Float and hydro-pneumatic tank including same

Claim 1

AN AIR-SEPARATING WATER FLOAT FOR USE IN A HYDROPNEUMATRIC TANK OF A WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES PRESSURE REGULATING MEANS IN OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH SAID TANK, SAID FLOAT COMPRISING A CELLULAR FREE-FLOATING FLOAT OF AIR-AND WATER-IMPERVIOUS, SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MATERIAL HAVING A DENSITY LESS THAN WATER, SAID FLOAT HAVING A CENTRAL WEB AND A FLANGED PERIPHERAL EDGE EXTENDING BELOW THE WEB, SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGE COOPERATING WITH THE SIDE WALLS OF A WATER-CONTAINING HYDRO-PNEUMATIC TANK TO PROVIDE A NARROW, EXTENDED,SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR, AIRSATURATED COLUMN OF WATER THAT SERVES AS AN AIR BARRIER AND TO PROVIDE A TURBULENCE DEFLECTOR, SAID WEB DEFINING A LOWER FACE THAT FLOATS IN WATER WHILE EXPOSING AN UPPER FACE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE WATER DURING USAGE SO AS TO BE NORMALLY DRY, SAID MATERIAL HAVING AIR- AND WATER-IN PERVIOUS CELLS PROPORTIONED AND SHAPED TO PROVIDE RIGIDITY AND PREVENT THE FLOAT FROM BEING COMPRESSED OR WATERLOGGED AND SUBMERGING ITS UPPER FACE DURING USUAL PRESSURE CHANGES IN THE HYDRO-PNEUMATIC TANK, SAID FLOAT HAVING A LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE PERIPHERAL LIQUID AIR SEALING WIPER MEANS TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL TURVULENCE DEFLECTOR EXTENDING NORMAL AND ADJACENT TO THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM PORTION OF SAID FLOAT FLANGE.