×

Oil spill recovery method and apparatus

  • US 4,038,182 A
  • Filed: 01/08/1976
  • Issued: 07/26/1977
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1974
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for recovering an immiscible oil substance spread as an oil film over the surface of a water mass, comprising the steps of:

  • forming a vortex adjacent the surface of the water mass having an oily film substance disposed on the surface of the water mass with a tubular flow conductor means for attracting both the oily film substance and water in the vicinity of the vortex to flow into the tubular flow conductor means;

    flowing all the attracted water and oil film substance radially outward from the tubular flow conductor means into a quiescent zone formed by a receiver means located below the surface of the water mass and adjacent the bottom of and surrounding the tubular flow conductor means;

    separating the oily film substance and water in the quiescent zone formed by the receiver means by allowing the oily film substance to accumulate in the uppermost portion of the receiver means;

    recovering the separated oily film substance from the quiescent zone of the receiver means as desired; and

    returning the separated water from the quiescent zone of the receiver means to the water mass as desired.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×