Abstract:
A device for separating water immiscible hydrocarbons from water contained on vessel decks by spill rails with at least one scupper comprises a rigid liquid impermeable body adapted to be attached on the inside of a spill rail at a scupper and which defines with the spill rail a chamber that has an opening at the bottom end of the body which opening is at a level below the bottom of the scupper.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/508,359 filed Oct. 3, 2003, which is based on Information and Belief (03 IB-001) 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/508,359 filed Oct. 3, 2003. 
     The present invention relates broadly to the separation of water from water immiscible hydrocarbons. More specifically, the invention relates to a separation device for use on barges and similar vessels with spill rails. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Many maritime vessels such as barges that are used to transport oil and other water immiscible hydrocarbons are provided with spill rails to contain any oil that might be accidentally spilled on the barge deck during loading or unloading operations thereby preventing the undesirable discharge of the oil into the environment. While these spill rails are effective for their intended purpose, they can also result in the accumulation of water on the deck during periods of heavy rainfall. This accumulated water needs to be discharged overboard, and even though any prior spills may have been cleaned the accumulated water can contain anything from patches of water immiscible hydrocarbons floating on the surface of the water up to a thin layer covering substantially the entire surface area of the accumulated water. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for barges with spill rails which is effective in separating water from water immiscible hydrocarbons. Another object is to effect such separations without any substantial holdup of the water. Another object is to provide such an apparatus at minimal expense. 
     These and other objectives will become apparent from a reading of the appended description. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The separation device of the invention is a rigid liquid impermeable body adapted to be attached on the inside of a vessel spill rail at a scupper and which with the spill rail defines a chamber that has an opening at the bottom of the body. The membrane is of sufficient length to extend to a level below the bottom of the scupper but above the deck where the device is attached to the spill rail. When sufficient water accumulates on the deck to a level above the bottom of the scupper, separations may be effected by opening the scupper thereby allowing the water to flow under the membrane of the separation device and out through the scupper. So long as the water level on the deck remains above the bottom of the scupper the water immiscible hydrocarbons will be retained on the deck and not discharged into the environment. Thus, use of the device of the invention provides a method for preventing the discharge of water immiscible hydrocarbons floating on water contained on the deck of a vessel by spill rails. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sketch of a vessel having spill rails and scuppers to which the present invention is particularly suitable. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred device of the invention mounted on a spill rail of a vessel. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the device of the invention. 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  are top views illustrating various shapes of the device of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic top view illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1  there is shown a maritime vessel  10 , such as a barge having a spill rail  11  for the containment of accidentally spilled liquid on the deck of the vessel. A plurality of scuppers  12  are provided in the spill rail. Means (now shown) such as scupper plugs are provided for each scupper to open or close the scupper as the situation dictates. For example, during loading or unloading of a liquid cargo, such as a water immiscible hydrocarbon, the scuppers will be closed to prevent discharge of any accidental spill over board into the surrounding body of water except when using the separation device of the invention as described herein. 
     The separation device of the invention is a rigid liquid impermeable body that is adapted to be attached on the inside of a vessel spill rail at a scupper. The body may be made of any suitable material including metals such as steel and aluminum, and plastics. 
     A preferred embodiment of the device of the invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment the separation device  20  is a rigid liquid impermeable body that is adapted to be removably attached to the inside of a vessel spill rail  11  at a scupper  12 . As shown the device  20  comprises three plates, a first plate  21  and two parallel, spaced apart side plates  22  that extend perpendicularly from first plate  21 . The width of plate  21  is at least equal to and preferably greater than the width of the scupper  12 . Also, the spacing of the side plates are at least equal to the width of the scupper. The length of plates  21  and  22  are sufficient to at least extend from the top to the bottom of the scupper. Preferably the length of plates  21  and  22  extends from the top of the spill rail  11  to at least the bottom of the scupper  12  and preferably below the bottom of the scupper but above the deck. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , side plates  22  extend upwardly above the spill rail  12 . This upper portion  23  is wider than the portion of plate  22  that extends below the spill rail  12 . Also, the upper portion  23  has an inverted u-shaped cut out of a size sufficient to fit in a snug relationship over the spill rail  12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the device  20  may be and preferably is provided with a pair of flanges  24 , extending perpendicularly from plates  22  at the end where the plates engage the spill rail  11 . These flanges may be made of any suitable flexible material such as rubber and plastics; hydrostatic pressure provides the seal to prevent water immiscible hydrocarbon from entering from the side of the device. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3  when device  20  is mounted on the inside of the spill rail  11  it defines a chamber  33  between the spill rail and the device. Also as can be seen in  FIG. 3  the device  20  extends to the bottom of the scupper  12  but is sufficiently above the deck  35  to provide a channel  36  for the flow of water. 
     In operation, with the scupper closed water can accumulate on the deck. In such an instance any residual amounts of an immiscible hydrocarbon that may be on the deck will accumulate on the top of the water as floating patches  34  or even as a more continuous layer (not shown). When the scupper  12  is opened the water will flow under device  20  through the channel  36  and out through the scupper  12 . As long as the water level is above the bottom of device  20  the immiscible hydrocarbons will be retained on board and not discharged. Residual water and oil is cleaned using oil sorbent materials or removed to a container using a portable pump or bailer. 
     Although in a preferred embodiment the device of the invention is substantially rectangular in shape other shapes such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 6  are within the scope of the invention. 
     In yet another embodiment, in lieu of the flanges  24  of  FIG. 2  resilient sealing means may be secured to the faces of the device  20  that is in contact with the spill rail. This is illustrated in  FIG. 7  in the context of a rectangular device  20  where the resilient sealing means  70  forms the requisite seal. Sealing means  60  may be constructed of rubber or plastics including dense foams. 
     The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific embodiments, structural and procedural details disclosed herein but also encompasses modifications or equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.