US3839869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boom as a barrier for oil slicks and the like on the surface of water
Assignee: Metropolitan Petroleum Petrochemicals Co Inc
•
Filing: 1969-05-15
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1989-05-15
Abstract
Abstract The boom comprises a number of non-pneumatic floats arranged in spaced alignment and a flexible web wrapped completely around the floats and bridging the spaces therebetween. The side sections of the web beyond the floats are secured together face to face and weights are attached to the web near the marginal edge of these side sections to form a downwardly extending weighted ballasting fin. The fin forms a hinge connection near the floats to permit the fin to swing about the hinge axis without transmitting its movements to the floats.
Inventors
- 👤 L Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:35
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0821; E02B15/085; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0885; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A water-floatable boom for oil or other pollutants comprising: a. a plurality of floats disposed in longitudinal spaced alignment; b. a flexible web wrapped around said floats and bridging the spaces between said floats, 1. said web being doubled over said floats and having side sections beneath said floats secured together, face to face, to form a flexible curtain depending from said floats; c. weighting means supported on said curtain near its lower marginal edge whereby the curtain so weighted serves as a ballasting fin for the floats; and d. a longitudinally extending region disposed immediately below said floats and across the spaces between the floats, said region having a form-sustaining rigidity greater than that of said flexible web to define a hinge axis immediately therebeneath and to effectively isolate movement of said flexible curtain, as caused by action of undersurface water movements, from being transmitted to said floats and the other portions of the boom disposed above said hinge axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A water-floatable boom for oil or other pollutants comprising: a. a plurality of floats disposed in longitudinal spaced alignment; b. a flexible web wrapped around said floats and bridging the spaces between said floats, 1. said web being doubled over said floats and having side sections beneath said floats secured together, face to face, to form a flexible curtain depending from said floats; c. weighting means supported on said curtain near its lower marginal edge whereby the curtain so weighted serves as a ballasting fin for the floats; and d. a longitudinally extending region disposed immediately below said floats and across the spaces between the floats, said region having a form-sustaining rigidity greater than that of said flexible web to define a hinge axis immediately therebeneath and to effectively isolate movement of said flexible curtain, as caused by action of undersurface water movements, from being transmitted to said floats and the other portions of the boom disposed above said hinge axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
the double over web also being secured together, face to face, in the transverse bridging areas at locations spaced from the axial ends of said floats to provide tapered outer surfaces to the boom between each of the floats and the bridging areas and to permit the boom to bend transversely about said bridging areas, said secured web in the bridging areas defining transversely extending regions extending across substantially the full height of the boom, said regions having a form-sustaining rigidity greater than that of said flexible web to stiffen the web between said floats against bending and folding longitudinally of the boom; and c. weighting means supported on said curtain near its lower marginal edge in vertical alignment wIth each of the floats, whereby the curtain so weighted serves as a ballasting fin for the floats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
the double over web also being secured together, face to face, in the transverse bridging areas at locations spaced from the axial ends of said floats to provide tapered outer surfaces to the boom between each of the floats and the bridging areas and to permit the boom to bend transversely about said bridging areas, said secured web in the bridging areas defining transversely extending regions extending across substantially the full height of the boom, said regions having a form-sustaining rigidity greater than that of said flexible web to stiffen the web between said floats against bending and folding longitudinally of the boom; and c. weighting means supported on said curtain near its lower marginal edge in vertical alignment wIth each of the floats, whereby the curtain so weighted serves as a ballasting fin for the floats.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A boom as described in claim 1 wherein: a. said floats are non-pneumatic and comprised of buoyant material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
a V-shaped clamp for said bar extending across the adjacent end of the adjoining boom unit embracing said bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
a V-shaped clamp for said bar extending across the adjacent end of the adjoining boom unit embracing said bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A boom as described in claim 2 wherein: a. said buoyant material consists of beads of foamed plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A boom as described in claim 2 wherein: a. the side sections of the web are secured together immediately beneath said floats to snugly enclose them, with the secured portions of the side sections extending longitudinally of the floats and across the spaces between the floats to define said longitudinally extending region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A boom as described in claim 4 wheRein: a. said web is made essentially of thermoplastic material and heat sealed together to define said longitudinally extending region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A boom as described in claim 4 wherein: a. said web is collapsed in the transverse bridging areas between floats by bringing the opposed sections of the web in said areas close together, to permit the boom to bend transversely about said collapsed regions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A boom as described in claim 6 further including: a. transversely extending regions disposed in the spaces between said floats and extending across substantially the full height of the boom, said regions having a form-sustaining rigidity greater than that of said flexible web to stiffen the web between said floats against bending and folding longitudinally of the boom except along said hinge axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A boom as described in claim 7 wherein: a. said web is made essentially of thermoplastic material and heat sealed together to define both the longitudinally and transversely extending regions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A boom as described in claim 8 wherein: a. said web material includes a fabric made of woven yarn embedded in a sheet of thermoplastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A boom as described in claim 8 wherein: a. said web has its side sections near its lower marginal edge secured together by two parallel heat seals extending longitudinally of the boom and defining pockets; and b. said weighting means comprises weighting bodies in said pockets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A boom as described in claim 1 comprising: a. a plurality of separate boom units, each comprising a plurality of floats and a web wrapped around said floats and each unit comprising means for releasably securing said boom units end to end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A boom as described in claim 11 wherein: a. said securing means comprises:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A boom as described in claim 12 wherein: a. said bar and clamp have interlockable teeth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A water-floatable boom for oil or other pollutants a. a plurality of floats disposed in longitudinal spaced alignment, each of said floats being comprised of an elongated bag of individual beads of buoyant material; b. a flexible web wrapped around said floats and bridging the spaces between said floats,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A water-floatable boom for oil or other pollutants a. a plurality of floats disposed in longitudinal spaced alignment, each of said floats being comprised of an elongated bag of individual beads of buoyant material; b. a flexible web wrapped around said floats and bridging the spaces between said floats,
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |