US3883433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collection and recovery system for oil spills
Assignee: Ocean Systems Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-20
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-09-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for collecting spilled oil with a plurality of rigid weir-plates disposed along a primary weir and supported by discrete weir-plate floats, each weir-plate having a weir opening, the weir-plates spaced from each other along the primary weir and connected to one another by flexible sheet. Embodiments of the invention additionally feature supporting the rear edge of the basin by discrete secondary floats spaced along the rear edge of the basin and connected by flexible sheet; stiffeners connected between the primary weir and the secondary floats; a plurality of secondary weirs supported on the secondary floats each secondary weir having a lip positioned beneath its associated secondary float; weir plates affixed to elongated weir plate floats at an angle so that they float stably with their lower edges aft of their upper edges; a perforation in the bottom of the basin; a tension line rigged foreward of the primary weir and a plurality of bridles running between the tension line and the primary weir; bridles proportioned in length to deploy the primary weir along a parabolic line; a plurality of discrete floats along the primary weir intermediate to said weir plates and connected thereto by flexible sheet; floats made of a semiflexible closed cell foam coated with an elastomer outer coating; rigid stiffening plates affixed to the intermediate floats and attached to the forward edge of the basin, the stiffening plates extending downward from said intermediate floats to maintain said basin bottom at a predetermined depth in the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Adams March
- 👤 Louis Stanislaus Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:50
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/048; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for collecting an immiscible liquid such as oil spread on a body of water, including a basin with a flexible sheet bottom, said basin being supported by floatation to maintain its rearward edge above the water line, a primary weir attached to the forward edge of said basin and supported by floatation, and oil withdrawal means for drawing oil from said basin, said primary weir having weir openings therein for passage of liquid from the upper layer of said body of water into said basin, said apparatus having a plurality of rigid sections positioned along said primary weir with spaces between adjacent sections, each section including a rearwardly and downwardly sloping rigid weir plate and floatation affixed thereto said flexible sheet being attached to said sections and extending upwards between said sections to a level above said weir plates, said flexible sheet bridging said spaces between said sections and barring flow past said primary weir between said weir plates while making said primary weir conformable to wave motion in said body of water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for collecting an immiscible liquid such as oil spread on a body of water, including a basin with a flexible sheet bottom, said basin being supported by floatation to maintain its rearward edge above the water line, a primary weir attached to the forward edge of said basin and supported by floatation, and oil withdrawal means for drawing oil from said basin, said primary weir having weir openings therein for passage of liquid from the upper layer of said body of water into said basin, said apparatus having a plurality of rigid sections positioned along said primary weir with spaces between adjacent sections, each section including a rearwardly and downwardly sloping rigid weir plate and floatation affixed thereto said flexible sheet being attached to said sections and extending upwards between said sections to a level above said weir plates, said flexible sheet bridging said spaces between said sections and barring flow past said primary weir between said weir plates while making said primary weir conformable to wave motion in said body of water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear edge of said basin is supported by discrete secondary floats spaced along the rear edge of the basin and connected by flexible sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, having stiff members connected between said primary weir and said secondary floats, maintaining the spacing therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said oil withdrawl means includes a plurality of secondary weirs supported on said secondary floats, each secondary weir having a lip positioned beneath its associated secondary float, each said lip and associated float providing an entry over said lip for fluid flowing without free surface, thereby admitting fluid from the upper layer of fluid within said basin to an oil discharge without air entrainment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, having a tension line rigged foreward of saiD primary weir and a plurality of bridles running between said tension line and said primary weir, whereby said primary weir may be towed over said body of water with preponderance of towing forces carried by said tension line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bridles are proportioned in length to deploy said primary weir along a parabolic line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary weir includes a plurality of discrete floats intermediate to said weir plates and connected thereto by flexible sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said floats are made of a semiflexible closed cell foam coated with an elastomer outer coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said intermediate floats have rigid stiffening plates affixed thereto and attached to the forward edge of said basin, sais stiffening plates extending downward from said intermediate floats to maintain said basin bottom at a predetermined depth in the water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for collecting an immiscible liquid, such as oil, spread on a body of water, including a basin with a flexible sheet bottom said basin being supported by floatation to maintain its rearward edge above the water line, a primary weir attached to the forward edge of said basin and supported by floatation, and oil withdrawal means for drawing oil from said basin, said primary weir having weir openings therein for passage of liquid from the upper layer of said body of water into said basin, said primary weir having a plurality of rigid modules disposed therealong in spaced relationship with one another, said flexible sheet connecting adjacent modules and providing a barrier to flow between modules, each module comprising two spaced, weir floats elongated in the fore-aft direction with a weir plate affixed therebetween with the weir lip extending generally across the space between the weir floats, and with the plane of the weir plate at an acute angle to the long dimension of the weir floats, the module floating stably with the weir plate inclined into the water, its lip being forward and higher, thereby causing as the apparatus moves over the body of water a thickening of the oil ahead of the weir plate and a reduced pressure beneath said basin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for collecting an immiscible liquid, such as oil, spread on a body of water, including a basin with a flexible sheet bottom said basin being supported by floatation to maintain its rearward edge above the water line, a primary weir attached to the forward edge of said basin and supported by floatation, and oil withdrawal means for drawing oil from said basin, said primary weir having weir openings therein for passage of liquid from the upper layer of said body of water into said basin, said primary weir having a plurality of rigid modules disposed therealong in spaced relationship with one another, said flexible sheet connecting adjacent modules and providing a barrier to flow between modules, each module comprising two spaced, weir floats elongated in the fore-aft direction with a weir plate affixed therebetween with the weir lip extending generally across the space between the weir floats, and with the plane of the weir plate at an acute angle to the long dimension of the weir floats, the module floating stably with the weir plate inclined into the water, its lip being forward and higher, thereby causing as the apparatus moves over the body of water a thickening of the oil ahead of the weir plate and a reduced pressure beneath said basin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bottom of said basin has a perforation therein, whereby water is discharged from the basin at a low pressure region.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |