Patent ID: 7845029
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
1. A cover for a body of water, the cover comprising one or more tiles, each tile comprising: a generally flattened tile body floatable atop the body of water to cover a surface area thereof, the tile body defining an enclosure wherein at least a portion of the tile body that defines the enclosure is deformable; a ballast having a density greater than water; a port for conveying a fluid having a density less than water into and out of the enclosure; wherein, upon conveying the fluid into the enclosure via the port, the portion of the tile body deformably expands to increase a volume of the enclosure and increase a buoyancy of the tile and wherein, upon conveying the fluid out of the enclosure via the port, the portion of the tile body deformably contracts to decrease the volume of the enclosure and decrease the buoyancy of the tile; a deformation sensing system for sensing deformation of the portion of the tile body, the deformation sensing system operatively coupled to: a first fluid flow limiter located between the port and the enclosure for discontinuing conveyance of the fluid into the enclosure when the deformation of the portion of the tile body is greater than an upper deformation threshold and a second fluid flow limiter located between the port and the enclosure for discontinuing conveyance of the fluid out of the enclosure when the deformation of the portion of the tile body is less than a lower deformation threshold; wherein the deformation sensing system comprises one or more arms which engage the tile body such that deformation of the portion of the tile body causes movement of the one or more arms.