Crouse big mouth barge skimmer

Abstract

This is a oil skimming barge 107 with the optional front end 111 and intake area 110 at the stern 203 of the barge skimmer 107, whereby oil 101 is funnel into the intake area 110, then suctioned to collection tanks 120 where the oil separates from the water using basically gravity with the help of equipment than can be added, and then the water 102 is pumped or drained overboard while a higher concentration of oil 101 remains or gets pumped into the main collection tanks.

Description

RELATION TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This non-provisional patent application is based on and claims the benefit of the prior provisional application, U.S. Ser. No. 61/397,214 filed on date: Jun. 07, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of The Invention

This is a non-provisional utility patent for a new invention, for a Barge Oil Skimmer, which is for use in the oil spill response and or oil spill clean-up or collection/skimming industry; and it shall be usable for use in cleaning up oil spills in any body of water where applicable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This is a non-provisional utility patent application for a Barge Skimmer 107, called the Crouse Big Mouth Barge Skimmer (referred to as Barge Skimmer in this application) which is a new invention that can be used in the oil spill clean-up and or response industry. The Barge Skimmer can be used by itself or alongside other response measures, equipment, and or techniques to clean up oil spills in any body of water such as: oceans, rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, ditches, canals, etc. The Barge Skimmer 107 can be used to skim or collect oil floating on the surface of the water; and it can be used to keep or contain the oil while using procedures, equipment added, and or gravity inside the collection tanks along with pumps, drains, and piping on or in the Barge Skimmer in a way to separate the oil from the water so that a higher concentration of oil is contained while a cleaner and more pure water is returned to the ocean, river, lake, etc. Additional equipment may be added to the barge so to further enhance the water and oil separation after initial skimming.

For this application, the term ‘oil’ will be used to describe oil and or any contaminant having a specific gravity less than 1.0.

Recent spills and mishaps have led to search for new and better methods to clean up oil spills. Other tools and equipment currently used, such as dispersant, can actually do more much harm to the environment than they are meant to solve. There are obvious deficiencies in the efforts used to date. Therefore, the need exists for adding new options and better oil spill clean-up equipment to the overall list of equipment and or techniques. A fleet of Barge Skimmers 107 has the possibility of collecting all the oil from the water after and or during a large spill, for example, from a deep ocean oil well which may spew out more than 60,000 barrels of oil per day. By having these skimmers available and ready, dispersant should be a last resort instead of a first.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

In response to previous oil spills, the oil companies have used what is referred to as a ‘dispersant’ to contain or control the oil. Dispersants are usually spread by a airplane and or sprayed from ships. Dispersants are usually a liquid soap or other types of chemicals which can mend to the oil so that the oil forms clumps. The clumps then sink below the surface so that visibly on the surface, the problem looks as if it has been solved, and the mess doesn't look so bad to the reporters filming the area. In the case for the deep ocean wells most common off the coastline of the United States, in the Gulf area (such as the where the deep ocean well platforms are located) the water surrounding the area is so deep that the clumps only fall below the surface to a certain point. Then, because of the high possible amounts of oil and dispersant mixed, it can get into the fish habitat and environmentally sensitive areas such as: reefs, wetlands, breeding areas, river entrances, swamps, marshes, etc. This can then cause more harm than the actual oil itself, had it all just been left alone. The chemicals used for the dispersants have also been known to cause respiratory ailments in the workers surrounding areas where the dispersants have been spread. In previous spills, in the areas where the dispersants have been spread, the surface evaporation has caused the chemicals to rise up in the air in which the workers are breathing. This has sent workers to the hospital, and it has led to the workers having to wear actual gas masks as they work in the heat while cleaning up the oily water. There are many unknowns related to the dispersants. Some of the unknowns are the current, short, medium, and long term effects of the chemicals on the fish and or any wetlands in the regions. Because the dispersants are usually spread by airplanes, there are also concerns for the birds and other flying species in the area as well.

Skimming techs and or equipment have also been used for oil spill response, and skimming is still needed and very useful. The skimming techs usually consist of using deeper hulled vessels and trolling with or pulling a ‘J shaped’ Boom, ‘V shaped’ boom, or ‘teardrop shaped’ boom so that the booms help funnel the oil at the base of the (for example) ‘V’; and then the oil is suctioned out using some kind of throw pump which is tossed by the crew into the boom area. The pump sucks the oil from the water into containers in or on the vessels. Skimming is a good and often environmentally friendly way to clean the oil from the surface, however with the current vessels there are some places that the booming cannot be done or operate in due to the deeper hulls on the vessels and or high wave conditions. Also, there is a limited amount of oil that each vessels can take in.

When large spills happen, it often calls for hundreds or even thousands of ships to skim for oil. New types of skimming vessels are needed that can take in more oil, faster, and more efficiently. And, new vessels and or new equipment are needed that have more shallow drafts which allows them go into more shallow waters, environmentally sensitive areas, and or swamps, marshes, near shoreline and shoreline areas, etc. to get pockets of oil. Additionally, the large super skimmers have too deep of a draft, and because of it they are not as effective in certain areas. The deep hulled and deep draft super skimmers are often used with a intake in the front where they take a big ‘gulp’ of the incoming oil and then the oil falls or is suctioned, etc. into collection tanks inside the vessel. These super skimmer can hold a tremendous amount of oil, but they are difficult to maneuver and they are dangerous to other vessels in the area. This non-provisional patent application will show better more suited vessels which can hold large amounts of oil, they have similar intake ability, but they are more nimble and can even go in shallow waters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

DRAWING 1 Shows a starboard 205 view of different sizes of barges which can be converted into barge skimmers 107.

DRAWING 2 Shows a overhead view of the Barge Skimmer 107 being towed by a tug 300.

DRAWING 3 Shows a overhead view of the same Barge Skimmer 107 from the previous drawing skimming with the rear or stern 203 becoming the front end 111 while using the tow/tugboats 300 to funnel oil 101 into the intake area 110.

DRAWING 4 is a view as if you were looking into the Stern 203 area which becomes the Front End 111 and intake area 110 for the barge skimming operations.

DRAWING 5 shows the rear, slightly overhead and right side view of the barge, which becomes the front end 111 and left side view when skimming. This also shows the top where two tanks 120 for collection and separation are located, as well as hoist 412 and suction 104 equipment.

DRAWING 6 shows a see through left side view of the barge intake 110 and collection area. It also shows the main holding tank 120 (B), as well as upper separation tanks 120 (A) and other equipment are located.

DRAWING 7 shows a overhead see through the body of the barge view of collection areas, collection tanks, intake area, etc.

DRAWING 8 shows a left side, see through the body view of the barge Skimmer intake 110 and first stage collection, and it also shows some suction/pump equipment and other collection tanks where water discharge and the main oil storage tank is located.

DRAWING 9 shows a overhead left side view of the skimmer.

DRAWING 10 shows a side view of three barges off-loading into a super tanker.

DRAWING 11 shows a see through left side view of a barge skimmer 107 internal tank 120.

DRAWING 12 shows a overhead view of a barge skimmer 107 being pulled forward using booms 777 and tugs/towboats to both pull and funnel the oil into the collection intake area 110.

DRAWING 13 shows a overhead view of a Barge Station 200 where a super tanker 308 is suctioning out the collected oil. It also shows a barge skimmer 107 headed to a Barge Station 200 to offload.

DRAWING 14 shows a see through the body of the barge skimmer 107 view of a method of internal water and oil separation so to make the collection method, as well as water discharge better and more efficient.

DRAWING 15 shows rear view looking into the rear of the barge but the front of the skimmer. It also shows the barge skimmer having the option of a single pipe 178 collection intake area 110.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This is a non-provisional utility patent application for a new type of barge skimmer 107. Though there have been barge skimmers before, none have worked quite like this one. This barge skimmer 107 is meant for efficient collection and containment of oil 101 which helps in overall effectiveness in oil collection. This barge differs from existing barge skimmer in the intake 110 area on the front end 111 of the barge skimmer, which is the rear end or stem 203 of the barge. Though this type of rigging can be placed on the Stem 203 or Bow 202, the drawings in this application will present a front end 111 collection intake which uses the whole area of the front end 111 of the skimmer to help funnel the oily water into a bulkhead, where the oil on the surface spills over into a collection tank 120, and then vacuum pumping systems 104 pump the oily water into another collection tank 120 where the oil and water separation process begins. In the tank(s), the lighter oil 101 rises to the top while the heavier water 120 sinks to the bottom. After the oil and water separate within the tanks (equipment and several techniques later discussed can be used to enhance separation of oil and water) a drain 151 or plug is opened, which connects a hose or pipe 150 to the bottom of the collection tanks 120, and the water is let out leaving a higher concentration of oil 101 in the tanks. The oil 101 can be separated and suctioned at close to a 90 plus percent oil vs. water ratio, where the remaining oil is then pumped into the main holding tanks where the oil can even be further separated from the water using various pieces of optional equipment which can be added. The equipment that can be added, such as: oil centrifuge equipment 105, vacuums/pump 104, water cooling systems (not shown), air bubble pipes 132 and systems, etc. can help to further ‘tailor’ the desired outcome for both returning a cleaner water while collecting a higher concentration of oil.

If the oil is collected fast enough, so that is doesn't sit on the water too long and become saturated or mixed with dispersant, then the collected out can be skimmed, collected, and possible still used for some purpose. If so, the collected oil can be skimmed and sold to offset the cost of collection and clean-up operations. This would also give a response worker the incentive to work harder in collection, as well as do better in containment.

Drawing 1 shows three of the many size options for the barge skimmer 107. This just shows simple ocean barges of the larger size of 300 to 400 feet long, around 100 feet wide, and 20 feet deep. Then it shows the medium sized barge skimmer of 180 feet long, around 72 feet wide and 12 to 16 feet deep. The drawing also shows a smaller 40 to 60 foot long skimmer that can be from 20 to 12 feet wide and only 6 to 8 feet deep. The depth of the barges are listed from bottom of the keel to the deck, but the drafts in water are much less and can be somewhat adjusted while in the water. A super large 300 to 400 foot barge has enormous holding capacity, but it only has around a 6 to 8 foot draft, which means it can operate in more shallow waters than deep hulled skimmers half its size. The smaller barges can operate in 3 foot of water. This drawing is meant to show the overall capacity, size, and the low draft. The flat bottom gives the ability to easily turn and maneuver as well. This also means that you can skim all the way from a deep water spill to near the bank or shoreline so that less dispersant is needed. These drawings also show the bow 202 and stem 203. The drawing shows the Skag 201 which is at the stem 203 of the barge, which aids in direction control (but it also becomes a part of the front end 111 when skimming and aids in direction control when the barge skims going backwards through the water) when the barge is moving.

Once the spill or oil slick 101 has been spotted, and the spill coordinator provides the details and or GPS coordinates to the skimmer fleet, as in Drawing 2, a towboat/tug 300 pulls or pushes the Barge to the position best suited for skimming. Drawing 2 just shows a tugboat/towboat 300 pulling a barge skimmer 107 to the proper spill location. The tug/tow 300 is pulling the Barge bow 202 forward, but when the skimming begins, this barge skimmer 107 will be skimming stem first 203 or basically going rear first through the water where the skags and rear design act as the front end 111 and funnels the oil into a bulkhead where the surface oil spills over into a collection area. Once in the collection area, vacuum/pumps 104 located near the stem 203 pump the oil from the first holding tank (not shown) into the tanks 120 (A) and from 120 (A) to 120 (B) where both act to help separate the oil. If needed, slosh kits (not in drawing) may put in the tank to keep the water from splashing about too much and mixing the water while the boat is moving or at sea. Also, other equipment may be added to the tanks 120 (A) and 120 (B) to help separate the oil and water in these areas. Some examples are: coolant systems, air bubble techs 132, more salt, netting, oil centrifuge equipment 105, etc. From these tanks, the cleaner water at the bottom of the tank can simply be let out or pumped out using simple drains and plugs at the bottom of the tank(s) while the oil from the top can be suctioned into the larger containment tanks inside the main hull area.

Drawing number 3 shows the same barge or similar barge as in Drawing 2, but this barge has become a barge skimmer 107 by using the stem 203 as the front end 111 whereby it leads the way for the barge. Two tugboats 300 (B) and 300 (C) are pulling the barge skimmer 107 through the water using booms 777 (A) and (B) which act as giant funnels to funnel the oil from the top of the water into the front end 111 or intake area 110 of the Barge Skimmer 107. From the collection point, the next step is to suction the oil from the Intake area 110 to the rear tank 120 (A) and 120 (B). These tanks hold a 50/50 water vs. oil ratio to a 60/40 oil vs. water ratio. The water goes to the bottom, as stated, where it is pumped out overboard. Oil Centrifuge equipment 105, vacuum/pumps 104, and generators 106 have been added as options, to help the water/oil separation at this point, but it is not really necessary unless desired.

Drawing 4 shows the stern 203 becoming the bow 202 as the barge becomes the skimmer. This is a front end 111 and intake area 110. There can be any number of Skag 201 A through F, which act to help guide the Barge Skimmer, keeping it straight as it skims, and they have provided a intake and skimming area for which is set, in this drawing to slide just under the surface of the water so that the oil 101 funneled into the bulkhead is mostly oil skimmed from the top of the water. From this Intake area 110, the part 151 provides a place where pipes and or hoses can be placed to suction the oily water from this area and into rear collection tanks 120.

Drawing 5 shows another rear view or stern 203 of the barge, but that becomes the Front End of the skimmer. This is very similar to the previous picture. This drawing shows many more skags 201 have been added. There can be many locations in the Intake Area 110 where the oily water can be suctioned out from pipes or hoses 150 inserted from deck area. However, most drawings just show one. In this drawing, hose 150 (A) is the location where the hose suctions the oily water from the intake.

Drawing 6 shows a see through the left side of the skimmer 107. The oil 101 comes into the barge skimmer 107 front end 111 into the intake area 110 where the oily sludge enters a pipe 178 and spills over into a collection tank 120 (C). From the tank 120 (C), the pipe 151 (A) sucks the water/oil mix out via hose 150 (A) and vac/pump unit 104 and through hose 150 (B) into a collection 120 (A) where the oil and water separation begins. At this point, the smaller barges may use their main tanks for this, but the larger barges may have several upper deck tanks similar to 120 (A). As the water goes to the bottom and oil to the top, the water is let out via drain 151 (B) through and out of pipe 150 (C) so that it simply is drained out. As the drain opens, a vortex of water is created at the lower part of the tank which lets the fish and turtles, etc. back out overboard. Also, excluders can be put on the hoses and pipes at any location to make sure that there are barriers to prevent fish and sea life from entering. Once the water is let out, the oil left is then pumped into the main collection tank 120 (B) which is in the hull of the vessel 107. Again, for smaller vessels 107, the pumping of water from tank to tank is just for water and oil separation so to increase efficiency. The smaller skimmers may use their main tanks for all the water and oil separation options. The smaller skimmers may use equipment added also to enhance the water and oil separation.

Drawing 7 shows a see through the barge overhead view of the Barge Skimmer 107 having a Intake 110 area with two intake pipe location 178 (A) and (B). The workings are similar to the previous drawing where the oily water is pumped from the intake 110 tank 120 (A) via 150 (A) to tank 120 (B) which the pumps the oil and water into tank 120 (C) where the separation of oil and water can be assisted using air bubbles, or other techniques. The water is let out via drain 151 (A) from bottom of the tank while the oil is pumped into tank 120 (D). The oil may have to go through oil centrifuge 105 through pumps 104 ran by generators 106 on the deck also to further separate the water and oil

Drawing 8 shows another similar see through side view as drawing 6, but this differs slightly at the intake 110 where a protruding slide 165 is raised and or lowered to assist in fine tuning the skimming at the initial stages. This is a option which can be added to all the skimmers. The hoist 412 operates the wedge shaped intake so that it helps to funnel less water and more oil into the first collection tanks. The wedge can have tiny holes drilled into it to let only water but not oil pass through so that when slightly lifted only oil enters. Again, this is a options. This whole wedge area can be a add-on, and it can even be a Netting or fabric like material.

Drawing 9 shows the intake 110 at front end 111 having a wedged funnel-like intake so that all the oil enters into one area where there may be one or more pipes 178 having the ability to allow the oil sludge to fall into the collection area. In this collection area, there is a pipe 179 where the oil spills over and gravity takes all the spilled over oil water into the mouth of a vacuum 104 unit hose 150 (A) so that all the incoming sludge gets sucked into rear tanks for separation and storage.

Drawing 10 shows barge skimmers 107 A, B, and C off-loading their skimmed oil into a tanker which should be or may be on stand by during spill operations so that the barge skimmers can empty and then go back to work. This just shows a option for a more efficient clean up process using the barge skimmers.

Drawing 11 shows a see through the barge side view of what takes place inside a typical barge skimmer 107 collection tank 120. The heavier water 102 goes to the bottom while the lighter oil 101 goes to the top (especially in salt water). The drain at location 151 is simply opened, and it creates a vortex of water which shoots out the pipe 150. This drawing just shows one tank, and that may be the only option for the super small barges, but the large barges will have several tanks so that the final percentage of oil held will be nearly 98% oil and around 02% water.

Drawing 12 shows towboats/tugs 300 A and B pulling the barge skimmer 107 through the water using the booms 777 to funnel the oil 101 into the Big Mouth or intake area 110 of the Barge; and in this case the intake area is at the bow 201 instead of the stem 203.

Drawing 13 shows another similar drawing as drawing 10. In this drawing, barge skimmer 107 (D) is going to off-load at Barge Station 200. Also in this drawing, the Barge Station has more fuel in containers onboard, etc. Also, the super tanker 308 (A) is suctioning oil from the 107 (C) barge of the Barge Station 200. Having stations set up like this out in the water increases efficiency, but it is shown just as a option.

Drawing 14 shows another see through generic view inside a barge skimmer holding tank 120 where, in this drawing, a Air Bubble Pipe 132 is at the bottom and pumping air bubbles 133 from the bottom of tank 120 making the lighter oil go to the top and the heavier water go to the bottom. This makes the water which will be let out from drain 150 cleaner. This is just another option for adding additional techniques for cleaning or separating the oil and water.

Drawing 15 shows s look into the intake area 110 view of a smaller barge skimmer 107 whereby the intake is shaped so to help funnel all the incoming oil into one single bulkhead where the pipe 178 allows the oil to spill over and into the internal tank area so to be suctioned out at pipe location 151 through hose 150 via vacuum 104 powered by diesel generator 106. This is just one more example of the rear set-up intake area 110 covering the Stern 203 of the barge skimmer 107.

In no way do the drawings represent all the possible options for adding a certain number of tanks 120, vacuums 104, centrifuges 105, generators 106, etc. This equipment was drawn and or shown in the drawings as options that make the barge skimmer more efficient. Because the decks of the barges are so large, a numerous and or a plurality of equipment may be added, and in any arrangement or design for many arrangements are possible. This patent allows for any number of vacuum equipments pipes, hoses, tanks, etc. to be added and or used to increase the tailoring-ability of any of the skimmers so that they increase the efficiency of the skimming, the cleanliness of the water extracted from the oily water intake, and for increasing the oil concentration or pureness of the oil contained. The barges can be made in any size.

Claims

II. A new type of oil skimming Barge Skimmer Vessel 107, that can move or get pulled or tugged bow 202 first to a location or GPS point where the oil skimming begins, and

(a.) the stem can become the front end 111 which leads the way once skimming starts so that oil can be collected in high quantities through a Intake 110 opening at one end of the barge stem 203, called the intake area 110,

(b.) having a bow 202 with the option of having the same front end 111 that becomes and remains the front end 111 and becoming the location where the intake area 110 is located,

(c.) whereby the oil 101 is funneled into the intake area 110 and skimmed using the shaped front end so that the skimmed oily top-water sludge enters or spills over into the intake collection area,

(d.) where oil is suctioned into other tanks 120 having the ability to add equipment on or to the barge skimmer to assist in separating the oil from the water so that cleaner water can be pumped or drained back out while a higher concentration of oil remains in the containment tanks, the equipment may be but is not limited to the following: heating systems, cooling systems, oil centrifuge equipment 105, vacuums 104, generators 106, adding more salt or clean water, etc. to enhance the separation of oil and water,

(e.) or whereby gravity may acts to separate the water 102 from the oil 101 inside the tanks,

(f.) where a drain can be opened and the cleaner water can be pumped or drained from the bottom of the collection tank and overboard at a higher degree of cleanliness,

(g.) which leaves a higher concentration of mainly oil inside the tanks so that the oil can be contained in the main tanks in a very high concentration with the possibility that it can still be used for some purpose, thereby sold to offset the clean-up cost,

(h.) thus increasing overall efficiency in the collection and containment process,

II. A barge skimmer that be built in many different sizes, having,

(a.) large 400 to 300 foot skimmers that are close to 100 feet wide,

(b.) medium sized skimmers from 250 to 180 feet long and 72 to 90 feet wide.

(c.) having smaller skimmers 40 to 60 feet long and over around 20 feet wide,

(d.) having the ability to add equipment to separate oil from water to increase effective water drainage and oil containment operations on any size,

(e.) all having shallow drafts and flat bottoms to increase the maneuverability and to enhance environmental safety,

III. A barge skimming vessel that can be tailored to specifications for water cleanliness for the water which is collected with the oil and being pumped overboard, as well as to be tailored for the collection and containment of a concentration of oil inside the containment tanks 120, by adding the following optional equipment,

(a.) using extra tanks so that gravity is used to separate the oil from water whereby the lighter oil 100 goes to the top while the heavier water 102 goes to the bottom of the tank, and or the water and oil separation steps can be carried out using more than one tank in steps to create a higher concentration of oil contained while a cleaner water can be pumped or drained back into the body of water after separation,

(b.) having the ability to add techs such as a air bubble 133 creating techs inside the tanks 120 to push the oil to the top while the water at the bottom is cleaned a extra step and the oil is also contained in a higher concentration,

(c.) having the option of adding oil centrifuge equipment 105 and or tanks to spin water and oil to separate the oil and water so that the water can be cleaned an extra step before the water it is pumped overboard and or to better separate the oil before it is contained,

(d.) having the option of heating or cooling the oil and water inside the containment tanks to enhance the water and oil separation technique,

(e.) having the ability to uses hoses and pipes 150 and vacuums pumps 104 to pump in clean water taken from the deeper water to be used in the process for water and oil separation,

(f.) having the ability to add slosh kits inside the tanks so to keep them from mixing about when the skimmer is in high waves,

(g.) having the ability to add any piece, type, or number of pieces of equipment so help in the separation process of oil and water,

(h.) having the ability to add booms to the front end to help funnel more oil into the intake and skimming area,

(i.) having the ability for numerous intake spill over pipes to speed collections and skimming,

(j.) having the ability to use a long slide net to slide under the surface of the water and out in front of the intake area a to help in the skimming, etc.