Amphibious oil spill absorbing machine

Claim 1

An amphibious oil spill absorbing machine comprising a chassis, at least one oil absorbing roller having an oil absorbing covering and being rotatably mounted transversely across the chassis and positioned with the lower periphery thereof below the chassis such that the chassis may be at least partially supported on land by the oil absorbing roller, flotation means adapted to float the machine in water and/or oil, said flotation means comprising vertically adjustable floats arranged to be raised relative to the chassis when the machine is operating on land and to be lowered when the machine is operating in water, the depth of immersion of the lower periphery of the oil absorbing roller being controllable by vertical adjustment of the floats relative to the chassis, propulsion means arranged to propel the machine forwardly when floating, rotation means arranged to rotate the oil absorbing roller in the direction of movement of the machine, at least one pitch roller arranged to bear against the oil absorbing roller compressing the oil absorbing covering and squeezing oil therefrom, and oil collection means arranged to collect oil squeezed from the covering, the oil absorbing covering comprising a demountable sleeve axially removable from the oil absorbing roller which provided with a flexible pneumatically supported peripheral surface arranged to be deflated for installation or removal of the sleeve, and to be inflated beneath the sleeve for engagement of the sleeve and for supporting the chassis of the machine on land.