Oil barrier for offshore oil rigs

Claim 2

Apparatus for confining floating oil within a predetermined space comprising a floating barrier extending entirely around said predetermined space, said barrier consisting of a plurality of segments, each of said segments comprising a hollow, substantially semicylindrical member and a flat plate, the opposite edges of said member being connected to said plate to form an airtight float, said segments being interconnected by flexible couplings which permit relative motion of said segments in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper end of said flat plate is curVed toward the center of said predetermined space thereby forming a splash guard.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a second substantially flat plate, said second plate being connected to the upper edge of said first-mentioned flat plate, said second flat plate extending toward the center of said predetermined space thereby forming a splash guard.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said semicylindrical members is sealed at the opposite ends thereof with a semicircular plate connected thereto and wherein said flexible couplings which permit relative motion of said segments in a vertical plane comprise a dovetail interlocking joint connected to the ends of adjacent segments and a rivet or bolt extending through said joint.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said dovetail joint comprises a first plate section attached to the end of one of said segments and extending beyond said semicircular plate, and a pair of spaced second plate sections attached to the end of the other one of said segments and extending beyond said semicircular plate, said first plate section fitting between said pair of second plate sections, said rivet or bolt extending through said first and second plate sections to provide a pivot point to permit said segments to flex in a vertical plane.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first and second plate sections are aligned in a substantially vertical plane and wherein said rivet or bolt extends in a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said semicylindrical members is sealed at the opposite ends thereof with a substantially semicircular plate connected thereto and wherein at said flexible couplings which permit relative motion of said segments in a horizontal plane a portion of said flat plates extend beyond said semicircular plate, said portions being curved to form a section of a cylinder, the cylindrical portions of adjacent segments being in contact, and wherein said flexible coupling further comprises a generally horizontal backing plate secured to each of said adjacent segments, said backing plates being connected to said cylindrical portions and overlapping, and a rivet or bolt extending through said overlapping backing plates at the center of curvature of said cylindrical portions whereby said segments may pivot in a horizontal plane about said rivet or bolt.

Claim 9

Apparatus for confining floating oil within a predetermined space comprising a floating barrier extending entirely around said predetermined space, said barrier consisting of a plurality of segments, each of said segments comprising a hollow, cylindrical member, a first substantially flat, elongated plate connected to one side of said cylindrical member, and a second substantially flat, elongated plate connected to the opposite side of said member, said cylindrical member adapted to float with said first plate above the water and said second plate below the water, said segments being interconnected by flexible couplings which permit relative motion of said segments in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Claim 10

Apparatus for confining floating oil within a predetermined space comprising a floating barrier extending entirely around said predetermined space, said barrier consisting of a plurality of segments, each of said segments comprising a hollow, cylindrical member, a first substantially flat, elongated plate connected to one side of said cylindrical member, and a second substantially flat, elongated plate connected to the opposite side of said member, said cylindrical member adapted to float with said first plate above the water and said second plate below the water, said segments being interconnected by flexible couplings which permit relative motion of said segments in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the upper end of said plat plate is curved toward the center of said predetermined space, thereby forming a splash plate.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a third substantially flat, elongated plate, said third plate being connected to the upper edge of said first plate, said third plate extending toward the center of said predetermined space, thereby forming a splash guard.