Floating anti-pollution barrier device

Claim 2

A floating anti-pollution barrier of the type having a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means comprising a longitudinal band of an air-tight pliable material folded in the longitudinal direction to provide two walls with the fold in the upward direction and an opening in the downward direction, a plurality of floating pocket means formed between said two walls in the longitudinal direction with each pocket means having an opening in the downward direction, a plurality of pliable bands separating each of said plurality of pocket means, and means for expanding said pocket means into shape such that air filling said pocket means through said opening is imprisoned in said pocket means by water when the barrier is placed in the water.

Claim 3

A barrier according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of pliable bands are formed of pliable fabric.

Claim 4

A barrier according to claim 2 characterized in that the pocket-like means are devoid of communication with one another and are connected with one another by way of band-like portions of flexible fabric.

Claim 5

A barrier according to claim 1, wherein said means for expanding said pocket means are mechanical means that maintain the shape of said pocket means, said mechanical means separating the opposite walls of each of said pocket means.

Claim 6

A barrier according to claim 4, wherein said mechanical means are expansible.

Claim 7

A barrier according to claim 4, wherein said mechanical means are helicoidal springs having substantially vertical axes, said helicoidal springs being connected to one wall of each of said pocket means so that the spirals of the springs are pivotable about the point of connection to the wall.

Claim 8

A barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of the two opposite walls of the pocket means, said walls being joined at intervals to one another at places located above their lower edges.

Claim 9

A barrier according to claim 7, characterized in that ballast means are suspended at the means for joining the walls.

Claim 10

A barrier according to claim 8, characterized in that the ballast means in a ballast chain.

Claim 11

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable band-like portions of a pliable mAterial and expansible mechanical means for putting the pocket-like means into shape and maintaining the shape thereof, said mechanical means being operable to separate opposite walls of the pocket-like means, wherein said mechanical means are helicoidal springs having substantially vertical axes, said helicoidal springs being connected to one wall of the pocket-like means so that the spirals of the spring are pivotable about the point of connection to said wall.

Claim 12

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable band-like portions of a pliable mAterial and expansible mechanical means for putting the pocket-like means into shape and maintaining the shape thereof, said mechanical means being operable to separate opposite walls of the pocket-like means, wherein said mechanical means are helicoidal springs having substantially vertical axes, said helicoidal springs being connected to one wall of the pocket-like means so that the spirals of the spring are pivotable about the point of connection to said wall.

Claim 13

A barrier according to claim 10, characterized in that the pocket-like means are devoid of communication with one another and are connected with one another by way of band-like portions of flexible fabric.

Claim 14

A barrier according to claim 11, characterized in that the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of a wall of the pocket-like floating means and is brought back substantially into the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the pocket-like means by joining members fixed to said wall and to the other wall of the pocket-like means.

Claim 15

A barrier according to claim 11, characterized in that the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of two opposite walls of the pocket-like means, said walls being joined at intervals to one another at places located above their lower edges.

Claim 16

A barrier according to claim 13, characterized in that ballast means are suspended at the means for joining the walls.

Claim 17

A barrier according to claim 14, characterized in that the ballast means is a ballast chain.

Claim 18

A barrier according to claim 15, characterized in that the ballast chain is placed between the two walls and is suspended at the means for joining said walls, said means for joining the walls being at a distance from the lower edges of said walls such that the ballast chain is completely hidden by said walls.

Claim 19

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable band-like portions and mechanical means for putting the pocket-like means into shape and maintaining the shape thereof, said mechanical means being helicoidal springs having substantially vertical axes, said helicoidal springs being connected to one wall of the pocket-like means so that the spirals of the springs are pivotable about the point of connection to said wall.

Claim 20

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable band-like portions and mechanical means for putting the pocket-like means into shape and maintaining the shape thereof, said mechanical means being helicoidal springs having substantially vertical axes, said helicoidal springs being connected to one wall of the pocket-like means so that the spirals of the springs are pivotable about the point of connection to said wall.

Claim 21

A barrier according to claim 17, characterized in that the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of a wall of the pocket-like floating means and is brought back substantially into the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the pocket-like means by joining members fixed to said wall and to the other wall of the pocket-like means.

Claim 22

A barrier according to claim 17, characterized in that the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of the two opposite walls of the pocket means, said walls being joined at intervals to one another at places located above their lower edges.

Claim 23

A barrier according to claim 19, characterized in that ballast means are suspended at the means for joining the walls.

Claim 24

A barrier according to claim 20, characterized in that the ballast means is a ballast chain.

Claim 25

A barrier according to claim 21, characterized in that the ballast chain is placed between the two walls and is suspended at the means for joining said walls, said means for joining the walls being at a distance from the lower edges of said walls such that the ballast chain is completely hidden by said walls.

Claim 26

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable baNd-like portions, wherein the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of a wall of the pocket-like floating means, said extension being brought back substantially in the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the pocket-like means by joining members fixed to said wall and to the other wall of the pocket-like means.

Claim 27

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable baNd-like portions, wherein the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of a wall of the pocket-like floating means, said extension being brought back substantially in the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the pocket-like means by joining members fixed to said wall and to the other wall of the pocket-like means.

Claim 28

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable band-like portions, wherein the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of two opposite walls of the pocket-like means, means for joining the walls to one another at intervals are provided at places located above their lower edges, and ballast means of a ballast chain are suspended from the means for joining the walls, said ballast chain being located between the two walls such that the ballast chain is completely hidden by said walls.

Claim 29

A floating anti-pollution barrier constituted by a submerged skirt-like structure supported by floating means, said floating means comprising pocket-like means being tight with respect to air and being provided with opening means facing in the downward direction, said pocket-like means being connected with one another by pliable band-like portions, wherein the skirt-like structure is constituted by an extension of two opposite walls of the pocket-like means, means for joining the walls to one another at intervals are provided at places located above their lower edges, and ballast means of a ballast chain are suspended from the means for joining the walls, said ballast chain being located between the two walls such that the ballast chain is completely hidden by said walls.