Patent ID: 8696242
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B63B,E02B,Y02A

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for removing oil or other pollutants from a water surface, comprising: a) a floating platform having an overall length, a bow end, a stern end, spaced apart pontoons including a left pontoon with a left inner side wall, a right pontoon with a right inner side wall, a rear wall, an intake front opening, a platform floor, and a bottom, said left inner and said right inner side walls being generally parallel and each said inner side wall extending over said overall length; b) each pontoon having an interior with one or more ballast tanks which adjust the platform floor relative to a level of oil on the water surface; c) said pontoons each having a front end portion at the bow end and a rear end portion at the stern end, wherein said rear wall connects to the rear end portions of said pontoons and to said floor to form a closed end portion at said stern end that traps oil in between the pontoons and in front of the rear wall; d) wherein the platform floor has a forward edge at said bow end, a rear edge, the elevation of the said forward and rear edges being adjustable with said ballast tanks to define an oil intake elevation so that the oil flows from the front opening at said forward edge and across the floor to the rear edge; e) a rear holding tank at said stern end that is below the floor, in front of the rear wall and in between the said inner side walls that collects oil that flows from the intake and platform floor; f) a grating that is above the holding tank and that receives flow from the intake front opening and floor, the grating extending over a majority of the area surrounded by the pontoon inner side walls, the rear wall, and the floor rear edge; g) a pumping unit that includes a flow line connected to the rear holding tank that moves the oil from the rear holding tank to a storage area that does not affect the one or more ballast tanks of the platform; and h) wherein each pontoon, the platform floor and the ballast tanks each extend over a majority of said overall length.