US3667609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for collecting oil from the surface of a body of water
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-10-13
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Oil is collected from the surface of a body of water by immersing a tent-shaped collector just under the surface of the water. The wave action drives oil down below the tent, and the oil rising under the tent then collects in the peak of the tent whence it is conveyed upwardly by hydrostatic pressure through a conduit into a flexible collection receptacle. The apparatus may be dropped from an airplane by a parachute, in which case the collection receptacle itself can be the parachute. The apparatus is buoyant yet weighted to maintain an upright attitude and to position the tent at a desired depth.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Daniel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:54
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for collecting oil from the surface of a body of water, comprising a collapsible tent, weight means urging the tent toward a position submerged a short distance beneath the surface of the water, a flexible receptacle above the tent for receiving oil that collects in the upper portion of the tent, conduit means in the form of a hollow upright standard about which said tent is secured and to the upper end of which said flexible container is secured, said flexible container being traversed at its center by said upright standard, said upright standard being hollow and having an inlet communicating with the upper inner portion of said tent and an outlet communicating with the interior of said flexible container, and means imparting to said flexible container the shape of a parachute to permit airborne delivery of said apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for collecting oil from the surface of a body of water, comprising a collapsible tent, weight means urging the tent toward a position submerged a short distance beneath the surface of the water, a flexible receptacle above the tent for receiving oil that collects in the upper portion of the tent, conduit means in the form of a hollow upright standard about which said tent is secured and to the upper end of which said flexible container is secured, said flexible container being traversed at its center by said upright standard, said upright standard being hollow and having an inlet communicating with the upper inner portion of said tent and an outlet communicating with the interior of said flexible container, and means imparting to said flexible container the shape of a parachute to permit airborne delivery of said apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and means releasably holding said container in collapsed position against said standard for release of said container to serve as a parachute upon airborne delivery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and means for releasably holding said tent in collapsed position against said standard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said releasable holding means comprising means responsive to immersion of the apparatus in water to release said tent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said releasable holding means comprising means responsive to immersion of the apparatus in water to release said tent.
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) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |