U.S. patent application number 11/983478 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for magnetic connector for spill boom.
Invention is credited to Keith W. Herzogenrath.
Application Number | 20090123233 11/983478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40623845 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090123233 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herzogenrath; Keith W. |
May 14, 2009 |
Magnetic connector for spill boom
Abstract
A magnetic connector assembly for attaching spill boom to an
otherwise featureless coated steel surface comprises a flexible
plate having a front side and a back side, at least one magnet
mounted to the plate to assert a magnetic field over the back side
of the plate, and a connector for the boom mounted to the front
side of the plate. The at least one magnet is sized to retain the
magnetic connector assembly in a fixed position on a vertically
positioned ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at least 5
pounds to break.
Inventors: |
Herzogenrath; Keith W.;
(Hitchcock, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John R. Casperson
P.O. Box 36369
Pensacola
FL
32516-6369
US
|
Family ID: |
40623845 |
Appl. No.: |
11/983478 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/70 ; 114/218;
405/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/08 20130101;
E02B 15/085 20130101; B63B 35/32 20130101; E02B 15/08 20130101;
B63B 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/70 ; 114/218;
405/60 |
International
Class: |
E02B 15/04 20060101
E02B015/04; B63B 21/04 20060101 B63B021/04; E02B 15/00 20060101
E02B015/00 |
Claims
1. A magnetic connector assembly for providing a fast-deployment
attachment point for an oil spill boom on a ferromagnetic wall,
said magnetic connector assembly comprising a connector element for
releasably retaining an end of an oil spill boom, said connector
element having a front side and a back side, and a plurality of
magnets resiliently mounted to the back side of the connector
element, each of said plurality of magnets having a flat pole end
and having sufficient magnetic field strength to bring the flat
pole end into conformance with a surface of the ferromagnetic
wall.
2. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 1 further comprising,
in combination, a ferromagnetic wall having a substantially flat
outer surface, wherein the flat pole end of each magnet is drawn
flat against the wall.
3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the ferromagnetic wall comprises
a portion of a vessel, a barge, a dock, or a bulkhead having a
waterline alongside, and the connector assembly is positioned near
the waterline.
4. A magnetic connector assembly for providing a fast-deployment
attachment point on a ferromagnetic wall, said magnetic connector
comprising a flexible plate having a front side and a back side, at
least one magnet mounted to the plate to assert a magnetic field
over the back side of the plate, and a connector mounted to the
front side of the plate, wherein the at least one magnet is graded
with a pull force of at least 30 pounds.
5. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 4 wherein the flexible
plate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting
of nylon and polyurethane, and wherein the flexible plate has a
thickness in the range of 0.02 to about 0.20 inches.
6. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 4 wherein the
connector is a boat cleat.
7. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 6 wherein the cleat
comprises a central section attached to the plate, and a pair of
horns extending in opposite directions from the central section
which are spaced apart from the front side of the plate, and
wherein the central section of the cleat comprises a pair of spaced
apart pedestals which are attached to the plate.
8. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 7 wherein the plate
defines a centrally located unoccupied through-hole located between
the pair of spaced apart pedestals.
9. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 4 wherein a pair of
magnets is mounted to the back side of the plate, and wherein the
plate defines a centrally located unoccupied through-hole.
10. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 9 wherein the plate
is generally rectangular, having a first end and a second end, and
wherein a magnet is mounted near each of the first end and the
second end of the plate.
11. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 10 wherein each
magnet is carried in a cup having an upper end wall and each cup is
mounted to the plate with a screw which penetrates the upper end
wall and the plate, the upper end wall being positioned adjacent to
the plate.
12. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 11 wherein each
magnet comprises a neodymium/iron/boron magnet.
13. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 12 wherein each
magnet is graded with a pull force in the range of 40 to 80
pounds.
14. A magnetic connector assembly as in claim 13 wherein the plate
is sufficiently rigid to provide the assembly with dimensional
stability during ordinary conditions of handling and storage,
sufficiently flexible to be deformed during conditions of use by
action of the magnets against a ferromagnetic substrate, and
sufficiently resilient to rebound to substantially its original
configuration when removed from a ferromagnetic substrate.
15. A method for bounding a spill area of floating hydrocarbon or
petrochemical on water, said method comprising positioning a first
magnetic connector assembly for providing a fast-deployment
attachment point on a first ferromagnetic wall partially bounding
the spill area at a location near the waterline, said magnetic
connector comprising a flexible plate having a front side and a
back side, at least one magnet mounted to the plate to assert a
magnetic field over the back side of the plate, and a connector
mounted to the front side of the plate, wherein the at least one
magnet is sized to retain the magnetic connector assembly in a
fixed position on the ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at
least 5 pounds to break, attaching a first end of a floating boom
containing an oleophilic material to the connector, said floating
boom having a first end and a second end, positioning the floating
boom to form a boundary for the spill area, positioning a second
magnetic connector assembly which is identical to the first
magnetic connector assembly on a ferromagnetic wall partially
bounding the spill area, said ferromagnetic wall being the same as
or different from the first ferromagnetic wall, said second
magnetic connector being positioned on the ferromagnetic wall near
the waterline, and attaching the second end of the floating boom to
the connector of the second magnetic connector assembly to form a
boundary for the spill area.
16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the first and second magnetic
connectors are attached to a ferromagnetic wall forming a portion
of a steel vessel, a steel barge, a steel bulkhead, or a steel
dock.
17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the first end and the second
end of the floating boom are defined by nautical lines, and the
connectors on the front side of the plate are boat cleats.
18. A method as in claim 17 further comprising wrapping a
hydrophilic diaper around the first end and the second end of the
boom after the end of the boom is attached to the cleat.
19. A method as in claim 17 further comprising inserting the first
end and the second end of the boom through a hydrophilic doughnut
for a marine fuel nozzle prior to attaching the end of the boom to
the cleat.
20. A method as in claim 17 wherein the plates each define a
centrally located unoccupied through-hole, said method further
comprising threading each nautical line down through a
through-hole, passing each line across a back side of a plate to an
edge of the plate and up around the edge of the plate, and securing
each of the lines to a cleat.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to apparatus and method for
controlling spills, particularly spills of hydrocarbonacous fluids
on water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The term hydrocarbonaceous fluids as applied to spills
generally means buoyant water-insoluble hydrocarbons or
petrochemicals. In common usage. however, such spills are usually
simply referred to as oil spills. On a tonnage basis, petroleum and
its various fractions are the hydrocarbonacous fluids most commonly
encountered in marine spills.
[0003] Marine vessels which carry above a minimum amount of fuel or
bulk liquids are required to carry spill kits which include
absorbent boom which is to be assembled and deployed as a first
response to a spill. The spill kits are also found on docks.
Absorbent boom, also known as sausage boom or soft boom, is
provided in generally tubular sections about 10 feet long and about
5 inches in diameter and the sections are roped together with
overlap and deployed as quickly as possible after a spill to
mitigate its spread. This was historically done simply by attaching
lines to the ends of the boom and tossing the boom into the
water.
[0004] After more than 20 years in the oil spill business, I felt
that there had to be a more efficient and effective manner to
deploy absorbent boom. One problem with the traditional method was
that the oil that the boom was to contain and absorb would escape
around both ends of the boom because there was no way to seal the
boom fast to both a vessel hull or a steel dock near the waterline.
Responders just ran the boom lines up the side of a vessel or dock
and tied the end of the rope to a deck or dock cleat or to a strong
point on the deck or somewhere on the dock. Because the fastening
point was several feet above the waterline, wind and current action
acting on the boom would pull it away from the vessel or dock to
the limits of the fastening line, permitting significant amounts of
the spill to escape between the vessel or dock and the end of the
boom and cause collateral damage by oiling nearby assets or the
environment. Because the lines often extended across ordinarily
unimpeded walkway areas, they presented a tripping hazard,
especially during hours of darkness.
[0005] A device to reduce the amount of collateral damage to near
by assets and the environment by not allowing oil to escape from
the boomed area was clearly needed. The damage to the responsible
party's reputation increases where the spill has not been
adequately contained. The required cleanup of oiled barges,
vessels, docks and the environment costs time and money and results
in delays in product delivery by the responsible party and others
affected by the spill. Further financial damage occurs to the party
charged with the spill because of the idle time brought about in
both the responsible party and its victims by waiting for cleanup
to occur.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of this invention to reduce the flow of
spilled products around the ends of a boom.
[0007] It is another object of this invention to provide a device
to reduce the risk of tripping during spill cleanup operations.
[0008] It is another object of this invention to provide a device
to reduce the responsible party's financial liability during spill
incidents.
[0009] It is another object of this invention to provide a readily
deployed boom connector for steel vessels, barges and steel
bulkheads.
[0010] It is another object of this invention to provide a
connector for boom which is inexpensive and small in size, making
it ideal for spill kits.
[0011] It is another object of this invention to provide a
connector for boom which conform to non-flat surfaces, such as
barge rakes, pipes and uneven vessel hulls.
[0012] It is another object of this invention to provide a
connector for boom which is reusable and can be deployed at or near
the waterline.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] One embodiment of the invention provides a magnetic
connector assembly for providing a fast-deployment attachment point
for an oil spill boom on a ferromagnetic wall. The magnetic
connector assembly comprises a connector element for releasably
retaining an end of an oil spill boom. The connector element has a
front side and a back side. A plurality of magnets are resiliently
mounted to the back side of the connector element. Each of the
plurality of magnets has a flat pole end and has sufficient
magnetic field strength to overcome the resilient mounting and
bring the flat pole end into conformance with a surface of the
ferromagnetic wall.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a magnetic connector assembly comprising a flexible plate
having a front side and a back side, at least one magnet mounted to
the plate to assert a magnetic field over the back side of the
plate, and a connector mounted to the front side of the plate. The
at least one magnet is sized to retain the magnetic connector
assembly in a fixed position on a vertically positioned
ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at least 5 pounds to
break.
[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a
method for bounding a spill area of floating hydrocarbon or
petrochemical on water. The method comprises positioning a first
magnetic connector assembly for providing a fast-deployment
attachment point on a first ferromagnetic wall partially bounding
the spill area at a location near the waterline. The first magnetic
connector comprises a flexible plate having a front side and a back
side, at least one magnet mounted to the plate to assert a magnetic
field over the back side of the plate, and a connector mounted to
the front side of the plate. The at least one magnet is sized to
retain the magnetic connector assembly in a fixed position on the
ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at least 5 pounds to
break. A first end of a floating boom containing an oleophilic
material is attached to the connector. The floating boom has a
first end and a second end. The floating boom to is positioned to
form a boundary for the spill area. A second magnetic connector
assembly which is identical to the first magnetic connector
assembly is positioned on a ferromagnetic wall partially bounding
the spill area. The ferromagnetic wall on which the second
connector is positioned can be the same as or different from the
first ferromagnetic wall. The second magnetic connector is
positioned on the ferromagnetic wall near the waterline. The second
end of the floating boom is attached to the connector of the second
magnetic connector assembly to form a boundary for the spill
area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a barge having an
adjacently deployed spill boom in accordance with certain aspects
of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of a portion of FIG. 1
showing a connector according to certain aspects of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the connector shown in
FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of a modified connector
suitable for use as shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side view, in partial cross section, of the
connector shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] One embodiment of the invention provides a magnetic
connector assembly 2, 102 for providing a fast-deployment
attachment point for an oil spill boom 4 on a ferromagnetic wall 6.
The magnetic connector assembly comprises a connector element 8,
108 for releasably retaining an end of the oil spill boom. The
connector element has a front side and a back side. A plurality of
magnets 10, 12 (110, 112 in FIGS. 4 and 5) are resiliently mounted
to the back side of the connector element. Each of the plurality of
magnets has a flat pole end 14, 16 (114, 116 in FIGS. 4 and 5) and
has sufficient magnetic field strength to bring the flat pole end
into conformance with a surface of the ferromagnetic wall.
[0022] Generally speaking, the ferromagnetic wall comprises a
portion of a vessel, a barge, a dock, or a bulkhead having a
waterline alongside, and the connector assembly is positioned near
the waterline. A barge 18 is illustrated. Usually, the vessel,
barge, dock or bulkhead will have a rust preventative coating on
the outer surface thereof, such as paint or polymer. Generally
speaking, the wall will be substantially flat at the attachment
point, so that the flat pole end of each magnet can be magnetically
drawn flat against the wall.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic
connector assembly comprises a flexible plate 20, 120 having a
front side and a back side, at least one magnet 10, 12 (110, 112 to
the plate 120) mounted to the plate to assert a magnetic field over
the back side of the plate, and a connector 8, 108 mounted to the
front side of the flexible plate. The at least one magnet is sized
to retain the magnetic connector assembly in a fixed position on a
vertically positioned ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at
least 5 pounds to break.
[0024] The plate is preferably formed from a polymeric material,
and is most preferably hydrocarbon resistant and water insoluble.
Nylon and polyurethane are examples of suitable polymeric material.
The plate generally has a thickness in the range of 0.02 to about
0.20 inches.
[0025] Functionally speaking, the plate is sufficiently rigid to
provide the assembly with dimensional stability during ordinary
conditions of handling and storage, sufficiently flexible to be
deformed during conditions of use by action of the magnets against
a ferromagnetic substrate, and sufficiently resilient to rebound to
substantially its original configuration when removed from a
ferromagnetic substrate. Usually, the plate is rectangular and has
a length and a width, with the width being between 10 percent and
40 percent of the length of the plate.
[0026] The connector is preferably a boat cleat 22, 122. More
preferably, the boat cleat comprises a central section 24, 124
which is attached to the plate, and a pair of horns 26, 28 (126,
128 in FIGS. 4 and 5) which extend in opposite directions from the
central section and are spaced apart from the front side of the
plate to enable securement of the boom line 52. In the illustrated
embodiments, the central section of the cleat comprises a pair of
spaced apart pedestals 32, 34 (132, 134 in FIGS. 4 and 5) which are
attached to the plate.
[0027] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
the plate 120 defines an unoccupied through-hole 50, preferably
centrally located on the plate, and more preferably positioned at a
location between the pedestals 132 and 134. The through-hole has a
diameter large enough to accept the boom line 52, and is generally
in the range of 3/8 to 3/4 inches. A through-hole with a diameter
of 1/2 inch has been tested with good results.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the cleat is constructed of a
hydrocarbon and salt water-resistant material, and the ends of the
horns are positioned in the range of 1/2 inch to two inches from
the plate. The cleat is connected to the plate with stainless steel
fasteners. Where the plate is rectangular, the cleat has a length
as measured between the ends of the horns which is in the range of
50 percent to 90 percent of the length of the plate. A 41/2 inch
boat cleat is expected to provide good results for soft boom.
[0029] Preferably, the at least one magnet is mounted to the back
side of the plate, and more preferably, two magnets are used. Where
the plate is generally rectangular, having a first end and a second
end, a magnet is preferably mounted near each of the first end and
the second end of the plate.
[0030] Mounting magnets have been used with good results. Each of
the magnets is carried in a cup having an upper end wall and each
cup is mounted to the plate with a screw which penetrates the upper
end wall and the plate, the upper end wall of the cup being
positioned adjacent to the plate. The cups in the preferred
embodiment are generally disc-shaped and have a diameter and a
height, the diameter being in the range of from 3 to 10 times the
height. Preferably, the diameter of the cup is in the range of from
4 to 8 times the height, and the height of the cup, A, is less than
1/2 inch.
[0031] The magnets carried by the cups are generally disc or
ring-shaped axial pole magnets which are sized to be accepted by
the cup. Each magnet has a central bore therethrough for accepting
the screw and is retained in the cup by an adhesive bedding
material.
[0032] The magnets preferably comprise a rare earth metal, more
preferably, each being a neodymium/iron/boron magnet. Generally
speaking, each magnet is graded with a pull force of at least 30
pounds, generally in the range of 40 to 80 pounds, to provide
adequate binding strength against its substrate, generally painted
steel, in a marine environment. The cup and the magnet are also
preferably plated to resist corrosion and rusting due to exposure
to salt water or salty air.
[0033] Magnets which have been used with good results magnets are
neodymium/iron/born, grade N38, having a pull strength of about 60
pounds. The coating on the magnets is Ni--Cu. By using magnets
attached to a nylon plate with a nylon deck cleat also attached to
the nylon plate it makes for a much improved seal to a steel vessel
hull and or a steel bulkhead. When used properly the seal is almost
100% as very little oil can escape around the connection of the
boom and vessel or dock where the boom with the magnetic cleat is
deployed.
[0034] In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a
method for bounding a spill area of floating hydrocarbon or
petrochemical on water. The method comprises positioning a first
magnetic connector assembly 8 for providing a fast-deployment
attachment point on a first ferromagnetic wall 6 partially bounding
the spill area at a location near the waterline 7. The first
magnetic connector comprises a flexible plate having a front side
and a back side, at least one magnet mounted to the plate to assert
a magnetic field over the back side of the plate, and a connector
mounted to the front side of the plate. The at least one magnet is
sized to retain the magnetic connector assembly in a fixed position
on the ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at least 5 pounds
to break. A first end of a floating boom 4 containing an oleophilic
material is attached to the connector. The floating boom has a
first end and a second end. The floating boom to is positioned to
form a boundary for the spill area. A second magnetic connector
assembly 9 which is preferably identical to the first magnetic
connector assembly is positioned on a ferromagnetic wall partially
bounding the spill area. The ferromagnetic wall on which the second
connector is positioned can be the same as or different from the
first ferromagnetic wall. In the illustration, it is the same, wall
6. The second magnetic connector is positioned on the ferromagnetic
wall near the waterline. The second end of the floating boom is
attached to the connector of the second magnetic connector assembly
to form a boundary for the spill area.
[0035] By ferromagnetic is meant that a magnet will stick to it. In
a marine environment, the ferromagnetic wall is generally surfaced
with a non-ferromagnetic coating to resist corrosion and rust and
the magnetic connectors are positioned on the coating. The
ferromagnetic walls generally form a portion of a steel vessel, a
steel barge, steel dock, or steel bulkhead.
[0036] The first end and the second end of the floating boom are
defined by nautical lines, and the connectors on the front side of
the plate are preferably boat cleats. The lines can be attached to
the cleats in the usual manner, before or after the cleat is
positioned on the wall. However, in the embodiment as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5, the line, preferably a loop, is threaded down
through the hole, across the back side of the plate to the edge, up
around the edge of the plate, and secured to at least one of the
horns of the cleat. This procedure pulls the end of the boom 4
close to the plate to reduce the gap between the wall and the end
of the boom. The small gaps remaining at the ends of the boom can
be further reduced, if desired, by wrapping a hydrophilic diaper
around the first end and the second end of the boom after the
respective end of the boom is attached to the cleat, or by
inserting the ends of the boom through hydrophilic "doughnuts,"
such as are typically used to surround a marine fuel nozzle during
fueling operations, prior to attaching the end of the boom to the
cleat.
[0037] Typically, emergency spill kits positioned on vessels,
barges and docks already contain soft boom and line, usually
lightweight polypropylene rope. In the invention, the connector
assemblies, which take up only a small amount of room, would also
be positioned in the emergency spill respond kit positioned on a
barge or vessel for ready access in the event need arises to deploy
them.
[0038] While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have
been described herein, the invention is not to be so limited,
except to the extent that such limitations are found in the
claims.
* * * * *