Patent ID: 8268167

Claim:
Separating apparatus for separating a substance from a liquid on which the substance can float, the apparatus comprising: a separation chamber; an inlet adapted to convey a supply comprising the substance and the liquid into the separation chamber, wherein the inlet is arranged such that in use the supply emerging from the inlet into the separation chamber is directed upwardly into the separation chamber; an outlet adapted to convey liquid collected in the separation chamber out of the separation chamber; venting means arranged to convey gas out of the separation chamber; a pump arranged to pump the supply into the separation chamber via the inlet; and a pick up connected to the pump and through which the pump can draw the supply, the pick up comprising: a pick up chamber; a pick up inlet mouth adapted to admit the supply into the pick up chamber; a pick up outlet mouth adapted to convey the supply from the pick up chamber to the pump, wherein the pick up is arranged at a fixed height such that a supply fluid level falls with respect to the pick up inlet mouth when the pump is operated, whereby the pick up inlet mouth is configured so as to restrict the supply flowing into the pick up chamber when the pump is operated such that the fluid level inside the pick up chamber is lower than the supply fluid level outside and flow of the substance into the pick up chamber is thereby encouraged with respect to a flow of the liquid into the pick up chamber.