| WO1994011582A1 | 1994-05-26 | |||
| WO2003054306A1 | 2003-07-03 |
| US5810512A | 1998-09-22 | |||
| DE4431515A1 | 1995-03-30 | |||
| US4016726A | 1977-04-12 | |||
| US3766738A | 1973-10-23 |
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| Self-rising boom characterised by the fact that it is fixed to the pier on shore near fuel station, so eliminating the need for tugboat or similar waterborne vehicle for surrounding the yacht/boat by boom for the purpose of protection of marina against pollution. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that a heavy making means is injected into the boom which causes immersing thereof. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the heavy making means is heavy water or any liquid which is heavier than surrounding water. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that heavy water is obtained by adding barium chloride to the water. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that heavy water is obtained by adding barite to the water. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that heavy water is obtained by adding a mixture of barium chloride and barite to the water. |
| Self-rising boom according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised by the fact that the immersing of the boom to predetermined depth is obtained by suitable dimensioning thereof and, where needed, by adding of adequate weights. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 7, characterised by the fact that at one of its ends there is a pump for injecting and for pumping out injected heavy making means, and at its other end there is a chamber with a exhaust valve and a suction valve. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that the ends of the boom are connected to sliders which slide along vertically mounted guides what enables the boom as a whole to be lifted and lowered in accord with high and low tide. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that the guide is in the dock built-in. |
| Self-rising boom according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that the guide is fixed to the dock. |
STABLY TIGHTED SELF-RISING BOOM USED FOR SEA PROTECTION AT FUEL STATIONS IN MARINAS Technical Field This invention refers to the protection boom in marinas. According to the International Patent Classification it should be classified to group E02B 15/06.
Background Art For many years, during charging with fuel of waterborne vehicles used in tourist purposes (yachts, motor boats and other vessels that use hydrocarbon fuels) arises the problem of spilling smaller or larger amounts of fuel into the sea resulting in high pollution of marinas even above allowed limits. Removal of the spilled fuel is extremely complex and expensive, depending on the collecting method applied. It is important to emphasize the impossibility of total removal of the spilled fuel.
State of technique There are several solutions suggested for the booms problem, but none of the suggested completely met all the criteria for prevention of spreading of spilled oil. One of the main disadvantages of earlier suggested solutions was the necessity of using the tugboat or other suitable vessels for surrounding the tanker on the dock with the boom, and the removal of the boom after the reload was done. As an example I would like to point out US patent 5,372, 455 of December 13th, 1994 where the boom was set around the tanker to prevent the spreading of spilled oil.
A similar way to prevent the spread of spilled oil is described in US patent 5,269, 627 of December 14, 1993.
US patent 4,652, 173 of March 24th 1987 describes the boom with built in elements due to solidity safety increase. Furthermore, US patent 4,507, 017 of March 26th 1985 refers to segmented fireproof boom. The patent GB 1486976 of September 28th 1977 allows immersing and rising up of the boom by use of air under pressure that is different to the suggested invention that uses only heavy water. In Croatia researches of the booms (SPAR ING) have been done on river Sava near oil port Crnac. The researches were done by Maritime Institute of Zagreb.
The researches shown that this type of boom is not applicable on the sea.
Disclosure of the Invention The primary goal of the invention is installation, fixedly to the shore near fuel station used for fuel charging of yachts and other kind of boats, of bounded self-rising boom. This self-rising boom is immersed to a certain depth, so it visually does not affect appearance of the port. With arrival of yacht, or other kind of boat to the pier, the immersed boom arises and surrounds the yacht/boat protecting the sea from possibly spilled fuel. If the spill occurs, spilled fuel can be removed by pumping it to suitable tanks with an immediate treatment.
After the fuel charging of yacht/boat the boom is immersed in order yacht/boat to ship out allowing undisturbed exit of yacht/boat from the marina. This kind of sea protection system in marinas with self-rising boom eliminates the need for tugboats of other vessels usually used for setting the protection boom around yacht/boat during their charge. The application of this kind of protection system does not shorten recharge time, but allows maximum sea protection in marinas.
The main working principle of the self-rising protection boom is based on physical principle of immersing the boom to the bottom of the sea by injecting heavy water into the annular of the boom.
The air in the annular of the boom goes out through the exhaust valve. To rise up the boom it is necessary to pump out heavy water from the boom annular and replace it with air coming in through the suction valve allowing the flotation of the boom on the surface and surrounding of desired area in the marina.
Short description of figures Fig. 1 Yacht (boat) surrounded with self-rising floating boom (ground-plan) Fig. 2 Yacht (boat) ready to ship out and the position of immersed boom (side-plan) Fig. 3 Scheme of the pier and the elements used for injection of heavy water (side-plan) Fig. 4 Scheme of valve junction and connection to the dock (side-plan) Fig. 5 Vertical movement of valve (side-plan) Fig. 6 Section of self-rising floating boom on sea surface Fig. 7 Work scheme of self-rising floating boom Detail description of at least one practical application of the invention The area (sea) in front of fuel station used for charging of yachts/boats surrounded by plastic ribbed protection pipe that prevents spilled fuel to spread out is shown on figure 1. On the same figure there is also shown a pump (2) and tank (2) system used for removal of spilled fuel form sea surface. After charging the yacht/boat with fuel heavy water is, from tank (1) by pump (1) through device (3), injected into plastic ribbed protection pipe (boom) allowing its immersion to a certain depth, depending on yacht/boat draught, and, at the same time, allowing undisturbed shipping out of the marina.
To achieve immersing of the boom into the sea, a heavy making means is injected into it. The heavy making means is heavy water or any other liquid heavier than surrounding water. Heavy water is obtained e. g. by adding barium chloride or barite or their mixture to the water what results in obtaining a means which is heavier than water.
Figure 2 shows boom allowing undisturbed shipping out of boats. The boom is made heavier in following manner. From tank (1) by rod pump heavy making means e. g. heavy water is injected into the boom. The injection system is shown on fig. 4. The same figure also shows possible connection by which injection device is connected to a guide, with the purpose of avoiding stresses in the boom caused mainly by vertical movement of sea surface, especially in time of high and low tide. In one embodiment of present invention the above-mentioned guide is in the dock built-in as shown in Figure (5). In another embodiment of the same invention guide is fixed to the dock as shown in Figure (4).
At the pier with fuel station there is a device shown on figure (5), which allows displacement of air from the system, but also charging of the system with air when the boom should be placed on sea surface.
Appliance of the invention The primary appliance of the invention is to prevent ecological damages. It is also important to stress out the economical aspect of the invention due to significant financial savings made during charging yachts/boats with fuel, but also environmental aspect in keeping the marina sea quality on high level.