US3798911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floatable boom structure
Assignee: Sanera Projecting AB
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Filing: 1971-03-31
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1991-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A floatable boom structure and a method of manufacturing same. The boom structure includes a plurality of elongated sections which can be interconnected to permit formation of a boom structure of selected length. Each boom section includes an elongated bouyant member provided with internal partitions for dividing same into a plurality of isolated bouyant compartments. The bouyant member, and the compartments contained therein, can be filled with air to provide the boom with the desired bouyancy. A weighted curtain is secured to the bouyant member for suspension into the water. The bouyant member can be collapsed to permit compact storage of the boom sections. Resilient expander devices are disposed within the bouyant member for permitting expansion or collapsing of same.
Inventors
- 👤 P Oberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:28
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0807; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0842; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0864; E02B15/0871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A boom adapted for use in a body of water, comprising collapsible wall means including opposed wall portions defining, when in an expanded state, a plurality of buoyant tubular body portions arranged in series along the length of the boom, each body portion defining therein at least one closed compartment, mechanical expansion means within each of said compartments, said expansion means being movable from a collapsed storage position to an open expanded position wherein said expansion means supports the wall portions of the closed compartment in the expanded state, resilient means operatively interconnected to said expansion means for automatically moving the expansion means from the collapsed position to the opened position for expanding the body portions to said expanded state to make the boom buoyant when released from a substantially flat storage state, said tubular body portions when in said expanded state being positioned so that they project upwardly above the surface of said body of water to an extent sufficient to contain floating impuritIes, and means defining at least one air passage into each compartment but preventing the entry of water into said compartment, said air passage means providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of each compartment at least during expansion of said expansion means for permitting the compartments to be filled with air upon expansion of said tubular body portions from said flat storage state to said expanded state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A boom adapted for use in a body of water, comprising collapsible wall means including opposed wall portions defining, when in an expanded state, a plurality of buoyant tubular body portions arranged in series along the length of the boom, each body portion defining therein at least one closed compartment, mechanical expansion means within each of said compartments, said expansion means being movable from a collapsed storage position to an open expanded position wherein said expansion means supports the wall portions of the closed compartment in the expanded state, resilient means operatively interconnected to said expansion means for automatically moving the expansion means from the collapsed position to the opened position for expanding the body portions to said expanded state to make the boom buoyant when released from a substantially flat storage state, said tubular body portions when in said expanded state being positioned so that they project upwardly above the surface of said body of water to an extent sufficient to contain floating impuritIes, and means defining at least one air passage into each compartment but preventing the entry of water into said compartment, said air passage means providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of each compartment at least during expansion of said expansion means for permitting the compartments to be filled with air upon expansion of said tubular body portions from said flat storage state to said expanded state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A boom according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means includes a spring disposed within each compartment for effecting the automatic expansion of said expansion means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A boom according to claim 2, wherein the expansion means comprises flexible support means within the compartment and said spring being connected at its ends to the support means and tending to flex the support means outwardly against the wall of the compartment for automatically expanding the compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A boom according to claim 3, wherein the support means comprises a pair of flexible strips each connected at opposite ends thereof to the opposite ends of the spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A boom according to claim 3, wherein the support means comprises a frame structure having sides connected together in end-to-end relationship, the spring urging the frame structure from a collapsed position to an opened position in which the frame structure supports the compartment in an expanded condition, and latch means operable to retain the frame structure releasably in its opened condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A boom according to claim 5, wherein the sides of the frame structure are connected at their ends by flexible portions having less resistance to bending than the sides to allow the frame structure to be brought into its opened and collapsed positions, and wherein the spring extends diagonally of the frame structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
A boom according to claim 6, wherein the spring comprises a helical tension spring connected at one end thereof to the frame structure by a spring attachment having an opening through which one end of an elongate retainer projects from one end of the spring when the frame structure is in its opened position, the latch means comprising a latch member on said one end of said retainer, the other end of the retainer being anchored to the other end of the spring, and the latch member being pivotable relative to the retainer for locking the frame structure in its opened condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A boom according to claim 6, wherein the length and spring rate of the spring are so related to the flexible portions that the frame structure tend to assume an equilibrium position in which the frame structure has a substantially quadratic shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A boom according to claim 1, wherein said body portion has a substantially rectangular cross-section when said body portion is in said expanded state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A boom according to claim 9, further including a sheetlike curtain fixedly secured to said wall means and extending longitudinally thereof, said curtain being adapted to freely suspend downwardly from said wall means when same is disposed in the water, said sheetlike curtain being fixedly secured to said wall means adjacent one of the corners of said rectangular shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
A boom according to claim 1, wherein said elongated tubular buoyant body portion has internal partitions dividing same into a plurality of said compartments disposed in series along the length of said boom, and a sheetlike curtain fixedly secured to said wall means and extending longitudinally thereof, said curtain having one edge thereof secured to said wall means and the other edge thereof being free so that said curtain will freely hang downwardly from said wall means when same is in said expanded state and is disposed in the water.
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) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |