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US 5,399,054 AGranted
Oil recovery apparatus
AssigneeEnvironmental Recovery Equipment Inc.
InventorDavid W. Hines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Oil recovery apparatus uses an open mesh conveyor designed to slope from a vessel into the water and to run with its lower flight travelling inboard while sliding on a flat bottomed trough. A container receives the liquid from the upper end of the trough.
Claims15
Oil recovery apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor mountable on a vessel to define generally parallel upper and lower flights,
- said conveyor comprising an inner section and an outer section,
- said conveyor being composed of an open mesh,
- said outer section supported to extend downwardly from the edge of the vessel,
- means for controlling the angle of said downward extent so that the outer end of said lower flight is submerged in the water about the vessel,
- means for driving said conveyor in the direction which moves said lower and upper flights in an inboard and an outboard direction, respectively, and thereby defining a travel direction,
- a flat bottomed trough having a bottom shaped to contact the lower surface of the lower flight in said outer section,
- means for supporting said trough so that said lower surface slides on said bottom,
- said bottom defining an upper edge,
- a container on said vessel located to receive oil flowing over said upper edge.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.