US3807617A - Floating boom deployment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Deployment apparatus for use with a floating boom of the type formed from a flexible sheet-like partition and a plurality of demountable float means is disclosed. The deployment apparatus includes a partition storage means such as a reel and slide means positioned proximate the reel and formed to enable the partition with the float means attached thereto to be conveyed thereover during deployment and retrieval of the floating boom. The slide means is mounted at a distance from the reel and is dimensioned to have a height so as to enable mounting and demounting of float means to the partition at a position between the slide means and the reel.

Description

United States Patent 1191 11 1 3,807,617 Tanksley Apr. 30, 1974 [541 FLOATING BOOM DEPLOYMENT APPARATUS Neeld D. Tanksley, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Pacific Pollution Control, San Francisco, Calif.

Filed: Apr. 25, 1973 Appl. No.: 354,169

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1971 Smith 114/.5 T 5/1973 Markel 61/1 F Primary Examiner-Richard A/Schacher Attorney, Agent, or FirmWarren, Rubin, Brucker & Chickering v 1571 Ansmcr Deployment apparatus for'use with a floating boom of the type formed from a flexible sheet-like partition and a plurality of demountable float means is disclosed. The deployment apparatus includes a partition storage means such as a reel and slide means positioned proximate the reel and formed to enable the partition with the float means attached thereto to be conveyed thereover during deployment and retrieval of the floating boom. The slide means is mounted at a distance from the reel and is dimensioned to have a height so as to enable mounting and demounting of float means to the partition at a position between the slide means and the reel.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 FLOATING BOOM DEPLOYMENT APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A number of different types of floating booms have been evolved for use in controlling liquid pollutants, such as oil, whichhave been accidentally discharged on a body of water. Such booms are often employed as a preventative measure when the risk of pollutant discharge is high. For example, a floating boom will often be positioned around a ship when it is being fueled. In many applications such as this, it is often necessary to be able to relatively rapidly deploy and retrieve the floating boom, either from a pier or a deployment vessel.

One type of floating boom which has been found to be extremely advantageous since'it can be relatively rapidly deployed and retrieved and further can be stored in a relatively compact volume is shown in my co-pending application Ser. No. 263,522, filed June 16, 1972, and entitled FLOATING BOOM". This type of floating boom includes a sheet-like partition member and a plurality of float means which may be selectively attached toor removed from the partition at intervals along the length thereof insuring the desired buoyancy of the boom. This flexible partition may be readily stored in a roll on a reel. The partition material may then be unreeled and the floats attached as the partition is being paid out from the reel.

In connection with the deployment and retrieval of floating booms of the sheet-like partition type some considerable problem can be encountered in manipulating the partition while the float means are being attached or removed and the partition with the float means is being placed in the water. The partition must be supported in an orientation suitable for attachment and removal of the float means. Still further the partition with the float means attached thereto must be conveyed to the body of water from thestorage area which cannot always be located immediately at the waters edge. For example, whether on a boat or pier, some area must be allowed between the reel and the water for storage and attachment of the float means.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide deployment apparatus for a floating boom which enables relatively rapid deployment and retrieval of the boom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide deployment apparatus for a floating boom which is suitable for use on piers, boats, ships, barges and the like,

It is a further object of the present invention to provide deployment apparatus for a floating boom which enhances the ease of manipulation of the boom and may be used for conveyance of the boom from a storage area removed from the water's edge to the water.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide deployment apparatus for a floating boom which is durable, easy to manufacture, may be used by relatively unskilled personnel, and may be easily installed.

The floating boom deployment apparatus of the present invention has other objects and features of advantage which will be set forth in more detail and will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The floating boom deployment apparatus of the pres- 2t ent invention is briefly comprised of storage means, such as a reel, formed for storage of a flexible partition thereon and paying out and retrieval of the partition therefrom; and slide means positioned proximate the storage means for receipt of the partition as it is paid out or retrieved The slide means is formed for support of the partition causing the same to be oriented for attachment or removal of float means to and from the partition and sliding support of the partition over the slide means to the water with the float means attached. to the partition. The slide means is preferably formed as a pair of rails extending longitudinally in the direction of deployment of the partition and positioned in horizontally spaced apart relation at a distance dimensioned for receipt of the float means between the rails. The rails are supported on vertical posts and have interconnecting cross members which define a channel for passage of the float means between the rails. The ends of the slide are formed to receive the partition from the reel at one end and to receive the partition from the water and enable twisting of the same from the vertical position which the floating boom assumes in the water to a generally horizontal position for storage on the reel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, of a floating boom deployment apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a pier.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 the floating boom deployment apparatus of the present invention can be seen as used to deploy a. floating boom formed from a flexible, sheet-like partition 2 to which azplurality of float means, generally designated 22, may be attached or removed. Float means 22 can be of the type set forth in my co-pending application Ser. No. 263,522 or, as is shown best in FIG. 3, can be formed of a frame 23 having outwardly extending arms 24 on which a'plurality of float elements 26 are secured by fasteners 27. Float element carrying frame 23 is secured to partition 21 by latch means or securement means 28 so that the frame may be selectively removed from the partition or latched thereto. As set forth in my above-referenced co-pending application, end 2 9'of the frame can be formed with a pivotal connection for articulation of the frame to an open position allowing mounting and demounting from the partition. As shown in the drawing, however, end 29 is not articulated and the latch means 28 is formed with a movable element which can be selectively positioned across the top edge of the partition or away therefrom to enable-mountingof the float element carrying frame on the partition and removal of the frame from the partition.

Since the partition is flexible, storage means, generally designated 31, may take the form of a reel 32 formed for storage of the flexible partition in a roll 33 thereon and for paying out and retrieval of the partition. Located proximate partition storage means 31 is slide means 34. The slide means is formed for receipt of partition 21 from real 32 and for sliding-support of the partition from adjacent the reel to the point of de- ,ployment of the boom, in this case the end 26 of pier 37. Slide 34 further formed for sliding of the partition thereover with float means 22 attached to the partition. Thus, a pair of relatively horizontally spaced apart rail members 38 amd 39 are formed for sliding support of a side of the partition intermediate the ends thereof and yet are relatively horizontally spaced apart at a distance allowing passage of arms 24 and float elements 26 therebetween. Rails 38 and 39 are held at the desired vertical heighth by upright members 41 and cross members 42 connect uprights 41 to provide strength in the slide. As will be seen, however, cross members 42 are positioned at a distance below rails 38 and 39 so as to define a passageway or channel 43 (best seen in FIG. 3) for passage of the float means along the slide.

In order to enable rapid securement of float means 22 to partition 21, it is preferable that slide 34 be located at a spaced distance from reel 32 and have end 44 formed of a heighth so as to position partition 21 for loading and unloading 'of the float means between the reel and slide. Thus, as indicated by arrow 46 a loading and unloading station is provided between the reel and the slide with the heighth of partition 21 being sufliciently above pier 37 so as to allow the arms and float elements to clear the top surface of the pier. In this regard, float means 22 can be stored in area 47 adjacent the slide and reel for convenient mounting or demounting to'the partition at loading and unloading station 46.

In use the end of the partition is engaged and advanced toward slide 34. The floats are attached at station 46 and the partition carrying the floats slid over the slide to the deployment end 48 of the slide. The end of the partition is then connected to a deployment boat which begins advancing the partition away from reel 32. As the partition leaves end 48 of the slide, the

weight of the float elements causes the partition to be twisted at 49 so as toassume a generally vertical orientation, which is the orientation assumed in the water. The operator in the boat continues to tow the boom away from the reel 32 at a rate which will enable a second operator at station46 to mount float means to the partition. The operatorat station 46 is further in a position to control rotation of reel 32 to avoid too rapid a paying out of the partition from the reel. lt should be noted that end 44 of the slide preferably is arcuate in form to insure proper sliding of the partition over the slide in the event of temporary slack in the partition at loading station 46. Similarly, end 48 is further preferably formed with arcuate rails so as to accommodate twisting of the partition by 90 as it passes from the water to the slide. I

Since the floating boom of the present invention is often employed in salt water bodies, it is preferable that the reel and slide of the present inveniton be formed of a material which is corrosion resistant, such as aluminum, stainless steel or a high-strength plastic. The length of slide 34 can be readily extended to accommodate a variety of installation configurations. It is further preferable that the slide means slope downwardly from end 44' to end 48 so as to minimize the vertical heighth between the point of deployment or retrieval of the floating boom to the water. Finally, as will be understood, the apparatus of the present invention can be used to retrieve the boom by reversing the process above-described in connection with deployment. To bring the boom in, however, reel 32 can be manually engaged by an operator or driven by a motor once the partition is attached thereto and a second operator positioned at station 46 to remove the floats. A third operator is usually not necessary to guide the boom in the water although such a technique may be optionally employed.

I claim: I

1. Floating boom deployment apparatus for use with a flexible sheet-like partition and a plurality of float means formed for mounting to and demounting from said partition comprising:

it .storage means formed for storage of said partition therein and paying out of said partition therefrom; and

slide means positioned proximate said'storage means and formed for receipt of said partition from said storage means and sliding support of said partition thereover, said slide means being further formed with a float means receiving passageway thereover for sliding movement of said partition over said slide means with said float means mounted to said partition.

2. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, V

said storage means is formed as a reel formed for storage of said sheet-like partition in a roll thereon.

3. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said slide means is located at a spaced distance from said reel and is formed and dimensioned to position and orient said partition passing-between said reel and said slide means for securement of float means to said partition. l

4. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said slide means includes a pair of horizontally extending and horizontally spaced apart rails, said rails being spaced at a distance less than the height of said partition for engagement of a side of said partition intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, said rails being further spaced apart a distance sufficient for passage of the portion of said .float means extending laterally of said partition therebetween.

5. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein, said rails extend from proximate said reel to proximate a body of water into which the floating boom is to be deployed and said rails slope from said reel downwardly toward said body of water, and said rails are supported on upright members and said upright members are secured together by cross members positioned at a distance below said rails for passage of said float means thereover, said rails, upright members and cross members defining said float means receiving passageway.

6. A floating boom deploymentapparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein,

opposite ends of said rails means are downwardly depending arcuate portions for receipt of said partitionfrom said reel and from said body of water.

I l l

Claims (6)

1. Floating boom deployment apparatus for use with a flexible sheet-like partition and a plurality of float means formed for mounting to and demounting from said partition comprising: storage means formed for storage of said partition therein and paying out of said partition therefrom; and slide means positioned proximAte said storage means and formed for receipt of said partition from said storage means and sliding support of said partition thereover, said slide means being further formed with a float means receiving passageway thereover for sliding movement of said partition over said slide means with said float means mounted to said partition.

2. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, said storage means is formed as a reel formed for storage of said sheet-like partition in a roll thereon.

3. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, said slide means is located at a spaced distance from said reel and is formed and dimensioned to position and orient said partition passing between said reel and said slide means for securement of float means to said partition.

4. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said slide means includes a pair of horizontally extending and horizontally spaced apart rails, said rails being spaced at a distance less than the height of said partition for engagement of a side of said partition intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, said rails being further spaced apart a distance sufficient for passage of the portion of said float means extending laterally of said partition therebetween.

5. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein, said rails extend from proximate said reel to proximate a body of water into which the floating boom is to be deployed and said rails slope from said reel downwardly toward said body of water, and said rails are supported on upright members and said upright members are secured together by cross members positioned at a distance below said rails for passage of said float means thereover, said rails, upright members and cross members defining said float means receiving passageway.

6. A floating boom deployment apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein, opposite ends of said rails means are downwardly depending arcuate portions for receipt of said partition from said reel and from said body of water.

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