Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BOOM OR BUOY BARRIER tNITH TUBE WITHIN A TUE3E FLOATATION
CONSTRUCTION
FIELD OF THE IN1/ENTION
The present invention relates to floatation devices and arrangements for
use in security barriers for boats and other watercraft, as welt as barriers
for water
facilities or for limiting swimming areas, as warning devices for water
hazards or other
dangerous areas, and as debris barriers, among other uses.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Although, as is evident from the foregoing, 'the invention is not limited to
1g such an application, an important application of the present invention is
for use as a
"log boom" or barrier. Such barriers are used to, for example, protect dams
and other
sites accessible by water. Conventional log barriers comprise elongate
cylindrical
plastic members which resemble logs and which are secured together end to end
to
form a security barrier for preventing boats and other watercraft from getting
too close
to the dam or other structure. A variety of different plastic log booms have
been used,
and a major disadvantage of such log booms is that they frequently crack
and/or sink
to the bottom aver a relatively shod period of time. This has proved to be
very costly
particularly in terms of the labor hours needed to repair the existing
commercial log
barrier systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a floatation device is provided which
overcomes or substantially reduces the problems associated with prior art log
booms
and other barriers and which can be adapted for use in all of the various
applications
mentioned above.
2h In accordance with the invention, there is provided a floatation barrier or
buoy device; as well as floating barrier systems employing such floatation
devices.
r
i
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As indicated above, the devices and systems can be used in a number of
different
applications, including the prevention of unauthorized entry of watercraft
into
restricted areas along lakes, harbors and navigable rivers. The floatation
devices are
of a °'tube within a tube°' construction with two spaced regions
eacf7 containing a
separate internal floatation medium, and this redundant canstruction prevents
sinking
of the device even if both of~the tubes are pierced or punctured sa as to
admit water.
In addition, the provision of a metallic outer tube or layer is important in
that the
materials of construction therefor last longer than the plastic outer shells
used in
conventional lag booms. Further, as described herein, the use of an outer tube
or
layer permits additional structures, e.g., a superstructure andlar a depending
structure, to be welded thereto, and enables signage to be carried by the
resulting
barrier unit.
As will appear, in contrast to the prior art, the basic construction is easily
adaptable to a wide range of sizes, lengths and heights, Thus providing a
great deal of
flexibility in meeting the needs of users.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
floatation device for use as a barrier, the floatation device comprising:
an outer elongate tubular member fabricated of metal;
an inner elongate tubular member concentric with said outer tubular
member and spaced therefrom so as to farm a cavity therebetween;
a floatation medium within said cavity; and
a floatation medium within said inner tubular member.
Preferably, the outer tubular member is comprised of a metal selected
from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel and aluminum.
Preferably, the inner tube is comprised of a material selected from the
group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum and a polymer material.
fn one
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preferred implementation, this material comprises a hard plastic polymer
material.
Advantageously, the plastic material comprises polyvinylchlaride pipe.
The floatation medium both within the cavity and within the inner tubular
member preferably comprises a medium selected from tl~e group consisting of a
gas,
a liquid and a solid floatation material. Advantageously, the floatation
medium within
said inner tubular member comprises a foam. The foam preferably comprises an
epoxy foam. The floatation medium within the cavity preferably comprises a
foam
wrapping.
Preferably, the floatation device includes a connection member at
opposite ends thereof.
In an important implementation, the floatation device includes a
mounting member for enabling the mounting of a superstructure thereon.
fn another important implementation, the floatation device further
comprises a barrier structure depending downwardly, in use, from the outer
tubular
95 member. In one embodiment, the depending barrier structure comprises a
fabric
barrier for underwater debris.
Advantageously, the device further includes a plurality of elongate
protective barrier elements projecting outwardly from the outer tubular
member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a
floating barrier device comprising:
at least one floatation device comprising an outer metallic member, an
inner member defining ary inner space disposed within, .and spaced from, the
outer
member so as to define a cavity therebetween, a floatation medium disposed in
said
cavity, and a floatation medium disposed in said inner space, and
2b a superstructure mounted on said at least one floatation device.
The superstructure preferably comprises an open framework including
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at least two longitudinally extending connector members:
Preferably, the barrier device further comprises at least one sign
secured to at feast one of the connector members of the superstructure.
