Oil collecting device

Two segments according to the invention, which form a brush structure created by brush fibres and plastic rings, are joined together by bolts or screws and sleeves with a water-permeable discoid hub, in such a way that a separate brush structure can be joined to the segments by stud bolts or similar, to the metal ring of which a plastic ring, equipped with brush fibres, is attached for the collection of very heavy oils. For the cleaning of the brush fibres of the segment and the good recovery of the oil being collected, there is a curved metal sheet, preferably on supports, as a continuation of the cleaner, and which forms a casing-like space, preventing the oil flowing off the brushes from returning to the water circulation and improving the collection capacity. The device is suitable, for instance, for the collection of all grades of oil, with continuously changing properties.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to an oil-collection device which includes a brush structure based on a plastic ring equipped with brush fibres. Such a device includes a brush structure, which is intended for the collection of oil, in particular it is intended for the collection of crude oil, which continuously changes its properties.

BACKGROUND

A previously known brush structure, which relates to a collector intended for ice conditions, according to Finnish patent application 20125704 (WO2014001613), has an oil-collecting brush structure that is, in its type properties, intended to be applied to the collection of all grades of oil. When moving from ice conditions to other conditions the greatest problem with the collector is its load-bearing frame. The need for the frame is questionable, indeed it can be even unnecessary. For this reason, a structural change is needed in the brush application, which will achieve a new philosophy and be more suitable for the collection of oil. Instead of the old frame-brush combination, a new brush application is required, which operates in waves, which has good penetration in a water flow, and which has an effective capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is intended to eliminate at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks and create a new brush application, in which an oil-collecting brush structure and a cleaning element are fitted together in such a way that a segment can be formed to act as a collecting component in all conditions. In addition, the intention is to manufacture the segments in such a way that a separate brush structure can be combined with them particularly for the collection of heavy oils.

Considerable advantages are gained with the aid of the invention. Thus, with the aid of the solution a new type of structure with a collector of several segments is created from the oil-collecting device, which is installed in oil-collecting devices or apparatuses, with the aim of collecting all possible grades of oil. In its type properties, the device according to the invention is indeed suitable for the collection of all grades of oil, even very heavy oils. The device is then suitable for collecting, for instance, crude oil with continuously changing properties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The point of departure of the invention is a segment, which is formed by a brush structure created by brush fibres and a plastic ring, in which the annular brush-fibre rows are attached to cover a wide surface area of the plastic ring. Two of the brush structures are combined opposite to each other, for example with bolts and sleeves, together with a water-penetrable discoid hub, in such a way that a separate brush structure can be combined with the segment for the collection of very heavy oils.

The hub made from metal or similar is intended, together with the plastic rings, to create and reinforce the load-bearing structure of the segment.

Between the hubs, it is intended to use sleeves or similar attachment solutions, which, together with the hubs, correspond in dimension to the combined length of the fibres and determine the lengths of the points of the cleaner, and the distances and angles between the plastic rings.

In one embodiment, the plastic rings are mutually interchangeable. Most suitably they are shaped in such a way that a second plastic ring equipped with brush fibres can joined to one ring, in order to form a brush segment.

In one embodiment, a raised inner part is formed in a metal ring or at least one plastic ring, and a recess is formed in at least one plastic ring or correspondingly a metal ring, the inner edge of which corresponds laterally to the outer edge of the raised inner part, so that the rings set opposite to each other can be wedged onto each other by pressing the raised inner part into the recess. The lateral outer edge of the raised inner part can have a corrugated inner edge, which is able to conform to the raised inner part, so that the rings can be firmly wedged onto each other.

The prior art of the cleaner is in the publication PCT/FI2014/050393 (WO 2014188075). The use of sleeves also facilitates the assembly of the segments. When combining several segments, certain sleeves must have a construction that can be penetrated by a bolt.

In principle, the combined segments form a self-supporting structure, in which the hub-shaft combination attached to both ends of the segments is sufficient. Thus, in place of the hubs between the segments there are only rings, which releases empty space inside the structure and lightens the weight of the structure.

To improve capacity, a controllable curved sheet of metal on supports, of the sleeve-length and hub-width and the necessary dimensional extent can be situated in the space between the plastic rings to act as a continuation of the cleaner. The curved sheet forms a casing-like space for the brush fibres, which prevents the oil flowing off the brushes from returning to the water circulation, and thus improves the collection capacity.

For the demands of collecting very heavy oils, a separate brush structure has been designed, in which a plastic ring equipped with brush fibres is combined with a metal ring or similar and attached to the segment, for example by stud bolts.

In one embodiment, in the plastic-ring segment there are first brush fibres, which are mainly on the first side of the plastic ring and arranged transversely to the plane of the ring, and second brush fibres, which are arranged on the circumference of the plastic ring at least mainly parallel to the plane of the plastic ring or at most at an angle of 45 degrees to it.

Already known technology can be used for cleaning the separate brush structure. Also for special situations, when a natural through-flow of the water does not happen, the device's volume can be exploited to create improved water movement by attaching tight covers and water-removal pipes for removing water to both ends of the segments, for example, using sliding bearings.

Preferred embodiments are examined in greater detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1shows a segment, in which a plastic ring1, hubs3, and sleeves4are joined by screws2. In addition, the figure shows the combined length of fibres5aoriented opposite to each other, the dimension of which determines the distance and angle of the cleaner's points6.

FIG. 2ashows part of a separate brush structure, in which there is a plastic ring1, to which brush fibres5bare attached for the collection of heavy oils, on both sides of a metal ring7or similar.

FIG. 2bshows a front view of a device with two segments, equipped with a shaft10, and in which there are plastic rings1of a separate brush structure of combined segments, to which are attached brush fibres5bfor the collection of heavy oils. In addition, the figure shows segments, in which there are fibres5a, the combined length of which corresponds to the combined width of the sleeves4and hubs3.

FIG. 3ashows a cross-sectioned part of a segment, in which plastic rings1equipped with brush fibres5aand hubs3are combined using screws2and sleeves4. The figure also shows a cross-sectioned separate brush ring9, attached to combined plastic rings1by stud bolts11or a similar structure, in which the plastic rings1b, to which brush fibres5bfor the collection of heavy oils, are attached by long bolts12to both sides of the metal ring7.

FIG. 3bshows a cross-sectioned plastic ring1, which a hub3is joined by screws2and sleeves4. The figure also shows plastic rings1b, to which brush fibres5bare attached for the collection of heavy oils, attached by bolts12to a cross-sectioned separate brush-structure metal ring7attached by screws2to a plastic ring1.

FIG. 4ashows a side view of a separate brush-structure plastic ring1b, to which brush fibres5bare attached for the collection of heavy oils.

FIG. 4bshows a side view of a metal ring7or similar structure.

FIG. 5shows a cross-sectioned separate brush-structure plastic ring1b, to which brush fibres5bare attached for the collection of heavy oils.

FIG. 6shows a cross-section of the separate parts of the device, in which the outer circumference is surrounded by a separate brush-structure brush ring1bwith brush fibres5battached to it for the collection of heavy oils. In addition, the figure shows some of the annular brush-fibre rows5aof a plastic ring1, attached to cover a wide surface area of the plastic ring1, as well as a controllable curved sheet18, which acts as a continuation of the cleaner6, on supports conforming to the outer circumference of the hub3, and a shaft10for rotating the segments of the device. The curved sheet18forms a casing-like space, thus preventing the oil flowing off the brushes from returning to the water circulation, and thus improving the collection capacity.

FIG. 7shows a front view of the device assembled from combined segments, by exploiting the volume space of which tight covers16, equipped with water-removal pipes15for emptying the volume space, and equipped with sliding bearings13are installed on both ends of the segments. In addition, the figure shows the brush fibres5aof the device's segments and the plastic rings1of a separate brush structure together with the brush fibres5battached to them, as well as a shaft10for rotating the device's segments.

FIG. 8shows an end view of the device, in which at the end of the segment there is a tight cover16equipped with sliding bearings13and water-removal pipes17. In this way, boosted oil removal is achieved. In addition, the figure shows a separate brush-structure metal ring7, surrounding the outer circumference of the device's plastic ring1, and the brush fibres5battached to it for the collection of heavy oils, as well as a shaft10for rotating the device's segments.

FIG. 9shows an alternative embodiment of the structure ofFIG. 1, in which the plastic rings are arranged consecutively, in such a way that their brush fibres5aare oriented in the same direction.

FIG. 10ashows an alternative construction of the metal ring7, andFIG. 10bshows a construction of the plastic ring1fitting against the metal ring7ofFIG. 10a. More specifically, in the metal ring7there is a raised inner part7a, the lateral outer edge of which has a corrugated outline, when a recess1ais formed in the plastic ring1, the inner edge of which is corrugated so that it conforms to the metal ring7. The metal ring7and correspondingly the plastic ring1can, of course, also be made in such a way that there is a recess in the metal ring and a raised part in the plastic ring. By means of the shaping described, the mutual alignment of the rings can be ensured.

In the solutions ofFIGS. 10aand 10b, the plastic and metal rings can be pressed against each other and wedge-locked to each other. The attachment can be further ensured by screws or bolts (not shown).

FIGS. 11aand 11bshow a casing19, in which a brush-structure segment according to the technology presented is situated. In the lower part of the casing, a water-removal opening20is arranged, with an opening the width of which can be set using, for example, a cylinder18. In front of the device is a trough acting as a water guide, by means of which the water to be cleaned can be guided towards the brush-structure segments in the casing. The cleaned water is removed through the opening20.

The following embodiments represent preferred solutions:

1. Brush structure collecting oils of grades with all type properties, based on a plastic ring equipped with brush fibres, in which the plastic rings1, equipped with brush fibres5and discoid hubs3, combined using sleeves4form a segment, can be joined, and to which a separate brush-structure can be joined for the collection of very heavy oils.

2. Segment according to embodiment 1, in which a separate brush structure is formed by attaching a plastic ring1bequipped with brush fibres5bto a metal ring7or similar, for the collection of very heavy oils.

3. Segment according to embodiment 1, in which a curved metal sheet18on supports12conforms to the outer circumference of the hub3.

4. Segment according to embodiment 1, in which there are hubs3and a sleeve4attached by screws2to the plastic ring1, the combined width of which in length corresponds to the combine length of the fibres5and determines the length, distance, and angle of the points6of the cleaner to the plastic rings1.

5. Segment according to embodiment 1, in which closed covers16, in which there are water-removal pipes15, and which are equipped with sliding bearings13, are installed in the ends of the segment or combined segments.

6. Segment according to embodiment 1, in which a separate brush-structure metal ring8can be attached to the plastic ring1by stud bolts11or similar.

7. Segment according to embodiment 1, in which the combined segments form a self-supporting structure, in which case simply a hub3shaft10formation attached to both ends of the segment and simply metal rings or similar in place of the other hubs3of segments will be sufficient.

8. Segment according to any of the above embodiments, which is formed by a brush structure created using brush fibres5and plastic rings1; two segments are combined using bolts12or screws2and sleeves4with a hub3that is water-penetrable in construction and discoid in shape, in such a way that a separate brush structure9, to the metal ring7of which a plastic ring1bequipped with brush fibres5bfor the collection of very heavy oils is attached by bolts12, can be joined to the segment by stud bolts11or similar. For the cleaning of the segment's brush fibres5and the good recovery of the oil being collected, there is, as a continuation of the cleaner6, a curved metal sheet18on supports, which forms a casing-like space, thus preventing the oil flowing off the brushes from returning to the water circulation, and improving the collection capacity. For special situations, when the natural through flow of water does not occur, the volume space can be exploited by installing tight covers16, equipped with sliding bearings13, and their water-removal pipes15the removal of water, on both ends of the segment or combined segment, so that boosted oil collection will be achieved. The device's equipment includes a shaft10or shafts for rotating the segment.

9. Oil-collection device, which includes a brush structure, in which there is a plastic ring equipped with brush fibres, so that in the plastic ring there are first brush fibres5a, which are mainly on the first side of the plastic ring, arranged transversely relative to the plane of the ring, and second brush fibres5b, which are arranged on the circumference of the plastic ring at least mainly parallel to the plane of the plastic ring, when the second, opposite side of the plastic ring is shaped in such a way that a second plastic ring, equipped with brush fibres can be joined to it, so that the said plastic rings are mutually interchangeable.

The invention is not restricted to concern only the examples described above, but instead many variations are possible while remaining within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the Claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention is suitable for use in various conditions, even in waves, and it can be used to collect various oils from water, quite as well crude oil as lighter, refined fractions. The device is particularly well suited to the collection of heavy oils and crude oil with continuously changing properties.

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