Apparatus to collect oil and other waste material from the surface of water

An apparatus for collecting debris from the surface of water comprising:

• a pair of spaced-apart hulls;
• a deck structure mounted to said hulls;
• means for propelling said hulls in a forward direction of travel;
• a sump supported by said deck structure, said sump being located between said hulls;
• a rotatable drum having an external surface with upper and lower portions and a longitudinal center line;
• means for rotatably mounting the drum to said hulls in a partially submerged position with at least a portion of the lower surface being positioned in the water, at least a portion of the upper surface being positioned out of the water, and with the longitudinal center line of the drum extending in a direction across the space between the hulls;
• debris collecting brushes, tines or bristles mounted to and projecting outwardly from the external surface of said drum;
• means for rotating said drum;
• comb means positioned to engage the debris collecting brushes, tines or bristles for removing debris therefrom and for directing the debris to the sump;
• and
• the drum being rotatably mounted to said hulls and the brushes, tines or bristles projecting from the drum so as to angle upwardly at a first angle relative to the surface of the water as the trash gathering elements emerge from the liquid during rotation of the drum.