Method and apparatus for skimming a floatable surface layer from a water surface
US6015501A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S210/923
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
In a method for recovering a floatable surface layer from a body of water, particularly a surface layer comprising a buoyant pollutant, such as oil, a collection compartment (A) having a skiming weir (K) at its top is provided in the body of water and filled with water. With the skimming weir held in an overflow position relative to the surface of the body of water, water is discharged from the collection compartment (A) so that the collection compartment can be replenished from the surface of the body of water with water flowing over the skimming weir (K). Apparatus for carrying out the recovery comprises a collection vessel (11, 31). which is immersible in a body of water and defines the collection compartment (A) and which has a skimming weir (K) which forms an inlet into the upper end of the collection compartment (A), and means (17, 18, 35, 36), such as a reversible pump, for discharging water from the collection compartment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.