Automatic scum removal trough

Claim 2

Apparatus to remove floating scum from the surface of liquid in a tank comprising: a trough having side walls; support means in the tank secured to the trough, said support means being adapted to permit vertical movement of an edge of one of the sidewalls of the trough; drive means; connector means secured between the drive means and the trough; means to energize said drive means to initiate moveMent of the edge of the trough in a first direction; liquid sensor means on said trough arranged to de-energize said drive means upon movement of the edge of the trough a predetermined distance below the surface of the liquid in the tank; and means to energize said drive means to initiate movement of the edge of the trough in a second direction.

Claim 3

The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of: means to remove liquid from said trough.

Claim 4

The combination called for in claim 2 wherein the support means comprises: means to pivotally secure said trough in the tank, said trough being rotatable about an axis extending longitudinally of said trough.

Claim 5

The combination called for in claim 3 wherein the trough comprises: spaced side walls; a bottom secured between said side walls; and end walls secured to said side walls and said bottom, one of said end walls having a passage extending therethrough.

Claim 6

The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the means to remove liquid from said trough comprises: a drain-line leading from the tank; conduit means secured to said trough about said passage in the end wall; and swivel means securing said drain-line to said conduit means, said swivel means having an axis coinciding with the axis about which the trough is rotatable.

Claim 7

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises: a motor driven sprocket; a shaft; means to rotatably secure said shaft to the tank; a second sprocket on said shaft; and a chain engaging the driven sprocket and the second sprocket; said connector means being secured to said shaft and to said trough.

Claim 8

The combination called for in claim 6 wherein the connector means comprises: an arm secured to said shaft; a link; and means pivotally securing a first end of said link to said arm and a second end of said link to said trough.

Claim 9

The combination called for in claim 7 wherein, the link comprises: threaded means the length of which is adjustable.

Claim 10

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein, said means to energize the drive means comprises: electrical latching circuit to hold said drive means energized to move the edge of the trough in a first direction; and a skimmer actuated switch in said electrical latching circuit mounted on the tank.

Claim 11

The combination called for in claim 9 wherein, the liquid sensor means to de-energize the drive means comprises: means to open said latching circuit upon movement of the edge of the trough a predetermined distance below the surface of the liquid.

Claim 12

Apparatus to remove floating scum moved along the surface of liquid in a tank by a skimmer comprising: a trough having side walls, a bottom wall and end walls; support means in the tank secured to the trough, said support means being adapted to permit rotational movement of an edge of one of the sidewalls of the trough about an axis extending longitudinally of the trough; drive means; connector means secured between the drive means and the trough; a skimmer actuated switch in a latching circuit to energize said drive means to initiate rotational movement of the edge of the trough in a first direction; liquid sensor means on said trough arranged to de-energize said drive means upon movement of the edge of the trough a predetermined distance below the surface of the liquid in the tank; and means to energize said drive means to initiate rotational movement of the edge of the trough in a second direction.

Claim 13

Apparatus to remove floating scum moved along the surface of liquid in a tank by a skimmer comprising: a trough having side walls, a bottom wall and end walls; support means in the tank secured to the trough, said support means being adapted to permit rotational movement of an edge of one of the sidewalls of the trough about an axis extending longitudinally of the trough; drive means; connector means secured between the drive means and the trough; a skimmer actuated switch in a latching circuit to energize said drive means to initiate rotational movement of the edge of the trough in a first direction; liquid sensor means on said trough arranged to de-energize said drive means upon movement of the edge of the trough a predetermined distance below the surface of the liquid in the tank; and means to energize said drive means to initiate rotational movement of the edge of the trough in a second direction.

Claim 14

The combination called for in claim 11 wherein, the liquid sensor means to de-energize the drive means comprises: switch means in said latching circuit to open said latching circuit upon movement of the edge of the trough a predetermined distance below the surface of the liquid.