Oil spillage detector

• US 5,481,904 A
• Filed: 09/28/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Sweeney, Michael J., Fleck, Charles J. Jr., Fleck, Charles J. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US08/313,958
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 73/61.51, 340/632, 340/605, 210/96.1
• US Class Current: 73/61.51
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/12 Dippers; Dredgers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1833 Oil in water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1886 using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys

Abstract

An oil spill sensing/communicating apparatus which is buoyantly situated, anchored or adrift, in a salt or fresh body of water, featuring a configuration which permits fluid passage therethrough of surface water/oil and sensing of hydrocarbonous gas which is emitted/exhaled from the oil. The apparatus thus functions effectively regardless of visual conditions because it "smells" rather than "sees" the oil which is present. Oil detection is signaled by the apparatus via light transmission and/or via radio transmission of location coordinates; some adrift embodiments use the Global Positioning System of satellite communication for continually updating the radio-transmitted location coordinates.

Claims

1. Apparatus for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter at or near the surface of an aqueous/hydrous substance, said hydrocarbonous matter including a hydrocarbonous liquid substance and a hydrocarboneous gaseous substance, said apparatus comprising:

a buoyant hollow cylindroid object;

at least two diametrical horizontal tubes, said horizontal tubes extending through said object and unobstructively intersecting so as to form a central spatial junction within said object, said horizontal tubes being for fluidly capturing, at said central spatial junction, portions of said aqueous/hydrous substance and of said hydrocarbonous liquid substance;

a sensor remotely situated above said central spatial junction, said sensor being for detecting some said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance which is given off from at least one of said fluidly captured portions; and

conduction means between said central spatial junction and said sensor, said conduction means including a conduit, a valve and a heater;

said conduit being long and narrow, said valve being for checking conducting said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance, said heater being for promoting conducting of said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance by said conduit, said conduction means thereby being adapted to permit said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance to reach said sensor and to prevent said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarboneous liquid substance from reaching said sensor.

2. Apparatus for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 1, further comprising means for communicating said detecting of some said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance.

3. Apparatus for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 1, further comprising adjustable ballast means within said object for enhancing the stability of said object and for maintaining the appropriate level of said surface in relation to said object.

4. Apparatus for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 1, further comprising a bilge pump for removing said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance which accumulate in lower interior regions of said object.

5. Apparatus for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 1, further comprising reserve flotation members within said object for preventing sinking of said object.

6. Apparatus for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 1, further comprising:

adjustable ballast means within said object for enhancing the stability of said object and for maintaining the appropriate level of said surface in relation to said object;

a bilge pump for removing said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance which accumulate in lower interior regions of said object; and

reserve flotation members within said object for preventing sinking of said object.

7. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter located at or near the surface of a body of water, said hydrocarbonous matter including a hydrocarbonous liquid substance and a hydrocarboneous gaseous substance, said apparatus comprising:

a buoyant hollow cylindroid vessel;

a plurality of horizontal tubes extending through said vessel, said horizontal tubes permitting fluid passage of said water and of said hydrocarbonous matter, said horizontal tubes openly intersecting the vertical axis of symmetry of said vessel and forming a junctional space at said vertical axis in said vessel;

a sensor for sensing the presence of said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance, said sensor distanced above said horizontal tubes in said vessel;

a conduit substantially aligned with said vertical axis, said conduit coupling said sensor with said junctional space, said conduit having such dimensions and configuration as to be disposed to permitting conduction of said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance to the vicinity of said sensor and indisposed to permitting conduction of said water and said hydrocarboneous liquid substance to said vicinity;

a heater for facilitating said conduction of said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance by said conduit; and

a valve for checking conduction of said water and said hydrocarboneous liquid substance by said conduit.

8. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 7, further comprising means for communicating said sensing of the presence of said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance.

9. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 8, wherein said means for communicating includes at least one light.

10. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 8, wherein said means for communicating includes radio communication means.

11. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 10, wherein said radio communication means includes radio frequency transmitting means.

12. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 10, wherein said radio communication means includes radio frequency transmitting means and Global Positioning System receiving means.

13. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 7, further comprising adjustable ballast means in said vessel for enhancing the stability of said vessel and for maintaining the appropriate level of said surface in relation to said vessel.

14. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 7, further comprising a bilge pump for removing said water and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance which collect in lower interior regions of said vessel.

15. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 7, further comprising reserve flotation members in said vessel for preventing sinking of said vessel.

16. Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 7, further comprising:

adjustable ballast means in said vessel for enhancing the stability of said vessel and for maintaining the appropriate level of said surface in relation to said vessel;

a bilge pump for removing said water and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance which collect in lower interior regions of said object; and

reserve flotation members in said vessel for preventing sinking of said vessel.

17. Method for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter at or near the surface of an aqueous/hydrous substance, said hydrocarbonous matter including a hydrocarbonous liquid substance and a hydrocarboneous gaseous substance, said method comprising:

floating in said aqueous/hydrous substance a buoyant cylindroid unit which includes at least two diametrical horizontal tubes, a sensor, a conduit, a valve and a heater, said unit being adapted to permitting said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance to reach said sensor while preventing said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarboneous liquid substance from reaching said sensor, said tubes extending through said unit and unobstructively intersecting so as to form a central spatial junction within said unit, said sensor remotely situated above said central spatial junction, said conduit having appropriately narrow dimension, said valve checking the conducting of said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance, said heater promoting the conducting of said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance by said conduit;

fluidly capturing portions, at said central spatial junction, of said aqueous/hydrous substance and of said hydrocarbonous matter; and

detecting, by means of said sensor, some said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance which is given off from at least one of said fluidly captured portions.

18. Method for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 17, further comprising communicating said detecting of some said hydrocarboneous gaseous substance.

19. Method for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 17, further comprising providing ballast for said unit and adjusting said ballast for enhancing the stability of said unit and for maintaining the appropriate level of said surface in relation to said unit.

20. Method for discerning the presence of hydrocarbonous matter as in claim 17, further comprising:

providing a bilge pump for said unit and using said bilge pump for removing said aqueous/hydrous substance and said hydrocarbonous liquid substance which accumulate in lower interior regions of said unit; and

providing reserve flotation members in said unit for preventing sinking of said unit.