Patents Assigned to Environment Recovery Equipment
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Patent number: 8580123Abstract: Skimmers, barges and related methods recover heavy oil or bitumen from contaminated water environments such as tailings ponds. The skimmer has an articulated mesh-like conveyor driven around a drum by a drive sprocket. A pusher mechanism discharges bitumen or heavy oil from cavities in the conveyor. In one embodiment, the skimmer includes an automatic depth control system. In other embodiments, knife-edged shear plates remove heavy oil or bitumen adhering to the conveyor and drum. A barge may incorporate multiple parallel skimmers. The barge may include a bitumen-transfer pump having an annular fluid-injection flange that generates an annulus of lubricating fluid inside a discharge hose. A method of skimming heavy oil or bitumen involves using a skimmer that automatically adjusts its elevation or depth based on a control signal generated by a depth sensor. Another method recovers and transfers bitumen by lubricating the discharge hose using the annular fluid-injection flange.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Environment Recovery EquipmentInventor: David Hines
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Patent number: 8273250Abstract: Skimmers, barges and related methods recover heavy oil or bitumen from contaminated water environments such as tailings ponds. The skimmer has an articulated mesh-like conveyor driven around a drum by a drive sprocket. A pusher mechanism discharges bitumen or heavy oil from cavities in the conveyor. In one embodiment, the skimmer includes an automatic depth control system. In other embodiments, knife-edged shear plates remove heavy oil or bitumen adhering to the conveyor and drum. A barge may incorporate multiple parallel skimmers. The barge may include a bitumen-transfer pump having an annular fluid-injection flange that generates an annulus of lubricating fluid inside a discharge hose. A method of skimming heavy oil or bitumen involves using a skimmer that automatically adjusts its elevation or depth based on a control signal generated by a depth sensor. Another method recovers and transfers bitumen by lubricating the discharge hose using the annular fluid-injection flange.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Environment Recovery EquipmentInventor: David Hines
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Publication number: 20120211435Abstract: Skimmers, barges and related methods recover heavy oil or bitumen from contaminated water environments such as tailings ponds. The skimmer has an articulated mesh-like conveyor driven around a drum by a drive sprocket. A pusher mechanism discharges bitumen or heavy oil from cavities in the conveyor. In one embodiment, the skimmer includes an automatic depth control system. In other embodiments, knife-edged shear plates remove heavy oil or bitumen adhering to the conveyor and drum. A barge may incorporate multiple parallel skimmers. The barge may include a bitumen-transfer pump having an annular fluid-injection flange that generates an annulus of lubricating fluid inside a discharge hose. A method of skimming heavy oil or bitumen involves using a skimmer that automatically adjusts its elevation or depth based on a control signal generated by a depth sensor. Another method recovers and transfers bitumen by lubricating the discharge hose using the annular fluid-injection flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: Environment Recovery Equipment (6859194 Canada Ltd.)Inventor: David Hines
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Publication number: 20110233149Abstract: Skimmers, barges and related methods recover heavy oil or bitumen from contaminated water environments such as tailings ponds. The skimmer has an articulated mesh-like conveyor driven around a drum by a drive sprocket. A pusher mechanism discharges bitumen or heavy oil from cavities in the conveyor. In one embodiment, the skimmer includes an automatic depth control system. In other embodiments, knife-edged shear plates remove heavy oil or bitumen adhering to the conveyor and drum. A barge may incorporate multiple parallel skimmers. The barge may include a bitumen-transfer pump having an annular fluid-injection flange that generates an annulus of lubricating fluid inside a discharge hose. A method of skimming heavy oil or bitumen involves using a skimmer that automatically adjusts its elevation or depth based on a control signal generated by a depth sensor. Another method recovers and transfers bitumen by lubricating the discharge hose using the annular fluid-injection flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: ENVIRONMENT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT (6859194 CANADA LTD.)Inventor: David HINES
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Patent number: 6328888Abstract: A skimmer for operating in a water environment provides a conveyor with transverse apertures and a sloping upwardly travelling lower flight in a trough shaped guide, for a lower extent and, over an upper extent beyond said guide and designed to move material in said upper extent and there to detach material in said apertures.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Environment Recovery Equipment Inc.Inventor: David W. Hines
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Patent number: 5743694Abstract: Oil recovery apparatus uses an open mesh conveyor designed to slope from a vessel into the water and to run with its lower flight travelling inboard while sliding on a flat bottomed trough. A container receives the liquid from the upper end of the trough.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1997Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Environment Recovery Equipment Inc.Inventor: David W. Hines