Apparatus for hydrocarbon removal
AssigneeAbanaki Corporation
InventorMark Thomas Hobson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oil skimming device for the removal of oil located at the surface of a body of water includes a float, at least one skimming surface, a sorbent material, at least one scraper, and a motor. The float is arranged such that the device rests on the surface of the body of water from which the oil is to be removed. The at least one skimming surface is rotatable about an axis such that when the device is floating in the water a portion of the ridged skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface. The sorbent material is removably attached to and substantially covers the skimming surface. The sorbent material is configured to rotate with the skimming surface and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated.
Claims13
An oil skimming device for the removal of oil located at the surface of a body of water, comprising:
- a float which allows the device to rest on the surface of the body of water from which the oil is to be removed;
- at least one skimming surface supported by the float, said skimming surface being rotatable about an axis such that when the device is floating in the water, a portion of the ridged skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface;
- sorbent material removably attached to and substantially covering the skimming surface, said sorbent material configured to rotate with the skimming surface and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated;
- at least one scraper positioned to bear against the skimming surface for removing sorbed oil from the sorbent material as the skimming surface is rotated;
- and
- a motor operatively connected to said skimming surface, said motor configured to rotate the skimming surface about its axis of rotation.
An oil skimming device for the removal of oil from a body of water having a surface, comprising:
- at least one skimming surface which is rotatable about an axis, said skimming surface being attached to a structural support such that a portion of the skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface;
- sorbent material removably attached to the skimming surface, said material configured to rotate and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated;
- means for removing sorbed oil from the material as the skimming surface is rotated;
- and
- a motor operatively connected to said skimming surface, said motor configured to rotate the skimming surface about its axis of rotation.
A method of removing oil located at the surface of a body of water by use of an oil skimming device having a skimming surface which is rotatable, comprising the steps of:
- removably attaching sorbent material to cover the skimming surface prior to the start of the oil removal operations;
- rotating the material-covered skimming surface such that at least a portion of the material-covered surface becomes immersed in the water;
- sorbing oil from the water surface with said sorbent material;
- continuing the rotation so that the material-covered surface that was immersed is rotated above the water, carrying oil which has been sorbed by the material;
- relieving the oil-sorbed material portion of its sorbed oil as rotation continues;
- and
- removing the sorbent material from the skimming surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.