Fluid decontamination assembly

Abstract

A fluid decontamination assembly for separating two fluids includes a receiving vessel and a motor with a drive shaft. A drive wheel is coupled to the drive shaft. A follower wheel is aligned with the drive wheel. A belt couples the drive wheel to the follower wheel wherein the belt forms a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel. An arm extends between the drive wheel and the follower wheel. A pivot assembly pivotably couples the arm to a housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel. The arm extends into a contaminated fluid vessel which holds a first fluid and a second fluid. An elastomeric material of the belt removably adheres to the first fluid to remove of the first fluid from the contaminated fluid vessel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A skimming apparatus comprising:
 a receiving vessel;   a motor being coupled to the receiving vessel, the motor including:
 a housing; and 
 a drive shaft being rotatably coupled to the housing; 
   a drive wheel being coupled to the drive shaft of the motor wherein rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive wheel;   a follower wheel being coupled to the drive wheel, the follower wheel being aligned with the drive wheel;   a belt forming a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel, the belt rotating in the loop while the drive wheel is rotated, the belt being formed of an elastomeric material;   an arm extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel;   a pivot assembly pivotably coupling the arm to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel, the pivot assembly including:
 a pivot bearing bracket extending upwardly relative to the arm wherein the pivot bearing bracket is positioned adjacent to the housing of the motor; and 
 a fixing bracket being fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket and pivotably coupled to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel while the arm remains fixedly positioned relative to the drive wheel; and 
   a contaminated fluid vessel being positioned proximate to the receiving vessel wherein the arm extends from the housing of the motor into the contaminated fluid vessel, the contaminated fluid vessel holding a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid, the follower wheel being positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel to position the belt in contact with the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid, the elastomeric material of the belt removably adhering to the first fluid as the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel whereby the belt facilitates removal of the first fluid from the second fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 1 , the pivot assembly further comprising a pivot bearing coupling the pivot bearing bracket to the drive shaft of the motor, the drive wheel being rotatably coupled to the drive shaft adjacent to the pivot bearing wherein the drive wheel is rotatable about the pivot bearing when the drive shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         3 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot bearing supports a combined weight of the drive wheel, the follower wheel, the belt, and the arm on the drive shaft to inhibit damage to the motor while the belt is rotated and while the arm is pivoted. 
     
     
         4 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pivot bearing is rotatably coupled to the pivot bearing bracket via a pressed fitting wherein the pivot bearing is rotated when the drive shaft is rotated to inhibit the pivot bearing bracket from being rotated when the drive shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         5 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 1 , the fixing bracket of the pivot assembly further comprising:
 a body extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the receiving vessel wherein the body is angled to extend upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm;   a channel extending through the body; and   a knob coupling the body to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatably coupled to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatable in a first direction to tighten the fixing bracket against the housing and inhibit the arm from being pivoted upwardly and downwardly, the knob being rotatable in a second direction to loosen the fixing bracket from the housing and enable the arm to pivot upwardly and downwardly.   
     
     
         6 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 5 , the body further comprising a first end and a second end, the pivot bearing bracket being fixedly coupled to the first end, the second end being distally positioned on the body relative to the first end, the channel extending between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein knob is positioned to extend through the channel wherein the first end of the body moves toward the knob when the arm is pivoted upwardly and wherein the first end of the body moves away from the knob when the arm is pivoted downwardly. 
     
     
         8 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 1 , the arm further comprising:
 a tube;   a rod being nested within the tube wherein the rod is extendable and retractable relative to the tube to retain a constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel; and   a spring coupling the rod to the tube, the spring being expandable and compressible to retain the constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel.   
     
     
         9 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 8 , the rod further comprising:
 an upper end being positioned within the tube, the upper end being coupled to the spring; and   a lower end being distally positioned relative to the tube wherein the lower end of the rod and a top end of the tube define the opposing ends of the arm, the follower wheel being coupled to the lower end of the rod wherein the follower wheel is distally positioned on the longitudinal axis relative to the drive wheel.   
     
     
         10 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid removal assembly being in physical contact with the belt wherein the fluid removal assembly removes the first fluid from the loop. 
     
     
         11 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 10 , the fluid removal assembly further comprising:
 a ramp being angled to extend downwardly from the belt and into the receiving vessel;   an upper scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper toward the ramp as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel, the upper scraper being in physical contact with the belt wherein the upper scraper removes the first fluid from the belt; and   a lower scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the lower scraper, the lower scraper being positioned between the upper scraper and the ramp wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper into the lower scraper as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel.   
     
     
         12 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 11 , the fluid removal assembly further comprising a sled being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the sled, the sled being positioned between the lower scraper and the ramp, the sled being slidably positioned on top of the ramp wherein the sled is movable forwardly and backwardly on the ramp when the arm is pivoted upwardly and downwardly. 
     
     
         13 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the lower scraper has an inner diameter being less than an inner diameter of the upper scraper wherein the lower scraper is more tightly positioned around the belt than the upper scraper to facilitate removal of the first fluid from the belt. 
     
     
         14 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a float being coupled to the arm, the float including a buoy being coupled to the arm, the buoy being positioned proximate to the follower wheel the buoy is positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel, the buoy having a density being less than a density of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid wherein the buoy inhibits the follower wheel from being fully submerged in the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid whereby the buoy inhibits the loop from being submerged in the second fluid as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel to the follower wheel and back toward the drive wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the buoy urges the arm to pivot downwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel as a volume of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid decreases within the contaminated fluid vessel to maintain contact between an outer periphery of the loop and the first fluid, the outer periphery of the loop being positioned around the follower wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the buoy is one of a pair of buoys and wherein an axle extends between the pair of buoys. 
     
     
         17 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 16 , the float further comprising an adjusting bracket slidably coupling the axle to the arm wherein the adjusting bracket facilitates upward and downward movement of the pair of buoys along the arm, the adjusting bracket including:
 a hub being coupled to the axle;   a through-hole extending through the hub, the arm being positioned within the through-hole;   a notch extending through the hub into the through-hole; and   a fastener extending through the hub, the fastener being positioned to extend through the notch, the fastener being rotatable in a primary direction to reduce a width of the notch thereby reducing a diameter of the through-hole to inhibit movement of the hub along the arm, the fastener being rotatable in a secondary direction to increase a width of the notch thereby increasing a diameter of the through-hole to facilitate movement of the hub along the arm.   
     
     
         18 . The skimming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid return assembly being coupled to the receiving vessel and extending into the contaminated fluid vessel, the fluid return assembly including:
 a pipe having an inner area, the pipe having an inlet and an air outlet, the inlet being submerged in the second fluid when the second fluid is positioned within the receiving vessel, the air outlet being positioned adjacent to an upper edge of the receiving vessel wherein the air outlet is configured to expose the inner area of the pipe to an atmospheric pressure being less than a pressure at the inlet to urge the second fluid upwardly through the inner area toward the air outlet;   a fluid outlet extending through the receiving vessel into the pipe wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the inner area of the pipe, the fluid outlet being positioned between the inlet and the air outlet wherein the second fluid flows outwardly from the receiving vessel through the fluid outlet when the second fluid is urged upwardly through the inner area of the pipe; and   a hose being coupled to and extending from the receiving vessel into the contaminated fluid vessel, the hose being in fluid communication with the fluid outlet wherein the second fluid flows from the fluid outlet into the hose and wherein the hose deposits the second fluid in the contaminated fluid vessel.   
     
     
         19 . A skimming apparatus comprising:
 a receiving vessel having an interior space, the receiving vessel including:
 a base wall; and 
 a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base wall to define the interior space, the peripheral wall having an upper edge defining an opening into the interior space; 
   a motor being coupled to the receiving vessel, the motor being positioned proximate to the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the motor including:
 a housing; and 
 a drive shaft being rotatably coupled to the housing, the drive shaft extending outwardly from the housing over the receiving vessel; 
   a drive wheel being coupled to the drive shaft of the motor wherein rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive wheel, the drive wheel including:
 a pair of opposing rims; 
 a neck extending between the pair of opposing rims, the neck being concavely arcuate between the pair of opposing rims; and 
 an exposed surface having a raised texture; 
   a follower wheel being coupled to the drive wheel, the follower wheel being aligned with the drive wheel along a longitudinal axis;   a belt coupling the drive wheel to the follower wheel wherein the belt forms a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel, the belt rotating in the loop while the drive wheel is rotated, the loop having a top section moving from the follower wheel to the drive wheel, the loop having a bottom section moving from the drive wheel to the follower wheel, the belt being formed of an elastomeric material, the elastomeric material being oleophilic, the belt being positioned to extend between the pair of rims of the drive wheel wherein the exposed surface of the drive wheel is in physical contact with the belt to facilitate rotation of the belt when the drive wheel is rotated, the belt having a width exceeding a width of the neck of the drive wheel wherein the pair of opposing rims inhibit lateral movement of the belt on the neck of the drive wheel;   an arm being coupled to the housing of the motor, the belt extending around the drive wheel and the follower wheel wherein opposing ends of the arm define the longitudinal axis, the arm including:
 a tube having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being positioned proximate to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel; 
 a rod being nested within the tube wherein the rod is extendable and retractable relative to the tube to retain a constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel, the rod including:
 an upper end being positioned within the tube; and 
 a lower end being distally positioned relative to the tube wherein the lower end of the rod and the top end of the tube define the opposing ends of the arm, the follower wheel being coupled to the lower end of the rod wherein the follower wheel is distally positioned on the longitudinal axis relative to the drive wheel; and 
 
