US3556301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating flexible skimming devices
Assignee: SLICKBAR PRODUCTS CORP A CORP OF CT
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Filing: 1969-10-20
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1989-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A skimming device for skimming oil and other waste materials from the surface of water is of lightweight nonrigid materials and comprises two parallel-spaced sheets with flexible edges. The device floats on the surface of water and flexibly conforms to waves and swells on the water surface. Skimming is performed by exposing a negative pressure intake portal to a shallow skimming zone directly beneath the surface. The narrow elongated intake portal is defined between a flexible floating underflow edge of one sheet and a second flexible overflow edge of a second sheet spaced beneath the first sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Millard F Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:59
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/06; E02B15/10; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
A skimming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first sheet buoyantly supports both sheets of the apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
A skimming apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the two sheets are flexible and substantially semicircular, defining an elongated semicircular intake portal positioned generally semicircular juxtaposed peripheral edge portions thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A skimming apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein peripheral edge portions of the two sheets are juxtaposed in spaced relation and joined together by a plurality of laterally spaced spacing blocks, whereby said intake portal comprises the plurality of spaces between said sheets and said blocks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A skimming apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the juxtaposed edges are arcuate, and wherein a negative pressure source is connected to the spacing region between the two sheets at a point spaced inwardly by a substantial distance from all portions of said juxtaposed peripheral edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A skimming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second sheet is depended below the first sheet by a plurality of laterally spaced spacing blocks arranged in a plurality of ranks to provide a spacing array anchoring the sheets in predetermined vertically spaced relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A skimming apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the spacing blocks are buoyant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A skimming apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein ballast is removably attached to counteract the buoyancy of the spacing blocks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The skimming apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein said flexible edges are formed as arcuate portions of substantially concentric circles, and wherein said removable ballast is provided in the form of a detachable ballast weights mounted along an arc of a substantially concentric circle around the upper surface of said first sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The skimming apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the underflow edge of said first sheet is chamfered to form an outwardly upsloping overhanging bevel thereon.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of skimming a surface layer of liquid from a body of liquid comprising the steps of: A. positioning a flexible intake portal defined between two flexible sheets spaced from each other by a spacer means in a body of liquid near a surface thereof, one of said sheets being constructed and arranged to buoyantly support both sheets near said surface; B. flexing said flexible intake portal to conform with disturbances in the liquid surface being skimmed; C. supplying negative pressure within the intake portal to create a negative pressure zone in and adjacent to the intake portal, causing adjacent liquid to enter and flow therethrough; D. confining the liquid entering the intake portal within a delivery path; and, E. removing the liquid so confined from the vicinity of the portal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The skimming method defined in claim 11 wherein the negative pressure zone within the intake portal is supplied by connecting the portal to a source of negative pressure by way of the delivery path, whereby the skimmed liquid is removed through the delivery path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3109812A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |