Patent US4780791A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3887907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Oil detector
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-12
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for detecting the presence of oil floating on water and includes taking a continuous liquid sample from the surface of the water at a substantially steady rate, by a hydrophobic collector which discriminates between oil and water, collecting more oil and less water, collecting a sample of predetermined parameter, such as weight or volume, in a predetermined time, dumping each sample at the end of the said predetermined time, and providing a signal when a sample reaches the predetermined parameter in less than the predetermined time due to the presence of oil in the sample.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene L Brill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:14
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; 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
98 words
The method of detecting the presence of oil floating on water, comprising taking and collecting all of a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, collecting a continuous series of samples, each sample of predetermined parameter in a predetermined time constituting a cycle, dumping each sample at the end of each cycle, and providing a signal when a sample reaches said predetermined parameter in less than said predetermined time due to the presence of oil in said sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
The method of detecting the presence of oil floating on water, comprising taking and collecting all of a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, collecting a continuous series of samples, each sample of predetermined parameter in a predetermined time constituting a cycle, dumping each sample at the end of each cycle, and providing a signal when a sample reaches said predetermined parameter in less than said predetermined time due to the presence of oil in said sample.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
98 words
The method of detecting the presence of oil floating on water, comprising taking and collecting all of a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, collecting a continuous series of samples, each sample of predetermined parameter in a predetermined time constituting a cycle, dumping each sample at the end of each cycle, and providing a signal when a sample reaches said predetermined parameter in less than said predetermined time due to the presence of oil in said sample.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
98 words
The method of detecting the presence of oil floating on water, comprising taking and collecting all of a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, collecting a continuous series of samples, each sample of predetermined parameter in a predetermined time constituting a cycle, dumping each sample at the end of each cycle, and providing a signal when a sample reaches said predetermined parameter in less than said predetermined time due to the presence of oil in said sample.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of oil floating on water, including collector means for taking a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, means for continuously removing said sample from said collector means, a standpipe and separation chamber below and in communication with said sample removing means, an impervious tubular vertical baffle chambeR communicating at the lower end with said separation chamber at a zone spaced from the top thereof, a vent pipe having a lower end communicating with the top of said baffle chamber and extending upwardly therefrom, a vertical overflow pipe within said baffle chamber and extending from a point near the upper end thereof downwardly, the top of said overflow pipe being at a level with an intermediate portion of said standpipe, the lower end of said overflow pipe communicating with an independent measuring chamber, said measuring chamber being of a size not overfilled when said collector means sample is substantially all water, signal means responsive to overfill of said measuring chamber when said collector means sample includes more than a trace of oil for causing a signal, and means for automatically emptying said measuring chamber regularly at predetermined uniform time periods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of oil floating on water, including collector means for taking a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, means for continuously removing said sample from said collector means, a standpipe and separation chamber below and in communication with said sample removing means, an impervious tubular vertical baffle chambeR communicating at the lower end with said separation chamber at a zone spaced from the top thereof, a vent pipe having a lower end communicating with the top of said baffle chamber and extending upwardly therefrom, a vertical overflow pipe within said baffle chamber and extending from a point near the upper end thereof downwardly, the top of said overflow pipe being at a level with an intermediate portion of said standpipe, the lower end of said overflow pipe communicating with an independent measuring chamber, said measuring chamber being of a size not overfilled when said collector means sample is substantially all water, signal means responsive to overfill of said measuring chamber when said collector means sample includes more than a trace of oil for causing a signal, and means for automatically emptying said measuring chamber regularly at predetermined uniform time periods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of oil floating on water as defined in claim 2, wherein said signal means includes a pressure switch, a pressure sensor conduit communicating in an air-tight manner between said measuring chamber and said pressure switch, and said conduit communicating with said measuring chamber near the top thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of oil floating on water as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for automatically emptying said measuring chamber comprises a blowdown pipe in parallel with said pressure sensor conduit and communicating with said measuring chamber upstream from said pressure sensor conduit, said blowdown pipe extending to a higher level than said pressure switch, a by-pass line communicating between an intermediate portion of said blowdown pipe to a point in said pressure sensor below said pressure switch, a normally closed valve in said by-pass line, and said means for automatically emptying said measuring chamber includes means for automatically supplying gas under pressure at said predetermined uniform time periods at the upper end of said blowdown pipe while simultaneously opening said valve in said by-pass line, whereby to purge said blowdown pipe, said by-pass line, said pressure sensor conduit, said measuring chamber, said overflow pipe, said baffle chamber, and said separation chamber and said standpipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said pressure switch is above the level of the top of said overflow pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, including timer means for automatically supplying said pressure gas regularly at predetermined uniform time periods for short intervals, then deactivating said pressure switch for a short rest period, and then reestablishing normal sample collecting conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including a sludge pit in the bottom of said separation chamber, and a clean-out plug giving access to said pit.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
190 words
The method of detecting the presence of oil floating on water, comprising taking a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, collecting a continuous series of samples, the taking of each of said samples comprising passing a flexible endless loop collector having an attraction for oil into the water and through said oil and upwardly and away from said water coated with a small volume of water or a larger volume of oil, and removing said coating to provide said sample, each sample of predetermined parameter in a predetermined time constituting a cycle, dumping each sample at the end of each cycle, and providing a signal when a sample reaches said predetermined parameter in less than said predetermined time due to the presence of oil in said sample, the collection of each sample including displacing water with the collected sample and measuring the volume of displaced water in a chamber of fixed size, and utilizing excess water beyond said chamber size accumulated in said predetermined time to provide said signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
190 words
The method of detecting the presence of oil floating on water, comprising taking a continuous liquid sample from the surface of said water at a substantially steady rate using a hydrophobic collector having a greater affinity for oil than for water, collecting a continuous series of samples, the taking of each of said samples comprising passing a flexible endless loop collector having an attraction for oil into the water and through said oil and upwardly and away from said water coated with a small volume of water or a larger volume of oil, and removing said coating to provide said sample, each sample of predetermined parameter in a predetermined time constituting a cycle, dumping each sample at the end of each cycle, and providing a signal when a sample reaches said predetermined parameter in less than said predetermined time due to the presence of oil in said sample, the collection of each sample including displacing water with the collected sample and measuring the volume of displaced water in a chamber of fixed size, and utilizing excess water beyond said chamber size accumulated in said predetermined time to provide said signal.
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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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |