Abstract: An oil recovery device having a downwardly and rearwardly traveling oil abosrbing belt, to pick up oil on a body of water. The belt travels around an upwardly and forwardly positioned drum to be engaged by a porous squeeze belt to remove the oil from the oil absorbing belt. Rearwardly of the belt is an oil collecting enclosure to collect oil not recovered by the oil absorbing belt. The device has a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bow ramp over which an oil/water liquid passes into a through passage in the device, and water having oil separated therefrom passes out longitudinally spaced bottom openings, with the flow through these openings being controlled by closure doors.

Abstract: An oil containment boom is provided herein. It includes an elongated member of generally V-shaped cross-section, which is provided by a front wall section and a (preferably higher) rear wall section, joined together along respective lower edges. Ballast means are provided for normally maintaining the elongated member upright with the joint between the front and rear walls at the bottom. Float means (preferably inflatable) are provided, which are disposed between the front wall and the rear wall at a predetermined and preselected level above the joint. Drainage means are provided within the front wall to permit polluted liquid which has rolled over the front wall and is trapped in the V-shaped member constituted by the front and rear walls to escape therefrom to an area upstream of the front wall. A novel method of containing oil spills in ice infested water is also provided.

Abstract: A connecting assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical connecting members having a base ring connected to an upper tubular inflatable portion of an oil containment boom, and a depending arm adapted to engage a depending skirt of an oil containment boom. Each base ring comprises first and second interlocking members in the form of grooves and flanges adapted to interfit with one another in order to attach two segments of oil containment booms together. When offset angularly and placed face to face, with the groove of the final connecting member aligned with the flange of the second connecting member, and the flange of the first connecting member aligned with the groove of the second connecting member, two connecting members may be rotated toward one another and locked together. External fastening devices located on the arm depending from the base ring prevent counter-rotation which would disassemble the connecting members.