Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
  • E01H12/00—Cleaning beaches or sandboxes
  • E01H12/006—Oil removal
• • 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
  • E02B15/046—Collection of oil using vessels, i.e. boats, barges
• • 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

• AMPHIBIOUS OIL SPILL ABSORBING MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an oil spill absorber and has been devised particularly though not solely for the removal of oil spills floating on the surface of the water and on adjacent beach or estuary areas.
• the invention consists in an amphibious oil spill absorbing machine comprising a chassis, at least one oil absorbing roller having an oil absorbing covering and being rotatably mounted transversely across the chassis and positioned with the lower periphery thereof below the chassis such that the chassis may be at least partially supported on land by the oil absorbing roller, flotation means adapted to float the machine in water and/or oil with the lower periphery of the oil absorbing roller immersed, propulsion means arranged to propel the machine forwardly when floating, rotation means arranged to rotate the oil absorbing roller in the direction of movement of the machine, at least one pinch roller arranged to bear against the oil absorbing roller compressing the oil absorbing covering and squeezing oil therefrom, and oil collection means arranged to collect oil squeezed from the covering.
• said oil absorbing roller is positioned toward the front of the chassis and a support roller is provided rotatably mounted transversely across the chassis toward the rear thereof such that the oil absorbing roller and the support roller support the weight of the machine on land.
• said flotation means comprise vertically adjustable floats arranged to be raised relative to the chassis when the machine is operating on land and to be lowered when the machine is operating in water, the depth of immersion of the lower periphery of the oil absorbing roller being controllable by vertical adjustment of the floats relative to the chassis.
• the oil absorbing covering comprises a sleeve over the oil absorbing roller, the sleeve being axially removable from the roller.
• the oil absorbing roller has a flexible pneumatically supported peripheral surface arranged to be deflated for installation or removal of a sleeve, and to be inflated beneath the sleeve for engagement of the sleeve and for supporting the chassis of the machine on land.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of an amphibious oil spill absorbing machine according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the front roller in the machine; and; Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional elevation on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1.
• an amphibious oil spill absorbing machine capable of absorbing oil floating on the surface of water, or oil which has been deposited on a beach or mud-flat surface is constructed as follows.
• the machine comprises a basic chassis (1) on which are rotatably mounted two main rollers, namely an oil absorbing roller (2) and a support roller (3) each supported in bearings (4) with their axes of rotation transverse to the intended direction of movement of the machine.
• the machine when viewed in plan view as shown in Fig. 1 is intended to move toward the top of the page with the oil absorbing roller (2) leading.
• the rollers (2) and (3) are positioned in the chassis (1) with their lower peripheries below the level of the chassis as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3 so that the machine may be supported on the rollers on land and moved forwardly by rotation of the rollers.
• rollers are rotated by drive means in the form of hydraulic motors (5) driven by way of suitable controls (6) from a hydraulic pump driven by a motor (7).
• the chassis of the machine is provided with a driving platform (8) on which is mounted an operator's seat (9) so that the operator may drive the machine by operation of the controls (6).
• the bearings (4) are pivotally mounted in the chassis (1) by way of vertical "king pins" and the bearings at the opposite ends of the rollers are adapted to be moved forwardly and rearwardly actuated by hydraulic rams (10) for steering of the vehicle as may be seen in Fig. 5.
• the bearing (4) is mounted in a slot (11) in the chassis (1) so that it may be moved between a forward position shown in solid outline in Fig. 5 and a rearward position 4A shown in broken outline in Fig. 5 under the action of the hydraulic ram (10) which is secured to the chassis at point (12).
• the hydraulic rams (10) are coupled to the controls (6) such that the machine may be turned to the left (when viewed as shown in Fig. 1) by contracting the two hydraulic rams, and turned to the right by expanding the two hydraulic rams, angling the rollers accordingly.
• the machine is further provided with flotation means in the form of elongate floats (13) arrayed along the sides of the chassis (1) and secured to the chassis by swing arms (14) pivotally mounted about pivot points (15) [Fig. 2 ] .
• the floats are located and supported in desired positions by hydraulic rams (17) which may be elongated or contracted by operation of the controls (6) to raise or lower the floats between a lower position shown in solid outline in Fig. 2 and a raised position (13A) shown in broken outline.
• the positions of the floats may be adjusted by operation of the hydraulic rams (17) so that the machine may float on the surface of water [or an oil-water mix] with the lower peripheries of the rollers (2) and (3) immersed to a required degree.
• the floats may be completely raised to the position shown at (13A). In this position the width of the machine is considerably reduced allowing transportation of the machine on a truck or road trailer.
• a propeller drive assembly (18) [Fig. 1] is provided driven by a suitable drive means which is preferably a hydraulic motor operable from the motor pump assembly (7) by way of the controls (6). It is also preferred that the propeller is mounted on an adjustable leg which may be raised or lowered for operation on land or water respectively.
• the propulsion means for use on water may take the form of paddle wheels or blades (not shown) located at either end of the rollers (2) and/or (3).
• the oil absorbing roller (2) is covered with an oil absorbing material which is not readily permeable by water but which has a surface tension capable of attracting and absorbing oil.
• Such materials would typically comprise synthetic piled materials such as materials incorporating a nylon pile, or may alternatively be formed from the hide of a marine animal or from some other animal, e.g. a sheep skin.
• the roller cover may also be provided with a plurality of radially protruding deformable lugs (e.g. of a plastics material) which mechanically adhere to lumps of grease or oil to remove the lumps from the surface of the water/oil.
• the oil absorbing covering takes the form of a sleeve (19) [Figs. 5 and 6] of piled material which is axially engaged over the roller (2).
• the roller (2) comprises end hubs (20) [Fig.
• roller 6 having a peripheral flange (21) to which is vulcanised a cylindrical rubber sleeve (22).
• the roller axle (23) is supported in bearings (24) in the chassis (1) and driven by the hydraulic motor (5) as previously described.
• the interior of the roller is sealed and is pneumatically inflatable by way of valve (25) to pneumatically support the rubber sleeve (22).
• the bearing (4) [Fig. 5] is decoupled from the hydraulic ram (10) and moved forwardly out of the slot (11) so that the end of the roller is free of the chassis.
• the sleeve (19) which is typically of nylon pile carpet may then be axially engaged over the roller whereupon the interior of the roller may be pressurised by way of the valve (25) to inflate the rubber sleeve (22) and firmly engage and support the oil absorbing sleeve (19).
• the bearing (4) may then be reinserted in the slot (11) and engaged with the hydraulic ram (10) for operation as previously described.
• a machine may be equipped with a number of oil absorbing sleeves (19). which may differ in their characteristics so as to be suitable for use with different types of oil, so that a selected sleeve may be used on the machine to deal with a particular type of oil spill, and the sleeves may be simply and readily changed at the site of the oil spill.
• the oil absorbing roller (2) [Fig. 4] operates in conjunction with a pinch roller (26) extending transverely across the chassis of the machine and arranged to bear against the oil absorbing sleeve (19) to compress that sleeve during rotation of the roller (2).
• An elongate tray or gutter (27) is provided beneath the pinch roller and is connected by way of a drain pipe (28) and a pump (29) to a disposal tank (30).
• the holding tank (30) may take any convenient form and may comprise for example a rubber bladder which can be towed behind the machine, disconnected when full, and left for later collection.
• the machine Due to the nature of the machine, it is self-propelled and may for example be transported to the site of an oil spill on the back of a truck or trailer, unloaded and then moved under the power of its hydraulic motors (5) into the oil spill area. Because the machine is amphibious it can work on beaches or estuaries at the water's edge whereupon the rolling action of the roller (2) will absorb the oil deposited on the surface of the beach. When desired the machine may be moved into the water and the floats (13) lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to support the machine in the water and immerse the oil absorbing roller to the desired depth according to the water conditions.
• a pair of booms (31) are provided having generally vertically orientated blades pivotally mounted to the chassis at pivot points (32) and supported by hydraulic rams (33) so that the booms may be pivoted between a horizontal positioned shown in solid outline in Fig.
• FIG. 1 the booms are arranged so that as the machine moves forwardly in the water, the oil floating on the surface of the water is gathered by the booms (31) and directed to the oil absorbing roller (2). In this manner the machine may "sweep" a wider path than would otherwise be possible due to the limited width of the roller (2).
• the booms are retracted to the position (31A) for use of the machine on land or for transportation on a truck or trailer.
• an amphibious oil spill absorbing machine which is self-contained and quick to deploy to the site of an oil spill by transportation on a truck or trailer. Once the site, of the oil spill has been reached the machine may be quickly unloaded and put into operation under its own power whereupon the machine may be operated quickly and conveniently to absorb oil from land surfaces or oil which is floating on the surface of the water. Furthermore the machine is particularly effective in operating in areas where there is a land/water interface where conventional machines cannot operate.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Removal Of Floating Material (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=3695675

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (11)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1985
  • 1985-05-24 EP EP85902419A patent/EP0181892A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1985-05-24 WO PCT/AU1985/000112 patent/WO1985005644A1/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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