Sea dragon

Abstract

This invention is simple in design, effective in functionality, cost effective and is vitally important and beneficial to the enviroment in saving our oceans, beaches, marine wildlife and to prevent ecological contamination. This oil spill recovery system is designed to boom, skim and vacuum the oil or hazardous spills from the surface of fresh or salt water in semi rough or calm seas. The system is designed to be towed through the water by two ships. For the purpose of towing the system, a steel cable will run through two straps on the front of each unit in the system and attach to each ship. Each unit will be attached together like a chain with a apron to contain the spill like a dam, to push and build an oil level by drawing the contamined water and directing the spill at a high rate of flow through each of the five ports on the front of each unit by gravity flow or by the vacuum system to tanks on a ship. The system can be used in shallow water right up to the shore line as well as out in open sea. The system is designed to be stored on a ship and can be rapidly deployed in various lengths as needed. The computer system on the ship will continuously monitor the progress during the clean up operation through various sensors mounted on each unit and can adjust or change the function of any individual unit as well as shut units off and on as needed. Each unit has built in airbags, an automatic height adjustment, a headboard and toe board each incorporated with built in lights for the system to be fully utilized for day or night use. The system's units are reusable and can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes from stainless steel and available commerical electrical components. Each unit will be connected together by steel pin with an attached apron made of nylon corded reinforced rubber. The system's design is that each unit will be connected to a main vacuum hose as well as wiring for the computer on the back of each unit. All computer operations, wiring, vacuum hose and all connections will be run from a ship to each unit in the chain before system is to be deployed from ship for clean up operation.

1 . Unit Design: The elongated form of each unit is unique in design and can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes. The unit is designed to sit in the water and drag on the rear of the unit. Easy fast unit connections and cut through the water.  
     
     
         2 . Toe Board: The the toe board is one of the major designs of the unit. The unit can not work without the toe board. The toe board slices through the water to skim and build an oil height to vacuum and recover. The toeboard is also used to boom an oil drift. The toe board has a integrated light that shines from benneth the surface of the water to tell where the oil is located on the surface of the water. The light allows for continuous twenty four hour oil spill recovery.  
     
     
         3 . Toe Board Air Bag. The toe Board is designed with an integrated airbag on the bottom of the toe board that works in conjunction with the hydraulic system to lift the weight of the oil and water on the toe board.  
     
     
         4 . The Head Board: The head board has an integrated light for a continuous twenty four hour oil spill recovery. The head board light shines down on the surface of the water to show where the oil is located on the surface of the water. The head board is a splash board for large waves.  
     
     
         5 . Mercury Switch: The mercury switch communicates with the computer as to the level of water surrounding the unit.  
     
     
         6 . Water Box: The water box is designed to allow water inside of the unit with out leakage. The water box keeps the front of the unit at a certain depth in the water.  
     
     
         7 . Hydraulic System: The hydraulic system is designed to operate the height of the toe board when unit is pulled through the water.  
     
     
         8 . Barrier Apron: The custom fit design of the barrier apron keeps all the units attached together and has a pull cable ran through the apron for towing the unit. The apron will helps to contain oil leakage during an oil recovery operation or to boom an oil drift.  
     
     
         9 . Air Bags: The air bags are for lift to give height of the front of each unit for maximum oil recovery