Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to buoyant self-ballasting bodies and, in particular, to buoyant self-ballasting bodies that may be used to cover a surface of a reservoir.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] It is known to float a plurality of buoyant spheres on a surface of a reservoir to cover the surface of the reservoir. The spheres may be used to cover the surface of the reservoir to reduce evaporation and conserve water during a drought. The spheres may also be used to cover the surface of the reservoir to reduce algae growth and the formation of bromate from bromide and chlorine used to treat the water in the reservoir. The spheres may further be used to cover the surface of the reservoir to restrict debris and faeces from entering the reservoir. The spheres are typically manufactured by blow molding high- density polyethylene and are filled with water to reduce the chance of the spheres being blown away by the wind when the spheres are floating on the surface of the reservoir.

[0003] United States Patent No. 3,401,818 which issued to Hagen on September 17, 1968, discloses covering an open tank containing liquid utilizing a plurality of spheres which are floated on the surface of the liquid to substantially cover the same. A circumferential bead, or the like, is formed on each of the spheres to prevent rotation of spheres in the liquid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] There is provided a self-ballasting body that may be used in plurality to cover a surface of a reservoir. The self-ballasting body comprises an outer wall and an interior. The interior having a first chamber and a second chamber. There is an aperture which extends from the outer wall of the body to the first chamber. The first chamber is in fluid communication with the environment via the aperture and the second chamber is a sealed chamber filled with air. The body may include a plurality of apertures extending from the outer wall of the body to the first chamber. The aperture may be a slot. The aperture may be covered with a mesh. The self-ballasting body may be a sphere, spheroid, or polyhedron. [0005] There is also provided combination of a reservoir of liquid and buoyant self- ballasting body floating on a surface of the reservoir. The self-ballasting body comprises an outer wall and an interior. The interior having a first chamber and a second chamber. There is an aperture which extends from the outer wall of the body to the first chamber. The first chamber is in fluid communication with the environment via the aperture and liquid from the reservoir flows into the first chamber. The second chamber is a sealed chamber filled with air. The body may include a plurality of apertures extending from the outer wall of the body to the first chamber. The aperture may be a slot. The aperture may be covered with a mesh. The self-ballasting body may be a sphere, spheroid, or polyhedron. There may be a plurality of self-ballasting bodies covering the surface of the reservoir. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

[0006] The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of the embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reservoir with a surface of the reservoir covered with a plurality of self-ballasting spheres; [0008] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a self-ballasting sphere shown in Figure 1;

[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective, sectional view of the self-ballasting sphere shown in Figure 2;

[0010] Figure 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the self-ballasting sphere shown in Figure 2;

[0011] Figure 5 is a perspective view of another self-ballasting sphere;

[0012] Figure 6 is a perspective view of still another self-ballasting sphere;

[0013] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a self-ballasting spheroid;

[0014] Figure 8 is a perspective, exploded view of the self-ballasting spheroid shown in Figure 7;

[0015] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a self-ballasting polyhedron; and

[0016] Figure 10 is a perspective, exploded view of the self-ballasting polyhedron shown in Figure 9.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Figure l is a perspective view of an open water reservoir 10 which has a surface 12 covered with a plurality of buoyant self-ballasting bodies, for example, spheres 14, 16, 18 and 20. It will be understood that the spheres 14, 16, 18 and 20 are substantially identical in structure. Accordingly, only one of the spheres 14, 16, 18 and 20, namely, the sphere 20 is described in detail herein. The sphere 20 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3. The sphere 20 has a spherical outer wall 22 and a plurality of apertures, for example, apertures 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 extending from the outer wall 22 to an interior 36 of the sphere 20. The interior 36 of the sphere 20 has a first chamber 38 and a second chamber 40. The first chamber 38 is in fluid communication with the environment via the apertures 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34. The second chamber 40 is a sealed chamber filled with air. The first chamber 38 and the second chamber 40 are sealingly separated by a wall 42 in this example.

[0018] Referring back to Figure 1, when the sphere 20 is floated on the reservoir 10, water flows through the apertures 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 into the first chamber 38 of the sphere 20. This allows the sphere 20 to self-ballast and reduces the chance of the sphere 20 from being blown away by the wind.

[0019] Referring now to Figure 4, the sphere 20 is of thermoplastic and is manufactured by injection moulding a first half 44 of the sphere 20 and injection moulding a second half 46 of the sphere 20. The first half 44 of the sphere 20 and the second half 46 of the sphere 20 are bonded to form the sphere. The first half 44 of the sphere 20 and the second half 46 of the sphere 20 may be heat bonded or bonded with an adhesive or bonded by another suitable means. In this example, the first half 44 of the sphere 20 is provided with an indicator pad 48 and the second half 46 of the sphere 20 is provided with an indicator pad 50. The indicator pad 48 and the indicator pad 50 provide a visual guide to ensure that the first half 44 of the sphere 20 and the second half 46 of the sphere 20 are properly aligned prior to being bonded.

[0020] Figure 5 shows another self-ballasting sphere 60. The sphere 60 shown in Figure 5 is substantially similar to the sphere 20 shown in Figures 1 to 4. However, the sphere 60 is provided with apertures in the form of slots 62 and 64 to allow fluid communication with the environment.

[0021] Figure 6 shows another self-ballasting sphere 70. The sphere 70 shown in Figure 6 is substantially similar to the sphere 20 shown in Figures 1 to 4. However, the sphere 70 is provided with apertures 72 and 74 which are respectively covered with meshes 76 and 78 to allow fluid communication with the environment, while restricting entry of debris into an interior of the sphere 70.

[0022] Figures 7 and 8 show a self-ballasting spheroid 80. The spheroid 80 has a spheroidal outer wall 82 and a plurality of apertures, for example, apertures 84, 86, 88 and 90 extending from the outer wall 82 to an interior 94 of the spheroid 80. The interior 94 of the spheroid 80 has a first chamber 96 and a second chamber 98. The first chamber 96 is in fluid communication with the environment via the apertures 84, 86, 88 and 90. The second chamber 98 is a sealed chamber filled with air. The first chamber 96 and the second chamber 98 are sealingly separated by a wall 100 in this example.

[0023] The spheroid 80 is of thermoplastic and is manufactured by injection moulding a first half 102 of the spheroid 80 and injection moulding a second half 104 of the spheroid 80. The first half 102 of the spheroid 80 and the second half 104 of the spheroid 80 are bonded to form the sphere. The first half 102 of the spheroid 80 and the second half 104 of the spheroid 80 may be heat bonded or bonded with an adhesive or bonded by another suitable means. In this example, the first half 102 of the spheroid 80 is provided with an indicator pad 106 and the second half 104 of the spheroid 80 is provided with an indicator pad 108. The indicator pad 106 and the indicator pad 108 provide a visual guide to ensure that the first half 102 of the spheroid 80 and the second half 104 of the spheroid 80 are properly aligned prior to being bonded.

[0024] Figures 9 and 10 show a self-ballasting polyhedron 110. The polyhedron 110 has a spheroidal outer wall 112 and a plurality of apertures, for example, apertures 114, 116, 118 and 120 extending from the outer wall 1 12 to an interior 124 of the polyhedron 110. The interior 124 of the polyhedron 110 has a first chamber 126 and a second chamber 128. The first chamber 126 is in fluid communication with the environment via the apertures 114, 116, 118 and 120. The second chamber 128 is a sealed chamber filled with air. The first chamber 126 and the second chamber 128 are sealingly separated by a wall 130 in this example. [0025] The polyhedron 110 is of thermoplastic and is manufactured by injection moulding a first half 132 of the polyhedron 110 and injection moulding a second half 134 of the polyhedron 110. The first half 132 of the polyhedron 110 and the second half 134 of the polyhedron 110 are bonded to form the sphere. The first half 132 of the polyhedron 110 and the second half 134 of the polyhedron 110 may be heat bonded or bonded with an adhesive or bonded by another suitable means.

[0026] It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that, in the examples disclosed herein, the buoyant self-ballasting bodies disclosed herein are a sphere, a spheroid and polyhedron. However, the buoyant self-ballasting body may have any suitable shape or configuration.

[0027] It will also be understood by a person skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to the following claims.