Containment boom mooring system

• US 8,439,601 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lara, Kim A.
• Original Assignee: Lara, Kim A.
• Inventors: Lara, Kim A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lagman, Frederick L
• Assistant Examiner(s): OQUENDO, CARIB A
• Application Number:
  US12/792,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20110297066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 405/63, 405/60, 405/64, 405/65, 405/70, 405/71, 405/72, 114/23, 248/316.1
• US Class Current: 405/63
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/00 Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring of buoys B63B22/04; dynamic anchoring B63H25/00 ; equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. for landing purposes, E02B
• 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 15/0807 with stabilising elements
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/0814 with underwater curtains

Abstract

A containment boom mooring system for efficiently anchoring containment booms over extended periods of time and in varying sea conditions. The containment boom mooring system generally includes a clamping frame having a first and second frame section pivotally connected upon a first end and having a latching assembly upon a second end for securing the frame sections in a pivotally closed position, a first and second resilient retainer extending along the inner sides of the first and second frame sections to frictionally engage a first side and a second side of a containment boom, a first and a second buoyancy member extending from the first and second frame sections, and an anchor assembly extending from the clamping frame which is adapted to extend below a water surface for mooring the clamping frame.

Claims

1. A containment boom mooring system, comprising:

a clamping frame having a first section and a second section;

said first section and said second section pivotally connected upon a first end and having a latching means upon a second end for securing said first section and said second section in a pivotally closed position;

a first retainer and a second retainer, said first retainer extending along an inner side of said first section to frictionally engage a first side of a containment boom and said second retainer extending along an inner side of said second section to frictionally engage a second side of a containment boom;

a first buoyancy member and a second buoyancy member, said first buoyancy member extending from said first section and said second buoyancy member extending from said second section;

said first section including a first upper retaining bracket and a first lower retaining bracket for supporting said first buoyancy member in a vertical orientation;

said second section including a second upper retaining bracket and a second lower retaining bracket for supporting said second buoyancy member in a vertical orientation; and

an anchor assembly extending from said clamping frame, said anchor assembly adapted to extend below a water surface for mooring said clamping frame.

2. The containment boom mooring system of claim 1, wherein said first section includes at least one first channel member extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving said first retainer and wherein said second section includes at least one second channel member extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving said second retainer.

3. The containment boom mooring system of claim 2, wherein said at least one first channel member includes at least one first outer channel member and a first inner channel member retained within said at least one first outer channel member and wherein said at least one second channel member includes at least one second outer channel member and a second inner channel member retained within said at least one second outer channel member.

4. The containment boom mooring system of claim 3, wherein said first inner channel member includes a first retaining lip for receiving a first longitudinal notch of said first retainer and wherein second inner channel member includes a second retaining lip for receiving a second longitudinal notch of said second retainer.

5. The containment boom mooring system of claim 1, wherein said latching means includes a T-shaped latch pivotally connected to said first section and at least one receiver extending from said second section for retaining said T-shaped latch.

6. The containment boom mooring system of claim 5, wherein said at least one receiver includes a pair of spaced-apart receivers, each having a curved hook portion for retaining said T-shaped latch.

7. The containment boom mooring system of claim 1, wherein said first retainer and said second retainer are each comprised of a resilient and compressible material.

8. The containment boom mooring system of claim 7, wherein said first retainer and said second retainer each include a receiver portion inserted within said first section and said second section and each include a dome-shaped contact portion extending inwardly from said first section and said second section.

9. The containment boom mooring system of claim 8, wherein said dome-shaped contact portion of said first retainer and said second retainer includes a longitudinal channel extending therethrough.

10. The containment boom mooring system of claim 1, wherein said first retainer extends along a substantial entire length of said first section and wherein said second retainer extends along a substantial entire length of said second section.

11. The containment boom mooring system of claim 1, wherein said clamping frame includes a lower connector extending from a bottom end, wherein said anchor assembly is connected to said lower connector.

