WO2003042028A2

WO2003042028A2 - Vessel for collecting oil from water surface

Info

Publication number: WO2003042028A2
Application number: PCT/HR2002/000054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivica Dodig
Original assignee: Ivica Dodig
Priority date: 2001-11-12
Filing date: 2002-11-08
Publication date: 2003-05-22
Also published as: WO2003042028A3; HRP20010836A2; AU2002347398A1; HRP20010836B1

Abstract

The vessel for collecting of oil from water surface, according to this invention, is a vessel with adequate devices consisting of: pontoons, basket strainers for collecting oil from the water surface, devices for separating oil from water, oil tanks and devices for positioning and operating the pontoons. The pontoons (8) on floats (27) float freely on the water surface, while pulled by the vessel (23). Each pontoon is equipped with a number of smaller solid floats (4) and variable-buoyancy floats (5), in order to compensate lesser oscillations of the water surface, such as waves. To the floats there are fixed basket strainers (2), through which the pumps (12) suck oil from the water surface. All basket strainers are connected by hoses with the collecting piping (19), through which the suction pump (12) drives oil into the separator (28) where water is being separated from oil. When the pontoons (8) are out of work, they are hoisted onto the vessel (23) deck by crane (26).

Description

VESSEL FOR COLLECTING OIL FROM WATER SURFACE

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to a vessel with pontoons equipped with devices for collecting liquid pollution from water surface (sea, rivers, lakes).

It classified in the International Patent Classification as B 63 B 35/32, Vessels or like floating structures adapted for collecting pollution from open water.

The invention can also be classified as E 02 B 15/00, Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

It often happens that crude oil or various crude oil products spill and float at the open sea. This results in pollution of beaches and destruction of water animals and vegetation.

The problem is how to collect the spilled oil from the sea surface before an ecological catastrophe occurs. Then, the collected oil is to be transported to a safe disposal site, after separating oils from water to be disposed of separately.

3. STATE OF THE ART

Presently there are various vessels for collection and neutralisation of pollution from water surface (solid and liquid wastes). However, no known method or vessel is good enough and none of them guarantees fast and efficient collection and storage of liquid pollution from water surface. This is especially so about collection of oil that spreads fast in a thin layer, thus polluting a large water area.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The essence of the invention is a vessel with pontoons on which there are mounted basket strainers. The pontoons are freely suspended on carrying elements on the vessel so that waves and vessel rolling and pitching do not influence position of the basket strainers relative to the water surface - oil spill. Each basket strainer is hang independently on the pontoon in order to compensate small water-surface oscillations as well, such as small waves.

Such a device enables the strainers to collect oil from the water surface efficiently, since they are enabled to stay positioned at the very water surface.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1. shows pontoon with oil basket strainers - viewed from the narrower side. Figure 2. shows pontoon with oil basket strainers - viewed from above. Figure 3. shows pontoon with oil basket strainers - viewed from the wider side. Figure 4. shows vessel with the pontoon - viewed from above. Figure 5. shows vessel with the pontoons hoisted onto the vessel - viewed from above.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT

The vessel for collecting oil from water surface consists of the vessel 23 and pontoons 8, floating on floats 7.

In the case of this embodiment, the vessel 23 consists of two pontoons 8, which number can be larger, floating at the water surface.

Figures 1 , 2 and 3 show that each pontoon consists of a number of basket strainers 2, connected by suction hoses 1 to the oil collecting piping 19. Each suction hose 1 moves freely in the guide 10 which is fixed laterally to the pontoon 8. The oil collection piping 19 is connected by hose 13 to the suction pump 12 on board the vessel 23. The pump 12 drives oil through the piping 24 into the separator 28, where water is being separated from oil (Figure 4). Water is returned into the sea through the outlet 29, and oil is stored in the tank 30. Each basket strainer 2 is connected to the solid float 4, which is connected to the variable-buoyancy float 5. This compensates the difference between the weight of the suction line 1, which depends on the amount of liquid in the line, wherefore the basket strainer maintains constant position on the water surface. Each solid float 4 is suspended by horizontal guides 9 from the vertical wire guide 3, which also protects it from being hit by floating objects. The guide 3 is suspended below the pontoon 8.

Each variable-buoyancy float 5 is connected by air-supply lines 6 to the air-distribution piping 18.

The air-distribution piping 18 is connected by hoses 14 to the air compressor 11, on board the vessel 23.

Each pontoon is equipped with a guiding ring 16 through which passes the guide 25.

The guide 25 enables hoisting and swivelling of the pontoon and its loading onto the vessel (Figure 5). The guide is held by the guide console 15, fixed on the vessel 23.

During oil collection, the pontoon 8 is held in position by steel ropes 17 and 21 , which are fixed by one of its ends each to the rope fixing point 20 at the pontoon 8, and by other end to the vessel 23.

Above the pontoon centre of gravity, there is the transport lug 22 for crane hook. On the vessel deck, there is the crane 26 with the winch 27, for hoisting and swivelling the pontoon onto the vessel deck (Figure 5). At the vessel stern 31 , there are the vessel's powering and steering devices.

The invention acts as follows:

During the operation of collecting of pollution (oil) from the water surface, pontoons 8 are positioned by the sides of the vessel 23, so that they float on the water surface.

While the vessel pulls the pontoons, the suction pumps 12 suck oil through the basket strainers 2, hoses and suction piping 19, to the separator 28, where water is being separated from oil. The variable-buoyancy floats 5, into which air is pumped, as required, from the compressor 11 , keep the basket strainers 2 constantly on the water surface. When the vessel does not collect oil, the pontoons 8 are hoisted by the crane

26 onto the vessel 23. The collected oil is taken to safe disposal sites.

7. INVENTION APPLICATION

The invention application is obvious from its very description. For the purpose of this invention, there can be used any vessel with deck wide enough and with possibility of having the pontoons with oil suction devices fixed to it.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Vessel for collecting oil from water surfaces, with pontoons (8) equipped with floats (7), wh e re in , along the pontoon (8) longer sides there are located basket strainers (2), connected by hoses (1) to the oil collecting piping (19), through which the pumps (12) drive oil into the separator (28) on board the vessel (23); to the basket strainers (2) there are fixed solid floats (4) and variable- buoyancy floats (5), into which the air compressor (11), through the air-distribution piping (18) and air hoses (6) drives air, so that the basket strainers (2) are maintained at the water surface at all times; the pontoons (8) are equipped with guiding rings (16) through which passes the guide (25), the guide enabling hoisting and swivelling of the pontoon (8) onto the vessel (23); the vessel (23) is equipped with the crane (26) and the winch (27) by which the pontoons (8) are hoisted onto the vessel (23) deck when it is out of action.

2. The vessel as claimed in Claim 1, wh e re in it is equipped with guides (9) to which there are fixed solid floats (4) and through which pass wire guides (3), enabling lifting of the floats and protecting them from being hit by floating objects.

3. The vessel as claimed in Claim 1 , wh e re in the pontoons (8), during collecting of oil, are fixed by steel ropes (17) and (21), which are by one of their ends each fixed to the rope fixing point (20) on the pontoons, and by other ends to the vessel (23).