US3706382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil removal device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-12
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1991-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A buoyant oil-removal device for use with a floating oilconfining barrier on a water surface with oil slicks of substantial thickness floating thereon, the device having oil inflow ports (of lesser vertical height than the oil slick thickness) with the ports normally floated at a level intermediate the thickness of the oil slick to provide inflow of the water-floated oil slick and to minimize either water or air inflow through said ports whether the water is calm or disturbed by waves, and designed to collect oil from the water surface at a rate which is maximized subject to the requirement that intake of water and air is minimized. The device has a longest overall dimension of not more than one-fourth of the wavelength of the shortest wave of significant amplitude, and includes a generally H-shaped skimmer structure; each arm portion of the structure is of generally rectangular or circular cross section, providing a plurality of inflow ports, each of vertical dimension of the order from 0.04 to 0.2 of the expected slick thickness. Inflow ports preferably are positioned immediately adjacent the top surface of the structure, and are horizontally elongated. The device is provided with a flexible, buoyant suctioning hose communicating with the inflow ports for the removal of oil.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Herbert Cross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:08
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; E02B15/106; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
In a buoyant oil-removal device for use on a water surface with an oil slick of substantial thickness floating thereon, a generally H-shaped skimmer structure adapted and arranged to be water-floated having a plurality of oil-inflow ports disposed around arms of said H-shaped structure with said ports normally floated at a level within said oil slick, separate buoyancy means attached to said skimmer structure for floating the same, and conduit means attached to the cross-piece of said H-shaped structure communicating with said ports for withdrawing oil collected from said water surface, whereby said device floats generally parallel to said water surface both when said surface is calm and when it is disturbed by waves, normally maintaining said ports substantially at a level within said oil slick, thus providing a maximum ratio of withdrawn oil to entrained withdrawn air and water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a buoyant oil-removal device for use on a water surface with an oil slick of substantial thickness floating thereon, a generally H-shaped skimmer structure adapted and arranged to be water-floated having a plurality of oil-inflow ports disposed around arms of said H-shaped structure with said ports normally floated at a level within said oil slick, separate buoyancy means attached to said skimmer structure for floating the same, and conduit means attached to the cross-piece of said H-shaped structure communicating with said ports for withdrawing oil collected from said water surface, whereby said device floats generally parallel to said water surface both when said surface is calm and when it is disturbed by waves, normally maintaining said ports substantially at a level within said oil slick, thus providing a maximum ratio of withdrawn oil to entrained withdrawn air and water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of each arm of said H-shaped skimmer structure is generally rectangular, the area of said cross-section generally increasing from each end of said arms toward said cross-piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a buoyant oil-removal device for use on a water surface with an oil slick of substantial thickness floating thereon, a generally H-shaped skimmer structure adapted and arranged to be water-floated having a plurality of oil-inflow ports with said ports norMally floated at a level within said oil slick, separate buoyancy means including float elements and a float frame attached to said skimmer structure for floating the same, said H-shaped skimmer structure being suspended from said float frame, and said frame providing float-suspending portions spaced from said H-shaped structure, said float elements being suspended therefrom, the longest dimension of said device being the distance from one said float element to an adjacent said float element, including the length of said float elements, and conduit means communicating with said ports for withdrawing oil collected from said water surface, whereby said device floats generally parallel to said water surface both when said surface is calm and when it is disturbed by waves, normally maintaining said ports substantially at a level within said oil slick, thus providing a maximum ratio of withdrawn oil to entrained withdrawn air and water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a buoyant oil-removal device for use on a water surface with an oil slick of substantial thickness floating thereon, a generally H-shaped skimmer structure adapted and arranged to be water-floated having a plurality of oil-inflow ports with said ports norMally floated at a level within said oil slick, separate buoyancy means including float elements and a float frame attached to said skimmer structure for floating the same, said H-shaped skimmer structure being suspended from said float frame, and said frame providing float-suspending portions spaced from said H-shaped structure, said float elements being suspended therefrom, the longest dimension of said device being the distance from one said float element to an adjacent said float element, including the length of said float elements, and conduit means communicating with said ports for withdrawing oil collected from said water surface, whereby said device floats generally parallel to said water surface both when said surface is calm and when it is disturbed by waves, normally maintaining said ports substantially at a level within said oil slick, thus providing a maximum ratio of withdrawn oil to entrained withdrawn air and water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the vertical dimension of said inflow ports is adjustably fixed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the vertical distance between said float elements and said inflow ports is adjustably fixed.
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) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |