Apparatus for pumping oil-water mixture from a collection vessel of a floating oil collector into settling tanks

An apparatus for pumping oil-water mixture from a collection vessel of a floating oil collector into settling tanks, comprising:

• closed settling tanks, at least one oil receiving means for collecting oil-water mixture, arranged below the level of the liquid in said collection vessel;
• means providing for vertical displacement of said oil receiving means;
• a pump for pumping water from the lower part of one of said settling tanks outboard of said floating oil collector;
• an aspirating air-water jet ejector for maintaining substantially permanent vacuum in each said settling tank, said ejector having the air line thereof connected to the upper part of each said settling tank, said ejector having the jet nozzle thereof connected to the delivery side of said pump;
• a conduit connecting said oil receiving means with the upper part of one of said settling tank;
• a second conduit connecting the lower part of said one settling tank having the upper part thereof connected by said first-mentioned conduit with said oil-receiving means, to the upper part of another said settling tank from said lower part of which said pump is connected to pump water, the water column established in said first-mentioned conduit connecting said oil-receiving means with said upper part of said one settling tank being higher than the water column established in said second conduit.