Oil skimmer

Claim 2

A unit for cleaning floating impurities from the surface of a body of water when an intake end of said unit is movable in a direction relatively towards said impurities, said unit comprising in combination: unit supporting means including a pair of transversely spaced float means; framework means mounted on and extending between said float means, said framework means including tank means for receiving and effecting gravity separation of liquid components of said impurities and water; means for collecting floating impurities adjacent said intake end of said unit and including a pair of boom units having inner and outer portions; an impurity-water conveyor means arranged intermediate said float means for continuously forming separate charges of said collected floating impurities and water adjacent an inlet end thereof and for conveying said charges to a position above said tank means adjacent an outlet end thereof, said outlet end being supported by said framework means for vertical pivotal movements about a single axis extending transversely between said float means, said inlet end being supported by separate float means to rise and fall with the surface of said body of water whereby to effect pivotal movements of said conveyor means relative to said framework means about said axis, said outer portions of said boom units being end connected one to each of said float means and extending therefrom in a diverging manner forwardly of said unit intake end, said inner portions of said boom units extending one between each of said float means and one side of said conveyor means adjacent said inlet end thereof, said inner portions being movably end connected to said float means and said conveyor means to permit relative vertical movement therebetween, and at least said outer portions of said boom units having means for establishing a plurality of pressurized fluid water surface sweeping jets arranged in spaced relationship lengthwise thereof, said jets being directed inwardly and rearwardly towards said inlet end of said conveyor means whereby to simultaneously sweep impurities towards said inlet end of said conveyor means and tend to prevent buildup of said impurities on facing surfaces of said outer portions; means for receiving solid components of said impurities; and means cooperating with said impurity-water conveyor means for separating liquid impurity components and water from solid impurity components of conveyed charges for gravity discharge into said tank means and for transferring said solid impurity components of said conveyed charges to said receiving means.

Claim 3

A unit according to claim 1, wherein said outer portions each comprise at least two boom segments hingedly joined together for relative vertical pivotal movement, each of said boom segments being formed with a depending skirt portion and lengthwise extending end mounted flap meaNs, said flap means of adjacent segments being arranged in overlapping relation when said adjacent segments are joined together for affording a liquid seal between said adjacent segments.

Claim 4

A unit for cleaning at least liquid floating impurities from the surface of a body of water when an intake end of said unit is movable in a direction relatively towards said impurities, said unit comprising in combination: unit supporting float means; framework means mounted on said float means, said framework means including tank means for receiving and effecting gravity separation of said liquid impurities and water; and a liquid-impurity-water conveyor means for continuously forming separate charges of said floating liquid impurities and water adjacent said intake end and for conveying said charges for gravity discharge into said tank means, said conveyor means including a generally U-shaped guide channel having a bottom wall and vertically standing side walls and an endless conveyor having a plurality of paddle elements spaced therealong, said guide channel bottom wall having a downwardly and forwardly curved entrance lip, a relatively gradually inclined bottom wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said entrance lip and a relatively steeply inclined bottom wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said gradually inclined bottom wall portion, adjacent paddle elements when movable along said guide channel bottom wall cooperating therewith and said side walls to form and convey said charges, each of said paddle elements being moved by said endless conveyor into initial engagement with said gradually inclined bottom wall portion immediately adjacent said entrance lip, said paddle elements being relatively spaced one from another along said endless conveyor whereby when one of said paddle elements initially engages said gradually inclined bottom wall portion as aforesaid a preceding paddle element engages said bottom wall adjacent the juncture of said bottom wall portions, said guide channel having a forward end thereof float supported to rise and fall with the surface of said water to position said juncture of said bottom wall portions closely adjacent the surface of said body of water, and said guide channel having a rearward end thereof supported by said framework means for vertical pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said direction and to position an upper rearwardly disposed end of said steeply inclining bottom wall portion in overlying relation to said tank means.

Claim 5

A unit for cleaning at least liquid floating impurities from the surface of a body of water when an intake end of said unit is movable in a direction relatively towards said impurities, said unit comprising in combination: unit supporting float means; framework means mounted on said float means, said framework means including tank means for receiving and effecting gravity separation of said liquid impurities and water; and a liquid-impurity-water conveyor means for continuously forming separate charges of said floating liquid impurities and water adjacent said intake end and for conveying said charges for gravity discharge into said tank means, said conveyor means including a generally U-shaped guide channel having a bottom wall and vertically standing side walls and an endless conveyor having a plurality of paddle elements spaced therealong, said guide channel bottom wall having a downwardly and forwardly curved entrance lip, a relatively gradually inclined bottom wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said entrance lip and a relatively steeply inclined bottom wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said gradually inclined bottom wall portion, adjacent paddle elements when movable along said guide channel bottom wall cooperating therewith and said side walls to form and convey said charges, each of said paddle elements being moved by said endless conveyor into initial engagement with said gradually inclined bottom wall portion immediately adjacent said entrance lip, said paddle elements being relatively spaced one from another along said endless conveyor whereby when one of said paddle elements initially engages said gradually inclined bottom wall portion as aforesaid a preceding paddle element engages said bottom wall adjacent the juncture of said bottom wall portions, said guide channel having a forward end thereof float supported to rise and fall with the surface of said water to position said juncture of said bottom wall portions closely adjacent the surface of said body of water, and said guide channel having a rearward end thereof supported by said framework means for vertical pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said direction and to position an upper rearwardly disposed end of said steeply inclining bottom wall portion in overlying relation to said tank means.

Claim 6

A unit according to claim 3, wherein said paddle elements are formed of a flexible material; said axis is disposed adjacent a fore-aft midpoint of said float means; said upper rearwardly disposed end is curved to extend rearwardly and downwardly about said axis whereby to direct liquid impurity components and water downwardly into said tank means with a minimum of emulsion inducing agitation; and said endless conveyor is an endless belt trained about roll supports arranged one adjacent each of said forward and rearward ends of said guide channel and includes cam means extending between said roll supports and arranged relatively inwardly of a run of said endless belt disposed adjacent said guide channel, said cam means having portions thereof arranged essentially parallel to said bottom wall portions, said paddle elements are hingedly supported on said endless belt for movement about parallel axes extending transversely of said direction by mounting devices extending through said endless belt, said mounting devices cooperating with said cam means portions to maintain said paddle elements in an upstanding relationship relative to said endless belt and said bottom wall portions during passage along said run and scraper means are arranged to surface engage said paddle elements during passage thereof downstream of said cam means about the one of said roll supports arranged adjacent said rearward end of said guide channel.

Claim 7

A unit for cleaning floAting impurities from the surface of a body of water when an intake end of said unit is movable in a direction relatively towards said impurities, said unit comprising in combination: unit supporting float means; framework means mounted on said float means, said framework means including tank means for receiving and effecting gravity separation of liquid components of said impurities and water; means for collecting floating impurities adjacent said intake end of said unit; an impurity-water conveyor means for continuously forming separate charges of said collected floating impurities and water adjacent said intake end and for conveying said charges to a position above said tank means, said conveyor means including a generally U-shaped guide channel having a bottom wall and vertically standing side walls and an endless conveyor having a plurality of paddle elements spaced therealong, adjacent paddle elements when movable along said guide channel bottom wall cooperating therewith and said side walls to form and convey said charges, said guide channel having a forward end thereof separately float supported to rise and fall with the surface of said water while arranging a forward end of said bottom wall beneath said surface, said guide channel having a rearward end thereof supported by said framework means for vertical pivotal movement about a single axis extending transversely of said direction and to position a rearward end of said bottom wall in overlying relation to said tank means, said rearward end of said bottom wall defining an exit lip portion, and said side walls extending rearwardly of said exit lip portion; means for receiving solid components of said impurities, said receiving means being arranged rearwardly of said tank means; and means cooperating with said impurity-water conveyor means for separating liquid impurity components and water from solid impurity components of conveyed charges for gravity discharge into said tank means and for transferring said solid impurity components of said conveyed charges to said receiving means, said cooperating means including a stationary plate fixed to said framework means immediately adjacent said exit lip portion intermediate said side walls, said exit lip portion being curved to extend downwardly and rearwardly about said axis whereby to direct liquid impurity components and water downwardly into said tank means with a minimum of emulsion inducing agitation while maintaining said exit lip portion in closed proximity to said plate during pivotal movements of said guide channel to prevent passage of solid impurity components therebetween, said paddle elements being operable to push solid impurity components from said rearward end of said guide channel bottom wall onto said plate for gravity discharge therefrom, and said cooperating means additionally includes perforated endless conveyor means arranged to receive solid impurity components gravity discharged from said plate and for conveying discharged solid impurity components in an overlying relationship to said tank means for discharge into said receiving means, said perforated conveyor means permitting drip separation of liquid impurity components and water from discharged solid impurity components into said tank means.

Claim 8

A unit for cleaning floAting impurities from the surface of a body of water when an intake end of said unit is movable in a direction relatively towards said impurities, said unit comprising in combination: unit supporting float means; framework means mounted on said float means, said framework means including tank means for receiving and effecting gravity separation of liquid components of said impurities and water; means for collecting floating impurities adjacent said intake end of said unit; an impurity-water conveyor means for continuously forming separate charges of said collected floating impurities and water adjacent said intake end and for conveying said charges to a position above said tank means, said conveyor means including a generally U-shaped guide channel having a bottom wall and vertically standing side walls and an endless conveyor having a plurality of paddle elements spaced therealong, adjacent paddle elements when movable along said guide channel bottom wall cooperating therewith and said side walls to form and convey said charges, said guide channel having a forward end thereof separately float supported to rise and fall with the surface of said water while arranging a forward end of said bottom wall beneath said surface, said guide channel having a rearward end thereof supported by said framework means for vertical pivotal movement about a single axis extending transversely of said direction and to position a rearward end of said bottom wall in overlying relation to said tank means, said rearward end of said bottom wall defining an exit lip portion, and said side walls extending rearwardly of said exit lip portion; means for receiving solid components of said impurities, said receiving means being arranged rearwardly of said tank means; and means cooperating with said impurity-water conveyor means for separating liquid impurity components and water from solid impurity components of conveyed charges for gravity discharge into said tank means and for transferring said solid impurity components of said conveyed charges to said receiving means, said cooperating means including a stationary plate fixed to said framework means immediately adjacent said exit lip portion intermediate said side walls, said exit lip portion being curved to extend downwardly and rearwardly about said axis whereby to direct liquid impurity components and water downwardly into said tank means with a minimum of emulsion inducing agitation while maintaining said exit lip portion in closed proximity to said plate during pivotal movements of said guide channel to prevent passage of solid impurity components therebetween, said paddle elements being operable to push solid impurity components from said rearward end of said guide channel bottom wall onto said plate for gravity discharge therefrom, and said cooperating means additionally includes perforated endless conveyor means arranged to receive solid impurity components gravity discharged from said plate and for conveying discharged solid impurity components in an overlying relationship to said tank means for discharge into said receiving means, said perforated conveyor means permitting drip separation of liquid impurity components and water from discharged solid impurity components into said tank means.

Claim 9

A unit according to claim 5, wherein said forward end of said guide channel bottom wall includes a downwardly and forwardly curved entrance lip and a relatively gradually inclined bottom wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said entrance lip, said gradually inclined bottom wall portion being connected to said exit lip portion by a relatively steeply inclined bottom wall portion, each of said paddle elements being moved by said endless conveyor into initial engagement with said gradually inclined bottom wall portion immediately adjacent said entrance lip and said paddle elements being relatively spaced one from another along said endless conveyor whereby when one of said paddle elements initially engages saId gradually inclined bottom wall portion as aforesaid a preceding paddle element engages said bottom wall adjacent the juncture of said bottom wall portions.