Method and apparatus for collecting matter floating on a body of water
US6274046A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S210/924
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
To collect oil or other matter floating on the surface of a body of water a collection vessel (11) having a collection compartment (A) is immersed in the water. A surface layer carrying the matter to be collected is caused to flow from the area around the collection vessel into the collection compartment (A) over a vertically movable skimming weir (15A) on the collection vessel. Water is discharged from the lower portion of the collection compartment such that a liquid level lower than that of the surrounding water is maintained in the collection compartment (A). Floating matter accumulated on the liquid surface in the collection compartment is removed; if the matter to be collected is low-viscosity oil, an oil-absorbing body (22) made of a hydrophobic material is used to absorb the accumulated oil from the liquid surface in the collection compartment. A dashpot damping device (28-30) dampens vertical oscillations of the skimming weir (15).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.