| 摘要 |
An improved containment barrier or boom section of the type having a flotation means for supporting the barrier or boom on the surface of a liquid body such as a lake, harbor, river, ocean, or the like, and also having a sinking means such as a flexible skirt section coupled to the bottom of the flotation means and extending below the surface, the skirt section containing ballast and, preferably, a tension member, to contain contamination or material floating on or near the surface, such as an oil spill, usually on one side thereof. End connectors are provided at each end of the barrier section for coupling to additional barrier or boom sections and/or to a towing means for deployment and/or recovery. The flotation means comprises an elongated tubular member having a cavity extending throughout the elongated length thereof and the tubular member is flexible. A transversely rigid and longitudinally compressible-expandable means is positioned in the cavity of the tubular member throughout the length thereof and holds the tubular member in a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, such as circular or any other desired shape. Vent means are provided to allow passage of air from regions external the flotation means into the cavity of the tubular member. The barrier or boom may be compressed in the longitudinal direction due to the flexibility of the tubular member and the transversely rigid and longitudinally compressible-expandable means to a storage or handling condition having a longitudinal length a fraction of the length in the elongated or deployed condition. The tubular member is substantially maintained in the predetermined cross-sectional configuration in both the stored and deployed condition. Additional flotation means may be provided in the tubular member to insure any desired degree of buoyancy for the boom. In the stored condition the tubular member folds in a manner similar to accordion-type folding. |
