US3779020A - Immersible oil fence assembly - Google Patents

Immersible oil fence assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3779020A
US3779020A US00234579A US3779020DA US3779020A US 3779020 A US3779020 A US 3779020A US 00234579 A US00234579 A US 00234579A US 3779020D A US3779020D A US 3779020DA US 3779020 A US3779020 A US 3779020A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
oil fence
immersible
air
buoy
weight member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00234579A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
T Muramatsu
K Aramaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bridgestone Corp
Original Assignee
Bridgestone Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bridgestone Corp filed Critical Bridgestone Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3779020A publication Critical patent/US3779020A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
    • E02B15/0814—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material with underwater curtains
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
    • E02B15/0828—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material fixed to the side of a boat for containing small leaks in the hull
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
    • E02B15/0835—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material fixed to permanent structure, e.g. harbour wall or river bank
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/08—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
    • E02B15/0857—Buoyancy material
    • E02B15/0864—Air
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
    • Y02A20/204—Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An immersible oil fence assembly including alternately connected oil fence units and immersible buoys.
  • the oil fence units have tubular float means connected to inflatable bags of the immersible buoys. By inflating and deflating the tubular float means and the inflatable bags, the oil fence is selectively floated and immersed.
  • the buoys are anchored to station the oil fence assembly in position.
  • This invention relates to a selectively immersible oil fence assembly, and more particularly to a comparativelysimpleprocess and device for quickly forming a selectively immersible oil fence line at desiredmoment and allowing the oil fence line to sink so deep in water when it is not in use that ships can navigate above the oil fence line thus sunk.
  • an oil fence is provided either from the quay side or from the tanker side, so as to enclose the water surface in the proximity of the pipe line for preventing the oil leakage from spreading beyond the area defined by the oil fence. If such oil fence is a semi-permanent installation provided in the proximity of a quay or a dolphin, it may disturb the navigation of ships and restrict the port function. The semi-permanent oil fence may also collide with ships and cause damage.
  • an object of the present invention is to obviate the aforesaid difficulties of conventional oil fence, by providing a selectively immersible oil fence assembly,
  • an immersible oil fence assembly in which a tubular floatmeans carrying an elongated flexible belt member is selectively inflated, so as to selectively form an oil fence line by floating the flexible belt member on water surface.
  • the oil fence assembly includes immersible buoys which are anchored through flexible wire rope means, so as to re 'peatedly produce the oil fence line substantially at a predetermined protective zone and to prevent the oil fence line from drifting beyond the periphery of the protective zone.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an immersible oil fence assembly according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation ofthe oil fence assembly, taken along the length of the oil fence line;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a buoy, which acts as a connector of adjacent oil fence units each consisting of a tubular float means and an elongated belt member;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation of another immersible oil fence assembly, according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view of controllable weight member to be used in the oil fence assembly of FIG. 4;
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrammatic illustrations, illustrating disposition of an oil fence assembly for a quay and an offshore mooring buoy, respectively;
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an oil fence assembly including an immersible terminal buoy, according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic view, similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the immersible terminal buoy in the sate as immersed in water;
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the immersible terminal buoy and related connections
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of an oil fence assembly forming a closed loop and including two sec tions which are independently immersible, according to the present invention
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 are fragmentary perspective views of the oil fence assembly of FIG. 10, illustrating a joint portion and a weight member thereof, respectively;
  • FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of the present invention. I
  • a tanker t is moored to a dolphin d to which a submarine piping P is connected.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly according to the present invention produces an oil fence line A on water surface so as to substantially surround the tanker z.
  • the oil fence line A is formed by a plurality ofoil fence units 1 which are connected by immersible buoys 2.
  • Each immersible buoy 2 is anchored to sea bed by anchors 3, 3' through wire rope means 4.
  • a pair of ropes 4 are used to connect the immersible buoy 2 to a pair of anchors 3, 3, but it is possible to station the immersible buoy at a predetermined position by one anchor through one piece of rope.
  • the wire rope means 4 can be replaced with any other suitable flexible connecting means, such as a metallic chain.
  • the wire rope means 4 for the immersible buoy 2 at each end of the oil fence line A is so disposed as to define an angle of about between the wire rope means 4 and the direction of the oil fence line A.
  • the wire rope means 4 for the buoys at intermediate positions of the oil fence line A are disposed so as to define a right angle between the wire rope means 4 and the direction of the oil fence line A at the buoy 2 to which the specific wire rope means is connected.
  • Such angular disposition of the wire rope means 4 is preferable from the standpoint of maximizing the stability of the oil fence line A against wind and tide load to the oil fence units 1.
  • Each oil fence unit 1 consists of an elongated flexible belt member 6, e.g., an elongated rubber belt, and a flexible tubular float means 7 extending along the longitudinal center line of the belt member 6. Both the belt member 6 and the tubular float member should be flexible enough to allow the float unit 1 to flex along the profile of water surface.
  • the tubular float means 7 consists of a pair of flexible tubular floats 7 and 7 secured to the opposite surfaces of the flexible belt member 6. To ensure that the width direction of the elongated belt member 6 is held substantially vertically across the water surface, opposite longitudinal ends of the belt member 6 are secured to the immersible buoys 2 in vertical posture, as shown in FIG. 3. Suitable weight members 5 may be embedded in that longitudinal edge of the belt member 6 which is to be held in water.
  • a permanently floating pilot buoy 9 is disposed in the proximity of that immersible buoy 2 which is connected to one end of the oil fence assembly, and the pilot buoy 9 is connected to the anchor 3 of the end buoy 2 through a separate wire rope means 10.
  • This wire rope means can be a metallic chain, too.
  • the wire rope means 10 for the pilot buoy 9 is connected to the wire rope means 4 of the end buoy 2 of the oil fence assembly.
  • the pilot buoy 9 carries an air valve-coupling ll communicating with the end buoy 2 of the oil fence assembly through a flexible air pipe 8.
  • This coupling 11 includes an air valve and controls the air flow into and out of the immersible oil fence assembly, so that the coupling 11 must always be kept above water surface or must be watertightly closed by a suitable lid so as to selectively be opened for the air flow control.
  • a lighter 12 carrying an air source e.g., an air pump or a compressed air tank, berthes the pilot buoy 9 to connect the air source to the air valve-coupling 11 for feeding air into the immersible buoys 2 and the tubular float means 7 of the oil fence assembly, through the flexible air pipe 8.
  • an air source e.g., an air pump or a compressed air tank
  • the buoys 2 and the float means 7 are inflated, and when the buoyancy acting on them reaches a certain predetermined level, i.e., in excess of the total mass of the oil fence assembly, the entire oil fence assembly moves up to the water surface, so as to define the aforesaid oil fence line A.
  • the air to be delivered to the oil fence assembly through the air valve-coupling 11 should preferably be pressurized to the extent necessary for overcoming the hydraulic pressure acting on the tubular float means 7 and the immersible buoys 2.
  • the air valve-coupling 11 is provided only at one end of the oil fence assembly.
  • the oil fence assembly may smoothly move to the water surface from the coupling side end thereof, while upon deflation of the float means 7 and the buoys 2, the oil fence assembly smoothly sinks starting from the end opposite to the air valve-coupling l 1.
  • air may inadvertently be entrapped at intermediate portions of the tubular float means, so that it becomes difficult to effect smooth sinking of the oil fence assembly.
  • the air valve-coupling 1 1 for the flexible air pipe 8 may be provide at the dolphin d or a port quay.
  • the pipe8 itself may serve as a wire rope for connecting the pilot buoy 9 to the anchor 3, so that the separate wire rope means 10 for the pilot buoy may be dispensed with.
  • the flexible air pipe 8 should preferably be twined about the wire rope means 4 and 10 to supplement its strength.
  • Each of the immersible buoys 2 includes an inflatable air bag 14, as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the tubular float means 7 of the adjacent float-units 1 are connected through the air bag of the immersible buoy 2 located therebetween.
  • the flexible air pipe 8 extending from the air valve-coupling 11 carried by the pilot buoy 9 is terminated at the air bag 14 of the end buoy 2 of the oil fence assembly, which air bag 14 acts as the terminal of the tubular float means 7 of the oil fence assembly. If two flexible tubes are used to form the tubular float means 7, as shown in FIG.
  • the immersible buoys 2 located at intermediate portions of the oil fence assembly may have a unitary air bag communicating with the two tubular floats in common or a pair of separate air bags 14 connected to the two tubular floats at opposite sides of the belt member 6, respectively.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an immersible buoy having a unitary air bag.
  • the buoy 2 has a perforated casing 13 housing an inflatable air bag 14 made of flexible material, such as rubber.
  • Two tubular fixtures 15 are secured to one side wall of the perforated casing 13 so as to communicate with the inside of the air bag 14, while two other tubular fixtures 16 are secured to the opposite side wall of the perforated casing 13 so as to communicate with the inside of the air bag 14.
  • the two tubular fixtures 15 or 16 may be connected to the two tubular floats 7 and 7' of the corresponding float units 1, respectively. If the tubular float means 7 of each float unit 1 consists of only one tubular float 7, the immersible buoy 2 may have two tubular fixtures, one on each of the opposite walls thereof. In the case of the immersible buoy 2 at either one of the longitudinal ends of the belt member 6, those tubular fixtures which are not used for the float units 1 or the flexible air pipe 8 are airtightly plugged.
  • An eye-ring 17 is integrally formed with the bottom wall of the perforated casing 13 of the immersible buoy 2, as shown in FIG. 3.
  • One or two wire rope means 4 are swingably connected to the eye-ring 17 for connecting the immersible float 2 to the anchor 3 or anchors 3, 3' associated thereto.
  • the oil fence line can easily be sunk under water simply be deflating the tubular float means and the buoys, so as to provide for free navigation of ships above the oil fence assembly thus sunk.
  • the oil fence assembly can easily be brought up to the water surface simply by inflating the tubular float means and the immersible buoys.
  • FIG. 4 shows a modification of the oil fence assembly of FIGS. 1 to 3, in which a controllable weight member is added for ensuring smooth sinking and floating operation.
  • a plurality of oil fence units 1 are interconnected by immersible buoys 2 which are connected to anchors 3 through wire ripe means 4.
  • the construction of the immersible buoy 2 and the oil fence unit I is substantially identical with that as described in the foregoing by referring to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • controllable weight member 18 secured to an intermediate point of the wire rope means 4 connecting the far end buoy 2, as seen from the flexible air pipe 8, to the associated anchor 3.
  • the controllable weight member 18 consists of an immersible buoy which is substantially identical with the buoy 2 between the adjacent oil fence units 1, except that the controllable weight member 18 does not have any tubular fixture but has a top air passage formed at the top portion of outer housing of the buoy so as to communicate with the inside of an air bag thereof.
  • the immersible end buoy 2, to which the controllable weight member 18 is connected through the wire rope means 4 also has a top air passage 20 similar to that of the controllable weightmember IS.
  • the top air passage 20 of the end buoy 2 is connected to the top air passage 20 of the controllable weight member 18 through a flexible end air hose 19, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the controllable weight member 18 When the oil fence assembly of this embodiment is afloat on water surface, the controllable weight member 18 is held between the water surface and the ground level below the water, at a position lower than any of the immersible buoys 2 and the oil fence units 1. When it is desired to cause the oil fence assembly of FIG. 4 to sink, the air in the air bags of the immersible buoys 2 and the tubular flexible float means 7 is released through the flexible air pipe 8 by opening a suitable control valve (not shown). It should be noted here that, since the controllable weight member 18 is held at the lowest level of the entire oil fence assembly, the air in the weight member 18 is released at first.
  • the buoyancy acting on the controllable weight member 18 is reduced at first, so that the far end of the oil fence assembly, as seen from the flexible air pipe 8 begins to sink at first, so as to cause an upward slope in the tubular float means 7 from its far end toward the flexible air pipe 8.
  • Such upward slope ensures smooth sinking ofthe entire oil fence assembly, because it eliminates the risk of entrapping air at any intermediate portion of the tubular float means 7 and the immersible buoys 2.
  • controllable weight member 18 had an empty weight in. air of about 250 Kg, an air filled weight in sea water of about 30 Kg, and a sea water filled weight in sea water of about 200 Kg.
  • the preferable depth H of the controllable weight member 18 from the water surface when the oil fence assembly is afloat, as shown in FIG. 4 was found to be about 3 meters to about 5 meters.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a bottle-like weight member 18a which can be used as the controllable weight member 18 in the oil fence assembly of FIG. 4.
  • the bottle-like weight member has a flat top wall with an air passage 20 extending through the top wall.
  • the bottom wall of the bottle-like weight member 18 is contracted, so as to form a water passage 21 at the central portion thereof.
  • all the functionsof the controllable weight member 18 of FIG. 4 can be accomplished, as can easily be understood by those skilled in the art.
  • controllable weight member has been described by referring to an embodiment related to a linear oil fence assembly, but it is also applicable to an oil fence assembly defining a closed loop.
  • a controllable weight member 18 and a flexible air pipe 8 for feeding and releasing air are preferably located at diametrically opposite parts of the loop definedby an elongated belt member 6 of the oil fence assembly.
  • FIGS. 6A to 9 illustrate a means for establishing closing contact between one longitudinal end portion of an immersible oil fence assembly and a ship or a quay.
  • a tanker T is berthed to a dolphin d, and it is sometimes desirable to have a closing contact 27 between the end portion of oil fence line A I and the tanker T.
  • a closing contact 27 is desirable between oil fence line A and the surface of a quay O, as shown in FIG. 68.
  • the sea level may vary 2 to 5 meters due to tide alone, and the water line of a large 200,000-ton tanker may vary by 12 to 13 meters by loading and unloading.
  • an eye-ring 23 is integrally formed with an end buoy 2 of oil fence assembly, through which a rope 26 is extended.
  • One end of the rope 26 is fastened to the bitt 22 of a tanker T while the opposite end of the rope 26 is connected to an immersible terminal buoy 24.
  • the construction of the terminal buoy 24 is, for instance, similar to the immersible buoy 2, as shown in FIG. 3, except that the buoy 24 is connected only to a felxible hose 25 but not to float means 7.
  • the flexible hose selectively communicates the terminal buoy 24 to the end buoy 2 of the oil fence assembly through a control valve 34, as shown in FIG. 9.
  • an air bag of the terminal buoy is communicated with the air system of the oil fence assembly through the control valve 34, so that the terminal buoy 24 floats, and the rope 26 from the bitt 22 passes through the eye-ring 23 of the end buoy 2 of the oil fence assembly and it is then fastened to the terminal buoy 24.
  • the air in the terminal buoy 24 is released by turning a rotor R of the control valve 34 to a position as shown in FIG. 9. Thereby, the terminal buoy 24 sinks by loosing its buoyancy, as shown in FIG. 8.
  • the weight of the terminal buoy 24 acts to pull the end buoy to the tanker T or the quay Q, so that a closing contact 27 is established by an end belt member 6a of the oil fence assembly and the tanker T (or quay Q), as shown in FIG. 9.
  • the terminal buoy 24 moves in water response to the tidal water level variation and the water line variation of the tanker T.
  • a tight contact 27 is ensured between the end portion of the oil fence assembly and the tanker T or quay Q.
  • the air bag in the terminal buoy 24 is inflated by suitable turning the rotor R of the control valve 34 for the feeding air from the oil fence assembly to the terminal buoy 24 through the air hose 25.
  • the terminal buoy 24 floats on the water surface. Accordingly, the rope 26 can be released from the buoy 24, and such releasing operation can be done on water surface.
  • a preferred example of the terminal buoy 24 weighs 300 Kg in air, and it produces a buoyancy of 400 Kg in water upon evacuation thereof.
  • FIGS. to 12 illustrate an immersible oil fence assembly having two sections, each section being immersible independently of the other section.
  • two tankers T1 and T2 are berthed to a mooring station M having a mooring post 29, and a closed oil fence line A is formed around the two tankers.
  • a closed oil fence line A is formed around the two tankers.
  • the oil fence line A is formed by using the aforesaid oil fence units 1 each having an elongated belt member 6 and tubular float means 7, which units 1 are interconnected by immersible buoys 2 connected to anchors 3 through wire rope means 4.
  • the oil fence line A is looped by connecting opposite ends la and lb together while disposing the central portion 10 of the line A at a diametrically opposite position of the loop, as shown in FIG. 10.
  • FIG. 11 shows the connection of the opposite ends la and lb of the oil fence line A.
  • a suitable connecting strap 6a is rivetted to the belt members 6 of the two ends la and lb, for completing the closed loop of the elongated belt member 6 for the oil fence line A.
  • the tubular float means 7 at the ends la and lb of the oil fence assembly is blocked by end tubes 7a and 7b.
  • a suitable air source S e.g., an air pump, is connected to a flexible air pipe 8 through a main air valve 30, and the end tubes 7a and 7b are connected to the flexible air pipe 8 through branch pipes-8a and 8b, respectively.
  • the air flow through the branch pipes 8a and 8b are controlled by branch air valves 31a and 31b mounted on the branch pipes, respectively.
  • FIG. 11 In making the looped oil fence line A, it is desirable to provide a tension member 28, e.g., a nylon rope, along the tubular float means 7, as shown in FIG. 11.
  • the embodiment of FIG. 11 also includes reinforcements 5a embedded in the belt member 6, together with weight members 5.
  • FIG. 12 shows a weight member 32 connected to the central portion 1c of the oil fence line A.
  • the weight member 32 is mechanically connected to the tubular float means 7 of the oil fence assembly through vertically disposed flexible air pipe means 33.
  • the mass of the weight member 32 is selected to be balanced with or slightly greater than the buoyancy produced by the vertically disposed air pipe means 33.
  • the tubular float means 7 between the central portion lc and the end portion lb is isolated from the opposite half of the oil fence line A, because the tubular float means is contracted by the hydraulic pressure at the central portion 1c and air passage is blocked there.
  • a limited suction is applied to the end portion la, that half of the oil fence line A which lies between the central portion 1c and the end portion lb stays afloat.
  • FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the immersible buoys 2 of FIGS. 1 to 3 are replaced with a buoyancy generating means each has a construction similar to the oil fence unit 1.
  • each of the buoyancy generating means of FIG. 13 comprises a flexible belt member 2d similar to the belt member 6 of the unit 1 and one or two inflatable tubes 2a secured to the belt member 2d at one or two opposing surfaces thereof by strap members 2!).
  • the strap member 2b may be rivetted to the belt member 2d.
  • the diameter of the inflatable tube 2a is considerably greater than that of the tubular float means 7, because the former is required to generate a buoyancy large enough for floating both the buoyancy generating means itself and a wire rope means 4 anchoring the buoyancy generating means to sea bed.
  • the wire rope means 4 is connected to the buoyancy generating means at an eye-ring 20 provided at the aforesaid strap 2!).
  • the opposite end of the wire rope means is connected to a heavy concrete block 3a sitting on the sea bed.
  • the wire rope means 4 of the embodiment includes chains at a part thereof.
  • the embodiment of FIG. 13 further includes a solid weight member 32 connected to that buoyancy generating means which is located at the non-ar-supply end of the oil fence line A.
  • the weight member 32 is hang from the oil fence line A by an inflatable tube 33 communicating with the inflatable tube 20 of said buoyancy generating means located at said end of the oil fence line A.
  • the construction and operation of the weight member 32 and the inflatable tube 33 of FIG. 13 are essentially identical with those of similarly numbered weight member and inflatable tube in the embodiment of FIGS. I1 and 12. Accordingly, the solid weight member 32 ensures smooth sinking and floating of the oil fence assembly.
  • a highly effective oil fence assembly having an elongated belt member, which belt member can extends above water level by a considerably large extent for ensuring effective blocking of floating drifts, can selectively be immersed by simple air valve operation, for allowing ship navigation above the oil fence assembly thus sunk.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly comprising a plurality of oil fence units having an elongated flexible belt member and a tubular float means secured to the belt member so as to extend along the longitudinal center line of the belt member, a plurality of immersible buoyancy generating means having an inflatable air container disposed therein, said oil fence units and said buoyancy generating means being alternately connected while joining said tubular float means of adjacent ones of said oil fence units to said air container of the buoyancy generating means located therebetween, so as to form an oil fence line, anchors stationed on the ground level, wire rope means connecting each of said anchors to corresponding one of said immersible buoyancy generating means, respectively, said wire rope means being long enough to cause the buoyancy generating means to float on water surface, a blocking means airtightly blocking said tubular float means at one end of said oil fence line, a flexible air hose connected to the opposite end of said oil fence line, and an air valve means connected to said air hose and selectively feed ing and releasing air into and
  • each said buoyancy generating means is an immersible buoy having an inflatable air bag surrounded by a perforated shell.
  • each said buoyancy generating means is a second oil fence unit consisting of a second belt member aligned with said belt member of said oil fence unit, an inflatable second tubular float means aligned with the tubular float means of said oil fence unit and having a diameter larger than that of saidtubular float means of the oil fence unit, and a metallic strap means integrally bonding said second tubular float means to said second belt member.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a pilot float means anchored to ground level through a wire rope means so as to float on water surface substantially at a constant location, said air valve means being mounted on said pilot buoy.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a controllable weight member secured to the wire rope means connecting the blocked side end buoyancy generating means to the anchor associated with said end buoyancy generating means at an intermediateposition between said end buoy and said associated anchor, said controllable weight member having an inflatable air chamber, and a flexible air hose connecting air container of said end buoyancy generating meansto said air chamber of said controllable weight member, the connecting position of said controllable weight member to said wire rope means being such that said controllable weight member is always kept below water level.
  • controllable weight member is an immersible buoy having an inflatable bag surrounded by a perforated shell.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising an immersible terminal buoy having an inflatable air bag, a contact belt member extending from one end of said oil fence line, a rope guide means secured to said oil fence assembly in the proximity of said contact belt member, a rope means extending from a wall to which said contact belt member is to engage said terminal buoy through said rope guide means, a flexible air hose connecting said inflatable air bag of said terminal buoy to one of said immersible buoyancy generating means of the oil fence assembly, and an air valve means controlling air flow through the last mentioned air hose for regulating the buoyancy of said terminal buoy, whereby upon immersion of said terminal buoy, said rope means acts on said rope guide means so as to force said contact belt member to always engage said wall for terminating said oil fence line at the wall.
  • terminal buoy is an immersible buoy having an inflatable air bag surrounded by a perforated shell.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a central weight member located at the central portion of the oil fence line, a contractible hose means connecting said central weight member to said tubular float means at about the center of said oil fence line, said contractible hose means communicating with said tubular float means, an additional air valve means connected to said blocked end of said oil fence line in communication of said tubular float means, whereby upon opening one of the two air valve means connected to the opposite ends of the oil fence line, that half of the oil fence line'lying between the valve thus opened and said central weight is immersed.
  • controllable weight member consists of a solid weight member and an inflatable hose section, which hose section is sealingly secured to said solid weight at one end thereof and communicates with said tubular float means at the opposite end thereof, the inner volume of said hose section when inflated by filling air therein being large enough to generate such a buoyancy which causes the solid weight member to leave the ground level under water.
  • An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a solid weight member integrally secured to said blocking means and an inflatable hose section having one end thereof communicating with said tubular float means, said inflatable hose section holding said solid weight member at the opposite end thereof so as to hang said weight member from said blocked end of said oil fence line.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
  • Jib Cranes (AREA)
US00234579A 1971-03-20 1972-03-14 Immersible oil fence assembly Expired - Lifetime US3779020A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46015685A JPS506744B1 (sv) 1971-03-20 1971-03-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3779020A true US3779020A (en) 1973-12-18

Family

ID=11895595

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00234579A Expired - Lifetime US3779020A (en) 1971-03-20 1972-03-14 Immersible oil fence assembly

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3779020A (sv)
JP (1) JPS506744B1 (sv)
AU (1) AU432352B2 (sv)
DE (1) DE2213144C3 (sv)
FR (1) FR2131474A5 (sv)
GB (1) GB1349328A (sv)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3839870A (en) * 1974-01-21 1974-10-08 M Ryan Off-shore oil well leakage confiner
US3859796A (en) * 1972-02-02 1975-01-14 Submarine Engineering Associat Submersible oil boom
US3922861A (en) * 1973-06-21 1975-12-02 Andre Grihangne Floating marine barrage
US3974655A (en) * 1975-04-14 1976-08-17 Halpern Richard L Water gate
US4015431A (en) * 1973-04-02 1977-04-05 Suzuei Co. Ltd Floatable oil fence
US4104884A (en) * 1976-04-14 1978-08-08 Paul Preus Inflatable barrier
US4188155A (en) * 1978-08-08 1980-02-12 Hillel P Containment boom
US4244819A (en) * 1972-12-26 1981-01-13 Pneumatiques Caoutchouc Manufacture Et Plastiques Kleber-Colombes Floating anti-pollution barrier and method for using the same
US4290714A (en) * 1979-12-03 1981-09-22 Western Geophysical Co. Of America Marine oil leak containment and recovery apparatus
US4310264A (en) * 1980-03-31 1982-01-12 Brownlee William L Buoyant pipe system
WO1983003628A1 (en) * 1982-04-19 1983-10-27 Larsson, Erik A floating boom
US4691661A (en) * 1981-05-15 1987-09-08 Salvatore Deiana Self-adjusting breakwater for artificial harbors
US5064309A (en) * 1990-07-12 1991-11-12 Dickie Gerald M Dockside spill containment system
US5102261A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-04-07 Peratrovich, Nottingham & Drage, Inc. Floating containment boom
US20040197148A1 (en) * 2003-04-02 2004-10-07 William Gould Fluid flow control boom
US20050252047A1 (en) * 2004-03-31 2005-11-17 Dreyer Harold B Submersible boom gate
US20110274494A1 (en) * 2010-05-06 2011-11-10 Lara Kim A Boom Mooring System
US20130343820A1 (en) * 2010-12-08 2013-12-26 Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology Oil fence and method for storing same
US9938681B1 (en) * 2010-07-01 2018-04-10 Weldon Taquino Floating oil containment boom
US10100480B2 (en) * 2016-06-01 2018-10-16 Trendsetter Engineering, Inc. Subsea booming system and method for deploying a subsea booming system

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO750551L (sv) * 1975-02-18 1976-08-19 Graenges Essem Plast As
SE7808574L (sv) * 1977-08-25 1979-02-26 Bridgestone Tire Co Ltd Oljesperr och apparat for hopkoppling av dylika sperrar
US4484836A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-11-27 Bailard James A Pneumatic spar sediment control curtain
JPS6122333U (ja) * 1984-07-13 1986-02-08 日立コンデンサ株式会社 固体電解コンデンサ

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3708983A (en) * 1971-02-16 1973-01-09 W Brown Apparatus for confining oil spills

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3708983A (en) * 1971-02-16 1973-01-09 W Brown Apparatus for confining oil spills

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3859796A (en) * 1972-02-02 1975-01-14 Submarine Engineering Associat Submersible oil boom
US4244819A (en) * 1972-12-26 1981-01-13 Pneumatiques Caoutchouc Manufacture Et Plastiques Kleber-Colombes Floating anti-pollution barrier and method for using the same
US4015431A (en) * 1973-04-02 1977-04-05 Suzuei Co. Ltd Floatable oil fence
US3922861A (en) * 1973-06-21 1975-12-02 Andre Grihangne Floating marine barrage
US3839870A (en) * 1974-01-21 1974-10-08 M Ryan Off-shore oil well leakage confiner
US3974655A (en) * 1975-04-14 1976-08-17 Halpern Richard L Water gate
US4104884A (en) * 1976-04-14 1978-08-08 Paul Preus Inflatable barrier
US4188155A (en) * 1978-08-08 1980-02-12 Hillel P Containment boom
US4290714A (en) * 1979-12-03 1981-09-22 Western Geophysical Co. Of America Marine oil leak containment and recovery apparatus
US4310264A (en) * 1980-03-31 1982-01-12 Brownlee William L Buoyant pipe system
US4691661A (en) * 1981-05-15 1987-09-08 Salvatore Deiana Self-adjusting breakwater for artificial harbors
WO1983003628A1 (en) * 1982-04-19 1983-10-27 Larsson, Erik A floating boom
US5102261A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-04-07 Peratrovich, Nottingham & Drage, Inc. Floating containment boom
US5064309A (en) * 1990-07-12 1991-11-12 Dickie Gerald M Dockside spill containment system
WO1992001119A1 (en) * 1990-07-12 1992-01-23 Dickie Gerald M Dockside spill containment system
US20040197148A1 (en) * 2003-04-02 2004-10-07 William Gould Fluid flow control boom
US20050252047A1 (en) * 2004-03-31 2005-11-17 Dreyer Harold B Submersible boom gate
WO2006055023A1 (en) * 2004-03-31 2006-05-26 Gunderboom, Inc. Submersible boom gate
US7134807B2 (en) * 2004-03-31 2006-11-14 Gunderboom, Inc. Submersible boom gate
US20110274494A1 (en) * 2010-05-06 2011-11-10 Lara Kim A Boom Mooring System
US8303212B2 (en) * 2010-05-06 2012-11-06 Lara Kim A Boom mooring system
US9938681B1 (en) * 2010-07-01 2018-04-10 Weldon Taquino Floating oil containment boom
US20130343820A1 (en) * 2010-12-08 2013-12-26 Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology Oil fence and method for storing same
US9068315B2 (en) * 2010-12-08 2015-06-30 Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology Oil fence and method for storing same
US10100480B2 (en) * 2016-06-01 2018-10-16 Trendsetter Engineering, Inc. Subsea booming system and method for deploying a subsea booming system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1349328A (en) 1974-04-03
FR2131474A5 (sv) 1972-11-10
JPS506744B1 (sv) 1975-03-17
DE2213144B2 (de) 1975-01-09
DE2213144C3 (de) 1975-08-28
AU4007272A (en) 1973-02-22
DE2213144A1 (de) 1972-10-12
AU432352B2 (en) 1973-02-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3779020A (en) Immersible oil fence assembly
US2955626A (en) Pipe lines for loading and unloading ships and other vessels
US3548605A (en) Submergible vehicle for emergency offshore gas leakage
US3572041A (en) Spar-type floating production facility
US5154537A (en) Barrier curtain
US3435793A (en) Portable submarine tanks
US3611734A (en) Foundation anchor for floating marine platform
US6257337B1 (en) Submerged riser tensioner
US3431879A (en) Method and apparatus for offshore anchoring
US2990796A (en) Submersible vessel
US3430597A (en) One-point mooring system for loading or unloading fluids into or from a ship
US5676083A (en) Offshore mooring device and method of using same
WO1982001387A1 (en) Equipment for the recovery of oil flowing out of sub-water ground
US3777499A (en) Offshore pipeline recovery
US5346329A (en) Floating barrier method and apparatus
US3710943A (en) Variable displacement fence for oil spill containment and recovery
US4037425A (en) Buoyancy apparatus
GB1585170A (en) Forming concrete structures for underwater pipelines
AU726802B2 (en) A buoyancy device
US3654951A (en) Liquid storage facility including self-actuating discharge conduit
US3712260A (en) Marine terminal mooring
CA1130583A (en) Inflatable equipment for use as a buoyant boom
US5114273A (en) Offshore platform pollution containment device
US3635347A (en) Apparatus for controlling the dispersion of pollutants floating on a body of water
US4290381A (en) Floating marina