Patent US3906880A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3906880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery apparatus for a tanker
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-12-19
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1994-12-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for recovering oil from a ruptured oil carrying tank compartment of a tanker consisting of a container manufactured of flexible vinyl sheeting affixed to the top of the tank of a size to be released to completely line the sides of the tank, a flexible wire mesh barrier affixed to the top of the tank and adapted to be dropped into the tank in a manner overlying the inner hull of the tanker within the tank compartment to protect the vinyl container from the jagged edges of the ruptured steel hull, and a transfer pump having an inlet end disposed in the tank compartment and an outlet end disposed in the vinyl container for transferring the contents of the tank compartment to the vinyl container when it is released to occupy the space within the tank compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd E Hebert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/22; B63; B63B; B63B11/00; B63B11/04; B63B25/00; B63B25/02; B63B25/08; B63B25/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
OIL RECOVERY APPARATUS FOR A TANKER SHIP HAVING A MULTITUDE OF INDEPENDENT CRUDE OIL CARRYING TANK COMPARTMENTS, EACH TANK COMPARTMENT HAVING A TOP SURFACE, A BOTTOM SURFACE, AN INNER WALL SURFACE, AN OUTER WALL SURFACE ADJACENT THE SHIP HULL, A FRONT WALL SURFACE, AND A BACK WALL SUFACE, EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS DISPOSED BENEATH THE TANKER DECK, SAID RECOVERY APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CONTAINER MANUFACTURED OF A STRONG FLEXIBLE VINYL MATERIAL HAVING ITS TOP EDGES SECURED TO PORTIONS OF SAID COMPARTMENT SIDEWALLS ADJACENT THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF, SAID CONTAINER BEING OF A SIZE AND CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO SUBSTANTIALLY FILL SAID COMPARTMENT TO LINE SAID WALL AND SAID BOTTOM SURFACES THEREOF, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VINYL CONTAINER FOR RETAINING THE SAME IN A STORAGE POSITION ADJACENT TO TOP SURFACE OF SAID COMPARTMENT, AND RELEASABLE TO PERMIT SAID CONTAINER TO LINE SAID COMPARTMENT IN ITS OPERABLE POSITION, A WIRE MESH NET TYPE SCREENING OF A WIDTH AND LENGTH TO COMPLETELY OVERLIE SAID OUTER WALL SURFACE OF SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID MESH BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ONE EDGE TO A TOP EDGE PORTION OF SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT WALL WITH SAID MESH EXTENDING ACROSS SAID COMPARTMENT IN A POSITION IMMEDIATELY BENEATH SAID VINYL CONTAINER,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
OIL RECOVERY APPARATUS FOR A TANKER SHIP HAVING A MULTITUDE OF INDEPENDENT CRUDE OIL CARRYING TANK COMPARTMENTS, EACH TANK COMPARTMENT HAVING A TOP SURFACE, A BOTTOM SURFACE, AN INNER WALL SURFACE, AN OUTER WALL SURFACE ADJACENT THE SHIP HULL, A FRONT WALL SURFACE, AND A BACK WALL SUFACE, EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS DISPOSED BENEATH THE TANKER DECK, SAID RECOVERY APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CONTAINER MANUFACTURED OF A STRONG FLEXIBLE VINYL MATERIAL HAVING ITS TOP EDGES SECURED TO PORTIONS OF SAID COMPARTMENT SIDEWALLS ADJACENT THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF, SAID CONTAINER BEING OF A SIZE AND CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO SUBSTANTIALLY FILL SAID COMPARTMENT TO LINE SAID WALL AND SAID BOTTOM SURFACES THEREOF, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VINYL CONTAINER FOR RETAINING THE SAME IN A STORAGE POSITION ADJACENT TO TOP SURFACE OF SAID COMPARTMENT, AND RELEASABLE TO PERMIT SAID CONTAINER TO LINE SAID COMPARTMENT IN ITS OPERABLE POSITION, A WIRE MESH NET TYPE SCREENING OF A WIDTH AND LENGTH TO COMPLETELY OVERLIE SAID OUTER WALL SURFACE OF SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID MESH BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ONE EDGE TO A TOP EDGE PORTION OF SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT WALL WITH SAID MESH EXTENDING ACROSS SAID COMPARTMENT IN A POSITION IMMEDIATELY BENEATH SAID VINYL CONTAINER,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
194 words
The oil recovery apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means releasably securing said vinyl container in its storage position are further characterized by: three sets of horizontally aligned pairs of pulleys, each pair of pulleys spaced axially away from each other such that one set of pulleys approximately bisects said tank compartment with the remaining two pairs of pulleys disposed at equal distances on each side of said middle pair of pulleys intermediate said middle set of pulleys and adjacent wall surfaces of said tank compartment; three independent lifting cables, each cable trained over one pair of said pairs of pulleys and passing beneath said vinyl container; rotatable winch means mounted on said tanker deck and having free ends of said lifting cables affixed thereto; rotation of said winch in a first direction winding said lifting cables thereabout in a manner to pull said vinyl container into its stored collapsed position supported by said cables immediately beneath said top surface of said tank, and release of said winch means permitting said vinyl container to expand into its operable open position lining said wall surfaces and bottom surface of said tank compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
The oil recovery apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means releasably securing said wire mesh net in a storage position are further characterized by: a flexible cable having one end affixed to said wire mesh adjacent the edge thereof furthest from said hinged edge thereof; rotatable winch means mounted on said tanker deck; and a free end of said cable affixed to said winch means such that rotation of said winch in a first direction retains said wire mesh in its storage position extending across the top of said tanker compartment, with release of said winch permitting said wire mesh to drop into said tank under the force of gravity and protectively line said tank outer wall surface to cover any jagged edges from ruptures therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
The oil recovery apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means connecting said transfer pump inlet port to said tank compartment for pumping crude oil therefrom comprises: an inlet pipe extending vertically into said tank adjacent said back surface thereof and terminating about one-third of the distance down into said tank; and a vertically extending wire mesh enclosed chamber affixed along said compartment back wall surface completely surrounding said inlet pipe and extending vertically downwardly to said tank bottom surface, said wire mesh screening protecting said inlet pipe from said vinyl container to prevent drawing portions of said vinyl container into said inlet pipe under the suction of said transfer pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |