US3146598A - Apparatus for confining floating material - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1964 M. F. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CONF'INING FLOATING MATERIAL Original Filed Feb. 2, 1962 pl vD INVENTQR Millard EJSmL/L ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,146,598 APPARATUS FOR CONFINING FLOATING MATERIAL Millard F. Smith, Westport, Conn. Neirad Industries, Inc., R0. Box 295, Saugatuck, Conn.) Continuation of appiication Ser. No. 17 0,735, Feb. 2, 1962. This application May 10, 1963, Ser. No. 279,656 4 Claims. (Cl. 61-1) The present invention is directed toward a lightweight flexible floating boom to surround an area where there is some danger of escape of oil or other light-weight fluids. The floating boom provides a barrier to confine any such fluids to minimize the danger of fire, odor, or fouling of the surrounding water.

This application is a continuation of my co-pending application, Serial No. 170,735, filed February 2, 1962, and titled Floating Oil Boom, now abandoned.

One previously known floating oil boom comprises a canvas curtain suspended in the water by cork floats. This type of boom was quite heavy and clumsy to handle, and required many men to handle it due to its relatively great weight. The canvas had a comparatively short life in water due to its tendency to rot; in addition, due to the initial cost of a cork and canvas boom, for economic reasons such a boom had to be cleaned and reused after contact with a substance such as crude oil.

Another type of oil boom known in the prior art was manufactured of aluminum. The aluminum floats of this type of boom were easily damaged by collision with a boat or by being slammed into pilings, etc., by the waves or the wind. Even if the collision did not puncture the aluminum floats, the floats were quite readily deformed. The aluminum sections were heavy and diflicult to handle, many men being required to place them in position. Due to the comparatively expensive aluminum construction, the boom had to be cleaned and reused after contact with oil. Furthermore, this type of boom came in rigid sections which had to be coupled together to form a long barrier, and then had to be uncoupled after use. This necessarily required a good deal of labor and delay.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a light-weight floating oil boom which is easy to handle and store.

It is another object of the invention to provide a boom of the above character which is manufactured of nonsparking materials, reducing the possibility of fires.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a boom of the above character which is sturdy, and will be undamaged by collisions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a boom of the above character which is inexpensive, and which may be disposed of by burning.

It is another object of the invention to provide a boom of the above character which is continuous and flexible, eliminating the necessity of coupling of sections together.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a boom of the above character which is collapsible, whereby the boom may be stored in a relatively small space.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a portion of a dock showing a first boom in position around a ship, and showing a launch preparing to tow a second boom into position.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevation view of one end portion of the boom of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional vertical end view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional vertical end view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional horizontal plan view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the floats, showing the groove which receives the fin.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the floating oil boom of the present invention generally comprises a continuous elongated flexible plastic curtain or fin which is suspended in the water by a series of floats of expanded plastic polymer secured at intervals to one elongated edge of the fin. Preferably, the other elongated edge of the fin is weighted. FIGURE 1 shows an oil tanker 10 tied to a dock or pier 12, having the novel oil boom 14 positioned around the ship 10 to trap any oil or similar fluid which may be discharged, effectively preventing fouling of the neighboring anchorage and downstream waters. When not in use, boom 14 may be compactly flaked into breakaway containers 16 under dock 12, from which boom 14 may readily be paid out behind launch 18 much faster than prior booms.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the boom according to the present invention comprises a continuous sheet or fin 20 of any desired length. The upper edge 22 of sheet 25 is attached to a plurality of spaced floats 24. A painter 25 is secured to the end float 24 for towing by the launch 18. Fin 20 may be made of any desired material which is chemically inert, impervious to water and oil and which has a long life when exposed to these materials, for example, polyethylene or other artificial polymeric sheets.

Floats 24 are made of a suitable expanded polymer, for example, foamed polyethylene. The float 24 is preferably in the form of a right circular cylinder having in its lower surface a slot 26 parallel to the axis of the cylinder, slot 26 having a width equal to the thickness of fin 20. Floats 24 are spaced far enough apart so that fin 20 provides a flexible intermediate portion between adjacent floats so that boom 14 may be compactly flaked for storage as shown in FIGURE 1.

In order to provide a barrier of continuous level, each float 24 other than the pair on the ends of boom 14 has a vertical slot extension 28 (FIGURE 6). Vertical slot extension 28 at the ends of float 24 extend entirely through the float, to accommodate integral fin extensions 30. The end pair of floats 24 preferably have such slots only on the ends adjacent other floats 24. Pin extensions 3% are generally rectangular segments of fin material fitted in and extending between facing slot extensions 28 in adjoining floats, and these fin extensions 30 may be heat sealed to the main portion of fin 20 as at 31.

A plurality of rivets 32 secure fin 20 to floats 24. Rivets 32 extend through apertures 34 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) and through mating apertures 36 in fin 20 and fin extension 30. Rivets 32 are preferably made from polyethylene rods or dowels of suitable length inserted through apertures 34 and 36. Polyethylene washers 38 are then assembled over the ends of the dowels, after which the ends are heated and peened over washers 38 to form flattened bead members 40, locking floats 24 to fin 20 and fin extension 30.

In order to ballast fin 20 and maintain it in a vertical position in the water, a plurality of weights 42 are attached to the lower edge 44 of fin 20. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, weights 42 may be in the form of a lead staple which is inserted through corresponding pairs of apertures 46 in the lower edge 44 of fin 20 and clinched.

While the floats 24 have been disclosed as preferably .in the form of right circular cylinders, other forms of floats may be utilized. For example, the floats may be in the form of elongated planks of expanded or foamed poly- 11161 suitably attached to a polymer fin. Two planks may be attached, one on either side of the fin to form a sandwich-like construction. Preferably such a pair of planks would be in the form of halves of a longitudinally divided right circular cylinder, assembled together flush with the top edge of the fin. Such a construction would eliminate the need for fin extensions 30. Thus floats in the form of cylinders having any desired shape of cross-section or generating area may be employed, whether rectangular, square, polygonal or irregular. However, the right circular cylinder form is preferred because of low wind resistance when in the water, effectively reducing heeling of the boom in high winds. The central positioning of fin 20 in a generally radial slot 26 likewise enhances balance and stability of the boom, but the fin may be secured to the side surface of the floats if desired.

Likewise, materials may be utilized other than the preferred polyethylene. For example, foamed polyurethane may be used for the floats although presently it is fairly expensive. Similarly, presently available polystyrene foams are usually too friable to give long service, but are otherwise suitable. While rivets 32 have been illustrated for the purpose of attaching fin 20 to float 24, other methods may be used such as heat welding or the use of suitable adhesives or solvents.

In the floating oil boom 14 as above disclosed, the floats 24 may typically be approximately 9 feet long and from 3 to 6 inches in diameter. Floats 24 may be spaced approximately 10 inches apart on one elongated edge of fin 20 which may be of any desired length. The overall height of fin 20, including vertical extension 30, may be approximately 12 inches. With these dimensions, the boom 14 weighs approximately 6 /2 ounces per linear foot, which is many times lighter than previously known floating oil booms. Due to its extremely light weight, two men in a light launch can break out and tow a 2500 foot boom made according to the present invention around the largest oil tanker in 10 minutes, as compared to eight or more men and one hour required with prior constructions. The boom 14 according to the present invention provides a continuous barrier without a joint or break, thus eliminating the time and expense required for coupling boom sections together according to the prior art. Furthermore, the present boom is so inexpensive that when badly fouled, the cost of burning and replacing this boom is considerably less than the cost of cleaning a cork and canvas boom of the conventional type. Using the preferred materials, the entire boom may be destroyed by burning on a burning barge at sea, since with the exception of the small lead weights, the entire boom is made of a flammable material.

