Patent ID: 7163637

Claim:
An apparatus for taking up particles, in particular particles of oil, algae or dirt, from a water surface ( 2 ), having: a hull structure ( 1 ) for moving over the water surface ( 2 ); a bottom surface ( 7 ) of the hull structure ( 1 ), along which a flow ( 6 ) of water laden with particles can be formed when the hull structure ( 1 ) is moved over the water surface ( 2 ); a vortexing edge ( 13 ) in the region of the bottom hull structure surface ( 7 ) for influencing the flow ( 6 ) of the particle-laden water, with the result that it is possible to produce a vortex flow ( 14 ) for at least some of the particle-laden water; a vortex flow space ( 15 ) for accommodating the vortex flow ( 14 ), the vortex flow space ( 15 ) being formed on the hull structure ( 1 ) downstream of the vortexing edge ( 13 ), as seen in a flow direction of the flow ( 6 ) of the particle-laden water; and localizing means for localizing the vortex flow ( 14 ) in a separation section ( 23 ) of the vortex flow space ( 15 ), with the result that particles of the particle-laden water which are picked up by the vortex flow ( 14 ) can be separated from the separation section ( 23 ); wherein wave-calming means ( 24 ; 27 ) are provided in order to calm wave formation in the vortex flow space ( 15 ), the wave-calming means comprise a ramp ( 24 ) which is arranged on a border ( 25 ) of the vortex flow space ( 15 ) and the top surface of which slopes down in the direction of the border ( 25 ) of the vortex flow space ( 15 ).