FR2508409A1 - Floating boom for spillage containment etc. - with cellular floats and weights carried by flexible harness or tubing of coated textiles - Google Patents

Abstract

Floating boom is assembled using a combination of longitudinal flexible tubes or straps of high tensile strength coupled together to carry the mechanical stresses imposed on the boom. The tubes or straps serve to contain flotation bodies and to support ancillary weights, skirts, etc. Segmental rigid straps or hoops secure successive portions of the boom, terminal anchorage harnesses. Suitable for fixed or mobile booms to exclude or contain marine oil spillages etc, including designs involving flotation blocks of expanded polystyrene or polyethylene or closed cell polyurethane foams with abrasion-resistant covers or integral skins. The harnesses may be of suitable weather resistant plastics or rubbers reinforced internally with metal, glass, carbon, polyamide or polyester cords or fabrics. The couplings may comprise semicircular metal bars which can be pinned head to tail and over which can slide eye loops on the ends of the longitudinal harnesses.

Description

 The present invention relates to a floating line with high tensile strength.

 Such a floating line is, in particular, usable for delimiting bodies of water, or constituting mooring lines to which boats can moor.

 Another application concerns the use of such a line as a support element for an antipollution boom.

 A particularly interesting application of the invention, which will be more particularly envisaged below without implied limitation, relates to shellfish farming or aquaculture, the floating lines according to the invention then being used to support bags, ropes or baskets allowing the rearing of shells, or traps containing crustaceans or fish, with a view to their rearing, or their storage. This floating device has, compared to conventional fixed devices used for the so-called "bouchot" culture, the advantage of being able to be used in areas subject to tides.

 I1 already exists for shellfish farming or aquaculture floating lines called "long lines" consisting of barrels, cans or buoys connected by chains, or cables, these "long lines" supporting bags, ropes or baskets intended for shellfish, crustacean or fish farming. Such a structure has the major drawback of subjecting the floats to significant forces, both in the longitudinal direction, under the effect of traction, and in the transverse direction (shearing forces), by the heaving effect due to the waves. These efforts require the use of floats and connecting means having a high resistance and the "long lines" thus formed are still fragile.

 This drawback is eliminated according to the invention by producing a floating line with high tensile strength, comprising a plurality of floats connected together, characterized in that the connection between the floats is ensured by a continuous flexible elongated frame, formed of a set of flexible longitudinal elongated elements held apart by transverse elongated elements to which the longitudinal elements are fixed, said longitudinal and transverse elements resistant to mechanical forces as well as to chemical and climatic agents, said frame being folded back on itself to form a cylindrical envelope into which are inserted impact and abrasion-resistant floats, said armature supporting almost all of the forces applied to the floating line, the closing of said envelope being ensured by assembly parts to which are adapted means of attachment or mooring.

 In the structure according to the invention, the forces resulting from the traction and the heaving are exerted mainly on the longitudinal and transverse strips constituting the frame, which are made of a material with high mechanical resistance which also withstands chemical attack very well and bad weather (temperature change and ultraviolet rays).

 The forces applied to the floats are low and uniformly distributed via the straps constituting the frame, which avoids the local accumulation of shear and compression stresses which could damage or destroy the floats.

 Another advantage of the structure according to the invention is that the space between two successive floats offers much less grip on the flow of water and the attachment of solid bodies than a continuous or mesh structure , which results in a reduction of the forces due to waves and currents.

Examples of embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the appended drawings where
FIG. 1 schematically represents a floating line according to the invention,
FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B show means making it possible to close the reinforcement on itself at its lower part by enclosing the floats and schematically represent an exemplary embodiment of hooking or mooring members,
FIG. 2C illustrates a simplified embodiment of the closure of the frame,
FIG. 3 represents devices for joining two consecutive sections of the floating line, and
- Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the device for mooring one end of the line.

 In FIG. 1, the reference 1 generally designates a portion of high resistance floating line according to the invention, consisting of two sections 1a and 1b (Figs. 3) and comprising a plurality of floats 2 which are enclosed in a frame flexible elongated 3 forming a cylindrical envelope.

This reinforcement comprises in combination flexible longitudinal elements 4 with high tensile strength, advantageously plastic formed from strips or ribbons of material / army and resistant transverse elements 5, maintaining a predetermined spacing between the longitudinal elements to which they are fixed by any appropriate means
can (welding, rivets, gluing ... etc ...), these transverse elements / be constituted by strips or ribbons of the same kind as the longitudinal elements. The ribbons may, for example, consist of a matrix of material plastic reinforced by a reinforcement made up of high resistance filaments, such as metallic threads, glass threads, carbon fibers or plastic threads, such as those used in the textile industry (polyamide, polyester ... etc ...).

 The cylindrical envelope is formed by bringing together the two extreme longitudinal strips of a rectangular band of the flexible frame defined above. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, these two strips 4 are enclosed in an assembly or connection piece 6 having a shape of gutter made up of a U-shaped section with notches 7a and 7b each of which allows the passage of the two ends of a transverse strap 5 and which is provided with tabs Bm and Bb ensuring the locking of the longitudinal and transverse strips. This part 6 bears on the face opposite the legs 8a, 8b two brackets 9a, 9b perpendicular to the plane of the part 6 and allowing the blocking of a float 2 in the longitudinal direction.

 The part 6 further carries tabs 10a and 10b pierced with orifices in which it is possible to engage pins 12a, 12b which are held in position by bolts or pins 11a, 11b.

 After positioning the transverse strips 5 in the notches 7a and 7b, the two longitudinal strips 4 and these transverse strips 5 are held in the part 6 by means of profiled locking parts such as the part 16a which are themselves blocked by the legs 8a, 8b and by the pins 12a, 12b. FIG. 2A represents in section this method of assembly.

 Shackles 13a and 13b are pivotally mounted around these axes 12a and 12b and constitute means for hooking or mooring to the floating line.

 In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, bags, ropes or baskets 14 are hooked to these shackles by means of support cables 15.

 In another embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 28, the cross-pieces formed by the two ends of a transverse strip 5 and the two extreme longitudinal strips of the rectangular strip of reinforcement enclosing the float 2 are pressed between two pieces of additional assembly 17a and 17b made of metal or plastic.

 These two assembly parts have a cruciform imprint, hollow on one of the two parts 17a and 17b and in relief on the other, making it possible to receive and fix the braces formed by the strips. The two parts 17a and 17b are locked against each other by bolts, dowels or pins 18.

 On its face in contact with the float 2, the part 17a can be provided with a square perpendicular to the plane of this face, this square making it possible to block the float 2 in the longitudinal direction, as in the embodiment illustrated by the figure 2.

 The cables 15 of FIG. 1 are fixed to the parts 17a and 17b by any suitable means.

 In the example illustrated by the figure, the cross-pieces formed by the two ends of a transverse strip 5 and the two extreme longitudinal strips of the rectangular reinforcing strip are provided with eyelets.

 Two assembly pieces made up of metal or plastic plates 19a and 19b pierced with holes in the vicinity of their end ensure the closure of the frame around a float 2 by enclosing between them the two extreme longitudinal strips of the rectangular strip forming the frame. The assembly is tightened for example by bolts 20a and 20b passing through the eyelets of the braces.

 The cables 15 of FIG. 1 are fixed to the plates 19a and 19b by any suitable means.

 Figure 3 shows the junction piece of two successive sections of the floating line. This part is made up of two semi-circular elements 21a and 21b metallic or plastic assembled by bolts or pins 22 or by fittings 23.

 The longitudinal strips 4 have loops at their end which are threaded into the elements 21a and 21b, by alternating the loops of the two consecutive sections 1a and 1b which are to be placed end to end (so as to make a good balancing of the tensile forces exerted on the elements 21a and 21b).

 FIG. 4 represents a method of mooring the end of a floating line, comprising two semi-circular metal or plastic parts 24a and 24b also assembled by bolts or pins 25 or by fittings 26.

 The loops which terminate the longitudinal strips 4 are threaded into the two parts 24a and 24b which have a diameter such that these loops are substantially contiguous.

 A handle 27 fixed to the parts 24a and 24b perpendicular to their plane allows the mooring of the floating line, by means of a cable or a chain 28 connected to a shackle 29 pivotally mounted on a swivel integral with the handle 27.

 Other elements can be associated with a floating line as described above, in order to adapt it to other uses.

 By way of example, a floating line can easily be transformed into an anti-pollution barrier element by adding an elongated skirt capable of stopping polluting products (which is ballasted at its bottom), for example by a chain, and whose upper part is folded back on itself, so as to form a closed cylindrical sheath enveloping the assembly formed by the frame and the floats of the floating line. The ballast chain could possibly be adapted to withstand all or part of the tensile forces applied to the dam thus formed.

 This allows, in particular, in the case where a plurality of floating lines is used in an area reserved for aquaculture or shellfish farming, and in the event of risk of pollution, to transform some of the floating lines into dams which will protect against pollution the rest of the aquaculture or shellfish farming area or any other sensitive site that we wish to preserve.

 The floats 2 may be hollow and made up of a sealed, impact-resistant envelope, for example made of metal, wood or plastic.

 It will also be possible to use floats comprising in combination a central core, solid or hollowed out, of a material resistant to compression and a casing made of a flexible material, waterproof, shock absorbing and resistant to abrasion.

 This core of the floats may in particular be made of expanded polystyrene, or of polyurethane foam with closed pores.

 The envelope of the floats surrounding the central core may in particular consist of a layer of flexible polyurethane or polyethylene foam provided with a waterproof skin resistant to abrasion.

Claims (10)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S  1. - Floating line with high tensile strength, comprising a plurality of floats connected together, characterized in that the connection between the floats is ensured by a continuous flexible elongated frame, formed by a set of flexible longitudinal elongated elements kept apart by elongate transverse elements to which the longitudinal elements are fixed, said longitudinal and transverse elements resistant to mechanical stresses as well as to chemical and climatic agents, said frame being folded back on itself to form a cylindrical envelope in which are inserted impact and abrasion resistant floats, said frame supporting almost all of the forces applied to the floating line, the closing of said envelope being ensured by assembly parts to which hooking or mooring means are adapted .  2. - floating line according to claim 1, characterized in that said assembly parts are adapted to receive the braces formed by the ends of the transverse elongated elements and by the two extreme longitudinal elongated elements of a rectangular strip of said flexible frame folded back on itself, these crosspieces being held in position by means of locking elements.  3. - floating line according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly parts comprise on the side in contact with the float brackets allowing the blocking of a float in the longitudinal direction.  4. - Floating line according to claim 1, characterized in that the buoyancy is ensured by hollow floats consisting of a sealed envelope, resistant to shocks.  5. - Floating line according to claim 1, characterized in that the floats comprise in combination a central core, solid or hollowed out, in a material resistant to compression and an envelope in a flexible material, impermeable, shock absorbing and resistant to Abrasion.  6. - Floating line according to claim 5, characterized in that the core of the floats consists of expanded polystyrene.  7. - Floating line according to claim 5, characterized in that the core of the floats consists of polyurethane foam with closed pores.  8. - Floating line according to claim 5, characterized in that the envelope of the floats consists of a layer of flexible polyurethane foam provided with a waterproof skin resistant to abrasion.  9. - floating line according to claim 5, characterized in that the envelope of the floats consists of a layer of flexible polyethylene foam provided with a waterproof skin resistant to abrasion.  10. - Floating line according to claim 1. suitable for the anti-pollution barrier function, characterized in that it comprises an elongated skirt stopping the pollutants, this skirt being ballasted at its lower part and its upper part being folded over itself so as to form a closed cylindrical sheath which envelops the assembly constituted by the frame and the floats.