US4120788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil slick removal and recovery system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-05-23
•
Granted: 1978-10-17
•
Expires: 1997-05-23
Abstract
Abstract This system provides a method by which oil slicks are contained, removed and recovered from a water surface by providing a layer of sorbent material, such as foam, under the oil slick and above the oil slick to sandwich the oil. A foam spreading apparatus is provided which includes a floating boom attached to a towing vessel, the boom having spreader units disposed above and below the oil slick to discharge the foam forming a sandwich for the oil slick. The apparatus includes a harvesting vessel for cutting and shredding the foam sandwich and a recovery vessel for separating the oil from the strips.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Ellis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:56
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/681; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface comprising the steps of: (a) forming a layer of floatable oil sorbent material below the oil, (b) allowing said layer to rise and contact the oil under-surface to sorb the oil, and (c) removing the oil impregnated layer from the water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface comprising the steps of: (a) forming a layer of floatable oil sorbent material below the oil, (b) allowing said layer to rise and contact the oil under-surface to sorb the oil, and (c) removing the oil impregnated layer from the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 1, including the additional step of: (d) forming another layer of oil sorbent material above the oil to cooperate with the lower layer to form a floating oil sorbent sandwich.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface comprising the steps of: (a) forming a floatable, oil sorbent foam layer below the oil, (b) forming a floatable, oil sorbent foam layer above the oil to cooperate with the first layer to form a floating foam sandwich, (c) allowing the foam layers to contact the oil under and upper surfaces to absorb the oil, and (d) removing the oil impregnated foam sandwich from the water.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface comprising the steps of: (a) forming a floatable, oil sorbent foam layer below the oil, (b) forming a floatable, oil sorbent foam layer above the oil to cooperate with the first layer to form a floating foam sandwich, (c) allowing the foam layers to contact the oil under and upper surfaces to absorb the oil, and (d) removing the oil impregnated foam sandwich from the water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A mether of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 3, including the additional step of: (e) forming a second floatable foam layer below the lower foam layer having a different density than said lower foam layer and providing a sealer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 4, in which: (f) the first foam layer has a density of substantially 0.50 to 1.0 pounds per cubic foot, and (g) the second foam layer has a density of substantially 1.0 to 1.50 pounds per cubic foot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 4, including the additional step of: (f) forming a second floatable foam layer above the upper foam layer having a different density than said upper foam layer and providing a sealer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 3, including the additional step of: (e) removing the oil from the foam layers of the oil impregnated foam sandwich.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 3, including the additional step of: (e) cutting the oil impregnated foam sandwich into elongate strips to facilitate harvesting and oil removal, and (f) removing the oil from said strips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface as defined in claim 3, in which: (e) cutting the oil impregnated foam sandwich into elongate strips to facilitate harvesting and oil removal, (f) shredding the elongate strips to further facilitate oil removal, and (g) removing the oil from the shredded strips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for removing oil from a water surface comprising: (a) a vessel, (b) a supply of floatable oil sorbent material, and (c) boom means attached to said vessel, said boom means carrying sorbent material spreading means having a discharge portion disposed below the oil and adapted to foam a layer of floatable sorbent material below the oil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for removing oil from a water surface comprising: (a) a vessel, (b) a supply of floatable oil sorbent material, and (c) boom means attached to said vessel, said boom means carrying sorbent material spreading means having a discharge portion disposed below the oil and adapted to foam a layer of floatable sorbent material below the oil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which: (d) said boom means carries sorbent material spreading means having a discharge portion disposed above the oil and adapted to form a layer of floatable material above the oil and cooperate with said lower layer to form an oil sorbent sandwich.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for removing oil from a water surface comprising: (a) a vessel, (b) a supply of floatable oil sorbent foam, and (c) boom means attached to said vessel, said boom means carrying foam spreading means having a discharge portion disposed below the oil and adapted to form an oil sorbent foam layer below the oil and foam spreading means having a discharge portion disposed above the oil and adapted to form an oil sorbent foam layer above the oil said layers cooperating to form a foam sandwich for the oil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for removing oil from a water surface comprising: (a) a vessel, (b) a supply of floatable oil sorbent foam, and (c) boom means attached to said vessel, said boom means carrying foam spreading means having a discharge portion disposed below the oil and adapted to form an oil sorbent foam layer below the oil and foam spreading means having a discharge portion disposed above the oil and adapted to form an oil sorbent foam layer above the oil said layers cooperating to form a foam sandwich for the oil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which: (d) a supply of floatable sealing foam is provided, and (e) the boom means carries a second foam spreading means having a discharge portion disposed below the oil and adapted to form a seal layer below the first lower foam layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, in which: (f) the boom means carries a second foam spreading means having a discharge portion disposed above the oil and adapted to form a seal layer above the first upper foam layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which: (d) oil removing means is provided for removing the oil from the foam layers of the oil impregnated foam sandwich.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which: (d) foam cutting means is provided for cutting the oil impregnated foam sandwich into elongate strips to facilitate harvesting and oil removal, and (e) oil removing means is provided for removing the oil from the foam strips.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which: (d) foam cutting means is provided for cutting the oil impregnated foam sandwich into elongate strips to facilitate harvesting and oil removal, (e) shredding means is provided for shredding the elongate strips to further facilitate removal of oil, and (f) oil removing means is provided for removing the oil from the foam strips.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which: (d) said foam spreading means include a plurality of upper and lower vertically spaced foam nozzles operatively carried lengthwise of the boom means in elevationally adjustable relation thereto, said upper and lower nozzles being respectively disposed in adjustably spaced relation above and below the oil.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface comprising the steps of: (a) forming a floatable, oil sorbent foam below the oil, and (b) allowing said foam to rise and contact the oil undersurface to sorb the oil.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of removing oil from a water surface comprising the steps of: (a) forming a floatable, oil sorbent foam below the oil, and (b) allowing said foam to rise and contact the oil undersurface to sorb the oil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for removing oil from a water surface comprising: (a) a vessel, (b) a supply of floatable oil sorbent foam, and (c) boom means attached to said vessel, said boom means carrying a plurality of foam spreading nozzles disposed lengthwise of the boom means at an elevation below the oil and connected to the foam supply to form foam below the oil.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for removing oil from a water surface comprising: (a) a vessel, (b) a supply of floatable oil sorbent foam, and (c) boom means attached to said vessel, said boom means carrying a plurality of foam spreading nozzles disposed lengthwise of the boom means at an elevation below the oil and connected to the foam supply to form foam below the oil.
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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) | 1981-10-16 | 1982-04-17 | 1982-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-16 | 1986-04-17 | 1986-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-16 | 1990-04-17 | 1990-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |