Stationary boom support system
OwnerBasavaraj Mahadevaiahinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A containment boom system for remediating an oil spill in a body of water includes a base support structure and a containment boom. An elongated rod has a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end. The proximal end is hingedly attached to the base support structure and extends laterally therefrom. A buoy is coupled to the distal end of the elongated rod. The buoy has sufficient buoyancy so as to remain floating on the liquid body while supporting the elongated rod. A reclamation loop is disposed in the water, a first portion of which is disposed in the oil spill and a second portion is disposed the water on the opposite side of the containment boom from the oil spill. The reclamation loop is continuously driven through a reclamation station, which removes oil therefrom.
Claims5
A containment boom system for use in containing an oil spill floating on a water surface, comprising:
- (a) a base support structure;
- (b) a first elongated rod, having a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end, the proximal end hingedly attached to the base support structure and extending laterally therefrom;
- (c) a containment boom, having a first side and an opposite second side, coupled to the first elongated rod and disposed in a portion of the water so that the oil spill is substantially contained by the first side of the containment boom;
- (d) a first buoy coupled to the first elongated rod, the buoy having sufficient buoyancy so as to remain floating on the water surface while supporting the first elongated rod;
- (e) a continuous rotatable reclamation loop including a hydrophobic material that adsorbs the oil and that does not to absorb water, the continuous rotatable reclamation loop including a first portion that is disposed on a first elongated side of the containment boom in the oil spill and a second portion that is disposed on the water surface on a second elongated side of the containment boom opposite from the first elongated side;
- (f) a first pulley wheel affixed to the first elongated rod and disposed on the first elongated side of the containment boom, the first pulley wheel supporting the first portion of the continuous rotatable reclamation loop;
- (g) a second pulley wheel affixed to the first elongated rod spaced apart from the first pulley wheel and disposed on a second elongated side of the containment boom opposite from the first side, the second pulley wheel supporting the second portion of the continuous rotatable reclamation loop;
- (h) a reclamation station configured to remove oil from the reclamation loop as the loop passes therethrough;
- (i) a loop driver that is configured to move the rotatable reclamation loop through the oil spill into the reclamation station and from the reclamation station into the water that is on the second elongated side of the containment boom;
- (j) a second elongated rod, having a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end, the proximal end hingedly attached to the base support structure and extending laterally therefrom, the second elongated rod being spaced apart from the first elongated rod, the second elongated rod coupled to the containment boom;
- (k) a second buoy coupled to the second elongated rod, the buoy having sufficient buoyancy so as to remain floating on the water surface while supporting the second elongated rod;
- (l) a third pulley wheel affixed to the second elongated rod and disposed on the first elongated side of the containment boom, the first portion of the continuous reclamation loop being supported thereby;
- and
- (m) a fourth pulley wheel affixed to the second elongated rod and spaced apart from the third pulley wheel and disposed on the second elongated side of the containment boom opposite from the first side, the second portion of the continuous reclamation loop being supported thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.