Patent ID: 8388849
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: E02B,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method of skimming oil from the surface of water using oil absorbent pads comprised of the steps of: placing a plurality of oil absorbent pads with a porous structural backing in a vertical orientation along a common horizontal plane; pinning said absorbent pads into place against the porous structural backing to secure them in a stable position; mounting said pads and structural backing to the bow of a watercraft such that the water pads are exposed to the surface of the water; moving said watercraft through the water at a controlled speed to expose the pads to floating oil on the surface of the water; periodically adjusting the vertical height of the pads as the area in contact with the surface of the water becomes oil saturated and to allow unsaturated areas of each pad to have access to the surface of the water for further oil absorption; when the pads become substantially saturated with oil, ceasing forward motion of the watercraft, elevating the pads out of the water, removing them from the structural backing, and replacing them with clean absorbent pads, returning the clean absorbent pads to the surface of the water and continuing forward motion of the watercraft.