Apparatus for hydrocarbon removal

Abstract

An oil skimming device for the removal of oil located at the surface of a body of water includes a float, at least one skimming surface, a sorbent material, at least one scraper, and a motor. The float is arranged such that the device rests on the surface of the body of water from which the oil is to be removed. The at least one skimming surface is rotatable about an axis such that when the device is floating in the water a portion of the ridged skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface. The sorbent material is removably attached to and substantially covers the skimming surface. The sorbent material is configured to rotate with the skimming surface and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oil skimming device for the removal of oil located at the surface of a body of water, comprising:
 a float which allows the device to rest on the surface of the body of water from which the oil is to be removed;   at least one skimming surface supported by the float, said skimming surface being rotatable about an axis such that when the device is floating in the water, a portion of the ridged skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface;   sorbent material removably attached to and substantially covering the skimming surface, said sorbent material configured to rotate with the skimming surface and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated;   at least one scraper positioned to bear against the skimming surface for removing sorbed oil from the sorbent material as the skimming surface is rotated; and   a motor operatively connected to said skimming surface, said motor configured to rotate the skimming surface about its axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the skimming surface is a disc. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the sorbent material is configured to correspond to the shape of the disc. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the overlapping and overlapped flaps are configured such that as the drum is rotated, the scraper will have a tendency to push the overlapping flap down over the overlapped flap. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , including an adherent for removably attaching the sheet of sorbent material to the surface of the drum. 
     
     
         6 . An oil skimming device for the removal of oil from a body of water having a surface, comprising:
 at least one skimming surface which is rotatable about an axis, said skimming surface being attached to a structural support such that a portion of the skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface;   sorbent material removably attached to the skimming surface, said material configured to rotate and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated;   means for removing sorbed oil from the material as the skimming surface is rotated; and   a motor operatively connected to said skimming surface, said motor configured to rotate the skimming surface about its axis of rotation.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the skimming surface is a disc and wherein the sorbent material is configured in the form of a pocket which corresponds to the shape of the disc and accommodates the disc therein. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the skimming surface is a drum and wherein the sorbent material is configured in the form of a sheet which is wrapped around the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the sorbent material includes a plurality of hairlike fibers no longer than about 0.25 inches in length which extend from a flexible skin, and wherein said fibers have a nap such that when the fibers are rubbed in the direction of the nap the fibers tend to lay down and when the fibers are rubbed against the direction of the nap the fibers tend to stand up. 
     
     
         10 . A method of removing oil located at the surface of a body of water by use of an oil skimming device having a skimming surface which is rotatable, comprising the steps of:
 removably attaching sorbent material to cover the skimming surface prior to the start of the oil removal operations;   rotating the material-covered skimming surface such that at least a portion of the material-covered surface becomes immersed in the water;   sorbing oil from the water surface with said sorbent material;   continuing the rotation so that the material-covered surface that was immersed is rotated above the water, carrying oil which has been sorbed by the material;   relieving the oil-sorbed material portion of its sorbed oil as rotation continues; and   removing the sorbent material from the skimming surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the skimming surface includes at least one disc, and wherein removably attaching sorbent material is performed by sandwiching said disc within a pocket of sorbent material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein removably attaching sorbent material includes stitching one side of the pocket to the other side of the pocket, said stitching passing through at least one slot in the disc. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the skimming surface is a substantially cylindrical drum, and wherein removably attaching sorbent material is performed by wrapping a substantially rectangular sheet of sorbent material around the drum.