CA2151880A1

CA2151880A1 - Environmental hazard containment assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2151880A1
Application number: CA 2151880
Authority: CA
Inventors: Peter Graham Howe; Peter Allen Litchfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-15
Filing date: 1995-06-15
Publication date: 1996-12-16

Abstract

This invention consists of a flexible, inflatable, recoverable Environmental Hazard Container Assembly (EHCA, or The Invention), capable of containing a product while not allowing the introduction of any contaminants, and able to be rapidly deployed from either a vessel or a barge.
The EHCA is made up of the Container, the Cap, the Storage and Deployment Deviceand all associated parts/attachments which are required to make the Assembly function in the manner for which it is designed.

Description

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SPECIFICATION
Embodiments.
The embodiments of the Invention are as described below:
A. C~ntainer: ( Figure 1. ) 1. an inner container comprised of a flexible body hllpclvious to the pacs~e of product. The size of this container would be tailored to the requirement.

2. an outer container consisting of a mesh webbing, able to contain the inner container and to withstand the lifting of the entire container along with its col~lclll~.

3. a Sea Anchor attached to the bottom of the Co~llainer to minimi movement from point of deployment in water.
B.Cap:(Figures2,3&4.) 1. made of a rigid material 2. attached to the Container in such a way that no product can leave or enter the Container other than by a controlled method through the Cap.
(Fig2 -G) 3. a Fill Receptacle/Coupler fitted with a flap valve so designed to allow the filling of the Con~inc~ with product, the conl~ e.ll of the product and extraction of the product only by a controlled method. ~ c~led to the fill Icceytacle/coupler on the inside of the Co..t~ er is a tube ~ t~ to the bottom of the Colllailler to accommodate extraction of the product when desired. ( Figs 2 &~ 3 - C and Fig 2 - H ).

2l5l88o ~' Objective.
The obj~ e of The Invention is to provide an onboard capability for both barges and ships to rapidlv and simplY contain and deploy enyironmentally hazardous liquid m~tet~l from the vessels tanks or holds in the event of the vessel experiencing a leak in one or more of the holds, or when the vessel is experiencing an emergency (e.g.: lost steerage ) which could result in contact with an object c~llcin~ damage to or total loss of the hull.
The preferable use of The Invention is for the rapid con~mllent, deployment and eventual recovery of petroleum products being ~ s~ol l~d by barge or ship/tanker when the vessel either has experienced an ell.ergell~;y or is facing a potential emergency. The Invention could also be shore-based for use in harbours where environmentally ha_ardous materials are handled.

0~al on.
Once ie has been determined that the EHCA is to be utili7~1, the latches holding the lid and platform portions of the Box are tripped manually. The hydraulic cylinders located on the sides of the box are then activated (m~nn~lly or electrically). This rotates the main part of the box upward and outward around the hinge connecting the main part of the Box to the platform. This action accomplishes three things:
- it exposes the Cap, - it allows the lid to open and swing overboard around its hinge, and - it causes the Coll~h-er to slide out and overboard while rçm~ining fixed -~ to the Cap.
A hose from the hold being evacuated is then connected to the Fill Receptacle and the product is pumped into the Container to a predet~nined amount. The compressed airbottle and regulator is then activated thus establishing the buoyancy IJr~S~UIt;. The hydraulic pressure in the Retainer Cylinders holding the semi-circular Cap Retainer Brackets is then released. This will cause the springs to recoil thus removing the six tapered fingers from the Retainer Brackets on the Cap (the fingers are tapered to provide mech~nical ~csi~t~nce for the llieerl~getn~nt action). With the .1is~n~tnent of the fingers, the Cap is released and deploys along with its contail~r into the water. The spring loaded Aerial Beacon and ELT are automatically activated upon the deployment of the Cap.
The operation is exactly the same for barges except that it would be initi~ted by either a member of the Tugboat crew or by emergency res~onse personnel flown in by helicopter.
Claimed Privileges:

Claims

1. The Cap, including all accessories as described in sub-para B above.

2. The Storage and Deployment Device,including all accessories as described in sub-para C above.

3. The use of the Container, in association with the Cap and Storage and Deployment Device, to enable The Invention to fulfill the purpose for which it is designed, as described in the section headed "Operation" above.
Limitations The EHCA can be used effectively onboard a vessel only when properly mounted to allow deployment as described above, and only under circumstances where the vessel has not been broken up or is breaking up.
Patent Registration This patent is to be registered under both Peter Litchfield of Alberta and Peter Howe of British Columbia, both of whose signatures are included below.