MXPA97001410A - Container system of derra - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spill containment system for vessels having a hull and a cover joined together to define a rail, comprising: a container curtain capable of moving between a deployed position, in which the curtain extends horizontally in continuous shape around the boat, and hangers to extend vertically from a height above the water pipe to a depth below the water pipe, and a stored position in which the curtain is in a bent configuration on the boat; a series of receptacles capable of receiving the container curtain in its configuration bent therein, the receptacles being in the position stored within the hull on the vessel, a cable guide means associated with the curtain, for lifting the curtain from a position deployed in a bent configuration and to lower the curtain a configuration bent in a deployed position for hanging vertically, a deployment mechanism having a movable arm connected to the receptacles and capable of operating to move the receptacles contained in the folded curtain, from an inboard storage position of the hull of the vessel , to a position deployed outside the hull edge of the vessel.

Description

SPILL CONTAINER SYSTEM This invention relates to improvements in the containment of environmentally toxic or polluting spills. More particularly, it is related to improvements in the containment of escapes of environmentally hazardous material from ships such as a tanker, ships or barges on lakes, oceans, rivers and coastlines. Recent developments in the transport of hazardous products, such as crude oil or other petroleum products in huge tankers, have resulted in some well-publicized disasters in which the collisions or sinkings or bursting of these vessels have resulted in huge spills. of oil with accompanying damage to sea water, coastal lines and vegetation and wildlife. In addition to the damage to the environment, the cost of dealing with and cleaning up these spills has become great from a legal and operational point of view. As a result, various efforts have been made to design and install equipment that minimizes the effects of these spills by containment. The first and most basic systems involved a strut containing an elongated floating member with a descendingly dependent curtain that caused the spill (which in the case of oil-or is generally floating on or near the top of the water), and prevent it from spreading laterally on the surface.

These primitive devices had serious limitations. First of all, they were often placed in some storage facility and had to be transported some distance to the scene of the spill. Second, they had to unfold after the spill had enlarged somewhat. In-third place, the prop systems were often very inadequate under oceanic conditions. In this way, the team was forced to deal with a spill of oil that had already been dispersed over a substantial area and was difficult to deal with on such a large scale. These struts were also frequently unmanageable in strong seas, and were not able to contain all the petrdlo - which spills from the bottom of the tanker that had gone ashore. The size of modern tankers, and the value of their cargo, as well as spending in dollars and damage to the environment, justify systems that are specifically designed and installed on such vessels instead of multiple-purpose facilities established on land. Some devices have been designed for installation - on tankers to deal with oil spills from the hull wherever the vessel is in the open sea, at bay or at a pumping station. However, many of these devices are simply designed to try to isolate the hole from which the oil is leaking, but in cases where the boats receive extensive stranding damage, these devices are inadequate. Other devices designed to retain the hole in a membrane and are impossible to deploy when the boat is stranded. Some devices are variations on the original concept of a floating strut with a dependent curtain, but these are difficult to deploy even when they are available on the vessel.

Some attempts to solve these problems have resulted in designs for container systems that are built on the sides of boats so that they can be released to form a vertical curtain around the boat that extends into the water to stop the dispersion. of the spill. These devices also have certain limitations. Some e_s so mounted on the sides of the ship where they would be damaged and inoperable in the event of a crash. Others are deployed too close to the hull of the ship and do not provide sufficient space for the containment curtain to clear the ship's hull and provide sufficient area and volume to contain the derail. Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a contamination spill containment system capable of being installed on a ship or tanker and capable of deployment to form a container curtain around the ship to isolate and prevent the dispersion of any petroleum spill. or the like.

It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a system that can be mounted on the deck or inside the hull of the vessel so that it is not exposed to impact shock damage. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a container system that completely surrounds the vessel so as to be effective even when the source of the leak or spill is not accessible. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a container wall with sufficient vertical height to prevent the escape of run-off material even in stormy seas. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a system that can be deployed at a spaced distance from the hull in order to provide a suitable containment area for the volume of material that can be spilled from the boat, or can move close to the hull, if you want It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a container system that can be stored clean and cor- rectly ready for rapid and efficient deployment, and can subsequently be retracted and returned to its stored position. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a system that can be positioned away from the rail or in a position on the deck where the installation is not in the way of activities on deck. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a container system in which the height of the barrier can be adjusted high enough to prevent leakage or spillage on top of it, or low enough to allow firefighters access to containment area on top of the barrier. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a system that can be protected from the action of the waves when the vessel is low in the water. These objects and other advantages that are attempted to be achieved by means of a spill containment system, in accordance with the present invention, comprising a containment curtain that can extend continuously around the vessel and that has a vertical dimension capable of extending from a altur above the water line to a depth below the water line, a series of receptacles capable of receiving the containment corridor in configuration bent therein, cable guide elements associated with the curtain capable of raising the curtain towards a bent configuration or release the curtain for hanging vertically, and a deployment mechanism having an articulated arm connected to the receptacles and operable to move the receptacles containing the bent ccrtina of a storage position inside the hull of The boat is placed in an outboard position out of the hull of the boat. The invention can be better understood by a description of one embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a tanker equipped with an installed contain system of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the ship in F i g ra 1, with the container system deployed; Figure 3 is an elevation view of the ship in Figure 2, with the container curtain deployed; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tank bu in Figure 1, showing the position of the system to be stacked on deck; Figure 5 is a cross section showing the system of Figure 4 partially deployed; Figure 6 is a cross section illustrating the system of Figure 4 fully deployed; Figure 7 is a more cross-sectional view of the details of the system in the deployed configuration; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative design for system installation; Figure 9 is an iso-electric view of the system stored on deck; Figure 10 is a cut-away view of the storage method of the container system; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the container system stored on deck; Figure 12 is a diagram of the cables by means of which the container system is deployed or retracted; Figure 13 is an iso-electric view of the receptacles containing the container system and drains; Figure 14 is a cut away view illustrating the means by which the receptacles and the contained apparatus are stored; Figure 15 illustrates the configuration as the apparatus moves into position for deployment; Figure 16 illustrates the container apparatus in the deployment process; Figure 17 illustrates the container curtain fully deployed to substantial depth; and Figure 18 shows the curtain in figure 17 closed in the bottom. Figures 1 to 8 show the system in general schematic illustrations. Figure 1 illustrates a baco 2 designed to transport oil or other similar products that are capable of escaping and damaging the environment. On the deck 4 is a system spill container 6 positioned inboard from and hull 8 and closed continuously around the ship near the rail 18. The system features a container crushed apparatus 10, and a series of continuous units 12 display . In Figure 2, the container apparatus 10 is shown separate from the storage and deployed outboard of the hull 8 where it surrounds the ship. The deployment is effected by the deployment mechanism 12 using the articulated arms 14. In Figure 3 the system is illustrated with the ship 2 completely surrounded by the apparatus 10 container hanging from ^ cendentemente below line 10 water, suspended from the receptacles 16 are supported by arms 14 above -mencionados and shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the subject in which the deployment mechanism 12 and the arm 14 arti j side are mounted on the deck inboard from the rail 18, and the helmet 8 is submerged for the most part below line 20 of water. At the end of the articulated arm is the receptacle 16 in which the container curtain 24 is folded down and -stored on covers when the system is not in use. In Figure 5, the system is partially unfolded and the receptacle 16 is shown at the end of the articulated arm 14 raised above and outboard of the rail 18 at a position ready for deployment of the container curtain. In Figure 6, the partially deployed system is shown in dotted lines, and the fully deployed system is shown with the articulated arm 14 extending outwardly. ra from the vessel, it sustaining the receptacle 16 substan- - tially above the water line, and the curtain 24 container which was previously folded into the receptacle 16 is co_l gande vert idamente into the water at a substantial depth - of how to separate the spilled oil or other container 22 from the rest of the ocean 20. Also shown in Figure 6 are cables 25 which serve to retract the container curtain and control it laterally so that it is bent towards a configuration capable to enter the receptacle 16 for storage. The weights 28 can be used to help deploy the curtain and keep it vertical in the water. Figure 7 shows the container system deployed with greater detail with the partially deployed system shown in dotted lines. Figure 8 illustrates an alternative system in which the deployment mechanism 12, the receptacle 16, and the arm 14 are stored, when not in use, in a recess under the cover so as to cover the arms and protect against hurt.

Figures 9 to 15 show the construction and operation of the system shown in Figures 1 to 8. Figure 9 is an isometric illustration of the system - schematically represented in Figures 1 to 8 and shows the - helmet 8 and rail 18 behind the which are the receptacles 16 housing the curtain 24 container folded and stored.

One of the deployment mechanisms 12 and one of the arming arms 14 will also be illustrated. In this view, a further improvement in the ur fo, wave barrier or baffle 30 mounted in front of the receptacles is illustrated to prevent damage to the system in high seas, espcially when the vessel is sailing low in the water. In Figure 10, the receptacle and storage system for the sacrificial curtain is shown in greater detail with the articulated arms 14 connected to the receptacles 16. It should be noted that in order to be more effective, the container must be continuous and uninterrupted both vertically and around the periphery of the boat. Similarly, the receptacle 16 that locks and unfolds the curtain d extends around the entire periphery. However, they are separate pieces, even when they are contacted together in a way that will be described in more detail later. As seen in the cut-away view of Figure 1, the curtain 24 is bent toward the receptacle at the middle of the cables 32 that not only raise the curtain but that the curtains are laterally in the configuration illustrated before the entrance to the receptacle. . The cables 32 are carried out or retracted through the guide system 34 which leads back to the arm 14 and the deployment mechanism 12 from which the cables are operated. It should be noted that because the peripheral length of the curtain required to surround the boat to an outboard distance from the hull is somewhat greater than the peripheral distance of the system stored around the inside deck of the rail, the difference in these dimensions are accommodated by the undulating configuration of the shown in Figure 10. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the system illustrated in Figures 1 and 10 in which the curtain 24 is folded and retracted into the receptacle. 15 connected to arm 14. The wave deflector 30 is placed in front of the receptacles. Additionally, in order to maintain the receptacles in proper position during stormy weather or heavy seas, a fastening mechanism is provided in which a pin 35 is designed to engage a recess 38 when the system is not in use, and the pin may be retract by the hydraulic oiston 40 to release the receptacle when the system needs to be used. Fissure 12 illustrates? \ system of anise ds c? ble do the modal ¿gives ada ada 131: ua. s c b 1. 32 TJ. ! an i a 'v. * r2v £ s c * 3 l? s Siah 3 * I r? zc 14 and finally to the deployment 1 n don don:! . t ~. oporars.? ara (í.-j? r and go ~ ":? . ? 3t ?: r -.- v 'i u I. When the required curtain is required, when it is deployed, it is necessary to store the curtain on the roof in an open pattern as illustrated in Figure 10. Conversely, the counters that are continuously aligned and adjacent when the system is stored on deck, it is required that they expand longitudinally when the system is deployed to the largest-outboard dimension of the hull. This is achieved by means of the arrangement illustrated in the pictorial sectional view illustrated in Figure 14 in which the adjacent receptacles 16 are raised above the middle projection baffle 30 of the articulated arms 14 but not yet They are placed outboard of the rail As illustrated earlier in Figure 10, the curtain is folded and shortened in advance by an undulating pattern. In the version illustrated in Figure 14, an additional particularity is provided in the form of a bender assembly 42 which helps to handle the curtain 24 and may also serve as a float device for the curtain. In Figure 15 the receptacles are shown partially moved to the outboard position and, therefore, are separated at 17 to provide the additional-peripheral dimension. At the same time the undulations of the curtain 24 are beginning to stretch lognitudinally, and the sets 42 -payers are expanding to accommodate this dimension. This is made possible by means of bender assemblies which are articulated at the corners 44 near the top and 46 near the bottom. The bender assemblies are controlled and raised or have been lowered by means of cables at the upper corners 48 - opposite the pivot points 44. In Figure 16, the system is illustrated deployed outboard from the boat's hull or hull and receptacles.

A '? »The 16 are completely separated to extend the cortida to - their full peripheral length and sets 42 benders is¬ are pivoted to the horizontal position at 90 degrees with respect to the stored position illustrated in Figure 14, and the curtain 24 has been partially lowered from the containers and bender assembly to the water level. The cables 26 that control the curtain, and the weights 28 are also illustrated, as well as the cables 32 that control the bender assembly. When it is desired to retract the containment system, the - wires 26 are retracted to fold the curtain and lift it sets 42 benders which is then returned to the position vertj_ lime, as illustrated in Figure 14, so as to create do ¬ In order to shorten the peripheral dimension of the system, the complete combination can be retracted towards the container 16, which can be pulled back onto the rail or into the hold of the vessel. As mentioned above, the bending sets 42 can be constructed of a material of sufficient weight and volume. lightly so as to constitute a floating system at the upper end of the curtain. This would allow the curtain to be dropped to a maximum depth in the water, while the flotation system retains the upper part of the curtain at or above the water line so that the spill can be contained, but have access to The surface of the spill can be achieved for firefighters. In Figure 17, a modified curtain 10a design similar to that shown in the Figure is illustrated. except that the curtain has a vertical depth substance and the bottom edge 50 is connected to a rope or cable 52 at intervals. This modified design allows the lower end of the curtain to be closed by pulling the cable 52 tightly to gather the bottom or curtain of the curtain as shown in FIG.

Figure 18. This arrangement would allow the system to be used in situations where certain heavy density oils show a tendency for oil particles to add up under certain conditions, especially in cold water. In this way, the means of the system as illustrated in In the preferred embodiment, an environmental safety device can be installed on boats or barges to contain canine charges in a compact and orderly manner, protected from impact damage with a spring, out of the way for workers and equipment near the rail. , and ready for deployment whenever the embark tion may find it difficult or a spill is created.

When needed, the system can be deployed libe rando fasteners receptacle, raising the receptacle by means of a deployment mechanism and the articulated arms couple suspend receptacles around the vessel by encim water, and the guide = cable can be released to allow the curtain to hang down to a substantial depth of water so that any cargo leaking from the container can be contained within the curtain and hull of the ship regardless of whether the ship is stranded or afloat. In addition, the substantial vertical dimension impe tell the leakage of the cargo beneath or above the curtain, and have cho that is deployed at a distance from the hull, proportion Naarah sufficient area for collection of the volume of material qu may have escaped the retention Of course, it can be observed that various variations and modifications of the illustrated mode can be used without abandoning the concept invented herein.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. - An effluent container system for boats, comprising: a container curtain capable of continuously extending around the. vessel complete and having a vertical dimen- sion capable of extending from a height above the water line to a depth below the water line; t ^ ?: a series of receptacles capable of receiving the corti¬ 10 container in bent configuration thereon; cable guide elements associated with the curtain, - capable of lifting the curtain towards a bent configuration or releasing the curtain to hang vertically; a deployment mechanism that has an arm articulates 15 is connected to the receptacles and operable to move the receptacles containing the folded curtain from the storage position inside the hull of the vessel to an outboard position deployed outboard of the hull of the vessel. 2.- A spill container system as claimed 20 ca in clause 1, in which the receptacles containing the curtain are stored on the deck of the boat inside the rail, and the system includes a wave barrier placed outside the receptacles to protect the receptacles of the vessel. action of the waves. 3. A spill containment system as claimed in clause 1, in which the receptacles and the curtain are stored in a compartment under the cover and place two inside the rail to protect them from damage by shock. 4. A spill containment system as claimed in clauses 1, 2 and 3, in which the curtain is bent in horizontal planes for containment within the receptacles. 5.- A spill container system as claimed < - ca in claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the curtain is 10 blast in an undulating pattern to reduce the circumferential dimension for storage. 6. A spill container system as claimed in clauses 1, 2 and 3, in which the lower edge of the roof has elements by means of which the lower edge 15 can meet to form an envelope under the boat twenty 25