US3701259A

US3701259A - Oil pollution barrier

Info

Publication number: US3701259A
Application number: US171693A
Authority: US
Inventors: Olaf Heartness
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-08-13
Filing date: 1971-08-13
Publication date: 1972-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-31

Abstract

The method of laying and the construction of an oil pollution barrier for use on the ocean or other bodies of water. The method comprises the simultaneous and synchronized unreeling from a vessel of a resilient barrier strip formed with spaced inflatable pockets and a sectioned resilient hose containing a liquid chemical. Each inflatable pocket has an opening formed at the base which is in communication with an injection tube which is removably mounted below each pocket in the lower edge of the barrier strip. Each injection tube contains a chemical powder, reactive with the liquid in the hose to form a gas. At a predetermined point the injection tube is forced into the hose, the hose is compressed to force the liquid upward into contact with the chemical powder, the gas formed by the reaction inflating the pocket in the plastic barrier. In alternative forms of the invention the pocket is inflated by the use of a low boiling point volatile liquid or compressed gas stored in the hose. The barrier strip and hose are unreeled until the oil slick is surrounded, whereafter the ends of the barrier and hose are cut to form an enclosure around the oil spill.

Description

United States Patent Heartness [54] OIL POLLUTION BARRIER [72] Inventor: Olaf. Heartness, 41 Van Reypen St.,

Jersey City, NJ. 07306 22 Filed: Aug. 13,1971

21 Appl.No.: 171,693

[52] US. Cl ..6l/1 F [51] Int. Cl. ..E02b 15/04 [58] Field of Search ..6l/l F, 5; 210/242, DIG. 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,563,036 2/1971 Smith et a1. ..61/1 F 3,608,316 9/1971 Manuel ..61/l F 3,635,032 1/1972 Desty etal ..6l/l F Primary ExaminerDavid J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-David H. Corbin Attorney-Gloria K. Koenig [5 7 ABSTRACT The method of laying and the construction of an oil pollution barrier for use on the ocean or other bodies [451 Oct.3l, 1972 of water. The method comprises the simultaneous and synchronized unreeling from a vessel of a resilient barrier strip formed with spaced inflatable pockets and a sectioned resilient hose containing a liquid chemical. Each inflatable pocket has an opening formed at the base which is in communication with an injection tube which is removably mounted below each pocket in the lower edge of the barrier strip. Each injection tube contains a chemical powder, reactive with the liquid in the hose to form a gas. At a predetermined point the injection tube is forced into the hose, the hose is compressed to force the liquid upward into contact with the chemical powder, the gas formed by the reaction inflating the pocket in the plastic barrier. In alternative forms of the invention the pocket is inflated by the use of a low boiling point volatile liquid or compressed gas stored in the hose. The barrier strip and hose are unreeled until the oil slick is surrounded,

- whereafter the ends of the barrier and hose are cut to form an enclosure around the oil spill.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED URI 31 I972 SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR. LAF HEAR TNESS 4/ A/ ATTORNEY PATENTED 0m 31 m2 SHEET 2 OF 4 l mm INVENTOR.

CL A F HEAR TNESS P'ATENTED um 31 m2 HEET 3 OF 4 m, \nf

INVENTOR. CL A F HEART/V535 m4 AT TDRNE/ PATENTEU um 3 1 m2 SHEU k 0F 4 INVENTOR. Y

o L A F HEAR rwsss OREEY OIL POLLUTION BARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates to the method of laying and construction of an oil pollution barrier to confine oil spills on water which result from the rupture of lines in offshore oil wells, from accidents occuring in oil tankers, and from spills from waterfront oil equipment. As is known, oil is immiscible with water and is less dense than water and when it spills on water it is rapidly dispersed by the movement of the tides and currents, the wind and the motion of the ships in the area.

2. Description of the Prior Art Previous efforts to form barriers around oil spills have involved the separate and cumbersome steps of attaching flotation members to an inflatable barrier; the use of a continuous air tube to produce buoyancy, which tube will collapse if there is a rupture in any part of the air tube; the use of air pumps to inflate the tube after the tube has been positioned on the water resulting in a great loss of time while the oil continues to disperse before the barrier is inflated; the pumping of water and air into a continuous tube to form a partially submerged barrier, which process is slow and does not insure that the water within the tube will remain evenly distributed throughout the tube, thus forming a barrier which may be completely submerged in different areas.

The method of this invention consists of the simultaneous unreeling from a vessel of a resilient barrier strip formed with spaced inflatable pockets and with thickened edges and a sectioned hose containing a liquid chemical. The lower edge of the strip is formed with vertical channels in alignment with each pocket. Each pocket is formed with an aperture having a tube or ferrule mounted therein which ferrule fits into the channel on the lower edge of the strip. An injection tube which contains a chemical powder, reactive with the liquid in the hose to form a gas is removably mounted in the channel below the ferrule. The barrier strip and hose are unreeled in timed relation to each other and at a predetermined point the injection tube is forced into a section of the hose. The hose is then compressed to force the liquid up into the injection tube where it reacts with the chemical powder to form a gas which inflates the pocket of the barrier strip. In an'altemative method of inflating the pocket, the injection tubes are empty and either a volatile liquid having a low boiling point or a gas under pressure is stored in the sectioned hose. In the alternative method, the gas passes from the hose through the injection tube into the pocket after the injection tube has punctured the wall of the hose.

The barrier strip with the hose attached by means of the injection tubes is hereafter referred to as the barrier. The barrier is then lowered into the water. The inflated pockets of the barrier strip cause the barrier to float and give structural support to the barrier. The sectioned hose containing liquid which is attached below the edge of the barrier strip by means of the injection tubes creates a condition of low metacentric height or low center of gravity for the barrier as a whole, causing the barrier to float half submerged with its plane surface vertical to the water. A sea anchor is attached to the end first lowered into the water to fix the position of the barrier. The vessel containing the equipment con tinues to follow the oil slick while the barrier is unreeled. When the oil slick is enclosed within the barrier the ends of barrier strip and hose are cut on the vessel.

The barrier laying vessel is designed to hold many reels of both the barrier strip and hose and in the event that the material wound on the reels is expended, new reels are put in position, the ends of the barrier strip and hose from the empty reel being stapled or joined by other means to the beginnings of the new reels and the operation continued. Other vessels with pumping equipment and auxiliary tanks can then be moved within the arc of the barrier to pump up the oil.

The barrier strip is stored on reels in a flattened condition. The hose is prefilled with a liquid chemical, sectioned at intervals and then stored on reels. Banks of the two types of reels are stored on the decks of a barrier laying vessel which is equipped with motor driven sheaves and pinions to unwind the reels at a predetermined speed and to join the barrier strip to the hose.

It is an object of this invention to provide an oil pollution barrier which is stored in readiness on a vessel which can speed to the scene of an oil spill to lay the barrier.

It is another object of this invention to provide an oil pollution barrier which can be put into operation quickly because of the conveyor system on a vessel and the rapid pocket inflation system. The assistance of another vessel to lay the barrier is not required.

It is a further object of this invention'to provide a method of forming an oil pollution barrier which is effective to stop the dispersion of oil as soon as the barrier strip encircles the oil slick. This is important where large oil spills occur and where the flow cannot be stopped immediately, as where super tankers or offshore oil wells develop leaks. The barrier can contain the oil until other vessels and equipment can be brought to the scene to pump up the spilled oil.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a barrier which can be extended by joining additional reels of barrier strip and hose.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a barrier having spaced inflation pockets on a barrier strip and a sectioned hose containing either a chemical liquid, a volatile liquid or a gas under pressure forming a barrier which will continue to float in position even though a tear or rupture may occur at one or more points along its length.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a barrier strip which is reusable by replacing the movably mounted injection tubes with new tubes containing a new charge of chemical powder, thereby reducing the cost of equipment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a barrier made of flexible, resilient material, such as plastic, which is efficient to store and has a very long shelf life.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more fully apparent from a consideration of the following description, drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a section of the barrier attached to a sea anchor in the ocean.

FIG. 2 is a crossectional view of the sea anchor along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sea anchor along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a section of the barrier strip with injection tubes inserted.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower edge of the barrier strip with injection tubes removed.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the barrier along the line 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hose along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlargement of a sectional view of an injection tube in a view similar to FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a conveyor apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the guide rollers on the upper edge of the barrier strip along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the guide rollers on the lower edge of the barrier strip along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a part of the conveyor system along the line 12-12 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along the line 1313 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED.

' EMBODIMENTS Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of asection of the invention in operating position in the water. A barrier 10 formed from a barrier strip 11 connected to a hose 12 is lowered onto the water from a sea going vessel at the site of an oil spill. The ends of the barrier strip 11 are attached by lines 13a, 13b to a modified form of sea anchor 14 which holds the beginning of barrier 10 in a The barrier 10 is formed by connecting a barrier strip 1 1 to a hose 12 by means of an insertion tube 17, shown in sectional view in FIG. 6. The barrier strip 11 is formed of flexible, resilient material, such as plastic. The barrier strip 11 is formed with a plane surface 21 and with inflatable pockets 18 at spaced intervals along its longitudinal dimension, the pockets 18 being perpendicular to the

edges

19, 20 of the barrier strip. The edges of the barrier strip, identified as the upper edge 19 and lower edge 20, are wider or thickened for strength as compared to the width or thickness of plane surface 21 of the strip. The

edges

19, 20 are formed with-a plurality of holes 22 of uniform size through the width of the edges perpendicular to the vertical channels 51 described below, and at a predetermined equidistance apart along the longitudinal dimension of the barrier strip 11 to assist in the movement of the strip as will be described below. The lower end 52 of each inflatable pocket 18 is formed with an aperture 23, positioned equidistant between a pair of holes 22 on the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip. A short tube or ferrule 56 is sealed into each aperture 23 and projects downwardly from the lower end 52 of the inflatable pocket 18. At predetermined intervals, a plurality of vertical channels 51 are formed through the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip 11, equidistant between a pair of holes 22 and in alignment with the ferrules 56. The ferrule 56 is formed to fit within the walls of the channel 51 to form an air tight seal.

The barrier strip 11 may be several hundred feet long and is stored on a reel 34 in a flattened condition. The barrier strip may be 8 feet high, Ainch thick, with edges it inch thick; the inflatable pockets 18 may be 3 inches wide and spaced 9 feet apart.

A hose made of resilient material, such as plastic, is filled with a liquid chemical 24. The hose is approximately equal in length to the barrier strip and is stored on a second reel 36. The hose 12 is formed with crossectional walls 25 at predetermined intervals along its longitudinal dimension. The hose 12 is connected at intervals to the barrier strip 11 by means of injection tubes 17.

Each injection tube 17 is formed of rigid material, such as steel, with a narrow tip 26 at the lower end which is outwardly flared to form a flange 27, above which is formed a globular protruberance 29. The upper end 30 of the tube 17 is movably mounted by resilient pressure in the channel 51 of the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip 11 with the tip 26 extending beyond the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip 11. Thus, each injection tube 17 projects from the lower edge 11 of the barrier strip 20 as shown in FIG. 4.

The channel 51 through the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip may be formed with a pair of indentations 54, 55 along its wall. Each ferrule 56 is then formed with a protuberance 28 projecting from the lower end 52 of the inflatable pocket 18 and each injection tube is formed with a protuberance 29 proximate to its upper end 30. The indentations 54, 55 along the wall of the channel 51 are of similar configuration but of slightly smaller diameter than the protrubances on the ferrule and injection tube respectively. The resilient pressure of the protuberances 28, 29 against the indentations 54, 55 in the walls of the channel thereby form an airtight passageway from the inflatable pocket 18 to the tip 26 of injection tube 17.

Each injection tube 17 contains a dry chemical 31 which is reactive with the liquid chemical 24 in the hose 12 to form a gas. When the barrier is ready to be used, the flared tip 26 of the injection tube 17 is forced through the wall of the hose 12 forming a small hole 32 in the wall. The flange 27 forms a seal against the inner wall of the hose and prevents leakage of the fluid from the hose. Pressure is exerted on the hose 12 and the liquid chemical 24 is forced up the tube 17 where it reacts with the chemical powder 31 to form a gas which rises through channel 51 and through the ferrule 56 to inflate the pocket 18 of the barrier strip 11.

The method of inflating the pockets just described can operate with the use of a dry acid salt as the dry chemical powder 31 in the injection tubes 17 and an alkaline solution as the liquid chemical 24 stored in the hose 12. For example, an acid salt such as aluminum sulfate (AL SO or potassium acid tartrate (KI-IC H O6) or calcium acid phosphate (CaH (PO is placed in each injection tube 17. An alkaline solution, such as sodium bicarbonate (NaI-ICO solution is placed in the hose 12. When one of the acid powders and the sodium bicarbonate solution are combined by the aforesaid method, carbon dioxide gas is produced which will inflate the pocket 18.

As mentioned above, the hose 12 is formed with cross-sectional walls 25 at predetermined intervals along its longitudinal dimension. These walls 25 may be formed by known methods of applying heat and pressure to the plastic hose 12 after the hose 12 is filled with a liquid chemical 24 to form compartments 33 filled with liquid chemical 24. The compartments are of equal length but have smaller longitudinal dimensions than the distance between each injection tube 17. Therefore certain compartments 33 are not pierced by injection tubes 17. The liquid filled compartmentalized hose serves several purposes. The compartments 33 provide a limited enclosure upon which pressure may be exerted by means described below to force the liquid chemical 24 up through the injection tube 17 to react with the dry chemical powder 31. The crossectional walls 25 within the hose 12 prevent the loss of all the liquid chemical 24 in the event that a tear should occur in any section of the hose 12. In addition, the general weight of the hose 12 filled with liquid 26 attached below the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip 11 provides a low center of gravity for the barrier as whole, causing it to float half submerged with its plane surface vertical in the water. The specific gravity of the liquid chemical, the weight of the hose itself and the size of the barrier strip being known, it is possible to calculate in advance the diameter of the hose required to provide sufficient weight to hold the barrier in a partially submerged position. After use, the hose 12 and injection tubes 17 are detached from the barrier strip 11 and are discarded. New injection tubes 17 are inserted into the channels 51 of the barrier strip 11, which can then be rewound on the reels and reused.

An alternate method of inflating the pockets 18 of the barrier strip 11 consists of using injection tubes which are empty and having either a volatile liquid or a gas under pressure stored in the compartments 33 of the hose 12. The volatile liquid is one having a boiling point at or below 0 F., so that it is gaseous at all ordinary air temperatures. When an injection tube 17 is inserted into the hose 12, the gas released from the compartment 33 of the hose will pass directly through the injection tube, the channel 51 in the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip and ferrule 56 of the inflatable pocket to inflate the pocket 18.

An example of a volatile liquid suitable for use with the method of inflating the pockets 18 just described is Freon-12 also known as F-12 (CCI F This liquid is non-toxic and non-inflammable and is therefore safe to use. Freon-12 boils at -21 .7 F. and is therefore suitable for use under most temperature conditions. When the insertion tube 17 punctures the hose 12, the reduced pressure in the hose 12 causes the vaporization of the liquid Freon-12 to a gas which inflates the respective air pocket 18.

Examples of gases which may be stored in the hose 12 under moderate to high pressure for use with the method described are carbon dioxide (CO and nitrogen (N When the insertion tube 17 punctures the hose 12, the stored gas expands to lesser pressure and greater volume thereby inflating the connecting pocket 18.

The barrier strip 11 is stored with injection tubes 17 mounted in a flattened condition on reels on one deck of a ship. The hose 12 filled with liquid chemical is stored on reels on a lower deck of a ship. Banks of reels containing barrier strip and hose are positioned on each deck, respectively. Means are provided to remove empty reels from the conveyor equipment and to replace them with other reels filled with barrier strip and hose, as required.

A conveyor system for the movement and attachment of the barrier strip 11 and hose 12 and the laying of the barrier 10 in the water is shown in FIG. 9. The equipment is installed in the stern of a ship and the assembled barrier is discharged overboard just above the waterline of the ship.

A reel 34 containing the barrier strip 11 is rotatably mounted on a retractable axle 35 and a reel 36 containing the hose 12 is rotatably mounted on a retractable axle 37. The reel 34 holding the barrier strip 11 is of sufficient width to hold the barrier strip with the injection tubes 17 extending from the lower edge 20. When the

reels

34, 36 are emptied, the

respective axles

35, 37 are withdrawn and other reels are mounted on ,the axles.

' Three barrier strip feed pinions 38, 39, 40 and three hose feed sheaves 45, 46, 47 are operatively connected to a motor driven shaft 41 and synchronized by a timing chain 53 to move the barrier strip 11 and hose 12, from the reels to the stern of the ship. The

pinions

38, 39, 40 and

sheaves

45, 46, 47 also act as brakes when holding the barrier 10 fast, to prevent the unwinding of the reels when feeding is stopped. Each

feed pinion

38, 39, 40 is formed with a pair of cogwheels 48 whose teeth 49 mate with the holes 22 formed on the upper edge 19 and lower edge 20 of the barrier strip, as shown in FIG. 12. Idler wheels 57 in alignment with the cogwheels 48 operate to move the barrier strip toward the stern of the vessel or hold the barrier strip ina fixed position, as required. Idler sheaves (not shown) positioned behind the

sheaves

45, 46, 47 help to guide the hose and provide traction between the hose and the sheaves. After passing the first pinion 38 and sheave 45, the hose is moved adjacent to the lower edge 20 of the barrier strip 11 and between the first pinion 38 and second pinion 39 the injection tube 17 is forced into the hose 12 by the converging lines of movement. A differential mechanism (not shown) may be operably installed in the drive mechanism of the hose sheaves to regulate the speed of movement of the hose to prevent the injection tube 17 from piercing a crossectional wall 25 of the hose 12 and to provide that the injection tube 17 pierces the wall of the hose 12 at the approximate center of a compartment 33 of the hose. A pair of compression sheaves 50 a, b are positioned between the second hose feed sheave 46 and third hose feed sheave 47 to compress each compartment 33 of the hose, as shown in FIG. 13. In those compartments in which the injection tubes 17 have been inserted, the pressure exerted on the comparnnent forces the liquid up into the injection tube 17 where it reacts with the chemical powder 31 to form a gas which inflates the inflatable pocket 18.

The barrier strip 11 with the pockets 18 inflated and hose attached is moved by the third pinion 40 and sheave 47 toward the stern of the ship to be deposited in the water. The diameter of the center portion 58 of the third feed pinion 40 is cut down so that the inflated pocket will pass under the roller.

In the alternative methods of inflating the pocket 18, wherein either a low boiling point volatile liquid or compressed gas is stored within the hose 12, when the injection tube 17 is inserted into the hose 12, between the first pinion 38 and second pinion 39 the gas passes from the hose 12 through the injection tube 17, channel 51 and ferrule 56 to inflate the pocket 18. With the alternate method of inflating the pockets E8, the ap paratus shown in FIG. 9 can be modified in two respects. The compression sheaves 50 a, b can be eliminated as the gas in the compartments will rise to inflate the pockets 18 when the hose 12 is punctured by the injection tubes 17. Also, the center portion of pinion 39 can be reduced in diameter to permit the passage of the inflated pocket 18, which pocket is inflated almost instantaneously at the point of insertion of the injection tube 17 into the hose 12 between the first pinion 38 and second pinion 39.

The barrier strip 11 and hose 12 are guided from their

respective reels

34, 36 through a series of movably mounted rollers. The barrier strip 11 is passed under guide rollers 41 a, b which flatten the strip as it is pulled from the reel 34 as shown in FIG. 9; the upper edge 19 is held in position between double guide rollers 42(a-h as shown in FIG. the lower edge is held in position between double guide rollers 43 a, h, each double guide roller being formed with a radius large enough to permit the passage of the injection tubes 17 without breaking them, as shown in FIG. 11. The hose I2 is guided along the hose feed sheaves 45, 46, 47 between double rollers 44 (a-j). It is to be understood that the precise number of guide rollers 41 (a, b), 42 (a-h), 43 (a, b), 44 (a-j) may be varied in accordance with the distance which the barrier strip 1 l and hose 12 must be moved between the reels and the stern of the ship.

Shearing and stapling devices are installed on the deck at a point before the barrier is discharged overboard. The shearing device cuts the barrier when the oil spill has been encircled, permitting the end of the barrier to fall into the water. The stapling device holds the end of one barrier while it is joined to the beginning of the next barrier in cases where the oil spill is so large as to require the use of more than the contents of one set of reels.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a new and improved method of laying and the construction of an oil pollution barrier. Modifications may of course be made in the illustrated and described embodiments without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for forming a barrier around oil on the surface of water comprising:

a. a flexible, resilient barrier strip having a plane surface with an upper edge and a lower edge and 7 formed with a pluralityof inflatable pockets at predetermined intervals along its plane surface perpendicular to the edges and extending between the edges, each inflatable pocket being formed with an aperture proximate to the lower edge, a

plurality of vertical channels being formed in the lower edge in alignment with the apertures in the inflatable pockets;

b. a plurality of injection tubes, one injection tube being movably mounted in each channel in the lower edge of the barrier strip, each injection tube being in communication with an aperture in the inflatable pocket;

. dry chemical powder disposed within each injection tube; 1

. a flexible, resilient hose having crossectional walls at predetermined spaced intervals to form a plurality of compartments within the hose;

liquid chemical reactive with the dry. chemical powder in the injection tubes to form a gas,

disposed within each compartment of the hose;

f. a pair .of reels for storing the barrier strip and hose;

g. means for moving the barrier strip and hose from the reels to the water in timed relationship to each other, the lower edge of the barrier strip being moved adjacent to the hose, each injection tube being moved adjacent to the center portion of a compartment of the hose;

. pressure means for forcing each injection tube into a compartment of the hose; and

i. pressure means for forcing the liquid chemical from the hose into the injection tube, the liquid chemical and powder chemical in the injection tube reacting to form a gas which inflates the pockets in the barrier strip causing the barrier strip to be buoyant, the weight of hose containing the liquid holding the barrier strip in a vertical, partially submerged position in the water.

. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper and lower edges of the barrier strip are thicker than the thickness of the plane surface of the barrier strip and are formed with a plurality of holes at predetermined equidistant intervals along the longitudinal dimension of the barrier strip, said holes being perpendicular to the vertical channels; and

. the means for moving the barrier strip contains a plurality of cog wheels formed with teeth spaced to match said holes to assist in the movement of the barrier strip.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a. a sea anchor attached to the end of the barriers;

and

b. a predetermined amount of buoyant material affixed to the sea anchor to float it at the surface of the water.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including stapling means for connecting one barrier to another barrier.

5. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein a. a ferrule is sealed into the aperture of each inflation pocket, said ferrule being formed with a protruberance extending below the aperture into the channel of the lower edge of the barrier strip;

b. each injection tube is formed with a pointed end which flares outwardly to form a flange and with a protuberance above the flange; and

c. the vertical channels in the lower edge of the barrier strip are formed with indentations having the same configuration but a slightly smaller diameter than the protuberances on the ferrules and injection tubes respectively, the resilient pressure of the protruberances against the indentations in the channel wall forming an airtight passage from the inflatable pocket to the tip of the injection tube.

6. Apparatus for forming a barrier around oil on the surface of water comprising:

a. a flexible, resilient barrier striphaving a plane surface with an upper edge'and a lower edge and formed with a plurality of inflatable pockets at predetermined intervals along its plane surface perpendicular to the edges and extending between the edges, each inflatable pocket being formed with an aperture proximate to the lower edge, a plurality of vertical channels being formed in the lower edge in alignment with the apertures in the inflatable pockets;

c. a flexible, resilient hose having cross-sectional walls at predetermined spaced intervals to form a plurality of compartments within the hose;

d. gas forming means disposed within each compartment of the hose;

e. a pair of reels for storing the barrier strip and hose;

f. means for moving the barrier strip and hose from the reels to the water in timed relationship to each other, the lower edge of the barrier strip being moved adjacent to the hose, each injection tube being moved adjacent to the center portion of a compartment of the hose; and

g. pressure means for forcing each injection tube into a compartment of the hose, the gas in each compartment of the hose rising through the injection tube, channel and aperture of the inflatable pocket to inflate the pocket.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the gas forming means comprises a compressed gas.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the gas forming means is a volatile liquid having a boiling point below F.

9. A method for forming a barrier around oil on the surface of water from reels mounted on a vessel comprising:

- strip being stored on a reel in a flattened condition;

b. movably mounting an injection tubein each channel in the lower edge of the barrier strip, each injection tube being in communication with an aperture in the inflatable pocket;

0. disposing a dry chemical powder within each injection tube;

d. forming a flexible, resilient hose with crossectional walls at predetermined spaced intervals to form a plurality of compartments within the hose;

e. disposing a liquid chemical within each compartment of the hose, the liquid chemical being reactive with the dry chemical powder in the injection tubes to form a gas, the hose filled with liquid being stored on a second reel;

f. unwinding the barrier strip and hose at the site of an oil spill;

g. moving the lower edge of the barrier strip adjacent to the surface of the hose;

h. impressing each injection tube into a compartment of the hose thereby attaching the hose to the barrier strip;

i. forcing the liquid chemical in the compartments of the hose through the injection tubes, the liquid chemical and chemical powder reacting to form a gas which inflates the pockets;

j. attaching a sea anchor to the end of the barrier strip;

k. lowering the sea anchor and barrier strip with hose attached into the water;

1. unwinding the barrier strip with hose attached and pockets inflated until the oil spill is surrounded; and

m. cutting the barrier strip and hose.

Claims

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a. the upper and lower edges of the barrier strip are thicker than the thickness of the plane surface of the barrier strip and are formed with a plurality of holes at predetermined equidistant intervals along the longitudinal dimension of the barrier strip, said holes being perpendicular to the vertical channels; and b. the means for moving the barrier strip contains a plurality of cog wheels formed with teeth spaced to match said holes to assist in the movement of the barrier strip.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a. a sea anchor attached to the end of the barriers; and b. a predetermined amount of buoyant material affixed to the sea anchor to float it at the surface of the water.
4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including stapling means for connecting one barrier to another barrier.
5. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein a. a ferrule is sealed into the aperture of each inflation pocket, said ferrule being formed with a protruberance extending below the aperture into the channel of the lower edge of the barrier strip; b. each injectiOn tube is formed with a pointed end which flares outwardly to form a flange and with a protuberance above the flange; and c. the vertical channels in the lower edge of the barrier strip are formed with indentations having the same configuration but a slightly smaller diameter than the protuberances on the ferrules and injection tubes respectively, the resilient pressure of the protruberances against the indentations in the channel wall forming an airtight passage from the inflatable pocket to the tip of the injection tube.
6. Apparatus for forming a barrier around oil on the surface of water comprising: a. a flexible, resilient barrier strip having a plane surface with an upper edge and a lower edge and formed with a plurality of inflatable pockets at predetermined intervals along its plane surface perpendicular to the edges and extending between the edges, each inflatable pocket being formed with an aperture proximate to the lower edge, a plurality of vertical channels being formed in the lower edge in alignment with the apertures in the inflatable pockets; b. a plurality of injection tubes, one injection tube being movably mounted in each channel in the lower edge of the barrier strip, each injection tube being in communication with an aperture in the inflatable pocket; c. a flexible, resilient hose having cross-sectional walls at predetermined spaced intervals to form a plurality of compartments within the hose; d. gas forming means disposed within each compartment of the hose; e. a pair of reels for storing the barrier strip and hose; f. means for moving the barrier strip and hose from the reels to the water in timed relationship to each other, the lower edge of the barrier strip being moved adjacent to the hose, each injection tube being moved adjacent to the center portion of a compartment of the hose; and g. pressure means for forcing each injection tube into a compartment of the hose, the gas in each compartment of the hose rising through the injection tube, channel and aperture of the inflatable pocket to inflate the pocket.
7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the gas forming means comprises a compressed gas.
8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the gas forming means is a volatile liquid having a boiling point below 0* F.
9. A method for forming a barrier around oil on the surface of water from reels mounted on a vessel comprising: a. forming a flexible, resilient barrier strip having a plane surface with an upper edge and a lower edge and with a plurality of inflatable pockets at predetermined spaced intervals along its plane surface, the pockets being perpendicular to the edges and extending between the edges, each inflatable pocket being formed with an aperture proximate to the lower edge, a plurality of vertical channels being formed in the lower edge in alignment with the apertures in the inflatable pockets, the barrier strip being stored on a reel in a flattened condition; b. movably mounting an injection tube in each channel in the lower edge of the barrier strip, each injection tube being in communication with an aperture in the inflatable pocket; c. disposing a dry chemical powder within each injection tube; d. forming a flexible, resilient hose with crossectional walls at predetermined spaced intervals to form a plurality of compartments within the hose; e. disposing a liquid chemical within each compartment of the hose, the liquid chemical being reactive with the dry chemical powder in the injection tubes to form a gas, the hose filled with liquid being stored on a second reel; f. unwinding the barrier strip and hose at the site of an oil spill; g. moving the lower edge of the barrier strip adjacent to the surface of the hose; h. impressing each injection tube into a compartment of the hose thereby attaching the hose to the barrier strip; i. forcing the liquid chemical in the compartments of the hose through the injection tubes, thE liquid chemical and chemical powder reacting to form a gas which inflates the pockets; j. attaching a sea anchor to the end of the barrier strip; k. lowering the sea anchor and barrier strip with hose attached into the water; l. unwinding the barrier strip with hose attached and pockets inflated until the oil spill is surrounded; and m. cutting the barrier strip and hose.