US3664136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collecting device for submarine oil leakage
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-11-28
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1989-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water constructed of flexible, impervious sheet material for compact storage that can be readily erected for use by inflation. The device has a pair of predetermined upper and lower torus-shaped envelopes connected by a frusto-conical shroud with the lower envelope being of a larger diameter and adapted to be filled with a non-buoyant material to distend the same and to open the shroud to its frusto-conical form in circumscribing relation to a point of oil leakage. The upper envelope is relatively smaller and is adapted to be inflated with air to make it buoyant and to circumscribe an opening having a discharge conduit extended therefrom for transferring the oil leaking from the bottom of the body of water internally of the collecting device to the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude C Laval Jr
- 👤 Pete P Peters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:33
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/0122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising a lower non-buoyant envelope of flexible impervious sheet material positionable in circumscribing relation to a leaking underwater oil formation; a substantially smaller upper buoyant envelope of similar material circumscribing an oil discharge opening; a frusto-conical shroud of a material similar to the material of the envelopes interconnecting said envelopes in elevationally spaced relation to form an oil collecting chamber therebetween and to funnel such oil upwardly toward said discharge opening; a suction conduit connected to said upper envelope in communicating relation to said opening to remove accumulated oil from said collecting chamber, said envelopes being torus-shaped rings, said lower envelope being filled with a relatively heavy non-buoyant material, and said upper envelope being filled with air so that its buoyancy stretches said shroud to maintain it in a substantially taut condition between the envelopes and to dispose said upper envelope in upwardly spaced substantially concentric relation to said lower envelope, said shroud having a reinforced relatively stiff annular upper edge circumscribing said discharge opening within the upper envelope; and a substantially rigid frusto-conical cap having a lower edge secured in overlapping relation to said upper edge of the shroud and including an upwardly extended tubular connector releasably connected to said suction conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising a lower non-buoyant envelope of flexible impervious sheet material positionable in circumscribing relation to a leaking underwater oil formation; a substantially smaller upper buoyant envelope of similar material circumscribing an oil discharge opening; a frusto-conical shroud of a material similar to the material of the envelopes interconnecting said envelopes in elevationally spaced relation to form an oil collecting chamber therebetween and to funnel such oil upwardly toward said discharge opening; a suction conduit connected to said upper envelope in communicating relation to said opening to remove accumulated oil from said collecting chamber, said envelopes being torus-shaped rings, said lower envelope being filled with a relatively heavy non-buoyant material, and said upper envelope being filled with air so that its buoyancy stretches said shroud to maintain it in a substantially taut condition between the envelopes and to dispose said upper envelope in upwardly spaced substantially concentric relation to said lower envelope, said shroud having a reinforced relatively stiff annular upper edge circumscribing said discharge opening within the upper envelope; and a substantially rigid frusto-conical cap having a lower edge secured in overlapping relation to said upper edge of the shroud and including an upwardly extended tubular connector releasably connected to said suction conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The collecting device of claim 1 in which said lower envelope comprises a pair of inner and outer torus-shaped rings disposed in concentric relation, the inner ring having an outer periphery, the shroud being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring, and the outer ring being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring to resist inward rotational movement of the inner ring upon said tensioning of the shroud incident to the development of a low pressUre within the oil collecting chamber by said suction conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The collecting device of claim 1 in which said envelopes, shroud and cap are provided in releasably connectable sections with said cap having an opening therethrough eccentrically related to said tubular connector for assembly of the collecting device around an oil well production conduit extended from the leaking oil formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The collecting device of claim 3 in which each of said sections of the shroud, envelopes and cap provides outwardly extended edgewardly disposed substantially rigid aligned bolting strips for releasable connection to the strips of adjacent sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The collecting device of claim 3 in which the bolting strips of said shroud are disposed inwardly thereof to minimize the effect of wave action upon the collecting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
The collecting device of claim 5 in which the bolting strips of said lower envelope comprise a pair of substantially flat rigid plates providing openings therethrough to permit substantially unrestricted communication between corresponding sections of the inner and outer lower envelopes, a pair of impervious bolting plates disposed in substantially diametrically opposed relation to said plates having the openings, and sets of inlet and outlet conduits respectively disposed on opposite sides of the blocking plates with the plates compelling complete circulation of said non-buoyant material through the lower envelopes and the exhaust of air outwardly through said outlet conduits ahead of said non-buoyant material during filling thereof.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
74 words
A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water comprising: A. lower non-buoyant means adapted to rest upon the floor of such a body of water in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak; B. upper buoyant means defining a closure and having a discharge opening therethrough; C. a shroud circumscribing and interconnecting the non-buoyant means and the buoyant means and defining a chamber therebetween for the collection of oil,
Claim 9
Independent Claim
74 words
A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water comprising: A. lower non-buoyant means adapted to rest upon the floor of such a body of water in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak; B. upper buoyant means defining a closure and having a discharge opening therethrough; C. a shroud circumscribing and interconnecting the non-buoyant means and the buoyant means and defining a chamber therebetween for the collection of oil,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 7 in which the lower non-buoyant means comprises an envelope of flexible material, and a flowable weighting material in the envelope adapted to cause the envelope to conform to the floor of the body of water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 7 in which the buoyant and non-buoyant means comprise envelopes of flexible material, the buoyant means containing a gas and the non-buoyant means containing a flowable weighting material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 9, in which the upper and lower envelopes are provided with means for draining them of their gas and weighting material and the envelopes and shroud are sufficiently flexible for compact stowage and transport.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The device of claim 7 in which the lower non-buoyant means comprises a pair of inner and outer torus-shaped rings disposed in concentric relation, the inner ring having an outer periphery, the shroud being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring, and the outer ring being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring to resist inward rotational movement of the inner ring upon said tensioning of the shroud incident to the development of a low pressure within the oil collecting chamber by said suction conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising: A. a lower annular envelope; B. flowable means in the lower envelope rendering the envelope non-buoyant in water adapted to hold said envelope against the floor of a body of water in substantial conformance to the floor and in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak; C. an upper annular buoyant envelope circumscribinG a discharge opening therein and of a diameter substantially less than that of the lower envelope to form an inverted funnel; D. a frusto-conical shroud of flexible material circumscribing and interconnecting the upper and lower envelopes and defining a chamber for the collection of oil from such a leak between the envelopes; and E. a conduit connected to the discharge opening of the upper envelope to remove oil therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising: A. a lower annular envelope; B. flowable means in the lower envelope rendering the envelope non-buoyant in water adapted to hold said envelope against the floor of a body of water in substantial conformance to the floor and in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak; C. an upper annular buoyant envelope circumscribinG a discharge opening therein and of a diameter substantially less than that of the lower envelope to form an inverted funnel; D. a frusto-conical shroud of flexible material circumscribing and interconnecting the upper and lower envelopes and defining a chamber for the collection of oil from such a leak between the envelopes; and E. a conduit connected to the discharge opening of the upper envelope to remove oil therefrom.
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) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |