GB2254801A - Oil pick-up device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for picking up oil from water or land comprises an array of discs 6 rotated about horizontal axis 7 to pick up the oil, which is removed from the discs by scrapers 25 and runs down them into chamber 27, wherein a pair of screw conveyors move the oil in opposite directions laterally. Fig. 2 shows a devise of catamaran construction, wherein the oil is conveyed from chamber 27 into ducts, also provided with screw conveyors, running inside the two hulls, and thence to twin pumps 71 which discharge it to barges. All moving parts are powered by hydraulic motors. The disc assembly may be lifted relative to the hulls, by pivotting about an axis parallel to axis 7. Scrapers 25 are of wide V-section and flexible but removably mounted in rigid supports. The device is moved across the water (arrow 9) or remains stationary while the water moves. Microwave generators heat collected oil in chamber 27 downstream thereof. To collect oil from land, the device would comprise wheels or tracks. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING FLUID SUBSTANCES FROM A SURFACE This invention relates to apparatus for removing fluid substances from a surface, and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with apparatus for removing oil and other viscous fluids from water or land surfaces.

According to the present invention, apparatus for removing fluid substances from a surface, comprises a base structure, a rotatable structure defining a plurality of fins mounted on the base structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, means for rotating the rotatable structure about said axis so that the fins pick up fluid substances from the surface, wiper members disposed between each pair of adjacent fins and operable to remove the fluid substances from the fins, and means for collecting the fluid substances so removed.

The base structure may be movable over the surface, the fins then being rotated in a direction opposite to the intended direction of movement of the base structure.

Alternatively, the base structure may remain stationary, either on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

The means for collecting the fluid substances comprise a chamber, and conveyor means disposed within the chamber.

Preferably, the apparatus is provided with means for conveying the collected fluid substances from the chamber and for heating said substances during transport.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts removed so as to show internal features, of apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section, taken on the lines II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view to an enlarged scale, of a wiper member; and Figure 4 is a section, taken on the lines IV-IV of Figure 3.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, apparatus 1 for removing fluid substances 2 (oil) from the surface 3 of water, comprises a base structure 4 movable over the water surface 3, and a rotatable structure 5 of generally cylindrical form defining a plurality of radially-extending fins 6, mounted on the base structure 4 for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis 7.

The direction of rotation, indicated by arrow 8, is generally opposite to the intended (forward) direction of movement of the base structure 4, indicated by arrow 9.

The fins 6 which have smooth side surfaces, are laterally spaced from each other, in substantially parallel array.

Means comprising hydraulic motors 10 are provided for rotating the structure 5 about the axis 7, the structure being mounted on end plates 16 of spider form mounted in turn on the drive shafts of the motors 10.

The rotatable structure 5 comprises the fins 6 and fin spacers 17 disposed between pairs of adjacent fins 6, the whole being secured together by nut and stud connectors 18.

Rotation of the structure 5 results in the fins 6 picking up viscous oil 2 from the water surface 3, the oil being deposited on the side surfaces of the fins.

With additional reference to Figures 3 and 4, wiper members 25, mounted on a splined shaft 26 are disposed between each pair of adjacent fins 6. The wiper members 25 are operable to remove the picked up oil 2 from the side surfaces of the fins 6.

Means comprising a primary collecting chamber 27 are provided for collecting the oil 2 so removed.

The base structure 4, which is of buoyant construction, is of catamaran-like form, comprising a pair of laterally-spaced floats 35 interconnected at the forward end of the structure 4 by bridging 36 and at the stern or rear end thereof by the chamber 27. In addition to, or instead of the floats 35, land surface engaging means, such as endless tracks or wheels may be provided, so as to enable the apparatus 1 to operate over land.

The base structure 4 also comprises a first subframe 37, releasably connected to the floats 35 by securing plates 38 and securing bolts 39, and a second sub-frame 40, which supports the drive motors 10 and rotatable structure 5.

The primary collecting chamber 27 houses a pair of screw conveyors 45, 46 rotatable about coincident axes 47, 48 by hydraulic motors 49, 50. The motors 49, 50, as are all other hydraulic motors, (such as motors 10), and actuators disclosed herein are supplied with pressurised hydraulic fluid by a large capacity pump 55 driven by a power source 56. The conveyors 45, 46 operate to displace material in opposite directions, indicated by arrows 57, 58.

The floats 35 house screw conveyors 65, 66, rotatable about substantially parallel axes 67, 68, and within ducts 69, 70. The ducts connect the primary chamber 27 with the inlets of discharge pumps 71, 72 mounted on the floats 35, 36. The pumps have discharge outlets 73, 74.

The screw conveyors 65, 66 and their ducts 69, 70, are of plastics material, such as NYLON (RTM).

