System for recovery of oil from snow and ice surfaces

A vehicle system for recovering oil and similar contaminants deposited on a snow or ice covered surface of the earth, comprising:

• a. a tractor unit comprising a first propulsion system for traversing the tractor unit over the surface;
• b. a collection and transfer system mounted on the tractor unit for skimming the contaminant, including some snow or ice, off of the surface;
• c. a storage and transport unit removably connected to the tractor unit, the storage and transport unit comprising:
• i. a storage tank for receiving the contaminant and a certain amount of snow and ice collected by the collection and transfer system;
• and
• ii. a second, self-contained propulsion system for traversing the storage and transport unit over the surface;
• and
• d. a conduit system removably connected to both the tractor unit and the storage and transport unit, for conducting a mixture of the contaminant and snow or ice collected by the collection and transfer system to the storage and transport unit.

A vehicle system for recovering oil and similar contaminants deposited on a snow or ice covered surface of the earth, comprising:

• a. a tractor unit comprising a propulsion system for traversing the tractor unit over the surface, and spaced apart frames for supporting endless crawler tracks therein, respectively, the frames comprising hollow boxes forming floatation chambers for buoyantly supporting the tractor unit in water;
• b. a collection and transfer system mounted on the tractor unit for skimming the contaminant, including some snow or ice, off of the surface;
• c. a storage and transport unit removably connected to the tractor unit, the storage and transport unit comprising:
• i. a storage tank for receiving the contaminant and a certain amount of snow and ice collected by the collection and transfer system;
• and
• ii. a discharge pump connected to the storage tank;
• and
• d. a conduit system removably connected to both the tractor unit and the storage and transport unit, for conducting a mixture of the contaminant and snow or ice collected by the collection and transfer system to the storage and transport unit.

A vehicle system for recovering oil and similar contaminants deposited on a snow or ice covered surface of the earth, comprising:

• a. a tractor unit comprising:
• i. a propulsion system for traversing the tractor unit over the surface;
• and
• ii. spaced apart flames for supporting endless crawler tracks thereon, respectively, the flames comprising hollow boxes forming flotation chambers for buoyantly supporting the tractor unit in water;
• and
• b. a collection and transfer system comprising a vacuum pump mounted on the tractor unit for skimming the contaminant, including some snow or ice, off of the surface;
• c. a storage and transport unit removably connected to the tractor unit, comprising:
• i. a storage tank for receiving the contaminant and a certain amount of snow and ice collected by the collection and transfer system;
• and
• ii. an air-liquid separator in communication with the storage tank and the vacuum pump;
• and
• d. a conduit system removably connected to both the tractor unit and the storage and transport unit, for conducting a mixture of the contaminant and snow or ice collected by the collection and transfer system to the storage and transport unit.

A vehicle system for recovering oil and similar contaminants deposited on a snow or ice covered surface of the earth, comprising:

• a. a tractor unit comprising a first propulsion system for traversing the tractor unit over the surface;
• b. a collection and transfer system mounted on the tractor unit for skimming the contaminant, including some snow or ice, off of the surface;
• c. a storage and transport unit removably connected to the tractor unit, the storage and transport unit comprising:
• i. a storage tank for receiving the contaminant and a certain amount of snow and ice collected by the collection and transfer system;
• ii. a second propulsion system for traversing the storage and transport unit over the surface;
• and
• iii. a discharge pump connected to the storage tank;
• and
• d. a conduit system removably connected to both the tractor unit and the storage and transport unit, for conducting a mixture of the contaminant and snow or ice collected by the collection and transfer system to the storage and transport unit.