Method and apparatus for removing oil from a body of water
OwnerWilliam R. Beckerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and removing oil from a body of water with equipment using rod and film technology, which includes a streamlined oil tank that moves in the water and collects surface oil from an attached skimmer, arrays of inverted funnels lowered into the water to concentrate oil for removal, and containment tents to capture leaking fuel or cargo oil from a sunken ship or any underwater oil leak and channel it into a partially submerged rod and film storage tank at the surface.
Claims14
A dipping trap apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a body of water comprising:
- an array of a plurality of inverted funnels, each funnel having a wide base and a narrow neck, all funnels in the array being located in a substantially horizontal plane;
- a frame coupled to the array, the frame supporting the inverted funnels, the frame including rods disposed at the base of the funnels, the rods being connected together at their intersections;
- and
- a support structure coupled to the array;
- and
- a funnel movement assembly coupled to the funnels to lower and raise funnels in the array into and out of the water.
A dipping trap apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a body of water comprising:
- an array of a plurality of inverted funnels, each funnel having a wide base and a narrow neck;
- a frame coupled to the array, the frame supporting the inverted funnels, the frame including rods disposed at the base of the funnels, the rods being connected together at their intersections;
- and
- a support structure coupled to the array;
- a funnel movement assembly coupled to the funnels to lower and raise the array into and out of the water;
- a removable top cap coupled at the neck of the inverted funnel;
- a removable vent tube connected to the top cap, the vent tube extending upward;
- a down-hose configured to drain oil from the top cap to a location outside of the funnel;
- a check-valve assembly within the top cap, the check-valve assembly coupled to the down-hose and configured to prevent water from entering the down-hose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.