GB2554415A

GB2554415A - Contaminant recovery apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2554415A
Application number: GB1616315.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lloyd William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-26
Filing date: 2016-09-26
Publication date: 2018-04-04
Also published as: GB201616315D0

Abstract

A contaminant recovery apparatus 10 comprising: a support structure 12; and a guide means 50 having an inlet 52 and an outlet 56, the guide means being configured, in use, to guide a flow of contaminant 16 from the inlet to a contaminant containment device 57 located downstream of the outlet, the contaminant recovery apparatus further comprising: a contaminant recovery mechanism 18 mounted on, and projecting, in use, beyond a periphery of, the support structure, the contaminant recovery mechanism comprising: a pulley 22 having a plurality of receptacles 26 pivotally connected to the pulley, the pulley being adapted, in use, to sequentially: submerge the receptacles in a body of water 14 adjacent the support structure and thereby collect a quantity of water from a surface portion 16 of the body of water; elevate the receptacles to a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means; and further comprising: means 30, 32 adapted, in use, to tip or invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Contaminant recovery apparatus Abstract Title: Contaminant recovery apparatus (57) A contaminant recovery apparatus 10 comprising: a support structure 12; and a guide means 50 having an inlet 52 and an outlet 56, the guide means being configured, in use, to guide a flow of contaminant 16 from the inlet to a contaminant containment device 57 located downstream of the outlet, the contaminant recovery apparatus further comprising: a contaminant recovery mechanism 18 mounted on, and projecting, in use, beyond a periphery of, the support structure, the contaminant recovery mechanism comprising: a pulley 22 having a plurality of receptacles 26 pivotally connected to the pulley, the pulley being adapted, in use, to sequentially: submerge the receptacles in a body of water 14 adjacent the support structure and thereby collect a quantity of water from a surface portion 16 of the body of water; elevate the receptacles to a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means; and further comprising: means 30, 32 adapted, in use, to tip or invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means.

FIGURE 1

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FIGURE 1

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FIGURE 2

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FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6

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FIGURE 8

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FIGURE 9

FIGURE 10

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FIGURE 11

Title: Contaminant recovery apparatus

Description:

This invention relates to a contaminant recovery apparatus, and in particular, but without limitation, to contaminant recovery apparatus suitable for recovering contaminants from the surface of a body of water.

The presence of contaminants on a water surface can have detrimental effects on an environment if not cleaned-up promptly. Floating contaminants form a layer over the water's surface thus preventing air circulation of the water. This results in the body of water becoming anaerobic and can subsequently lead to proliferation of bacteria, which can be hazardous to wildlife and the surrounding area. Further, oil slicks, which float on the water's surface, can be harmful to birds or animals that live around the water's edge and flotsam, generally, is unpleasant to look at.

Contaminant recovery apparatus, hereinafter CRAs, are often used in marine clean-up operations to recover floating contaminants, such as oil spills, flotsam and algae from the surface of water.

It is relatively well-known for floating contaminants to be recovered from the surface of a body of water using floating booms, which guide the contaminants towards a collection device. Some floating booms are absorbent, so as to attract/collect floating contaminants as well. Most floating booms are static, that is to say, they remain at a relatively fixed location and the contaminants are directed towards them by the flow of water.

The efficacy of such booms has been shown to be somewhat limited, given that they cannot easily be used in confined spaces, such as harbours and canals, and they can be time consuming to deploy. Also, on wavy bodies of water, such as the sea, they can be ineffective in containing the contaminants. As such, they are frequently used only for relatively small oil spills or rather to contain spills within a confined area.

Belt skimmers are commonly used for removing surface contaminants from the surface of a body of water. Belt skimmers have an absorbent belt that is partially placed into the body of water.

The submerged part of the belt absorbs flotsam (typically oil or algae) and rotation of the belt causes the absorbed flotsam to be raised out of the water. Subsequent wringing or scraping of the belt, for example between a pair of opposing rollers or wiper blades, removes the collected flotsam from it, and thus enables the process to be repeated. Conveyor CRAs are considered to be an effective way of cleaning up certain types of small spillages, but are relatively ineffective at cleaning up large spills.

So-called dynamic CRD devices, such as those disclosed in published UK patent number

GB2442443 and European patent application publication number EP2288755 employ a different mode of operation, that is to say, they move over the water's surface to scoop the contaminants off the water's surface using partially submerged deflector plates. In a dynamic CRD, it is the forward movement of the vessel, relative to the water's surface, which causes the contaminants to be lifted up and over an anti-backflow weir, before being discharged into a waste collection receptacle. The main advantages of dynamic CRDs include their ability to treat relatively large areas, to operate in confined spaces and their inherent ability to chase contaminants that move over the water's surface.

The operation of a dynamic CRD, however, necessarily requires forward movement of the CRD vessel, which means that they often cannot be used close to walls, jetties and the like. Furthermore, the wake created by the movement of the dynamic CRD can also displace flotsam, thereby dispersing it over a wider area, and thus increasing the scale of the clean-up operation.

A need therefore exists for a solution to one or more of the above problems, and/or for an alternative or improved contaminant recovery apparatus.

Aspects of the invention are set forth in the appendant claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a contaminant recovery apparatus comprising: a support structure; a guide means having an inlet and an outlet, the guide means being configured, in use, to guide a flow of contaminant from the inlet to a contaminant containment device located downstream of the outlet, the contaminant recovery apparatus further comprising: a contaminant recovery mechanism mounted on, and projecting beyond a periphery of, the support structure, the contaminant recovery mechanism comprising: a pulley system having a plurality of receptacles pivotally connected to the pulley, the pulley system being adapted, in use, to sequentially:

submerge the receptacles in the body of water and thereby collect a quantity of water from a surface portion of the body of water; elevate the receptacles to a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means; and to tip or invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means.

The support structure may be a jetty or land structure adjacent the body of water, a boat, or in certain embodiments; a hull adapted to float on the body of water. The hull, where provided, may take any suitable form, such as a monohull, catamaran or trimaran type hull. Catamaran hulls are preferred because they provide good lateral stability, and their spaced apart hulls portions provide an inherent guide for contaminants, as well as space therebetween for accommodating the contaminant recovery mechanism.

In other embodiments, the support structure comprises one or more piles, stilts or legs that rest on, or which are sunk into, a sea/river/lake bed of the body of water. Where the support structure comprises one or more piles, stilts or legs, this usefully enables the contaminant recovery device to be permanently or semi-permanently installed in the body of water.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a contaminant recovery apparatus comprising: a hull adapted to float on a body of water, the hull comprising: a deck; and a guide means having an inlet and an outlet, the guide means being configured, in use, to guide a flow of contaminant from the inlet to a contaminant containment device located downstream of the outlet, the contaminant recovery apparatus further comprising: a contaminant recovery mechanism mounted on, and projecting beyond a periphery of, the deck, the contaminant recovery mechanism comprising: a pulley system having a plurality of receptacles pivotally connected to the pulley, the pulley system being adapted, in use, to sequentially: submerge the receptacles in the body of water and thereby collect a quantity of water from a surface portion of the body of water; elevate the receptacles to a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means; and to tip or invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means.

The hull of certain embodiments is adapted to float on a body of water and may take any suitable form, such as a monohull, catamaran or trimaran type hull. Catamaran hulls are preferred because they provide good lateral stability, and their spaced apart hulls portions provide an inherent guide for contaminants, as well as space therebetween for accommodating the contaminant recovery mechanism.

Suitably, the hull, where provided, has a shallow draft so that it can operate in shallow water.

The hull, where provided, is suitably lightweight for ease of transportation, and may therefore be manufactured from moulded GRP or the like. Ideally, the hull, where provided, is of a shape and size that enables it to be transported on a road trailer, which facilitates its deployment to various sites.

The hull, where provided, comprises a deck, which suitably comprises a walking surface for operatives to stand on. The hull, where provided, may be self-propelled, for example by an inboard or outboard motor, or it may be towed, for example, alongside a barge.

The guide means is located on the deck or the support structure and is suitably integrally formed therewith, for example, by way of being moulded into it. The guide means suitably comprises an open-topped channel as this facilitates cleaning the guide means, or removing blockages from it, by providing easy access to it all the way along its length. The inlet is suitably formed as a tub-like moulding, whose dimensions are larger than each of the receptacles. This ensures that the receptacles can usually be emptied into the inlet without excessive spillage onto the deck. The guide means suitably has a channel part interconnecting the inlet and the outlet. The outlet suitably comprises a nozzle, funnel or spigot which can be connected to, in certain embodiments, a contaminant receptacle. In other embodiments, the outlet is formed as a spout so that collected contaminants can pour into a contaminant receptacle.

The contaminant recovery mechanism is mounted on the deck or support structure, for example, by way of a framework. It projects beyond a periphery of the deck or support structure so that part of it can be placed into the body of water beyond a periphery of the deck or support structure.

The contaminant recovery mechanism comprised a continuous pulley system, such as one or more pulley belts, chains or ropes, which pass around one or more rollers or other guides. Each of the receptacles are pivotally connected to the pulley system such that they are driven around the pulley system by rotation of the pulley system.

In use, each receptacle is sequentially submerged in the body of water, which enables it to collect a quantity of water from a surface portion of the body of water, along with any contaminants in that quantity of water. Then, each receptacle is elevated out of the body of water and brought over the inlet of the guide means, where it is then tipped or inverted to empty the said quantity of water (and contaminants) into the inlet of the guide means. The quantity of water (and contaminants) then suitably pass/flow along the guide means before being discharged, via the outlet, into a contaminant containment receptacle.

Suitably, the height of the inlet is higher than that of the outlet, to facilitate gravity-driven flow of the quantity of water (and contaminants) along/through the guide means from the inlet to the outlet.

Operation of the contaminant recovery apparatus, considering each receptacle individually, is sequential, insofar as the pulley system is adapted to: submerge the receptacles in a body of water thereby collecting a quantity of water from a surface portion of the water; elevate the receptacles to a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means; and tip invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means.

Suitably, tipping or inversion of the receptacles is achieved by way of a tang and catch arrangement, in which each receptacle comprises a tang that engages a catch (fixed relative to the deck or support structure, for example) upon reaching a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means. Movement of the receptacles by the pulley system thereby causes the tangs of each receptacle to sequentially engage the catch, thereby causing the respective receptacle to tip or invert by virtue of the fact that they are pivotally connected to the pulley system.

Advantageously, the operation of the contaminant recovery apparatus is continuous because the pulley system is a continuous loop. Therefore, once each receptacle has been emptied, it can be used again to collect a further quantity of water (and contaminants) from the surface of the body of water.

The pulley system is suitably mounted on a slant, having a higher end and a lower end, the lower end being the end which projects beyond the periphery of the deck or support structure of the hull. The extent of the projection of the contaminant recovery mechanism beyond the periphery of the deck or support structure is suitably adjustable, for example, by mounting its support frame on a track arrangement. Such a configuration enables the contaminant recovery mechanism to be extended to retracted to suit different requirements, and also to be fully retracted, when not in use, so that the contaminant recovery mechanism is located above the deck or support structure, which may facilitate transportation of the contaminant recovery apparatus.

The angle of inclination of the contaminant recovery mechanism may also be adjustable, for example, by pivotally mounting it on the deck or support structure of the hull. This enables the depth of the receptacles into the body of water to be adjusted to suit different requirements, for example, shallow submersion for recovering surface algae or oil slicks; or deeper to collect other flotsam, such as rubbish.

The receptacles are suitably generally of an open-topped, semi-cylindrical shape, and are suitably arranged across the width of the hull. This configuration suitably enables the width of the collection zone to be substantially the same as the beam of the hull.

Suitably, the receptacles are manufactured of lightweight materials, such as plastics or GRP.

This reduces their weight for ease of transportation, replacement or maintenance. It also reduces the work load of a driving system for the pulley system.

Additionally or alternatively, the receptacles can be at least partially manufactured from a reticulated material, such as a mesh, gauze or perforated sheet material. This configuration enables water or other liquids to be drained out of each receptacle, such that only solid contaminants of a particular sizes are collected by the contaminant recovery apparatus.

The receptacles are pivotally connected to the pulley system, and are suitably pivotally suspended therefrom. Suitably, the receptacles are pivotally connected to the pulley system in a manner that causes their open tops to be uppermost under the effects of gravity. Each receptacle may be weighted to keep it in the said upright configuration.

The contaminant recovery mechanism suitably comprises one or more submersion guides, which project, in use, beyond the periphery of the deck or support structure. The or each submersion guide is suitably configured to engage the receptacles in a manner that causes them to be submerged in the body of water in an upright orientation, that is to say, with their open tops uppermost. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the or each submersion guide comprises a bar projecting forward of the hull, in use, whose underside engages with the upper edges of each receptacle as they are driven by the pulley system. The height and projection of the or each submersion guide is suitably adjustable to enable the operating parameters of the contaminant recovery mechanism to be set for different conditions, e.g. deeper or shallower.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the function of the tang and catch and/or the submersion guides can be replaced by a receptacle guide. The receptacle guide suitably comprises a track or grove, which engages with a projection of each of the receptacles. As the receptacles move around the pulley system, the receptacle guide acts upon the projection to control its orientation. By making the shape of the receptacle guide different to that of the pulley system, it is possible to cause each of the receptacles to tip or invert at different position along their loci.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the contaminant recovery mechanism is adapted to completely submerge each receptacle in the body of water. In certain embodiments of the invention, each receptacle enters the water in a tipped or inverted orientation, and is righted (for example by the submersion guide) to lift a quantity of water and contaminant from the body of water.

This provides a scooping function, which might be useful in certain situations. In other embodiments of the invention, each receptacle enters the water in an upright orientation, which may provide more of a skimming function, which may be better suited to collecting oil spills and the like.

The pulley system of the contaminant recovery mechanism is driven for rotation by a power source. In certain embodiments, the pulley system is driven for rotation by an electric motor (optionally via a gearbox and control system) or by an internal combustion engine (optionally via a gearbox and control system). These configurations enable the pulley system to be driven directly.

However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, the pulley system of the contaminant recovery mechanism is driven for rotation by a gravity-fed system. In one embodiment of the invention, the slope of the contaminant recovery mechanism is used to facilitate this. Where the contaminant recovery mechanism slopes, as previously explained, there will be a relatively higher end and relatively lower end. Therefore, one embodiment of the invention proposes to use a water pump to draw water from the body of water and to discharge it into the elevated receptacle or receptacles of the contaminant recovery mechanism. The weight of the water in the elevated receptacles, provided there are more elevated receptacles than submerged receptacles, will usually be sufficient to drive the pulley system for rotation in the manner previously described. The use of a water pump to drive the contaminant recovery mechanism can be advantageous in certain situations. Specifically, water pumps are ubiquitous, and therefore, even in remote or impoverished areas of the world, where access to engine spare parts may be limited, it is generally possible to obtain a water pump of one sort or another. Thus, if there is a mechanical breakdown in the pump, it can be relatively easily repaired or replaced, without the need, necessarily, to obtain specialist parts. Also, in areas of the world where fuel is in short supply, it may also be possible to operate the invention using a manual water pumping system.

One or more floating booms (for example, inflatable booms) may be provided to contain or to guide the contaminants towards the contaminant recovery mechanism.

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a contaminant recovery apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective, simplified view of another embodiment of a contaminant recovery apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figures 3 to 6 are a sequence showing the operation of a gravity driven contaminant recovery mechanism for the invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic side view illustrating one possible configuration of a receptacle guide for the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic side view illustrating another possible configuration of a receptacle guide for the invention;

Figure 9 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a contaminant recovery apparatus in accordance with the invention showing how it can be adjusted;

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a contaminant recovery apparatus in accordance with the invention showing how it can be stowed away for transportation and storage;

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a contaminant recovery apparatus in accordance with the invention, which is installed on a land structure adjacent the body of water; and

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a contaminant recovery apparatus in accordance with the invention, which is installed on piles in a body of water.

Referring to the drawings, a contaminant recovery apparatus 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a hull 12 that floats on a body of water 14. The body of water has a surface layer of contamination, which needs to be collected. The contaminant recovery apparatus 10 comprises a contaminant recovery mechanism 18, which is mounted on a deck 20 of the hull 12.

The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart pulley belts 22, which are supported by pulley wheels 24. Suspended from the pulley belts 22, at intervals, are a number of receptacles 26. The receptacles 26 are generally semi-cylindrical in shape, having an open top such that they can contain a quantity of water, in use. The receptacles 26 are each pivotally suspended from the pulley belt at each end by pivoting connections 28. In certain embodiments, each receptacle 26 has a projection 30, which engages a catch 32, such that as the receptacles 26 pass by the catch 32 in turn, the projection 30 engages the catch, thereby tipping/inverting the receptacle 26, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, and thus emptying the contaminant 16 into the guide means 50 (described in greater detail below).

The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 projects forward of a periphery 34 of the deck 20, and has a lower end 36, which pushes each receptacle 26 below the waterline 38 at the distal end of its travel. The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 also has an upper end 40, which is elevated.

The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 can be driven by an external power source, such as by an electric motor (not shown), an internal combustion engine (not shown), a hand- or footoperated crank (not shown), or by a gravity-driven system. The gravity-driven system, as shown in

Figure 1 of the drawings comprises a water pump 42, which draws water from the body of water 12, and which discharges it, via an outlet pipe 44, into an elevated one of the receptacles 26'. The weight of the water 25 within the elevated receptacle 26' causes the pulley belt 22 to move 46, thereby actuating the contaminant recovery mechanism 18.

As can be seen from the sequence of Figures 3 to 6: the contaminant recovery mechanism 18 is started (Figure 3) by filling an uppermost receptacle 261 with water 25, which causes the pulley belt

22 to move 46 thereby bringing the next receptacle 264 in line with the outlet of the outlet pipe 44 (Figure 4). As more and more receptacles 26 are filled with pumped water 25 (Figure 5), the rotation of the pulley 22 continues.

The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 is therefore able to raise water, in the lowermost receptacles 263, due to the fact that there are more filled receptacles 261, 262 moving down then than there are moving upwards. This state of affairs is maintained by the aforementioned inversion mechanism (catch 32 and projection 30), which tips or inverts each receptacle 26 as it passes over the deck 20 of the hull 12, thereby emptying the receptacles 264 in turn. For example, and with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings, which is exemplary only, or course: there is one receptacle 261 that is partially filled with pumped water 25; seven receptacles 262 filled with pumped water 25; four receptacles 263 filled with lake/sea water and contaminant 16; and four empty receptacles 264. The weight of the partially-filled 161 and pumped water-filled receptacles 262 moving downwards is greater than the weight of the contaminant-filled 263 and empty receptacles 264, thereby enabling the contaminant recovery mechanism 18 to continue moving 46 provided the supply of pumped water is maintained.

Referring back to Figure 2 of the drawings now, it can be seen more clearly that the hull 12 comprises a lightweight, GRP, catamaran-type hull having a pair of forwardly-projecting, spaced apart hull portions 12', which serve to guide contaminants 16 towards the contaminant recovery mechanism

18, as well as increasing the frontal buoyancy of the hull 12 to support the weight of the contaminant recovery mechanism 18 when extended forward beyond the deck's periphery 34 and into the body of water 14.

The deck 20 has an integrally formed guide means 50, in the form of a relatively wide, tub-like inlet portion 52 into which the contents of the receptacles 26 is discharged, leading to an open topped conduit 54 and then to an outlet part 56. The base wall of the guide means 50 slopes slightly from front to back, thereby enabling collected contaminants 16 to flow under gravity from the inlet 52 to the outlet 56. The deck 20 has walkway areas located to either side of the guide means 50, which enables operatives (not shown) to use brooms or the like to sweep contamination aft towards the outlet 56, if necessary. A contaminant collection device 57 is located downstream of the outlet 56.

The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 is supported by a framework 60 on either side (only one side is shown), which enables it to pivot approximately about its midpoint 61, and this (as shown in Figure 9) enables the angle 63, and hence the depth 64 of the forward end 36 of the contaminant recovery mechanism 18 into the body of water 14 to be adjusted. Also, the framework 60 is mounted for sliding engagement with the deck 20 by a track system 66, which (as can also be seen in Figure 9 of the drawings), enables the extent of forward projection 68 of the contaminant recovery mechanism to be adjusted. The hull 12, in the illustrated embodiment, is self-propelled by an outboard engine

70, which can be stowed on the deck 20, as shown in Figure 10, along with the pump 42, when not in use.

The supporting framework, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, also enables the contaminant recovery mechanism 18 to be stowed on top of the deck 20, when the device is not in use. This also enables the device 10 to be transported by road trailer 72, as shown in Figure 10.

In the embodiments described so far, the receptacles 26 have been caused to tip or invert to empty their contents 16 into the inlet 52 of the guide means 50 by way of a projection 30 and catch arrangement. However, in other embodiments of the invention, there is provided a receptacle guide 80 in the form of a continuous loop or track, which achieves this function.

Referring to inset Figure 7A of the drawings, which is a perspective view of a typical receptacle

26, the receptacle 26 has a generally open-topped, semi-cylindrical shape formed by a pair of roughly semi-circular end walls 90 and a curved base wall 92. The curved base wall 92 can be made from sheet metal, plastics or any other suitable material, and in certain embodiments (not shown), is made from a perforated or reticulated material.

Each end wall 90 of each receptacle has a suspension eye 28 formed therewith, or bolted thereto, to which the receptacle 26 is pivotally connected at either end to the pulley belt, chain or rope 22. The receptacles 26 are therefore supported at either end, and hang freely from the pulley

22.

At least one end wall 90' of each receptacle has a projection 94 formed therewith, or bolted thereto, which projection 94 comprises a laterally-extending tube, bar or roller 96. The laterallyextending tube, bar or roller 96 fits into a channel or between two parallel bars of, a receptacle guide

80. It will be appreciated that where the receptacle guide 80 has the same shape, size and relative position all the way along its length to the pulley 22, that the receptacles will be retained in a constant orientation as they move around the pulley 22.

However, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, if this condition is not met, for example, if the shape and configuration of the receptacle guide 80 deviates 82 from its constant shape, size and relative position relative to the pulley 22, then this will cause each receptacle 26 to adopt a different orientation in the region of deviation 82. As can be seen in Figure 7 of the drawings, the region of deviation 82 is designed to cause the receptacles to tip/invert as they pass over the inlet 52 of the guide means 50, in the manner previously described. At all other points along their respective loci, the receptacles 26 adopt a substantially upright orientation.

A variant of the configuration shown in Figure 7, is shown in Figure 8 of the drawings in which there are two regions of deviation 82, 84. The first region of deviation 82 is as described above, and causes the receptacles 26 to tip/invert as they pass over the inlet 52 of the guide means 50. The second region of deviation 84 is located at the distal end of the contaminant recovery mechanism 18, and causes the receptacles to tip or invert as they enter the body of water 14.

Finally, and referring to Figure 11 of the drawings, a contaminant recovery apparatus 10 generally as described above is supported on a jetty 120 or other land structure adjacent the body of water 14. Here it can be seen that the contaminant recovery mechanism 18 projects beyond the edge of the jetty 120 such that its distal end 36 is submerged in the water 14 to enable it to collect the contaminants 16 floating on the water's surface 38. The contaminant recovery mechanism 18 is mounted on a supporting framework 60, which is in turn supported on the jetty 120 by a track system

66, similar to that previously described.

The guide means 50 is placed on the jetty 120 beneath the contaminant recovery mechanism and its outlet 56 is arranged to discharge 59 the collected contamination 16 into a tank 57, although it will be appreciated that other types of contaminant containment 57 could be used.

It will also be appreciated, referring to Figure 12, that the support structure 121 can comprise a set of piles, legs or struts 122 that rest, or are anchored to, the sea/lake/river bed 123. This configuration enables the contaminant recovery apparatus 10 to be permanently, or semi14 permanently deployed in a body of water 14 for continuous, semi-continuous, ad-hoc and/or automated operation.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, which are merely exemplary of the invention. In particular, any shapes, dimensions, materials etc., whether stated explicitly or implied, are illustrative of the embodiments described. Further, the invention has been described using schematic diagrams, which are not, of course, intended to literally represent the appearance of actual embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A contaminant recovery apparatus comprising:

a support structure; and a guide means having an inlet and an outlet, the guide means being configured, in use, to guide a flow of contaminant from the inlet to a contaminant containment device located downstream of the outlet, the contaminant recovery apparatus further comprising: a contaminant recovery mechanism mounted on, and projecting, in use, beyond a periphery of, the support structure, the contaminant recovery mechanism comprising: a pulley having a plurality of receptacles pivotally connected to the pulley, the pulley being adapted, in use, to sequentially:

submerge the receptacles in a body of water adjacent the support structure and thereby collect a quantity of water from a surface portion of the body of water;

elevate the receptacles to a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means; and further comprising:

means adapted, in use, to tip or invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises any one or more of the group comprising: a land structure adjacent the body of water; a boat; and one or more piles.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a hull adapted to float on the body of water.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hull comprises a deck and wherein the contaminant recovery mechanism is mounted on, and projects, in use, beyond a periphery of, the deck.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the contaminant recovery mechanism has a lower distal end where it projects beyond the periphery of the support structure, the lower distal end being adapted, in use, to push each receptacle below the waterline at or near to the distal end of its travel.

6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the means adapted, in use, to tip or invert the receptacles comprises a tang associated with each receptacle and a catch that is fixed relative to the deck, whereby upon each receptacle reaching a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means, movement of the receptacles by the pulley causes the tangs of each receptacle to sequentially engage the catch, thereby causing the respective receptacle to tip or invert.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means adapted, in use, to tip or invert the receptacles comprises a receptacle guide in the form of a loop or track, which engages a projection of each receptacle, whereby the shape of the receptacle guide comprises a region of deviation in which its shape differs from that of the pulley such that each receptacle adopts a tilted or inverted orientation, in use, as it passes through the region of deviation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the receptacle guide comprises a continuous loop or track.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the continuous loop or track comprises a pair of equispaced rails between which the projection is located.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the region of deviation substantially overlies the inlet of the guide means and is adapted, in use, to tip or invert each receptacle as it passes over the inlet of the guide means.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 7 to 10, further comprising a second region of deviation, the second region of deviation being adapted, in use, to cause each receptacle to tip or invert at it enters the body of water.

12. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising drive means for driving the pulley.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for driving the pulley comprises any one or more of the group comprising: an electric motor; in internal combustion engine; a gearbox; a hand crank; and a foot-operated treadle.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the drive means comprises a water pump having an inlet adapted, in use, to draw water from the body of water and an outlet arranged, in use, to discharge pumped water into an elevated one or more of the receptacles.

15. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the contaminant recovery mechanism is moveably connected to the support structure by a framework, which permits the angle of inclination of the contaminant recovery mechanism to be adjusted.

16. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the contaminant recovery mechanism is moveably connected to the support structure by a siding framework, which permits the contaminant recovery mechanism to be slid relative to the deck.

