Floating boom

Abstract

Abstract A boom is disclosed having an elongated flexible skirt confined between and secured to a series of floats arranged in pairs. The floats of each pair are identically formed, and are oppositely arranged at opposite sides of the skirt, to which they are secured in such fashion as to dispose the upper edge portion of the skirt above the water level. The lower edge of the skirt extends downwardly below the water level a suitable distance to confine pollutants, such as oil, floating upon the surface of the water. A tension member extends along the bottom edge of the skirt, in the form of a flexible cable. The tension member is retained in position through passage thereof within longitudinal bores provided in clamp assemblies regularly spaced along the length of the skirt. Each clamp assembly comprises complementary metal clamp elements, particularly shaped as to permit their being formed as extrusions. The clamp elements are so designed as to be swiftly applicable to opposite sides of the skirt, in such fashion as to interlock with the skirt and with each other. The clamp assemblies are further characterized in that they are adapted to be swaged to the tension cable passing therethrough, in an arrangement that eliminates stressing of the skirt in the areas between the clamp assemblies, when the equipment is in use. The float construction is of significance, in that it has a cross-sectional shape particularly adapted to provide for an exceptionally stable float action, including a special capability of deflecting waves, that may otherwise tend to wash over the floats in a manner tending to free pollutants from the confined area or generally render the floats more subject to wave action than is desirable.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert E. West

Bibliographic Details