CA2074325A1 - Recovery apparatus - Google Patents
Recovery apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2074325A1 CA2074325A1 CA002074325A CA2074325A CA2074325A1 CA 2074325 A1 CA2074325 A1 CA 2074325A1 CA 002074325 A CA002074325 A CA 002074325A CA 2074325 A CA2074325 A CA 2074325A CA 2074325 A1 CA2074325 A1 CA 2074325A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- belt
- conveyor
- mesh
- recovery apparatus
- extent
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 34
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 230000010006 flight Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 241001474374 Blennius Species 0.000 abstract description 4
- 241000195493 Cryptophyta Species 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 description 3
- HSRJKNPTNIJEKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Guaifenesin Chemical compound COC1=CC=CC=C1OCC(O)CO HSRJKNPTNIJEKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013020 steam cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
- E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
- E02B15/10—Devices for removing the material from the surface
- E02B15/104—Conveyors; Paddle wheels; Endless belts
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
- Y02A20/204—Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
A conveyor is mounted on a watercraft where the belt is a mesh with apertures of selected size, and has upper and lower flights. There is an inboard extent of such flights above the water level and an outboard extent sloping downwardly so that an outer end of the belt is immersed.
For oil recovery steam jets over the inboard extent clean the mesh. For algae, seaweed or the like dams on the conveyor deposit these at the inboard reversal of the conveyor.
A conveyor is mounted on a watercraft where the belt is a mesh with apertures of selected size, and has upper and lower flights. There is an inboard extent of such flights above the water level and an outboard extent sloping downwardly so that an outer end of the belt is immersed.
For oil recovery steam jets over the inboard extent clean the mesh. For algae, seaweed or the like dams on the conveyor deposit these at the inboard reversal of the conveyor.
Description
- 207432~
This invention is primarily directed to means and a method for recovering oil from, at or near the surface of bodies of water. However, the means of the invention has also been found to be useful for recovering other materials such as seaweed or algae from the surface or near the surface of bodies of water.
The problems caused by oil spills on oceans or lakes are well known as are problems of recovering the spilled oil from the water. Recovery methods known to this inventor are methods of (a) skimming the oil from the surface and (b) causing the oil to adhere to rotating disks which are partially immersed in the water and removing the oil from the disks above the water surface.
Although the above methods have had some degree of success, I believe that my means and methods, as disclosed herein are more rapid and efficient.
In accord with my invention there is provided a conveyor for mounting on a water craft including a mesh belt with apertures of predetermined size.
Water craft includes ships, boats, barges~ rafts a~d the like.
The conveyor and belt have generally horizontal upper and lower flights in a retracted position. ~owever, the conveyor ;s movable between an extended and a retracted position relative 207432~
to the craft and, in the extended position, one end of said conveyor may be lowered so that an extending portion of the conveyor and belt slopes downwardly toward the water level and the extending end of the conveyor belt is, at least partially, immersed in the water. This attitude of the conveyor is known as the operative position.
The extension for oil recovery purposes may be at the front, rear or sides of the craft. The extension for other recovery purposes will usually be at the front of the craft, In accord with the invention as it applies to oil xecovery, the speed of the conveyor belt in operative position is controllable and the size of the mesh is selected so that a oil film may form extending across individual mesh aper-tures and will be maintained from its formation at or ; near the water level to an inboard position inside the craft and over a recovery area. Means are there provided for removing the oil from the mesh, The use of a film formed on the mesh is considered an extremely efficient method of oil removal. Preferably the removal of the oil is by downwardly directed steam jets over the recovery area and preferably such steam jets are provided for removal o~
the inboard portion of each of the upper and lower belt flights over the recovery area. The angle of the outboard portion of the conveyor extending into the Water is prefer-ably adjustable to cooperate with the selected conveyor 2G7~32~
speed and mesh size to provide intact oil films over the recovery area.
Preferably the mesh is of wire arranged so that two sets of parallel wires intersect at right angles to define square mesh apertures of the desired size, Thus, the inventive method comprises moving generally planar mesh in the plane of the mesh from an outb,oard location at or just below the surface of the water to an inboard location over a recovery area, at a speed and with a mesh size to maintain intact oil films formed over mesh apertures until they are over a recovery area and removing the oil from the mesh.
Preferably such removal where a belt is used is performed by downwardly directed steam jets over the upper flight and, preferably by such jets over the lower flight also.
Preferably the mesh is provided by a series of scree~
sections arranged in end-to~end series along the length of the conveyor belt where each section is detachably !
attached and a selection of screen sizes is provided with dimensions between ~about) 0~5 inches and (about) 12.0 inches on the sides of the mesh apertures. Thus the invention is preferably arranged so that the mesh size may be selected to conform to conditio~s met at a - 207~32~
particular location provide for transportation of the oil film intact to the recovery area. The speed of the conveyor and preferably the downward slope of the outboard extent extending toward the water is selected to deliver such intact film. The conveyor is also designed to retain solid particles removed from the water. A separate recovery location is preferably provided for such solid particles where the upper flight becomes the lower flight at the inboard end of the belt, and the solid particles are allowed to fall off the belt by gravity.
As discussed, the belt mesh is provided by screen frames flexible for bending about axes parallel to the conveyor plane and perpendicular to ltS longitudinal direction, detachably attached to conveyor chains or each side for bending therewith and forming the preferable, square mesh as described with a bar normal to the conveyor plane on either the leading or trailing edge of the frame. The detachably attached frames are made for easy detachment from the chains so that frames of another screen size may be substituted.
Preferably the conveyor with its (at least pa,xtia~,ly) immersible end is provided with means for controlling the degree of immersion to conform to -water oil and weather condition 207~32~
By the "plane of the belt" is included its flat extents in either the horizontal or sloping portions. However, in distinction to the ordinary meaning of "plane" this term herein includes the tangent to the belt at locations about the belt's bends at the inboard and outboard ends and between the horizontal and sloping portions.
Preferably for strength and smoothness of operation of the belt sections, the mesh is made of two sets of parallel mutually perpendicular (approximately) sets of wires and each at approximately 45 to the conveyor's longitudinal direction. The crossing wires are preferably joined at their intersections.
Preferably the wires of the mesh are of stainless.steel, Preferably on either the leading or traili~g border of each screen frame the frame is provided with a bar or dam projecting from the belt a short dista.~ce perpe~dicular to the belt plane designed to retain solid particles remo~ed from the water. A separate recovery location is preferably provided for such solid particles where the upper flight moves into the lower flight at the inner end of the belt, and the solid particles are allowed to fall off by gravity~
As discussed, the belt mesh is provided by.screen frames flexible for bending about axes parallel to-the conveyor 207432~
plane and perpendicular to its longitudinal dixectio~, detachably attached to conveyor chains on each side for bending therewith and preferably, square mesh fxa~e as described is provided with a bar normal to the co~veyox plane on either the leading or trailing edge of the frame.
The detachably attached frames are made fox easy detachmePt from the conveyor chains so that frames of another screen size may be substituted~
Preferably the conveyor with its (at least partially) immersible end is provided with means for controlling the degrees of immersion to conform to water, oil and weather conditions.
Preferably the degree of immersion is controlled by providing a cylindrical potentially buoyant drum acting as the belt guide at the immersible end of the conveyor where the degree of immersion is controlled by the amouPt of water in the drum.
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:
Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a de~ice in accord with the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a frame for use in the belt of Figure 1, 207432~
Figure 4 is a section illustrating a means for joining consecutive frames of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the means for connecting screen frames to the conveyor chains.
Figure 6 illustrates an alternate means for attachment of frame to belt.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 schematically indicate the extensions of the conveyor and immersion of one end.
Figure 10 shows the adjustment of a conveyor extent slope attitude.
Figure 11 shows the drum at the outboard end of the conveyor, and Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the buoyancy adjustment~
In the drawings the conveyor is mouPted on a support frame 11 to move with rollers 10 rolling on rails 12 on a ship, boat or other water craft between retracted positioP
tFigure 7) and extended position (Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9), Figures 1, 2, and 9 demonstrate the operative position. A piston mounted on the craft by means not shown with rod 14 may be operated by controls not shown to move t~e frame between 207432~
retracted and extended position. The conveyor has an outboard extent 16 designed to extend horizontally in retracted position and to be lowered to slope downwardly for immersion or partial immersion in the water.
The conveyor in its preferred form has its outer extent 16 pivotted to be lowered by gravity and to be raised by cables 19 controlled by a winch 20.
The degrees of immersion are preferably provided by'arranging that the outer end of the conveyor belt passes around a hollow drum 22 whose buoyancy in one alternative (Figures 12 and 13) determines the degree of (floating) immersion of the drum and the outer end of the conveyor. Thus the drum interior may be providea with or water may be withdrawn aiong line 24 from a source not shown to or from a stationary outlet 26 inside the drum so that the degree of immersion now be determined.
With the drum sufficiently filied with water as to be of negative buoyancy, the depth of the drum is controlled by the amount of extension of cable 18. Thus Figures 2, 12 and 13 show a partially immersed drum and the remaining figures show the drum totally immersed, Alternatively to the preferred method using the buoyant drum and cable 18 the extent 16 may be raised and lowered hydraulically by means, not shown, if desired, As shown in Figure 11 the drum 22 is provided with a sprocket 36 for driving by links 38 the chain 32 (Figure 5).
The drive sprocket 30 at the end oE the conveyor is similar to sprocket 36 and is driven by motor 34 with adjustable speed control 37 to drive conveyor chain 32 at an adjustable selected speed. It is understood that the conveyor will be provided with a number of idler sprockets (not shown) along its upper and lower flights to provide support and guidance for the upper and lower flights of the sprocket chain 32.
As shown in Figure 5 the sprocket chain is provided with resilient clips 40 for releasably retaining the bars 44 of a screen frame 36. (Figure 6 shows such a retaining means for using double pivotal resilien~ clips 46 and 48 for releasably retaining the bars 38 in place)~
The frame 53 making up the conveyor belt is shown in Figure 3, As Figure 3 shows each frame is a wire mesh scree~ 50 formed by sets 52 and 54 (Figure 5) of intersecting wires (prefer-ably of stainless steel) joined at their intersections 56 with each set extending at 45 to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. In accord with the inventive means and method sets of screen frames each set designed to pxovide when assembled end-to-end a complete conveyoX belt, will be provided defining square mesh apertures from about 0,5 inches to about 12 inches. Thus the frame 53 mesh size will be selected on site to provide the best size to maintain an oil film on the square screen apertures from the point of emergence of the screen from the water to the point of removal. Thus the screen mesh size will depend primarily on the quality of oil encountered and its viscosity along with other factors.
The screen is on each side by a flexible band member 58 defining a series of bars 44 whose spacing corresponds to the spacing of the links 38 of the chain. It is important to note that both screen frame and border band 58 are flexible enough about axes transverse to the belt and parallel to its plane to conform to the contours of the drive chain 32 as it bends about the drive and idle sprockets. The band 58 and bars 44 are preferably each made of multistranded stainless steel cable. An apertured strip 60 is provided o~ the trailing edge of the screen frame and an apertured angle bar 62 on the leading edge, The apertured angle bar has a~
apertured strip 64 displaced from the ge~eral screen by the thickness of strip 60 so that the angle strip 64 of one frame may overlap the trailing strip 60 of the next plane along thè conveyor (Figure 4) for joining by rivets 66 held in place by resil;ent washers 68 so that by joining such strips about the conveyor an endless 207432~
conveyor belt i5 formed. Angle bar 62 provides a bar or dam 70 perpendicular to the plane of the belt to carry the solid materials from the water which fall from the conveyor at the end roller 30 of the conveyor into receptable 72.
The frames are joined to the sprocket chain by resilient fasteners 40 (Figure 5) or with the double fasteners 46, 48 of Figure 6.
Inside the craft, and as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 trays 74 preferable mounted by means (not shown on frame) form a receptlon area for the oil from the screen and are located to underlie the inner end of the upper and lower conveyor fl;ghts toward the inner end of the conveyor~ The trays 74 extend the width of the screen frames.
Above each of the upper and lowex in~er con~eyor extents are located a series of steam iet outlets 76 to supply steam from a suppiy not shown ~o move the oil downwardly off the screen into the trays 74 at both the upper and lower flight extents. For such cleaning method it is thought that stainless steel mesh is best for steam cleaning in this way. Pipes 78 schematically indicate that the oil received by the trays may be removed to any desired storage area.
207~32~
In operation, with the conveyor and frame in retracted positlon, the craft is brought to the location of the oil contaminated water. The frame is extended and the outer section 16 of the conveyor lowered to immerse the outer end of the conveyor screen. The amount of immersion is preferably controlled by the buoyancy of drum 22 and/or by winch 22 and cable 19.
t The screen mesh and thè operating speed are controlled to provide oil film in the screen mesh apertures intact 10 to a location over at least part of the trays 74 for best removal (by the steam jet) of the oil on the screen, It will be noted that frames of one screen size may be replaced by frames of another before or after the commencement of operation. After commencement of operation, to replace screens the conveyor is stopped and frames on the extent 17 over upper tray 74 are detached from each other by remQval of the rivets 66 and the screen frames are disconnected from dxi~e chains 32, When replacement screen frames are in place over the upper tray 74 the conveyor may agai~ be moved merely enough to expose the original screen frames QYeX the upper trays 74. Such original screen frames may then be replaced by the new frames, and the procedures repeated until the entire original screen belt is replaced by the new screen size. With the screen size and conveyox drive 207432~
speed selected to bring oil films intact over the upper tray 74 the oil may be efficiently removed while running the conveyor by operation of the steam jets. Meanwhile solid materials carried by bars 70 are dumped at inner roll into receptacle 72.
When the device is used for algae or seaweed or other materials the question of films does not arise. The invention then works best when the conveyor extends from the front of the craft since its forward travel increases the volume of seaweed, algae or the like impinging on the conveyor. The conveyor is then operated to bring the material into the craft for removal or whatever manner is most suitable to the material including having it drop by gravity into receptacle 72.
Since the conveyor is pivotted to bring it into operative position an adjustable means should be provided to take up the slack in the chains 32, Any conventional means may be used but I prefer a sprocket 80 mounted or pivotted lever 82 and biased ipto tensioning position by a resil;ent piston 84. Piston 84 may obviously be replaced by a compression spring.
This invention is primarily directed to means and a method for recovering oil from, at or near the surface of bodies of water. However, the means of the invention has also been found to be useful for recovering other materials such as seaweed or algae from the surface or near the surface of bodies of water.
The problems caused by oil spills on oceans or lakes are well known as are problems of recovering the spilled oil from the water. Recovery methods known to this inventor are methods of (a) skimming the oil from the surface and (b) causing the oil to adhere to rotating disks which are partially immersed in the water and removing the oil from the disks above the water surface.
Although the above methods have had some degree of success, I believe that my means and methods, as disclosed herein are more rapid and efficient.
In accord with my invention there is provided a conveyor for mounting on a water craft including a mesh belt with apertures of predetermined size.
Water craft includes ships, boats, barges~ rafts a~d the like.
The conveyor and belt have generally horizontal upper and lower flights in a retracted position. ~owever, the conveyor ;s movable between an extended and a retracted position relative 207432~
to the craft and, in the extended position, one end of said conveyor may be lowered so that an extending portion of the conveyor and belt slopes downwardly toward the water level and the extending end of the conveyor belt is, at least partially, immersed in the water. This attitude of the conveyor is known as the operative position.
The extension for oil recovery purposes may be at the front, rear or sides of the craft. The extension for other recovery purposes will usually be at the front of the craft, In accord with the invention as it applies to oil xecovery, the speed of the conveyor belt in operative position is controllable and the size of the mesh is selected so that a oil film may form extending across individual mesh aper-tures and will be maintained from its formation at or ; near the water level to an inboard position inside the craft and over a recovery area. Means are there provided for removing the oil from the mesh, The use of a film formed on the mesh is considered an extremely efficient method of oil removal. Preferably the removal of the oil is by downwardly directed steam jets over the recovery area and preferably such steam jets are provided for removal o~
the inboard portion of each of the upper and lower belt flights over the recovery area. The angle of the outboard portion of the conveyor extending into the Water is prefer-ably adjustable to cooperate with the selected conveyor 2G7~32~
speed and mesh size to provide intact oil films over the recovery area.
Preferably the mesh is of wire arranged so that two sets of parallel wires intersect at right angles to define square mesh apertures of the desired size, Thus, the inventive method comprises moving generally planar mesh in the plane of the mesh from an outb,oard location at or just below the surface of the water to an inboard location over a recovery area, at a speed and with a mesh size to maintain intact oil films formed over mesh apertures until they are over a recovery area and removing the oil from the mesh.
Preferably such removal where a belt is used is performed by downwardly directed steam jets over the upper flight and, preferably by such jets over the lower flight also.
Preferably the mesh is provided by a series of scree~
sections arranged in end-to~end series along the length of the conveyor belt where each section is detachably !
attached and a selection of screen sizes is provided with dimensions between ~about) 0~5 inches and (about) 12.0 inches on the sides of the mesh apertures. Thus the invention is preferably arranged so that the mesh size may be selected to conform to conditio~s met at a - 207~32~
particular location provide for transportation of the oil film intact to the recovery area. The speed of the conveyor and preferably the downward slope of the outboard extent extending toward the water is selected to deliver such intact film. The conveyor is also designed to retain solid particles removed from the water. A separate recovery location is preferably provided for such solid particles where the upper flight becomes the lower flight at the inboard end of the belt, and the solid particles are allowed to fall off the belt by gravity.
As discussed, the belt mesh is provided by screen frames flexible for bending about axes parallel to the conveyor plane and perpendicular to ltS longitudinal direction, detachably attached to conveyor chains or each side for bending therewith and forming the preferable, square mesh as described with a bar normal to the conveyor plane on either the leading or trailing edge of the frame. The detachably attached frames are made for easy detachment from the chains so that frames of another screen size may be substituted.
Preferably the conveyor with its (at least pa,xtia~,ly) immersible end is provided with means for controlling the degree of immersion to conform to -water oil and weather condition 207~32~
By the "plane of the belt" is included its flat extents in either the horizontal or sloping portions. However, in distinction to the ordinary meaning of "plane" this term herein includes the tangent to the belt at locations about the belt's bends at the inboard and outboard ends and between the horizontal and sloping portions.
Preferably for strength and smoothness of operation of the belt sections, the mesh is made of two sets of parallel mutually perpendicular (approximately) sets of wires and each at approximately 45 to the conveyor's longitudinal direction. The crossing wires are preferably joined at their intersections.
Preferably the wires of the mesh are of stainless.steel, Preferably on either the leading or traili~g border of each screen frame the frame is provided with a bar or dam projecting from the belt a short dista.~ce perpe~dicular to the belt plane designed to retain solid particles remo~ed from the water. A separate recovery location is preferably provided for such solid particles where the upper flight moves into the lower flight at the inner end of the belt, and the solid particles are allowed to fall off by gravity~
As discussed, the belt mesh is provided by.screen frames flexible for bending about axes parallel to-the conveyor 207432~
plane and perpendicular to its longitudinal dixectio~, detachably attached to conveyor chains on each side for bending therewith and preferably, square mesh fxa~e as described is provided with a bar normal to the co~veyox plane on either the leading or trailing edge of the frame.
The detachably attached frames are made fox easy detachmePt from the conveyor chains so that frames of another screen size may be substituted~
Preferably the conveyor with its (at least partially) immersible end is provided with means for controlling the degrees of immersion to conform to water, oil and weather conditions.
Preferably the degree of immersion is controlled by providing a cylindrical potentially buoyant drum acting as the belt guide at the immersible end of the conveyor where the degree of immersion is controlled by the amouPt of water in the drum.
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:
Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a de~ice in accord with the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a frame for use in the belt of Figure 1, 207432~
Figure 4 is a section illustrating a means for joining consecutive frames of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the means for connecting screen frames to the conveyor chains.
Figure 6 illustrates an alternate means for attachment of frame to belt.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 schematically indicate the extensions of the conveyor and immersion of one end.
Figure 10 shows the adjustment of a conveyor extent slope attitude.
Figure 11 shows the drum at the outboard end of the conveyor, and Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the buoyancy adjustment~
In the drawings the conveyor is mouPted on a support frame 11 to move with rollers 10 rolling on rails 12 on a ship, boat or other water craft between retracted positioP
tFigure 7) and extended position (Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9), Figures 1, 2, and 9 demonstrate the operative position. A piston mounted on the craft by means not shown with rod 14 may be operated by controls not shown to move t~e frame between 207432~
retracted and extended position. The conveyor has an outboard extent 16 designed to extend horizontally in retracted position and to be lowered to slope downwardly for immersion or partial immersion in the water.
The conveyor in its preferred form has its outer extent 16 pivotted to be lowered by gravity and to be raised by cables 19 controlled by a winch 20.
The degrees of immersion are preferably provided by'arranging that the outer end of the conveyor belt passes around a hollow drum 22 whose buoyancy in one alternative (Figures 12 and 13) determines the degree of (floating) immersion of the drum and the outer end of the conveyor. Thus the drum interior may be providea with or water may be withdrawn aiong line 24 from a source not shown to or from a stationary outlet 26 inside the drum so that the degree of immersion now be determined.
With the drum sufficiently filied with water as to be of negative buoyancy, the depth of the drum is controlled by the amount of extension of cable 18. Thus Figures 2, 12 and 13 show a partially immersed drum and the remaining figures show the drum totally immersed, Alternatively to the preferred method using the buoyant drum and cable 18 the extent 16 may be raised and lowered hydraulically by means, not shown, if desired, As shown in Figure 11 the drum 22 is provided with a sprocket 36 for driving by links 38 the chain 32 (Figure 5).
The drive sprocket 30 at the end oE the conveyor is similar to sprocket 36 and is driven by motor 34 with adjustable speed control 37 to drive conveyor chain 32 at an adjustable selected speed. It is understood that the conveyor will be provided with a number of idler sprockets (not shown) along its upper and lower flights to provide support and guidance for the upper and lower flights of the sprocket chain 32.
As shown in Figure 5 the sprocket chain is provided with resilient clips 40 for releasably retaining the bars 44 of a screen frame 36. (Figure 6 shows such a retaining means for using double pivotal resilien~ clips 46 and 48 for releasably retaining the bars 38 in place)~
The frame 53 making up the conveyor belt is shown in Figure 3, As Figure 3 shows each frame is a wire mesh scree~ 50 formed by sets 52 and 54 (Figure 5) of intersecting wires (prefer-ably of stainless steel) joined at their intersections 56 with each set extending at 45 to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. In accord with the inventive means and method sets of screen frames each set designed to pxovide when assembled end-to-end a complete conveyoX belt, will be provided defining square mesh apertures from about 0,5 inches to about 12 inches. Thus the frame 53 mesh size will be selected on site to provide the best size to maintain an oil film on the square screen apertures from the point of emergence of the screen from the water to the point of removal. Thus the screen mesh size will depend primarily on the quality of oil encountered and its viscosity along with other factors.
The screen is on each side by a flexible band member 58 defining a series of bars 44 whose spacing corresponds to the spacing of the links 38 of the chain. It is important to note that both screen frame and border band 58 are flexible enough about axes transverse to the belt and parallel to its plane to conform to the contours of the drive chain 32 as it bends about the drive and idle sprockets. The band 58 and bars 44 are preferably each made of multistranded stainless steel cable. An apertured strip 60 is provided o~ the trailing edge of the screen frame and an apertured angle bar 62 on the leading edge, The apertured angle bar has a~
apertured strip 64 displaced from the ge~eral screen by the thickness of strip 60 so that the angle strip 64 of one frame may overlap the trailing strip 60 of the next plane along thè conveyor (Figure 4) for joining by rivets 66 held in place by resil;ent washers 68 so that by joining such strips about the conveyor an endless 207432~
conveyor belt i5 formed. Angle bar 62 provides a bar or dam 70 perpendicular to the plane of the belt to carry the solid materials from the water which fall from the conveyor at the end roller 30 of the conveyor into receptable 72.
The frames are joined to the sprocket chain by resilient fasteners 40 (Figure 5) or with the double fasteners 46, 48 of Figure 6.
Inside the craft, and as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 trays 74 preferable mounted by means (not shown on frame) form a receptlon area for the oil from the screen and are located to underlie the inner end of the upper and lower conveyor fl;ghts toward the inner end of the conveyor~ The trays 74 extend the width of the screen frames.
Above each of the upper and lowex in~er con~eyor extents are located a series of steam iet outlets 76 to supply steam from a suppiy not shown ~o move the oil downwardly off the screen into the trays 74 at both the upper and lower flight extents. For such cleaning method it is thought that stainless steel mesh is best for steam cleaning in this way. Pipes 78 schematically indicate that the oil received by the trays may be removed to any desired storage area.
207~32~
In operation, with the conveyor and frame in retracted positlon, the craft is brought to the location of the oil contaminated water. The frame is extended and the outer section 16 of the conveyor lowered to immerse the outer end of the conveyor screen. The amount of immersion is preferably controlled by the buoyancy of drum 22 and/or by winch 22 and cable 19.
t The screen mesh and thè operating speed are controlled to provide oil film in the screen mesh apertures intact 10 to a location over at least part of the trays 74 for best removal (by the steam jet) of the oil on the screen, It will be noted that frames of one screen size may be replaced by frames of another before or after the commencement of operation. After commencement of operation, to replace screens the conveyor is stopped and frames on the extent 17 over upper tray 74 are detached from each other by remQval of the rivets 66 and the screen frames are disconnected from dxi~e chains 32, When replacement screen frames are in place over the upper tray 74 the conveyor may agai~ be moved merely enough to expose the original screen frames QYeX the upper trays 74. Such original screen frames may then be replaced by the new frames, and the procedures repeated until the entire original screen belt is replaced by the new screen size. With the screen size and conveyox drive 207432~
speed selected to bring oil films intact over the upper tray 74 the oil may be efficiently removed while running the conveyor by operation of the steam jets. Meanwhile solid materials carried by bars 70 are dumped at inner roll into receptacle 72.
When the device is used for algae or seaweed or other materials the question of films does not arise. The invention then works best when the conveyor extends from the front of the craft since its forward travel increases the volume of seaweed, algae or the like impinging on the conveyor. The conveyor is then operated to bring the material into the craft for removal or whatever manner is most suitable to the material including having it drop by gravity into receptacle 72.
Since the conveyor is pivotted to bring it into operative position an adjustable means should be provided to take up the slack in the chains 32, Any conventional means may be used but I prefer a sprocket 80 mounted or pivotted lever 82 and biased ipto tensioning position by a resil;ent piston 84. Piston 84 may obviously be replaced by a compression spring.
Claims (20)
1. Recovery apparatus comprising :
Conveyor for mounting on water craft floating on water which defines a water surface, said conveyor including a belt having upper and lower flights of mesh material, said conveyor being adapted to assume an operative position wherein said flights include an inboard extent inboard of said craft at a level above said water surface and an outboard extent outboard of said craft sloping downward toward said water surface so that at least a portion of said belt is immersed, means for driving said belt in a direction so that said upper flights travels from the out-board to the inboard extent.
Conveyor for mounting on water craft floating on water which defines a water surface, said conveyor including a belt having upper and lower flights of mesh material, said conveyor being adapted to assume an operative position wherein said flights include an inboard extent inboard of said craft at a level above said water surface and an outboard extent outboard of said craft sloping downward toward said water surface so that at least a portion of said belt is immersed, means for driving said belt in a direction so that said upper flights travels from the out-board to the inboard extent.
2. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt defines an expanse of wire mesh defining approximate squares between the material forming said mesh, approximately in the plane of said conveyor with each such square having sides of between about 0.5 inches and about 12.0 inches.
3. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mesh is made of mutually perpendicular sets of wires each running at approximately 45° to the conveyor flight.
4. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the wires of said mesh are made of stainless steel.
5. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wires of said mesh are made of stainless steel.
6. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are provided bars extending normally from said belt at spaced locations along said conveyor belt.
7. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are provided bars extending normally from said belt at spaced locations along said conveyor belt.
8. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein there are provided bars extending normally from said belt at spaced locations along said conveyor belt.
9. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are located above said inboard extent upper flight adapted to direct a steam jet downwardly on the mesh of said inboard extent.
10. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein means are located above said inboard extent upper flight adapted to direct a steam jet downwardly on the mesh of said inboard extent.
11. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and means located between said inboard flight extents adapted to direct a steam jet downwardly on the mesh said lower flight extent.
12. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and means located between said inboard flight extents adapted to direct a steam jet downwardly on the mesh said lower flight extent.
13. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said belt is composed of a series of sections hinged on axes perpend-icular to the longtudinal extent of the belt and parallel to its plane, said sections being detachably attached to chains on each side of said conveyor, whereby sections of said belt may be detached from said conveyor for replacement by a simular section of different mesh size.
14. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said belt is composed of a series of sections hinged on axes perpend-icular to the longtudinal extent of the belt and parallel to its plane, said sections being detachably attached to chains on each side of the said conveyor, whereby sections of said belt may be detached from said conveyor for replacement by a similar section of different mesh size.
15. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for controlling the degree of immersion of said one end.
16. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are provided for controlling the degree of immersion of said one end.
17. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the outer end of said belt is guided by a cylindrical drum, means are provided for controlling the water content of said drum to determine the degree of immersion of said one end relative to the water level.
18. Recovery apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the outer end of said belt is guided by a cylindrical drum, means are provided for controlling the water content of said drum to determine the degree of immersion of said one end relative to the water level.
19. Method of oil removal comprising the steps of moving an approximately square mesh generally planar screen from be-low to above an oil contaminated water surface in a direction approximately parallel to the plane of the screen to a re-covery area, controlling the mesh size and screen velocity so that oil films extending across the apertures of the mesh screen at or just below the water surface exist until said film is over the recovery area, and removing the oil from said mesh at such area.
20. Method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said removing step comprises provides a downwardly directed steam jet impinging on said screen over said recovery area.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US73868691A | 1991-07-31 | 1991-07-31 | |
| US07/738,686 | 1991-07-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2074325A1 true CA2074325A1 (en) | 1993-02-01 |
Family
ID=24969062
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002074325A Abandoned CA2074325A1 (en) | 1991-07-31 | 1992-07-21 | Recovery apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2074325A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101624821B (en) * | 2009-05-11 | 2011-09-14 | 中国科学院南京地理与湖泊研究所 | Large simulated type water-surface blue-green algae removing device |
| CN105672227A (en) * | 2016-03-11 | 2016-06-15 | 浙江海洋学院 | Duckweed clearing device |
| CN108438158A (en) * | 2018-05-16 | 2018-08-24 | 珠江水利委员会珠江水利科学研究院 | A kind of crawler type water silk floss pick-up boat |
| CN110481721A (en) * | 2019-08-29 | 2019-11-22 | 佛山市南海珠峰造船有限公司 | A kind of small-sized transport salvaging river unmanned boat |
| WO2020218926A1 (en) * | 2019-04-25 | 2020-10-29 | The Ocean Cleanup Technologies B.V. | A free flowing water cleaning system |
| CN115012465A (en) * | 2022-07-09 | 2022-09-06 | 华北水利水电大学 | Algae sediment collecting system for side slope of north-south water transfer channel |
| CN116812088A (en) * | 2023-01-03 | 2023-09-29 | 常州慧而达智能装备有限公司 | Automatic paving system of intelligent aquatic weed cleaning ship |
-
1992
- 1992-07-21 CA CA002074325A patent/CA2074325A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101624821B (en) * | 2009-05-11 | 2011-09-14 | 中国科学院南京地理与湖泊研究所 | Large simulated type water-surface blue-green algae removing device |
| CN105672227A (en) * | 2016-03-11 | 2016-06-15 | 浙江海洋学院 | Duckweed clearing device |
| CN108438158A (en) * | 2018-05-16 | 2018-08-24 | 珠江水利委员会珠江水利科学研究院 | A kind of crawler type water silk floss pick-up boat |
| WO2020218926A1 (en) * | 2019-04-25 | 2020-10-29 | The Ocean Cleanup Technologies B.V. | A free flowing water cleaning system |
| CN110481721A (en) * | 2019-08-29 | 2019-11-22 | 佛山市南海珠峰造船有限公司 | A kind of small-sized transport salvaging river unmanned boat |
| CN110481721B (en) * | 2019-08-29 | 2020-05-08 | 佛山市南海珠峰造船有限公司 | Unmanned ship in river course is salvaged in small-size transportation |
| CN115012465A (en) * | 2022-07-09 | 2022-09-06 | 华北水利水电大学 | Algae sediment collecting system for side slope of north-south water transfer channel |
| CN115012465B (en) * | 2022-07-09 | 2023-08-15 | 华北水利水电大学 | Algae sediment collection system for south-to-north-adjustment channel side slope |
| CN116812088A (en) * | 2023-01-03 | 2023-09-29 | 常州慧而达智能装备有限公司 | Automatic paving system of intelligent aquatic weed cleaning ship |
| CN116812088B (en) * | 2023-01-03 | 2024-04-09 | 常州慧而达智能装备有限公司 | Automatic paving system of intelligent aquatic weed cleaning ship |
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