US5108591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil spill recovery system
Assignee: AREA RECYCLING Inc MANITOWOC WI A CORP OF WI
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Filing: 1991-04-03
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2011-04-03
Abstract
Abstract An oil spill recovery system for collecting spilled oil or other petrochemicals from the surface of water, for separating the collected oil and water, and for separately distributing these liquids to desired destinations. Oil is recovered from the surface of water by a collector head that creates a vortex of vacuumed air which lifts and skims the oil from the water. Once the oil is in the collector head, it is transferred to a separation chamber where the oil and water separate. Sensor devices inside the separation chamber monitor the oil/water phase line and the upper oil level. The sensor devices, continuously monitored by a control processor, signal a series of pumps and valves to discharge either water or oil or both when the liquids have reached certain levels within the separation chamber. The control processor has an operational sequence that provides for automatic control of the oil spill recovery system.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse J. Hagan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:00
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; E02B15/106; E02B15/107; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for recovering spilled oil from the surface of a body of water comprising: (a) a collector head for lifting and skimming oil and water from the surface, the collector head comprising, (1) floats supporting a top plate above the surface; (2) a liquid intake pipe attached to the top plate with the liquid intake pipe having an angular opening below said top plate with an auger fin in the opening thereof for providing a vortex of vacuumed air, and the liquid intake pipe being supported by means allowing vertical adjustment between the top plate and the surface, and horizontal and vertical rotation with respect to the top plate; (3) a flexible hose connected to the liquid intake pipe; (b) an oil/water separator comprising; (1) a separation chamber for receiving oil and water collected from the collector head and for separating the oil and water into an oil phase and a water phase; (2) a vacuum pump means for transferring oil and water from the collector head to the separation chamber; (3) an oil pump for discharging oil from the separation chamber; (4) a water pump for discharging water from the separation chamber; (5) first sensor means for monitoring the level of all liquid in the separation chamber; (6) second sensor means for monitoring the phase line between the oil phase and water phase; (c) hose means between the flex hose of the collector head and the separation chamber for transferring oil and water therebetween; and, (d) a control processor, responsive to electrical signals from the first and second sensor means, for controlling the vacuum pump, oil pump and water pump.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for recovering spilled oil from the surface of a body of water comprising: (a) a collector head for lifting and skimming oil and water from the surface, the collector head comprising, (1) floats supporting a top plate above the surface; (2) a liquid intake pipe attached to the top plate with the liquid intake pipe having an angular opening below said top plate with an auger fin in the opening thereof for providing a vortex of vacuumed air, and the liquid intake pipe being supported by means allowing vertical adjustment between the top plate and the surface, and horizontal and vertical rotation with respect to the top plate; (3) a flexible hose connected to the liquid intake pipe; (b) an oil/water separator comprising; (1) a separation chamber for receiving oil and water collected from the collector head and for separating the oil and water into an oil phase and a water phase; (2) a vacuum pump means for transferring oil and water from the collector head to the separation chamber; (3) an oil pump for discharging oil from the separation chamber; (4) a water pump for discharging water from the separation chamber; (5) first sensor means for monitoring the level of all liquid in the separation chamber; (6) second sensor means for monitoring the phase line between the oil phase and water phase; (c) hose means between the flex hose of the collector head and the separation chamber for transferring oil and water therebetween; and, (d) a control processor, responsive to electrical signals from the first and second sensor means, for controlling the vacuum pump, oil pump and water pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, with the floats having a flattened spheroidal shape; the top plate having an equilateral triangular shape; and the intake pipe being connected to the center of the top plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, with the collector head further comprising a finger screen around the collector head, and a cross pin screen within the opening of the liquid intake pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid intake pipe is detachable from the top plate for use as a crevice tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auger fin comprises a curvilinear plate attached to the opening of the oil intake pipe at an inclined position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collector head further comprises a bottom pan attached to the top plate and positioned below the liquid intake pipe and below the surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the first sensor means comprises an upper sensor arm, and the second sensor means comprises a lower sensor arm, each of the sensor arms being hinged to a stud channel within the separation chamber and each comprising; a sensor bulb having an adjustable buoyancy; and a plurality of level switches, each switch being separately calibrated to provide an electrical signal when its corresponding sensor arm rises or lowers to a predetermined position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the buoyancy of the sensor bulb on the upper sensor arm is adjusted so that it floats at the upper surface of the oil phase in the separation chamber; and wherein the buoyancy of the sensor bulb on the lower sensor arm is adjusted so that it floats at the phase line between the oil phase and water phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the upper sensor arm further comprises a first level switch calibrated to signal the control processor to start the oil pump when the oil rises to a predetermined level within the separation chamber, a second level switch calibrated to signal the control processor to stop the oil pump when the oil level drops to a predetermined level, and a third level switch calibrated to signal the control process to shut down the entire system in the event of an overflow; and wherein the lower sensor arm further comprises a fourth level switch calibrated to signal the control processor to start the water pump when the oil/water phase line rises to a predetermined level, and a fifth level switch calibrated to signal the control processor to stop the water pump when the oil/water phase line drops to a predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the level switches is a mercury level switch calibrated to monitor a predetermined tilt angle of its respective sensor arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sensor means each comprise a capacitance sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sensor means each comprise an optical level sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oil pump and water pump are within the separation chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a discharge manifold having an oil passageway connected to the oil pump and a water passageway connected to the water pump for separately discharging the oil and water through a single opening in the wall of the separation chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising an oil gate valve and a water gate valve connected to the discharge manifold for controlling the discharge of oil and water therefrom.
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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) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |