U.S. patent application number 11/085076 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for floating protection barrier gate.
This patent application is currently assigned to INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael K. Baker, Stephen D. Lisse, Christopher P. Pacheco, Clark E. Whitman.
Application Number | 20060216116 11/085076 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37035350 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060216116 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baker; Michael K. ; et
al. |
September 28, 2006 |
Floating protection barrier gate
Abstract
A protection apparatus protects a harbor or an area in a body of
water or adjacent to a body of water. The protection apparatus
floats on the body of water, and includes a plurality of barrier
units positioned side-by-side, each of the barrier units includes a
composite-based durable barrier structure. The barrier structure is
configured to hold a net in place in order to protect an area in
the body of water or abutting the body of water from waterborne
craft. At least one of the barrier units includes a gate that
allows passage of waterborne craft into and out of the protected
body of water.
Inventors: |
Baker; Michael K.;
(Alexandria, VA) ; Lisse; Stephen D.; (Fairfax,
VA) ; Pacheco; Christopher P.; (Newport, RI) ;
Whitman; Clark E.; (Annandale, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION,
INC.
|
Family ID: |
37035350 |
Appl. No.: |
11/085076 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 11/05 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/063 |
International
Class: |
E02B 15/04 20060101
E02B015/04 |
Claims
1. A protection apparatus that is configured to float on a body of
water, comprising: a first composite-based barrier structure, the
first composite-based barrier structure configured to hold a first
net in place; a second composite-based barrier structure, the
second composite-based barrier structure configured to hold a
second net in place; and a third gate structure provided between
the first and second composite-based barrier structures and
respectively coupled at first and second ends to the first and
second composite-based barrier structures, wherein the protection
apparatus protects an area in the body of water or abutting the
body of water from waterborne craft, and wherein the protection
apparatus allows passage into and out of the area in the body of
water by way of the third gate structure.
2. The protection apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: at least one pontoon coupled to the barrier structure
and configured to act as a floating component for the protection
apparatus when the protection apparatus is placed in the body of
water.
3. The protection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at
least one pontoon includes at least four pontoons, wherein a first
pontoon is coupled to a portion of the barrier structure adjacent
to one end of the barrier structure, wherein a second pontoon is
coupled to a portion of the barrier structure adjacent to an
opposite end of the barrier structure, and wherein a third and a
fourth pontoon are coupled to a portion of the barrier structure
corresponding to a middle region of the barrier structure.
4. The protection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first
and second pontoons are of a first length, and wherein the third
and fourth pontoons are of a second length greater than the first
length.
5. The protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
barrier structure includes a first beam that spans an entire length
of the first composite-based barrier structure, and a second beam
that spans an entire length of the second composite-based barrier
structure, and wherein the first and second beams are a
composite-based structure.
6. The protection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
protection apparatus is in a range of 40 to 50 feet in length.
7. The protection apparatus according to claim 5, further
comprising: a plurality of net holding units coupled to the first
and second beams and disposed above the first and second beams when
the protection apparatus is placed in the body of water, the
plurality of holding units configured to hold the first and second
nets in place on the protection apparatus and to provide support
for the first and second nets when the first and second nets are
subject to normal and/or tangential forces.
8. The protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
composite-based durable barrier structure is a fiberglass
reinforced plastic durable barrier structure.
9. The protection apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a truss provided around the third gate structure, the
truss providing a structural integrity to the protection
apparatus.
10. The protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
truss comprises: first and second vertical members; and first and
second horizontal members, wherein the first and second vertical
members and connected to the first and second horizontal members to
thereby form a rectangular-shaped truss.
11. The protection apparatus according to claim 10, further
comprising: X-shaped bracing provided on the first and second
horizontal members; and Z-shaped bracing provided on the first and
second vertical members.
12. The protection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the
truss is a steel member made of steel pipe.
13. A protection apparatus that is configured to float on a body of
water, comprising: a left-side barrier structure, the left-side
barrier structure configured to hold a first net in place; a
right-side barrier structure, the right-side barrier structure
configured to hold a second net in place; and a third gate
structure provided between the left- and right-side barrier
structures and respectively coupled at first and second ends to the
left- and right-side barrier structures, wherein the protection
apparatus protects an area in the body of water or abutting the
body of water from waterborne craft, and wherein the protection
apparatus allows passage into and out of the area in the body of
water by way of the third gate structure.
14. The protection apparatus according to claim 13, further
comprising: a truss provided around the third gate structure, the
truss providing a structural integrity to the protection
apparatus.
15. The protection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
truss comprises: first and second vertical members; and first and
second horizontal members, wherein the first and second vertical
members and connected to the first and second horizontal members to
thereby form a rectangular-shaped truss.
16. The protection apparatus according to claim 15, further
comprising: X-shaped bracing provided on the first and second
horizontal members; and Z-shaped bracing provided on the first and
second vertical members.
17. The protection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
truss is a steel member made of steel pipe.
18. The protection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
left- and right-side barrier structures are composite-based.
19. The protection apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the
left- and right-side barrier structures are composite-based.
20. The protection apparatus according to claim 13, further
comprising: at least one pontoon coupled to the barrier structure
and configured to act as a floating component for the protection
apparatus when the protection apparatus is placed in the body of
water.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates generally to protection barriers and,
more particularly, to durable, floating boat barriers that are used
to protect areas such as harbors, water regions, or other types of
land or water areas from high speed and low speed water craft
attack.
[0003] B. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In the current environment with terrorist activities on the
rise, there is a need to protect assets from terrorist attacks. One
type of protection device is a floating harbor protection barrier
system designed to provide protection to military and commercial
harbors from high speed surface boat attacks.
[0005] Initial research into harbor protection by the Naval
Facilities Engineering Service Center led to the development of a
mostly mild-steel structure called the Port Security Barrier. The
Port Security Barrier consists of three steel pontoons supporting a
steel box beam, steel supports for netting, steel braces, and
primary netting made up of 1.125 inch diameter nylon 12-plait line
with a mesh size of one foot.
[0006] Another type of floating barrier device is described in the
Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center Technical Report
TR-2027-SHR, dated September, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as
"Technical Report"). As described in the Technical Report, a
lightweight floating barrier for defeating a high speed boat attack
includes at least one 40-foot-long barrier module with a
lightweight glass reinforced plastic (GRP) frame, low density
closed cell foam floats, and a capture net woven from high strength
Spectra.TM. line. Each barrier module can be folded for ease in
transportation between locations, and assembly and installation of
a lightweight floating barrier can be done with unskilled labor
using simple tools and support craft.
[0007] While the use of GRP for components of a harbor protection
barrier is an improvement over the use of a mostly-steel or an
all-steel construction for a harbor protection barrier in some
respects (e.g., lower maintenance costs), it still has problems
associated with not being as structurally strong as the
mostly-steel construction, and thereby it does not provide as good
a protection or durability as one would get from the mostly-steel
construction or all-steel construction of a harbor protection
barrier. For example, a test described in the Technical Report (see
FIG. 29 of the Technical Report) shows that a GRP protection
barrier frame was shattered by a high-speed boat impacting the GRP
protection barrier. One can surmise from that test that boats
following a lead boat (which impacted the GRP protection barrier)
may be able to follow the same path in the water as the lead boat
and thereby penetrate into a region protected by one or more GRP
protection barriers, which is clearly undesirable.
[0008] Furthermore, conventional GRP Port Security barrier modules
are not particularly sturdy with respect to dealing with forces due
to boat attacks and/or forces due to severe weather conditions.
[0009] Also, for an all-steel construction or for a mostly-steel
construction of a Port Security barrier, there is a problem in that
maintenance costs are very high. For example, when the Port
Security barrier is floating in the water, it deteriorates over
time due to the sea water that comes in contact with the steel.
This leads to rusting, which causes deterioration of the Port
Security barrier, thereby making it less structurally sound. While
such steel-constructed Port Security barriers typically have a
paint coat to partially counter the rusting problem, the
conventional Port Security barriers have to be painted fairly often
in order to maintain the structural integrity of the paint barrier,
which again results in high maintenance costs.
[0010] Furthermore, with conventional Port Security barriers, there
is a problem associated with coupling two or more harbor protection
barrier modules together to protect a large region, such as a
harbor. As described in the Technical Report, each protection
barrier module is 40 feet long, and thus to protect a length of
harbor of 150 feet would require four (4) protection barrier
modules coupled together. The conventional method of coupling
protection barrier modules to each other is via a loose coupling at
the respective ends of adjacent protection barrier modules,
typically by coupling a steel cable to respective ends of adjacent
protection barrier modules. This loose coupling results in
undesired stresses being imparted to individual protection barrier
modules as they flop around in the water due to inclement weather
conditions such as high wave and high wind conditions. Such a loose
coupling between protection barrier modules may result in damage to
individual protection barrier modules, with results in an undesired
cost associated with repairing protection barrier modules already
installed or having to utilize new protection barrier modules to
replace protection barrier modules that are damaged beyond
repair.
[0011] There is also a problem with respect to providing `gates`
for allowing friendly boats into a protected area. Current
protection barrier structures do not provide for such gates,
thereby making it difficult for friendly boats to pass into and out
of protected water areas.
[0012] The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least
reducing the effects of one or more of the problems set forth
above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a protection apparatus that is configured to float on a
body of water, and which includes a first composite-based barrier
structure, the first composite-based barrier structure configured
to hold a first net in place. The protection apparatus also
includes a second composite-based barrier structure, the second
composite-based barrier structure configured to hold a second net
in place. The protection apparatus further includes a third gate
structure provided between the first and second composite-based
barrier structures and respectively coupled at first and second
ends to the first and second composite-based barrier structures.
The protection apparatus protects an area in the body of water or
abutting the body of water from waterborne craft, and the
protection apparatus allows passage into and out of the area in the
body of water by way of the third gate structure.
[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a protection apparatus that is configured to float on a
body of water, and which includes a left-side barrier structure
that is configured to hold a first net in place. The protection
apparatus also includes a right-side barrier structure that is
configured to hold a second net in place. The protection apparatus
further includes a third gate structure provided between the left-
and right-side barrier structures and respectively coupled at first
and second ends to the left- and right-side barrier structures. The
protection apparatus protects an area in the body of water or
abutting the body of water from waterborne craft, and the
protection apparatus allows passage into and out of the area in the
body of water by way of the third gate structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The foregoing advantages and features of the invention will
become apparent upon reference to the following detailed
description and the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a harbor protection
barrier according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows components making up a truss that may be
utilized in a gate harbor protection barrier according to second or
third embodiments of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a truss that may be utilized in a gate harbor
protection barrier according to the second or third embodiments of
the invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a gate harbor protection barrier according to
the second or third embodiments of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a gate harbor protection barrier with nets and
net stations and wire rigging installed, according to the second or
third embodiments of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a harbor protection system that utilizes a
plurality of non-gate harbor protection barriers and a gate harbor
barrier protection according to the second or third embodiments of
the invention; and
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a truss that may be utilized in a gate harbor
protection barrier according to a fourth embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below,
with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention
according to at least one embodiment is directed to a composite
harbor protection barrier system (HPB), which is a floating harbor
protection barrier system that provides protection to military and
commercial harbors or other types of land or water regions from
high speed surface boat attacks and other types of surface attacks
made by waterborne craft and hovercraft.
[0024] The HPB according to a first embodiment is very similar to
the HPB as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/621,655, entitled "Protection Barrier Apparatus", which is
assigned to the same assignee as this application, and which is
incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
[0025] The HPB according to the first embodiment is fabricated out
of composite materials for practically all of the portion of the
protection barrier structure that is disposed above the water line,
and it is constructed primarily out of foam materials for the
pontoon structure that floats on the water and that provides the
structural capability for each HPB protection barrier unit to float
on the water. The HPB is designed to have a low life cycle
maintenance cost as compared to conventional structures, while at
the same time it is designed to provide an acceptable boat stopping
capability to protect military and/or commercial harbors or other
types of regions that abut a body of water (or to protect a water
region or a land region totally surrounded by water).
[0026] The HPB can also be used to protect a structure surrounded
by a body of water, such as an off-shore oil platform, by providing
protection barriers on the perimeter of the region-to-be-protected.
In a preferred implementation, the HPB system is made up of
individual 50-foot long protection barrier units connected together
in spans to block access to a particular region by unauthorized
watercraft. The connection device that connects adjacent 50-foot
long protection barrier units to each other is called a connector,
and which is described in detail in copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/621,655.
[0027] The HPB according to a first embodiment of the invention is
shown in FIG. 1 (top perspective view), whereby it is different
from the embodiments described in copending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/621,655, with respect to braces 175A', 175B' that
together form a V-shaped structure. The braces 175A', 175B' are
connected at one end to the end pontoons 170A, 170C, respectively,
instead of being connected directly to the beam 110. The other end
of the braces 175A', 175B' are connected to the middle pontoon
170B, just like the braces utilized in the embodiments described in
the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/621,655. The
connection of the braces 175A', 175B' to the pontoons 170A, 170B
and 170C provides for a stable and durable barrier structure,
without requiring direct connectivity of the V-shaped structure to
the beam 110. This provides for a greater angle for the V-shaped
structure, which may be advantageous for barriers of certain
lengths (e.g., 50' or less in length).
[0028] In more detail, FIG. 1 shows that the ends of the braces
175A', 175B' are connected to brackets 160, whereby the brackets
are utilized to rigidly connect the pontoons 170A, 170C to the beam
110.
[0029] A second embodiment of the invention will be described below
with reference to FIGS. 2-6, which show various features of a gate
barrier 200 that includes a truss 210. The gate barrier 200 may be
utilized with non-gate barriers to provide protection over a large
region, whereby the non-gate barriers may be constructed as
described above with respect to the first embodiment or as
described in the various embodiments provided in the co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/621,651, or whereby the
non-gate barriers may be any conventional harbor protection
barrier.
[0030] The gate barrier 200 includes a truss structure 210, as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The truss structure 210 includes two
vertical truss sections 310, 320 and two horizontal truss sections
330, 340, which are connected together to form a box-like structure
(see FIG. 3). The truss sections are preferably made of stainless
steel pipe, such as Schedule 40 steel, or carbon steel. Preferably,
3'' Schedule 40 pipes are used for the main truss members, and
1.25'' Schedule 40 pipes are used for the cross bracing members. A
preferred density of the steel is 0.288 lb/in.sup.3. Bracing is
preferably done with X-bracing for the horizontal truss sections
330, 340, and with Z-bracing for the vertical truss sections 310,
320. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other
types of bracings and pipe types and sizes may be utilized while
remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0031] The truss 210 forms a frame for a gate portion (middle
portion) of a gate harbor barrier 200, to thereby provide stability
and structural integrity (rigidity) for the gate harbor barrier
200. Because the gate harbor barrier 200 floats on the water (by
way of pontoons), it experiences wind and current loading on a
continuous basis. Additionally, in extreme weather conditions, the
truss 210 helps the gate harbor barrier 200 deal with the strong
forces acting upon the gate harbor barrier 200. The truss 210
transmits (e.g., absorbs and spreads out) loading due to such
unwanted forces, while at the same time allowing an opening in the
gate harbor barrier 200 for boats or other types of watercraft to
pass through.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the truss 210 is situated around gate
portion 410 of the gate harbor barrier 200, whereby the gate
portion 410 can open and close in most weather conditions.
[0033] Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the top and bottom vertical
sections 330, 340 of the truss 210 are preferably fitted onto the
left and right horizontal sections 310, 320 of the truss 210, and
then preferably bracketed in place (e.g., by bolts or the like). In
one possible implementation, the ends of the top and bottom
horizontal sections 310, 320 of the truss 210 are `male` portions
that fit into `female` portions on the top and bottom of the left
and right vertical sections 330, 340 of the truss 210, and then
once fitted into place, they are bolted together to provide a
strong, tight truss structure.
[0034] Similar to the other non-gate HPBs described in copending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/621,655, the gate harbor
barrier 200 is preferably 50 feet long, so that it can be used at
any portion of a harbor barrier made up of a plurality of 50 feet
long HPBs connected to each other by way of connectors. Other
lengths may be contemplated while remaining within the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0035] Unlike the non-gate HPBs which have three (3) pontoons, the
gate harbor barrier has four (4) pontoons: two large inner pontoons
250, 252, and two small outer pontoons 254, 256. This is the case
since there cannot be a pontoon in the middle of the gate harbor
barrier 200, which would otherwise block boats from passing through
the gate in the middle portion of the gate harbor barrier 200.
[0036] The two large inner pontoons 250, 252 preferably are of the
same size as the large middle pontoon of the non-gate HPBs, and the
two small outer pontoons 254, 256 preferably are of the same size
at the small outer pontoons of the non-gate HPBs. The four pontoons
250, 252, 254, and 256 are shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each of the
large inner pontoons 250, 252 is preferably 18 feet in length, and
has a 90 ft.sup.3 volume, and each of the small outer pontoons 254,
256 is preferably 6 feet in length and has a 30 ft.sup.3 volume.
Other sizes and lengths may be contemplated while remaining within
the spirit and scope of the invention. The pontoons used for the
gate harbor barrier 200 are preferably light-weight urethane
pontoons such as the ones described in the co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/621,655, but they alternatively may be
conventional metal pontoons if weight and buoyancy height and level
are not major issues.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, a gate 410 is provided in a middle
region of the gate harbor barrier 200, whereby the gate 410 is
configured to horizontally swing open out towards the threat side,
in order to allow boats to pass into and out of a protected region
(in an alternate implementation, the gate 410 swings open inwards
towards the friendly side). The preferred opening direction of gate
swing is shown by way of the arrow 412 in FIG. 4.
[0038] The gate 410 is preferably pivotably connected to a
left-side beam 420 of the gate harbor barrier 200, to allow the
gate 410 to pivot open or closed with respect to a pivot point. The
gate 410 is preferably latched to a right-side beam 430 of the gate
harbor barrier 200, whereby a latch structure 418 allows the gate
410 to be releasably connected to the right-side beam 430 to
provide a closed state when the gate is in a latched position (as
shown in FIG. 4). The gate 410 is preferably an FRP component, just
like the left- and right-side beams 420, 430; in an alternative
configuration, it is constructed of stainless steel or carbon
steel. The preferred density of the FRP components is 0.005
lb/in.sup.3, but other densities may be contemplated while
remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 4 also shows rigging 455 that is used to provide a
structural stability of the coupling of the truss 210 to the rest
of the gate harbor barrier 200, whereby that rigging 455 is
preferably wire rope rigging. The truss 210 is preferably 17.5 feet
wide, 20 feet tall, and 5.5 feet deep when coupled to the gate
harbor barrier 200, which means that the bottom horizontal portion
of the truss 210 is preferably 5.5 feet beneath the waterline. This
provides an additional level of stability to the truss 210 as it is
coupled to the gate harbor barrier 200, since a portion of it is
disposed within the body of water. One of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that different sized trusses, and different
displacement levels of the truss, may be contemplated while
remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0040] The depth of the bottom horizontal portion of the truss 210
is such that it does not interfere with the bottom surface of boats
passing through the gate. In other words, the draft of boats that
pass through the gate is less than the 5.5' depth of the truss 210.
This will allow standard security boats to pass into and out of the
gate.
[0041] The rigging 455 includes three top-left-side wire ropes,
with the left and right wire ropes on the top-left-side of the
truss 210 being coupled to left and right ends of the left-side
large pontoon 250, and with the middle wire rope on the
top-left-side of the truss 210 being coupled to a top surface of
the left-side beam 420. The rigging 455 further includes three
top-right-side wire ropes, with the left and right wire ropes on
the top-right-side of the truss 210 being coupled to left and right
ends of the right-side large pontoon 252, and with the middle wire
rope on the top-right-side of the truss 210 being coupled to a top
surface of the right-side beam 430. The wire ropes are preferably
made of steel, and are capable of being tensioned to a desired
amount, to provide a required stability to withstand a tension
force of 4,000 pounds or more on the gate harbor barrier 200. Other
rigging configurations than the ones shown in the drawings may be
contemplated, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the
invention. For example, FIG. 5 shows a gate barrier structure 200
with a different type of rigging used for the truss 210.
[0042] Not shown in FIG. 4 is a net structure, whereby such a net
structure is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows the gate barrier
structure with nets, and FIG. 6 shows a plurality of harbor
protection barriers connected to each other by way of connectors,
to form a lengthy protection barrier system 600, whereby a gate
barrier structure 200 is provided to allow ingress and egress with
respect to a protection region, and whereby non-gate barriers 610
are also utilized in order to protect a large area. In the harbor
protection system 600 shown in FIG. 6, a net single may span
several adjacent non-gate harbor protection barriers 610, without
requiring one net per harbor protection barrier.
[0043] Referring back to FIG. 5, a first net structure and net are
provided on a top surface of the left-side beam 420, a second net
structure and net provided on a top surface of the right-side beam
430, and a third net structure is provided on a top surface of the
gate 410. In an alternative implementation, a single net is used
instead of the separate first and second nets. Net stantions and
net support stantions are provided in the preferred implementation
of the second embodiment, in a similar manner to the way such
components are provided in non-gate HPBs described in the
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/621,655, and thus
they will not be described herein in detail for the sake of
brevity.
[0044] Preferably, the inner end of the first net is disposed close
to the leftside outer end of the second net, whereby that distance
may be 6'' to 1' in one possible implementation. Similarly, the
rightside outer end of the second net is preferably disposed close
to the inner end of the third net, whereby that distance may be 6''
to 1' in one possible implementation. Other net separation
distances may be contemplated while remaining within the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0045] The truss 210 is also preferably coupled to the gate barrier
structure 200 by way of brackets extending out from inner side
surfaces of the two large middle pontoons 250, 252, whereby the
truss 210 is bolted to the large middle pontoons 250, 252 at these
bracket locations. That coupling is preferably done at a location
on the vertical side truss portions 310, 320 that extends just
above (e.g., 6'' to 1') the waterline. Again, like the use of the
wire ropes, this provide a strong, sturdy gate barrier structure
200 that can readily withstand boat attacks and bad weather
conditions. In an alternative configuration, the truss 210 is
bolted to either or both of the left- and right-side beams 420, 430
by way of brackets. In yet another alternative configuration, the
truss is bolted to at least one of the middle pontoons 250, 252 and
to at least one of the left- and right-side beams 420, 430. One or
more brackets that are attached to both the inner pontoons 250, 252
and the left-side and right-side beams 420, 430 may be utilized in
yet another alternative configuration, to allow for the truss 210
to be bolted in place in a stable manner.
[0046] To provide an additional level of stability to the gate
barrier structure 200, a wire rope may be used to couple the
friendly-side end of the left-side large middle pontoon 250 to the
friendly-side end of the left-side small end pontoon 254, and a
wire rope may be used to couple the friendly-side end of the
right-side large middle pontoon 252 to the friendly-side end of the
right-side small end pontoon 256, to thereby provide an additional
bracing for the gate barrier structure 200. FIG. 5 shows wire ropes
510, which provide an additional level of structural stability for
the gate barrier structure 200. Additional wire ropes may be
provided on the threat side of the pontoons similar to how it is
done on the friendly side, to provide an additional level of
structural integrity, if desired.
[0047] Referring back to FIG. 4, the gate 410 opens up by way of an
electronic signal that causes a wire rope/pulley winch structure
470 to pull the gate 410 open, whereby the electronic signal causes
the winch structure 470 to turn in one direction (e.g., clockwise)
in order to pull the gate 410 open to a 90 degree angle. Other
opening angles (e.g., 70 degrees to 120 degrees) may be
contemplated, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the
invention). Similarly, to close the gate 410, an electronic signal
causes the winch structure 470 to pull the gate 410 closed, whereby
the electronic signal causes the winch structure 470 to turn in
another direction (e.g., counterclockwise) in order to pull the
gate 410 closed. In the closed state, the gate 410 either
automatically latches shut, or is physically latched shut by an
operator.
[0048] The electronic signal may correspond, for example, to one or
more RF or IR signals output by a remote control device in the
direction of the gate barrier 200. The electronic signal may be one
or more pulses output at a particular frequency or at a particular
sequence of frequencies, whereby a receiver (not shown) on the gate
barrier 200 receives these pulses, decodes them, and opens/closes
the gate 410 accordingly.
[0049] In addition to the advantages discussed previously, the
truss 210 provides a level of stiffness to the gate barrier 200, so
that the hinge portion and the latch portion of the gate barrier
200 will not break down over time due to external forces, such as
those caused by turbulent sea states.
[0050] Other types of opening and closing mechanisms may be
utilized while remaining within the spirit and scope of the
invention. A piston (or electronic actuator) coupled to the gate at
the hinged end may be used to cause the gate to open and close
under electronic control.
[0051] In a third embodiment, the gate 410 may be configured to
open straight upward (vertically) instead of straight across
(horizontally), whereby a wire rope/pulley mechanism that is
coupled to the gate and to the top horizontal portion 330 of the
truss 210 may be utilized to achieve such movement of the gate
410.
[0052] In a fourth embodiment, referring now to FIG. 7, instead of
having a gate that opens either vertically or horizontally between
left-side and right-side beams 420, 430, there is instead provided
a truss 210' with its own gate structure 700, whereby the gate
structure 700 of the truss 210' pulls down from the top of the
truss 210', to provide a closed gate harbor structure, and whereby
the gate structure 700 of the truss 210' pulls up to thereby
provide an opening for boats to pass through. Therefore, the truss
210' provides both a gate function and a stability function. The
gate structure 700 may be similar to gates used for stores in
malls, in which the gate electronically opens upwards in a folded
manner, and closes downward in an unfolded manner, and whereby the
gate is preferably of a metal construction made up of
vertically-positioned and horizonally-positioned metal pipes
rigidly coupled to each other, whereby the metal pipes are
preferably stainless steel or carbon steel components. FIG. 7 shows
the gate structure 700 in the closed position, positioned just
above the water line 710, to thereby block boats from passing
through.
[0053] For each of these electronic open/close mechanisms described
above, a manual backup system is preferably provided, to allow for
the gate barrier to be opened and closed even when the electronic
system fails.
[0054] Thus, different embodiments of a protection gate barrier
module and a protection barrier module have been described
according to the present invention. Many modifications and
variations may be made to the techniques and structures described
and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention. For example, while the truss is described in the
second embodiment as being a steel structure, it may alternatively
be constructed out of FRP for some or all components of the truss,
in order to provide a lighter-weight gate barrier structure. While
this structure may not be as sturdy as a gate barrier structure
having a steel truss, it may be useful for certain situations where
weight is a major factor.
* * * * *