Hydrofission barrier

Abstract

A barrier system and a method for dissipating energy in a body of fluid provides one or more barrier units each having an outer wall that defines a hollow inner chamber. Each barrier unit has a lower aperture and an upper aperture so fluid can flow in and out of the hollow inner chamber. Upward movement of fluid within the inner chamber is deflected inwardly and energy of the fluid is dissipated. The buoyancy of the barrier unit is controlled by a control system. Multiple barrier units can be used together to dissipate energy within a body of water over a large area. The barrier units can be easily assembled and deployed into a body of water. Where the barrier system is used in an ocean or another large body of water, the barrier units may be deployed from a ship, and may be anchored to the seafloor.

Claims

1. A barrier system for dissipating energy in a body of fluid defining an upper fluid surface, the barrier system comprising: a barrier unit including: an outer wall that defines a hollow inner chamber; a lower end having a lower aperture configured to receive fluid from the body of fluid; an upper end having an upper aperture configured to receive fluid from the body of fluid, the upper end configured to be closer to the upper fluid surface than the lower end, the barrier unit being dimensioned such that a first width in a first direction at the upper end is less than a second width in the first direction at the lower end, wherein fluid moving from the lower end towards the upper end within the hollow inner chamber is deflected inwardly, and energy created by fluid moving within the inner chamber is dissipated by the outer wall and by forcing fluid out of the upper end; and a buoyancy control system for controlling buoyancy of the barrier unit to selectively float at a respective selective position.

2. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the outer wall defines a conical shape.

3. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy control system allows each barrier unit to be selectively entirely submerged.

4. The barrier system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of barrier units, each barrier unit being connected to at least one other barrier unit by at least one linking element.

5. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the barrier unit is connected to a mooring anchor so that the barrier unit is capable of being positionally secured relative to a bottom surface of the body of fluid.

6. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the outer wall of each barrier unit further comprises: a front shell having a first side and a second side; a rear shell having a first side and a second side; one or more hinge elements formed on the first and second sides of the front shell; one or more hinge elements formed on the first and second sides of the rear shell; and the front shell and rear shell being secured together to form a shape that is one of conical and frustoconical.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the present invention:

(2) FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a barrier unit;

(3) FIG. 1b shows a top view thereof;

(4) FIG. 1c shows a front view thereof;

(5) FIG. 1d shows a side view thereof;

(6) FIG. 2 shows a stacked deployment of barrier units;

(7) FIG. 3 shows a straight line deployment of barrier units;

(8) FIG. 4 shows a circular deployment of barrier units;

(9) FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of a partial assembled storage configuration;

(10) FIG. 5b shows a top view thereof;

(11) FIG. 5c shows a front view thereof;

(12) FIG. 6a shows unassembled barrier panels stacked for storage;

(13) FIG. 6b shows partially assembled barrier panels stacked for storage;

(14) FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of the hurricane barriers being deployed from a boat;

(15) FIG. 8a shows a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the hurricane barriers suppressing wave energy when the water level is high relative to the barrier;

(16) FIG. 8b shows a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the hurricane barriers suppressing wave energy when the water level is low relative to the barrier;

(17) FIG. 9a shows one embodiment of a system of hurricane suppression barriers deployed to contain the spread of a contaminant in the ocean;

(18) FIG. 9b shows one embodiment of a system of suppression barriers deployed along an oil spill in the ocean;

(19) FIG. 10 shows another view of a system of hurricane suppression barriers deployed along a coastline;

(20) FIG. 11a shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a barrier having a single layer of barrier panels;

(21) FIG. 11b shows a front view of this embodiment;

(22) FIG. 12a shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a barrier for use as a fire barrier or a traffic barrier;

(23) FIG. 12b shows a front view of this embodiment; and

(24) FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of a shelter formed of barrier panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(25) Referring now to the drawings, the barrier system of the instant invention is illustrated and generally indicated at 10 in FIGS. 1-13. As will hereinafter be more fully described, the instant invention provides a system and method for dissipating fluid energy in a body of fluid.

(26) The present invention provides an easily deployable barrier system that is easily assembled from barrier panels in order to protect humans and property from harm. In particular, the present invention can prevent or suppress coastal damage due to weather-related events and to prevent destruction of beaches due to normal tidal erosion of the coastline. The present invention can create artificial reefs and/or a barrier system to create wave patterns that are favorable for specific coastal regions, such as waves that are optimal for surfing.

(27) Throughout this description, the terms body of fluid and body of water may be used to describe the environment in which the barrier units are used. Where body of water is used, it is not meant to limit the application of the invention to a water-containing environment. It is to be understood that the barrier units can be used in fluids other than water.

(28) FIGS. 1a-1d show a first embodiment of the barrier unit 10 for dissipating energy in a body of fluid 11. The barrier unit has two barrier panels (or clamshells or shells) 12, 13 that form an outer wall that defines a hollow inner chamber. Fluid can enter and exit the hollow inner chamber through a lower aperture 14 at the lower end 16 of the barrier unit and an upper aperture 18 at the upper end 20 of the barrier unit. This very simple, two-piece, clamshell design is based on a geometric shape that is converging on one end. The shells 12, 13 are designed to be the same shape and, when attached at opposing faces, form a barrier unit 10 having a cone shape. Thus, the barrier units 10 are tapered inward so that the width of the barrier unit decreases with height, forming the trapezoidal front profile shown in FIG. 1c. The barrier units are also curved inward so that the depth of the barrier unit decreases with height, forming the tapered side profile shown in FIG. 1d. The inwardly sloping walls help the barrier unit 10 deflect fluid moving within the barrier unit, which dissipates energy within the fluid, as discussed in more detail below. Thus, the barrier unit 10 of FIGS. 1a-1d is shaped as the frustum of a substantially conical shape. The barrier unit could be another shape such as the frustum of a cone, a cone, or another shape with internal walls that are useful for deflecting fluid in the inner chamber, as discussed in more detail below.

(29) The shells/panels 12, 13 can be fabricated out of various materials including, but not limited to, composites, plastics, and metals, or any combination thereof, depending upon the desired load requirements and cost. Additional materials typically used for buoys may also be used.

(30) The individual barrier units 10 are fully scalable to accommodate various deployment requirements, from a simple backyard barrier to a large, open-ocean suppression oasis. Thus, the panels may be formed in many sizes. For example, the panels may be 20 feet tall, 10 feet tall, or 5 feet tall. Other heights are also within the scope of the present invention.

(31) The barrier unit 10 is designed to float in a fluid 11, such as water in an ocean or another body of water. The barrier unit 10 may have a buoyancy control unit 22 to adjust the buoyancy of the barrier unit 10. The buoyancy control unit 22 allows the barrier units to be seated on the bottom surface of the body of water or to be floating below the water surface when the buoyancy control unit is in a first state. When the buoyancy control unit is activated to a second state, the buoyancy control unit causes the barrier units to float higher in the water. The buoyancy control unit can thus be used to cause barrier units to move back and forth between a position in which they are submerged to a position in which they extend partially above the water surface. This is useful for a barrier system that is only needed sometimes, for example, during storms or times of high wave energy. The barrier units can be submerged to allow swimmers and watercraft to use the water above the barrier units. The submerged barrier units also provide a more scenic view to people looking at the ocean from the beach. When wave energy increases, the barrier units can be brought partially above the surface to protect the beach area from at least some of the incoming wave energy.

(32) In the barrier system, the barrier units 10 can be used alone or in groups. In the deployed state, the barrier units of each barrier system can be connected in various configurations depending upon how many units are used and how the units are linked to each other. FIGS. 2-4 show examples of floating arrangements 100 of more than one barrier unit 10. FIG. 2 shows a grouping of 18 barrier units arranged in array having three rows of six barrier units 10 each. FIG. 3 shows a straight line deployment of eight barrier units 10. FIG. 4 shows a circular deployment of barrier units 10. It is possible to arrange the barrier units in other shapes, including a straight line, a wedge formation, a circular formation, a triangle, a pyramid, a rectangle, a square, for example.

(33) The barrier system may have additional features to control the position and orientation of the barrier units. The system can be maintained in either a free-floating configuration, an anchored system, or a structural footing that is either land-based or ocean-based. The system can employ a counter measure to maintain upright stability.

(34) To help secure the barrier units in the desired arrangement with respect to one another, each barrier unit can be connected to at least one other barrier unit by one or more linking elements. This allows the barrier units to float in the fluid with substantially even and/or substantially constant spacing over time. The linking elements may be rods, ropes, chains, or other structures.

(35) The barrier units can also be secured to the bottom surface of a body of fluid, such as an ocean floor, to substantially positionally secure the barrier units relative to the bottom surface of the body of fluid. For example, where the barrier units are being used to prevent or limit beach erosion caused by water waves, it is useful to substantially secure the barrier units in the water near the beach.

(36) The system can be stored in a semi-disassembled to fully disassembled configuration that requires minimal space and can be easily re-deployed. FIGS. 5a-6b show how the panels 12, 13 may be stored in stacks of individual panels, or in stacks of partially assembled panels. In FIGS. 5a-5c, the first embodiment of a barrier unit 10 has a first shell (front shell) 12 and a second shell (rear shell) 13. When the first shell/panel 12 and the second shell/panel 13 are joined together, they form a front wall of the barrier unit and a rear wall of the barrier unit, respectively. The first shell and the second shell each have a first side and a second side. In the embodiments shown in FIG. 6b, the individual panels of FIG. 6A are assembled into pairs and then stacked.

(37) The shells have an interlocking structure that allows two or more shells to be connected. In one embodiment, a piano-type hinge system is placed along each side of the panel so that the alternate tabs can engage another panel. Once the tabs of two panels are aligned, a connecting rod is inserted into the tabs of the shells to form a hinged connection of the shells. In the embodiment with a front shell and a rear shell, the front and rear shells are joined together by hinges 24 located at first and second sides. The first side 26 of the front shell has a hinge structure 24 that engages a hinge structure 24 on the first side 28 of the rear shell. The second side 30 of the front shell has a hinge structure 24 that engages a hinge structure 24 on the second side 32 of the rear shell. When the hinge structures 24 are aligned, a first connecting rod 34 extends through the hinges on the first side of the front shell and the first side of the rear shell, and a second connecting rod extends through the hinges on the second side of the front shell and the second side of the rear shell. An upper end of the connecting rod 34 is visible, for example, in FIGS. 1a, 1c, 5a, 5c.

(38) The connecting rods 34 act as buoyancy compensators through the use of positive buoyancy, for example by way of air, foam, or low-density material that is captured within the connecting rods 34. Other hinge structures or other fastening means may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention.

(39) In FIGS. 1a-1d, two connecting rods 34 are shown, with a first connecting rod on the first side of the panels, and a second connecting rod on the second side of the panels. The first and second connecting rods can be integrally formed. For example, a substantially U-shaped connector has a first end that extends through the hinges on the first side and a second end that extends through the hinges on the second side.

(40) The buoyancy compensation can be either static or dynamically controlled. In one embodiment, the dynamic controller may control air pressure to direct air into the connecting rods to raise or lower the units while in the water and maintain a certain exposure height above the waterline or a desired floating height below the waterline. In other embodiments, similar buoyancy controllers may be attached to the barrier units.

(41) Alternatively, the connecting rods can be replaced with one or more connecting tubes 36. Such a connecting tube could extend through the hinges on the first side as well as the hinges on the second side, and then extend through hinges on adjacent barrier units, as shown in FIG. 9b. An air pump 38 at a first end of the connecting tube 36 could pump air into the connecting tube 36 as needed, to increase the buoyancy of the barrier units. The connecting tube can be closed at its second end, so air can be pumped into the tube and then removed from the connecting tube. Other connecting tube structures and methods of providing a buoyant fluid into the connecting tube are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. The buoyant fluid is less dense than the fluid in the body of fluid. For example, the buoyant fluid could be air and the barrier unit could be placed in a body of water.

(42) The system can be deployed in a variety of ways, such as by a vessel or via a cable pull system. FIG. 7 shows one method of deploying a hurricane suppression barrier system from a boat. The deployment vessel has a deployment system and a retrieval system on board and may be a commercial ship 15. The barrier system may be stacked in a semi-assembled state on the deployment vessel, as shown in FIG. 7. Then, workers may assemble the barriers into a full barrier system that may then be deployed in the ocean. Alternatively, the barrier system may be stacked in a fully disassembled state and then assembled prior to deployment. In the barrier system of FIG. 7, the barrier panels are not arranged to form barrier units. Instead, the panels are arranged to form a less permeable floating wall.

(43) A group of barrier units 10 can include barrier units 10 of various sizes. For example, a group of barrier units could have a first set of smaller barrier units 10 and a second set of larger barrier units 10. Different size barrier units are useful in different sized fluid bodies. For example, smaller barrier units are more useful closer to the shoreline, and larger barrier units are more useful further out to sea. Thus, the sets could be placed in substantially parallel rows, with the row of larger barrier further out to sea than the row of smaller barrier units. The barrier units protect the structures 60 on land from excessive wave energy.

(44) FIGS. 8a and 8b show how the internal structure of the barrier units operates to suppress the energy of fluids within the barrier units, particularly the energy of a hurricane. FIG. 8a shows a barrier unit 10 that is seated lower in the water, and FIG. 8b shows a barrier unit 10 that is seated higher in the water, such as may occur when additional air is pumped into the connecting rods to increase buoyancy. The arrows show that water may enter the barrier unit 10 through the lower aperture 14, and then move up and down within the barrier unit along arrow A as the wave motion passes the system. When the water moves upwards and hits the sidewalls of the barrier unit, it is deflected inward along arrow B. Additionally, the air within the cone shape is compressed as the water moves upward within the chamber. The water pushes the air upward in direction D, and returns downward along arrow C. The resulting pressure of the air is effectively trying to push the water back down within the chamber. This dampens the wave energy within the barrier unit. Wave energy in the water surrounding the system as a whole is thus dissipated.

(45) Also, as water moves upward within a barrier unit, air is pushed out the top of the unit and out of the upper aperture, along arrow E as shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. As the air exits the barrier unit, the air continues upward vertically along arrow F, resulting in vortex cooling effect. Some air travels along arrows G and H. The conical nozzle at the end of the cone shaped barrier only allows the outer shell of the compressed air to escape at that end. The remainder of the air is forced to return in an inner vortex of reduced diameter within the outer vortex. The resulting creates friction within the chamber of the outer and inner layer of air effectively producing a low efficient cooler of the air exiting the top of the barrier unit 10. Furthermore, moving the air in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the weather related air system results in a turbulent air layer that slows the surface velocity of the wind, and, in its extreme state, rolls to an angle and forms a funnel cone that reduces the wave energy similar to water exiting a fire hose.

(46) Flow of fluid around and between the barrier units 10 also dissipates wave energy. When the barrier units are floating at least partially above the surface of the water, the barrier units act on the waves impacting them. The outer walls of the barrier units affect the frequency and amplitude of the waves.

(47) The present invention also provides a method for suppressing the effects of a storm on a coastline or for dissipating wave energy in an ocean. The method includes the steps of providing a barrier system including barrier units such as those described herein, and providing a buoyancy compensation system for the barriers, such as the buoyancy compensation system described herein.

(48) The method may also include the step of providing a location stabilization system for the barriers. The location stabilization system may include a device for substantially positionally securing the barriers to the bottom surface of a body of fluid. The location stabilization system may also include a device for connecting the barrier units together so they are substantially evenly spaced apart and/or substantially constantly spaced apart over time.

(49) The method may also include the steps of first assembling barrier units and then deploying them into the fluid. This step is particularly useful for deploying a large set of barrier units into the ocean. First, a user on a boat or another platform supported on or in the water removes a front panel and a rear panel from at least one stack of front panels and at least one stack of rear panels. Then, the user assembles a barrier unit by securing the front panel to the rear panel. This can be done with a connecting rod, a connecting tube, or another connecting element, as described herein. Then, the user deploys the barrier unit into the body of water.

(50) To provide buoyancy control to the barrier units, the method also includes the step of providing air channels within the barrier units and controlling the amount of air within the air channels. If connecting tubes are used, the air channels may be within the connecting tubes.

(51) Where multiple barrier units are being deployed and are connected to one another, they may be assembled on the boat (or other structure), connected to one another in a desired configuration, and then deployed together, one at a time slowly, or in rapid succession, as needed.

(52) Because there may be insufficient notice to emergency crews when a barrier system will be required, and because it may be dangerous to install a barrier system when it is required, it is advantageous to have a system that can be installed and then remain in the water at a subsurface level until it is needed. When it is needed, the system may then be deployed either manually or remotely through a control system. The barrier system need not interfere with normal water use. It may be permanently installed in such a way that it allows for normal commercial and recreational boating. Additionally, the barrier system may provide additional benefits, such as by forming a reef system that is beneficial to aquatic life, or forming a dynamic pattern of wave creation, for example, one that is ideal for surfing.

(53) In order to power the barrier system, various power sources may be attached to the system. For example, alternative energy sources may be used, such as a wind turbine system to harness the vortex air effect, a solar panel system attached to the outer shell, or a hydroelectric generator to harness wave energy captured within the geometric shell. Furthermore, the barrier system through the power source or similar system could be a platform for supplying alternative clean energy to its surrounding environment.

(54) FIGS. 9a and 9b show how the barrier system may be employed to contain contaminants 50 within the ocean. FIG. 9a offers a perspective view, and FIG. 9b shows a front perspective view. Rows of progressively larger barrier units can be employed to contain a contaminant within the ocean. Here, the smaller barrier units are placed closest to the contaminant, and the larger barrier units are further away. The barrier system operates to contain the contaminant within a specific area by two mechanisms. First, the barriers offer a physical boundary to limit the dispersion of the contaminant, though this is only a partial barrier where there are gaps between the barrier units. Second, the barrier units dissipate wave energy, thus decreasing the rate of diffusion of the contaminant to surrounding water.

(55) FIG. 10 shows how the barrier system may be used near a shore line 70. Again, rows of progressively larger barrier units can be deployed. Here, the smaller barrier units are deployed near the shore, and larger units are deployed further out to sea. This type of barrier system can help protect beach front properties 60, such as those shown in FIG. 10.

(56) Where a less permeable barrier is desired, the panels may be spaced closer together. A less permeable barrier would be desirable to provide oil containment barriers for oil released around offshore oil rigs, and potential large scale shipping spills. In some embodiments, where barrier panels 12 are linked directly to adjacent barrier panels 12, without the cone, such as shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, a less permeable or impermeable barrier wall 200 may be formed. In this way, a sufficiently high barrier system can prevent a floating contaminant, such as oil, from passing over or under the barrier panels due to energy from the waves.

(57) This system can be deployed rapidly or deployed in a submerged state around oil rigs and surfaced if an issue arises with the rigs. This barrier system need not be designed to pick up the oil, but can contain it until the oil can be removed, thereby minimizing the environmental impact of the oil spill.

(58) FIGS. 12a and 12b show a barrier wall 300 made of a series of alternating barrier units 10 and single panels 12.

(59) FIG. 13 shows how more than two panels can be combined to form a larger, three-panel barrier unit 400. In this way, the barrier panels 12 may be combined to assemble shelters easily adapt to changing size requirements.

(60) It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides a barrier that can be used to protect people and property from damage caused by waves and storms, among other things. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art which has substantial commercial merit.

(61) While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.