US3590584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating oil confining apparatus
Assignee: Ocean Pollution Control Inc
•
Filing: 1969-12-05
•
Granted: 1971-07-06
•
Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for collecting oil from the surface of a body of water having two V-shaped assemblies of flexible inflated floats, one arranged 5 to 25 feet leewardly of the other on the same central axis, whereby the wind and current drive the oil into the open end of the assemblies and cause it to be funneled rearwardly to their apices. Each V-shaped assembly is provided with a depending skirt of impermeable sheet material, the lower edges of the skirts at either side of the inner assembly being interconnected by shock cords and the lower edges of the skirts on the outer assembly being connected to the inner assembly by netting.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh J Fitzgerald
- 👤 Ernest H Koepf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:14
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/06; E02B15/08; E02B15/0842; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said retaining means comprises tie members extending forwardly and inwardly beneath the water and attached to the inner one of said V-shaped assemblies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 in which said tie members comprise sections of netting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 which said anchor means comprises anchors resting on the bottom of said body of water and secured by lines to the divergent open ends of the inner one of said V-shaped assemblies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said tie means includes resilient structural members extending between said two V-shaped assemblies at varying oblique angles to keep them normally spaced and apart the desired uniform distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 in which the outer one of said V-shaped assemblies is built up in height adjacent its apex by lashing together several of said tubular float members in a pyramid arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as described in claim 6 in which a cover member of impermeable sheet material extends over the apex of the outer one of said V-shaped assemblies, with float means at the leading edge of said cover to keep it spaced above the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 in which a flexible pipe extends from the apex of the inner one of said V-shaped assemblies leewardly to a position beneath said cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 which includes a sump trailing rearwardly of the apex of the outer one of said V-shaped assemblies and connected thereto by said conduit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as described in claim 9 in which said sump is supported within inflated float means is enclosed by top and bottom covers of flexible sheet material which are formed with fullness whereby they bulge outwardly as oily material flows into the sump through said conduit means and collapse inwardly as oily material is removed from said sump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |