US3789791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chemical hull patch
Assignee: Tenneco Oil Co
•
Filing: 1971-04-12
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A system and method in which in a preferred form, a network of breakable conduits are secured to the internal confining surfaces of a fluid containing structure such as the compartment walls of an oil tanker. The conduits are adapted to be broken upon rupture of the containing walls whereupon one or more reactive chemical agents are forced through the ruptured conduit system and are discharged into the confines of the structure in the area of the rupture where they react to form a solid or semi-solid mass of limited size. The resulting mass forms a localized blockage which reduces or terminates flow of the contained fluid through the point of rupture. Automatic control systems may be employed to initiate and terminate flow of the reactive agents through the pipe network.
Inventors
- 👤 R Lent
- 👤 F Firth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:42
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B25/02; B63B25/08; B63B25/082; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A process for remotely obstructing or terminating fluid flow from a relatively high pressure liquid containing area to a relatively low pressure area through a flow passage formed across a fluid barrier between said liquid containing area and said low pressure area wherein said barrier comprises the hull of an aquatic vessel, said high pressure area comprises a chamber in said vessel containing a non-solid, non-semisolid cargo fluid such as a relatively low viscosity crude oil, said low pressure area comprises a body of water in which the vessel is floating, the atmosphere above the water surface or a low pressure area within the hull construction, said flow passage comprises a breach in the hull of said vessel formed below the surface of the cargo fluid which breach communicates with the body of water, the atmosphere or the low pressure area within the hull construction comprising the steps of: a. conducting through one or more supply conduits, one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a flow passage bridging amount of a semi-solid or solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow through said hull breach; b. introducing from outlet openings in said conduits in the vicinity of said breach on the high pressure side of said hull said one or more reactive agents; c. reacting said one or more reactive agents to form said mass in a relatively small portion of said liquid containing area wherein only a limited amount of said mass is formed in said chamber whereby a major portion of said chamber may contain said cargo fluid; and d. blocking at least a portion of said breach with said mass to obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said breach.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A process for remotely obstructing or terminating fluid flow from a relatively high pressure liquid containing area to a relatively low pressure area through a flow passage formed across a fluid barrier between said liquid containing area and said low pressure area wherein said barrier comprises the hull of an aquatic vessel, said high pressure area comprises a chamber in said vessel containing a non-solid, non-semisolid cargo fluid such as a relatively low viscosity crude oil, said low pressure area comprises a body of water in which the vessel is floating, the atmosphere above the water surface or a low pressure area within the hull construction, said flow passage comprises a breach in the hull of said vessel formed below the surface of the cargo fluid which breach communicates with the body of water, the atmosphere or the low pressure area within the hull construction comprising the steps of: a. conducting through one or more supply conduits, one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a flow passage bridging amount of a semi-solid or solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow through said hull breach; b. introducing from outlet openings in said conduits in the vicinity of said breach on the high pressure side of said hull said one or more reactive agents; c. reacting said one or more reactive agents to form said mass in a relatively small portion of said liquid containing area wherein only a limited amount of said mass is formed in said chamber whereby a major portion of said chamber may contain said cargo fluid; and d. blocking at least a portion of said breach with said mass to obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said breach.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said reactive agents are introduced into said chamber through said outlet opEnings in said one or more supply conduits; b. said outlet openings are disposed adjacent said hull breach; and c. said reactive agents are reacted adjacent said hull breach to form a mass which, in part, is held against said hull and at least partially over and in said breach by the pressure exerted by said cargo fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process as defined in claim 2 wherein two or more different reactants from separate sources are introduced into said chamber under pressure through separate conduit outlet openings disposed on opposite sides of said breach whereby said two or more reactants are ejected from said outlet openings in turbulent streams which meet to cause mixing of the reactants with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as defined in claim 3 wherein introduction of said reactive agents is terminated when the back pressure acting against said conduit outlet openings changes from a predetermined, established value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as defined in claim 4 further including the step of heating said reactive agents prior to ejecting said agents from said conduit outlet openings.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for obstructing or terminating fluid flow in a flow passage which may be formed through a barrier separating a relatively high pressure area and a relatively low pressure area comprising: a. one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a solid or semi-solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow; b. introducing means including elongate conduit means connected with a source means containing said one or more reactive agents, said conduit means associated with said barrier for introducing said agents into said high pressure area; c. connecting means linking said conduit means and said barrier for transmitting movement or distortion of said barrier to said conduit means; and d. release means included with said introducing means and responsive to movement or distortion of said barrier for discharging said one or more reactive agents from said introducing means into the vicinity of a movement or distortion of said barrier whereby said agent or agents may react to form said mass in the vicinity of a flow path formed through said barrier to thereby obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for obstructing or terminating fluid flow in a flow passage which may be formed through a barrier separating a relatively high pressure area and a relatively low pressure area comprising: a. one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a solid or semi-solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow; b. introducing means including elongate conduit means connected with a source means containing said one or more reactive agents, said conduit means associated with said barrier for introducing said agents into said high pressure area; c. connecting means linking said conduit means and said barrier for transmitting movement or distortion of said barrier to said conduit means; and d. release means included with said introducing means and responsive to movement or distortion of said barrier for discharging said one or more reactive agents from said introducing means into the vicinity of a movement or distortion of said barrier whereby said agent or agents may react to form said mass in the vicinity of a flow path formed through said barrier to thereby obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein: a. said conduit means are supplied with at least two different reactive agents maintained in separate sources in said introducing means; and b. said release means include breakable conduit walls in said conduit means which are breakable upon predetermined movement, distortion or breakage of said barrier in the vicinity of such movement, distortion or breakage whereby said reactive agents may flow through a break in said conduit means to be dischargeed at a break or flow passage formed in said conduit walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 6 further including: a. first detection means for sensing a predetermined decrease of pressure within said introducing means; and b. first control means connected with said first detection means for initiating the flow of said one or more agents through said introducing means to be discharged through said release means when said predetermined pressure decrease is detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as defined in claim 8 further including: a. second detection means for sensing a predetermined increase in pressure within said introducing means; and b. second control means connected with said second detection means for terminating flow of said one or more agents when said predetermined pressure increase is detected.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
284 words
A system for obstructing or terminating fluid flow in a flow passage which may be formed through a barrier separating a relatively high pressure area and a relatively low pressure area comprising: a. at least two reactive agents capable of reacting to form a solid or semi-solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow; b. introducing means including a plurality of elongate conduit means connected with separate source means containiNg said reactive agents and associated with said barrier for introducing said agents into said high pressure area; c. connecting means linking said conduit means and said barrier for transmitting movement or distortion of said barrier to said conduit means; d. release means included with said introducing means and responsive to movement or distortion of said barrier for discharging said reactive agents from said introducing means into the vicinity of a movement or distortion of said barrier whereby said agents may react to form said mass in the vicinity of a flow path formed through said barrier to thereby obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage, said release means including breakable conduit walls in said conduit means which are breakable upon predetermined movement, distortion or breakage of said barrier in the vicinity of said movement, distortion or breakage whereby said reactive agents may flow through a break in said conduit means to be discharged at a break or flow opening formed in said conduit walls; and e. first and second elongate conduits included in said conduit means carried along said barrier and connected respectively with first and second sources of reactive agents with at least two of said first conduits being spaced laterally from and separated by at least one of said second conduits.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
284 words
A system for obstructing or terminating fluid flow in a flow passage which may be formed through a barrier separating a relatively high pressure area and a relatively low pressure area comprising: a. at least two reactive agents capable of reacting to form a solid or semi-solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow; b. introducing means including a plurality of elongate conduit means connected with separate source means containiNg said reactive agents and associated with said barrier for introducing said agents into said high pressure area; c. connecting means linking said conduit means and said barrier for transmitting movement or distortion of said barrier to said conduit means; d. release means included with said introducing means and responsive to movement or distortion of said barrier for discharging said reactive agents from said introducing means into the vicinity of a movement or distortion of said barrier whereby said agents may react to form said mass in the vicinity of a flow path formed through said barrier to thereby obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage, said release means including breakable conduit walls in said conduit means which are breakable upon predetermined movement, distortion or breakage of said barrier in the vicinity of said movement, distortion or breakage whereby said reactive agents may flow through a break in said conduit means to be discharged at a break or flow opening formed in said conduit walls; and e. first and second elongate conduits included in said conduit means carried along said barrier and connected respectively with first and second sources of reactive agents with at least two of said first conduits being spaced laterally from and separated by at least one of said second conduits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein a plurality of said first and second conduits are rigidly secured to the high pressure side of said barrier and are alternated with each other along at least a portion of said barrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A system as defined in claim 11 further including: a. first and second detecting means for respectively detecting a predetermined decrease in pressure in said conduit means resulting from conduit breakage and for detecting a predetermined pressure increase in said conduit means resulting from an increased back pressure acting against said conduit break; and b. control means connected with said first and second detection means for respectively initiating the flow of said reactive agents through said conduit means to be discharged at said conduit breakage points and for terminating the flow of said agents when said semi-solid mass produces a predetermined back pressure against said conduit breakage points.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said introducing means further includes means for heating said reactive agents before discharging them into said high pressure area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as defined in claim 10 further including: a. first detection means for sensing a predetermined decrease of pressure in said first or second conduits; and b. first control means connected with said first detection means for initiating the flow of reactive agents through said first and second conduit means to be discharged through a break in said conduit means when said predetermined decrease of pressure is sensed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
204 words
A leakage repair system for a fluid containable structure comprising: a. breakable conduit means for containing reactive agents; b. connecting means connecting said conduit means to at least a portion of the internal, confining surface of said structure; c. at least two reactive agents of the type which react with each other to form a solid or semi-solid mass; d. supply means connected with said conduit means for conveying said reactive agents through said conduit means upon the occurrence of a break in said conduit means whereby said agents are discharged into the internal portion of said fluid containable structure; e. at least two conduit means connected with said supply means for conveying each of said two reactive agents through separate conduit means, said two conduit means being rigidly secured to at least a portion of the internal surface of said structure and substantially alternated with each other; f. first detecting means included in said supply means for detecting a drop in pressure in said conduit means resulting from a breakage of said Conduit means; and g. first control means connected with said first detecting means for initiating the conveyance of said reactive agents through said conduit means upon the occurrence of said breakage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
204 words
A leakage repair system for a fluid containable structure comprising: a. breakable conduit means for containing reactive agents; b. connecting means connecting said conduit means to at least a portion of the internal, confining surface of said structure; c. at least two reactive agents of the type which react with each other to form a solid or semi-solid mass; d. supply means connected with said conduit means for conveying said reactive agents through said conduit means upon the occurrence of a break in said conduit means whereby said agents are discharged into the internal portion of said fluid containable structure; e. at least two conduit means connected with said supply means for conveying each of said two reactive agents through separate conduit means, said two conduit means being rigidly secured to at least a portion of the internal surface of said structure and substantially alternated with each other; f. first detecting means included in said supply means for detecting a drop in pressure in said conduit means resulting from a breakage of said Conduit means; and g. first control means connected with said first detecting means for initiating the conveyance of said reactive agents through said conduit means upon the occurrence of said breakage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 15 wherein said fluid containable structure includes a cargo tank of a sea going vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for remotely obstructing or terminating fluid flow from a relatively high pressure liquid containing area to a relatively low pressure area through a flow passage formed across a fluid barrier between said liquid containing area and said low pressure area comprising the steps of: a. conducting through one or more supply conduits, one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a flow passage bridging amount of a semi-solid or solid mass which can obstruct flow through said passage; b. introducing from outlet openings in said conduits in the vicinity of said flow passage on the high pressure side of said barrier said one or more reactive agents; c. combining and reacting said one or more reactive agents with fluid in said low pressure area to form said mass in a relatively small portion of said liquid containing area; and d. blocking at least a portion of said fluid passage with said mass to obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for remotely obstructing or terminating fluid flow from a relatively high pressure liquid containing area to a relatively low pressure area through a flow passage formed across a fluid barrier between said liquid containing area and said low pressure area comprising the steps of: a. conducting through one or more supply conduits, one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a flow passage bridging amount of a semi-solid or solid mass which can obstruct flow through said passage; b. introducing from outlet openings in said conduits in the vicinity of said flow passage on the high pressure side of said barrier said one or more reactive agents; c. combining and reacting said one or more reactive agents with fluid in said low pressure area to form said mass in a relatively small portion of said liquid containing area; and d. blocking at least a portion of said fluid passage with said mass to obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
