GB2483918A

GB2483918A - A device for collecting oil from the surface of a body of water comprising a buoyant conduit with an internal transfer means

Info

Publication number: GB2483918A
Application number: GB1016148.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Butkus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-27
Filing date: 2010-09-27
Publication date: 2012-03-28
Also published as: GB201016148D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device 10 for removing contaminants, such as oil from the surface of a liquid, e.g. the sea. The device comprises a chamber 11 which is arranged to float on the surface of the liquid and a collection conduit 11, 12 & 13 which is arranged to extend from the chamber on the surface of the liquid. The conduit comprises an aperture 14 for receiving contaminants into an interior of the conduit and a transfer means such as an Archimedean screw 23 for transferring contaminants along the interior of the conduit toward the chamber for subsequent removal to a storage receptacle. The screw may be driven by an electric motor 24 and the conduit may have buoyancy means 25 arranged to maintain a portion of the aperture above and below the waters surface. The conduit may comprise a plurality of detachably connectable sections 11, 12 & 13.

Description

Collection Device The present invention relates to a collection device and particularly, but not exclusively to a collection device for removing contaminants, such as oil, from the surface of a liquid, such asthesea.

Oil spillages at sea from tankers or oil drilling platforms for example, create significant environmental damage. The oil forms a layer upon the surface of the sea and often extends over vast areas under prevailing winds and currents to surrounding coastlines and inshore rivers.

The accumulation of oil along coastlines is found to be particularly detrimental to birds since the oil penetrates their plumage reducing its insulating ability, thus making the birds more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and much less buoyant in the water.

The oil is also found to impair birds' flight, abilities to forage and escape from predators.

In addition, as birds attempt to preen, they typically ingest the oil that covers their feathers, which can be fatal.

In light of the above, it is common to position booms along the coastline, which float on the surface of the water and act as a barrier to the incoming oil. Detergents are then typically sprayed upon the oil to disperse the oil.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cleaning device for removing contaminants from the surface of a liquid, the device comprising a chamber which is arranged to extend upon the surface of the liquid and a collection conduit which is arranged to extend from the chamber upon the surface of the liquid, the conduit comprising an aperture for receiving contaminants into an interior of the conduit and transfer means for transferring contaminants along the interior of the conduit toward the chamber, the device further comprising buoyancy means which is arranged to maintain the position of the aperture substantially adjacent the surface of the liquid.

Advantageously, the conduit and chamber provide a barrier to the passage of contaminants, such as oil, across the surface of the liquid, such as the sea, while also removing the contaminants from the surface of the liquid. This therefore obviates the requirement for further detergent chemicals to be added to the liquid and provides for a physical removal of the contaminant from the liquid.

Preferably, the buoyancy means is arranged to maintain a portion of the aperture substantially above the surface of the liquid and a portion of the aperture substantially below the surface of the liquid.

Preferably, the conduit comprises a plurality of conduit sections, which separately comprise an aperture for receiving contaminants into an interior of the respective conduit section and transfer means for transferring contaminants along the interior of the respective conduit section toward the chamber.

The plurality of conduit sections are preferably detachably connectable, such that the contaminants can pass from the interior of one conduit section to the interior of an adjacent conduit section, toward the chamber.

The or each aperture is preferably arranged to extend along the conduit, substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.

Preferably, the or each transfer means is substantially enclosed within a respective conduit section and comprises a helical fin which is arranged to extend around a drive shaft, such that upon rotating the drive shaft within the respective conduit section, the helical fin is arranged to rotate to drive contaminants along the conduit section toward the chamber. The helical fin and drive shaft preferably comprise an auger.

Preferably, the or each conduit section further comprises means for varying the speed of rotation of the drive shaft disposed therein.

The chamber and the conduit preferably form a barrier to the contaminants, to prevent the contaminants from spreading beyond the chamber and conduit over the surface of the liquid.

Preferably, the cleaning device further comprises pump means for pumping contaminants from the chamber to a storage receptacle.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and, Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view across the conduit section illustrated in figure 2 taken along line A-A.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is illustrated a cleaning device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention for removing contaminants such as oil and plastic material (not shown) from the surface of a liquid, such as the sea (not shown).

The device 10 comprises a chamber 11 and a first and second conduit section 12, 13 which extend from the chamber 11, from substantially opposite sides thereof. The conduit sections 12, 13 comprise a substantially cylindrical shell formed of plastic or metal, and an elongate aperture 14 disposed therein which extends along at least a portion of a length thereof. A proximal end of the first and second conduit section 12, 13 comprise a peripherally extending flange 15 which is arranged to detachably couple with flange 16 disposed around a first and second inlet 17, 18 of the chamber 11 respectively, to secure the first and second conduit sections 12, 13 thereto.

The distal end of the first and second conduit section 12, 13 comprise a peripherally extending flange 19 which are separately arranged to detachably couple with a flange 20 disposed at a proximal end of further conduit sections 12a, 13a. In this manner, the desired length of conduit can be realised by coupling together the required number of conduits section sections 12, 13.

In an alternative configuration, the conduit sections 12, 13 may be coupled via a pivot assembly (not shown) which enables adjacent sections to pivot with respect to each other under the motion of the sea surface. In this embodiment it is envisaged that the proximal end of one conduit section 12 and the distal end of an adjoining conduit section 12a may be detachably coupled via an intermediate flexible sleeve (not shown) or similar, so that contaminants can pass from the interior of one conduit section 12 to the interior of an adjoining section 12a.

The conduit sections 12, 13 further comprise a drive shaft 21 supported along a longitudinal axis of the respective section 12, 13 by a plurality of support arms 22 disposed at a proximal and distal end of the respective section, as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings. The drive shaft 21 comprises a helical fin 23 disposed thereon, which extends around the drive shaft 21 and is sized to extend to a position in close proximity with the interior surface of the conduit shell. The conduit sections 12, 13 further comprise a drive motor 24 (not shown) mechanically coupled to the respective drive shaft 21 via a chain or gear arrangement (not shown), and is arranged to drive the respective drive shaft 21 to cause the drive shaft 21 and this the helical fin 23 disposed thereon to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the conduit section 12, 13.

The chamber 11 and conduit sections 12, 13 further comprise a plurality of buoyancy aids, such as floats 25 or ballast tanks (not shown) which are arranged to maintain the height of the device 10 at a suitable position upon the surface of the sea (not shown) such that the apertures 14 disposed within the shell of the conduit sections 12, 13 extend substantially parallel to the surface of the sea, with a portion of the aperture 14 extending above the surface of the sea and a portion of the aperture 14 extending below the surface of the sea.

During use, the required number of conduit sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a are coupled together and to the chamber 11, and the device 10 is then positioned upon the sea (not shown). The floats 25 disposed upon the chamber 11 and conduit sections 12, 13 are arranged to suitably position the aperture 14 disposed within the respective conduit sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a along the sea surface such that the sea and any contaminants (not shown) disposed upon the sea surface can pass into the interior of the respective section 12, 13, 12a, 13a. The chamber 11 and conduit sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a thus provide a barrier to the passage of contaminants (not shown) across the sea surface.

The drive motors 24 associated with the respective conduit sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a are subsequently turned on to cause the drive shafts 21 to rotate. The drive shafts 21 are rotated in a direction such that the subsequent rotation of the helical fins 23 cause the contaminants and sea water disposed within the respective sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a to pass along the conduit sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a and pass into the chamber 11. In this manner, the contaminants such as oil, become removed from the sea.

The cleaning device 10 further comprises a pump (not shown) or similar which is arranged to pump the contents of the chamber 11 via a transfer duct (not shown) into a storage receptacle (not shown) which may be positioned upon a ship (not shown), for example, so that the contaminants can then be suitably transported for subsequent disposal. It is envisaged that the drive motors 24 associated with the respective conduit sections 12, 13, 12a, 13a may be driven at variable speeds, such that the drive shafts 21 and helical fins 23 disposed nearer the chamber 11 can be driven at a faster speed than those further from the chamber 11, to accommodate the increased volume of contaminant and sea water which pass along the conduit near the chamber 11 that those further from the chamber 11.

The cleaning device of the present invention thus provides for an improved removal of contaminants, such as oil from the sea.

Claims

Claims 1. A cleaning device for removing contaminants from the surface of a liquid, the device comprising a chamber which is arranged to extend upon the surface of the liquid and a collection conduit which is arranged to extend from the chamber upon the surface of the liquid, the conduit comprising an aperture for receiving contaminants into an interior of the conduit and transfer means for transferring contaminants along the interior of the conduit toward the chamber, the device further comprising buoyancy means which is arranged to maintain the position of the aperture substantially adjacent the surface of the liquid.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the buoyancy means is arranged to maintain a portion of the aperture substantially above the surface of the liquid and a portion of the aperture substantially below the surface of the liquid.
3. A device according to claims I or 2, wherein the aperture is arranged to extend along the conduit, substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.
4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein, the transfer means is substantially enclosed within a respective conduit and comprises a helical fin which is arranged to extend around a drive shaft, such that upon rotating the drive shaft within the conduit, the helical fin is arranged to rotate to drive contaminants along the conduit toward the chamber.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the helical fin and drive shaft comprise an auger.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the conduit comprises a plurality of conduit sections, which separately comprise an aperture for receiving contaminants into an interior of the respective conduit section and transfer means for transferring contaminants along the interior of the respective conduit section toward the chamber.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of conduit sections are detachably connectable, such that the contaminants can pass from the interior of one conduit section to the interior of an adjacent conduit section, toward the chamber.
8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the or each conduit section further comprises means for varying the speed of rotation of the drive shaft disposed therein.
9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the chamber and the conduit form a barrier to the contaminants, to prevent the contaminants from spreading beyond the chamber and conduit over the surface of the liquid.
10. A device according to any preceding claim, further comprising pump means for pumping contaminants from the chamber to a storage receptacle.