Oil water coalescing separator

Abstract

An oil water coalescing separator has a coalescing chamber containing oil coalescing media. The separator is preferably substantially transparent so that the thickness of the band of coalesced tramp oil can be visually discerned at a glance. The separator preferably has a magnet base so the separator can be hung on a machine off the floor. The separator is also removable from the magnet base.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for separating oil from an oil water mixture, said apparatus comprising an oil water coalescing separator having a coalescing chamber having a sidewall, said coalescing chamber containing oil coalescing media, said separator containing during operation an aqueous fluid and a band of collected tramp oil having a thickness and floating on top of said aqueous fluid, said band having a bottom surface, at least a portion of said sidewall being sufficiently transparent or translucent so that the location of said bottom surface can be visually discerned through said portion by an unaided eye of an ordinary observer standing 8 feet away in ordinary lighting conditions, said separator being joined to two or more magnets effective to hold said separator during normal operation off a floor on a vertical steel surface, said separator having a back panel, said two or more magnets being mounted outside said aqueous fluid and spaced apart on a magnet base, said magnet base being located adjacent to but distinct from said back panel. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said separator having a front, at least the top half of said front being transparent or translucent. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said separator having a front, a right side, a left side, and a back, each of said front, said right side, said left side, and said back being transparent. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said magnet base being releasably joined to said separator such that said separator may be released from said magnet base without moving said magnet base from its location during normal operation. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said separator having a handle for portability, said separator holding less than 5 gallons of fluid during normal operation. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said oil coalescing media being porous packing. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , said porous packing having a specific surface area of at least 70 ft 2  per ft 3 . 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a prying releasor effective to release said magnet base from a vertical steel surface. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said separator is releasably latched to said magnet base. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said magnet base having a front which is adjacent said back panel and a back which is spaced apart from said back panel, wherein said separator is releasably latched to said magnet base by a latch comprising a bolt portion and an extending lip which engages the back of the magnet base to hold the separator in place. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said separator having a valve which has an open position and a closed position, said valve, when opened, permitting said collected tramp oil to flow out of said separator. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said magnet base is planar. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said magnet base and said back panel abut each other. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said separator is attached to said magnet base at at least two locations.