Magnetic connector for spill boom
Inactive Publication Date: 2009-05-14
HERZOGENRATH KEITH W
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- Summary
- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
[0006]It is an object of this invention to reduce the flow of spilled products around the ends of a boom.
[0007]It is another object of this invention to provide a device to reduce the risk of tripping during spill cleanup operations.
[0008]It is another object of this invention to provide a device to reduce the responsible party's financial liability during spill incidents.
[0009]It is another object of this invention to provide a readily deployed boom connector for steel vessels, barges and steel bulkheads.
[0010]It is another object of this invention to provide a connector for boom which is inexpensive and small in size, making it ideal for spill kits.
Problems solved by technology
One problem with the traditional method was that the oil that the boom was to contain and absorb would escape around both ends of the boom because there was no way to seal the boom fast to both a vessel hull or a steel dock near the waterline.
Because the fastening point was several feet above the waterline, wind and current action acting on the boom would pull it away from the vessel or dock to the limits of the fastening line, permitting significant amounts of the spill to escape between the vessel or dock and the end of the boom and cause collateral damage by oiling nearby assets or the environment.
Because the lines often extended across ordinarily unimpeded walkway areas, they presented a tripping hazard, especially during hours of darkness.
The damage to the responsible party's reputation increases where the spill has not been adequately contained.
The required cleanup of oiled barges, vessels, docks and the environment costs time and money and results in delays in product delivery by the responsible party and others affected by the spill.
Further financial damage occurs to the party charged with the spill because of the idle time brought about in both the responsible party and its victims by waiting for cleanup to occur.
Method used
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[0021]One embodiment of the invention provides a magnetic connector assembly 2, 102 for providing a fast-deployment attachment point for an oil spill boom 4 on a ferromagnetic wall 6. The magnetic connector assembly comprises a connector element 8, 108 for releasably retaining an end of the oil spill boom. The connector element has a front side and a back side. A plurality of magnets 10, 12 (110, 112 in FIGS. 4 and 5) are resiliently mounted to the back side of the connector element. Each of the plurality of magnets has a flat pole end 14, 16 (114, 116 in FIGS. 4 and 5) and has sufficient magnetic field strength to bring the flat pole end into conformance with a surface of the ferromagnetic wall.
[0022]Generally speaking, the ferromagnetic wall comprises a portion of a vessel, a barge, a dock, or a bulkhead having a waterline alongside, and the connector assembly is positioned near the waterline. A barge 18 is illustrated. Usually, the vessel, barge, dock or bulkhead will have a rust...
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A magnetic connector assembly for attaching spill boom to an otherwise featureless coated steel surface comprises a flexible plate having a front side and a back side, at least one magnet mounted to the plate to assert a magnetic field over the back side of the plate, and a connector for the boom mounted to the front side of the plate. The at least one magnet is sized to retain the magnetic connector assembly in a fixed position on a vertically positioned ferromagnetic wall with a force requiring at least 5 pounds to break.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to apparatus and method for controlling spills, particularly spills of hydrocarbonacous fluids on water.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The term hydrocarbonaceous fluids as applied to spills generally means buoyant water-insoluble hydrocarbons or petrochemicals. In common usage. however, such spills are usually simply referred to as oil spills. On a tonnage basis, petroleum and its various fractions are the hydrocarbonacous fluids most commonly encountered in marine spills.[0003]Marine vessels which carry above a minimum amount of fuel or bulk liquids are required to carry spill kits which include absorbent boom which is to be assembled and deployed as a first response to a spill. The spill kits are also found on docks. Absorbent boom, also known as sausage boom or soft boom, is provided in generally tubular sections about 10 feet long and about 5 inches in diameter and the sections are roped together with overlap and deployed as qu...
Claims
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Patent Timeline
Login to View More IPC IPC(8): E02B15/04B63B21/04E02B15/00
CPCB63B21/02B63B21/08E02B15/085E02B15/08B63B35/32
InventorHERZOGENRATH, KEITH W.
OwnerHERZOGENRATH KEITH W