DAVID SMITH
Pharmacy at Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ

6143172, Nov 7, 2000

Jan 25, 1999

9/236681

Glenn R. Rink - Scottsdale AZ
Robert L. Rosania - Bensalem PA
David R. Smith - Tucson AZ
Thomas C. Johnson - Scottsdale AZ

Abtech Industries, Inc. - Scottsdale AZ

B01D 1500, E02B 1510

210237

A plurality of water- and oil-porous sacks are partially filled with a number of generally toroidal bodies of a polymer material that entraps oil and including mesh fragments scattered throughout the bodies. Each sack is sewn with a perimeter stiffening ring, to retain a flat profile, and has a netting that closes to help inhibit outflow of the oil when the sack is retrieved. When deployed from ship or by air onto a spill, the sacks spread into a pancake shape and the polymer matter forms a single layer that retains the oil. The inventive sacks will float indefinitely without releasing the oil or allowing it to emulsify, so the oil can remain in place until collection efforts are feasible. The sacks can be burned in situ, or standard fishing boats or specialized collection boats can be used to retrieve the sacks, and the collected material can be burned to capture the energy content of the oil or processed to separate the oil from the polymer. The inventive sacks can be used in conjunction with other, known containment or retrieval equipment, such as booms or skimmers.

5863440, Jan 26, 1999

May 24, 1996

8/653228

Glenn R. Rink - Scottsdale AZ
Robert L. Rosania - Bensalem PA
David R. Smith - Tucson AZ
Thomas C. Johnson - Scottsdale AZ
Jan R. Hegeman - Seattle WA
Peter A. Allen - Calistoga CA

Abtech Industries, Inc. - Scottsdale AZ

E02B 1504

210693

A plurality of water- and oil-porous sacks are partially filled with a number of generally toroidal bodies of a polymer material that entraps oil and including mesh fragments scattered throughout the bodies. Each sack is sewn with a perimeter stiffening ring, to retain a flat profile, and has a netting that closes to help inhibit outflow of the oil when the sack is retrieved. When deployed from ship or by air onto a spill, the sacks spread into a pancake shape and the polymer matter forms a single layer that retains the oil. The inventive sacks will float indefinitely without releasing the oil or allowing it to emulsify, so the oil can remain in place until collection efforts are feasible. The sacks can be burned in situ, or standard fishing boats or specialized collection boats can be used to retrieve the sacks, and the collected material can be burned to capture the energy content of the oil or processed to separate the oil from the polymer. The inventive sacks can be used in conjunction with other, known containment or retrieval equipment, such as booms or skimmers.

2001004, Dec 6, 2001

Dec 28, 2000

09/750641

Matthew Close - Tucson AZ, US
Nicholas Danna - Tucson AZ, US
David Smith - Tucson AZ, US

B29C047/00, B29B017/00, B29C047/38, B29C047/80

264/151000, 264/17800R, 264/211120, 264/211210, 264/912000, 264/920000

A resilient article and method of manufacturing the same using recycled materials are described. Predetermined amounts of thermoset material and thermoplastic binder are mixed and extruded into a die, from which the mixture emerges in the form of a sheet having the approximate thickness of the finished article. The mixture then enters a calibrator, which more precisely shapes the sheet to the desired thickness. The sheet is then cooled and cut to the desired dimensions to provide the finished article. The thermoset material used in the mixture is preferably ground vehicle tire rubber with the fabric and metal removed and the thermoplastic binder is preferably waste polyethylene. The apparatus and method according to the present invention is particularly well suited for manufacturing resilient articles for use as expansion joint material.