Apparatus for removing floating liquids from the surface of a body of water

Claim 2

Apparatus for skimming liquids, such as oil, having a specific gravity less than that of water from the surface of a body of water, said apparatus comprising: a pair of hulls extending longitudinally between a forward end and an aft end and spaced apart laterally for floating upon said body of water; a longitudinal basin supported between the hulls; means communicating with the basin adjacent the forward ends of the hulls and including a skimming edge forward of the basin; the hulls each including a forward chamber and an aft chamber, each chamber including a top, sides and a bottom; an opening at the bottom of each chamber for admitting water from said body of water to the chambers; means for selectively providing gas under pressure to the top of each chamber for independently regulating the level of the water in each chamber to select the level and the fore and aft tilt of the hulls relative to the surface of the body of water so as to enable skimmed liquid to pass over the skimming edge and into the basin; means communicating with the basin adjacent the aft ends of the hulls and including an aft edge normally located at approximately the same vertical level as the skimming edge such that the skimmed liquid may pass over the skimming edge, through the basin, and out of the basin over the aft edge; and means for introducing a further fluid into the skimming liquid as such liquid passes through the basin.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the basin includes a sump extending vertically below the level of the skimming edge and into which the skimmed liquid will pass.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 including means communicating with the sump for allowing the skimmed liquid to be drawn from the sump and to be passed out of the apparatus.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means which includes the skimming edge comprises a trough affixed adjacent the forward end of the hulls and extending laterally over substantially the entire width of the device such that the skimming edge extends beyond the lateral extent of the basin and substantially across the entire width of the apparatus. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 including means responsive to the level of the hulls relative to the surface of the body of water for maintaining the hulls at a predetermined selected level in the body of water and the skimming edge at a prescribed level.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means responsive to the level of the hulls include valve means associated with each of the chambers for regulating the flow of gas to that chamber, and actuating means responsive to the depth of the hulls in the water for actuating the valve means to either admit gas into or vent gas from the chamber.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the valve means include a three-way valve associated with each chamber, and the actuating means include a float associated with each valve, and means for selecting the position of the float relative to the valve to select the level of the hulls in the body of water.

Claim 8

Apparatus for skimming liquids, such as oil, having a specific gravity less than that of water from the surface of a body of water, said apparatus comprising: a pair of hulls extending longitudinally between a forward end and an aft end and spaced apart laterally for floating upon said body of water; a longitudinal basin supported between the hulls; means communicating with the basin adjacent the forward ends of the hulls and including a skimming edge forward of the basin; the hulls each including a forward chamber and an aft chamber, each chamber including a top, sides and a bottom; an opening at the bottom of each chamber for admitting water from said body of water to the chamber; means for selectively providing gas under pressure to the top of each chamber for independently regulating the level of the water in each chamber to select the level and the fore and aft tilt of the hulls relative to the surface of the body of water so as to enable skimmed liquid to pass over the skimming edge and into the basin; the basin including a sump extending vertically below the level of the skimming edge immediately aft of the skimming edge and extending longitudinally over only a portion of the length of the basin for receiving the skimmed liquid; means communicating with the basin adjacent the aft ends of the hulls and including an aft edge located at approximately the same vertical level as the skimming edge; and a deck extending between the sump and the aft edge at a vertical level intermediate the bottom of the sump and the aft edge.

Claim 9

Apparatus for skimming liquids, such as oil, having a specific gravity less than that of water from the surface of a body of water, said apparatus comprising: a pair of hulls extending longitudinally between a forward end and an aft end and spaced apart laterally for floating upon said body of water; a longitudinal basin supported between the hulls; means communicating with the basin adjacent the forward ends of the hulls and including a skimming edge forward of the basin; the hulls each including a forward chamber and an aft chamber, each chamber including a top, sides and a bottom; an opening at the bottom of each chamber for admitting water from said body of water to the chamber; means for selectively providing gas under pressure to the top of each chamber for independently regulating the level of the water in each chamber to select the level and the fore and aft tilt of the hulls relative to the surface of the body of water so as to enable skimmed liquid to pass over the skimming edge and into the basin; the basin including a sump extending vertically below the level of the skimming edge immediately aft of the skimming edge and extending longitudinally over only a portion of the length of the basin for receiving the skimmed liquid; means communicating with the basin adjacent the aft ends of the hulls and including an aft edge located at approximately the same vertical level as the skimming edge; and a deck extending between the sump and the aft edge at a vertical level intermediate the bottom of the sump and the aft edge.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 including means for introducing a further fluid into the sump.