US3638430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-strength fire-resistant spill control booms
Assignee: SLICKBAR PRODUCTS CORP A CORP OF CT
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Filing: 1969-04-14
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1989-04-14
Abstract
Abstract Rugged high-strength fire-resistant floating booms, each incorporating a continuous flexible fin suspended at and extending below the surface of a body of water, supported by short floats formed of highly fire-resistant material, such as foamed aluminum blocks, spaced apart longitudinally along the upper edge of the fin to permit flexing and accordion folding of the structure and to provide flexible articulating movement with surface waves; all parts of each spill control boom being formed of highly fire-resistant and high-strength materials substantially impervious to impact, bending or snagging between vessels, docks, pilings and similar structures, and optionally incorporating resilient fender materials protecting the hulls of adjacent vessels and barges as well as docks and pilings from impact damage, while retaining spilled petroleum products or other floating materials discharged from a dockside vessel in the immediate vicinity of the spill, and preventing the movement of such spilled material under docks and other structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Millard F Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:18
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0821; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0885; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A flexible high-strength heat-resistant unitary floating barrier suitable for deployment between a dock and a vessel comprising: A. a continuous, flexible liquid-impervious solid elastomer barrier fin; 1. having elongated upper and lower edges extending over the length of the boom, and 2. having a knitted reinforcing and tensile load-distributing mesh interengaging said solid elastomer barrier fin and embedded therein, and B. gbuoyant float blocks having heat-resistant liquid-impervious outer surfaces, anchored at spaced accordion-foldable intervals along the upper edge of the flexible fin for convenient accordion-folding between said floats; C. said float blocks having upwardly extending ridge portions secured to the upper edge of the fin and surmounting laterally protruding hull float portions thereof and forming therewith concave, float-receiving longitudinally extending flaking embrasures above the laterally protruding hull float portions and beside the ridge portions of the boom, whereby the accordion-foldable boom is adapted for compactly flaked storage and for high-speed unfolding deployment from storage containers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A flexible high-strength heat-resistant unitary floating barrier suitable for deployment between a dock and a vessel comprising: A. a continuous, flexible liquid-impervious solid elastomer barrier fin; 1. having elongated upper and lower edges extending over the length of the boom, and 2. having a knitted reinforcing and tensile load-distributing mesh interengaging said solid elastomer barrier fin and embedded therein, and B. gbuoyant float blocks having heat-resistant liquid-impervious outer surfaces, anchored at spaced accordion-foldable intervals along the upper edge of the flexible fin for convenient accordion-folding between said floats; C. said float blocks having upwardly extending ridge portions secured to the upper edge of the fin and surmounting laterally protruding hull float portions thereof and forming therewith concave, float-receiving longitudinally extending flaking embrasures above the laterally protruding hull float portions and beside the ridge portions of the boom, whereby the accordion-foldable boom is adapted for compactly flaked storage and for high-speed unfolding deployment from storage containers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
having a knitted reinforcing and tensile load-distributing mesh interengaging said solid elastomer barrier fin and embedded therein, and B. buoyant float blocks having heat-resistant liquid-impervious outer surfaces, anchored at spaced accordion-foldable intervals along the upper edge of the flexible fin for convenient accordion-folding between said floats; C. said float blocks having upwardly extending ridge portions secured to the upper edge of the fin and surmounting laterally protruding hull float portions thereof and forming therewith concave, float-receiving longitudinally extending flaking embrasures above the laterally protruding hull float portions and beside the ridge portions of the boom, whereby the accordion-foldable boom is adapted for compactly flaked storage and for high-speed unfolding deployment from storage containers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
having a knitted reinforcing and tensile load-distributing mesh interengaging said solid elastomer barrier fin and embedded therein, and B. buoyant float blocks having heat-resistant liquid-impervious outer surfaces, anchored at spaced accordion-foldable intervals along the upper edge of the flexible fin for convenient accordion-folding between said floats; C. said float blocks having upwardly extending ridge portions secured to the upper edge of the fin and surmounting laterally protruding hull float portions thereof and forming therewith concave, float-receiving longitudinally extending flaking embrasures above the laterally protruding hull float portions and beside the ridge portions of the boom, whereby the accordion-foldable boom is adapted for compactly flaked storage and for high-speed unfolding deployment from storage containers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 1 wherein the float blocks are formed of heat-resistant metallic foam material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 1 wherein the metallic reinforcing means includes a metal cable anchored to the fin at a large plurality of points spaced apart lengthwise along the boom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing mesh includes a knitted metallic wire mesh embedded in the continuous flexible barrier fin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 4 wherein the knitted mesh is embedded in one side surface of the fin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 4 wherein the knitted mesh is centrally embedded and encased within the body of the continuous flexible solid elastomer barrier fin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 1 wherein the continuous fin incorporates a temperature-resistant flexible fabric supported by at least one layer of said temperature-resistant elastomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 1 incorporating float blocks whose end surfaces are raked at acute angles measured from their central fin plane, minimizing snagging of boom float blocks on adjacent objects.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The barrier boom defined in claim 1 incorporating resilient fender means anchored to the float blocks and projecting in laterally exposed relationship in a direction substantially perpendicular to the barrier fin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |