Oil recovery system

An oil recovery vessel for removing an oil spill from the surface of a body of water, the vessel comprising:

• a front frame and a rear frame;
• a front frame roller rotatably supported on the front frame and a rear frame roller rotatably supported on the rear frame;
• a belt extending between the front and rear rollers, the belt having a first layer of oleophilic material, a second layer of oleophilic material, and a third central reinforcing scrim layer between the first and second layers;
• at least one press roller including upper and lower rollers for pressing against opposing upper and lower surfaces of the belt to remove oil from the belt, at least one of the upper and lower rollers including a sprocket for pressing against opposing surfaces of the belt to remove oil from the belt;
• a first chain extending along a first side edge of the belt, the first chain being driven by the sprocket;
• and
• a connecting connecting system to connect the first chain to the first side edge, the connecting system including
• a plurality of flanges extending from the first chain to the first side edge;
• a reinforcing cord adjacent the plurality of flanges and extending along the first side edge;
• a reinforcing strip wrapped around the reinforcing cord, the reinforcing strip attached to and extending along the side edge to connect the cord to the first, second, and third belt layers;
• and
• a plurality of pins, each one of the plurality of pins extending through a corresponding flange of the plurality of flanges, the reinforcing strip and the first, second, and third belt layers.