Floating oil skimmer

Claim 2

A floating oil skimmer for recovering oil from the surface of a body of water, which comprises: an elongated rectangular structure having imperforate side and rear walls and an imperforate bottom member defining a partially enclosed, open-fronted compartment, said bottom member sloping downwardly from the front of said compartment to the rear; a cutting lip pivotally attached at the front edge of said bottom member so as to project outwardly therefrom, said cutting lip being adjuStably pivotable about a transverse horizontal axis so that the leading edge of said cutting lip can be positioned below the surface of said body of water to control the thickness of water cut admitted into said compartment; means to adjust the position of said cutting lip about said horizontal axis; a vertical transverse weir near the rear of said compartment; means to adjust the height of said weir; an oil collection sump immediately to the rear of said weir to receive liquid flowing over said weir; a transverse outlet opening in the bottom of said compartment immediately in front of said weir through which substantially oil-free water is discharged; a pair of pontoons; and means to removably attach one of said pontoons at each side of said structure.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a vertical longitudinal baffle extending substantially the length of said compartment.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting lip has a flared shape, the front edge of the lip being wider than its rear edge.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a bottom door pivotly attached to said structure at said outlet opening.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 4 including means to adjust the position of said bottom door about a horizontal transverse axis to control the flow of water through said outlet opening.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each of said pontoons has a plurality of closed internal compartments.

Claim 8

The apparatus disclosed in claim 1 wherein said means for removably attaching said pontoons to said structure include: a plurality of first horizontal transverse tubular members extending through said compartment at an upper level; a plurality of second horizontal transverse tubular members extending through said compartment at a lower level; a plurality of third horizontal transverse tubular members extending through each of said pontoons, said third tubular members being positioned for axial alignment with said second tubular members; first tubular pin means inserted through said first tubular members and removably attached at either end to said pontoons; and second tubular pin means inserted through said second and said third tubular members and removably fixed therein to secure said pontoons to said structure.

Claim 9

A floating oil skimmer for recovering oil from the surface of a body of water, which comprises: an elongated rectangular structure having closed side and rear walls and a bottom member defining a partially enclosed, open-fronted box-like compartment, said bottom member sloping downwardly from the front of said compartment to the rear and terminating near the rear of said structure to provide a transverse rectangular outlet opening in the bottom of said structure extending substantially the width thereof through which substantially oil-free water is discharged; a vertical longitudinal baffle at the center line of said structure extending substantially the length of said bottom member; a flared cutting lip having a front edge wider than its rear edge pivotally attached at its rear edge to the front of said bottom member so as to project outwardly in front of said structure, said cutting lip being adjustably pivotable about a transverse horizontal axis so that the leading edge of said cutting lip can be positioned below the surface of said body of water to control the thickness of water cut admitted into said compartment; means to adjust the position of said cutting lip about said horizontal axis; a vertical transverse weir immediately to the rear of said outlet opening and extending substantially the width of said compartment; means to adjust the height of said weir; an oil collection sump immediately to the rear of said weir to receive liquid flowing over said weir; a standpipe for withdrawing liquid from said oil collection sump, said standpipe being adapted for connection to a pump suction; a bottom dooR pivotally attached at the rear of said bottom member, said door being pivotally adjustable about a horizontal transverse axis to control the flow of water through said outlet opening; means to adjust the position of said door about said horizontal axis; a plurality of first horizontal transverse tubular members extending through said structure at an upper level thereof; a plurality of second horizontal transverse tubular members extending through said structure at a lower level thereof; a pair of pontoons, each of said pontoons comprising an elongated tank of rectangular cross-section having a plurality of closed internal compartments, one of said pontoons being adapted for placement at each side of said structure, said pontoons projecting outwardly beyond said structure, and the front of the pontoons being slanted inwardly toward said structure; a plurality of third horizontal transverse tubular members extending through each of said pontoons, said members being positioned for axial alignment with said second tubular members; first tubular pin means inserted through said first tubular members and removably attached at either end to said pontoons; and second tubular pin means inserted through said second tubular means in said structure and said third tubular means in each of said pontoons and removably fixed therein to secure said pontoons to said structure.

Claim 10

A floating oil skimmer for recovering oil from the surface of a body of water, which comprises: an elongated rectangular structure having closed side and rear walls and a bottom member defining a partially enclosed, open-fronted box-like compartment, said bottom member sloping downwardly from the front of said compartment to the rear and terminating near the rear of said structure to provide a transverse rectangular outlet opening in the bottom of said structure extending substantially the width thereof through which substantially oil-free water is discharged; a vertical longitudinal baffle at the center line of said structure extending substantially the length of said bottom member; a flared cutting lip having a front edge wider than its rear edge pivotally attached at its rear edge to the front of said bottom member so as to project outwardly in front of said structure, said cutting lip being adjustably pivotable about a transverse horizontal axis so that the leading edge of said cutting lip can be positioned below the surface of said body of water to control the thickness of water cut admitted into said compartment; means to adjust the position of said cutting lip about said horizontal axis; a vertical transverse weir immediately to the rear of said outlet opening and extending substantially the width of said compartment; means to adjust the height of said weir; an oil collection sump immediately to the rear of said weir to receive liquid flowing over said weir; a standpipe for withdrawing liquid from said oil collection sump, said standpipe being adapted for connection to a pump suction; a bottom dooR pivotally attached at the rear of said bottom member, said door being pivotally adjustable about a horizontal transverse axis to control the flow of water through said outlet opening; means to adjust the position of said door about said horizontal axis; a plurality of first horizontal transverse tubular members extending through said structure at an upper level thereof; a plurality of second horizontal transverse tubular members extending through said structure at a lower level thereof; a pair of pontoons, each of said pontoons comprising an elongated tank of rectangular cross-section having a plurality of closed internal compartments, one of said pontoons being adapted for placement at each side of said structure, said pontoons projecting outwardly beyond said structure, and the front of the pontoons being slanted inwardly toward said structure; a plurality of third horizontal transverse tubular members extending through each of said pontoons, said members being positioned for axial alignment with said second tubular members; first tubular pin means inserted through said first tubular members and removably attached at either end to said pontoons; and second tubular pin means inserted through said second tubular means in said structure and said third tubular means in each of said pontoons and removably fixed therein to secure said pontoons to said structure.