Installation for removing pollutants from waterways

Claim 2

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, a receiving tank supported by said vessel being movable relative to the surface of said waterway and to said vessel and adapted to collect pollutant therein, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, a primary separation unit on said vessel for separating, by gravity, said pollutant from the water collected from the waterway, a first transfer assembly connecting said primary separation unit in fluid communication with said receiving tank for transferring said pollutant from said receiving tank to said primary separation unit, a secondary separation unit on said vessel, a second transfer assembly connecting said primary separation unit in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for transferring the separated pollutant from said primary separation unit to said secondary separation unit, said secondary separation unit includes means for mechanically separating the remaining water from said separated pollutant to provide a still purer pollutant, a third transfer assembly connected in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for receiving said purer pollutant and being adapted for connection to a storage facility to enable storage of said purer pollutant for subsequent use thereof, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, and said receiving tank supported by said vessel for independent floating movement in said waterway and relative to said vessel.

Claim 3

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scoop assembly is pivotally connected to said receiving tank to enable said scoop assembly to float on the surface of said waterway independently of said vessel.

Claim 4

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scoop assembly includes floatation means for floatingly supporting said scoop assembly in a predetermined position with respect to the surface of said waterway, and said scoop assembly is pivotally connected to said receiving tank to enable said scoop assembly to float on the surface of the water and move independently of said receiving tank.

Claim 5

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scoop assembly is of an articulated construction including a ramp portion adapted for directing the collected pollutant into said receiving tank and a scoop portion adapted to float on the surface of said waterway, said ramp portion is pivotally connected to said receiving tank to enable movement of said scoop assembly relative to said receiving tank, and said scoop portion is pivotally connected to said ramp portion to enable said scoop portion to float on the surface of said waterway as said scoop assembly pivots relative to said receiving tank.

Claim 6

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said primary separation unit comprises at least one settling tank for receiving said pollutant and water collected in said receiving tank.

Claim 7

An installation in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second transfer assembly comprises at least one float valve in said settling tank for controlling the flow of pollutant and water from said settling tank.

Claim 8

An installation in accordance with claim 6, including locking means operably connected to said float valves to prevent opening of said float valves to enable preliminary separation of said pollutant from said water in said settling tank.

Claim 9

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said primary separation unit includes a plurality of settling tanks, and said first transfer assembly includes a distribution manifold for selectively transferring the pollutant and water collected therewith from said receiving tank to said settling tanks.

Claim 10

An installation in accordance with claim 8, wherein said settling tanks are of a sealed construction, manifold vent means connects the respective interiors of said settling tanks with one another, and selectively actuatable valve means associated with each of said settling tanks to control the flow of air therebetween to selectively process the contents of any one or more of the settling tanks and increase the flow pressure of the pollutant in the separation units.

Claim 11

An installation in accordance with claim 1, including a holding facility connected in fluid communication with said primary and secondary separation units, and said second transfer assembly includes a distribution manifold for selectively transferring said water to said holding facility and said pollutant to said secondary separation unit.

Claim 12

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving tank is slidably mounted on the bow of said vessel for movement up and down in a generally vertical direction.

Claim 13

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vessel includes a boom assembly, and said receiving tank is mounted outwardly of said vessel being connected to said boom assembly for maneuvering said receiving tank with said vessel along the surface of said waterway.

Claim 14

An installation in accordance with claim 12, wherein multiple receiving tanks are connected to said vessel by said boom assembly.

Claim 15

An installation in accordance with claim 12, wherein said receiving tank includes floatation means for floatingly supporting said scoop assembly in a predetermined position with respect to the surface of said waterway.

Claim 16

An installation in accordance with claim 14, wherein said scoop assembly is pivotally connected to said receiving tank, and floatation means is mounted on said scoop assembly for controlling the position of said scoop assembly with respect to the surface of said waterway.

Claim 17

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said secondary separation unit comprises at least one centrifuge for receiving said pollutant from said primary separation unit and separating the water from the pollutant.

Claim 18

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said secondary separation unit comprises a plurality of centrifuges connected in fluid communication with said primary separation unit, and conduit means connected to said centrifuges for operating said centrifuges independently, in series or in parallel with one another.

Claim 19

An installation in accordance with claim 1, including a storage facility on said vessel connected in fluid communication with said third transfer assembly for receiving the purer pollutant from said secondary separation unit for storing said pollutant to enable subsequent use thereof.

Claim 20

An installation in accordance with claim 18, including by-pass means for by-passing said secondary separation unit for distributing the contents of said primary separation unit directly to said storage facility when said contents is substantially pure water.

Claim 21

An installation in accordance with claim 1, including pressure supplementing means connected to said secondary separation unit for increasing the flow pressure of the pollutant through the secondary separation unit.

Claim 22

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scoop assembly is adjustably movable with respect to said receiving tank, and said scoop assembly includes means operably connected thereto for positioning said outer end of said scoop assembly at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway.

Claim 23

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel for movement on the surface of said waterway, a receiving tank mounted on said vessel being movable relative to the surface of said waterway and to said vessel and adapted to collect pollutant therein, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from one said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, said receiving tank is supported by said vessel for independent floating movement in said waterway relative to said vessel, said scoop assembly is adjustably movable with respect to said receiving tank and includes means operably connected thereto for positioning said outer end at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, a primary separation unit including settling tank means mounted on said vessel for separating, by gravity, said pollutant from the water collected from the waterway, a first transfer assembly including a first pump means connecting said primary separation unit in fluid communication with said receiving tank for transferring, under pressure, said pollutant from said receiving tank to said settling tank means, a secondary separation unit on said vessel, a second transfer assembly including a second pump means connecting said settling tank means in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for transferring the separated pollutant from said settling tank means to said secondary separation unit, said secondary separation unit includes mechanical means for mechanically separating the remaining water from said separated pollutant to provide a still purer pollutant, a storage facility on said vessel connected in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for receiving said purer pollutant and, a third transfer assembly connecting said secondary separation unit in fluid communication with said storage facility for transferring said purer pollutant to said storage facility to enable storage of said purer pollutant for subsequent use thereof.

Claim 24

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel for movement on the surface of said waterway, a receiving tank mounted on said vessel being movable relative to the surface of said waterway and to said vessel and adapted to collect pollutant therein, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from one said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, said receiving tank is supported by said vessel for independent floating movement in said waterway relative to said vessel, said scoop assembly is adjustably movable with respect to said receiving tank and includes means operably connected thereto for positioning said outer end at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, a primary separation unit including settling tank means mounted on said vessel for separating, by gravity, said pollutant from the water collected from the waterway, a first transfer assembly including a first pump means connecting said primary separation unit in fluid communication with said receiving tank for transferring, under pressure, said pollutant from said receiving tank to said settling tank means, a secondary separation unit on said vessel, a second transfer assembly including a second pump means connecting said settling tank means in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for transferring the separated pollutant from said settling tank means to said secondary separation unit, said secondary separation unit includes mechanical means for mechanically separating the remaining water from said separated pollutant to provide a still purer pollutant, a storage facility on said vessel connected in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for receiving said purer pollutant and, a third transfer assembly connecting said secondary separation unit in fluid communication with said storage facility for transferring said purer pollutant to said storage facility to enable storage of said purer pollutant for subsequent use thereof.

Claim 25

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, a receiving tank supported on said vessel for collecting pollutant therein, said receiving tank being supported for independent floating movement in said waterway and relative to said vessel so that the tank may float at different levels with respect to the surface of the waterway depending upon the quantity of pollutant therein, a scoop assembly movably mounted on and arranged for independent movement relative to said receiving tank for removing the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, a primary separation unit including settling tank means on said vessels for separating, by gravity, said pollutant from the water collected from the waterway, a first transfer assembly including a first pump means connecting said settling tank means in fluid communication with said receiving tank for transferring, under pressure, said pollutant from said receiving tank to said settling tank means, a secondary separation unit on said vessel including means for further separating the remaining water from said previously separated pollutant, a second transfer assembly including a second pump means connecting said settling tank means in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for transferring, under pressure, the previously separated pollutant from said settling tank means to said secondary separation unit, said settling tank means comprises a plurality of settling tanks, each having an inlet and outlet, said settling tanks are of a sealed construction, supplemental pressure means is operably connected bwtween said first pumping means and said settling tanks to facilitate the removal of the contents of said settling tanks, said supplemental pressure means including manifold means connecting the respective interiors of said settling tanks in fluid communication with one another, a first selectively actuatable valve means operably connected to the outlet of said settling tanks for selective controlling the tanks therethrough, and a second selectively actuatable valve means operably connected to the inlet of each of said settling tanks for selectively interconnecting one or more of said settling tanks with one another to control the flow of pollutant thereto whereby the pressure in those tanks having their outlets open is increased to increase the flow pressure of the pollutant therefrom.

Claim 26

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, a receiving tank supported on said vessel for collecting pollutant therein, said receiving tank being supported for independent floating movement in said waterway and relative to said vessel so that the tank may float at different levels with respect to the surface of the waterway depending upon the quantity of pollutant therein, a scoop assembly movably mounted on and arranged for independent movement relative to said receiving tank for removing the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, a primary separation unit including settling tank means on said vessels for separating, by gravity, said pollutant from the water collected from the waterway, a first transfer assembly including a first pump means connecting said settling tank means in fluid communication with said receiving tank for transferring, under pressure, said pollutant from said receiving tank to said settling tank means, a secondary separation unit on said vessel including means for further separating the remaining water from said previously separated pollutant, a second transfer assembly including a second pump means connecting said settling tank means in fluid communication with said secondary separation unit for transferring, under pressure, the previously separated pollutant from said settling tank means to said secondary separation unit, said settling tank means comprises a plurality of settling tanks, each having an inlet and outlet, said settling tanks are of a sealed construction, supplemental pressure means is operably connected bwtween said first pumping means and said settling tanks to facilitate the removal of the contents of said settling tanks, said supplemental pressure means including manifold means connecting the respective interiors of said settling tanks in fluid communication with one another, a first selectively actuatable valve means operably connected to the outlet of said settling tanks for selective controlling the tanks therethrough, and a second selectively actuatable valve means operably connected to the inlet of each of said settling tanks for selectively interconnecting one or more of said settling tanks with one another to control the flow of pollutant thereto whereby the pressure in those tanks having their outlets open is increased to increase the flow pressure of the pollutant therefrom.

Claim 27

A scooping apparatus for use in an installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways of the type including a vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, said apparatus comprising: a receiving tank for collecting pollutant therein, mounting means connected to said receiving tank for mounting said receiving tank on said vessel and being adapted for attachment to said vessel, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, said receiving tank being movably connected to said mounting means to enable independent floating movement of said receiving tank in said waterway and relative to said vessel whereby said receiving tank may float at different levels with respect to the surface of the waterway depending upon the quantity of pollutant therein, positioning means connected to said scoop assembly for positioning said outer end of said scoop assembly at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway, and said scoop assembly is movably mounted on said receiving tank whereby said scoop assembly can move relative to said receiving tank to maintain said outer end at said predetermined level with respect to the surface of the waterway as said receiving tank floats in said waterway and relative to said vessel.

Claim 28

A scooping apparatus for use in an installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways of the type including a vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, said apparatus comprising: a receiving tank for collecting pollutant therein, mounting means connected to said receiving tank for mounting said receiving tank on said vessel and being adapted for attachment to said vessel, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, said receiving tank being movably connected to said mounting means to enable independent floating movement of said receiving tank in said waterway and relative to said vessel whereby said receiving tank may float at different levels with respect to the surface of the waterway depending upon the quantity of pollutant therein, positioning means connected to said scoop assembly for positioning said outer end of said scoop assembly at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway, and said scoop assembly is movably mounted on said receiving tank whereby said scoop assembly can move relative to said receiving tank to maintain said outer end at said predetermined level with respect to the surface of the waterway as said receiving tank floats in said waterway and relative to said vessel.

Claim 29

A scooping apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said scoop assembly includes a scoop portion adjacent said outer end, said scoop portion is pivotally connected to said ramp portion for directing pollutant onto said ramp, said scoop portion having a front end projecting outwardly in said one direction from said ramp portion, and said positioning means is connected to said scoop portion for positioning said front end of said scoop portion at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway.

Claim 30

A scooping apparatus in accordance with claim 25, wherein said scoop portion is hingedly connected to said ramp portion, said ramp portion is hingedly connected to said receiving tank, said receiving tank is slidably connected to said mounting means to enable sliding movement of said receiving tank relative to said vessel when said mounting means is connected to said vessel, said positioning means comprises air tanks adapted to be filled with water, said tanks including valve means to enable water to enter and be evacuated from said tanks, and said air tanks are connected to a source of pressurized air for controlling the quantity of water in said tanks to adjust the position of the front end of said scoop portion with respect to the level of said waterway.

Claim 31

A scooping apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said receiving tank is slidably connected to said mounting means whereby said receiving tank may move relative to said vessel when connected to said vessel by said mounting means.

Claim 32

A scooping apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said ramp portion is pivotally connected to said receiving tank.

Claim 33

A scooping apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said positioning means comprises floatation means for positioning said scoop assembly at said predetermined level in said waterway.

Claim 34

A scooping apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein said floatation means comprises air tanks for adjustably controlling the position of said scoop assembly with respect to the level of said waterway.

Claim 35

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, a receiving tank mounted on said vessel being movable relative to the surface of said waterway and to said vessel and adapted to collect pollutant therein, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from one said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith. said receiving tank is supported by said vessel for independent floating movement in said waterway relative to said vessel, said scoop assembly is adjustably movable with respect to said receiving tank and includes means operably connected thereto for positioning said outer end at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, separation means on said vessel for separating said pollutant, from any water collected therewith, said separation means comprises a plurality of centrifuges, each centrifuge having an inlet, a water outlet and a pollutant outlet, a first conduit means connected in fluid communication between said receiving means and said inlet for directing said pollutant from said receiving means to said centrifuges, a second conduit means connected to said pollutant outlet for directing said separated pollutant from said centrifuges to a storage facility and for discharging said separated water, a third conduit means connected in fluid communication between the pollutant outlet of one of said centrifuges and the inlet of the other of said centrifuges for directing separated pollutant from said one centrifuge to the other centrifuge, selective-actuatable valve means including a plurality of valve operably connected to said conduit means for directing the flow therethrough, said valve means includes, a first valve group for closing-off said third conduit means and said inlet to said one centrifuge to prevent pollutant flow from said receiving means to said other centrifuge and from said one centrifuge to said other centrifuge for operating said centrifuges independently of one another when all of the other valves are open, a second valve group for closing-off the flow of said pollutant to said inlet of said other centrifuge and from said pollutant outlet of said one centrifuge to said storage facility, and opening up said third conduit means for flow from said one centrifuge to the other centrifuge for series operation of said centrifuges when all of the other valves are open, and a third valve group for closing off the flow through said conduit means when all other valves are open for parallel operation of said centrifuges.

Claim 36

An installation for the removal and recovery of pollutants from waterways, comprising a main vessel adapted for movement on the surface of the waterway, a receiving tank mounted on said vessel being movable relative to the surface of said waterway and to said vessel and adapted to collect pollutant therein, a scoop assembly mounted on and projecting outwardly in one direction from one said receiving tank and having an inner end connected in fluid communication with said receiving tank and an outer end adapted to be disposed below the surface of the waterway for scooping the pollutant from the surface of the waterway and directing it into said receiving tank along with any water collected therewith. said receiving tank is supported by said vessel for independent floating movement in said waterway relative to said vessel, said scoop assembly is adjustably movable with respect to said receiving tank and includes means operably connected thereto for positioning said outer end at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of said waterway, said scoop assembly includes an upwardly inclined ramp portion for directing the collected pollutant and water into said receiving tank whereby the pollutant is forced up the ramp portion into said receiving tank upon movement of said vessel generally in said one direction, separation means on said vessel for separating said pollutant, from any water collected therewith, said separation means comprises a plurality of centrifuges, each centrifuge having an inlet, a water outlet and a pollutant outlet, a first conduit means connected in fluid communication between said receiving means and said inlet for directing said pollutant from said receiving means to said centrifuges, a second conduit means connected to said pollutant outlet for directing said separated pollutant from said centrifuges to a storage facility and for discharging said separated water, a third conduit means connected in fluid communication between the pollutant outlet of one of said centrifuges and the inlet of the other of said centrifuges for directing separated pollutant from said one centrifuge to the other centrifuge, selective-actuatable valve means including a plurality of valve operably connected to said conduit means for directing the flow therethrough, said valve means includes, a first valve group for closing-off said third conduit means and said inlet to said one centrifuge to prevent pollutant flow from said receiving means to said other centrifuge and from said one centrifuge to said other centrifuge for operating said centrifuges independently of one another when all of the other valves are open, a second valve group for closing-off the flow of said pollutant to said inlet of said other centrifuge and from said pollutant outlet of said one centrifuge to said storage facility, and opening up said third conduit means for flow from said one centrifuge to the other centrifuge for series operation of said centrifuges when all of the other valves are open, and a third valve group for closing off the flow through said conduit means when all other valves are open for parallel operation of said centrifuges.

Claim 37

An installation in accordance with claim 31, including a fourth conduit means connected in fluid communication to said first conduit means for directly discharging pollutant to said storage facility, and said valve means includes a fourth valve group for closingoff the flow of pollutant to said inlet of said centrifuge and opening-up said fourth conduit means for by-passing said centrifuges.

Claim 38

An installation in accordance with claim 32, including supplemental pump means operably connected in said fourth conduit means for providing supplemental pressure to the flow of pollutant from said first conduit means to said storage facility.

Claim 39

An installation in accordance with claim 31, including a fourth conduit means connected across said fourth valve group in fluid communication between said first conduit means and said inlet of said centrifuges, supplemental pump means operably connected in said fourth conduit means for increasing the flow pressure of said pollutant to said centrifuges when said third and fourth valve groups are closed and all other valves are open.