Fluid collection reservoir and anti-spill mechanism
First Claim
1. An apparatus for collecting a liquid on top of a body of water after the liquid is brought from a source under a surface of the body of water to the surface of the body of water, comprising:
- a bottom that floats atop the surface of the body of water, said bottom having an opening for coupling with a first end of a submersible structure through which the liquid flows into the apparatus;
wherein a second end of the submersible structure is placed adjacent to the source under the surface of the body of water;
a side wall connected to the bottom, said side wall and said bottom defining a reservoir for holding the liquid on top of the surface of the body of water; and
a canopy pivotally connected to a rim of the side wall so that the canopy can pivot in a first direction to restrain the liquid within the reservoir from spilling over the rim into the body of water or pivot in a second direction to restrain the body of water from spilling over the rim into the reservoir.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for collecting fluids into a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is floating on a body of water and has an opening in the bottom of the reservoir through which the fluids, such as petro-based products, arrive flowing upward from a submersible structure, such as a riser from a fluid source. The reservoir has a canopy and mechanism connected to the rim of the side walls of the reservoir allowing the canopy to pivot. The pivoting canopy and mechanism attached along the rim of the reservoir restrains the fluids contained inside from spilling over the rim into the body of water, say an ocean, and also restrains the ocean waters from spilling over into the reservoir containing the fluids. The reservoir can be used as a temporary holding vessel for the fluids, whereby the fluids can then be vacuumed into a drillship.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for collecting a liquid on top of a body of water after the liquid is brought from a source under a surface of the body of water to the surface of the body of water, comprising:
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a bottom that floats atop the surface of the body of water, said bottom having an opening for coupling with a first end of a submersible structure through which the liquid flows into the apparatus; wherein a second end of the submersible structure is placed adjacent to the source under the surface of the body of water; a side wall connected to the bottom, said side wall and said bottom defining a reservoir for holding the liquid on top of the surface of the body of water; and a canopy pivotally connected to a rim of the side wall so that the canopy can pivot in a first direction to restrain the liquid within the reservoir from spilling over the rim into the body of water or pivot in a second direction to restrain the body of water from spilling over the rim into the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification