Patent US3309113A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4130489A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for removing rainbows from flowing water

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-09-26
•
Granted: 1978-12-19
•
Expires: 1997-09-26
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for removing from the surface of water oil contamination particularly in the form of very thin films known as "rainbows". It comprises a plurality of purifying stages each containing a plurality of small independent free-floating pads of buoyant material preferentially absorptive of oil in the presence of water, and means directing the contaminated water to pass through the purifying stages in succession. Two embodiments are shown, one adapted for use to purify the surfaces of bodies of running water such as streams or canals, and one for use in purifying effluents such as bilge water of vessels being pumped from them.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerall A. Black

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 20:34
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/045; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/924

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
Apparatus for removing oil from moving water, comprising, in combination: first and second purifier stages comprising chambers containing free floating pads of buoyant material preferentially absorptive of oil in the presence of water, each said chamber having a bottom comprising a downwardly and inwardly sloping solid baffle portion and an abutting horizontal perforated portion supporting the buoyant material; means admitting liquid to be treated to fall on said baffle portion of said first stage; and means mounting the second chamber below and vertically spaced from first chamber so that liquid flowing from the perforated bottom portion of the bottom of said first chamber impinges upon the baffle portion of said second chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
Apparatus for removing oil from moving water, comprising, in combination: first and second purifier stages comprising chambers containing free floating pads of buoyant material preferentially absorptive of oil in the presence of water, each said chamber having a bottom comprising a downwardly and inwardly sloping solid baffle portion and an abutting horizontal perforated portion supporting the buoyant material; means admitting liquid to be treated to fall on said baffle portion of said first stage; and means mounting the second chamber below and vertically spaced from first chamber so that liquid flowing from the perforated bottom portion of the bottom of said first chamber impinges upon the baffle portion of said second chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 148 words
Apparatus for removing a thin film of oil from the surface of a body of flowing water comprising, in combination: (a) at least one purifying stage comprising a chamber and float means for buoyantly supporting said chamber at the surface of a body of water with the bottom of said chamber beneath the surface and the top of said chamber above the surface, said chamber consisting of spaced apart perforated end walls for the flow of liquid therethrough and imperforate sidewalls connecting said end walls, said sidewalls being constructed and arranged to define a venturi flume channel within said chamber between said perforate end walls, and (b) free floating pads of buoyant material preferentially absorptive of oil located within said chamber so that said venturi channel increases the turbulence of liquid flowing through said chamber and assists in the preferential absorption of oil by said free floating pads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 148 words
Apparatus for removing a thin film of oil from the surface of a body of flowing water comprising, in combination: (a) at least one purifying stage comprising a chamber and float means for buoyantly supporting said chamber at the surface of a body of water with the bottom of said chamber beneath the surface and the top of said chamber above the surface, said chamber consisting of spaced apart perforated end walls for the flow of liquid therethrough and imperforate sidewalls connecting said end walls, said sidewalls being constructed and arranged to define a venturi flume channel within said chamber between said perforate end walls, and (b) free floating pads of buoyant material preferentially absorptive of oil located within said chamber so that said venturi channel increases the turbulence of liquid flowing through said chamber and assists in the preferential absorption of oil by said free floating pads.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US801679A Cited
US1536911A Cited
US3693796A Cited
US3779382A Cited
US3702657A Cited
US3770626A Cited
US3744257A Cited
US3752318A Cited
US3928205A Cited
US3904528A Cited
US3868319A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-12-18 1982-06-19 1982-12-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-12-18 1986-06-19 1986-12-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-12-18 1990-06-19 1990-12-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag