US3830370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motion decoupled skimmer for removing oil from the surface of calm or disturbed water
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1972-09-05
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A motion decoupled skimmer for removing oil from the surface of calm or disturbed water includes a floatable pumping assembly which contains a sump, flotation unit, pump and motor surrounded by or positioned within a floatable oil collection assembly which contains a weir, flotation unit and a closed flow passageway for conveying oil from the weir to the sump. The weir and its flotation unit are connected together in a fixed relationship (motion coupled). In order to maintain the oil collection assembly and pumping assembly properly spaced from each other, spacing means may be employed to connect the pumping assembly and the oil collection assembly. The oil collection assembly is light and responsive to wave motion.
Inventors
- 👤 J Glaeser
- 👤 W Weisert
- 👤 G Cunningham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:08
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: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A skimmer for removing oil from the surface of water comprising: a pumping assembly including sump means for the collection of liquid, a flotation means for supporting said pumping assembly in said water, and pump means for pumping liquid from said sump means; and an oil collection means including a plurality of weir means each having a liquid overflow lip and each being spaced from and arranged circumferentially about said pumping assembly, other flotation means spaced from and formed as a continuous ring about said pumping assembly and fixed to each of said weir means for floatingly supporting said weir means on the surface of said water, means for permitting vertical adjustment of said weir means relative to said other flotation means, flexible means connecting a lower portion of the interior of each of said weir means to said sump means for conveying said liquid from each of said weir means to said sump means, and centering means flexibly connecting said other flotation means and said pumping assembly for independent movement of said other flotation means relative to said pumping assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A skimmer for removing oil from the surface of water comprising: a pumping assembly including sump means for the collection of liquid, a flotation means for supporting said pumping assembly in said water, and pump means for pumping liquid from said sump means; and an oil collection means including a plurality of weir means each having a liquid overflow lip and each being spaced from and arranged circumferentially about said pumping assembly, other flotation means spaced from and formed as a continuous ring about said pumping assembly and fixed to each of said weir means for floatingly supporting said weir means on the surface of said water, means for permitting vertical adjustment of said weir means relative to said other flotation means, flexible means connecting a lower portion of the interior of each of said weir means to said sump means for conveying said liquid from each of said weir means to said sump means, and centering means flexibly connecting said other flotation means and said pumping assembly for independent movement of said other flotation means relative to said pumping assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A skimmer as recited in claim 1 in which said flexible means for conveying said liquid from each of said weir means to said sump means comprises a flexible hose.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A skimmer as recited in claim 2 wherein said centering means comprises a plurality of spaced apart linkages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A skimmer as recited in claim 3 including a plurality of vertically arranged tracks mounted on said pumping assembly; a carriage slidable along each track, each carriage being connected to one end of one of said linkages, the other end of each linkage being connected to said other float.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3727765A
Cited
US3722687A
Cited
US3726406A
Cited
US3730346A
Cited
US3722688A
Cited
US3722689A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |