Floating oil containment boom

Claim 2

A floating boom for containing oil and the like on the surface of a body of water comprising a. a plurality of units disposed end to end each comprising i. a rigid barrier member and ii. flotation means supporting said barrier member on both sides thereof in substantially vertical position with a portion extending above the water surface and another portion submerged, b. a panel of flexible waterproof material interposed between and secured to the adjacent ends of adjacent units, c. and linking means horizontally separated on opposite sides of said barrier members and secured to the outboard extremities of said flotation means for linking said units for towing and mooring as a unit without stressing said panels.

Claim 3

A floating boom as in claim 1 together with a skirt of flexible material depending from each barrier member, the panels between adjacent barrier members also extending between adjacent skirts and being secured thereto.

Claim 4

A floating boom as in claim 2 in which the skirt depending from each barrier member carries ballast.

Claim 5

A floating boom as in claim 3, wherein: each barrier member comprises a thin rectangular sheet of rigid material; the flotation means comprise sealed drums rigidly secured to said barrier member and disposed on opposite sides thereof; and the linking means are attached to the fore and aft outboard portions of the drums.

Claim 6

A floating boom as in claim 4 together with bow plane means secured to the lead unit thereof to facilitate towing of the boom.

Claim 7

A floating boom as in claim 1, wherein: each barrier member includes a thin sheet of rigid material; the flotation means includes sealed drums rigidly secured to said barrier member and disposed on opposite sides thereof; and the linking means includes a tow line secured to the drums on each side of the barrier members.

Claim 8

A float unit as defined in claim 6 together with bow plane means secured at one end of the unit to facilitate towing the unit while floating in water.

Claim 9

A float unit for a containment boom for containing oil and the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising a. a rigid barrier member including a thin rectangular sheet of rigid material, and b. flotation means adapted to support said barrier member in substantially vertical position with a portion extending above a water surface and another portion submerged, including at least one sealed drum rigidly secured to each side of said sheet, c. a panel of flexible waterproof material connected to at least one end of said rigid barrier member for forming a flexible barrier panel between adjacent float units when a plurality of said units are connected together as an oil containment boom, and d. a cable securing means secured to each outboard corner of each end of said float units connecting a cable for linkinG a plurality of said float units together for rowing and mooring as an oil containment boom without stressing said flexible barrier panel.

Claim 10

A float unit for a containment boom for containing oil and the like on the surface of a body of water, comprising a. a rigid barrier member including a thin rectangular sheet of rigid material, and b. flotation means adapted to support said barrier member in substantially vertical position with a portion extending above a water surface and another portion submerged, including at least one sealed drum rigidly secured to each side of said sheet, c. a panel of flexible waterproof material connected to at least one end of said rigid barrier member for forming a flexible barrier panel between adjacent float units when a plurality of said units are connected together as an oil containment boom, and d. a cable securing means secured to each outboard corner of each end of said float units connecting a cable for linkinG a plurality of said float units together for rowing and mooring as an oil containment boom without stressing said flexible barrier panel.

Claim 11

A float unit as defined in claim 8, together with a skirt of flexible material depending from the barrier member and carrying ballast.