U.S. patent number 3,713,410 [Application Number 05/126,511] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-30 for floating barrage.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pneumatiques Caouthchouc Manufacture Et Plastiques Kleber-Colombes. Invention is credited to Roger Ducrocq, Charles Moreau.
United States Patent |
3,713,410 |
Ducrocq , et al. |
January 30, 1973 |
FLOATING BARRAGE
Abstract
Floating barrage for containing oil spills and the like
comprises components consisting of inflatable bags from each of
which a plurality of overlapping interlinked panel members are
suspended.
Inventors: |
Ducrocq; Roger
(Clermont-Ferrand, FR), Moreau; Charles
(Clermont-Ferrand, FR) |
Assignee: |
Pneumatiques Caouthchouc
Manufacture Et Plastiques Kleber-Colombes (Colombes,
FR)
|
Family
ID: |
9052687 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/126,511 |
Filed: |
March 22, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
|
Mar 20, 1970 [FR] |
|
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7010268 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B
15/0814 (20130101); E02B 15/08 (20130101); E02B
15/0864 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02B
15/04 (20060101); B63b 035/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;114/.5T,.5R ;61/1F |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blix; Trygve M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Barrier member adapted to be assembled to form a floating
barrage for retaining a layer of floating debris on the surface of
the water, said barrier member comprising an inflatable bag and
containment means attached to this bag characterized by the fact
that said containment means is made of several panels independently
suspended from the bag and tangent thereto, each of the said panels
being overlapped by an adjacent panel over only a portion of its
length.
2. Barrier member as claimed in claim 1 in which the panels
overlap.
3. Barrier member as claimed in claim 1 in which each panel is
suspended from the bag by means of a strip partially encircling the
bag and carrying the panel at its ends.
4. Barrier member as claimed in claim 1 in which a hole is provided
in each of the lower corners of each panel.
5. Barrier member as claimed in claim 1 in which the adjacent
panels are connected to each other so as to swing relative to each
other about a point positioned where the panels overlap.
6. Barrier member as claimed in claim 1 in which the inflatable bag
terminates at each end in solid means adapted to receive connecting
means.
7. Barrage formed by an assembly of barrier members according to
claim 5 in which a chain serving as traction means and as ballast
extends underneath the barrage along its entire length and is
connected to the panels at the points at which successive panels
pivot so as to avoid interfering with said pivotal movement.
8. Barrage formed by an assembly of barrier members according to
claim 1 comprising a chain extending beneath the barrage along its
entire length and connected to the panels by means of rings passing
through a link in the chain and holes in the lower corners of the
overlapping panels.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to floating devices, hereinafter called
floating barrages, which are especially adapted to surround a layer
of hydrocarbons or other debris which is floating on the surface of
the water.
In particular, the invention relates to those of such barrages
which comprise an assembly of members each formed from an
inflatable bag, a generally flexible panel which is attached to the
bag, and means such as a chain which simultaneously provides
mechanical strength, towing means, and even ballast. Barrages of
this type are hereinafter called "pneumatic barrages" and the
panels which serve to prevent the debris from passing beneath the
ring are referred to as "barrier members."
Pneumatic barrages have great advantages over those in which the
floating members are made of a solid material such as wood, cork,
or a cellular product. In particular, for an equal buoyancy, and
thus also for an equal projection above the surface of the water,
they are less cumbersome and lighter. However, none of pneumatic
barrages heretofore known give entire satisfaction. In effect,
while the flotation means of non-pneumatic barriers might be
subdivided so that they have all the flexibility desired, it would
be impractical to subdivide the inflatable bags of the members
which are attached together to form pneumatic barriers, because the
subdivided members would be expensive to manufacture, the barrages
would take a long time to place in position, and they would lose,
to some extent at least, the advantage of having a maximum buoyancy
for a minimum weight and bulk. This lack of flexibility of
pneumatic barriers not only means that they do not adequately
fulfill their containing function when conditions are difficult but
also means that since they are subjected to the action of waves and
substantial pressures it is necessary to supplement them with
appropriate mechanical strengthening means, and thus make them
heavier, so that they thereby lose some of their advantages.
It is the object of the present invention to provide pneumatic
barrages which are more flexible than those presently in use and
which, moreover, are subjected to smaller pressures and may
therefore be lighter. In other words, it is the object of the
invention to provide pneumatic barrages having all of the
advantages which such barrages can possibly have.
Whereas in the pneumatic barrages presently known the containing
wall, while flexible, is in each component of the barrage
perpendicularly attached to the inflatable bag along its entire
length, it is, in the barrage and barrier members according to the
invention, made of several panels which are each independently
suspended from an inflatable bag so that they are tangent to it,
with the successive panels overlapping each other and mounted so as
to pivot with respect to each other, preferably about a single
point.
The barrages and barrier members according to the invention will
now be described in greater detail with reference to the embodiment
of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of one end of a barrier member according to
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section taken through the barrier member of FIG. 1 when
in place; and
FIG. 3 is a section through the barrier member of FIG. 1 when it is
in place and moving.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the barrage is
formed by an assembly of members consisting of an inflatable bag 1,
panels 2, and a chain 3 attached to the panels 2 by rings 4. (Only
one part of the chain is shown.) The inflatable bag 1, which
comprises a valve 8, is made of a flexible material with a textile
or metallic reinforcement of any suitable type, the specific nature
of which forms no part of the invention, and takes the form of a
flat tube when it is not inflated. At its two ends it terminates in
a solid part 5 which serves to attach the individual bags together
to form the complete barrage. For example, holes 6 in these end
parts 5 are adapted to receive bolts, pins or other attaching
means.
Several panels 2 are attached to each inflatable bag. In order to
keep the barrage closed, the panels overlap each other over from 5
to 40 percent of their width and preferably about 20 percent and
their lateral edges are bevelled. For example, if the inflatable
bag has a length of 9.6 meter it may be provided with 10 panels
having a width of 1.2 meters and overlapping, as indicated by the
figure, for 20 percent of their width. The panels 2 are sheets of a
rubber or plastic material adapted to the particular conditions of
use and may comprise a textile or metallic reinforcement.
Preferably, the reinforcing members are selected and positioned in
a manner well known in the rubber industry so that the panels have
substantial rigidity in the vertical direction and a certain
flexibility in a transverse direction.
Flexible strips 9 encircling the bag and having a length greater
than its periphery support the panels 2 which are attached thereto
by means of nuts and bolts 10, for example. Each panel is
preferably supported by only a single strip 9 so as to avoid
imparting rigidity to the inflatable bag. The strips 9 may be made
of textile or metallic cloth coated with a suitable plastic or
rubber material and preferably are so connected to the ballon as to
be able to move slightly if the barrier undergoes substantial
deformation.
The dirrerent barrier members are assembled to make a complete
barrage by connecting the balloons to each other at their ends 6
and by fastening the chain 3 which extends along the entire length
of the completed barrage to the panels 2 by means of the rings 4
passing through a link in the chain and the holes 11 in the bottoms
of each two overlapping panels. It will be noted that each panel 2
has at least one hole 11 in each of its two lower corners. The
holes in these two successive panels coincide in the overlapped
portions and each ring 4 which connects the chain to a panel also
connects together two successive panels so that they are mobile
with respect to each other. These panels may be attached either to
the same bag or to different bags. The method of assembling the
panels together and connecting the panels to the chain is very
simple and permits the panels to swing with respect to each other.
To this extent it forms part of the invention, but of course the
invention is not limited to this particular method of assembly. The
chain 3 acts as connecting means but it also serves the role of
ballast and traction means.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the barrage in place in calm
water and FIG. 3 shows the same barrage when it is being pulled in
the direction of the arrow 12. In all cases the panel is placed on
the same side of the bag as the polluted layer.
The barrage, when in equilibrium in calm water, assumes the
position indicated in FIG. 2. The chain 3 then acts as ballast. In
FIG. 3 the barrage is being towed by the chain 3 in the direction
of the arrow 12, for example to surround the polluted layer. As
shown, it pivots and the panels 2 curve in, their concavity being
turned in the direction in which it is being pulled (arrow 12). The
barrages according to the invention, while pneumatic, have a
flexibility such that they may assume vertical or horizontal
curvatures without undergoing great stress. This permits them to
deform and follow the movements of the surface of the sea. In
effect, while in pneumatic barriers heretofore known the attachment
of the containing ring to the lower generatrix of the bag along its
entire length resulted in an increase in the longitudinal rigidity
of the bag, the division of this containing ring into several
independent panels, and the attachment of these panels to the bag
by collars spaced one from the other, and the articulation of these
panels with respect to each other avoids increasing the
longitudinal rigidity of the bag. It follows that the rigidity of
each barrier member is practically that inherent in the bag itself.
Moreover, in the barrages according to the invention the inflated
bag does not participate in or contributes little to the
containment function, which is essentially assured by the panels
which extend beneath the surface of the water to a desired
distance. This permits the provision of a reinforcement which need
not be as strong as that of the bags of the pneumatic barrages
heretofore known in which the bags that are in direct contact with
the polluted mass and subject to the wear and tear of the flotsam
and jetsam. For this reason, the bags of the barrages according to
the invention may be lighter and more flexible. This also makes it
possible to inflate them only to a low pressure, just that which is
necessary to insure flotation. This also results in greater
flexibility of the barrage.
* * * * *