1983-12-15
1986-03-04
Blix, Trygve M.
Ships
Float structure
405 68, E02B 1502
Patent
active
045734267
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND ART
Conventional oil booms normally comprise an elongate buoyant body having an upstanding shield, and possibly also a depending, oil-confining skirt. These booms are normally stored on land in a collapsed state. The task of laying out the boom, in order to contain an oil slick, is both tedious and difficult, especially in bad weather. Alternatively, the boom can be stored afloat on the water, in a ready-to-use state, although in this case the booms are liable to present an obstacle to the normal water traffic, and also spoil the surrounding scenery. Such booms are not suited for the permanent protection of, for example, inlets which are sensitive from an environmental aspect and which lie adjacent a channel for oil tankers. Furthermore, if it is found desirable to place temporary booms around an oil tanker when unloading or loading said tanker, the booms must be laid out and taken in respectively each time it is decided to use the boom. Another disadvantage with protective booms of this kind is that when the wind blows hard, the booms are tilted by the wind, causing the efficiency of the boom to be reduced.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a boom which is always ready-to-hand, laid out, for example, at selected locations, and which in a passive state does not present an obstacle to normal water traffic, but which in the event, for example, of an oil slick can be quickly activated, thereby to provide very good protection against the spreading of oil.
DISCUSSION OF THE BASIC SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
This object is achieved by means of a boom which is arranged, in a passive state, to rest on the sea bed and when required for use can be brought to take an active position, by causing the boom to float to the surface. To this end the boom includes a barrier member in the form of an elongate inflatable hose and which boom is arranged to be brought from a passive state, in which it may rest on the sea bed, to an active blocking state by being caused to float to the surface under the action of an inflatable boom-raising hose.
A boom of this kind has many advantages. Since in its passive state, the boom rests on the sea bed, it will not present an obstacle to normal water traffic, and can be laid out without needing to take its aesthetic appearance into account. For example, the boom can be laid out so that it protects particularly sensitive locations or locations along a fairway where oil tankers pass. This kind of boom can also be laid out in a manner to divide, for example, a channel or fiord into sections, which can be closed off, one from the other in the event of an oil slick. The booms can also be laid out around oil tanker loading and unloading locations, and for example, around oil rigs at sea. As soon as an accident occurs, or oil released, the booms can be floated to the surface of the water in just some few minutes, even from great depths, thereby to form an effective protection. Activation of the booms can be effected totally independent of prevailing weather and sea conditions.
Another advantage obtained when storing the booms on the sea bed, is that they are protected against the effects of the sun and the air, therefore extending their useful life. Furthermore, such booms can also be used in winter when ice has formed on the surface of the water, since the booms when activated will float-up and bear tightly against the undersurface of the ice. Subsequent to being activated, a boom according to the invention can be caused to sink back to the sea bed, to adopt its passive position. The boom is also not limited to use solely in the location where it lies in readiness, since subsequent to being activated and having floated to the surface, it can be readily towed by a boat to the place where it is required. Consequently, a large number of booms can be connected together to form a long boom-length, and placed in readiness along a selected coastal area. These booms can then be activated, in a very short space of time, and transported to the are
REFERENCES:
patent: 3321923 (1967-05-01), Smith
patent: 3613377 (1971-10-01), Zaugg
patent: 3703811 (1972-11-01), Smith
patent: 3859796 (1975-01-01), Benson
patent: 4015431 (1977-04-01), Ahiko
patent: 4140424 (1979-02-01), Bretherick
Bartz C. T.
Blix Trygve M.
Safe Bridge AB
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