Patent ID: 7104407

Claim:
An apparatus for separating a first fluid from a mixture of fluids in a container, the first fluid being substantially immiscible with respect to one or more other fluids in the mixture, the apparatus comprising: an endless flexible strip of a material having an affinity for the first fluid, the strip comprising a tube having a generally circular cross section; a pair of members for advancing successive portions of the strip sequentially from a position out of contact with the first fluid, to a position of contact with the first fluid and again to a position out of contact with the first fluid, the members comprising circular rotating gears having meshing gear teeth arranged around the circumference of each gear and having cooperating surfaces of a concave configuration that is generally complementary with the circular cross section of the strip, the cooperating surfaces being recessed radially inwardly of the meshing gear teeth toward the axes of rotation of the gears and positively engaging the strip at a pinch point with sufficient force applied to the strip so that movement of the members relative to one another sequentially advances successive portions of the strip; means for removing from the successive portions of the strip as the successive portions of the strip are sequentially advanced the first fluid that has collected on the successive portions of the strip as a result of the contact between the first fluid and the successive portions of the strip, said means for removing the first fluid from the successive portions of the strip being located so that the first fluid is removed prior to the successive portions of the strip coming into contact with the cooperating surfaces on the pair of members for advancing successive portions of the strips; and means for maintaining the successive portions of the strip in contact with the first fluid as the successive portions of the strip are sequentially advanced.