Flexible fluid containment vessel featuring a keel-like seam

A flexible fluid containment vessel (FFCV) including at least one segment made up of a fabric. Two ends of the fabric are beaded and are joined together so as to form a generally cylindrical section. The interface along which the ends of the fabric are joined form a keel that serves to stabilize the completed FFCV when the FFCV is placed in water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible fluid containment vessel (sometimes hereinafter referred to as “FFCV”) for transporting and containing a large volume of fluid, particularly fluid having a density less than that of salt water, more particularly, fresh water, and the method of making the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of flexible containers for the containment and transportation of cargo, particularly fluids or fluidizable solids, is well known. It is well known to use containers to transport such liquid cargo in water, particularly, salt water. Furthermore, it is common to transport materials which have a density less than that of salt water. If the density of the liquid cargo is less than the density of the liquid cargo, the cargo provides buoyancy for the flexible transport bag when a partially or completely filled bag is placed and towed in salt water. This buoyancy of the cargo provides flotation for the container and facilitates the shipment of the cargo from one seaport to another.

If the cargo is fluid or a fluidized solid that has a density less than salt water; there is no need to use rigid bulk barges, tankers or containment vessels. Rather, flexible containment vessels may be used and towed or pushed from one location to another. Such flexible vessels have obvious advantages over rigid vessels. Moreover, flexible vessels, if constructed appropriately, allow themselves to be rolled up or folded after the cargo has been removed and stored for a return trip.

Throughout the world there are many areas which are in critical need of fresh water. Fresh water is such a commodity that harvesting of the ice cap and icebergs is rapidly emerging as a large business. However, wherever the fresh water is obtained, economical transportation thereof to the intended destination is a concern.

For example, currently an icecap harvester intends to use tankers having 150,000 ton capacity to transport fresh water. Obviously, this involves, not only the cost in using such a transport vehicle, but the added expense of its return trip, unloaded, to pick up fresh cargo. Flexible container vessels, when emptied can be collapsed and stored on, for example, the tugboat that pulled it to the unloading point, reducing the expense in this regard.

Even with such an advantage, economy dictates that the volume being transported in the flexible container vessel be sufficient to overcome the expense of transportation. Accordingly, larger and larger flexible containers are being developed. However, technical problems with regard to such containers persist even though developments over the years have occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that one of the problems with current FFCVs is the lack of stability they exhibit when being towed in water. That is, FFCVs under tow tend to exhibit sinusoidal movements and/or yaw which interfere with their smooth transport and give rise to undue wear and tear.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient system and method for stabilizing an FFCV under tow in water.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fabric construction for an FFCV which may be readily varied to meet possible changing requirements for the FFCV.

Still another object of the invention to provide a fabric construction for an FFCV in which seams in the construction may be readily inspected.

In view of the above, an FFCV according to the invention includes at least one segment made up of a fabric. Two ends of the fabric are beaded and are joined together so as to form a generally cylindrical section. The interface, along which the ends of the fabric are joined, forms a keel that serves to stabilize the completed FFCV when the FFCV is placed in water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The proposed FFCV10is intended to be constructed of an impermeable textile tube. The tube's configuration may vary. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, it would comprise a tube12having a substantially uniform diameter (perimeter) and sealed on each end14and16. The respective ends14and16may be closed, pinched, and sealed in any number of ways. A means for loading and unloading cargo (e.g. fresh water) would be provided. The resulting impermeable structure which is fabricated out of segments or strips of material18will be flexible enough to be folded or wound up for transportation and storage.

The ends may be sealed by many different ways. For example, the sealed end can be formed by collapsing the end of the tube12and folded over one or more times. One end14of the tube12can be sealed such that the plane of the sealed surface is, either in the same plane as the seal surface at the other end16of the tube. End14can also be orthogonal to the plane formed by the seal surface at the other end16of the tube, creating a bow which is perpendicular to the surface of the water, similar to that of a ship. For sealing, the ends14and16of the tube may be collapsed such that a sealing length of a few feet results. Sealing may be facilitated by gluing or sealing the inner surfaces of the flattened tube end with a reactive material or adhesive. In addition, the flattened ends14and16of the tube can be clamped and reinforced with metal or composite bars that are bolted or secured through the composite structure.

Alternatively, the end14of the tube12may be collapsed and folded such that the width of the sealed end matches either the diameter of the tube or the width of the tube when the tube is filled with water and floated in sea water. This feature of matching the width of the sealed end with either the width of the tube or diameter of the tube as filled will minimize stress concentration when the FFCV is being towed. The end14(collapsed and folded) may be sealed with a reactive polymer sealant or adhesive. The sealed end may also be reinforced as previously discussed with metal or composite bars to secure the sealed end and can be provided with a means for attaching a towing device.

In designing the FFCV to withstand the loads placed thereon, certain factors should be considered. In this regard, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/832,739 filed Apr. 11, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,218, entitled “Flexible Fluid Containment Vessel” and incorporated herein by reference, such factors are set forth in detail, along with possible materials for the fabric, their construction and possible coatings and methodology to apply to it to render the fabric impermeable, in addition to other features which may be desirable with regard to the FFCV. Accordingly, further discussion thereof will not be repeated herein rather reference is made to said application.

Also, the present device may have application with regard to the spiral formed FFCV as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/908,877 filed Jul. 18, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,734, entitled “Spiral Formed Flexible Fluid Containment Vessel” and incorporated herein by reference. While there is discussed therein means and methods for joining the wound strips together to form an FFCV, an alternative thereto is disclosed in the aforesaid first mentioned patent application for all or part of the joining process. For example, in high load portions of the FFCV, typically the front and rear, one methodology may be used. For less stressful locations another methodology may be used.

In addition, reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/921,617 filed Aug. 3, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,274, entitled “End Portions for a Flexible Fluid Containment Vessel and a Method of Making the Same” which relates to possible construction of the end portions of the FFCV and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/923,936 filed Aug. 7, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,862, entitled “Coating for a Flexible Fluid Containment Vessel and a Method of Making the Same” which discloses additional construction for the fabric, in addition to possible coatings therefor. Both Ser. Nos. 09/921,617 and 09/923,936 are, incorporated herein by reference.

The fabric18can be that of a patchwork to create the FFCV, wound strip or of other configuration suitable for the purpose. For example, it may be made in segments of flat fabric that has one of its dimensions equal to that of the circumference of the FFCV which is formed into a tube and joined with other so formed segments. The variations are endless.

Turning now toFIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an FFCV section formed according to the invention. As can be seen from the figure, a rectangular piece of flat woven fabric20is provided. Two opposing ends of the fabric,22aand22b, are beaded such that they can be joined through stitching, sintering, cauterizing, gluing, bonding, overlapping, stapling and/or any other suitable joining method. Upon joining of ends22aand22b, the FFCV section takes on a generally cylindrical shape.

The preferred method of joining the two ends involves using a “circus-tent” type of stitching, that is a hemming stitch, half-cross stitch, or the like. The ends are brought together by the stitching and then the stitching is covered using a two-part reactive resin system. The covering can be, but is not limited to a sheath laminated by adhesive, or a curable liquid coating applied via spraying. The preferable covering material for the seam is two-part polyurethane. Furthermore, the covering is preferably performed on the inner surface24aof the generally cylindrical section rather than on the outer surface24b, creating a water tight seal while leaving the stitching visible and accessible from outside the FFCV. By constructing the section with the stitching visible and accessible from the outside, inspection and maintenance of the seam are facilitated.

FIG. 4shows a seam26formed through circus-tent stitching28. A two-part covering30is included in the figure but is pealed back to reveal the stitching underneath. As can be seen, the two ends22aand22bof the flat woven fabric20are beaded and include holes for the stitching. As mentioned above, it is preferable that the stitching is visible from outside the FFCV section.

Referring toFIG. 5, there is shown an FFCV32constructed in part from segments like that shown inFIG. 3. More specifically, the FFCV shown inFIG. 5includes four such segments34,36,38and40. These segments are joined so as to form and overall generally cylindrical body for the FFCV. One way of joining the segments is to use the same stitching and covering technique used to form the individual segments, as described in connection withFIG. 3. Although, it should be noted that many alternative techniques for joining the segments will apparent to the skilled designer when viewed in light of this disclosure.

In addition, the FFCV includes a bow segment42, a stern segment44, a bow cap46and a stern cap48. The stern segment and bow segment are each formed in a manner similar to the segment ofFIG. 3, one possible exception being that the stern and bow segments are not formed from rectangular pieces of flat woven fabric, but rather, are formed from curved pieces of the fabric. When formed from curved pieces of fabric, the stern and bow segments take on a generally non-cylindrical shape. The bow and stern segments, as well as the caps, may be joined to the overall body in the same manner that the body segments are joined to each other. The non-cylindrical segment and the cap may be employed for sealing the open ends of the cylindrical segment to form a closed fluid containment vessel.

In any event, each of the segments34-44include keel-like seams, respectively denoted as34s-44s. The seams are aligned so that they form a single keel50that is continuous and one piece with the segments and that runs along the greater portion of the FFCV. The keel generally faces downward when the FFCV is placed in a body of water such that the keel is below the surface of the water. In this manner the keel provides stability when the FFCV is under tow, suppressing unwanted snaking and/or yaw.

It should be noted that, if the FFCV is not buoyant, it may be desirable to provide a foamed coating on the inside, outside, or both surfaces of the fabric or otherwise coat it in a manner set forth in the aforesaid applications to render the fabric buoyant.

In view of the closed nature of the FFCV, if it is intended to transport fresh water, as part of the covering/coating process of the inside thereof, it may provide for a coating which includes a germicide or a fungicide so as to prevent the occurrence of bacteria or mold or other contaminants.

In addition, since sunlight also has a degradation effect on fabric, the FFCV may include as part of its coating, or the fiber used to make up the fabric, a UV protecting ingredient in this regard.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein as well as all equivalents thereto.