GB2043546A

GB2043546A - Floating containers for the transportation of contaminated oil

Info

Publication number: GB2043546A
Application number: GB8005716A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-02-27
Filing date: 1980-02-20
Publication date: 1980-10-08
Also published as: AU5589880A; DE3006873A1; GB2043546B

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating container for the transportation of contaminated oil. The transportable container makes possible the transportation in shallow areas and also permits the container to carry the oil in heavy sea within the risk that the container will be destroyed and that oil will escape. The container comprises a floating body (1), which extends along the circumference of the container forming an opening rim for a submerged bin (3) attached to the floating body. The bin comprises walls (4) and a bottom (5) of flexible material and the interior of the bin can communicate with the surrounding water through an opening (6A, 6) in its bottom. The lateral walls (4) of the bin can be vertically adjusted by regulating means (11, 12), whereby the draft of the container can be varied. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Floating containers for the transportation of contaminated oil The present invention relates to a container for the transportation of contaminated oil.

It is a principle object of the invention to provide a container of the kind mentioned, by means of which handling of the oil in connection with its loading and discharge and during its transportation is made simple. When containers of the prior art are filled with contaminated oil and emptied theredf through pipe connections to the container, the viscosity of the oil, especially during winter-time, constitutes a problem, as it cannot be pumped.

Such closed containers are moreover difficult to use for example when cleaning beaches, as the oil in such cases is highly contaminated with algae, plastics, wooden material, bottles, cans etc. and does not lend itself to being pumped. When the sea is rough and one uses such closed cylindrical containers, there is a risk that such a filled container follows the curvature of the waves, whereby pulsating currents can arise in the closed container, these currents being so strong that the container can burst. There is for the rest a similar problem in connection with floating oil fences with water-filled lower body in a heavy sea.

There have also been problems with the utilization of containers in very shallow waters, when cleaning beaches, as it has by way of example been difficult to reach the area to be cleaned-up by terrestrial transport means, and in its case been difficult to bring the contaminated oil ashore to the transportation means.

According to the present invention there is provided a floating container for the transportation of contaminated oil comprising a floating body extending along the circumference of the container in order to form an opening rim for a submerged bin fastened to the floating body and comprising a bottom portion, which has at least one passage through which the inside of the container can communicate with the surrounding water, and flexible lateral walls which can be adjusted vertically by regulating means provided on the container, making the height of the bin adjustable and consequently the draft of the container variable.

An embodiment of the invention is described by way of example, in the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container as seen from above at an oblique angle; Figure 2 shows a filled container, and; Figure 3 is a view of a central cross-section through such a container.

A rubber tube or hose 1 with air valves 2 constitutes a floating body of a container and has a rectangular shape, its end sections forming the front and rear portions respectively of the container. A submerged bin 3 is fastened along the circumference of the tube 1 and comprises flexible walls 4 of, for example, plastics material, cloth or similar material, and a bottom portion 5 fastened along their bottom edges and preferably made of the same material as the walls 4. The bottom portion 5, as is clearly evident from Fig. 3 is provided with two hoses 6 which constitute outlets 6A in the bottom portion of the container. Thanks to weights 7 provided in the lower terminal end portions of the hoses, each hose will take up a substantially vertical position in the water.The opening 6A provided by the hose 6 can be closed and opened respectively from above by means of a cord 8, this cord at its lower end forming a running noose or drawstring 9 serving to permit pursing up the hose 6 in the section located just above the weights 7. Lifting eyes 10 are spaced evenly along the longitudinal sides of the tube 1, by means of which lifting eyes the container can be carried when it is being launched or recovered from the water from a vessel. These lifting eyes 10 which are attached to the tube 1 along its circumference and are in the form of straps 11 extend further downwards along the walls 4 of the bin to the bottom 5 of the same. Loops 12 are provided along the straps 11 and their function will be explained later.In order to stiffen the tube 1 which in connection with towing operations is subjected to considerable strain, the opposing end walls 1 3, 1 3A and longitudinal walls 14, 1 4A respectively of the tube are connected together by means of stiffening bars or straps 1 5 and 1 6 extending longitudinally and transversely respectively.

The bars or straps can be disconnected when the container is emptied. In order to permit towing and mooring of the container. It is at its front side provided with lines or straps 1 7 which at one of the ends are secured to the container and at the other of the ends are passed through a ring 1 8 which forms a coupling means.

The function of a transportable container according to the foregoing description will now be described more in detail, reference being made to Fig. 1. The container is by means of an oil collecting vessel transported to the place which is going to be cleaned of oil. The tube 1 is filled with air through the valves 2, whereafter the container is lowered down by means of the lifting eyes 10 into the water to be moored to the side of the vessel by means of the straps 1 7 and the ring 18.

Thereafter the hose of the oil collector can be introduced directly into the container in prder to fill it. Thanks to the weights 7 at the lower terminal ends of the hoses 6, these hoses 6 will substantially occupy a vertical position in the water, as is shown in Fig. 3. The opening 6A of the hose 6 shall from the beginning be completely unobstructed so that water can flow into the interior of the container. When the oil 1 9 is introduced into the container from above the water 20 in the container will flow out through the opening of the hose 6 as is evident from Fig. 3. The density of oil is approximately 0.9 kg/dm3 and of water approximately 1 kg/dm3. Thus, the oil will form a layer on top of the water in the container and occupy a position on a sightly higher level 21 than the level of the water line 22.

When a sufficient quantity of oil 1 9 has been loaded in the container, the oil will rest on the water bed 20 created by the water flowing in through the opening of the hose. The container can subsequently be transported to a small ship, for example a ship of the tanker type, into which the oil is pumped or to some other place where the oil is discharged by means of, for example, a grab or the like, depending upon the viscosity of the oil and its degree of contamination. During this operation the longitudinal and transverse straps 1 5 and 1 6 are loosened and removed from the opening of the container.

During the transportation of the container, the openings 6A of the hoses 6 are usually open, so that the water 20 inside the container is in communication with the surrounding water. Water which splashes over the edge of the floating body 1 will then sink downwards through the oil 1 9 and flow out through the openings 6A of the hoses 6, so that there is always static stability inside the container and the oil 1 9 in the container acquires the same wave curvature as the surrounding water.

When the container is transported within areas where one cannot risk oil-contaminated water from the container escaping into surrounding clean water, the openings 6A are closed by pursing up the hoses 6 by means of the drawstring 9 and the cord 8. Splashed-in water cannot then flow out through the openings 6A and will of course remain inside the container.

When the container is transported in very shallow waters, for example in cdnnection with the cleaning-up of a beach and when oil is brought to the container from land areas, its draft can be changed. The flexible sides 4 of the container can be pursed up by means of cords running through the loops 1 2 of the lateral straps 11 as is shown in Fig. 2, and by this arrangement the draft of the container is reduced. The straps 11 can be of artificial fibre type. The other straps such as the towing lines 17, the lifting eyes 10 and the rein forcing straps arranged along the submerged bin 3 and the floating body can be of the same kind.

Claims

1. A floating container for the transportation of contaminated oil comprising a floating body extending along the circumference of the container in order to form an opening rim for a submerged bin fastened to the floating body and comprising a bottom portion which has at least one passage through which the inside of the container can communicate with the surrounding water, and flexible lateral walls which can be adjusted vertically by regulating means provided on the container making the height of the bin adjustable and consequently the draft of the container variable.

2. A transportable container according to claim 1 in which the passage comprises a hose which is attached at one of its ends to the bottom portion of the bin.

3. A transportable container according to claim 2 in which the hose supports weights mounted thereon at its free end, by means of which the hose is weighed down.

4. A transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the passage has a closing means actuated by remote control.

5. A transportable container according to claim 4 in which the closing means comprises a drawstring.

6. A transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the floating body comprises a tube which can be inflated with air.

7. A transportable container according to claim 6 in which the tube when filled with air is of square shape.

8. A transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the regulating means comprise straps or cords which connect the bottom of the container with the floating body and which are adjustable in length.

9. A transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the front and rear portions of the floating body are connected to each other by means of longitudinally extending stiffening pieces.

1 0. A transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the opposing lateral portions of the floating body are connected to each other by means of transverse stiffening pieces.

11. A transportable container according to claim 9 or claim 10 in which the stiffening pieces comprise straps which can be removed for the purpose of a discharging operation of the container.

1 2. A transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the container is provided at its extreme front portion with lines for towing and for mooring purposes and is also being equipped with lifting eyes.

1 3. A transportable container for contaminated oil substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.