US3928980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable water-retaining barrier
Assignee: Pneumatiques Caoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques Kleber Colombes SA
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Filing: 1973-10-23
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1993-10-23
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to water-retaining barrier means for a watercourse such as a river. The barrier means includes at least one flexible membrane forming an inflatable enclosure and secured to or otherwise incorporated in said enclosure as a rigid member which extends along the whole length thereof. The ends of this rigid member are arranged to bear against the banks of a watercourse in such a fashion that any stresses exerted on the barrier are transferred to the watercourse banks. In practising this invention rigid blocks may be built on the sides of the watercourse to form abutment members against which the ends of the rigid member are applied. The inflatable enclosure may be in the shape of a ''V'' with the apex of the ''V'' pointing upstream, and in this case two rigid members are incorporated with the enclosure the one ends of these rigid members being connected together at the apex of the V. In such a case also the inflatable enclosure may be in two parts particularly in the form of two frustra of a cone joined together by their major bases so that they also form a V shape. The invention also provides a method of positioning such a barrier means and also a method for damming a watercourse using such a barrier means.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Victor Ganzinotti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:25
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B7/00; E02B7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A water retaining barrier means of unitary structure for a watercourse, said water retaining barrier means having upstream and downstream sides and comprising: a. at least one flexible membrane forming at least one inflatable enclosure, b. a rigid, mechanically strong, member of which at least a substantial portion is disposed within, and secured to, said at least one inflatable enclosure in a position to lie at least across the bed of the watercourse and the upstream side of the barrier means, said rigid member extending along the whole length of said barrier means, whereby when said barrier means is positioned in the watercourse, the ends of said rigid member bear freely against the banks of the watercourse and any stresses on the barrier means are distributed along the whole length of the barrier means and thereby the strain of holding the said barrier means in position is transferred laterally to the banks of the watercourse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A water retaining barrier means of unitary structure for a watercourse, said water retaining barrier means having upstream and downstream sides and comprising: a. at least one flexible membrane forming at least one inflatable enclosure, b. a rigid, mechanically strong, member of which at least a substantial portion is disposed within, and secured to, said at least one inflatable enclosure in a position to lie at least across the bed of the watercourse and the upstream side of the barrier means, said rigid member extending along the whole length of said barrier means, whereby when said barrier means is positioned in the watercourse, the ends of said rigid member bear freely against the banks of the watercourse and any stresses on the barrier means are distributed along the whole length of the barrier means and thereby the strain of holding the said barrier means in position is transferred laterally to the banks of the watercourse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of a barrier means according to claim 15, positioned into a watercourse and two rigid abutments incorporated into the banks of the watercourse, said rigid mechanically strong, member lying at least across the bed of the watercourse with the ends of said rigid member bearing freely against the rigid abutments, whereby the stresses on the barrier means are distributed along the whole length of the rigid member and thereby the strain of holding the barrier means in position is transferred to the two rigid abutments incorporated in the watercourse banks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, wherein a flexible mat is secured to said at least one enclosure in a position to cover the bed of the watercourse immediately adjacent said at least one enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, for use in a watercourse having sloping banks, which comprises a central enclosure arranged to bear against the bed of the watercourse, and two lateral enclosures which are arranged to bear against the watercourse banks and have a tetrahedron-like shape having a base which presses against the sides of said central enclosure and wherein said rigid member is made up of three parts consisting of a central part disposed inside and secured to said central enclosure and two lateral parts of which at least a portion is disposed inside and secured to a respective said lateral enclosure, said two lateral parts being hinged to said central part to permit said lateral enclosures to move upwardly and thereby bear against the watercourse banks downstream of said central part of said rigid member and yet remain rigid in the direction at right angles to the direction of upward movement of said lateral enclosures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, wherein said rigid member comprises a tube defining a plurality of radially oriented openings for discharging into said at least one enclosure for inflation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A method of positioning a barrier means of unitary structure according to claim 1 into a watercourse, which method consists in placing said barrier means in the water upstream of the point at which it is to be installed, and inflating said enclosure with air to float said barrier means on the water in an extended position, allowing said barrier means to be carried along by the current of the water until it is substantially at right angles to the point at which it is to be installed and allowing the ends of said rigid member bear freely against the watercourse banks, and then sinking said barrier means to the bottom of the water by replacing the inflating air with a liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method of removing a barrier means according to claim 1 from a watercourse into which said barrier means has been positioned according to the method of claim 6, which method of removing consists in replacing said liquid in said enclosure by air, thus enabling said barrier means to float on the surface of the water in the watercourse, thus rendering said barrier means readily attainable and removable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, wherein in plan view, the upstream side of the inflated barrier means has side portions which are inclined towards each other in the direction from the ends of the rigid member towards its centre and in the upstream direction and wherein said rigid member extends along said side portions and is of similar shape to said upstream side of said barrier means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A barrier means as claimed in claim 8, wherein in cross-section, the bottom surface of the inflated barrier means has side-portions which are inclined towards each other in the direction from the ends of the rigid member towards centre of the bottom of the barrier means and in the watercourse bed direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A barrier means as claimed in claim 1, wherein in cross-section, the bottom surface of the inflated barrier means has side-portions which are inclined towards each other in the direction from the ends of the rigid member towards centre of the bottom of the barrier means and in the watercourse bed direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, wherein, inside said at least one enclosure, said rigid member is intimately surrounded by flexible membrane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, wherein, inside said at least one enclosure, said rigid member is located within a tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A barrier means according to claim 1, wherein the ends of said rigid member project outwardly from inside of and beyond the confines of said at least one inflatable enclosure.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of damming a watercourse, which method consists in taking a barrier means of unitary structure that comprises at least one inflatable enclosure and rigid stiffening member of which at least a substantial portion is disposed within, and secured to said at least one enclosure in a position to lie at least across the bed of the watercourse, said rigid member extending for the whole length of the barrier means, placing said barrier means in the watercourse to be dammed, upstream of the damming position, inflating said at least one enclosure with air causing it to float on the surface of the water in said watercourse, allowing said barrier means to travel downstream to said damming position, deflating said at least one enclosure, filling said at least one enclosure with water to cause it to sink to the bottom of said watercourse with thE ends of said rigid stiffening member bearing freely against the banks of said watercourse, to retain said barrier means at said damming position.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of damming a watercourse, which method consists in taking a barrier means of unitary structure that comprises at least one inflatable enclosure and rigid stiffening member of which at least a substantial portion is disposed within, and secured to said at least one enclosure in a position to lie at least across the bed of the watercourse, said rigid member extending for the whole length of the barrier means, placing said barrier means in the watercourse to be dammed, upstream of the damming position, inflating said at least one enclosure with air causing it to float on the surface of the water in said watercourse, allowing said barrier means to travel downstream to said damming position, deflating said at least one enclosure, filling said at least one enclosure with water to cause it to sink to the bottom of said watercourse with thE ends of said rigid stiffening member bearing freely against the banks of said watercourse, to retain said barrier means at said damming position.
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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) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |