US3653510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil skimming method and apparatus
Assignee: Western Atlas International Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-27
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-04-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for skimming an oil film from the surface of a large body of water including a towed funnel assembly with a flexible cover and side skirts of impermeable sheet material with floats to keep the leading edge of the cover spaced above the surface of the water so that the oil film will pass beneath it, with the remaining portions of the cover supported on the floating oil, a bottom panel of netting to hold the side skirts in downwardly projecting position to confine the oil laterally, while permitting the water beneath it to escape freely, and a sump at the apex of the funnel to receive the oil for transfer to storage vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh J Fitzgerald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:30
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/048; E02B15/08; E02B15/0842; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for concentrating an oil film on the surface of a body of water with a tapered funnel-shaped assembly having a flexible cover of sheet material substantially impervious and impermeable to oil, the bottom of said assembly being open to permit passage of water from said assembly, and a towable sump located at the apex of said funnel assembly, which method comprises: towing said funnel assembly in a direction perpendicular to the mouth of said funnel; supporting the leading edge of the cover at intervals along the length thereof to maintain the leading edge above the surface of the oil film while towing said funnel assembly to confine the oil beneath the surface of the cover; concentrating the oil toward the trailing end of the funnel assembly; allowing water to pass from the funnel assembly through the bottom of said assembly; and collecting the concentrated oil at the sump of said funnel assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of removing an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 2 including the steps of: withdrawing the oil from the sump from a plurality of longitudinally spaced points; collecting the withdrawn oil in a manifold; and pumping the oil from the manifold to a proximately located storage vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of removing an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 3 wherein oil is withdrawn from the sump at points which are at different graduated levels decreasing in height from the leading end toward the trailing end of the sump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of removing an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 3 wherein oil is withdrawn from points which are each located in separate longitudinally spaced chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of removing an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 3 which includes the additional step of: towing a storage vessel between the funnel assembly and the vessel towing said assembly to serve as a reservoir for the oil pumped from the sump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water comprising: a tapered cover of flexible sheet material substantially impervious and impermeable to oil; and skirt portions extending from the trailing tapered edges of said cover, said skirt portions extending down below the surface of the water for enclosing said oil and directing the oil toward the apex end of said tapered cover, as the funnel is towed in a direction perpendicular to the leading edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 7 which also includes: float means along the wide end of said tapered cover to keep the leading edge spaced above the surface of the water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 8 which also includes: a bottom member freely permeable to water underlying said cover and secured to the edges of said skirt portions to limit their outward movement and assure their extension downwardly into the water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 8 which also includes: a sump located at the apex end of said tapered cover to receive the oil skimmed from the surface by the funnel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bottom member is made of netting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 8 which also includes: means for keeping the leading edges of said funnel assembly extended laterally.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for keeping the leading edges of said funnel assembly extended laterally includes otterboards attached at the outer ends of said leading edge and oriented to convert forward motion of said funnel assembly into outwardly directed lateral forces at the ends of the leading edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 10 wherein said sump includes a narrow enclosure effectively constituting rearward extensions of said cover and said skirt portions with the forward end of said enclosure communicating with the narrow apex end of said funnel assembly and with said skirt portion extending around the rearward end of said sump to close the same, while leaving the bottom of said sump open to allow the escape of water beneath the oil collected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 13 wherein said sump includes vertical partitions connected to and extending transversly between said skirt portions to divide said enclosure into a plurality of longitudinally spaced chambers, and wherein a plurality of outlet tubes extend vertically upward, one in each of said chambers, to predetermined levels, with said outlet tubes being connected to said fluid lines for drawing oil from the upper portions of said chambers into said fluid lines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A funnel assembly for skimming an oil film from the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 15 wherein the lower edges of said partitions and the upper ends of said outlet tubes are positioned at graduated levels, decreasing in height from the leading end toward the trailing end of said sump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
An assembly for concentrating an oil film on the surface of a body of water comprising: a cover of flexible sheet material substantially impervious and impermeable to oil; means for supporting said cover above the surface of the water, and skirt portions extending from the edges of said cover down below the surface of the water to enclose oil passing under said cover when the assembly is towed in a direction perpendicular to the opening, and directing the oil toward the trailing end of the cover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly for concentrating an oil film on the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 17 wherein said cover is funnel shaped, the opening in said skirt portions forms the mouth of the funnel and oil is directed toward the apex of the funnel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly for concentrating an oil film on the surface of a body of water as set forth in claim 18 which also includes a sump located at the trailing end of said cover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |