Patents by Inventor Clifford G. Ecker

Clifford G. Ecker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5051029
    Abstract: Material containment apparatus and method for effectively containing spilt material floating in water around a structure such as an oil transport ship. Primary components include a protective openable storage housing attached to and encircling the ship above the water line, inflatable and multi-directionally expandable buoyant containment boom, a vertically extendable oil impervious curtain which hangs below the boom in the water, boom inflating and positioning arms to maintain a separation between the deployed floating boom and the ship, a vapor capturing curtain between the deployed boom and the ship above the spilt material, and a vent or burn-off stack to dispose of hazardous fumes which are captured under the vapor curtain from evaporating spilt materials such as oil. The boom, boom positioning arms, and curtains are stored in the storage housing as a complete structure ready for instant deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Clifford G. Ecker