Fluid-fillable barrier

• US 9,353,496 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HSI Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hydrological Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Darren Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Fiorello, Benjamin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US14/839,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20150368869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 275 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/10 using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5042 covering both elements to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/62 Stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/72 by combined operations or combined techniques, e.g. welding and stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4344 Joining substantially flat articles for forming fork connections, e.g. for making Y-shaped pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43441 with two right angles, e.g. for making T-shaped pieces, H-shaped pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/61 Joining from or joining on the inside for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/04 Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours E02B1/003 takes precedence; sealing or joints E02B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/108 with a filling, e.g. filled by water or sand
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 7/005 Deformable barrages or barrages consisting of permanently deformable elements, e.g. inflatable, with flexible walls closures E02B7/54; floating oil barrages E02B15/08

Abstract

A fluid-fillable barrier which includes a flexible, tubular, impermeable membrane and at least two internal tension members. The membrane has opposite ends, a middle, fluid-fillable section, an upper attachment area, and a lower attachment area. The tension members secure between, and extend from, the upper attachment area to the lower attachment area. The tension members have a length which is less than one-half the perimeter of the membrane, the length and perimeter being measured at a common cross-section, taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the membrane. One of the tension members is longer than the other, so that it is in a relaxed, limp state under normal operating conditions. The tension members are thermally bonded to, and sewn with a double sew line to, the attachment areas. The barrier further includes lifting loops at each end, connection cleats on the sides and ends, and venting/drainage standpipes.

Claims

1. A method of installing a fluid-fillable barrier into flowing water, the barrier comprising a tubular impermeable membrane having a longitudinal axis, first and second barrier ends at first and second ends of the longitudinal axis, a middle, fluid-fillable portion, a first attachment area on a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second attachment area on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the second side opposing the first side;

a first tension member extending from the first attachment area to the second attachment area, a second tension member extending from the first attachment area to the second attachment area, the tension members each having at least one hole to equalize fluid pressure on either side of the tension member, wherein the first tension member has a taut length which is less than one-half of the taut perimeter of a cross-section of the tubular membrane, the taut length and the taut perimeter being measured at a common cross-section taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular membrane, and wherein the length of the second tension member, in a relaxed state, is at least one inch longer than the taut length of the first tension member, the barrier further comprising a first lifting loop at the first barrier end, and a second lifting loop at the second barrier end, each loop sized to receive a two-inch pipe, and each loop having a plurality of cut-outs, the method comprising the steps of;

sliding a first pipe into the first lifting loop;

connecting a second pipe to the first pipe through at least two of the cut-outs;

connecting the second pipe to a first hoisting apparatus;

sliding a third pipe into the second lifting loop;

connecting a fourth pipe to the third pipe through at least two of the cut-outs;

connecting the fourth pipe to a shoreline anchor point;

using the hoisting apparatus to raise the first barrier end above the flowing water;

inflating the barrier with fluid; and

lowering the first barrier end into the flowing water.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of connecting the fourth pipe to a shoreline anchor point, the shoreline anchor point is replaced with a second hoisting apparatus, and wherein both the first hoisting apparatus and the second hoisting apparatus are used to lower the barrier into the flowing water.