Hydraulic and earth engineering – Fluid control – treatment – or containment – Floatable matter containment
Patent
1991-09-06
1992-12-22
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Fluid control, treatment, or containment
Floatable matter containment
405 63, E02B 1504
Patent
active
051730081
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an elongated, floating barrier for use in controlling substances floating on a liquid surface, preferably oil floating on a water surface. More particularly the invention relates to a barrier of the type comprising a front shield, towards the front surface of which the substances are deposited and transported sideways along the shield as the barrier is moved relative the liquid surface. Such barriers are above all used for directing and aggregating oil on a water surface to a more concentrated string which can afterwards be taken care of by other means. Usually the barrier is towed through the water somewhat inclined relative the towing direction, but it can also e.g. be anchored in a stream.
A disadvantage with previously known barriers of this type is that they admit only a low relative speed between barrier and water surface, in most cases only 1-2 knots, before over- or underflow of the floating substances occurs and stability problems arise. Because the barrier is subjected to a liquid flow towards a relatively large front area, the load on the barrier is very big and uncontrolled oscillatory and rotatory movements easily occur. Different attempts have been made to stabilize the movement of a barrier in tow, but have only resulted in a marginal increase of the possible towing speed and often caused the construction to be bulky and difficult to transport and handle.
An object of the present invention is to provide a floating barrier by which the above mentioned disadvantages of previously known barriers are eliminated. Thus, according to the invention a barrier is provided, which has a new profile of special shape admitting a considerably higher relative speed between barrier and liquid surface that has previously been possible.
A further object of the invention is to provide a barrier, for which the depth and inclination relative the liquid surface are automatically regulated by the current relative speed between barrier and liquid surface, in order to obtain a stable operational position for every speed. The effectiveness of the barrier is hereby increased and the risk for over- or underflow is reduced.
A further object of the invention is to obtain a barrier, which in spite of a relatively complex, hydrodynamically designed profile, can be coiled into a compact transport form and which can be taken into action quickly and easily.
These and other objects and advantages, which will become apparent from the following description, are accomplished by the invention defined in the claims.
The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a barrier according to the invention, in operational position on a water surface. Subsurface parts of the barrier have partly been exposed.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the profile of the barrier.
FIG. 3 a-c are cross sectional views illustrating embodiments of a barrier with expander means according to the invention.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate according to the invention an elongated floating barrier, which is illustrated in operational position, i.e. when a relative speed exists between barrier and liquid. The barrier comprises a front shield 1 having a front side 2, a back side 3, an upper edge 5 and a lower edge 6. In operation, the front shield has an upright position with its lower edge 6 under the liquid surface and its upper edge 5 above the liquid surface and is inclined in a backward direction so that its upper edge 5 is abaft its lower edge 6. When the barrier is moved relative the liquid surface facing the direction of movement at an oblique angle, substances floating in the liquid are deposited towards the front side of the front shield and transported sideways along the shield. A towing means 4 is attached to the lower edge 6 and arranged to give a mainly horizontal pull in said edge 6 when the barrier is moved relative the liquid surface. Further, the barrier has a body forming member extending al
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Sandkvist Jim
Thorell Dan
Tuner Kjell
Kustbevakningen
Taylor Dennis L.
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