Preferably, the at least one floatation devicr: comprises a plurality of said
floatation devices connected together to form a barrier.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
floating barrier device comprising a plurality of elongate filoatation devices
each
comprising an outer metal member, an inner member defining an inner space and
disposed within the outer member so as to define a cavity therebetvs~een, a
floatation
medium in said inner space, and a floatation medium within said cavity, said
floatation
devices being connected together in serial relation to form a floating
barrier.
Preferably, the at least one of the floatation devices includes a
superstructure carrying warning signage.
In one important implementation of this aspect of the invention, a pair of
1 ~ said floatation devices form a barrier unit, a plurality of barrier units
are provided, and
the barrier units are connected together in end to end relation wherein at
least one
floatation device of one barrier unit is connected to at least one floatation
device of a
further barrier unit. In one embodiment, the barrier units are further
connected
together end to end by a further floatation device. In another embodiment, the
barrier
units are further connected together end to end by a cable member
interconnecting a
further floatation device of said one barrier unit and a further floatation
device of said
further barrier unit.
further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth
in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments
thereof which
follows.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a brakes away, perspective view of a portion of a barrier
floatation device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a barrier device or unit incorporating
two floatation devices corresponding to that shown in Figure 3, and also
including a
depending barrier member or skirt;
Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the barrier unit of Figure 2 with the
depending skirt omitted and projecting barrier elements added;
1C? Figure 4 is a top plan view of the barrier unit of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a side elevation view.of the barrier unit of Figure 2, with the
depending skirt omitted and with signage added;
Figure 6 is a barrier device in accordance with a further embodiment of
the invention which incorporates vertically extending floatation devices
corresponding
to that of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a barrier arrangement or system
incorporating a plurality of barrier units and devices corresponding to those
of Figures
2 to 5 anti of Figure 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further barrier arrangement or system
which is similar to that of Figcrre 7, but is constructed in accordance with a
further
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 9 is an exploded, partially broken away perspective view showing
cane embodiment of an arrangement for connecting a superstructure to a
floatation
device corresponding to that of Figure ~(; and
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a connection arrangement for
Connecting fwo floatation devices together, in accordance with a preferred
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embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EME30DIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a perspective view of a floating
barrier or floatation device broken away to show the basic construction
thereof. The
device, which is generally denoted 10, includes an outer shell or layer 12
which is
preferably tubular in shape and preferably made of a rnetal. In accordance
with a
preferred implementation, the metal is one of either steel stainless steel or
aluminum.
In this regard, for some applications, such as in the use of floatation device
10 as a
log boom, stainless steel is preferred in same regards in that, for example,
it is
estimated that stainless steel should have a life expectancy of at least 30-40
years.
However, the cost of stainless steel is a disadvantage. Aluminum is also a
very good
candidate material because of its very light weight, making the resultant
floatation
device 10 relatively easy to handle and install. A very rough estimate of life
expectancy for aluminum is 15-30 years depending on the reaction thereof to
the
1 ~ water in which the device is employed. Steel, and, in particular, mild
steel, is also a
good choice in some applications, although it will be appreciated that other
metals
could also be used. Preferably, the outer shell or tubular member 12 is coated
with a
corrosion coating to extend the life thereof. Further, a coating of a color
that serves to
provide a warning, i.e., bright red or orange, can also be applied.
The floatation device 10 further includes an inner member 14 which is
preferably tubular and concentric with, and spaced from, outer member 12.
Member
14 can also be made of steal, stainless steel or aluminum as well as a polymer
material such as a hard plastic {e.g., polyvinylchioride or' PVC).
An annular space or cavity 16 is formed or defined between tubular
members 12 and 14 and this cavity 16 is filled with a floatation medium
preferably
selected from the group consisting of a gas {e.g., a gas at atmospheric
pressure), a
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liquid that provides ftoafation, and a solid floatation material such as a
closed cell
floatation foam. Such a foam is indicated at ~ 8 in Figure 1.
A further space or cavity 20 is formed or defined inside of inner tubular
member 14 and this space is similarly filled with a floatation medium such as
those
described. In the illustrated ernbodirnent, a floatation foam 22 is employed.
in one preferred embodiment, foam 18 is a foam wrap, and foam 22 is
an epoxy foam, i.e., a polyurethane epoxy foam.
Ifi will be appreciated that the tube-in-tube construction of Figure 1 with
two separate te.g., foam} floatation means 18 and 22 prevents sinking of
device 10
even, if tubular members 12 and 14 are pierced or otherwise compromised.
Although the dimensions of device 10 will, of course, depend on tfte
application, in an exemplary non-limiting embodiment, outer shell or tube 12
is formed
from 0.109 inch stainless steel tubing of a 12 inch diameter, foam 18 is a 2
inch foam
wrapping, inner tube 14 is 3116 inch PVC pipe of an 8 inch diameter, and, as
indicated
above, foam 22 is an epoxy foam. Again, ail of these parameters, including
tube
thickness and diameter, are subject to change depending on the application.
Referring to Figures 2 to fir, there is shown one preferred embodiment of
the invention which incorporates two floatation devices 10 corresponding to
that
shown in Figure 1: Although in another important embodiment of the invention,
a
plurality of floatation devices corresponding to that shown at 10 in Figure 1
are simply
connected together end-to-end in serial relationship to form a barrier chain
or buoy
line, and, to this end, connector elements 24., which are described in more
detail
hereinbelaw in connection with Figure 10, are provided at opposite ends
thereof. In
the embodiment of Figures 2 to ~, the two floatation devices 10 form a base
for a
barrier member 26 including an open framework superstructure 28. As
illustrated, .
and is perhaps best seen in Figure 2, devices 10 are connected together by
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transverse struts 30 and the superstructure 28 includes 1I-forming members
28a, an
upper longitudinal connector 28b, two intermediate longitudinal connectors 28c
and
four short, angled, bottom struts 28d. The superstructure 28 can be affixed to
the
floatation devices 10 by welded brackefs described below in connection with
Figure 9.
As shown in Figure 5, the longitudinal c:annectors 28b and 2Sc of
superstructure 28 can be used to support suitable signage, such as warning
signs 32.
As indicated in Figure 2, a depending structure 34, which may take the
fom~ of a durable fabric or mesh, is provided so as to prevent or deter
underwater
intrusion or to act as a barrier for debris. Alternatively, or in addition, as
shown in
Figures 3 and 4 one or more of the devices 10 of barrier member 26 may include
protective projecting elements 36, such as spikes or sharp blades, which act
as a
deterrent to intruding boats ar other watercraft. Alternatively, or in
addition,
connectors 28b and 28c may also include such protective projecting elements.
Although, again, the size of barrier 26 can vary widely depending on
application, in order to provide an indication of the scale generaEly
contemplated here,
in typical barrier application, the barrier member 26 can be from about 2-10
feet high
and 2-24 feet long.
Referring to Figure 6, a further embodiment of the invention is shown.
In contrast to other embodiments wherein the floatation devices extend
horizontally,
similarly to a log boom or pontoon, the floatation devices of Figure 6 extend
vertically,
similarly to a buoy. In the illustrated embodiment, four floatation devices 10
support a
superstructure 28 corresponding to that shown in Figures 2 to 5 and comprised
of
corresponding elements. Base or bottom connectors 38 are provided which are
connected to devices 10 and provide base framework for ;>uperstructure 28. A
central
plate 40 or other connecting arrangement is used to connf:ct together the four
devices
10 at intermediate points along the height (length) of the devices.
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As indicated above, a plurality of individual devices corresponding to
that shown at 10 in Figure 1 can be connected together end-to-end in series
relation
to form a barrier chain or system, and such an embodiment is important for
example,
when a low barrier is all that is required. In a variant of this embodiment,
one or more
iaarriers, corresponding to that shown in Figures 2 to 5, can be inserked into
the chain
at various spaced locations therein so as to, for example, provide warning
signs along
the chain or line.
In yet another embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, a more robust and
impregnable barrier chain or line, indicated generally at 42, is provided
which is
formed by a series of barrier units 26 corresponding to that shown in Figures
2 to 5.
Barrier units 26 are interconnected by individual floatation devices 1 D
corresponding
to that of Figure 1. More specifically, although it will be appreciated that
only a part or
portion of barrier 42 is shown, in the portion thereof illustrated in Figure
T, a first
barrier 26A is connected at one end to a second barrier 2fiB and to a (one or
16 individual floatation device 10A. The latter is connected to a similar
device forming
part of a third barrier 26C, while one floatation device of barrier 26B is
also connected
to barrier 26C while the other floatation device thereo$ is connected to a
second
individual floatation device 1 OB. Finally, in the portion of barrier chain 42
illustrated in
Figure 7, barrier 26C and floatation device 1 DB are also connected to a
further (fourth}
barrier 26D.
Referring to Figure 8, an embodiment sirnilar to that of Figure 7 is
shown. The barrier chain or system is denoted 44 in Figure 8 and this
embodiment
differs from that of Figure 7 in that the four barriers, which are denoted
26A, 2EB, 2fiC
and 26D, are of a truncated form with trapezoidal end portions in contrast to
the
triangular end portions of Figure 7. iVfore importantly, floatation devices
10A and 10B
are replaced by cables 46A and 46B. It will, of course, be understood that
such
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cables can also be used with the embodiment of Figure 7 to replace floatation
devices
10A and 108. Cables 46A and 468 are preferably stainless steel cables,
although
other cabling can also be used.
The embodiment of Figure 8 provides three holding points, viz., cable,
flaatatiarr device (barrier), cable. It would be very difficult to break all
three points at
once and if one breaks, two other holding points are still in place.
Et is noted that, with respect to the barrier systems or barrier chains
described above, an arch can be formed by using shorter and longer barriers or
booms, and fencing and lights can also be added to enhance security.
Referring to Figure 9, a detail is shown of one approach to mounting
superstructure 28 on floatation device 10. In this embodiment, transverse
strut
element or strut 30 forms part of the superstructure 28, i.e., an integral
framework is
provided of which strut mer-nber or element 30 is a part, and element 3D is
secured by
suitable means, e.g., connecting bolts or like fastener:> (not shown, although
the
connection is indicated in dashed lines) to a mounting bracket 48 which has a
curved
lower edged matching the curvature of device 10 and which is secured to, i.e.,
welded
to, device 10.
Referring to Figure 1 D, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the
connector or connecting arrangement for providing a connection between
adjacent
barrier floatation devices 10. As indicated above, in connecting the devices
10, the
barrier devices are arranged so that the ends thereof are lined up, and thus,
so that
the connector elements 24 (also referred to as strength members) are disposed
adjacent to each other. The connection between strength members 24 is made by
an
arrangement comprising connector plates 50, pivot tubes 52, hex bolts 54, hex
nuts
56 and fender washers b8. The plates 50 are preferably made of neoprene.
Advantageously, a plurality of connector plates 50 are used (e.g., two, four
or six
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depending on the strength rating).
(n making a connection, a plate 50 is placed on the corresponding
connection pivot tube 52 which is facated at the distal end of the respective
strength
member 24, and a retaining hex bolt 54 is inserted through a correspanding
fender
washer 58 and a pivot tube 56, as illustrated. An anticorrosive thread
lubricant (not
shown is provided on the threads of the bolt 54 to prevent galling. A further
fender
washer 58, and a hex nut 56 are placed on the free end of hex bolt 54, and the
nut
and bolt assembly is tightened until the assembly is tight against the pivot
tube 52.
The process is then repeated for the adjacent strength member 24.
Optionally, U-shackles 6d and a high strength link connector 62 can be
used to provide additional holding power. in this implementation, the shackles
60 are
welded or otherwise affixed to the respective strength members 24.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the barrier or buoy deuice
of the invention, and the floaking barrier systems created thereby, can be
used in a
number of different applications, including the prevention of unauthorized
entry of
relatively small watercraft (e.g., of a length less than about 100 feet) into
restricted
areas along IaE<es, harbors and navigable rivers. This use is particularly
important in
this new era of increasing homeland security. Further, as indicated above, the
redundant "tube within a tube" construction with two interc~aI floatation
means (e.g., as
za indicated at 18 and 22, respectively prevents sinking thereof even if both
of the tubes
12 and 14 are pierced. In addition, the provision of the rnetallic outer-tu-be-
or Gayer 12
is important in that the materials of construction therefor last longer than
the plastic
shells used in conventional log booms. Further, the use of metal provides
increased
versatility in that it permits additional structures to be welded to the basic
floatation
devices or devices as described above and enables warning signage to be
carried
thereby.
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As will be appreciated, the basic construction of the floatation device is
easily adaptable to a wide range of sizes, lengths and heights, thus providing
a great
deal of flexibility in meeting the needs of a user. Competing systems=
typically made
of plastic, are typically available in one size with the plastic components
thereof
molded to a specific, standard size and form.
Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
variations and
modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing
from
the scope and spirit of the invention.