189 words
A process for remotely obstructing or terminating fluid flow from a relatively high pressure liquid containing area to a relatively low pressure area through a flow passage formed across a fluid barrier between said liquid containing area and said low pressure area comprising the steps of: a. conducting through one or more supply conduits, one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a flow passage bridging amount of a semi-solid or solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow through said passage; b. introducing from outlet openings in said conduits in the vicinity of said flow passage on the high pressure side of said barrier said one or more reactive agents; c. reacting said one or more reactive agents to form said mass in a relatively small portion of said liquid containing area; d. blocking at least a portion of said fluid passage with said mass to obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage; and e. terminating introduction of said one or more reactive agents when the back pressure acting against said outlet openings in said one or more supply conduits exceeds a predetermined maximum value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
189 words
A process for remotely obstructing or terminating fluid flow from a relatively high pressure liquid containing area to a relatively low pressure area through a flow passage formed across a fluid barrier between said liquid containing area and said low pressure area comprising the steps of: a. conducting through one or more supply conduits, one or more reactive agents capable of reacting to form a flow passage bridging amount of a semi-solid or solid mass which can obstruct fluid flow through said passage; b. introducing from outlet openings in said conduits in the vicinity of said flow passage on the high pressure side of said barrier said one or more reactive agents; c. reacting said one or more reactive agents to form said mass in a relatively small portion of said liquid containing area; d. blocking at least a portion of said fluid passage with said mass to obstruct or terminate fluid flow through said flow passage; and e. terminating introduction of said one or more reactive agents when the back pressure acting against said outlet openings in said one or more supply conduits exceeds a predetermined maximum value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
159 words
A leakage repair system for a fluid containable structure comprising: a. at least two unbreakable conduit means for containing reactive agents; b. connecting means connecting said conduit means to at last a portion of the internal, confining surface of said structure; c. at least two reactive agents capable of reacting with each other to form a solid or semi-solid mass; d. supply means connected with said conduit means for conveying each of said two reactive agents through separate conduit means upon the occurrence of a break in said conduit means whereby said agents are discharged into the internal portion of said fluid containable structure; e. first detecting means in said supply means for detecting a drop in pressure in said conduit means resulting from a breakage of said conduit means; and f. first control means connected with a first detecting means for initiating the conveyance of said reactive agents through said conduit means upon the occurrence of said breakage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
159 words
A leakage repair system for a fluid containable structure comprising: a. at least two unbreakable conduit means for containing reactive agents; b. connecting means connecting said conduit means to at last a portion of the internal, confining surface of said structure; c. at least two reactive agents capable of reacting with each other to form a solid or semi-solid mass; d. supply means connected with said conduit means for conveying each of said two reactive agents through separate conduit means upon the occurrence of a break in said conduit means whereby said agents are discharged into the internal portion of said fluid containable structure; e. first detecting means in said supply means for detecting a drop in pressure in said conduit means resulting from a breakage of said conduit means; and f. first control means connected with a first detecting means for initiating the conveyance of said reactive agents through said conduit means upon the occurrence of said breakage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said supply means further includes; a. second detection means for sensing a predetermined increase in pressure in said conduit means; and b. second control means connected with said second detecting means for terminating the conveyence of said reaction agents through said conduit means when said predetermined pressure increase is detected.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 19 further including means for heating said reactive agents before they arE discharged into said structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said two conduit means are rigidly secured to at least a portion of the internal surface of said structure and are substantially alternated with each other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said fluid containable structure includes the cargo tank of a seagoing vessel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |