Buoyant skimmer

Abstract

A buoyant skimming device includes an enclosure that bounds an interior space that is configured to hold a liquid within the enclosure and to be in fluid communication with means for withdrawing from the interior space the liquid held in the interior space. The enclosure includes a body portion and a weir configured to provide access to the interior space for liquid at the exterior of the enclosure. The weir is mounted with respect to the body portion of the enclosure for pivotal movement inwardly of the body portion of the enclosure into the interior space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buoyant skimming device including an enclosure that bounds an interior space configured to hold a liquid within the enclosure and to be in fluid communication with means for withdrawing from the interior space the liquid held in the interior space, the enclosure including a body portion and a weir configured to provide access to the interior space for liquid at the exterior of the enclosure, the weir being mounted with respect to the body portion of the enclosure for pivotal movement inwardly of the body portion of the enclosure into the interior space. 
     
     
         2 . The buoyant skimming device of  claim 1  wherein the weir has a greater buoyancy than the body portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The buoyant skimming device of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure includes an upper section that is inclusive of the interior space and a lower section that is located below the upper section and the lower section includes weighting elements in an amount sufficient to establish a center of gravity for the buoyant skimming device that is within the lower section of the buoyant skimming device. 
     
     
         4 . The buoyant skimming device of  claim 3  wherein the weir has a greater buoyancy than the body portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The buoyant skimming device of  claim 4  including an opening in the body portion of the enclosure that provides for the fluid communication between the interior space and the means for withdrawing from the interior space the liquid held in the interior space and a screening element located within the interior space through which liquid within the interior space must pass in flowing from the interior space to the opening in the remainder of the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The buoyant skimming device of  claim 1  wherein the weir includes an upper surface that is configured to allow liquid at the exterior of the enclosure to pass over the upper surface of the weir when the weir is pivotally moved inwardly of the body portion of the enclosure into the interior space. 
     
     
         7 . The buoyant skimming device of  claim 5  wherein the weir includes a pair of oppositely arranged first acute side edge and second acute edge and a bottom surface that are configured to be in engagement with the body portion of the enclosure whenever the weir is pivotally moved in relation to the body portion of the enclosure.