US3865730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil spill cleanup
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1973-12-17
•
Granted: 1975-02-11
•
Expires: 1993-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a body of water with a skimmer; the apparatus including a skimmer with baffled entry ports arranged on a plane inclined to the direction of current flow or about the periphery of a drum so that oil enters through the baffles into a chamber which is beneath an inverted funnel or within the axle of the drum; the method involving providing a skimmer having submerged baffle entry ports inclined to the direction of current flow, allowing the oil to enter the skimmer, and returning the skimmer to a horizontal position for removal of the oil therefrom through an inverted funnel suspended over the confined oil.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray R Ayers
- 👤 Dean P Hemphill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:56
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; E02B15/104; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for removing oil from the surface of water comprising a rotatable drum immersed in the water up to about its axis of rotation, compartments arranged around the periphery of the drum for admitting oil and water to an axial chamber in the drum, said compartments comprising spiraling funnels diminishing in cross-sectional area from the periphery of the drum to the axial chamber, said axial chamber being divided into upper and lower rooms, the lower room providing an exit for a water-rich effluent, and the upper room providing an exit for an oil-rich effluent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for removing oil from the surface of water comprising a rotatable drum immersed in the water up to about its axis of rotation, compartments arranged around the periphery of the drum for admitting oil and water to an axial chamber in the drum, said compartments comprising spiraling funnels diminishing in cross-sectional area from the periphery of the drum to the axial chamber, said axial chamber being divided into upper and lower rooms, the lower room providing an exit for a water-rich effluent, and the upper room providing an exit for an oil-rich effluent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotatable drum is supported between longitudinal laterally spaced floats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial chamber is divided into upper and lower rooms by adjoining walls, one of which being fixed horizontally at about water level and the other being adjustable to different angles to determine the oil to water ratio in each room.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
US3734294A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |