Patent US3635347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3635347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for controlling the dispersion of pollutants floating on a body of water
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-08-15
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1989-08-15
Abstract
Abstract Dispersion of pollutants having specific gravities less than that of water and floating on a body of water are controlled by encircling the pollutant body with a floating reservoir wall having an open top and open bottom. The reservoir wall comprises an elongated length of flexible water-impervious material having disposed along its upper end a plurality of inflatable flotation cells inflatable through a common duct running the length thereof and having disposed along its lower end ballast means for maintaining the lower end of the wall beneath the surface of the pollutant and body of water. The ends of the reservoir wall are joined together in sealing relationship by compressively engaging inflated cells disposed along the ends of the reservoir wall. Pollutants issuing into a body of water can be directed into the interior of the enclosed reservoir formed by the reservoir wall by a flexible or inflexible conduit secured at one end around the source of pollution with the opposite end leading to the interior of the reservoir. The reservoir wall is held in a predetermined location by means of anchors resting on the floor of the body of water and connected by lead lines to the lower end of the reservoir wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J Rupnick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:50
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0864; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/0122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for collecting and confining pollutants floating on the surface of a body of water comprising; buoyant means having an open top and bottom encircling the pollutant body and creating a reservoir surrounding the pollutant body, the buoyant means comprising an elongated, flexible, floating reservoir wall of water-impervious material adapted to float on the surface of the water in a substantially vertical position, the reservoir wall having flotation cells disposed along the upper length of the reservoir wall, and ballast means disposed along the lower length of the reservoir wall to maintain the lower portion of the reservoir wall beneath the surface of the body of water and pollutant a predetermined distance, means for sealing and joining the ends of the reservoir wall together including inflatable sealing cells disposed substantially vertically along each of the ends of the reservoir wall, interconnecting loops secured to each end of the reservoir wall and a locking pin locking the respective loops of each end of the reservoir wall in interconnecting relationship, the inflatable sealing cells adapted to compressively engage each other in sealing relationship on interconnection of the loops with the locking pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for collecting and confining pollutants floating on the surface of a body of water comprising; buoyant means having an open top and bottom encircling the pollutant body and creating a reservoir surrounding the pollutant body, the buoyant means comprising an elongated, flexible, floating reservoir wall of water-impervious material adapted to float on the surface of the water in a substantially vertical position, the reservoir wall having flotation cells disposed along the upper length of the reservoir wall, and ballast means disposed along the lower length of the reservoir wall to maintain the lower portion of the reservoir wall beneath the surface of the body of water and pollutant a predetermined distance, means for sealing and joining the ends of the reservoir wall together including inflatable sealing cells disposed substantially vertically along each of the ends of the reservoir wall, interconnecting loops secured to each end of the reservoir wall and a locking pin locking the respective loops of each end of the reservoir wall in interconnecting relationship, the inflatable sealing cells adapted to compressively engage each other in sealing relationship on interconnection of the loops with the locking pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including anchor means attached to the lower edge of the reservoir wall for anchoring the reservoir wall in a predetermined location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
an inner reservoir within and spaced from the outer reservoir, the inner reservoir including a bottom wall, substantially vertical sidewalls joining the bottom wall and having flotation cells disposed along the upper length; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
an inner reservoir within and spaced from the outer reservoir, the inner reservoir including a bottom wall, substantially vertical sidewalls joining the bottom wall and having flotation cells disposed along the upper length; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
conduit means conveying the pollutants from their Discharge point to the inner reservoir, the conduit means connected at one end to the source of pollution and at the other end to an opening in the inner reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
conduit means conveying the pollutants from their Discharge point to the inner reservoir, the conduit means connected at one end to the source of pollution and at the other end to an opening in the inner reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including conduit means conveying the pollutant from its Discharge point to the interior of the reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including a smaller floating inner reservoir sump disposed within the reservoir, the inner reservoir comprising a bottom wall, a sidewall having flotation cells disposed along the upper end thereof, and opening into the interior of the inner reservoir communicating with said conduit means, and means communicating with the interior of the inner reservoir for removing said pollutant to a storage or processing location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of flotation cells inflatable through a common filler duct run the length direction of the reservoir wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the reservoir wall constitutes a sheet of water impervious material wherein a portion of the material along the upper length direction thereof is folded over and joined to itself to form a lower seam running substantially the length of the wall, wherein the material is joined to itself at discontinuous intervals above the lower seam to form a discontinuous seam substantially parallel to the lower seam, and wherein a plurality of interconnecting seams connect the lower and upper seams at spaced intervals to form a plurality of flotation cells between the upper and lower seams, each of the flotation cells being in fluid communication with the filler duct through openings in the discontinuous seam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said anchoring means comprises a series of anchors resting on the floor of the body of water connected with guy wires to said reservoir wall at predetermined intervals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including valve means in fluid communication with the interior of the inflatable sealing cells and flotation cells for inflation and deflation thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the valve means includes a valve body secured around its periphery to the walls of the inflatable sealing and flotation cells, the valve body having an opening therethrough for receiving a value stem, a valve stem in said opening having a first aperture running the length thereof, a second transverse aperture running the width thereof, intersecting the first aperture near the lower end thereof, and two transverse slots near the top end thereof, and openings in the walls of the inflatable sealing and flotation cells beneath the valve body, the openings not being in fluid communication with the apertures in the valve stem except on inflation and deflation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
17 words
An apparatus for collecting and holding pollutants floating on the surface of the body of water, comprising:
Claim 16
Independent Claim
17 words
An apparatus for collecting and holding pollutants floating on the surface of the body of water, comprising:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3389559A
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US3476246A
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US3469402A
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US3500841A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |