Spilled oil skimmer kit
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorRay R. Ayers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kit for collecting spilled oil is provided in a single, easily transportable container of components including a flattened floating sock skimmer postionable in the water with a partially submerged open front and an open rear downwardly facing into the water, a crane to facilitate assembly and deployment of the skimmer, a power unit, and towable bags for use in containing oil collected by the skimmer; the container not only provides storage for the components but also functions as a means for separating oil and water removed by the skimmer.
Claims13
Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a turbulent body of water comprising, a chamber for receiving water and oil thereinto during relative movement between the apparatus and the body of water, the chamber being formed by (a) an open, self-floated front, (b) a substantially flat and oil impermeable top, which contacts the body of water and is sufficiently flexible to conform to long waves, (c) a substantially flat and water impermeable flexible bottom ahead of a discharge opening, which bottom intercepts and baffles orbital water motion of incoming shorter waves, (d) sides connecting the bottom and top and extending rearwardly at least no greater angle than would constrict water flow within the chamber and thus focus and reflect incoming waves, (e) ties connecting the top and bottom and giving some stiffness to the top which forms a baffle to suppress wave chop within the chamber, (f) the discharge opening being in the rear of the chamber, which opening directs the exiting flow of water downward and rearwardly, and (g) means for withdrawing oil from the top of the rear of the chamber thus formed.
Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a turbulent body of water comprising, a chamber for receiving water and oil thereinto during relative movement between the apparatus and the body of water, the chamber being formed by (a) an open, self-floated front, (b) a substantially flat and oil impermeable top, which contacts the body of water and is sufficiently flexible to conform to long waves, (c) a substantially flat and water impermeable flexible bottom ahead of a discharge opening, which bottom intercepts and baffles orbital water motion of incoming shorter waves, (d) sides connecting the bottom and top and extending rearwardly at least no greater angle than would substantially constrict water flow within the chamber and thus focus and reflect incoming waves, (e) the discharge opening being in the rear of the chamber which, opening directs the exiting flow of water downward and rearwardly, and (f) means for withdrawing oil from the top of the rear of the chamber thus formed.
Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a turbulent body of water comprising, a chamber for receiving water and oil thereinto during relative movement between the apparatus and the body of water, the chamber being formed by (a) an open, self-floated front, (b) a substantially flat and oil impermeable top, which contacts the body of water and is sufficiently flexible to conform to long waves, (c) a substantially flat and water impermeable flexible bottom ahead of a discharge opening, which bottom intercepts and baffles orbital water motion of incoming shorter waves, (d) sides connecting the bottom and top and extending rearwardly at least at no greater angle than would constrict water flow within the chamber and thus focus and reflect incoming waves, (e) ties connecting the top and bottom and giving some stiffness to the top which forms a baffle to suppress wave chop within the chamber, (f) the discharge opening being in the rear of the chamber, which opening permits the exiting flow of water downward and rearwardly, and being partially covered at the extreme rear thereof by a crescent-shaped, perforated member which is about 25 to 75% closed and which functions to hold down the rear of the chamber to which it is attached while still permitting water to exit therethrough, and (g) means for withdrawing oil from the top of the rear of the chamber thus formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.