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
  • E02B15/0807—Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material with stabilising elements
• • 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
  • E02B15/0857—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

• the present invention relates to an oil boom intended for use in coastal waters or like waters and comprising an elongated air-inflatable buoyant body constructed from a fabric material and having a downwardly depending curtain connected to its bottom edge.
• the oil boom is of the self-expanding type, so as to enable it to be easily rolled-up and so as to take-up only a small amount of space when stored or transported.
• An automatic air-filling and air-emptying valve is provided on the upper side of the buoyant body of the boom.
• Oil booms of this kind are known to the art, for instance from our earlier Patent Application SE 9302257-2 and include an air-inflatable buoyant body from which a curtain depends when the boom is in use.
• the problem with earlier known booms of this kind is that they are liable to be punctured, so that water is able to enter the buoyant body and therewith lower its buoyancy to an extent such as to cause the upper part of the boom to sink beneath the surface of the water, and also that when taking-up the boom, it is difficult to drain therefrom any water that may have entered the buoyant body whilst the boom was in use.
• Another problem resides in the construction of the framework which functions to hold the boom stretched in its state of use and which shall be capable of being collapsed when wishing to pack-up the boom.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a boom with which it is guaranteed that the boom will never sink in the water to a depth at which its oil-delimiting capacity is jeopardized, even should the buoyant body be punctured.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a boom which can be manufactured easily and which has a framework that can be easily fitted and that is also reliable in operation.
• Still another object of the invention is to provide a boom from which water that has entered the boom can be easily drained therefrom when taking-up the boom.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective sectional view of an inventive boom construction
• Fig. 2 is a side view of a framework for outwardly stretching of the boom shown in Fig. 1.
• the inventive oil boom thus includes an air-inflatable buoyant body 1 and a curtain 2 which will depend from the bottom edge of said body when the boom is in use.
• the bottom of the curtain is provided with ballast accommodating pocket means 3, into which there can be inserted a curtain ballast chain, for instance.
• the buoyant body 1 and the curtain 2 are both produced from an airtight and watertight fabric, preferably a fabric which can be heat-welded or even more preferably high-freguency welded.
• the buoyant body 1 is divided longitudinally into a plurality of sections by impervious bulkheads 4, which are formed by fastening fabric within the buoyant body against the inside of the body walls, this fabric material preferably being the same material as that from which the buoyant body is made.
• a drainage pocket 6 which is conveniently made from the same material as the buoyant body in general and which extends downwards along the depending curtain 2 within each segment of the buoyant body.
• the drainage pocket 6 is open both upwardly and inwardly towards the buoyant body 1 and also downwardly towards that part which is located in the water when the boom is laid-out.
• the drainage pocket 6, however, is closed almost completely by the pressure of the water acting thereon when the boom is laid-out.
• each segment of the buoyant body is a valve 7 of known type which guarantees the introduction of air into the buoyant body when expanding the same.
• a respective airtight connecting pipe 8 which is conveniently made of the same material as the buoyant body and which extends trans ⁇ versely through the buoyant body in its vertical direction and discharges immediately beneath the intended waterline, in the upper part of the drainage pocket 6.
• Fig. 2 thus illustrates a framework 2 which stretches or extends the buoyant body outwardly and which has the same geometrical shape as the buoyant body in its outwardly stretched state.
• the framework includes four arms which are connected by means of joints, namely an upper joint 9, a lower joint 10 and two side joints 11.
• the arms are comprised of two upper arms 12 and two lower arms 11, wherein the lower arms are slightly shorter than the upper arms.
• the upper joint 9 and the lower joint 10 are mutually connected by means of a pull spring 14 which endeavours to pull the framework 5 to the state shown in Fig. 2, which is the maximum outwardly stretched state of the framework.
• the two side joints 11 may be constructed to form a maximum limit to which the framework can be extended or stretched, for instance as a result of the mutual abutment of shoulders 15.
• Further shoulders 16 are provided adjacent the upper and the lower joints 9, 10 and abut one another when collapsing the framework so that the boom can be rolled-up.
• the upper and the lower arms 12, 13 are attached to their respective upper and lower joints 9, 10 at a given angle in relation to the abutment surfaces of the shoulders 16, therewith preventing the arms 12 and 13 adjacent respective joints 9 from lying completely parallel with or against one another.
• the arms 12 and 13 are conveniently made of a resilient material, for instance acryl of the same type as that from which sail slats are made, so that the arms 12 and 13 will be flexible.
• the function of the inventive boom is such that when a rolled- up boom is released in the water, the framework will extend the buoyant body 1 and the respective valves 7 will allow air to enter through the connecting tubes 8. Since the connecting tubes 8 terminate in the upper edge of the drainage pocket 6, the air will flow upwards into the buoyant body itself. As the boom is laid-out, the pressure of the water will close the drainage pocket 6 at the lower edge of the boom, which therewith forms a closure means which will ensure that the air will definitely rise upwards into the buoyant body 1. The water level will lie immediately above the bottom edge of the drainage pocket and any water that enters through the drainage pocket 6 will also contribute in closing the connecting tubes 8 and therewith close respective valves 7.
• the boom can be easily rolled-up when lifted out of the water, and any water that has penetrated into the buoyant body can be easily evacuated through the now downwardly open drainage pocket 6, together with the air.

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)
• Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20392271

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

Citations (2)

• 1993
  • 1993-12-30 SE SE9304348A patent/SE500998C2/sv unknown
• 1994
  • 1994-12-06 EP EP95905821A patent/EP0745165A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-12-06 AU AU14285/95A patent/AU1428595A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-12-06 WO PCT/SE1994/001173 patent/WO1995018267A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

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