Modular systems and methods for collecting and containing oil spills
AssigneesJoseph B Mendes, Victor Ugolyn, Jack Clair, Esq.
InventorJoseph B. Mendes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for capturing ecologically harmful substances in the nature of hydrocarbons from the surface of a body of water or from the ground adjacent a landfill or waste dump or from a shoreline of a body of water into which residual waste fluids from an adjacent ground leakage is passed. The system and method including a plurality of modular traps. The traps having a side, end, top and bottom panels constructed of a material that allows fluid flow therethrough.
Claims8
A modular, oil skimming system to reduce or minimize the effects of a spreading of a spillage or leakage of liquid hydrocarbons on a body of water comprising:
- a plurality of traps suited for end-to-end disposition upon a body of water,
- each of the plurality of traps having a top panel, a bottom panel, side panels and end panels, the panels connected to form a cavity therein and the panels being constructed of a material to allow the flow of fluid therethrough;
- an oil sorbent material disposed within each of the plurality of traps, the oil sorbent material comprising bonded polymeric fibers;
- a deflector assembly disposed between two adjacent traps of the plurality of traps, said deflector assembly capable to minimize fluid flow in a space between the adjacent traps;
- and
- a plurality of flexible ropes extending between each of the two adjacent traps, each of the plurality of flexible ropes haying a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the front panel of one of the two adjacent traps and the second end being connected to the front panel of another of the two adjacent traps, each of the plurality of flexible ropes extending through one or more openings formed in the deflector assembly,
- wherein the plurality of flexible ropes connects and holds together the plurality of traps in a series and allows for the towing of the plurality of traps in the series.
A method of reducing or minimizing the effects of a spreading of a spillage or leakage of liquid hydrocarbons on a body of water comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of modular traps, each of the plurality of traps comprising:
- a top panel, a bottom panel, side panels and end panels, the panels connected to form a cavity therein and the panels being constructed of a material to allow the flow of fluid therethrough;
- and
- an oil sorbent material disposed within each of the plurality of traps, the oil sorbent material comprising bonded polymeric fibers;
- arranging the plurality of modular traps in a series;
- positioning a deflector assembly between each of two adjacent modular traps of the plurality of modular traps, having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge connected to one of the two adjacent modular traps and the second edge connected to another of the two adjacent modular traps, said deflector assembly for minimizing fluid flow in a space between the two adjacent modular traps;
- connecting together each of the two adjacent modular traps of the plurality of modular traps using a plurality of flexible roses, each of the plurality of flexible ropes having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the front panel of one of the two adjacent modular traps and the second end connected to the front panel of another of the two adjacent modular traps;
- and
- extending each of the plurality of flexible ropes through one or more openings formed in the deflector assembly,
- wherein the at least one flexible rope connects and holds together the plurality of traps in a series and allows for the towing of the plurality of traps in the series.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.