiving water from the pond. The water skimmer includes, but is not limited to, a housing basket for collecting debris, a weir, a baffle, a first opening in the baffle, and a second opening in the baffle. 
   The housing includes at least one baffle that partitions a skimmer chamber from other chambers. In the baffle, there may be one or more openings positioned above the midpoint of the baffle (approximately halfway along the height of the baffle) to allow water to pass from the skimmer chamber into the other chamber (e.g. UV and/or filter chamber). In addition, there may be one or more openings in the baffle positioned below the midpoint of the baffle for allowing water to pass from the skimmer chamber into the other chamber (e.g. UV and/or filter chamber) in the event of debris clogging the first opening, increased flow, filter demands, etc. 
   The collection basket includes an arm extending upward that comprises an opening in registry with the baffle upper opening. The second, upper opening is covered by a grate or screen. 
   The second chamber includes, but is not limited to, a filtration chamber that includes at least one filter for removing contaminants from water received in the housing that subsequently passes through the water skimmer and filter. This filtration chamber is in direct water communication with the skimmer chamber. 
   The invention preferably further comprises a UV light chamber. The UV light chamber has a system for eradicating microorganisms. The UV light chamber is in water communication with the filtration chamber whereby water passing from the skimmer chamber into the UV light chamber will pass into the filtration chamber. Additionally, the filtration chamber is in water communication with the pump chamber whereby water passing from the skimmer chamber, through the UV light chamber, and through the filtration chamber will pass through the pump chamber whereby the processed water is returned to the decorative pond. 
   The object of the present invention is to skim debris from the surface of a body of water and to filter and remove smaller debris or particulate matter from the entire depth of the body of water. 
   The advantage of the present invention is to provide an effective skimmer apparatus having a partitioning baffle, comprising one or more upper and preferably one or more lower openings that separates the skimmer chamber from other chambers. The skimmer unit continue to function if debris clogs the lower opening. Water is allowed to pass into the UV chambers and/or filter through the upper non-clogged opening. Debris that may be flowing on the surface of the water as it rises to the upper opening is blocked or screened. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic sketch of a decorative pond and a skimmer-filter; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective, cutaway, exploded view of a first embodiment of a skimmer and filter with two ultraviolet light chambers and a single filter cartridge in the filter chamber; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective, cutaway view of a second embodiment of a skimmer and filter showing application of a single centrally located ultraviolet light chamber and two filter cartridges; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective, cutaway view of the skimmer and filter of  FIG. 3  showing the weir and door; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a partitioning baffle with openings for water to flow from the skimmer portion to the filter portion shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a skimmer basket for use in the skimmer filter shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the basket arm shown in  FIG. 6  with an opening covered by a screen or grate. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a water skimmer. Particularly, the invention is a water skimmer for use in decorative ponds which provides multiple water pathways for further processing of the water, such as by filtering, thus reducing the likelihood of clogging by debris that impedes or prevents water flow. 
   The preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. A typical installation is shown in  FIG. 1  and includes a pond, or more broadly, a body of water and the skimmer unit of the invention. The installation may also include a waterfall. The skimmer unit is preferably, but not necessarily, installed adjacent to the pond. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective, cutaway, exploded view of skimmer and filter unit  10  is shown with two ultraviolet light chambers  26  and  26 ′. Unit  10  includes a generally upright cylindrical tank or housing  20  and interlocking lid  36 . Housing  10  is in fluid communication with a body of water via a mechanically sealed skimmer faceplate assembly  12  and elongated neck  14 . Neck  14  extends outward from a wall of tank  20 , the distal end of which is skimmer faceplate assembly  12 . Skimmer faceplate assembly  12  provides a watertight connection to concrete, flexible membrane, or clay-lined bodies of water. Weir opening  17  is defined in weir faceplate  16  that passes water from the body of water into the housing  20 . Faceplate  16  is attached to neck  14  with fasteners  19 . 
   Within housing  20  are skimmer chamber  24 , filtration chamber  28 , two ultraviolet (UV) light chambers  26  and  26 ′, and pump chamber  30 , defined by the interior of tank or housing  20 , for the removal of debris, various suspended and dissolved organic wastes, and living organisms, such as single-celled algae, protozoa, and bacteria. Housing  20  contains a container having openings for the passage of water such as a removable, semi-rigid, perforated skimmer basket  25  within skimmer chamber  24  to collect floating debris from the water after the water has passed through and over a pivoting and buoyant weir door  18  (see also  FIG. 4 ) and past a weir divider  23 . Two UV light chambers  26  and  26 ′ are positioned and in water communication with skimmer chamber  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective, cut-away view of a second embodiment of a skimmer and filter unit  110  shown with a single UV light chamber. The skimmer and filter unit  110  includes a generally upright cylindrical tank  120  and may have an interlocking lid as shown in the  FIG. 1  embodiment. Unit  110  is in fluid communication with the body of water via a mechanically sealed skimmer face plate assembly of the type shown and described with reference to the first embodiment. Within unit  110  is a skimmer chamber  124 , one or more filtration devices, one of which is shown at  128 , a UV light chamber  126 , and a pump chamber  130 . The pump chamber  130  draws water into the skimmer and filter unit. The skimmer chamber removes the larger debris, such as leaves or other materials, from the water drawn into the skimmer filter unit, with debris collecting in basket  125 . The filter  128  provides for the removal of suspended or dissolved organic waste including living organisms such as algae, protozoa and bacteria. The UV chamber  126  eradicates contaminants such as the algae, protozoa and bacteria. 
   The pump chamber  130  is separated from the skimmer chamber  124  by partitioning baffle  132  which also separates filters  128  that are located above pump chamber  130 . Baffle  132  has a miodpoint approximately halfway along its height. One or more openings  136  are disposed above the midpoint of the baffle  132 . Preferably, and additionally, one or more openings  134  are disposed below the midpoint of baffle  132 . In addition, preferably one of the openings is disposed below the skimmer basket shown at  134  and another opening  136  is preferably positioned higher or above the skimmer basket upper rim. 
   The partitioning baffle  132  is best seen in  FIG. 5  where the ports or openings  134  and  136  are shown. Opening  134  is formed in a curved portion  138  of partitioning wall  132 . The curved portion  138  includes a tab  140  that descends into opening  134  but is laterally displaced so it bears against the corresponding curved portion of the UV light chamber  126 . This allows water to pass through opening  134 . Similarly, opening  136  includes a member  142  that is laterally displaced so as to bear against the outer wall of UV chamber  126 . The pump chamber  130  includes the pump  150 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the embodiment with two UV light chambers  26  and  26 ′, the ports or openings that are above the top level of the skimmer basket  25  are shown at  50  in the arm  52  that is connected to skimmer basket  25 . 
   Water flow through the skimmer filter unit will be described in reference to  FIG. 2 , where the flow is indicated with arrows. Water enters housing  20  through opening  17  over weir door  18 , and flows into skimmer chamber  24 , then through the ports, one of which is shown behind screen or grate  50  located above the upper rim of basket  25 . The water passing through the ports in partitioning baffle  31  flows into UV light chambers  26  and  26 ′, which subject the water to high-intensity UV light for purification and eradication of contaminants such as single-celled algae or microorganisms. After passing through UV light chambers  26  and  26 ′, the water flows into filtration chamber  28  for the mechanical removal of suspended solids and biological treatment for the removal of dissolved organic compounds. Filtration chamber  28 , supported by UV mount  40  and  40 ′, can perform this function with one or more cartridge-based biomechanical filter mats, or other suitable filtration methods and/or devices. After being drawn through filter chamber  28  into pump chamber  30 , a pump (not shown) disposed therein pumps the processed water out of unit  10  back into the pond. 
     FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of skimmer basket  125  of skimmer chamber  124  for use in the UV light chamber (preferably single UV chamber) embodiment of  FIG. 3 . Skimmer basket  125  is removable by way of reaching into the interior of tank  120  and grasping handle  127  affixed to an arm  129  extending upward from the top of basket  125  so as to place handle  127  conveniently within reach after removal of the skimmer filter unit lid. In this manner, skimmer basket  125  is readily removed, cleaned, and/or replaced from tank  120  as needed. The arm  129  also includes an opening or port  144  covered by a screen  150  so as to block large debris from entering the UV chamber. Opening  144 , when basket  125  is in position within skimmer chamber  124  directly overlies, or is in registry with, upper opening  136  in partition baffle  132  (see  FIG. 3 ) thus allowing water to pass into the UV chamber even if the basket  125  is so clogged with debris that water cannot flow through basket  125  and thereby reach lower opening  134 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the arm  129  is shown having an opening  144  and a grate  150  that is formed integrally out of the arm  129  which may be a molded plastic piece including an integral handle  127 . The arm  129  is attached to basket  125  through fasteners or other attachment devices through openings  152 . The purpose of the grate or screen  150  is to serve as an auxiliary blocker of larger debris when either basket  125  or lower opening  134  of the single UV light chamber embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  is restricted due to foreign debris, or in the event there is increased water flow, larger flow demand and/or filter demand. In that event, the water will continue to rise in chamber  124  above the top of basket  125  and it is necessary for continued functioning of the unit that the water is allowed to pass into the UV chamber through this upper non-clogged opening. But since the debris may then be flowing on the surface of the water as it rises to the opening  144  it is still desirable to block or screen the floating debris from passing into the UV chamber from the skimmer chamber. Thus, the unit will continue to function as a skimmer as well as a filter. 
   Ultraviolet light purifies the water and eradicates contaminants. In the first embodiment of  FIG. 2  with two UV chambers, a baffle block can be used to prevent water flow to one of the UV chambers  26  or  26 ′. For example, water bodies less than approximately 5000 gallons may require operation of only one UV chamber for sufficient purification. Table 1 provides examples of UV lighting power and approximate gallons per hour (GPH) of water flow required through the UV light chamber for sufficient water treatment: 
                           TABLE 1               Number of 25   Number of 37           Watt UV Lights   Watt UV Lights   GPH (mm-max)                   1   0    500-2500       0   1    500-4000       1   0   1200-2500       0   1   1200-4000       2   0   1200-5000       2   0   2500-5000       0   2   2500-8000                    
When beneficial bacteria is introduced to a body of water, power is preferably removed from the UV light for approximately 24 hours to allow the bacteria to settle.
 
   Filtering can be achieved, for example, with a biomechanical filter mat, or other suitable filtration means, secured within a housing or cartridge that is placed within the filter chamber  28  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.