Abstract:
A method and system for skimming oil contaminated water with a vessel fitted with a rotating reel and receiver tank affixed to a frame that can be raised or lowered into a body of water for flinging contaminated water into the receiver tank that will be fitted with check valves at the bottom of the receiver tank for discharge of water back into the body of water while pumping out oil from the top of the receiver tank into storage.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/401,644 (“the &#39;644 application”) filed Aug. 17, 2010. The &#39;644 application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to methods and equipment for skimming oil and other contaminants from water contaminated by an oil spill or other discharge and more particularly, the invention relates to a device mounted on a floating vessel or barge that is adjustable to the draft of the vessel and the depth and location of the oil and contaminants in the water. In addition the invention will extract water from the skimmed oil and contaminants, making the oil more valuable as a retrieved product. 
         [0003]    Numerous methods and devices have been tried to deal with the spillage of oil and other contaminants into a body of water but none are efficient in the extraction of oil from the water that has been contaminated. It is possible to suck or vacuum large quantities of oil contaminated water into a containment vessel, but the oil must eventually be extracted from the water to be reclaimed as a usable product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of this invention to provide a system that will skim oil contaminated water, remove the water for return to the body of water being skimmed, and separate the oil and contaminants for efficient retrieval as valuable water-free product. 
         [0005]    It is an object of this invention to provide a system for skimming oil contaminated water comprising a vessel fitted with a rotating reel and receiver tank affixed to a frame that can be raised or lowered into a body of water for flinging contaminated water into the receiver tank that will be fitted with check valves at the bottom of the receiver tank for discharge of water back into the body of water while pumping out oil from the top of the receiver tank into storage. 
         [0006]    It is an object of this invention to provide a method for skimming oil contaminated water comprising the steps of; providing a vessel fitted with a rotating reel and receiver tank fitted with check valves at the bottom of the receiver tank, affixed to a frame that can be raised or lowered into a body of water; lowering the rotating reel and receiver tank into a body of water contaminated with oil; rotate the reel and fling the contaminated water into the receiver tank; discharge the water back into the body of water; and pump out oil from the top of the receiver tank into storage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the inventive oil skimmer system. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross section of the inventive oil skimmer system taken in the direction of arrows  2 - 2  on  FIG. 1  with the reel and receiver tank lifted. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a longitudinal cross section of the inventive oil skimmer system taken in the direction of arrows  2 - 2  on  FIG. 1  with the reel and receiver tank lowered to skim the surface of the water. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the reel and receiver tank in their relative positions without support structure being shown. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In  FIG. 1 , a plan view of the inventive oil skimmer system  1  is depicted comprising a barge  2  with a concave configured bow  3  and notch  4  for placement of a reel  5  and receiver tank  6 . In  FIG. 1 , a frame  7  with a forward end  8  and aft end  9  for lowering and raising a reel  5  and receiver tank  6  on the forward end  8  of the frame  7  are shown along with the rams  10  for raising and lowering the frame  7  above the deck  11  of the barge. The stern  12  of the barge  2  is also shown and it is understood that the barge  2  could be self propelled or propelled by a suitable tug or tow boat to engage oil contaminated water. As an alternative, the barge could be held in place and oil contaminated water channeled into the concave bow  3  with oil booms or other means. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal cross section of the inventive oil skimmer system  1  taken in the direction of arrows  2 - 2  on  FIG. 1 . In this depiction, the reel  5  and receiver tank  6  are shown in position at the forward end  8  of the frame  7  and lifted above the water surface  13 . The receiver tank  6  has an open top  14 , a bottom  15 , a front  16 , a forward tapered lip  16   a,  a back,  17  and a lip  17   a  extending above the open top  14  from the back  17 . The receiver tank  6  is suspended from a tank support beam  18  rigidly attached to the forward end  8  of the frame  7 . Also rigidly attached to the forward end  8  of the frame  7  is a reel support beam  19 . It is intended that the reel  5  will rotate and the axis of rotation will be parallel to the front  16  of the receiver tank  6 . The reel  5  will have a plurality of blades  20  to fling oil contaminated water into the open top  14  of the receiving tank  6 , when the reel  5  and receiving tank  6  are lowered on the frame  7  to engage the oil contaminated water as shown in  FIG. 2   a . A reel drive motor  21  and chain  22  are shown as indicative of a means for powering the reel  5 , but the reel  5  could be powered in alternative drive configurations. As shown, the reel  5  would be positioned forward of the receiving tank  6 . 
         [0013]    In  FIG. 2   a , the reel  5  and receiver tank  6  on the forward end  8  of the frame  7  have been lowered such that the reel  5  can skim the surface of the water  13  and fling the contaminated water into the open top  14  of the receiver tank  6 . In this position, the frame is shown as resting on a support pad  23 . It is intended that this support pad  23  be vertically adjustable to accommodate different positions for the reel  5  and receiver tank  6  in keeping with the draft of the barge  2 . It is also intended that the frame  7  be fitted with a locking device to hold it in place as well as a ratcheting lock device to prevent the receiver tank  6  from floating up when being lowered into position into the water. 
         [0014]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 2   a , the aft end  9  of the frame  7  would be pivoted on suitable brackets  24  mounted on the deck  11  of the barge  2 . Likewise, the rams  10  for raising and lowering the frame  7  would be pivotally mounted on an aft end  25  on a suitable bracket  26  on the deck  11  of the barge  2  while the forward end  27  of the rams  10  would be pivotally mounted to the frame  7  by a suitable bracket  28 . Although not shown, it is understood that the rams  10  would be provided with a power source whether it be hydraulic or pneumatic. 
         [0015]    A perspective view of the reel  5  and receiver tank  6  in their relative positions without the tank support beams  18 , reel support beams  19  and the frame  7  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The open top  14 , bottom  15 , front  16 , forward tapered lip  16   a,  back  17 , left side  29 , right side  30  and lip  17   a  of the receiver tank  6  are shown. It is intended that the upper edge of both the left side  29 , right side  30  be tapered as shown to prevent fluids in the receiver tank  6  from sloshing out. Also shown is at least one check valve  31  on the back  17  of the receiver tank  6  at or near the bottom  15 . The check valves  31  will be positioned to only allow flow out of the receiver tank  6 . A drain value  33  is also shown. 
         [0016]    Also shown in  FIG. 3 , the reel  5  is positioned such that its rotation will fling water into the open top  14  of the receiver tank  6 . As shown, the longitudinal axis of the reel  5  is parallel to the front  16  of the receiver tank  6 . A reel drive shaft  32  is depicted and it is understood that the drive shaft  32  will be turned by a reel drive motor  21 , either directly or through a power linkage such as a chain or belt, none of which are shown in  FIG. 3 . It is also understood that the reel  5  can be easily constructed from a tubular member such as pipe with blades  20  attached to the outside of the tubular member. 
         [0017]    When in operation, with the reel  5  and receiver tank  6  in position at the surface of contaminated water, the reel  5  will rotate in a direction causing the contaminated water to fly or be flung into the open top  14  of the receiver tank  6 . As the receiver tank  6  fills, the oil will stay at the top of the liquid in the receiver tank  6  and the water will sink to the bottom of the receiver tank  6  where it will be discharged through the one way check valves  31  back into the body of water. While discharging relatively clean water back into the body of water, the relatively pure oil floating in the upper part of the receiver tank  6  can be pumped out into a holding tank either on board the barge or in a standby storage vessel. 
         [0018]    Although not shown, it is also understood that the receiver tank  6  will be fitted with a fathometer or optical sight gauge to monitor the levels of liquids in the receiver tank  6  during skimming operation. 
         [0019]    As approximate dimensions, it is suggested that the open top of the receiver tank  6  be 10′ wide by 4′ deep, and the vertical height be 4′. The reel  5  would be approximately 8′ long to accommodate the width of the main beams of the frame  7 . It is also suggested that the total length of the frame  7  be approximately 20′ with 6″ I beams as primary members although a length as small as 11′ would suffice. In practice, however, the dimensions can be reduced as needed to suit the application and a reel  5  no longer than 2′ would suffice. Likewise, it is suggested that the system, particularly the frame  7  be assemble with bolts or pins, allowing easy assemble and disassembly. While it is suggested that the components be manufactured from structural steel, other materials such as aluminum would be suitable. It is understood that the invention could be made to any size compatible with its operation.