Device for removal of oil under ice

Abstract

Provided is a device for removal of oil under ice through an opening made into ice. The device comprises a long rope mop in the form of an endless loop, a propulsion device provided with a deflection wheel for pulling the rope mop substantially straight under ice, a power device provided with a drive wheel for circulation of the loop through the drive wheel and the deflection wheel and a cleaning device for cleaning of the rope mop from any impurities adhered thereto.

Claims

1. A device for removal of oil under ice through an opening made into ice, wherein the device comprises a long rope mop in the form of an endless loop, a deflection wheel at a distance from the opening under ice, a power device provided with a drive wheel for circulation of the loop through the drive wheel and the deflection wheel, and a cleaning device for cleaning of the rope mop from any impurities adhered thereto, wherein the rope mop is configured to be disposed against a lower surface of ice; and the device further comprises a propulsion device provided with the deflection wheel configured for pulling the rope mop substantially straight under ice, and the propulsion device includes a frame for supporting the deflection wheel and a pulling means for pulling the propulsion device and the rope mop away from the opening made into ice.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rope mop consists of a yarn structure configured to float in water and absorb oil.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the propulsion device is configured to float for holding the circulating rope mop against the lower surface of ice.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulling direction of the pulling means is provided at an angle relative to the direction of the rope mop extending from the opening for rotation of the rope mop in a circle under ice around the opening made into ice.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulling means is connected by a power transmission connection to an energy source.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the power transmission connection is a hydraulic hose.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the power transmission connection is an electric wire.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the energy source is a power device.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulling means is a propeller.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rope mop comprises a yarn structure configured to float in water and absorb oil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the device according to the invention as seen from the side,

(4) FIG. 2 illustrates the same device from below, i.e. under ice and

(5) FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the invention as seen from the side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The device according to the invention illustrated in the FIGS. 1 and 2 is placed on ice 1 in the vicinity of an opening 2 made into ice. The device includes a power device 7 with a drive wheel 6. A rope mop 3 in the form of an endless belt, i.e. a loop, circulates through the drive wheel. Further, the power device 7 has a cleaning device 8, i.e. in this embodiment a press roll, pressing the rope mop 3 against the drive wheel. This way, the rope mop 3 is squeezed up and substantially dried, i.e. the liquid material absorbed under water is separated.

(7) The rope mop 3 is arranged to pass into water through the opening 2 in ice so as to float, i.e. be disposed against the lower surface of ice 2, as it is lighter than water. Under ice, there is also a propulsion device 5, through a deflection wheel 4 of which the rope mop 3 in the form of a loop circulates. The propulsion device is provided with a propeller or water jet pulling the loop of the rope mop relatively straight away from the opening 2 in ice. Further, the pulling effect or pushing effect of the propulsion device is provided at an oblique angle relative to the principal direction of the rope mop.

(8) Thus, the propulsion device first pulls the rope mop straight and then begins to move the rope mop around the opening 2 in such a way as to sweep the lower surface of ice around the opening 2 by the rotating rope mop, the radius of the circle of the circular area corresponding to the reach of the rope mop under ice. The propulsion device 5 is connected to the power device by a power transmission connection 9 that may be a hydraulic hose or an electric cable.

(9) To use the device according to the invention is very simple. In the oil accident area, an opening 2 is made into ice 1 and the power device 7 is brought to the vicinity of the opening. The power device may be provided with its own engine, such as an internal combustion engine, to make it operate completely independently. The propulsion device 5 is introduced into water from the opening made into ice, the rope mop 3 passing through the deflection wheel thereof. Thus, the propulsion device pulls the rope mop into water onto the lower surface of ice, while one end thereof circulates through the drive wheel of the power device. Once the rope mop is straight, the device can be started, so that the propulsion device would turn the rope mop in such a way as to sweep through a circular area having the opening 2 as the center. As the rope mope passes to the cleaning device 8 of the power device 6 it is squeezed clean from oil before being conveyed back under water. Several rounds can be made as long as any impurities are being recovered. Then, another opening is made into ice at an appropriate distance and the purification is continued. To make the rope mop pass from the opening into water under ice and back in a flexible way, the lower edge of the opening can be rounded. In addition, it is possible to place rolls or curved and slippery guide surfaces on the level of the lower surface of ice in the opening to allow the rope mop slide in a steady fashion.

(10) The embodiment of FIG. 3 includes a power device 7 with a drive wheel 6. A rope mop 3 in the form of an endless belt, i.e. a loop, circulates through the drive wheel. Further, the power device 7 has a cleaning device 8, i.e. in this embodiment a press roll, pressing the rope mop 3 against the drive wheel. This way, the rope mop 3 is squeezed up and substantially dried, i.e. the liquid material absorbed under water is separated.

(11) The rope mop 3 is arranged to pass into water through the opening 2 in ice so as to float, i.e. be disposed against the lower surface of ice 1, as it is lighter than water. At a distance from the opening 2 there is in the ice also another opening 10 provided with a deflection wheel 11 under ice so that the rope mop 3 in the form of a loop circulates both wheels 6 and 11. Thus the circulating rope mop sweeps the lower surface of ice between the openings 2 and 10.

(12) It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the advancement of technology, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above; instead they may vary within the scope of the claims.