Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1986-11-19
1987-08-18
Taylor, Dennis L.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
256 1, 256 23, 405 52, 405 63, 405303, G08B 1300
Patent
active
046880240
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a barrier arrangement for blocking a water passage or channel against the admission of unfamiliar or foreign objects, such as underwater vessels, frogmen and the like. The barrier net has considerable tensile strength and is intended to be stretched across the water passage or channel to be guarded, and the net is comprised of lines which incorporate electrical conductors insulated from the surroundings and intended to carry a close circuit current. The invention also relates to a method for use when producing the aforesaid arrangement.
Several instances are to be found where it is desirable to prevent the admission of foreign or unfamiliar objects to a particular passage of water. In the case of national defence such prevention may concern the entry of underwater vessels, frogmen and the like to restricted areas. Corresponding precautions will sometimes also apply in the case of civil activities. One problem prevailing with barriers of this nature is that they cannot be left permanently erected, since normally the channel of water concerned must be open to working traffic and to pleasure traffic. It must be possible, however, to erect or position such barriers quickly when the need arises. This problem is solved with an arrangement according to the above in which the bottom edge of the net is anchored to the sea-bed and the net arranged to be activated from a passive state, in which the net may rest against the sea-bed, to an active barrier state. To this end the upper edge of the net is connected to an inflatable and deflatable lifting hose which when evacuated is essentially flat and which when inflated is able to lift the upper edge of the net towards the surface of the water, so as to stretch the net between the sea-bed and said surface.
Another problem is that the net used in the arrangement must be capable of absorbing and withstanding extremely large tensile forces, for example in order to prevent submarines from penetrating the net. In order to meet this requirement the net must comprise, inter alia, ropes or lines of such thickness that it will be impossible to knot the net in a conventional manner. Consequently, the ropes are connected together at their points of intersection with the aid of elements moulded from a thermoplastic material.
In barrier arrangements of the aforesaid kind it is essential that the net, which is normally not guarded or monitored, cannot be detached from its attachment points unnoticed.
This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by braiding the upper and lower edges of the net together with anchoring bodies located on the sea bottom and with the aforesaid lifting hose, respectively, with the aid of lines which incorporate electrical conductors which are insulated against contact with the surroundings and through which a close circuit current is intended to pass; and in that the aforesaid conductors are connected to an alarm device, to which the conductors incorporated in the ropes or lines from which the net is comprised are also connected; and in that the alarm unit is arranged to be activated in the event of an earth fault or a short circuit in any of the connected conductors.
The bottom edge of the net is preferably anchored to an elongated anchoring body which conforms accurately to the profile of the sea-bed.
In accordance with one embodiment, the side edges of the net are slideably connected to vertical posts or uprights.
The net is preferably comprised of sections braided together by means of a line which incorporates a signal conductor connected to the alarm device.
A barrier arrangement thus constructed can be placed conveniently across all water passages or channels where it is desired to block the passage or channel under certain circumstances, since when in its passive. state the net will not impede the passage of normal sea traffic and can be brought to its active barrier state within the space of one or two minutes. Means may be provided which enable the barrier to be brought to its active state by remote contr
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Safe Bridge AB
Taylor Dennis L.
LandOfFree
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