IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0832739
(2001-04-11)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Eagles, Dana
- Toney, Crayton Gregory
- Tupil, Srinath
- Lawton, Donald Tripp
- Donovan, James G.
- Dutt, William
- Romanski, Eric
- Rydin, Bjorn
- Rexfelt, Jan
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Albany International Corp.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
12 인용 특허 :
52 |
초록
A seamless, woven, flexible fluid containment vessel or vessels for transporting and containing a large volume of fluid, particularly fresh water, having beam stabilizers, beam separators, reinforcing, and the method of making the same.
대표청구항
▼
1. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure
1. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being integral with said tubular structure and subject to pressurization and depressurization by selective inflation and deflation with a pressurized gas or liquid independent of a pressure of the vessel. 2. The vessel in accordance with claim 1 which includes a plurality of longitudinal stiffening beams.3. The vessel in accordance with claim 2 which includes at least two longitudinal stiffening beams positioned equidistant from each other on the tubular structure.4. The vessel in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a third longitudinal stiffening beam positioned intermediate to said at least two longitudinal stiffening beams, with said third beam being so positioned as to provide ballast when filled, and wherein said longitudinal stiffening beams are fillable.5. The vessel in accordance with claim 2 wherein said stiffening beams are continuous.6. The vessel in accordance with claim 2 wherein said stiffening beams are made in sections.7. The vessel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for sealing an end of the tubular structure comprises an end cap made of rigid material secured to a perimeter of the tubular structure defining its circumference so as to evenly distribute forces thereon.8. The vessel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tubular structure is woven with fiber reinforcements with the weave used taken from the group consisting essentially of: plain weave (1×1); basket weaves including 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 5×1, 6×1; twill weaves including 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 5×1, 6×1; and satin weaves including 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 5×1 and 6×1.9. The vessel in accordance with claim 8 wherein the fiber reinforcements are made of a material taken from the group consisting essentially of: nylon, polyesters, polyaramids, polyolefins and polybenzoxazole.10. The vessel in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for rendering said tubular structure impervious includes a coating material on the fabric on one or both sides thereof.11. The vessel in accordance with claim 10 wherein said coating material is taken from the group consisting essentially of: polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, systhetic and natural rubbers, polyureas, polyoefins, silicone polymers, acrylic polymers or foam derivatives thereof.12. The vessel in accordance with claim 9 wherein the means for rendering the tubular structure impervious weaving the tubular structure with at least two materials, one being a reinforcing fiber, the other being a low melting fiber or low melting component of the fiber reinforcement such that a processing thereof causes the low melting fiber or component to fill a void in the fabric.13. The vessel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tubular structure is woven with fiber reinforcements which are made of a material taken from the group consisting essentially of: nylon, polyesters, polyaramids, polyolefins and polybenzoxazole.14. The vessel in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for rendering said tubular structure impervious includes a coating material on the fabric on one or both sides thereof.15. The vessel in accordance with claim 14 wherein said coating material is taken from the group consisting essentially of: polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, synthetic and natural rubbers, polyureas, polyolefins, silicone polymers, acrylic polymers or foam derivatives thereof.16. The vessel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for rendering the tubular structure impervious includes weaving the tubular structure with at least two materials, one being a reinforcing fiber, the other being a low melting fiber or low melting component of the reinforcing fiber such that a processing thereof causes the low melting fiber or component to fill the void in the fabric.17. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being integral with said tubular structure and subject to pressurization and depressurization and which includes at least one flexible circumferential stiffening beam positioned about a circumference of the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith and being subject to pressurization and depressurization. 18. The vessel in accordance with claim 17 which includes plurality of said circumferential stiffening beams.19. The vessel in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one flexible circumferential stiffening beam is continuous.20. The vessel in accordance with claim 17 said at least one flexible circumferential stiffening beam is in sections.21. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being integral with said tubular structure and subject to pressurization and depressurization and wherein said front end and said rear end are collapsed upon themselves into a flatten, folded structure, sealed and secured mechanically. 22. The vessel in accordance with claim 21 which includes providing a pin seam at an end so as to allow the coupling of a tow bar or another vessel thereto.23. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being integral with said tubular structure and subject to pressurization and depressurization and wherein said front end and said rear end are collasped, folded and sealed such that the width of the collapsed and folded front end and rear end are approximately that of the diameter of the tubular structure. 24. The vessel in accordance with claim 23 which includes a rigid tongue member which is contoured to match the end of the tubular structure and to which the end of the tubular structure is sealed.25. The vessel in accordance with claim 24 wherein the means for emptying and filling the cargo is located on the tongue member.26. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being integral with said tubular structure and subject to pressurization and depressurization and wherein the tubular structure is pod shaped having at least one end which is collapsed and sealed and includes a vertical flexible stiffening beam at the one end, which is subject to pressurization and depressurization. 27. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being integral with said tubular structure and subject to pressurization and depressurization and which includes at least two vessels positioned in a side by side relationship, a plurality of beam separators positioned between and coupled to said two vessels, said plurality of beam separators being made of flexible material and subject to pressurization and depressurization. 28. The vessel in accordance with claim 27 wherein said beam separators are made of a woven material.29. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and means for reinforcing the tubular structure by weaving in integrally as part of the fabric thereof reinforcement elements at predetermined intervals along a longitudinal length of the tubular structure; and wherein said reinforcing means further comprises reinforcing elements that are woven in integrally as part of the fabric at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the tubular structure. 30. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein the reinforcing element is taken from the group consisting essentially of: yarns of larger size than yarns that make up the majority of the tubular structure, yarns of higher specific strength than yarns that make up the majority of the tubular structure, rope and braid.31. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein the reinforcing element along a longitudinal length and along a circumference of the tubular structure is taken from the group consisting essentially of: yarns of larger size than yarns that make up the majority of the tubular structure, yarns of higher specific strength than yarns that make up the majority of the tubular structure, rope and braid.32. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein the means for sealing an end of the tubular structure comprises an end cap made of rigid material secured to a perimeter of the tubular structure deafening its circumference so as to evenly distribute forces thereon.33. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein the tubular structure is woven with fiber reinforcements with the weave used taken from the group consisting essentially of: plain weave (1×1); basket weaves including 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 5×1, 6×1; twill weaves including 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 5×1, 6×1; and satin weaves including 2×1, 3×1, 4×1, 5×1 and 6×1.34. The vessel in accordance with claim 33 wherein the fiber reinforcements are made of a material taken from the group consisting essentially of: nylon, polyesters, polyaramids, polyolefins and polybenzoxazole.35. The vessel in accordance with claim 34 wherein said means for rendering said tubular structure impervious includes a coating material on the fabric on one or both sides thereof.36. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein the tubular structure is woven with fiber reinforcements which are made of a material taken from the group consisting essentially of: nylon, polyesters, polyaramids, polyolefins and polybenzoxazole.37. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein said means for rendering said tubular structure impervious includes a coating material on the fabric on one or both sides thereof.38. The vessel in accordance with claim 37 wherein said coating material is taken from the group consisting essentially of: polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, synthetic and natural rubbers, polyureas, polyolefins, silicone polymers, acrylic polymers or foam derivatives thereof.39. The vessel in accordance with claim 29 wherein the means for rendering the tubular structure impervious includes weaving the tubular structure with at least two materials, one being a reinforcing fiber, the other being a low melting fiber or low melting component of the reinforcing fiber such that a processing thereof causes the low melting fiber or component to fill the void in the fabric.40. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and means for reinforcing the tubular structure by weaving in integrally as part of the fabric thereof reinforcement elements at predetermined intervals along a longitudinal length of the tubular structure; and wherein said front end and said rear end are collapsed upon themselves into a flatten, folded structure, it sealed and secured mechanically. 41. The vessel in accordance with claim 40 which includes providing a pin seam at an end so as to allow the coupling of a tow bar or another vessel thereto.42. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and means for reinforcing the tubular structure by weaving in integrally as part of the fabric thereof reinforcement elements at predetermined intervals along a longitudinal length of the tubular structure; and wherein said front end and rear end are collapsed, folded and sealed such that the width of the collapsed and folded front end and rear end are approximately that of the diameter of the tubular structure. 43. The vessel in accordance with claim 42 which includes a rigid tongue member which is contoured to match the end of the tubular structure and to which the end of the tubular structure is sealed.44. The vessel in accordance with claim 43 wherein the means for emptying and filling the cargo is located on the tongue member.45. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and means for reinforcing the tubular structure by weaving in integrally as part of the fabric thereof reinforcement elements at predetermined intervals along a longitudinal length of the tubular structure; and wherein the tubular structure is pod shaped having at least one end which is collapsed and sealed and includes a vertical flexible stiffening beam at the one end, which is subject to pressurization and depressurization. 46. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and wherein the means for sealing the from end includes collapsing, folding, and sealing the front end of the tubular structure in such a manner so as to create a bow like structure at the front end which is perpendicular to the surface of the water in which the vessel floats. 47. The vessel in accordance with claim 46 wherein said means for sealing said front end further includes securing said front end mechanically.48. The vessel in accordance with claim 46 wherein said means for sealing said rear end includes collapsing, folding, and sealing the rear end of the tubular structure.49. The vessel in accordance with claim 48 wherein said means for sealing said rear end further includes securing said rear end mechanically.50. The vessel in accordance with claim 48 wherein the rear end is in a plane and the front end is in a plane which is orthogonal to the rear plane.51. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:at least two elongated flexible tubular structures of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structures impervious to water and other fluids having a density less than that of salt water; said tubular structures having a respective front end and a rear end; means for sealing said respective front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; means for connecting said tubular structures together in a series comprising a woven flat fabric woven seamless with said tubular structures and positioned there between, and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along the length of said tubular structures and subject to pressurization and depressurization by selective inflation and deflation with a pressurized gas or liquid. 52. The vessel in accordance with claim 51 wherein said means for filling and emptying comprises a tube woven seamless with said tubular structures allowing fluid communication therebetween.53. The vessel in accordance with claim 52 wherein said means for filling and emptying further comprises a tube woven seamless to a respective front end of one of the tubular structures and a respective rear end of the other of the tubular structures.54. The vessel in accordance with claim 51 wherein the tubular structures are pod shaped.55. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and at least one flexible longitudinal stiffening beam positioned along a length of said tubular structure for dampening undesired oscillation of said tubular structure, said stiffening beam being maintained within a sleeve woven seamless with said tubular structure along a length thereof to reduce drag, and subject to pressurization and depressurization by selective inflation and deflation with a pressurized gas or liquid. 56. The vessel in accordance with claim 55 which includes a plurality of longitudinal stiffening beams and a plurality of sleeves.57. The vessel in accordance with claim 56 which includes at least two longitudinal stiffening beams positioned equidistant from each other on the tubular structure which are maintained in respective sleeves.58. The vessel in accordance with claim 56 wherein said stiffening beams are continuous and said sleeves are continuous.59. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and a plurality of longitudinal pockets integrally formed with said fabric containing respective longitudinal reinforcing elements positioned along a length of said tubular structure for reinforcing said fabric and receiving a longitudinal force thereon; and wherein said fabric includes a plurality of circumferential pockets having respective circumferential reinforcing elements therein positioned about a circumference of the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith. 60. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven seamless fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and a plurality of longitudinal pockets integrally formed with said fabric containing respective longitudinal reinforcing elements positioned along a length of said tubular structure for reinforcing said fabric and receiving a longitudinal force thereon; wherein said fabric is continuous and seamless; and wherein said fabric includes a plurality of circumferential pockets having respective circumferential reinforcing elements therein positioned about a circumference of the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith. 61. A flexible fluid containment vessel for the transportation and/or containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said vessel comprising:an elongated flexible tubular structure of woven fabric; means for rendering said tubular structure impervious; said tubular structure having a front end and a rear end; means for sealing said front end and said rear end; means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; a plurality of longitudinal pockets integrally formed with said fabric containing respective longitudinal reinforcing elements positioned along a length of said tubular structure for reinforcing said fabric and receiving a longitudinal force thereon; wherein said fabric is made in sections and joined together; and wherein said fabric includes a plurality of circumferential pockets having respective circumferential reinforcing elements therein positioned about a circumference of the tubular structure.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.