NZ208116A

NZ208116A - Pollutant containment boom

Info

Publication number: NZ208116A
Application number: NZ20811684A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: C Herbert
Original assignee: Selco Singapore Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1983-05-11
Filing date: 1984-05-10
Publication date: 1987-03-31

Description

in'.'.) •%) .00 2031 16 Priority Date(s): //• Complete Specification Filed: Class: 3 1 MAR 19871 '• Publication Date: . P.O. Journal, No: Insert number of Provision.il Spoci fit\i t inn( s) (if any) md (i'lc(s) of filing; ofti'Tnise leave LI ink.

PATENTS ACT 195 3 Number: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 10MAY KM Insert litlo cf Invention.

POLLUTANT CONTAINMENT P,00 ! I/, sort full name, I/VIE r,F.!.CO (SINGAPORE) PTE. r,TD. , a Singapore Company full street address ,inrl nation.iIity of (rich) applicant. of 1, Jalap, Sannulun, Jurong, Singapore- 2262 hereby declare the invention for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us and the'method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:-",: Indicate if following - \ - p.jyc? i s numbered '1(a)' ■I.. 208116 THIS INVENTION relates to pollutant containment booms for the containment of pollutants such as oil on the surface of a body of water.

Throughout the specification, the term pollutants shall be taken to include pollutants, both solid and liquid having a density less than that of water and which are substantially insoluble or immiscible in water.

In one form the invention resides in a pollutant containment boom comprising; an elongate strip of flexible sheet material having its ends adapted for interconnection with similar pollutant containment booms; several spaced substantially rigid elongate supports each mounted to extend across the strip; float elements fixed to said strip adjacent an edge thereof at spaced intervals along the length of the strip and extending partially across the strip and several weights mounted at spaced intervals or adjacent the other edge of the strip.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, said float elements comprise a first set and second set wherein the first set extend a greater distance across the strip than the second set.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a pollutant containment boom showing a second pollutant containment boom member connected to one end thereof; and 1 208116 Figure 2 is a partial elevation of the pollutant containment boom of Figure 1.

The embodiment is directed to a pollutant containment boom formed from a strip 11 of a plastics coated fabric, reinforced along its edges by a suitable webbing 12. Each end of the strip supports a set of closely spaced eyelets 13 which extend substantially the full width of the strip. Transverse pockets 14 are formed across the strip at spaced intervals along the length of the strip and each pocket supports a substantially rigid • tube',15 formed of plasticsor % like non-corrosive material which extends substantially the full width of the strip to provide support for the strip. The ends of the transverse pockets 14 are spaced away from the edges of the strip. The edges of the strip have eyelets 16 mounted thereto. Each panel formed between the transverse pockets 14 supports three flotation members 17 received in float pockets 18 formed in the strip and which extend from one edge of the strip partially across the strip. The flotation members 17 in each panel comprise a first pair of flotation members 17a' which extend approximately half way across the strip 11 and a second flotation member 17b between the first pair of flotation members 17a which has a. smaller transverse extension across the strip 11 than the first pair 17a. At spaced intervals along the length of each side of the strip, the webbing 12 has handles 19 mounted to it to facilitate the handling of the strip. The edge of the strip remote from the flotation members 17 supports weights 20 at positions opposite the first pair of flotation members 17a of each panel. The weights are mounted to the webbing 12 at the edge of the strip.

An interconnecting member 21 is used to interconnect two booms together. The interconnecting member is formed of a ' 28 JAN 1987 ' 208116 similar materi.il to that of the pollutant containment boom and has a similar transverse dimension. Each end of the interconnection member 21 is formed with a pair of flaps which extend the full width of the interconnecting member.

One flap 22 is formed with a set of eyelets 23 at equal spaced intervals to the eyelets 13 at the ends of the pollutant containment boom while the other flap 24 supports a set of loops in opposed relation to the eyelets 23 in the one flap 22. To mount the interconnecting member 21 the loops at one end thereof are passed through the eyelets 13 at.the end of the pollutant containment boom and the eyelets' 23 of the opposed one flap 22 and these loops are tied by any suitable means to prevent disengagement of the end of the pollutant containment boom and interconnecting member 21 and to provide a seal which . prevents the seepage of pollutants through the junction.

If desired, one end of the pollutant containment boom may be formed with a pair of flaps of similar form to that of the interconnecting member 21 to avoid the use of the interconnecting member 21. ■ In use, a number of pollutant containment booms may be interconnected to provide a pollutant containment barrier of the desired length which can be stored in a folded condition similar to that shown at Figure 1. When it is desired to put the barrier to use, the barrier is fed out and in so doing, due to the first set of flotation members 17a, the member will float substantially vertical with the floats 17 uppermost. The function of the first set of floats 17a is to provide the desired flotation for the pollutant containment boom under still water conditions while the second flotation elements 17b provide additional flotation for rising water levels produced as a result of wave or swell action. As a result of the method afe^in^er- $ - •> - 208116 connection between booms, there is little or no penetration of pollutants through the interconnection between the ends. Due to the flexible nature of the material from which the boom is formed, the pollutant containment boom wiLl accommodate transverse forces exerted on the boom by swells where the wave front is parallel or oblique to the boom and will also accommodate vertical bending forces produced by the passage of waves having a wave front which is approximately perpendicular to the boom. As a result of the second flotation elements 17b, where a wave front does encounter Che boom, additional buoyancy is produced to maintain the uppermost edge above the wave front.

As a result of the embodiment, a pollutant containment boom is provided which, has the desired strength of a pollutant containment boom, has suitable buoyancy for both calm and swell conditions, has a vertical stiffness and yet a longitudinal flexibility and some vertical flexibility, is rugged in its construction to resist damage which may be caused in handling or in use, is easily used and handled without the need for expensive sophisticated equipment to extend or withdraw the boom, is easily repaired and uses readily available materials in its construction.

If desired the flexible sheet material of which the pollutant containment boom is constructed may take any desired form according to the nature of application of the boom and may be woven or continuous, pervious or impervious reinforced or non reinforced or the like.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment described above.

Claims

6 &081M WHAT WE CLAIM *S:

1. A pollutant containment boom comprising; an elongate strip of flexible impervious sheet material having its ends adapted for interconnection with similar pollutant containment booms; several spaced substantially rigid elongate supports each mounted to. extend across the. strip; float elements fixed to said strip adjacent an edge thereof at spaced intervals along the length of the- strip and extending partially across the strip; and several weights mounted at spaced intervals at or adjacent the other edge of the strip.

2. A pollutant containment boom as claimed at claim 1 wherein said float elements comprise a first set and a second set wherein the first set extend a greater distance across the strip than the second set.

3. A pollutant containment boom as claimed at claim 2 wherein the first set of float elements are substantially capable of supporting the boom in still water.

4. A pollutant containment boom as claimed at anyone of the preceeding claims wherein Che rigid elongate supports exCend subsCanCially Che full widch of Che scrip.

5. A polluCanC containmenC boom as claimed at anyone of Che preceeding claims wherein handles .are mounted aC spaced inCervals Co each edge of Che scrip.

6. A polluCanC conCainmenC boom as claimed aC claim 2 or 3 wherein Che weighCs are mounCed in opposed relaCion Co. Che firsC sec of floaC elemenCs. « ' 208116

7. A pollutant containment boom substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. J. D. NHARDIE & CO. Patent Attorneys for the Applteontfr).