Abstract This invention relates to barrier elements used, for example, for restraining oil slicks and the like on the surface of the sea. In such a barrier that comprises an inflatable tube and a skirt connected thereto, the invention provides that the skirt consists of two flexible members each of which constitutes an elementary skirt: means are provided to connect together these elementary skirts by their upper portions and the lower portions of the skirts are split vertically, the splits being uniformly spaced apart and the splits in one elementary skirt being offset relatively to those in the other: at least one flexible mechanical reinforcing element is located in the upper portion of the skirt and this flexible reinforcing element may be located in a channel.
A barrier element according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible reinforcing element is located in a channel provided in the upper portion of said skirt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A barrier element according to claim 1, which is made of an elastomer or a plastomer and comprising a reinforcement comprising at least one layer of a fabric in which wires are located at right angles, none of the wires in the fabric being parallel to the axis of the inflatable tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A barrier element according to claim 3, wherein the wires in the fabric form with the axis of the inflatable tube an angle of approximately 45*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A barrier element according to claim 1, which is made of an elastomer or a plastomer and comprising a reinforcement constituted by at least two layers of elements which are parallel to one another, wherein these layers are crossed relatively to one another so that their elements form with the direction of the axis of the inflatable tube oppositely directed but equal angles of between 40* and 70*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A barrier element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the angle formed by the axis of the inflatable tube and each of the elements in each layer is of the order of 55*.