Michael G. Wingard
Engineering at Gaines Ml Ave, Baton Rouge, LA

4554079, Nov 19, 1985

Nov 3, 1983

6/548327

Michael G. Wingard - Baton Rouge LA
John F. D. Peterson - Baton Rouge LA

BASF Wyandotte Corporation - Wyandotte MI

E02B 1504

210776

The invention comprises a device and method for collecting floating immiscible liquids from flowing channels such as collection of oil from the surface of a water stream, such as an effluent stream from a factory by moving an inlet opening of the device in and out of the liquid. A preferred device employs a changing center of gravity to rotate the inlet opening and accomplish collection. With such a device a relatively large inlet opening may be employed whereby the lower edge of the opening may be adjusted just below the liquid surface in order to have only the desired portion of the surface flow into the device. The lower edge of the opening then moves up above the surface while the liquid which flowed into the device is being pumped out, thereby blocking the entrance of further liquid into the device and preventing further movement of the upper surface of the stream during pumping. Once the fluid is pumped out of the device the lower edge of the inlet opening repositions itself to the proper distance below the surface of the flowing stream for collecting another portion of the surface contaminants.