Kenneth Lee Crook

US Patent:

48328529, May 23, 1989

Filed:

Apr 6, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/034449

Inventors:

Gary G. Wells - Greenville SC
Kenneth L. Crook - Greer SC

Assignee:

John D. Hollingsworth On Wheels, Inc. - Greenville SC

International Classification:

C02F 140
E02B 1504

US Classification:

210671

Abstract:

A method of removing oil from a surface contaminated with oil comprises spreading elongated mat (A) of nonwoven cotton fiber on the surface of the oil to absorb the oil. The mat is prepared by forming cotton fibers into at least a first nonwoven fiber web (30) and a second nonwoven fiber web (32). A composite is formed by arranging the first and second fiber webs together with a scrim (34) intermediate the first and second fiber webs. The composite is delivered to a needle punch machine (54) and the first and second fiber webs are needle punched into the scrim. The mat is formed in a continuous length greater than its width. The cotton waste fibers are short and are needle punched and compacted into the scrim. Compacted interlocked mat (A) has sufficient strength to facilitate feeding of the mat longitudinally onto the oil (14) and surface, and pulling longitudinally from the surface after absorbing oil through an oil removal device (24) from said mat.