Paravane for a Floating Barrier

Abstract

Paravane for floating barrier A paravane (20) including at least one foil with a first side, a second side, a leading end, a trailing end, a top and a bottom, wherein at least one foil is straight (1) and at least one second foil is curved (2), where one side of the straight foil and the other side of the curving foil are interconnected by a number of stays (3), where at least one foil is connected at the top to at least a first buoyant body (10) and that at least the one plane at the bottom is connected to at least one ballast element (13), and that at the second side of the straight foil there are at least one towline (8) and a tow eye (9) by which there is achieved a paravane (20) that can keep an arrangement of lines, nets, floats in a water body in a position suitable for performing the task.

Claims

1. A paravane (20) for use in towing e.g. floating barriers, including at least one foil with a first side, a second side, a leading end, a trailing end, a top and a bottom, where at least one foil is straight (1) and at least one other foil is curved (2), where one side of the straight foil and the other side of the curving foil are interconnected, wherein one side of the straight foil and the other side of the curving foil are interconnected by a number of struts (3), wherein at least one foil is connected at the top to at least a first buoyant body (10) and that at least one foil is connected at the bottom to at least one ballast element (13), and that at the second side of the straight foil there are at least one towline (8) and a tow eye (9), wherein the at least one straight foil and the at least one curved foil and at least a number of stays are made of flexible, collapsible materials.

2. (canceled)

3. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one straight foil and the at least one curved foil include cavities for struts.

4. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one straight foil includes struts that are substantially parallel with top/bottom and with a longitudinal axis in direction leading end/trailing end.

5. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one curved foil includes struts that are substantially parallel with leading end/trailing end and with a longitudinal axis in direction top/bottom.

6. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the stays are axially shaped, e.g. in the form of steel wires, and/or flatly formed, e.g. in the form of bulkheads.

7. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the stays are manually or automatically adjustable.

8. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein at least the first buoyant body is inflatable or permanent, and that possible additional buoyant bodies are inflatable or permanent.

9. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one straight foil and the at least one curved foil include trailing ends that meet entirely or partially, and that the at least one straight foil and/or the at least one curved foil include at least one outflow opening at the rearmost part of the foil.

10. Paravane according to claim 1, wherein the paravane (20) is integrated in the towing end of a floating barrier.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0040] The invention is explained more closely in the following with reference to the drawing, where:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section of the paravane according to the invention with mounted towlines;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section of the paravane according to the invention with buoyancy chamber and double buoyant foil (biplane);

[0043] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the paravane where the rearmost opening is provided as circular openings along the trailing edge of the rearmost foil;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paravane mounted with towlines and assembly fittings;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an operative formation with deployed paravane for controlling a floating barrier formation.

[0046] In the explanation of the Figures, identical or corresponding elements are described with the same designations in different Figures. Any complete explanation of these in each single drawing will therefore not be given.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0047] 1 straight front foil

[0048] 2 curving rear foil

[0049] 3 stay

[0050] 4 vertical struts

[0051] 5 horizontal struts

[0052] 6 open front end

[0053] 7 open rear end

[0054] 8 towline

[0055] 9 tow eye

[0056] 10 buoyant element

[0057] 11 openings

[0058] 12 towline to vessel

[0059] 13 ballast element

[0060] 14 floating barrier formation

[0061] 15 towline

[0062] 16 spacer line

[0063] 17 secondary towline

[0064] 18 primary towline

[0065] 19 oil control vessel

[0066] 20 paravane

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

[0067] In FIG. 1 is shown a paravane according to the invention in a horizontal section, consisting of a straight front foil 1 and a curving rear foil 2 made of a flexible material. Between the two foils are shown stays 3 that fix the distance between the two foils. 6 and 7 show the very open front end and the less open rear end, respectively. Vertical struts 4 are inserted in the curving rear foil 2. Horizontal struts 5 are inserted in the straight front foil. Towlines 8 are joined in a common tow eye 9.

[0068] In FIG. 2 is shown a paravane according to the invention in a horizontal section, consisting of a straight front foil 1 and two curving rear foils 2. In line with the front foil is shown a buoyant element 10 which can be inflatable or solid.

[0069] In FIG. 3 appears an embodiment of the paravane in perspective view where the rearmost opening 7 is substituted by a number of circular openings in the trailing edge of the curving rear foil 2. The buoyant element 10 is shown disposed uppermost on the straight front foil 1 and ballast elements 13 are shown along the lower edge of the straight front foil 1.

[0070] In FIG. 4 is shown an embodiment of the paravane in perspective view where three towlines 8 are joined in a common tow fitting 9 from where the towing force can be transmitted to the towed object through the towline 12.

[0071] In FIG. 5 is shown a formation where the paravane according to the invention is deployed as towing element for controlling a floating barrier formation. 14 shows a floating barrier in the form of a V-shaped sweep system 14. An oil control vessel 19. Primary towline for floating barrier formation 18. Secondary towline 17 connected to the tow fitting 9 of the paravane. Towline 15 transmitting the forward movement of the oil control vessel to the paravane. Spacer line 16 controlling the degree of opening of the floating barrier formation.