Water-ballasted oil spill containment boom
US5020940A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S210/923
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An elongated water ballasted oil spill containment boom made of flexible, compact, and easily storable material and having an inner and an outer chambers. When inflated with water the inner chamber assumes a substantially circular cross section and is cylindrical in shape. The selection of the ratio of the size of the outer and inner chambers controls the degree to which the boom floats above the water level and is submerged below the water level. The portions of the boom above and below the water level prevent, respectively, splashover of oil and the escape of oil under the boom. The boom is statically stable in that a strong righting moment tends to automatically properly reorient the boom in the event of undesirable wave, current or wind forces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.