System for separating, removing and recovering contaminant materials from a body of water
AssigneeOil Spill Recovery, Inc.
InventorsMerlin D. Stagemeyer, Seth F. Allcorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for removing and recovering contaminants from bodies of water utilizes a channeling device moving relative to the contaminated water to funnel it to a skimming apparatus. The skimming scoop directs the collected contaminant water mixture into cylindrical separator means, also moving relative to the contaminated body of water. Creation of a separation vortex within the separator cylinder separates the contaminant in an upward direction from the downwardly discharged water. At such time the contaminant is transported to storage facilities, free of the water upon which it floated for reclamation and/or reuse.
Claims25
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 being substantially impervious to said contaminant material;
- contaminant collection means for collecting said contaminant material;
- said apron channeling means attached to said contaminant collection means so as to converge thereto,
- 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;
- contaminant separator means operably attached to said collection means for separating said contaminant material from said water;
- material transport means operably attached to said contaminant separator means for removing said separated contaminant material from said system, thereby enabling the recovery and reuse of said contaminant material as desired;
- system activation means for the initiation of movement between said contaminated body of water relative to said channeling, collection and separator means to surround and direct said contaminated body of water to said collection means, said separator means comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical-shaped member having a generally open top and bottom with scoop attachment means on a forward side for the pivotable attachment of said scoop means;
- entry port means closely adjacent said scoop attachment means to accommodate the inward flow of water and contaminant material delivered by said scoop means as it skims said body of water;
- water buoyancy and stabilization means for maintaining said separator means in a desired position in said body of water and for stabilizing the movement of said separator therein;
- and
- said cylindrical-shaped member of said contaminant separator having proximate to its top outwardly flanged reservoir means for increased storage capacity of said separated contaminant material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.