12. A containment boom mooring system, comprising:

a containment boom, said containment boom floating in a water body and positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation;

a clamping assembly clamped around said containment boom, said clamping assembly secured in a vertical orientation to perpendicularly intersect a longitudinal axis of said containment boom;

said clamping assembly having a pair of resilient and compressible retainers, each retainer frictionally engaging an opposing side of said containment boom to lock said clamping assembly to said containment boom;

said clamping assembly having at least one buoyancy member extending therefrom for retaining said clamping assembly in said vertical orientation;

wherein said clamping assembly includes a frame having a first section and a second section, said first section and said second section pivotally connected upon a first end and having a latching means upon a second end for securing said first section and said second section in a pivotally closed position around said containment boom;

said first section including a first upper retaining bracket and a first lower retaining bracket for supporting said first buoyancy member in a vertical orientation;

said second section including a second upper retaining bracket and a second lower retaining bracket for supporting said second buoyancy member in a vertical orientation; and

an anchor assembly extending from said clamping assembly, said anchor assembly adapted to extend below a water surface for mooring said clamping assembly and said containment boom.

13. The containment boom mooring system of claim 12, wherein said first section includes at least one first channel member extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving said first retainer and wherein said second section includes at least one second channel member extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving said second retainer, wherein said at least one first channel member includes at least one first outer channel member and a first inner channel member retained within said at least one first outer channel member and wherein said at least one second channel member includes at least one second outer channel member and a second inner channel member retained within said at least one second outer channel member, wherein said first inner channel member includes a first retaining lip for receiving a first longitudinal notch of said first retainer and wherein second inner channel member includes a second retaining lip for receiving a second longitudinal notch of said second retainer.

14. The containment boom mooring system of claim 12, wherein said latching means includes a T-shaped latch pivotally connected to said first section and at least one receiver extending from said second section for retaining said T-shaped latch, wherein said at least one receiver includes a pair of spaced-apart receivers, each having a curved hook portion for retaining said T-shaped latch.

15. The containment boom mooring system of claim 12, wherein said first retainer and said second retainer each include a receiver portion inserted within said first section and said second section and each include a dome-shaped contact portion extending inwardly from said first section and said second section.

16. The containment boom mooring system of claim 15, wherein said dome-shaped contact portion of said first retainer and said second retainer includes a longitudinal channel extending therethrough.

17. The containment boom mooring system of claim 12, wherein said first retainer extends along a substantial entire length of said first section and wherein said second retainer extends along a substantial entire length of said second section.

18. The containment boom mooring system of claim 12, wherein said clamping assembly includes a lower connector extending from a bottom end, wherein said anchor assembly is connected to said lower connector.

19. A containment boom mooring system, comprising:

a clamping frame having a first section and a second section;

said first section and said second section pivotally connected upon a first end and having a latching means upon a second end for securing said first section and said second section in a pivotally closed position;

wherein said first section includes at least one first channel member extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving said first retainer and wherein said second section includes at least one second channel member extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving said second retainer;

wherein said at least one first channel member includes at least one first outer channel member and a first inner channel member retained within said at least one first outer channel member and wherein said at least one second channel member includes at least one second outer channel member and a second inner channel member retained within said at least one second outer channel member;

wherein said first inner channel member includes a first retaining lip for receiving a first longitudinal notch of said first retainer and wherein second inner channel member includes a second retaining lip for receiving a second longitudinal notch of said second retainer;

wherein said latching means includes a T-shaped latch pivotally connected to said first section and at least one receiver extending from said second section for retaining said T-shaped latch;

wherein said at least one receiver includes a pair of spaced-apart receivers, each having a curved hook portion for retaining said T-shaped latch;

a first retainer and a second retainer, said first retainer extending along an inner side of said first section to frictionally engage a first side of a containment boom and said second retainer extending along an inner side of said second section to frictionally engage a second side of a containment boom;

wherein said first retainer and said second retainer are each comprised of a resilient and compressible material;

wherein said first retainer and said second retainer each include a receiver portion inserted within said first section and said second section and each include a dome-shaped contact portion extending inwardly from said first section and said second section;

wherein said dome-shaped contact portion of said first retainer and said second retainer includes a longitudinal channel extending therethrough;

wherein said first retainer extends along a substantial entire length of said first section and wherein said second retainer extends along a substantial entire length of said second section;

a first buoyancy member and a second buoyancy member, said first buoyancy member extending from said first section and said second buoyancy member extending from said second section;

said first section including a first upper retaining bracket and a first lower retaining bracket for supporting said first buoyancy member in a vertical orientation;

said second section including a second upper retaining bracket and a second lower retaining bracket for supporting said second buoyancy member in a vertical orientation; and

an anchor assembly extending from said clamping frame, said anchor assembly adapted to extend below a water surface for mooring said clamping frame;

wherein said clamping frame includes a lower connector extending from a bottom end, wherein said anchor assembly is connected to said lower connector.