Oil containment boom

Patent · Tue Aug 03 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6416213

Wirkala, D A

An oil containment boom is described comprising a sufficient number of sections to enable the boom to surround a ship in a spaced relationship thereto, a flexible joint interconnecting adjacent sections in a manner enabling the boom to be stored with the sections folded, one on another, each section including an oil impervious, flexible barrier in sheet form, an inflatable tubular chamber closed at its ends and extending lengthwise of the barrier to establish upper and lower portions thereof, each flexible joint including a rod to which the ends of adjacent barriers are sealed, top and bottom self supporting battens extending lengthwise of the top and bottom margins of the barrier portions and pivotally connected to corresponding ends of the adjacent rods, the bottom battens of a weight such that they serve as ballasting battens and the top battens relatively light in weight, means operable to inflate the chambers, means operable to interconnect the end sections to complete the boom, and means operable to immobilize the joint between each two sections with a predetermined angular relationship between the adjacent ends of the ballasting battens whereby the boom, when in place, has a relatively stable form.

• Assignee: IMS; EDB-93-111971
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5232310
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-905685
• OSTI ID: 6416213
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540350 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
BALLASTS
CONTAINMENT
CONTROL
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
FLEXIBILITY
INFLATABLE SEALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OIL SPILLS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
SEALS
SHIPS
STORAGE
TANKER SHIPS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL