Pneumatic spar sediment control curtain

• US 4,484,836 A
• Filed: 07/26/1982
• Issued: 11/27/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Bailard
• Original Assignee: James A. Bailard
• Inventors: Bailard, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CORBIN, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/401,948
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 405/63, 405/64, 405/68, 405/74, 405/15, 405/21, 405/25, 405/87, 405/103, 405/115
• US Class Current: 405/64
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/08 Devices for reducing the polluted area with or without additional devices for removing the material
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/0814 with underwater curtains
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/0835 fixed to permanent structure, e.g. harbour wall or river bank
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/0885 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 8/02 Sediment base gates; Sand sluices; Structures for retaining arresting waterborne material

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing intrusion of sediments into quiet water berthing areas which is particularly adapted for use in berthing areas of the type having spaced apart fixed structures extending downwardly to the floor of the water body and defining an opening to the berthing area of a size sufficient to permit the ingress and egress of transiting vessels. The apparatus includes a spar curtain barrier made up of a plurality of flexible sections each of which comprises a ballasted spar buoy to which a length of flexible curtain fabric is attached. The sections are secured together to form an integrated structure adapted, in its closed position, to extend between the spaced apart fixed structures defining the berthing area. The spar curtain depends downwardly to a level proximate the floor of the berthing area and can be opened by a single workman in a short period of time to permit the entry or exit of the transiting vessels. In its open position the curtain barrier is neatly and compactly stacked, in an accordion-like fashion, against one of the fixed side structures of the berthing area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing infusion of sediments into a berthing area of the type having spaced apart, fixed side structures extending downward to the floor of the water body and defining at their outer extremities the opening to the berthing area, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a spar curtain barrier made up of a plurality of adjacent flexible sections secured together to form an elongated integrated structure adapted, in its closed position, to extend between the spaced apart fixed structures of the berthing area proximate their outer extremities and to depend downwardly to a level proximate the floor of the water body and, in its open position, to accordion together toward one of the fixed structures, each said flexible section comprising;

(1) at least one flotation member comprising sealed hollow body having a fluid inlet; and

(2) a flexible curtain having a top, a bottom and a pair of spaced apart edges, said curtain being connected along one edge to said hollow body and adapted to be connected along its opposite edge to said hollow body of the flotation member of the next adjacent barrier section;

(b) water supply means operably interconnecting a source of water under pressure with said fluid inlets of each of said flotation members for controllably introducing water under pressure into said hollow bodies thereof; and

(c) operating means connected to one of said fixed side structures and operably associated with said spar curtain barrier for the opening and closing thereof.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said spar curtain barrier includes:

(a) ballast means connected along the bottom of said curtain barrier for biasing the said bottom thereof downwardly toward the floor of the water body; and

(b) flotation means connected along the top of said curtain barrier for opposing the downward bias of said ballast means, whereby said flexible curtain of said curtain barrier will be maintained taut.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said sealed hollow body of each said flotation member comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical shaped member sealed at either end by upper and lower cap members and in which said fluid inlet comprises the lower extremity of an elongated pipe sealably connected to said upper cap member and depending into said cylindrically shaped member a substantial distance.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which an anchor plate is affixed to and extends downwardly from the lower cap member of each said flotation member, said anchor plate being provided with cable guide means.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said operating means comprises:

(a) an endless loop of cable extending across the opening in the berthing area and adapted to be slidably received in, and guided by, each of said cable guide means;

provided on each of said flotation members;

(b) reeling means carried by one of said fixed side structures and operably associated with said cable for pulling said loop of cable in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction; and

(c) anchor means disposed proximate the other of said fixed side structures for receiving said loop of cable and for maintaining it in position across the opening in the berthing area.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said water supply means comprises an elongated flexible conduit having a water inlet and being sealably interconnected along its length with each of said fluid inlets of said flotation members and further includes control means disposed between said source of water under pressure and said flexible conduit water inlet for controlling the flow of water through said flexible conduit toward and away from said fluid inlets.

7. An apparatus for preventing infusion of sediments into a berthing area of the type having spaced apart, fixed side structures extending downward to the flow of the water body and defining at their outer extremities the opening to the berthing area, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a spar curtain barrier made up of a plurality of flexible sections secured together to form an elongated integrated structure adapted in its closed position to extend between the spaced apart fixed structures of the berthing area, and to depend downwardly to a level proximate the floor of the water body and in its open position to accordion together toward one of the fixed structures, each said flexible section comprising;

(1) at least one flotation member comprising an elongated hollow body sealed at either end and an elongated conduit depending into said hollow body a substantial distance said conduit having a fluid inlet exteriorly of said hollow body and a fluid outlet interiorly of said hollow body;

(2) a flexible curtain having a top, a bottom and a pair of spaced apart edges, said curtain being connected along one edge to said hollow body and adapted to be attached along its opposite edge to a hollow body of the flotation member of the next adjacent barrier section;

(3) ballast means connected to the bottom of said flexible curtain for biasing the said bottom of said curtain downwardly toward the floor of the water body; and

(4) flotation means connected to the top of said flexible curtain for opposing the downward bias of said ballast means, whereby said flexible curtain will be maintained taut;

(b) water supply means operably interconnected with said conduits of said flotation members for introducing water under pressure into said hollow bodies thereof; and

(c) operating means connected to one side of said fixed side structures and being operably associated with said spar curtain barrier for the opening and closing thereof, said operating means comprising;

(1) an endless loop of cable extending across the opening in the berthing area and adapted to be slidably interconnected with each of said flotation members;

(2) reeling means carried by one of said fixed side structures and operably associated with said cable for pulling said loop of cable in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction; and

(3) anchor means disposed proximate the other of said fixed side structures for receiving said loop of cable and for maintaining it in position across the opening in the berthing area.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said water supply means comprises an elongated flexible conduit having a water inlet and being sealably interconnected along its length with each of said fluid inlets of said elongated conduits of said flotation members and further includes control means disposed between said source of water under pressure and said flexible conduit water inlet for controlling the flow of water through said flexible conduit toward and away from said fluid inlets of said elongated conduits.