PUMPING APPARATUS FOR SKIMMING AND RECOVERING AN OIL LAYER FROM A BODY OF WATER

• US 3,853,767 A
• Filed: 04/14/1972
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank Mohn
• Original Assignee: Frank Mohn
• Inventors: Mohn, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Granger, Theodore A.
• Application Number:
  US05/244,010
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 210/242,DIG.21,83
• US Class Current: 210/242.3
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/106 Overflow skimmers with suction heads; suction heads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/923 using mechanical means, e.g. skimmers, pump

Abstract

The disclosed apparatus for recovering oil floating on the surface of a body of water comprises a bowl for skimming and collecting oil from the surface of the water, means for supporting the bowl with its peripheral edge surface located at the surface of the water while its body portion therebelow extends downwardly below the level of the body of water, said bowl having a central downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface, a pump for pumping recovered oil from the central lower portion of the bowl, a plate outside and surrounding the bowl for directing water and oil toward the peripheral edge of the bowl where oil is separated from water, said plate having a central downwardly and inwardly inclined portion below the bowl having a bottom water outlet passageway, and a water pump connected into the water outlet passageway for drawing water and oil over the peripheral surface of the plate to the peripheral edge of the bowl and for drawing water on through the space between the plate and bowl and out the said passageway. The pump may be located in the bowl, for example, in a chamber which surrounds the pump and is provided with oil flow passageways leading into the chamber.

Claims

1. Apparatus for recovering oil floating on the surface of a body of water comprising a bowl for skimming and collecting oil from the surface of the water, means for supporting the bowl with its peripheral edge surface located at the surface of the water while its body portion therebelow extends downwardly below the level of the body of water, said bowl having a central downwardly and inwardly inclined upper surface, a pump and a pump inlet for pumping recovered oil from the central lower portion of the bowl, a plate below and spaced from the under surface of said bowl, said plate having an outer peripheral surface for directing water and oil toward the peripheral edge of the bowl where oil is separated from water, said plate having a central downwardly and inwardly inclined portion below the bowl, said central downwardly and inwardly inclined portion having a bottom outlet passageway, means for drawing water and oil over the peripheral surface of said plate toward and over the peripheral edge of said bowl, said means also drawing water through the space between said plate and said bowl and out the said passageway, said means including a water pump connected into said water outlet passageway, and the lower portion of said bowl being provided with a channel for the flow of water to the plate below.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means at the discharge side of the water pump for directing streams of water from the water pump laterally into the body of water below the water pump.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a central chamber in the bowl having a wall surrounding the oil pump inlet, said wall having inlets for the flow of oil from the bowl into said chamber.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bowl outside said chamber is provided with a channel for the flow of water to the plate below.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bowl is secured to the plate in spaced relation thereabove.