US4575426A — Method and apparatus employing oleophilic brushes…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

An apparatus for removing oil on a surface that is not oleophilic, where such surface is a body of water, a subtidal sea floor, a riverbed, a shoreline, or a beach, comprising: a. at least one brush, that has flexible, oleophilic bristles, connected to a support means such that a lower portion of said brush is in contact with said oil and an upper portion of said brush is above said oil; b. a motor means for moving said brush such that oil is drawn into the brush; and c. a means for removing said oil from said brush, such means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brush for removing said oil by suction from said brush.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 125 words

An apparatus for removing oil on a surface that is not oleophilic, where such surface is a body of water, a subtidal sea floor, a riverbed, a shoreline, or a beach, comprising: a. at least one brush, that has flexible, oleophilic bristles, connected to a support means such that a lower portion of said brush is in contact with said oil and an upper portion of said brush is above said oil; b. a motor means for moving said brush such that oil is drawn into the brush; and c. a means for removing said oil from said brush, such means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brush for removing said oil by suction from said brush.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said brush is cylindrical in shape and said moving of said brush is a rotating of said brush.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means can float on the surface of water.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means is capable of operation on a beach, shoreline, subtidal seafloor or riverbed.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bristles of said brush are comprised of olefin polymer fibers that are resilient, bend easily without losing their shape, and resist breakage on impact.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bristles of said brush are comprised of metal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bristles of said brush are comprised of plastic.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 10 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said brush is removable.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are at least two brushes.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said brushes are positioned parallel between said support means in catamaran style.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said brushes rotate in opposite directions toward each other.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said brushes operate independently and may rotate together or in opposite directions toward or away from each other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein there is a sump area positioned between said brushes and a suction means to remove oil from said sump area.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 1 where said apparatus is amphibious and said support means is capable of operation on a beach or shoreline as well as floatation on the surface of a body of water.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for removing oil floating upon a body of water comprising: a. at least two cylindrically shaped brushes that have flexible, oleophilic bristles and that are connected to a support means such that said brushes have a lower portion in contact with said oil and an upper portion above said water, said brushes being positioned parallel between said support means in catamaran style and said support means being capable of floatation; b. sump area positioned between said brushes, c. motor means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions toward each other such that oil is drawn into the brushes and oil not picked up by the brushes is moved by hydrodynamic force to be deposited between the brushes in said sump area; and d. means for removing said oil from said brushes and said sump area, such means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brushes and above said water.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for removing oil floating upon a body of water comprising: a. at least two cylindrically shaped brushes that have flexible, oleophilic bristles and that are connected to a support means such that said brushes have a lower portion in contact with said oil and an upper portion above said water, said brushes being positioned parallel between said support means in catamaran style and said support means being capable of floatation; b. sump area positioned between said brushes, c. motor means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions toward each other such that oil is drawn into the brushes and oil not picked up by the brushes is moved by hydrodynamic force to be deposited between the brushes in said sump area; and d. means for removing said oil from said brushes and said sump area, such means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brushes and above said water.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said suction is by air conveyance and said body of water is in the Arctic.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 106 words

An apparatus for removing submerged oil deposited upon a subtidal sea floor or riverbed beneath a body of water, comprising: a. at least one brush having flexible, oleophillic bristles connected to a support means floating on the surface of said water; b. a means for adjusting said brush so said brush may be positioned such that said brush has a lower portion in contact with said submerged oil for picking-up said oil; c. a motor means for moving said brush such that oil is drawn into the brush; and d. a means for removing oil from said brush, said means consisting essentially of a suction means.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 106 words

An apparatus for removing submerged oil deposited upon a subtidal sea floor or riverbed beneath a body of water, comprising: a. at least one brush having flexible, oleophillic bristles connected to a support means floating on the surface of said water; b. a means for adjusting said brush so said brush may be positioned such that said brush has a lower portion in contact with said submerged oil for picking-up said oil; c. a motor means for moving said brush such that oil is drawn into the brush; and d. a means for removing oil from said brush, said means consisting essentially of a suction means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the height or diameter of said brush is greater than the depth of the water above said submerged oil, said suction means is positioned adjacent to the upper portion of said brush above said water, and said suction means is an air conveyance system.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said suction means is positioned adjacent to the upper portion of said brush and is a water pump.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 91 words

An apparatus for removing submerged oil deposited upon the surface of a beach or shoreline, comprising: a. at least one brush having flexible, oleophilic bristles connected to a support means such that said brush has a lower portion in contact with said oil and an upper portion above said oil; b. motor means for moving the brush such that oil is drawn into said brush; and c. means for removing oil from said brush, said means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brush.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 91 words

An apparatus for removing submerged oil deposited upon the surface of a beach or shoreline, comprising: a. at least one brush having flexible, oleophilic bristles connected to a support means such that said brush has a lower portion in contact with said oil and an upper portion above said oil; b. motor means for moving the brush such that oil is drawn into said brush; and c. means for removing oil from said brush, said means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brush.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said apparatus is capable of operating on a surface that is pebbly or rocky without substantially disturbing such surface.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said apparatus is capable of removing viscous oil or tar balls from wet sand on said surface without clogging and without removing substantial amounts of sand from said surface.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for removing oil from a surface that is not oleophilic, where such surface is a body of water, a subtidal seafloor, a riverbed, a shoreline, or a beach, comprising: a. sweeping such surface with flexible, oleophilic bristles such that said oil is adsorbed on said bristles and drawn into the interstitial spaces between said bristles, and said bristles comprise at least one brush so that said sweeping of said surface may be easily controlled, and the removal of said oil thereby will be continuous and even without leaving behind streaks of said oil; b. removing said oil from said bristles and said interstitial spaces between said bristles by a means consisting essentially of suction; and c. depositing said oil in a collection tank.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for removing oil from a surface that is not oleophilic, where such surface is a body of water, a subtidal seafloor, a riverbed, a shoreline, or a beach, comprising: a. sweeping such surface with flexible, oleophilic bristles such that said oil is adsorbed on said bristles and drawn into the interstitial spaces between said bristles, and said bristles comprise at least one brush so that said sweeping of said surface may be easily controlled, and the removal of said oil thereby will be continuous and even without leaving behind streaks of said oil; b. removing said oil from said bristles and said interstitial spaces between said bristles by a means consisting essentially of suction; and c. depositing said oil in a collection tank.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said brush is cylindrical in shape and said sweeping of said surface is accomplished by rotating said brush.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said rotating causes said oil not picked up by said bristles to be moved by hydrodynamic force and deposited in a sump area.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said suction means is an air conveyor system.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-03-10	1989-09-09	1990-03-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-03-10	1993-09-09	1994-03-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-03-10	1997-09-09	1998-03-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus employing oleophilic brushes for oil spill clean-up

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