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.

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.

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.