Heating means in the form of longitudinallyextending rows of spaced microwave generators 80, 81 are provided to heat the contents of the ducts 69, 70 and microwave shielding/reflecting structure 82, 83 is provided to prevent out-leakage of the microwaves.

With reference once more to Figures 3 and 4, each wiper member 25 comprises a support arm 90, which is mounted on the shaft 26. The upper surface of the arm 90 is formed with a groove 91 of dove-tail form which slidably locates a correspondingly shaped lower surface of a replaceable wiper blade 92 of flexible, plastics material.

The wiper blade 92 is of "V"-like form, viewed endwise, that is substantially normal to the axis 7, and has upwardly extending and divergent arms 92a, formed so as to contact the side surfaces of the fins 6, in a resilient manner, in order to remove oil therefrom. The blades 93 are normally disposed upwardly, at an angle of about 450 to the horizontal.

The opposite ends of the wiper member support shaft 26 are connected to hydraulic actuators 100, 101 (Figure 1) operable simultaneously to rotate the wiper members 25, about axis 94, rearwardly from the operative position shown in Figure 2 to an inoperative position, clear of the fins 6, so as to enable replacement of one or more wiper blades 93.

As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 1 is provided with adjustment means 102 operable to vary the operating height of the rotatable structure 5, relative to the base structure 4, or to lift it to an inoperative position, enabling easier transport of the apparatus 1 from place to place.

The means 102 comprise hydraulic actuators 103, 104 and aligned pivot pins 105, 106, carried on blocks 107, 108 attached to the sub-frame 40. The pins 105, 106 are engageable with reaction-accepting structure (not shown, for reasons of clarity) carried by the end plates 16, when made to do so by simultaneous action of the hydraulic actuators 103, 104. The rotatable structure 5 can then be rotated rearwardly about a substantially horizontal axis passing through the pins 105, 106.

The apparatus 1 is preferably moved over the water surface 3 by self-propulsion means (not shown), such as outboard motors. Alternatively, it may be towed or pushed. As it moves through the water, the structure 2 is rotated whereby oil 2 is picked up by the fins 6 and carried round to where the wiper members 25 remove the oil.

The oil so removed runs down the upper surfaces of the inclined wiper blades 93, and through an opening 110 in the primary chamber 27 so as to enter the chamber itself, as indicated by arrow 111.

Thereafter, the collected oil is transferred by the screw conveyors 45, 46, to the ducts 69, 70 and the screw conveyors 65, 66 disposed therein. The oil is then transported through the ducts, at the same time receiving heat from the microwave generators 80, 81, so as to keep the oil fluid.

The collected oil passes to the pumps 71, 72 which discharge it to collections barges or to a shore establishment, if conditions allow, as indicated by arrows 115, 116. If deemed desirable, collected oil present in the chamber 27 may receive heat.

Typically, the fins 6 of the rotatable structure 5 are of 4 feet (121.92 cm) diameter, are of 0.11 inches (3.0 mm) thickness, and are spaced from 1 inch (25.4 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) apart. Fifty fins 6 are provided.

Rate of rotation is between 30 and 100 rpm. Preferred speed is 45 rpm.

Air, instead of hydraulic motors and actuators may be used.

The groove 91 of Figure 4 may be replaced by one of inverted "T" cross-section.

The base structure 4 may remain stationary, either on a permanent or semi-permanent basis and may be used with waves. For example, it may be anchored at or near the entrance to a harbour, in order to at least reduce pollution of the harbour by spilled oil. The discs 6 would then be rotated in the same general direction of water flow. In other words, with reference to Figure 2, the apparatus would be disposed so that the waves would be moving in a direction opposite to arrow 9.

Floating barrier structures may be employed so as to funnel or otherwise direct, oil covered waves towards the apparatus 1.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for removing fluid substances from a surface, comprising a base structure, a rotatable structure defining a plurality of fins mounted on the base structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, means for rotating the rotatable structure about said axis, so that the fins pick up fluid substances from the surface, wiper members disposed between each pair of adjacent fins and operable to remove the fluid substances from the fins, and means for collecting the fluid substances so removed.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base structure is movable over the surface, and the fins are rotated in a direction opposite to the intended direction of movement of the base structure.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, for use with waves, wherein the base structure is stationary and the fins are rotated in the same direction as the direction of the waves.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means for collecting the fluid substances comprise a chamber, and conveyor means disposed within the chamber.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, provided with means for conveying the collected fluid substances from the chamber and for heating said substances during transport.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein heating is performed by microwave generator means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotatable structure comprises a plurality of discs with spacing means disposed between adjacent pairs of discs.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, provided with means for adjusting the height of the rotatable structure, relative to the base structure.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the wiper members comprise replaceable blades of flexible construction, mounted on support arms.

10. Apparatus for removing fluid substances from a surface, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the wiper blade is of "V"-like form, viewed endwise, substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the rotatable structure with divergent arms that contact the side surface of an adjacent pair of discs.