System and apparatus for rapidly installed breakwater
AssigneeKepner Plastics Fabricators, Inc.
InventorsFrank Meyers, John A. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rapidly deployable breakwater is disclosed having a primary barrier containing liquid under pressure, and one or more overtopping barriers. The primary barrier floats at, and extends substantially below, the surface of the water, while the overtopping barriers are positioned on the primary barrier and extend substantially above the surface of the water, the combination being adapted to attenuate wave action in open water. The liquid in the primary barrier is pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding water, and such pressure may be maintained or varied during the period of deployment of the breakwater.
Claims51
A floating breakwater structure to be moored in an open body of water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising:
- a primary barrier made of flexible material and having an internal inflatable cavity adapted to be pressurized by the introduction of water;
- flexible flotation material attached to an upper portion of the primary barrier;
- at least one vapor relief device attached to the primary barrier;
- a mooring attachment associated with the primary barrier;
- water filling the primary barrier such that the primary barrier is pressurized to a level that resists wrinkling and buckling of the primary barrier under influence of the wave action to be attenuated.
A method of attenuating wave action in a body of open water comprising the steps of:
- placing in the open water a floating breakwater assembly having a primary barrier made of flexible material and having an internal inflatable cavity adapted to be pressurized by the introduction of water and flexible flotation material at a top portion of the primary barrier;
- pressurizing the primary barrier by introducing water into the internal cavity and elevating the pressure in the primary barrier to a level that resists wrinkling and buckling of the primary barrier under influence of the wave action to be attenuated;
- permitting any gas within the primary barrier to escape via a vapor relief valve;
- maintaining the pressure within the primary barrier at a substantially constant level by introducing more water as needed;
- and
- mooring the primary barrier at a selected location and orientation in a body of open water to attenuate wave action in a predetermined area.
A floating breakwater structure to be moored in an open body of water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising:
- a primary barrier made of flexible material and having an internal inflatable cavity adapted to be pressurized by the introduction of water;
- flexible flotation material attached to an upper portion of the primary barrier;
- at least one vapor relief device attached to the primary barrier;
- a mooring attachment associated with the primary barrier;
- the primary barrier having a first collapsed condition that is flexible, allowing the barrier to be compacted and stored, and a second expanded condition upon being filled and pressurized with water that is rigid, resisting wrinkling and buckling of the primary barrier under influence of the wave action to be attenuated.
A breakwater structure to be moored in open water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising an elongated primary baffler formed of a flexible material and having an enclosed interior cavity, said baffler being adapted to float in open water and to contain a liquid within said cavity pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water, wherein the pressurized liquid provides the barrier with enhanced stiffness and resistance to deformation by wave action, and further comprising a tubular jacket adapted to surround said primary barrier, said tubular jacket comprising a plurality of longitudinal straps and a plurality of circumferential straps.
A breakwater structure to be moored in open water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising an elongated primary barrier formed of a flexible material and having an enclosed interior cavity, said barrier being adapted to float in open water and to contain a liquid within said cavity pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water, wherein the pressurized liquid provides the barrier with enhanced stiffness and resistance to deformation by wave action, and further comprising a tubular jacket adapted to surround said primary barrier, said tubular jacket comprising a plurality of helically wound straps.
A breakwater structure to be moored in open water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising an elongated primary barrier formed of a flexible material and having an enclosed interior cavity, said barrier being adapted to float in open water and to contain a liquid within said cavity pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water, wherein the pressurized liquid provides the barrier with enhanced stiffness and resistance to deformation by wave action, and at least one inflatable pressurization tube located within the primary barrier.
A method of attenuating wave action in a body of open water comprising the steps of:
- placing in the open water a primary barrier made of flexible material and adapted to contain a liquid;
- introducing liquid into the primary barrier;
- pressurizing the liquid within the primary barrier to a level substantially greater that that of the surrounding open water;
- maintaining the pressure within the primary barrier;
- mooring the primary barrier at a selected location and orientation in a body of open water to attenuate wave action in a predetermined area;
- and
- retrieving the primary barrier when the wave action no longer requires attenuation, by draining the liquid from the primary barrier;
- and reeling the primary barrier onto a reel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.