GB2118855A

GB2118855A - A device for removing oil from the surface of a body of water

Info

Publication number: GB2118855A
Application number: GB08212078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Harris Davies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-27
Filing date: 1982-04-27
Publication date: 1983-11-09

Abstract

The device floats or is supported upon the body of water which is contaminated with oil and consists of an outer cylinder 1 having a number of axially extending external paddles 3 and an equal number of axial slots 2. Cylinder 1 rotates about an inner fixed cylinder 4 having only two slots 5, so that each paddle 3 lifts up a portion of floating oil and delivers it through the upper slot 5, displacing water through lower slot 5. Oil accumulates in and is removed from cylinder 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for removing oil from the surface of a body of water The following description relates to an apparatus and a method for removing and collecting oil and similar substances having a density less than that of water from the surface of a body of water.

Existing methods have numerous disadvantages in that they discriminate between oils having different viscosities, are mechanically complex, pick-up a large proportion of water and may have low rates of oil recovery. Such methods include rotating discs to which oil adheres and is subsequently scraped off, continuous belts operating in a similar fashion, toothed discs arranged to pass oil towards a pump, paddle wheels arranged to push oil rearwards into a collecting vessel, vacuum pumps, weirs arranged to selectively separate oil from water.

The device about to be described overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages by using the natural buoyancy of oil and the force of gravity to advantage.

The device consists of a cylinder having a number of paddles equally spaced about its outside surface and extending parallel to each other along the length of the cylinder, between each paddle the body of the cylinder is cut away so as to allow access to the interior of the cylinder. The cut away portions being of equal length to the length of the paddles. The cut away portions do not extend to the ends of the cylinder.

Each end of the cylinder is left intact so as to maintain the structure of the cylinder. The said cylinder is fitted concentrically to a second cylinder about which it is free to rotate. The second cylinder being inside and concentric to the first cylinder and forming a supporting structure to it. The body of the second cylinder is cut away at two locations 1 80 degrees apart and corresponding to the '12' and '6' o'clock positions, the cut away portions being at least of equal area to the cut away portions between a pair of paddles on the first cylinder. The ends of the second cylinder are sealed.

In use, the device is supported or floated horizontally in the body of waterfrom which it is desired to remove oil to a depth equal to, approximately, the longitudinal axis of the device, i.e. half the diameter.

The first cylinder is now made to rotate and the paddles, in passing from air into the water will, in so doing, carry oil under the surface of the water trapped between the paddles and unable to escape because the second cylinder is sealing the cut away portions between the paddles. As rotation continues towards the 6' o'clock position, which is submerged, the cut away portions between the paddles become coincident with the cut away portion of the second cylinder and the oil is free to float upwards into the interior of the second cylinder.As rotation continues paddles emerging from the water will also collect oil which will be carried towards the '12' o'clock position where the cut away portions between the paddles will become coincident with the cut away portion of the second cylinder allowing the oil to fall under the influence of gravity, into the interior of the second cylinder.

Thus, oil will accumulate within the second cylinder displacing an equal volume of water and unable to escape because of its buoyancy and because the ends of the second cylinder are sealed. Oil inside the second cylinder may be pumped out or otherwise removed by conventional means.

The device will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing in which Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically and in cross section, a preferred embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 an apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown in the operative position. The apparatus comprises a cylinder 1 which has a number of slots or openings 2 cut into and equally spaced about its circumference, the slots or openings terminating before the ends of the cylinder. Paddles 3 are fixed to the outside of the cylinder between each slot. A second cylinder 4 has openings 5 which are of equal length to the slots in the outside cylinder 1. Cylinder 1 is arranged to rotate about cylinder 4. The apparatus floats or is supported partially submerged in the body of water 6 in which it is to operate.

When using the apparatus according to the invention the apparatus is partially submerged and cylinder 1 is rotated about cylinder 4 which is not rotated. Oil is carried from the surface of the water by the rotating motion and is deposited inside the second cylinder 4 from where it may be removed by any convenient means. It will be appreciated that the ends of the second cylinder 4 are sealed so as to prevent oil escaping.

Claimsifiled on 20th April 1983) 1. A method for removing oil from the surface of a body of water by using a cylinder rotating about a second cylinder and depositing the oil inside the second cylinder.

2. A method substantially as hereto before described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

3. Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1 such apparatus comprising a cylinder having slots or openings disposed about its circumference and arranged to rotate about a second cylinder which has slots or openings with which the slots or openings in the first cylinder become coincident as the first cylinder rotates.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein paddles are arranged between the slots in the rotating cylinder.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ends of the non-rotating cylinder are sealed.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein oil is deposited inside the non rotating cylinder.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for removing oil from the surface of a body of water The following description relates to an apparatus and a method for removing and collecting oil and similar substances having a density less than that of water from the surface of a body of water. Existing methods have numerous disadvantages in that they discriminate between oils having different viscosities, are mechanically complex, pick-up a large proportion of water and may have low rates of oil recovery. Such methods include rotating discs to which oil adheres and is subsequently scraped off, continuous belts operating in a similar fashion, toothed discs arranged to pass oil towards a pump, paddle wheels arranged to push oil rearwards into a collecting vessel, vacuum pumps, weirs arranged to selectively separate oil from water. The device about to be described overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages by using the natural buoyancy of oil and the force of gravity to advantage. The device consists of a cylinder having a number of paddles equally spaced about its outside surface and extending parallel to each other along the length of the cylinder, between each paddle the body of the cylinder is cut away so as to allow access to the interior of the cylinder. The cut away portions being of equal length to the length of the paddles. The cut away portions do not extend to the ends of the cylinder. Each end of the cylinder is left intact so as to maintain the structure of the cylinder. The said cylinder is fitted concentrically to a second cylinder about which it is free to rotate. The second cylinder being inside and concentric to the first cylinder and forming a supporting structure to it. The body of the second cylinder is cut away at two locations 1 80 degrees apart and corresponding to the '12' and '6' o'clock positions, the cut away portions being at least of equal area to the cut away portions between a pair of paddles on the first cylinder. The ends of the second cylinder are sealed. In use, the device is supported or floated horizontally in the body of waterfrom which it is desired to remove oil to a depth equal to, approximately, the longitudinal axis of the device, i.e. half the diameter. The first cylinder is now made to rotate and the paddles, in passing from air into the water will, in so doing, carry oil under the surface of the water trapped between the paddles and unable to escape because the second cylinder is sealing the cut away portions between the paddles. As rotation continues towards the 6' o'clock position, which is submerged, the cut away portions between the paddles become coincident with the cut away portion of the second cylinder and the oil is free to float upwards into the interior of the second cylinder.As rotation continues paddles emerging from the water will also collect oil which will be carried towards the '12' o'clock position where the cut away portions between the paddles will become coincident with the cut away portion of the second cylinder allowing the oil to fall under the influence of gravity, into the interior of the second cylinder. Thus, oil will accumulate within the second cylinder displacing an equal volume of water and unable to escape because of its buoyancy and because the ends of the second cylinder are sealed. Oil inside the second cylinder may be pumped out or otherwise removed by conventional means. The device will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing in which Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically and in cross section, a preferred embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention. Referring to Figure 1 an apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown in the operative position. The apparatus comprises a cylinder 1 which has a number of slots or openings 2 cut into and equally spaced about its circumference, the slots or openings terminating before the ends of the cylinder. Paddles 3 are fixed to the outside of the cylinder between each slot. A second cylinder 4 has openings 5 which are of equal length to the slots in the outside cylinder 1. Cylinder 1 is arranged to rotate about cylinder 4. The apparatus floats or is supported partially submerged in the body of water 6 in which it is to operate. When using the apparatus according to the invention the apparatus is partially submerged and cylinder 1 is rotated about cylinder 4 which is not rotated. Oil is carried from the surface of the water by the rotating motion and is deposited inside the second cylinder 4 from where it may be removed by any convenient means. It will be appreciated that the ends of the second cylinder 4 are sealed so as to prevent oil escaping. Claimsifiled on 20th April 1983)

1. A method for removing oil from the surface of a body of water by using a cylinder rotating about a second cylinder and depositing the oil inside the second cylinder.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the apparatus is arranged to float or be held in a partially submerged position.

8. Apparatus substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1 the accompanying drawing.