Oil collection barge

Claim 1

In a barge for collecting, containing and concentrating oil on the surface of water comprising: a generally U-shaped longitudinally extending channel comprising two horizontally spaced, upstanding sidewalls with a bottom wall extending between them and adapted to receive water with oil on the surface thereof; an entrance opening at the forward end of said channel through which water and oil may enter said channel for flow therethrough; an upstanding wall at the rear end of said channel at which the oil on the surface of the water collects; and a vent at the bottom wall of said channel forward of said rear wall for allowing water to flow out of said channel; the improvement comprising: an adjustable flow splitter consisting of a generally V-shaped member extending generally transversely across said channel with the apex of the V forming a trailing edge of said vent and the sides of the V extending rearwardly; an adjustable vent plate extending transversely across said channel generally paralleling the apex of said V-shaped member and defining a leading edge of said vent; means for adjusting the position of said V-shaped member, thereby controlling the flow pattern of water at said vent; and means for adjusting the position of said vent plate. thereby controlling the size of said vent.