 a spring being positioned within the tube wherein the spring couples the upper end of the rod to the top end of the tube, the spring being expandable and compressible to retain the constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel wherein the constant tension inhibits the belt from slipping off of the drive wheel and the follower wheel while the belt is rotated; 
   a pivot assembly pivotably coupling the arm to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the pivot assembly including:
 a pivot bearing bracket being coupled to the top end of the tube of the arm, the pivot bearing bracket extending upwardly relative to the tube wherein the pivot bearing bracket is positionable adjacent to the housing of the motor, the arm being fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket; 
 a pivot bearing coupling the pivot bearing bracket to the drive shaft of the motor, the drive wheel being rotatably coupled to the drive shaft adjacent to the pivot bearing wherein the drive wheel is rotatable about the pivot bearing when the drive shaft is rotated and wherein the pivot bearing supports a combined weight of the drive wheel, the follower wheel, the belt, and the arm on the drive shaft to inhibit damage to the motor while the belt is rotated and while the arm is pivoted, the pivot bearing being rotatably coupled to the pivot bearing bracket via a pressed fitting wherein the pivot bearing is rotated when the drive shaft is rotated to inhibit the pivot bearing bracket from being rotated when the drive shaft is rotated; 
 a fixing bracket being coupled to and extending from the pivot bearing bracket, the fixing bracket being coupled to the housing of the motor, the fixing bracket being fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket and pivotably coupled to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel while the arm remains fixedly positioned relative to the drive wheel, the fixing bracket including:
 a body extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the receiving vessel wherein the body is angled to extend upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm, the body having a first end and a second end, the pivot bearing bracket being fixedly coupled to the first end, the second end being distally positioned on the body relative to the first end; 
 a channel extending through the body between the first end and the second end; and 
 a knob coupling body to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatably coupled to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatable in a first direction to tighten the fixing bracket against the housing and inhibit the arm from being pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the knob being rotatable in a second direction to loosen the fixing bracket from the housing and enable the arm to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the knob being positioned to extend through the channel wherein the first end of the body moves toward the knob when the arm is pivoted upwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel and wherein the first end of the body moves away from the knob when the arm is pivoted downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall; 
 
   a contaminated fluid vessel being positioned proximate to the receiving vessel wherein the arm extends from the housing of the motor above the receiving vessel into the contaminated fluid vessel, the contaminated fluid vessel holding a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid, the follower wheel being positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel to position the belt in contact with the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid, the elastomeric material of the belt removably adhering to the first fluid as the top section of the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel whereby the belt facilitates removal of the first fluid from the second fluid, the elastomeric material of the belt repelling second fluid wherein the second fluid is inhibited from adhering to the belt as the top section of the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel, the first fluid having a density being less than a density of the second fluid wherein a density differential between the first fluid and the second fluid is configured to facilitate gravity in inducing separation of the first fluid from the second fluid thereby resulting in a stratified arrangement of the first fluid and the second fluid within the receiving vessel;   a float being slidably coupled to the rod of the arm, the float including:
 a pair of buoys being coupled to opposing sides of the rod of the arm wherein the pair of buoys are positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel, the pair of buoys having a density being less than a density of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid wherein the pair of buoys inhibit the follower wheel from being fully submerged in the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid whereby the pair of buoys inhibit the bottom section of the loop from being submerged in the second fluid to retain the first fluid on the belt as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel to the follower wheel and back toward the drive wheel, the pair of buoys urging the arm to pivot downwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel as a volume of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid decreases within the contaminated fluid vessel to maintain contact between an outer periphery of the loop and the first fluid, the outer periphery of the loop being positioned around the follower wheel wherein the outer periphery of the loop defines a junction between the top section and the bottom section of the loop; 
 an axle extending between the pair of buoys; and 
 an adjusting bracket slidably coupling the axle to the rod of the arm wherein the adjusting bracket facilitates upward and downward movement of the pair of buoys relative to the lower end of the rod of the arm, the adjusting bracket including:
 a hub being coupled to the axle, the hub including:
 a fin being parallel to the axle, the fin being statically coupled to the axle to inhibit movement of the fin along the axle; 
 a column being coupled to and extending from the fin, the column including: 
  a top wall being distally positioned relative to the fin wherein the top wall is spaced from the axle; and 
  a pair of lateral walls extending between the top wall and the fin; 
 
 a through-hole extending through the column of the hub, the rod of the arm being positioned within the through-hole, the through-hole being spaced from the top wall of the column; 
 a notch extending through the top wall of the column of the hub into the through-hole; and 
 a fastener extending through the pair of lateral walls of the column of the hub, the fastener being positioned to extend through the notch, the fastener being rotatable in a primary direction to reduce a width of the notch thereby reducing a diameter of the through-hole to inhibit movement of the hub along the rod of the arm, the fastener being rotatable in a secondary direction to increase a width of the notch thereby increasing a diameter of the through-hole to facilitate movement of the hub along sad rod of the arm; 
 
   a fluid removal assembly being in physical contact with the belt wherein the fluid removal assembly removes the first fluid from the top section of the loop, the fluid removal assembly being positioned above the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel wherein the fluid removal assembly directs the first fluid into the receiving vessel when the first fluid is removed from the belt, the fluid removal assembly including:
 a ramp being angled to extend downwardly from the belt and into the interior space of the receiving vessel, the ramp including:
 a plate having a raised edge and a lowered edge, the plate extending through the opening defined by the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel wherein the raised edge is positioned outside of the receiving vessel and wherein the lowered edge is positioned within the interior space; 
 a pair of opposing sides extending upwardly from opposing edges of the plate; and 
 a cutout extending through the plate, the belt moving through the cutout as the belt is rotated; 
 
 an upper scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper toward the ramp as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel, the upper scraper being in physical contact with the belt wherein the upper scraper removes the first fluid from the top section of the loop as the belt moves through the upper scraper; 
 a lower scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the lower scraper, the lower scraper being positioned between the upper scraper and the ramp wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper into the lower scraper as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel, the lower scraper having an inner diameter being less than an inner diameter of the upper scraper wherein the lower scraper is more tightly positioned around the belt than the upper scraper to facilitate removal of the first fluid from the top section of the loop as the belt moves between the upper scraper and the lower scraper; and 
 a sled being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the sled, the sled being positioned between the lower scraper and the ramp, the sled being slidably positioned on top of the plate of the ramp wherein the sled is movable forwardly and backwardly relative to the raised edge and the lowered edge of the plate when the arm is pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the sled covering the cutout wherein the sled inhibits the first fluid from dripping through the cutout when the first fluid is removed from the belt; 
   a fluid return assembly being coupled to the receiving vessel and extending into the contaminated fluid vessel, the fluid return assembly including:
 a pipe having an inner area extending between an inlet and an air outlet, the inlet being positioned proximate to the base wall of the receiving vessel wherein the inlet is submerged in the second fluid when the second fluid is positioned within the receiving vessel, the air outlet being positioned adjacent to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel wherein the air outlet is configured to expose the inner area of the pipe to an atmospheric pressure being less than a pressure at the base wall of the receiving vessel to urge the second fluid upwardly through the inner area toward the air outlet; 
 a fluid outlet extending through the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel into the pipe wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the inner area of the pipe, the fluid outlet being positioned between the air outlet and the upper edge of the peripheral wall wherein a distance between the inlet and the fluid outlet exceeds a distance between the air outlet and the fluid outlet and wherein the second fluid flows outwardly from the receiving vessel through the fluid outlet when the second fluid is urged upwardly through the inner area of the pipe; 
 a fitting being coupled to the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel and extending from the fluid outlet wherein the second fluid flows through the fluid outlet into the fitting; and 
 a hose being coupled to and extending from the fitting into the contaminated fluid vessel wherein the second fluid flows from the fitting into the hose and wherein the hose deposits the second fluid in the contaminated fluid vessel; 
   a support mount being coupled to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the housing of the motor being positioned on the support mount wherein the support mount suspends the housing of the motor above the opening into the interior space of the receiving vessel, an innermost opposing side of the pair of opposing sides of the ramp of the fluid removal assembly being fixedly coupled to the support mount to inhibit movement of the ramp of the fluid removal assembly; and   a particulate strainer being coupled to the arm wherein the belt is positioned within the particulate strainer, the particulate strainer including:
 a perforated cover being coupled to the arm wherein the perforated cover inhibits solid debris within the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid from adhering to the top section of the loop; and 
 a slide being coupled to the perforated cover wherein the slide is positioned beneath the bottom section of the belt to direct the first fluid and the second fluid into the contaminated fluid vessel when the first fluid and the second fluid are not removed from the belt by the fluid removal assembly.