Abstract: An apparatus for recovering an oil-based liquid from a body of liquid including the oil-based liquid. The apparatus includes a pair of cooperating rollers defining a nip therebetween, an endless loop of oil-based liquid absorbent material that passes through the nip and extends from the cooperating rollers along a path into the oil-based liquid in the body to absorb the oil-based liquid from the body, and a diverter engaged with the material and spaced from the cooperating rollers along the path. The material is conveyed by the cooperating rollers along the path from the body and squeezed at the nip by the cooperating rollers to force the oil-based liquid to flow along the material. The diverter guides the oil-based liquid away from the material as the oil-based liquid flows along the material from the cooperating rollers. A scraper is engaged with the material ahead of the cooperating rollers along the path to remove debris from material prior to the material passing through the cooperating rollers.

Abstract: A method of recovering an oil-based liquid from a body of liquid including a first layer of the oil-based liquid and a second layer of a second liquid having an interface with the first layer. The oil-based liquid being denser than the second liquid and the interface having a variable level in the body. The method includes the steps of suspending a length of oil-based liquid absorbent material from a support above the body, extending the absorbent material down a vertical distance from the support through the second layer into the first layer for absorbing oil-based liquid from the first layer, conveying the absorbent material along a path through the first layer, absorbing the oil-based liquid from the first layer with the absorbent material, and maintaining the path of the absorbent material in the first layer by varying the vertical distance in response to a variation in the level of the interface.

Abstract: A method for filtering contaminants from a mixture containing an oil-based fluid and a non-oil based fluid is provided. The method includes the steps of providing an oil-based fluid absorbent cloth of man-made fibers, the absorbent cloth having at least a portion thereof that is napped so as to define voids therein; forcing the mixture to flow through the absorbent cloth; trapping, in the absorbent cloth, contaminants from the mixture as the mixture is forced through the absorbent cloth; and absorbing, with the absorbent cloth, the oil-based fluid from the mixture while allowing the non-oil based fluid to flow through the absorbent cloth.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering oil-based liquid from a body of liquid including a first layer of the oil-based liquid and a second layer of a second liquid having an interface with the first layer is disclosed. The apparatus includes an endless loop of oil-based liquid absorbent material extending downward a vertical distance into the first layer for absorbing the oil-based liquid therefrom and a drive conveying the absorbent material in a substantially vertical path from the first layer. The apparatus also includes a guide submerged in the body of liquid directing the absorbent material through the first layer. The guide has a buoyancy selected to maintain the absorbent material in the first layer by varying the vertical distance in response to a variation in the level of the interface.

Abstract: An oil-based article absorbs oil-based fluid on a surface. The article is made of a cloth and a flotation material encased in the cloth to assist in the absorption of oil-based fluid and the flotation of the article. The cloth has at least one napped surface that defines voids therein, and nap is formed of raised ends or loops of the fibers and has a thickness. The flotation material can also absorb water. When encased in the cloth, the cloth inhibits water absorption to inhibit water from contacting the flotation material. Thus, the flotation material absorbs oil-based fluid to increase the absorption capability of the article. The oil-based fluid containing flotation material is capable of assisting flotation. The oil-based fluid is recovered from the article and put to a beneficial use. The article can be reused repeatedly.

Abstract: A hang-type earmuff has a unitary, seamless core of flexible plastic in a truncated, conical configuration. A cover extends across the convex outer surface of the core and a liner extends across the concave inner surface of the core. The liner is attached to the core by providing a sheet of lining material, securing the lining material to the convex outer surface of the core adjacent the central opening thereof, removing the central portion of the lining material corresponding with the core opening, folding the lining material over the edge of the core defining the opening, through the opening and across the concave inner surface of the core and securing the lining material at the peripheral edge of the core. The cover is fitted to the core over a fixture to provide ample material to extend around the wearer's ear. The cover may be sewn or welded to the liner.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil-based fluid from a surface that includes the steps of applying man-made fibers that absorb the oil-based fluid or a cloth made from the man-made fibers to the oil-based fluid on the surface, feeding the fibers or cloth having absorbed oil-based fluid to a device for applying force to the fibers or cloth to recover oil-based fluid and applying force to the fibers or cloth to recover oil-based fluid therefrom. The oil-based fluid recovered from the fibers and cloth can be put to a beneficial use. The fibers and cloth can be reused repeatedly. An apparatus capable of performing the method has rollers to apply the force to the fibers or cloth to recover oil-based fluid from the fibers or cloth.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil-based fluid and an article for use in the method disclosed, the method includes the steps of applying fibers or a cloth with a napped surface that absorb the oil-based fluid to the oil-based fluid on a surface. The fiber or cloth is capable of absorbing at least about 5 times its own weight in oil-based fluid and temporarily holding absorbed oil-based fluid therein until the absorbed oil-based fluid is recovered. The fiber or cloth is maintained in contact with the oil-based fluid until oil-based fluid is absorbed. Then, the fiber or cloth having absorbed oil-based fluid is retrieved from the surface. The oil-based fluid can be recovered from the fiber or cloth and put to a beneficial use. The fiber or cloth can be reused repeatedly. The article contains the fiber or cloth, can optionally contain a flotation material and can optionally have a container that holds the fiber or cloth.