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US 2003/0222016 A1Published application
Permeable water reservoir covers
Assignee3-R Foam, Inc.
InventorsFred Svirklys, Dennis Shanklin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Potable and process water reservoir covers are provided that exhibit an advantageous balance of rainwater drainage and light transmittance properties. The reservoir covers generally include one or more floatation panels formed from bonded foam particles that are adhered to a fabric layer. The present invention provides a reliable, cost-effective means by which to decrease the algae growth generally associated with water reservoirs. The present invention further decreases reservoir contamination issues associated with dust, sand, debris and waterfowl.
Claims40
A floatation panel comprising:
- a plurality of polymeric foam particles arranged in a piled laminate structure,
- said piled laminate structure further defining a first face and an opposing second face;
- at least a portion of said polymeric foam particles within said piled laminate structure bonded to at least one adjoining foam particle positioned either above or below said foam particle;
- said foam particles arranged within said piled laminate structure so as to define interstices between at least a portion of said foam particles, said interstices of sufficient size and quantity to allow rainwater to flow through while further providing a light transmittance of less than about 95%.
1 more element
A floatation panel comprising:
- a plurality of polymeric foam particles arranged in a piled laminate structure, said piled laminate structure defining a first face and opposing second face;
- and
- at least a portion of said polymeric foam particles within said piled laminate structure bonded to at least one adjoining foam particle positioned either above or below said foam particle, said foam particles further arranged within said piled laminate structure so as to define interstices between at least a portion of said foam particles, said interstices further of sufficient size and quantity to allow rainwater to flow through said piled laminate structure while further providing a light transmittance of less than about 1%, said floatation panel exhibiting a volume buoyancy ranging from about 40 to 60 lb/ft3.
A water reservoir cover comprising:
- at least two adjacent floatation panels, said floatation panels each comprising
- a plurality of polymeric foam particles arranged in a piled laminate structure, at least a portion of said polymeric foam particles within said piled laminate structure bonded to at least one adjoining foam particle positioned either above or below said foam particle;
- said piled laminate structure further defining a first face and opposing second face, said first face designed to contact a water reservoir at or near its surface,
- wherein at least a portion of said foam particles exhibit sufficient buoyancy to collectively float said floatation panel in said water reservoir, said foam particles further arranged within said piled laminate structure so as to define interstices between at least a portion of said foam particles, said interstices of sufficient size and quantity to allow rainwater to flow through said piled laminate structure while further providing a light transmittance of less than about 95%;
- and
- a fabric layer bonded to at least a portion of said second face, said fabric layer defining an overhang extending beyond the perimeter of at least a portion of said piled laminate structure;
- said at least two adjacent floatation panels joined into a single unit by bonding said overhang of two or more adjacent floatation panels.
4 more elements
A water reservoir system comprising:
- a water reservoir containing potable or process water;
- and
- a water reservoir cover spanning at least a portion of the surface of said water reservoir, said water reservoir cover comprising
- at least two floatation panels, said floatation panels each comprising
- a plurality of polymeric foam particles arranged in a piled laminate structure;
- at least a portion of said polymeric foam particles within said piled laminate structure bonded to at least one adjoining foam particle positioned either above or below said foam particle;
- said piled laminate structure further defining a first face and opposing second face, said first face contacting said water reservoir at or near its surface;
- wherein at least a portion of said foam particles exhibit sufficient buoyancy to collectively float said floatation panel in said water reservoir, said foam particles further arranged within said piled laminate structure so as to define interstices between at least a portion of said foam particles, said interstices of sufficient size and quantity to allow rainwater to flow through said piled laminate structure while further providing a light transmittance of less than about 95%;
- and
- a fabric layer bonded to at least a portion of said second face, said fabric layer defining an overhang extending beyond the perimeter of at least a portion of said piled laminate structure;
- said at least two adjacent floatation panels joined into a single unit by bonding said overhang of two or more adjacent floatation panels.
8 more elements
A method of supplying potable or process water comprising:
- (a) supplying potable or process water to a reservoir;
- (b) covering the surface of the reservoir with a water reservoir cover comprising
- (i) at least two floatation panels, each of said floatation panels comprising
- a plurality of polymeric foam particles arranged in a piled laminate structure;
- at least a portion of the polymeric foam particles within the piled laminate structure bonded to at least one adjoining foam particle positioned either above or below the foam particle;
- the piled laminate structure further defining a first face and opposing second face, the first face contacting the water reservoir at or near its surface;
- wherein at least a portion of the foam particles exhibit sufficient buoyancy to collectively float the floatation panel in the waste material confinement area, the foam particles further arranged within the piled laminate structure so as to define interstices between at least a portion of the foam particles, the interstices of sufficient size and quantity to allow rainwater to flow through the piled laminate structure and further provide a light transmittance of less than about 95%;
- and
- (ii) a fabric layer bonded to at least a portion of the second faces of the at least two floatation panels to join the at least two of floatation panels into a single unit;
- (c) providing an anchor around the perimeter of the reservoir;
- and
- (d) securing said reservoir cover with said anchor.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.