Device for the selective and continuous recovery of hydrocarbons present in the form of a sheet at the surface of an aqueous medium

In a device for the selective and continuous recovery of hydrocarbons present in the form of a sheet on the surface of a liquid medium, an extraction means comprising:

• a roller mounted for rotation within a housing and about a horizontal axis, and having a surface comprised of a hydrophobic and oleophilic material and disposed within said housing so that lower portions of the roller surface are capable of being brought into contact with the hydrocarbons to be recovered;
• recuperator means operatively associated with upper portions of the roller surface to recover hydrocarbons adhered to the hydrophobic and oleophilic material of said surface;
• a recipient for attracting said sheet to the surface of said roller and for creating an accumulation zone of hydrocarbons which are maintained at a substantially continuous level, comprising a first, inclinded face having an axis parallel to the generatrix of said roller and a free upper edge, and a second face connected to the lower edge of said first face, wherein said first face and said second face combine with parallel flanges to define a volume which is upwardly open and which surrounds at least the lower portions of said roller;
• and
• means for evacuating said liquid medium from said volume, operatively associated with lowermost portions of said recipient;
• wherein the recipient is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis between a high position, and a low position in which the upper edge of said first face is immersed at a depth such that the input of liquid entering the recipient is equal to the sum of the rate of extraction by said roller and the rate of evacuation by said evacuation means.