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
• • 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
  • E02B15/102—Discs
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a collecting apparatus for an oil collector that is applicable to be secured to a collecting apparatus floating on water in order to improve the collecting efficiency of the collecting apparatus.
• float-supported collecting devices that float, and they have a problem that large amounts of water are col- lected with oil.
• said collecting devices consist of an oil transfer pump provided with a funnel that opens upwardly and whose collecting inlet is located below the surface of water.
• the collecting inlet is to be located as close to the surface of water as possible. Nevertheless, the open collecting inlet of the funnel below the surface of water contributes to the fact that as the waves get higher the amount of oil collected is very small in proportion to the amount of water. Attempts have been made to provide these collecting devices with additional structures afterwards, but with little success.
• the bristles and the plates rotate thus directly with the centre part of the collecting member, and their rotation does not require any teeth, which could get blocked by the effect of debris in the oil.
• Using a ring-shaped collecting member makes it possible to achieve an advantage that oil recovery may take place from all sides of the collecting apparatus, whereby the recovery is efficient. Mounting the collecting apparatus of the invention on a known funnel-shaped oil collector increases the operating efficiency of the apparatus considerably, because clearly more oil and less water can be collected.
• the centre part may consist of one piece. Alternatively, it may consist of a plurality of pieces, the ends of which are interconnected, or the ends of which are interconnected through a motor or motors rotating the centre part. Between the motor and the centre part it is also possible to utilize a reduction gear so as to achieve a suitable rotation rate.
• the preferred embodiments of the collecting apparatus according to the invention are disclosed in the attached dependent claims 2 to 6.
• Figure 1b shows the collecting apparatus mounted on the oil collecting device
• Figure 2a shows a partial cross-section of a first preferred embodi- ment of the oil collecting apparatus
• Figure 2b shows a top view of the first preferred embodiment
• Figure 3a shows a partial cross-section of a second preferred embodiment of the oil collecting apparatus
• Figure 3b shows a top view of the second preferred embodiment
• Figure 4a shows a first preferred securing method of a motor of the oil collecting apparatus
• Figure 4b shows a second preferred securing method of a motor of the oil collecting apparatus
• Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the structure of a cleaner of the oil col- lecting apparatus
• Figures 6a to 6c show structural details of bearings and a frame
• Figure 7a shows the collecting apparatus in operation.
• Figure 1a illustrates how a collecting apparatus according to the invention is secured to an oil collecting device and Figure 1b shows the collecting apparatus mounted on the oil collecting device.
• FIGs 1a and 1b the collecting apparatus of the invention is arranged in a frame 1 , which is applicable to be mounted on a funnel 8 of a known floating oil collector.
• a motor or motors 4 and a collecting member 5 are secured to the frame 1 in a mounting base 2 surrounding a central opening 6.
• Floats 10, an oil transfer pump 9, an oil transfer hose 12 and an oil-receiving container 11 are secured to the funnel 8.
• the invention utilizes the frame 1 that is surrounded by a flexible centre part of the collecting member 5, the longitudinal centre of the centre part being dimensioned to the frame 1 such that the centre part of the collecting member 5 rotates at a predetermined distance from the frame.
• the centre part acts as a flexible axis.
• a U-shaped border that surrounds the central opening 6 of the frame in the collecting apparatus is part of the mounting base 2 of the frame 1 , to which the funnel 8, the oil transfer pump or the like is connected.
• the U-shaped structure denotes that the outer border of the frame 1 is shaped into a groove that opens outwardly in the horizontal direction, allowing the collecting member to be placed in this groove.
• the U-shaped structure of the frame should be such that it matches with the collecting member 5 surrounding the centre part and that the funnel 8 secured to the oil transfer pump 9 matches with the mounting base 2.
• the frame 1 also includes one or more points, on which the centre part of the collecting member 5 is mounted with bearings, as well as motors 4 and a cleaner for cleaning the collecting member.
• the function of the funnel 8 secured to the oil transfer pump 9 is to balance the reception of collected oils. In some cases the funnel can be omitted from the structure completely, and then the floats 10 and devices secured to the frame of the collecting apparatus will be secured directly to the oil transfer pump.
• the centre part of the collecting member 5 must be made of strong material, for instance metal-reinforced rubber or a similar flexible material. Thanks to the strong, flexible structure of the centre part it is possible to use a brush as the collecting member, the brush being suited for collecting lighter oils. Even though brush technology is the dominating collecting method, it is possible to use discs as the collecting member, if so desired.
• the oil collecting apparatus of Figure 1b can be connected to a boat, for instance, from which the energy required for driving the collecting member and for operating the oil transfer pump 9 can be transmitted.
• it can be an independent apparatus that is equipped with necessary sources of power so as to enable driving and pumping.
• Figure 2a shows a partial cross-section of a first preferred embodiment of the collecting apparatus and Figure 2b shows a top view of the first preferred embodiment.
• Figure 2a is a side view in partial cross section of the collect- ing apparatus, in which the centre part 3 of the collecting member 5 surrounding the frame 1 that is part of the mounting base 2 is secured to a motor 4 with a clamp 13. Bearings 7 also appear in Figure 2a.
• the collecting member 5 has an elongated centre part 3 having a central axis and being formed into a ring-shaped, endless axis. This endless axis is driven by the motor 4 for lifting oil from water with the collecting member 5.
• Figure 2b is a top view of the collecting apparatus, which includes the collecting member 5 surrounding the frame 1 that is part of the mounting base 2 and the motor 4 installed in the longitudinal direction and secured with the clamp 13 to the centre part 3 rotating on bearings 7.
• the motor placed in the frame in the longitudinal direction of the centre part 3 can operate, for instance, with a bidirectional axis, to which the ends of the centre parts are secured with clamps or the like.
• the motor installed in the longitudinal direction of the centre part makes the collecting member shorter and thus reduces collecting capacity, but technically it is not so liable to damage as a mo- tor operating transversely.
• Figure 3a shows a second preferred embodiment of the collecting apparatus in partial cross section and Figure 3b shows a top view of the second preferred embodiment.
• Figure 3b shows a top view of the second preferred embodiment.
• These figures show a side view how the centre part 3 is mounted with bearings 7 on the frame 1.
• the mo- tors 4 are installed transversely.
• Figure 4a shows a first preferred securing method of the motor.
• the figure shows a side view of a support 16 and a cross-sectional view of a bearing 7 secured to the mounting base 2 in the frame 1 and the transversely installed motor 4.
• the centre part appears cut in the figure.
• a cogwheel 14 is connected to the centre part, by means of which cogwheel the rotary motion of the motor can be transmitted to the centre part 3.
• the zone in the centre part, to which the cogwheel is secured, can be encased in accordance with the invention so as to prevent the debris in the oil from entering the cogwheel to block the operation thereof.
• Figure 4b shows a second preferred securing method of the motor.
• the figure is a top view of part of the mounting base 2 and a cross- sectional view of the frame 1 , to which are secured the motor 4 and the bearing 7, to which a cogwheel 14 secured to the centre part 3 is placed.
• the motor is installed transversely to the centre part 3.
• Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the structure of a cleaner of the collecting apparatus.
• Figure 5a shows a cleaner, which is supported by a support 16 secured to the frame 1 and with which oil is removed from the collecting member 5, and the bearings 7.
• Figure 5b shows a cross section of the frame 1 and the cleaner 15, which is mounted on the support 16 and with which the collecting member 5 is cleaned.
• the groove formed by the frame exterior cooperates with the collecting member 5 provided with bristles.
• the oil carried into the groove by the collecting member comes into contact with the groove, it is pressed deep in the bristles of the collecting member, whereby the oil will be lifted as efficiently as possible to the cleaner with the collecting member 5.
• the collecting member 5 is a brush or a frame, for instance, it is possible to use a previously known toothed, saw-like blade or disc-based methods for cleaning.
• the cleaner 15 is secured to the collecting apparatus, for instance, by attaching it with bolts to the support 16 in the frame 1. Despite of the curvature, the tips of the cleaner 15 follow the curvature of the centre part 3 such that the brushes of the collecting member 5 will always remain between the tips. The operation takes place such that the motor 4 installed in the frame 1 starts rotating the centre part 3 supported on the bearings 7, to which centre part the collecting member is mounted or secured.
• FIG. 6a shows structural details of the bearings and the frame.
• Figure 6a shows a bearing 7 mounted on the frame 1 , the centre part 3 surrounded by a slide ring 18, a predetermined distance 21 between the centre 17 of the centre part and the frame 1 , and the collecting member 5 attached to the centre part.
• the centre part of the collecting member 5 can be provided with slide rings 18 at one or more points, the function of the slide rings being to prevent the centre part 3 from moving in the longitudinal direction and to enhance the rotation of the centre part 3.
• the bearings 7 required by the slide rings 18 can be secured to the frame by bolts at desired intervals and they should be ready to open for changing the collecting member.
• nylon can be used as material for the slide rings and the bearings to make them lighter and more resistant to salty seawater.
• Figure 6a illustrates mutually alternative collecting member structures, i.e. the collecting member can be provided with oil collecting plates, bristles or brush rings, for instance.
• Figure 6b shows a cross-sectional side view of the bolted 19 attachment of the frame 1 associated with mounting base 2 as well as the bearings 7 and a bearing groove 20.
• Figure 6c shows the frame 1 associated with the mounting base 2 and secured with the bolt 19, the bearings from above and the bearing groove 20.
• Figure 7a shows the collecting apparatus in operation.
• the figure shows the support 16 secured to the frame 1, the cleaner 15 and the collecting member 5 in operation, whereby the collected oil drains through the central opening 6 into the funnel 8, wherefrom the oil is transferred by the action of the oil transfer pump 9 via the oil transfer hose into the oil receiving container 11.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Removal Of Floating Material (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)
• General Details Of Gearings (AREA)
• Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
• Motor Or Generator Frames (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8564564

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 2002
  • 2002-09-10 FI FI20021621A patent/FI114164B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-09-09 WO PCT/FI2003/000660 patent/WO2004025034A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-09-09 JP JP2004535558A patent/JP2005538282A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-09-09 BR BR0314206-0A patent/BR0314206A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-09-09 CA CA002492518A patent/CA2492518A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-09-09 RU RU2005110404/03A patent/RU2005110404A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-09-09 GB GB0408452A patent/GB2397255A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-09-09 AU AU2003260531A patent/AU2003260531A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-09-09 MX MXPA05002657A patent/MXPA05002657A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-09-09 KR KR1020057004061A patent/KR20050042496A/ko not_active Withdrawn
• 2004
  • 2004-04-07 DK DK200400124U patent/DK200400124U3/da not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-04-07 DK DK200400565A patent/DK200400565A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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