As has been made apparent from the above description, there has been provided a light-weight floating oil boom wherein the separation between floats provides for a flexible portion permitting ready storage and ease in handling. In its preferred embodiment, the entire boom is manufactured of non-sparking materials, reducing the possibility of fire. The foamed polymer utilized for floats eliminates the possibility of sinking a float by collision or other manhandling, and utilizing the preferred materials, the boom can withstand a large amount of abuse without being damaged.

The provision of a continuous polymer fin eliminates the necessity of coupling several sections together and makes possible large savings in man power and time required to install the floating boom in position. Using the preferred materials, a boom manufactured in accordance with the instant disclosure is quite inexpensive, and may be disposed of by burning when badly fouled. The in- 4 stant boom is quite compact in its collapsed position and may be stored in a relatively small space, and yet is convenient for rapid installation by a small light launch.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efliciently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A floating oil boom characterized by facile storage and use comprising, in combination,

(A) a continuous elongated flexible polymer fin having an opposed pair of longitudinal edges,

(B) a plurality of elongated expanded polymer floats positioned along a first fin edge,

(1) said elongated floats being longitudinally spaced apart along said fin by at least twice the maximum float thickness to permit said fin to bend back on itself and allow said boom to be folded in an accordion manner,

(2) the upper edge of said floats being substantially aligned with the portions of said first fin edge intermediate adjacent floats to provide a continuous barrier of substantially uniform height, and

(C) means securing said floats to said fin whereby said fin may be folded in accordion-like fashion at points intermediate said floats to permit storage of said boom in a fully assembled condition and the boom may be positioned by towing one end thereof to unfold said boom.

2. The floating oil boom defined in claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of ballast weights secured through said fin adjacent the second of said opposed pair of elongated fin edges.

3. The floating oil boom defined in claim 1 wherein (A) said floats are elongated cylinders that present low wind resistance,

(1) each of said floats having a longitudinal slot in its lower surface to receive and straddle said fin, and wherein (B) said securing means are polymer rivets retaining said fin in said slot.

4. The floating oil boom defined in claim 3 wherein (A) a portion of said longitudinal slot extends vertically entirely through said cylinder at the end of said float, and

(B) said first edge of said fin is provided with vertical extensions between adjacent floats,

( 1) said vertical extensions are received in said extended vertical slot portions and extend vertically substantially to the tops of said floats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,567 Meacham May 6, 1941 2,366,274 Luth Jan. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 739,171 France Oct. 24, 1932 1,249,315 France Nov. 21, 1960 1,049,085 Germany Jan. 29, 1959 829,756 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1960 843,131 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A FLOATING OIL BOOM CHARACTERIZED BY FACILE STORAGE AND USE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, (A) A CONTINUOUS ELONGATED FLEXIBLE POLYMER FIN HAVING AN OPPOSED PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL EDGES, (B) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED EXPANDED POLYMER FLOATS POSITIONED ALONG A FIRST FIN EDGE, (1) SAID ELONGATED FLOATS BEING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART ALONG SAID FIN BY AT LEAST TWICE THE MAXIMUM FLOAT THICKNESS TO PERMIT SAID FIN TO BEND BACK ON ITSELF AND ALLOW SAID BOOM TO BE FOLDED IN AN ACCORDION MANNER, (2) THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FLOATS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST FIN EDGE INTERMEDIATE ADJACENT FLOATS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS BARRIER OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM HEIGHT, AND (C) MEANS SECURING SAID FLOATS TO SAID FIN WHEREBY SAID FIN MAY BE FOLDED IN ACCORDION-LIKE FASHION AT POINTS INTERMEDIATE SAID FLOATS TO PERMIT STORAGE OF SAID BOOM IN A FULLY ASSEMBLED CONDITION AND THE BOOM MAY BE POSITIONED BY TOWING ONE END THEREOF TO UNFOLD SAID BOOM.

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