17. The apparatus of any of claims 2 to 16, wherein the hull comprises a catamaran type hull.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the catamaran type hull comprises a pair of hull portions that project beyond the periphery of the deck and which are spaced apart to at least partially accommodate the contaminant recovery apparatus therebetween.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 2 to 18, wherein the hull is hollow and manufactured from a lightweight material such as moulded plastics or GRP.

20. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the guide means is integrally formed with the support structure.

21. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the guide means comprises an open-topped channel.

22. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the dimensions of the inlet of the guide means are larger than each of the receptacles.

23. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the height of the inlet of the guide means is higher than that of the outlet of the guide means.

24. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein each receptacle has a generally open top.

25. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein each receptacle comprises a base wall.

26. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more floating booms adapted, in use, to contain or guide contaminants towards the contaminant recovery mechanism.

Intellectual

Property

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Application No: Claims searched:

GB1616315.6

1-29

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the base wall is continuous for retaining, in use, a quantity of liquid and solids within the receptacle.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the base wall is perforated or reticulated for retaining, in use, a quantity of solids within the receptacle.

28. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more floating booms adapted, in use, to contain or guide contaminants towards the contaminant recovery mechanism.

29. An apparatus or method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

18 10 17

Amendments to the claims have been made as follows:

Claims:

1. A contaminant recovery apparatus comprising:

means adapted, in use, to tip or invert the receptacles to empty the said quantity of water into the inlet of the guide means, comprises any one or more of the group consisting of:

a tang associated with each receptacle and a catch that is fixed relative to the deck, whereby upon each receptacle reaching a position substantially overlying the inlet of the guide means, movement of the receptacles by the pulley causes the tangs of each receptacle to sequentially engage the catch, thereby causing the respective receptacle to tip or invert; and a receptacle guide in the form of a loop or track, which engages a projection of each receptacle, whereby the shape of the receptacle guide comprises a region of deviation in which its shape differs from that of the pulley such that each receptacle adopts a tilted or inverted orientation, in use, as it passes through the region of deviation.

6. The apparatus of any preceding claim , wherein the receptacle guide comprises a continuous loop or track.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the continuous loop or track comprises a pair of equispaced rails between which the projection is located.

8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the region of deviation substantially overlies the inlet of the guide means and is adapted, in use, to tip or invert each receptacle as it passes over the inlet of the guide means.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a second region of deviation, the second region of deviation being adapted, in use, to cause each receptacle to tip or invert at it enters the body of water.

10. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising drive means for driving the pulley.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for driving the pulley comprises any one or more of the group comprising: an electric motor; in internal combustion engine; a gearbox; a hand crank; and a foot-operated treadle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the drive means comprises a water pump having an inlet adapted, in use, to draw water from the body of water and an outlet arranged, in use, to discharge pumped water into an elevated one or more of the receptacles.

13. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the contaminant recovery mechanism is moveably connected to the support structure by a framework, which permits the angle of inclination of the contaminant recovery mechanism to be adjusted.

14. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the contaminant recovery mechanism is moveably connected to the support structure by a siding framework, which permits the contaminant recovery mechanism to be slid relative to the deck.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 3 to 14, wherein the hull comprises a catamaran type hull.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the catamaran type hull comprises a pair of hull portions that project beyond the periphery of the deck and which are spaced apart to at least partially accommodate the contaminant recovery apparatus therebetween.

17. The apparatus of any of claims 3 to 16, wherein the hull is hollow and manufactured from a lightweight material such as moulded plastics or GRP.

18. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the guide means is integrally formed with the support structure.

19. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the guide means comprises an open-topped channel.

20. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the dimensions of the inlet of the guide means are larger than each of the receptacles.

21. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the height of the inlet of the guide means is higher than that of the outlet of the guide means.

22. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein each receptacle has an open top.

23. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein each receptacle comprises a base wall.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the base wall is continuous for retaining, in use, a quantity of liquid and solids within the receptacle.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the base wall is perforated or reticulated for retaining, in use, a quantity of solids within the receptacle.