US3779020A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Immersible oil fence assembly
Assignee: Bridgestone Corp
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Filing: 1972-03-14
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-03-14
Abstract
Abstract An immersible oil fence assembly including alternately connected oil fence units and immersible buoys. The oil fence units have tubular float means connected to inflatable bags of the immersible buoys. By inflating and deflating the tubular float means and the inflatable bags, the oil fence is selectively floated and immersed. The buoys are anchored to station the oil fence assembly in position.
Inventors
- 👤 T Muramatsu
- 👤 K Aramaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:05
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0828; E02B15/0835; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0864; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
An immersible oil fence assembly, comprising a plurality of oil fence units having an elongated flexible belt member and a tubular float means secured to the belt member so as to extend along the longitudinal center line of the belt member, a plurality of immersible buoyancy generating means having an inflatable air container disposed therein, said oil fence units and said buoyancy generating means being alternately connected while joining said tubular float means of adjacent ones of said oil fence units to said air container of the buoyancy generating means located therebetween, so as to form an oil fence line, anchors stationed on the ground level, wire rope means connecting each of said anchors to corresponding one of said immersible buoyancy generating means, respectively, said wire rope means being long enough to cause the buoyancy generating means to float on water surface, a blocking means airtightly blocking said tubular float means at one end of said oil fence line, a flexible air hose connected to the opposite end of said oil fence line, and an air valve means connected to said air hose and selectively feeding and releasing air into and out of said tubular float means and said air container of the buoyancy generating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
An immersible oil fence assembly, comprising a plurality of oil fence units having an elongated flexible belt member and a tubular float means secured to the belt member so as to extend along the longitudinal center line of the belt member, a plurality of immersible buoyancy generating means having an inflatable air container disposed therein, said oil fence units and said buoyancy generating means being alternately connected while joining said tubular float means of adjacent ones of said oil fence units to said air container of the buoyancy generating means located therebetween, so as to form an oil fence line, anchors stationed on the ground level, wire rope means connecting each of said anchors to corresponding one of said immersible buoyancy generating means, respectively, said wire rope means being long enough to cause the buoyancy generating means to float on water surface, a blocking means airtightly blocking said tubular float means at one end of said oil fence line, a flexible air hose connected to the opposite end of said oil fence line, and an air valve means connected to said air hose and selectively feeding and releasing air into and out of said tubular float means and said air container of the buoyancy generating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1, wherein each said buoyancy generating means is an immersible buoy having an inflatable air bag surrounded by a perforated shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1, wherein each said buoyancy generating means is a second oil fence unit consisting of a second belt member aligned with said belt member of said oil fence unit, an inflatable second tubular float means aligned with the tubular float means of said oil fence unit and having a diameter larger than that of said tubular float means of the oil fence unit, and a metallic strap means integrally bonding said second tubular float means to said second belt member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a pilot float means anchored to ground level through a wire rope means so as to float on water surface substantially at a constant location, said air valve means being mounted on said pilot buoy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a controllable weight member secured to the wire rope means connecting the blocked side end buoyancy generating means to the anchor associated with said end buoyancy generating means at an intermediate position between said end buoy and said associated anchor, said controllable weight member having an inflatable air chamber, and a flexible air hose connecting air container of said end buoyancy generating means to said air chamber of said controllable weight member, the connecting position of said controllable weight member to said wire rope means being such that said controllable weight member is always kept below water level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 5, wherein said controllable weight member is an immersible buoy having an inflatable bag surrounded by a perforated shelL.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising an immersible terminal buoy having an inflatable air bag, a contact belt member extending from one end of said oil fence line, a rope guide means secured to said oil fence assembly in the proximity of said contact belt member, a rope means extending from a wall to which said contact belt member is to engage said terminal buoy through said rope guide means, a flexible air hose connecting said inflatable air bag of said terminal buoy to one of said immersible buoyancy generating means of the oil fence assembly, and an air valve means controlling air flow through the last mentioned air hose for regulating the buoyancy of said terminal buoy, whereby upon immersion of said terminal buoy, said rope means acts on said rope guide means so as to force said contact belt member to always engage said wall for terminating said oil fence line at the wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 7, wherein said terminal buoy is an immersible buoy having an inflatable air bag surrounded by a perforated shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a central weight member located at the central portion of the oil fence line, a contractible hose means connecting said central weight member to said tubular float means at about the center of said oil fence line, said contractible hose means communicating with said tubular float means, an additional air valve means connected to said blocked end of said oil fence line in communication of said tubular float means, whereby upon opening one of the two air valve means connected to the opposite ends of the oil fence line, that half of the oil fence line lying between the valve thus opened and said central weight is immersed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 9, wherein the opposite ends of the oil fence line are mechanically bonded together to form a closed loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 5, wherein said controllable weight member consists of a solid weight member and an inflatable hose section, which hose section is sealingly secured to said solid weight at one end thereof and communicates with said tubular float means at the opposite end thereof, the inner volume of said hose section when inflated by filling air therein being large enough to generate such a buoyancy which causes the solid weight member to leave the ground level under water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
An immersible oil fence assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a solid weight member integrally secured to said blocking means and an inflatable hose section having one end thereof communicating with said tubular float means, said inflatable hose section holding said solid weight member at the opposite end thereof so as to hang said weight member from said blocked end of said oil fence line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3708983A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |