US3715034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for removing oil slicks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-06
•
Granted: 1973-02-06
•
Expires: 1990-05-06
Abstract
Abstract Oil floating on a body of water is collected by moving a shallow-draft water craft, such as a barge, having a sternwardly slanted bow section and below the water line an ingress opening in or near the bow section through an oil slick. The slant of the bow section forces oil in its path downwardly thereby causing the oil, possibly intermingled with water, to flow as a flat layer along the bottom of the barge. As the oil reaches the ingress opening it is propelled into a hold of the barge due to the pressure differential between the outside and the inside of the barge. Oil thus accumulating in a hold of the barge may be removed therefrom from time to time and clear water as may also enter the hold is returned to the body of water.
Inventors
- 👤 A Ivanoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:10
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/046; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/32; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A means for collecting oil floating on a body of water, said means comprising: a vessel with a bottom, sidewalls, a bow and a stern and adapted to float on the surface of a body of water, a hold within said vessel defined by said bottom, sidewalls, bow and stern, the bow of said vessel comprising a portion including a surface area forwardly inclined in the bow direction and extending between said sidewalls and with a top edge and a bottom edge extending respectively above and beneath the surface of said body of water, horizontally elongate opening means in said bow surface leading into said hold within said vessel, whereby with forward motion of the vessel oil in the path of said inclined bow surface area is deflected downwardly by the inclined bow surface area and caused to flow in the form of a layer along said bow portion and the bottom of the vessel and the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vessel causes at least a substantial part of the oil contained in said layer to flow into said hold through said opening means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A means for collecting oil floating on a body of water, said means comprising: a vessel with a bottom, sidewalls, a bow and a stern and adapted to float on the surface of a body of water, a hold within said vessel defined by said bottom, sidewalls, bow and stern, the bow of said vessel comprising a portion including a surface area forwardly inclined in the bow direction and extending between said sidewalls and with a top edge and a bottom edge extending respectively above and beneath the surface of said body of water, horizontally elongate opening means in said bow surface leading into said hold within said vessel, whereby with forward motion of the vessel oil in the path of said inclined bow surface area is deflected downwardly by the inclined bow surface area and caused to flow in the form of a layer along said bow portion and the bottom of the vessel and the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vessel causes at least a substantial part of the oil contained in said layer to flow into said hold through said opening means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
189 words
A means for collecting oil floating on a body of water, said means comprising: a vessel with a bottom, sidewalls, a bow and a stern and adapted to float on the surface of a body of water, a hold within said vessel defined by said bottom, sidewalls, bow and stern, the bow of said vessel comprising a portion including a surface area forwardly inclined in the bow direction and extending between said sidewalls and with a top edge and a bottom edge extending respectively above and beneath the surface of said body of water, horizontally elongate opening means in said bow surface leading into said hold within said vessel, whereby with forward motion of the vessel oil in the path of said inclined bow surface area is deflected downwardly by the inclined bow surface area and caused to flow in the form of a layer along said bow portion and the bottom of the vessel and the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vessel causes at least a substantial part of the oil contained in said layer to flow into said hold through said opening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
189 words
A means for collecting oil floating on a body of water, said means comprising: a vessel with a bottom, sidewalls, a bow and a stern and adapted to float on the surface of a body of water, a hold within said vessel defined by said bottom, sidewalls, bow and stern, the bow of said vessel comprising a portion including a surface area forwardly inclined in the bow direction and extending between said sidewalls and with a top edge and a bottom edge extending respectively above and beneath the surface of said body of water, horizontally elongate opening means in said bow surface leading into said hold within said vessel, whereby with forward motion of the vessel oil in the path of said inclined bow surface area is deflected downwardly by the inclined bow surface area and caused to flow in the form of a layer along said bow portion and the bottom of the vessel and the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vessel causes at least a substantial part of the oil contained in said layer to flow into said hold through said opening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein said opening means comprise an elongate slot horizontally extending across substantially the width of the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein said forwardly inclined surface area is a flat wall portion including said opening means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein said bottom is a flat bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein side walls of said bow arE downwardly extended below the water line, said extensions forming fins for channeling oil toward said opening means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The means according to claim 5 wherein the sides are extended below the bottom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein at least one closed flotation chamber for controlling the trim of the craft and increasing the buoyancy thereof is provided within said hold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein pump means extend into said hold for sucking off oil entering the hold through said opening means and forming a top layer in the hold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The means according to claim 8 wherein said bottom includes at least one opening for draining water as may accumulate in the hold as a bottom layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The means according to claim 1 wherein at least one partition wall divides said hold into communicating compartments for impeding surging of oil and water accumulated in the hold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The means according to claim 1 and comprising a closure member movable into and out of a position closing said opening means for selectively opening and closing the same.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
US3465882A
Cited
US3476038A
Cited
US3523611A
Cited
US3615017A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |