Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from bodies of water
AssigneeOil Spill Recovery, Inc.
InventorsMerlin D. Stagemeyer, Seth Ford Allcorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for removing contaminants from the surface of water. An open-ended barricade is directed into and about a contaminant mass to channel the contaminant material to skimming apparatus which assists in collecting the material for recovery, storage and reuse. The process and apparatus is especially adaptable for use in naturally flowing bodies of water into which the apparatus is restrainably positioned to continuously and automatically remove the contaminant material. A scoop member, collection apparatus, and transporting circuit recovers the contaminant material for subsequent reuse while leaving the body of water free from contamination.
Claims19
A method for removing petroleum and other spilled contaminant material from the surface of body of water, while at the same time recovering said petroleum or other contaminant in its original form for reuse or reprocessing, said method comprising:
- a. positioning substantially impervious open-ended main barricade means about the periphery of said contaminant material;
- b. channeling said contaminant towards one or more contaminant collection areas;
- c. skimming both said body of water and said contaminant material at said one or more collection means at a desired depth by scoop means;
- rotating a roller means at the scoop means to aid in positioning the scoop means and in inducing flow through said scoop means;
- d. separating said contaminant material from said water so as to isolate said contaminant material, and
- e. directing said isolated contaminant material to contaminant retention means through which said contaminant material may be contained for said reuse and reprocessing.
A system for removing and recovering contaminant material from the surface of a body of water comprising:
- open-ended apron channeling means maintained afloat in said body of water by apron buoys,
- said apron channeling means restrainably attached to collection means so as to converge thereto,
- said apron channeling means being impervious to said contaminant material;
- said collection means including scoop means for skimming said contaminant material from the surface of said body of water as said contaminant material is directed to said collection means by said apron channeling means;
- material transport means operably attached to said collection means for removing said contaminant material from said collection means;
- and
- system activation means for initiating movement between said system and said body of water to channel said contaminant material to said collection means and to activate said skimming, said scoop means including a rotatable roller means having fins thereon for inducing rotation of said roller means when the body of water has relative movement to said scoop means to aid in positioning said scoop means relative to said apron channeling means and to induce flow of water and contaminant material into said scoop means.
A system for removing and recovering contaminant material from the surface of a body of water comprising:
- open-ended apron channeling means maintained afloat in said body of water by apron buoys,
- said apron channeling means restrainably attached to collection means so as to converge thereto,
- said apron channeling means being impervious to said contaminant material;
- said apron channeling means having a plurality of buoyant means attached to portions of said apron channeling means, said buoyant means including a body portion attached to apron channeling means and an upper sail means extending upwardly from and supported by said body portion for receiving wind thereagainst, a lower adjustable means on said buoyant means being turnable relative to said body portion to control the direction of movement of said apron channeling means in said body of water,
- said collection means including scoop means for skimming said contaminant material from the surface of said body of water as said contaminant material is directed to said collection means by said apron channeling means;
- material transport means operably attached to said collection means for removing said contaminant material from said collection means;
- and
- system activation means for initiating movement between said system and said body of water to channel said contaminant material to said collection means and to activate said skimming.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.