US4649281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil content monitor/control system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1985-07-02
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Granted: 1987-03-10
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Expires: 2005-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An oil content monitor/control unit system is configured to automatically nitor and control processed effluent from an associated oil/water separator so that if the processed effluent exceeds predetermined in-port or at-sea oil concentration limits, it is either recirculated to an associated oil/water separator via a ship's bilge for additional processing, or diverted to a holding tank for storage. On the other hand, if the oil concentration of the processed effluent is less than predetermined in-port or at-sea limits, it is discharged overboard.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray F. Schmitt
- 👤 Joseph A. Gavin
- 👤 Francis D. Kempel
- 👤 Charles N. Waltrick, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:54
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0214; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N21/53; G01N21/532; G01N33/00; G01N33/18; G01N33/1826; G01N33/1833; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/05; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3003; Y10T137/3006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for processing oil-contaminated ship bilge water for assured overboard discharge of effluent having an oil concentration only below a predetermined level, comprising: means processing bilge water for separating oil therefrom and expelling an effluent containing a reduced concentration of oil; means dispersing oil remaining in the expelled effluent into small droplets uniformly distributed throughout the effluent; means for extracting samples of the oil dispersed expelled effluent at regular time intervals as representative of the oil concentration therein; means for optically examining the samples to determine concentration of oil remaining in the expelled effluent; means providing electrical signals indicative of the oil in water concentration of the samples of expelled effluent; an effluent distributing valve unit; and, means processing the electrical signal for controlling the effluent distributing valve unit for directing effluent overboard when the oil concentration therein is below a predetermined level and back into the ship's bilge for further processing when the oil concentration is above the predetermined level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for processing oil-contaminated ship bilge water for assured overboard discharge of effluent having an oil concentration only below a predetermined level, comprising: means processing bilge water for separating oil therefrom and expelling an effluent containing a reduced concentration of oil; means dispersing oil remaining in the expelled effluent into small droplets uniformly distributed throughout the effluent; means for extracting samples of the oil dispersed expelled effluent at regular time intervals as representative of the oil concentration therein; means for optically examining the samples to determine concentration of oil remaining in the expelled effluent; means providing electrical signals indicative of the oil in water concentration of the samples of expelled effluent; an effluent distributing valve unit; and, means processing the electrical signal for controlling the effluent distributing valve unit for directing effluent overboard when the oil concentration therein is below a predetermined level and back into the ship's bilge for further processing when the oil concentration is above the predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 1 further including valve means for manually directing effluent from the line leading to the ship's bilge into a holding tank.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for processing oil-contaminated ship bilge water and discharging an effluent overboard only when the oil concentration is below a predetermined concentration, comprising: means separating oil from the bilge water and expelling an effluent containing a reduced concentration of oil; disperser means for uniformly distributing any oil still present in the expelled effluent into small droplets; means repeatedly extracting samples of the expelled effluent having uniformly distributed oil droplets; means passing light through the samples and measuring the ratio of light passed directly therethrough to light scattered by oil droplets therein; means providing electrical signals corresponding to the light ratios; an effluent distributing valve unit, and, means processing the electrical signals for operating the distributing valve unit for directing overboard discharge of effluent when the oil concentration therein is below a predetermined level and back into the ship's bilge when the oil concentration is above a predetermined level.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for processing oil-contaminated ship bilge water and discharging an effluent overboard only when the oil concentration is below a predetermined concentration, comprising: means separating oil from the bilge water and expelling an effluent containing a reduced concentration of oil; disperser means for uniformly distributing any oil still present in the expelled effluent into small droplets; means repeatedly extracting samples of the expelled effluent having uniformly distributed oil droplets; means passing light through the samples and measuring the ratio of light passed directly therethrough to light scattered by oil droplets therein; means providing electrical signals corresponding to the light ratios; an effluent distributing valve unit, and, means processing the electrical signals for operating the distributing valve unit for directing overboard discharge of effluent when the oil concentration therein is below a predetermined level and back into the ship's bilge when the oil concentration is above a predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 3 including additional valve means which upon manual manipulation directs effluent having an oil concentration above a predetermined level into a holding tank.
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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) | 1990-03-09 | 1990-09-08 | 1991-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-09 | 1994-09-08 | 1995-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-09 | 1998-09-08 | 1999-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |