Apparatus for the selective skimming of a light liquid layer on a body of water

An apparatus for selectively removing a layer of light liquid on a water body, having a floating hull and means for propelling said hull operable to maintain it at a flight speed from swell wherein said hull comprises two side parts and a central part protruding forwardly from the side parts and cooperating with the side parts to define two longitudinal water channels opening into separator means and said central part is formed with a lower bulge located under the free water level at a depth sufficient to be continuously immersed, projecting laterally and forwardly from the cross-section of said central part at the waterline and provided with upwardly directed deflecting wings, said bulge and deflecting wings being arranged to create vortices having components reducing the divergence of the water flow in a layer close to the free water layer and the tendency of the water and light liquid layer close to the free level to flow round said hull.

Apparatus for selectively removing a layer of light liquid from a body of water, said apparatus comprising a hull, means for moving said hull in a predetermined direction through a body of water, said hull comprising two lateral parts and a vertical central part disposed between said lateral parts, said central part extending forwardly of said lateral parts in said predetermined direction, said lateral parts and said central part cooperating to define therebetween ducts directing a flow of water and light liquid to separator means in said hull, and means located under the free water level for creating vortices in the water flow ahead of said ducts and producing a transverse water flow component toward said central part adjacent the free surface and away from said central part substantially below said surface, said latter means comprising deflector wings carried by said central part and at a depth sufficient to be permanently beneath the free water level.