Patent FR2394423A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4015431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floatable oil fence
Assignee: SUZUEI CO Ltd
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Filing: 1974-03-29
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Granted: 1977-04-05
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Expires: 1994-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A floatable oil fence or boom for limiting the extent to which oil or other matter floating on a body of water can spread. The floatable boom includes an elongated tubular structure for containing air under pressure so as to be rendered floatable. An upper fin is fixed and extends longitudinally along the tubular structure, projecting upwardly therefrom to oppose the movement of water over the tubular structure. A lower fin is fixed to and extends longitudinally along the tubular structure, projecting downwardly therefrom to oppose the movement of the surface of a body of water and any material floating on the surface beneath the tubular structure. A partition structure extends longitudinally along the interior of the tubular structure to divide the latter into a plurality of longitudinally extending chambers which are prevented from communicating with each other by the partition structure, so that in the event that the tubular structure ruptures at one of these chambers the tubular structure nevertheless will remain afloat.
Inventors
- 👤 Isami Ahiko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:46
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/08; E02B15/0814; E02B15/0857; E02B15/0864; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/20; Y02A20/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
In a floatable boom, elongated tubular means for containing air under pressure so as to be rendered floatable, upper fin means fixed to and extending longitudinally along said tubular means, said upper fin means extending upwardly from said tubular means for opposing the movement of water and material floating thereon over said tubular means, lower fin means fixed to and extending longitudinally along said tubular means, said lower fin means extending downwardly from said tubular means for opposing the movement of the surface of a body of water and any material thereon beneath said tubular means, and elongated partition means situated in the interior of and extending longitudinally along said tubular means for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of longitudinally extending chambers, said partition means preventing said chambers from communicating with each other so that in the event of rupture of said tubular means at one of said chambers, said tubular means will nevertheless remain afloat, said tubular means and upper and lower fin means being in the form of a plurality of sections joined in end-to-end relation, each section terminating in a pair of end walls carrying pipes which pass through said end walls and respectively communicate with said chambers, and the pipes of each section communicating with the pipes of adjoining sections so that the chambers of the several sections communicate with each other through said pipes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a floatable boom, elongated tubular means for containing air under pressure so as to be rendered floatable, upper fin means fixed to and extending longitudinally along said tubular means, said upper fin means extending upwardly from said tubular means for opposing the movement of water and material floating thereon over said tubular means, lower fin means fixed to and extending longitudinally along said tubular means, said lower fin means extending downwardly from said tubular means for opposing the movement of the surface of a body of water and any material thereon beneath said tubular means, and elongated partition means situated in the interior of and extending longitudinally along said tubular means for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of longitudinally extending chambers, said partition means preventing said chambers from communicating with each other so that in the event of rupture of said tubular means at one of said chambers, said tubular means will nevertheless remain afloat, said tubular means and upper and lower fin means being in the form of a plurality of sections joined in end-to-end relation, each section terminating in a pair of end walls carrying pipes which pass through said end walls and respectively communicate with said chambers, and the pipes of each section communicating with the pipes of adjoining sections so that the chambers of the several sections communicate with each other through said pipes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said tubular means, upper and lower fin means, and partition means are all formed integrally with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 2 and wherein said tubular means, upper and lower fin means, and partition means are made of synthetic rubber reinforced with nylon fabric embedded therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said upper and lower fin means are located in a common plane passing diametrically through said tubular means, said partition means being made of a flexible sheet material and having upper and lower edges located in said common plane so that said partition means forms an extension of said upper and lower fin means, said partition means having between said upper and lower fin means a length at least approximately equal to one half the circumference of said tubular means so that upon rupture of a chamber on one side of said partition means the latter will bulge outwardly to provide the tubular means with an interior volume substantially equal to that which it had prior to rupture of said tubular means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination of claim 1 and plate means engaging and overlapping each pair of consecutive sections at their adjoining ends, said plate means engaging at least said upper fin means of said consecutive sections at outer surface regions thereof, and fastener means extending through said plate means and at least through said upper fin means of consecutive sections for fastening the latter to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 5 and wherein said plate means also engage outer surfaces of said lower fin means of adjoining sections and said fastener means also extending through said lower fin means and said plate means for fastening consecutive sections to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination of claim 1 and said lower fin means of each section having forwardly and rearwardly extending end projections which extend beyond the remainder of each section, and said end projections of consecutive sections overlapping each other, and fastener means fastening the overlapping end projections of consecutive sections to each other.
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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) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |