Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
  • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
  • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
  • E02B15/0807—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material with stabilising elements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
  • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
  • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
  • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
  • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
  • E02B15/0814—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material with underwater curtains
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
  • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
  • Y02A20/204—Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Definitions

• Device intended to float on the surface of an expanse of water, capable in particular of allowing the collection and / or the retention of floating debris, on the surface of the body of water.
• the invention relates to a device for floating on the surface of a body of water, in particular for use as a dam for collecting and / or retaining floating debris such as hydrocarbons, on the surface and / or vicinity of the surface of said body of water.
• a device for floating on the surface of a body of water in particular for use as a dam for collecting and / or retaining floating debris such as hydrocarbons, on the surface and / or vicinity of the surface of said body of water.
• Such a device can also advantageously be used to produce fish farms insofar as it retains a predetermined shape.
• Numerous floating devices are known for protecting a body of water against drifting floating debris, in particular hydrocarbons, but also waste such as containers or containers.
• this device comprises a multiplicity of rigid modules joined one after the other for connection means, flotation means being functionally associated with at least some of the modules so as to maintain the multiplicity of the modules partly outside the control.
• flotation means being functionally associated with at least some of the modules so as to maintain the multiplicity of the modules partly outside the control.
• water at least some pairs of two consecutive modules comprising first connection means adapted to allow said two consecutive modules to move relative to each other in a vertical plane and second link means articulated for a tilting horizontal relative to each other, a seal being relative to debris being maintained by these connecting means and / or these modules.
• Such a device therefore advantageously makes it possible to follow the movements of the water when the sea is agitated while maintaining the modules consisting of closed sealed tubes or vertically held plates in an effective position to retain debris by means of these connecting means. adapted to allow movement of the tubes or plates in a vertical plane and also in a horizontal plane.
• each plate has two floats respectively arranged respectively in the vicinity of opposite ends of the plate and on the opposite faces.
• This plate also has two projecting weights respectively opposite each float on the opposite face.
• the structure thus has in addition to the plate facing the pollution to retain it, elements such as floats that can be damaged by certain pollution.
• a floating barrier consisting of a frame on which is positioned a skirt, flotation means being mounted on the frame so as to extend on one side thereof.
• These flotation means are always constituted by an elongate float mounted vertically along the frame or horizontally along the frame.
• a rod may extend perpendicular to the float and carry a second float parallel to the first.
• two water lines parallel to the vertical surface forming a dam are formed.
• This provision of one side of the flotation means formed parallel to the skirt avoids a risk of torsion when the sea level drops.
• the difference in size between the float element along the skirt and the other float can induce in the event of strong waves an imbalance which can lead to deformations of the structure holding the skirt.
• the present invention aims to provide a floating device of the type described above for delimiting a space on the surface of the water so as to allow in particular the collection and / or retention of floating debris, particularly hydrocarbons, on the surface and / or in the vicinity of the surface of a body of water, this device consisting of elements which, assembled, define a mechanical structure having sufficient degrees of freedom of movement so as to define in operation a better resistance of said structure.
• the subject of the present invention is a device intended to float on the surface of an expanse of water, capable in particular of allowing the collection and / or the retention of floating debris, such as hydrocarbons, on the surface and / or in the vicinity of the surface of the body of water, said device consisting of a continuous vertical surface maintained vertical in the water to notably allow the collection and / or retention of floating debris, characterized in that said surface is maintained vertical in water by means of flotation means comprising at least one element such as a beam extending perpendicularly to said surface on one side thereof, over a suitable length, at least some of the elements such as adjacent beams being interconnected.
• flotation means comprising at least one element such as a beam extending perpendicularly to said surface on one side thereof, over a suitable length, at least some of the elements such as adjacent beams being interconnected.
• the structure of such a device for delimiting an enclosed space or simply damming the surface of the water is therefore simple to implement, in the manner of a barrier screen. It can also be easily transported on site in case of pollution, simply being towed by a boat. It also offers the advantage that the flotation means extending from one side and perpendicular to said screen surface, for example to a hydrocarbon pollution, these flotation means are not in contact with said pollution and therefore less likely to be damaged or damaged. Moreover, they provide greater stability to the whole because of the connection generated at least between some while offering sufficient freedom. Thus, this stable structure on the surface of the water is provided with greater mechanical strength by connecting the beams of the flotation means with each other.
• a device according to the invention can also serve to define or delimit a space on the surface of the water in or around which we can practice an activity such as fish farming.
• said so-called collection and / or retention surface consists of a plurality of plates assembled to each other, at least one element of the floating means extending perpendicularly to each plate for keeping it vertical on one side of said surface, said vertical surface extending above the water and below the surface of the water.
• the plate connecting means are the same as those described in patent FR 2 851 589 of the applicant.
• said so-called collection and / or retention surface consists of a flexible wall such as a metal plate, for example an aluminum alloy, a plate of composite materials, plastics , a fabric, a net, etc., fixed at least to vertical uprights from which the element of said buoyancy means extends perpendicularly, on one side of the vertical surface only, by means of flanks, said vertical surface extending above the water and below the surface of the water.
• a metal plate for example an aluminum alloy, a plate of composite materials, plastics , a fabric, a net, etc.
• This flexible wall may consist of an assembly of flexible wall portions assembled to each other, particularly at the vertical uprights and side members.
• this flexible wall may advantageously consist of a single piece.
• the flotation means comprise at least one element extending perpendicularly to the surface of collection and / or retention on one side thereof, such as a beam, which may itself be floating at the surface of the water, thus itself constituting the flotation means, be provided with at least one float or any other means for flotation of said beam and thus of the receiving surface.
• a beam which may itself be floating at the surface of the water, thus itself constituting the flotation means, be provided with at least one float or any other means for flotation of said beam and thus of the receiving surface.
• beam is also meant any element similar to a beam such as an amount, a tube, etc.
• At least some adjacent beams of the flotation means are connected by spacer members, said spacer members being arranged to define a maximum gap and a minimum gap between said adjacent beams.
• a greater mechanical strength is provided by connecting the beams of the buoyancy means to one another while maintaining an additional degree of freedom in the horizontal plane which is sufficient and safe, in particular. allowing maximum spacing and maximum approximation of adjacent beams.
• said balancing means are also provided arranged to maintain the beams at a so-called equilibrium position, which may, for example, correspond to a defined position of intermediate gap between the adjacent beams.
• the so-called balancing means therefore play a role of "return" of the beams so as to bring them to the equilibrium position, generally intermediate between a maximum gap and a minimum distance allowed by the spacer elements.
• the device further comprises a flexible connecting element such as a chain, a cable, extending at least between certain flotation means adjacent to their end opposite to that carrying the collection surface and / or retention.
• a flexible connecting element such as a chain, a cable
• a second surface vertical collection and / or retention is provided parallel to the first surface and connects the elements of the flotation means such as beams.
• connection element is also mounted.
• flexible for example a chain, a cable, extending between the uprights.
• This flexible element is chosen so that when it is stretched, the flexible wall is not stretched. In this way, this flexible element cash tensile forces between adjacent beams in place of the flexible wall.
• This flexible element is further adjustable in length between the beams which allows to define geometric shapes with the device to form a certain collection and / or retention space for example.
• this flexible element positioned at the vertical uprights and therefore at one end of the beams cooperate with the spacer elements and so-called balancing means.
• the device according to the invention may be a circle or any other geometric shape whose wall is inside or outside depending on whether we want to protect what is inside external pollution or that we want to retain pollution within the device.
• the flexible wall is also fixed between the vertical uprights on a flexible element such as a cable, for example using rings as on a rod.
• a weight for example slidably mounted in a vertical upright while the other end of said flexible element is attached to the end of another vertical upright.
• this second surface will be mounted at the end of the beams extending perpendicularly to said first surface.
• the floating device according to the invention has many advantages, in particular it is designed so as to minimize and / or withstand the taking of wind and water.
• said device may be fixed by any suitable means to the bottom of the water and may also have its own engine.
• the device may advantageously be in the form of a continuous device thus delimiting an enclosed retention space, it may also be open and for example towed to collect debris on the surface or have any suitable geometric shape.
• FIG. 1 represents a side view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a view from above of a variant of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention
• Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view of the device according to Figure 2;
• Figure 4 shows a side view of the device of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a spacer member of the device of Figure 2;
• FIG. 6 represents a rear view of a second variant of the second embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• Figure 7 shows a top view of the device of Figure 6
• FIG. 8 represents a variant of the device according to the embodiment of FIG. 6;
• Figure 9 shows a top view of the device of Figure 8.
• Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a vertical post of an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 11 shows a variant of Fig. 10
• Fig. 12 shows a variant of Fig. 11
• FIG. 13 represents a view from above of a variant of the floating device according to the invention.
• Figure 13a is a side perspective view of said device of Figure 13;
• Figure 14 shows a sectional view of a particularly preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• a floating device consists of a surface 1 for retention and / or collection maintained vertically in the water using flotation means such as beams 2 extending perpendicular to said surface 1 on one side of said surface, some adjacent beams can be connected together.
• This surface 1 may consist of a plate or a plurality of assembled plates, each plate 1 comprising at least one beam extending perpendicularly, substantially in the central portion of said plate equidistant from the ends of said plate or to regular intervals.
• connection between the adjacent beams can be made by spacer elements, by beams extending between said beams preferably at their free end, by a flexible connecting element such as chain, cable or even by a second collecting surface and / or retention maintained vertical parallel to the first surface, as described below.
• a retention and / or collection surface 10 is held vertical by means of a plurality of flotation means comprising at least one beam extending perpendicularly to said surface 10. only one side of said surface 10.
• Said surface 10 consists, in this example, of a plurality of plates assembled at the level of the beams 20.
• Adjacent beams 20 are connected by spacer members 3 which may also constitute floats, thus also being part of the flotation means, arranged to define a maximum deviation and a minimum distance between adjacent flotation means (confers FIG. 2). .
• These flotation means may comprise ballast compartments during their filling with water.
• a spacer element 3 is constituted here of two tubes 31, 32 engaged in telescopic sliding, one end of a first tube 31 being preferably mounted to a first beam 20 and one end of the second tube 32 being mounted, preferably hinged. at an adjacent second beam 20, the telescopic sliding of the free ends of the tubes 31, 32 forming Pentretoise 3 being limited to define a maximum distance and a minimum distance between said beam 20.
• the intermediate gap between the beams 20 corresponds to a desired equilibrium difference between the beams 20 and so-called balancing means are then provided to maintain said beams 20 in this equilibrium gap.
• balancing means may consist of return means provided between the tubes 31, 32 so as to return the tubes 31, 32 in position relative to each other from the position of minimum or maximum distance to the position intermediate equilibrium difference between the beams 20 visible in FIG. the example shown in Figure 5, said balancing means consist of a cylinder 33 which can also recover energy.
• the plates constituting the vertical surface 10 may comprise in the upper or lower part a support 10a for a complementary retention means such as a skirt 10b extending in the lower part of the surface of retention and / or collection in order to extend it.
• a complementary retention means such as a skirt 10b extending in the lower part of the surface of retention and / or collection in order to extend it.
• a spacer element 4 consists of two articulated arms 41, 42, one end of an arm 41 being mounted, preferably articulated, to a first beam 200. and one end of the other arm 42 being mounted, preferably hinged, to the adjacent beam 200.
• the free ends of the arms 41, 42 are pivotally articulated at 43, the two arms 41, 42 extending in the extension of one another to the surface of the water to define a maximum gap between the beams 200 whose abutment is provided by means of chains, slings or tie rods while their articulation 43 allows the beams 200 to be brought closer to a minimum distance between said beams 200, as can be seen in FIG. 6 by means of the float 44 .
• the beams 200 therefore constitute part of the flotation means of the surface 100, they may themselves be floating, or carry a float (see Figure 8).
• a so-called balancing means In order to bring the articulated arms 41, 42 towards their position in extension of one another corresponding to the maximum distance between the beams 200 defined as the desired balance, a so-called balancing means consists of a float 44 mounted in the joint 43 between the two arms 41, 42. In this way, the float 44 tends to bring and maintain the arms 41, 42 in their position relative to each other corresponding to a gap intermediate corresponding to the equilibrium difference.
• the flexible wall stretched between vertical uprights 6 using flanks 6 'from which the beams 200 extend perpendicularly, is a single flexible wall and a flexible element 5 such as a chain also defines the maximum gap between the uprights 6 may include a ballast 6a in the lower part.
• the flexible wall 100 can be deformed (see Figure 7) while being held vertically by the uprights 6 preferably weighted. This flexible wall 100 may be unique throughout the device thus formed.
• the geometry of the floating device can thus be modified by varying the gaps between the uprights 6 defined for example by means of the flexible element 5, the flexible wall being always stretched, and a flexible element 5 'positioned at the opposite end of the flotation means.
• the so-called balancing means consist of float arms 41 ', 42' also forming the spacer elements mounted between the beams 200 'kept floating by at least one float 45 of whereby said float arms 41 ', 42' tend to hold in a predetermined position corresponding to an intermediate gap. It is also possible to provide as counterbalancing medium means counterbalance at the joint 43 'so that, when it is raised out of the water, it is heavier and thus plays its role.
• the float arms 41 ', 42' are floating when the buoyancy means are out of equilibrium.
• the buoyancy means deviates from each other, the float arms 41 ', 42' dive into the water and tend to float back to the surface to return the buoyancy means to the deviation position. balance.
• the flotation means are approaching, the arms 41 ', 42' come out of the water at their hinge 43 'and tend to re-float the flotation means to float back because of their weight.
• the float arms 41 ', 42' constitute the spacer elements and the so-called “balancing" means, the floats 45 and the beams 200 'forming the flotation means.
• traction means may be provided on said flexible wall 100 acting as a function of the level of the water as well.
• the traction means act on a flexible element 50 such as a chain, a cable on which the flexible wall 100 is mounted, for example a net or a fabric at the way of a curtain for example using eyelet or rings 7.
• a flexible element 50 such as a chain, a cable on which the flexible wall 100 is mounted, for example a net or a fabric at the way of a curtain for example using eyelet or rings 7.
• One end of the flexible element 50 is attached to a mass 8, for example, housed in a vertical upright 6.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 show variant embodiments of said traction means acting on the flexible element 50 on which the flexible wall 100 is mounted, but also comprising traction means acting on a flexible element 50 'on which the flexible wall is mounted. 100 in the lower part of it.
• the upper flexible element 50 and the lower flexible element 50 ' are respectively fixed at one end to a mass 8, 8' mounted in a vertical upright 6, each flexible element 50, 50 'being preferably guided on a pulley 9 mounted in the upper part of the vertical upright 6 and facilitating the guiding of the flexible element 50, 50' by pulling the mass 8, 8 '.
• the flexible element 50 ' is further returned to the upper part of the upright 6 by another pulley 9'.
• the variant shown in FIG. 12 alternatively proposes that the flexible element 50 and the flexible element 50 'are both fixed to a single mass 8, the upper flexible element 50 being guided by a pulley 9 at the top of the upright vertical 6 and the flexible element 50 'being returned to said pulley 9 by a pulley 9' mounted at the bottom of the upright 6.
• the flotation means according to the invention which extend perpendicular to the retention surface and / or collection of floating debris to maintain vertical can be constituted by floating single beam as shown in Figures 1 to 12. It can also be provided that on each beam are mounted float members 30 as shown in Figure 13 or as in Figure 8 with the floats 45.
• the flotation means 2, 20, 200 may be hinged to the vertical uprights 6, in a vertical plane. In this way, said uprights may not be perpendicular to the surface of the sea but remain vertical.
• FIG. 14 represents a sectional view of a floating device according to a particularly preferred form of the invention in which a second surface 10 'of collection and / or vertical retention is provided parallel to the first surface 10.
• this second surface 10 ' is formed at the opposite end of the beams 20 extending perpendicularly to said first surface 10. This embodiment contributes to guaranteeing a significant watertightness to the floating barrier thus constituted. .
• the means allowing a distribution of compressed air at the lower end of the surface 10 so as to form a curtain of air R which helps to repel the hydrocarbons that would tend to slip under the collection and / or retention surface 10.
• These air distribution means may be powered by the floating device itself or by other neighboring systems.
• This air distributor ramp 40 is formed below the lower part of the retention surface 10, parallel or not to it.
• the device according to the invention can serve, inter alia, advantageously to achieve retention dams of polluting waste on the surface of the water, in closed or open structure, but it can also be used for the realization of fish farm on the open sea , for example.
• it can be provided to install above the flotation means bridges or any other element necessary for operation and / or use.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
• Removal Of Floating Material (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=38080787

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Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2006
  • 2006-10-27 FR FR0609467A patent/FR2907811B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-10-29 EP EP07866461A patent/EP2074263A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-10-29 WO PCT/FR2007/001790 patent/WO2008059132A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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