Craig R Fischer

US Patent:

52542661, Oct 19, 1993

Filed:

Mar 6, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/847941

Inventors:

Michael D. Barnes - Hazen ND
Craig R. Fischer - Garrison ND

Assignee:

Aquatron, Inc. - Garrison ND

International Classification:

B01D 1702

US Classification:

210776

Abstract:

A self-contained oil spill cleanup craft and method which operates well in both rough and calm seas, is rapidly deployed, which provides high flow rate continuous separation and processing of recovered oil and water mixtures, and outputs water which is substantially free of oil and oil which is substantially free of water and other contaminants and, as such, refinery ready without further processing. The craft of the present invention can be used, for example, to clean up light and medium weight crude oil, lubricating oil, or diesel fuel that is floating on the surfaces of either fresh or salt water. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a small waterplane area twin hull boat having respective pontoons attached to the base of each hull is equipped with a scoop for recovering oil and water, separation and processing equipment for separating and purifying the recovered oil and water, high volume pumps for transferring the oil and water from the scoop to the separation and processing equipment, and storage elements for storing refinery grade oil and dry sludge.