Oil spill detection system
First Claim
1. An oil spill detection system to detect and track oil spills and transmit data to a remote monitoring site comprising a stationary buoyant detection platform including a sensing means to detect the presence of hydrocarbons in the water adjacent said stationary buoyant detection platform and to generate a detection signal in response thereto and a communication means operatively coupled to said sensing means to receive said detection signal and to generate a data signal in response to said detection signal and to transmit said data signal to the remote monitoring site, and a deployable free floating tracking buoy detachably attached to said stationary buoyant detection platform by a tracking buoy retainer device movable between an open position to release said deployable free floating tracking buoy and a closed position to retain said deployable free floating tracking buoy, said tracking buoy retainer device operatively coupled to said communications means and further including control means to generate an enable signal in response to said detection signal and to transmit said enable signal to said tracking buoy retainer device to move said tracking buoy retainer device from said closed position to said open position to release said deployable free floating tracking buoy from said stationary buoyant detection platform into the oil such that said deployable free floating tracking buoy floats with the oil slick created by the oil spill whereby the location of said deployable free floating tracking buoy relative to said stationary buoyant detection platform indicates the direction and speed of travel of the oil slick.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An oil spill detection system to detect and track oil spills and transmit data to a remote monitoring center comprising a buoyant detection platform including at least one detection sensor to detect the presence of hydrocarbons in the water adjacent the buoyant detection platform and generate a detection signal in response thereto and a communication system operatively coupled to the detection sensor to receive the detection signal and to generate a data signal in response to the detection signal and to transmit the data signal to the remote monitoring center, the data signal including a discrete platform identification signal corresponding to the buoyant detection platform, and a deployable free floating tracking buoy to be deployed when the detection signal is generated to indicate the direction and speed of travel of the oil slick created by the oil spill.
58 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. An oil spill detection system to detect and track oil spills and transmit data to a remote monitoring site comprising a stationary buoyant detection platform including a sensing means to detect the presence of hydrocarbons in the water adjacent said stationary buoyant detection platform and to generate a detection signal in response thereto and a communication means operatively coupled to said sensing means to receive said detection signal and to generate a data signal in response to said detection signal and to transmit said data signal to the remote monitoring site, and a deployable free floating tracking buoy detachably attached to said stationary buoyant detection platform by a tracking buoy retainer device movable between an open position to release said deployable free floating tracking buoy and a closed position to retain said deployable free floating tracking buoy, said tracking buoy retainer device operatively coupled to said communications means and further including control means to generate an enable signal in response to said detection signal and to transmit said enable signal to said tracking buoy retainer device to move said tracking buoy retainer device from said closed position to said open position to release said deployable free floating tracking buoy from said stationary buoyant detection platform into the oil such that said deployable free floating tracking buoy floats with the oil slick created by the oil spill whereby the location of said deployable free floating tracking buoy relative to said stationary buoyant detection platform indicates the direction and speed of travel of the oil slick.
Specification