Patent Abstract:
The instant application discloses, among other things, a foam-based boom to provide for a spill containment on either water or land. In one embodiment, an expanding foam, such as polyurethane, may be used form a cylindrical or other shaped boom, providing strength, flexible boom shape and size, and easy deployment. Multiple types of foams may be used together; for example, a water absorbing foam may be used in conjunction with a waterproof foam, to allow for a boom to extend both underwater and above water.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to a spill containment generation system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Oil and other chemical spills may wreak havoc on the environment, causing wildlife, fish, plants, water and soil to be contaminated, sometimes for years. Spills happen when drilling, transporting, delivering, and almost any handling of these dangerous chemicals. 
         [0003]    For oil spills, booms are often deployed to control the spread of pollution. Booms may be effective, but they may be bulky and hard to store. They may also be difficult to deploy, depending on the size of the spill and the terrain, if the spill is on land. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, nor does it identify key or critical elements of the claimed subject matter, or define its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed in a simplified form as a precursor to the more detailed description later presented. 
         [0005]    The instant application discloses, among other things, a Spill Containment Generation System. A foam-based boom may provide for spill containment on either water or land. In one embodiment, an expanding foam, such as polyurethane, may form a cylindrical or other shaped boom, providing strength, flexible boom shape and size, and easy deployment. Multiple types of foams may be used together; for example, a water absorbing foam may be used with a waterproof foam, to allow for a boom to extend both underwater and above water. 
         [0006]    Water deployment may be performed by a boat, such as a Zodiac® or other small powerboat, or other while land deployment may be made by a pickup truck, a tractor, an all-terrain vehicle, or other means. The foam may be mixed as it is sprayed, and a sprayer may form the foam into a particular shape. Different shapes may be selected for different environmental conditions or configurations. For example, a land-based spill on a flat area may benefit from a “J” shaped boom, while a cylindrical boom with a water absorbing foam attached may be more effective for an ocean spill. 
         [0007]    Many of the attendant features may be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present description may be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the appended drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an example of foam boom, according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of a boat for spraying a foam boom, according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a spray nozzle arrangement according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an end view of a water-based foam boom according to one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an end view of a water-based foam boom according to another embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to another embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to another embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a spray head, according to one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of a system suitable for Spill Containment Generation according to one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates a configuration of helicopter using a long line for spraying foam boom, according to one embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates an integrated Microprocessor Control System for controlling Spill Containment Generation, according to one embodiment. Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Different foams may be suitable for creating Spill Containment booms. In the instant application, examples use polyurethane, but other types of foam or combinations of types of foam which fill partially float on water, cure rapidly, and are sufficiently strong may also be used. 
         [0022]    A more particular description of certain embodiments of Spill Containment may be had by references to the embodiments shown in the drawings that form a part of this specification, in which like numerals represent like objects. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an example of Foam Boom  130 , according to one embodiment. In this example, Ship  110  may have spilled oil or another chemical, causing Spill  120 . Using a small boat, such as a Zodiac™, Foam Boom  130  may be spread by mixing and spraying foam while driving in a roughly spiral shape around Ship  110 . Foam Boom  130  may be sealed by manipulating the boat near a previously laid portion of Boom  130 . The number of loops made around Ship  110  may vary depending on various factors, including size of the spill, weather, and sensitivity of the ecosystem. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, Foam Boom  130  may be created by spraying foam from Ship  110 . One having skill in the art will recognize there are many ways to distribute foam to form a boom. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of a boat for spraying Foam Boom  130 , according to one embodiment. Boat  210  may be a small, stable boat, large enough to hold 55-Gallon Drums  240 ,  250  of Foam Supply  230 . Foam Supply  230  may be coupled to Spray Pump  240 , which may pump foam through Spray Nozzle  220 . Spray Nozzle  220  may be roughly one foot in diameter in one embodiment. 
         [0026]    Foam Supply  230  may include two components, contained in 55-Gallon Drums  240 ,  250 , which are mixed to produce an expandable foam boom. These components are often referred to as A and B. Water may also be mixed in when creating the expandable foam boom. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of Spray Nozzle  310  arrangement according to another embodiment. When conditions warrant a stronger boom, for example in choppy waters, a crisscrossed pattern Foam Boom  320  may be generated by configuring Spray Nozzles  310  in a pivoting manner about Pivot  330 . Spray Nozzles  310  may be roughly three inches in diameter in some embodiments. This may provide extra protection against a spill escaping an area. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is an end view of water-based Foam Boom  130  according to one embodiment. Waterproof Foam  410  may be merged with Water Absorbing Foam  420  to create Foam Boom  130 , which may self-right in water. Water Absorbing Foam  420  may absorb water into Water-Filled Pockets  440 , which may make it heavier than Waterproof Foam  410 , which may have Air-Filled Pockets  430 . Water may be absorbed post-deployment, when Foam Boom  130  is in water, or water may be added during a foam expanding process. 
         [0029]    This cross-sectional shape may be produced by using a mold on a spray nozzle, such as Spray Nozzle  220 , or Spray Nozzle  310 . A mold may be lubricated, for example by a soap-based solution, to allow a foam boom to freely flow through the nozzle. The spry nozzle may allow inputs for multiple types of foam to provide a boom with different properties in different areas. For this example, Water Absorbing Foam  420  and Waterproof Foam  410  may enter the nozzle and mold from different sources, for example two different sets of Foam Supply  250 . 
         [0030]    One having skill in the art will recognize that different ways may be used to produce various cross-sectional shapes and configurations of materials for a foam boom. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is an end view of water-based Foam Boom  130  according to another embodiment. Hollow Boom  510  may allow for water to enter in Water Channel  520 , which may allow Foam Boom  130  to partially sink, which may provide a barrier to a spill on water. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is an end view of a land-based Foam Boom  610  according to one embodiment. Foam Boom  610  may be suitable as a surface berm for dry flat areas, where a ground cover may act as a bonding surface. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, Foam Boom  1110  may be formed in the shape of a j, providing Holding Area  1120 , which may help further prevent an oil spill from spreading out in some environments. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is an end view of a Land-Based Foam Boom  710  according to another embodiment. Foam Boom  710  may be suitable as a trenched berm for robust terrain areas, where bonding to ground cover may not be effective. A trench may be dug, and a Foam Boom  710  may be sprayed, forming a Below-Surface Portion  730  in the trench, and Above-Surface Portion  720 . This may provide a better seal for spill containment than Foam Boom  610  on rough ground. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a spray head, according to one embodiment. Output Nozzle  810  may have different shapes, which may allow various cross-sectional shapes of foam booms to be sprayed. Foam components may enter the spray head through Input A  820  and Input B  830 . The foam components may then be mixed or aerated in Aeration Chamber  840 , which may allow the foam to cure. This spray head may be used, for example, to mix polyurethane foam, which may have A and B components to mix prior to curing. Foam components may enter Aeration Chamber  840  by a gravity feed or by a pump. 
         [0036]    One having skill in the art will recognize that various shapes for an output nozzle may be used, and that different types of foam may require differing numbers of inputs, heat, or other attributes during a mixing and curing process. 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of a system suitable for Spill Containment Generation according to one embodiment. For land-based spills, a tracked vehicle may be used to drive a route around the spill, generating and pumping a foam boom to the ground. Trenching System  920  may be used to dig a trench to secure the Land-Based Boom  710  when appropriate, while Land Boom  610  may be used when not trenching. Foam Components  910  may be mixed in Aeration Chamber  930  and sprayed out through Foam Output Head  940 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  illustrates a configuration of helicopter using a long line for spraying Foam Boom  130 , according to one embodiment. Helicopter  210  may be a large enough to support two 55-gallon drums  1040 ,  1050  of Foam Supply  1030 . Foam Supply  1030  may be coupled to Spray Pump  1040 , which may pump foam through Spray Nozzle  1020 . Spray Nozzle  1020  may be roughly one foot in diameter in some embodiments. 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  illustrates an integrated Microprocessor Control System  1200  for controlling Spill Containment Generation, according to one embodiment. Microprocessor Control System  1200  may include Speed Input  1210 , to receive information concerning nozzle speed relative to a spill. This may allow Microprocessor Control System  1200  to adjust the generation speed, volume, or other properties of a foam boom. Electronic outputs Foam A Valve Control  1220 , Foam B Valve Output  1230 , Lubricant Valve Output  1240 , and Water Valve Output  1250  may be adjusted automatically by Microprocessor Control System  1200 , which may adjust corresponding valves. 
         [0040]    An operator may also control the electronic Foam A Valve Output  1220 , Foam B Valve Output  1230 , Lubricant Valve Output  1240 , and Water Valve Output  1250  by using Operator Controls  1295 . 
         [0041]    Nozzle position may also be controlled automatically or manually by a control adjusting Nozzle Position Output  1260 . 
         [0042]    Emergency Off Switch  1290  may be used to stop Spill Containment Generation. 
         [0043]    While the detailed description above has been expressed in terms of specific examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations could be used. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that various equivalent modifications of the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0044]    Additionally, the illustrated operations in the description show certain events occurring in a certain order. In alternative embodiments, certain operations may be performed in a different order, modified or removed. Moreover, steps may be added to the above described logic and still conform to the described embodiments. Further, operations described herein may occur sequentially or certain operations may be processed in parallel. Yet further, operations may be performed by a single processing unit or by distributed processing units. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4