Patent Application
20120027520
This invention is related to reinforced devices for controlling fluid flow and, more particularly, to portable dikes for damming and diverting liquids.
Removable liquid blocking devices for use on surfaces, such as building floors, are well-known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,031,676; 4,981,391 and 5,059,065. However, with the advent of strict environmental regulations, there is an increasing need for readily accessible damming devices which can be placed on a spill surface for immediate control of hazardous liquids. Furthermore, it is desired that the devices be readily adaptable to enclose areas of varying shapes and sizes, with minimal effort and expense.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,676 discloses a rubber water blocking device having a bottom surface with a plurality of recessed disc portions which define suction cups. The bottom is engaged on smooth surfaces to form a semi-permanent dam structure. The device may be provided in straight sections and curved sections, with the sections interlocked by a tongue and groove arrangement. This device appears unduly expensive to manufacture as any mold which forms the device would have to provide several suction cups on the bottom surface. The device also suffers from reduced adaptability because it is provided in sections of predetermined length which are not easily adapted on site to conform to various sized spill areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,391 discloses an inflatable, portable dam apparatus having a tubular structure and a bottom sheet of flexible material. Inflation of the dam is unduly time consuming, especially in cases where immediate, on-site liquid control is the desired object.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,065 discloses a fluid-filled damming structure having a coupling sleeve arrangement for interconnecting and receiving adjacent ends of the damming structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,722 discloses a permeable, laminated web impregnated with a urethane prepolymer to stop water leaks in small holes or crevices. The prepolymer reacts with water to form a swollen, adherent hydrogel. However, the web does not have substantial thickness, so it cannot be placed on a level spill surface for controlling or containing liquids. A permeable filler material, such as wood chips, may be placed inside the web, but this is impractical for on-site spill control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,281 discloses a non-permeable urethane dike, preferably triangular in shape. The dike forms an effective seal but tends to heavy and prone to UV degradation. Reducing the mass of the dike has a negative effect on adhesion since weight is required to form the seal. Increasing the tackiness, in order to reduce the weight, results in tearing during removal.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for damming and diverting liquids on spill surfaces, such as building floors, that is lighter weight, conformable and tear resistant. It is a further object to provide a pliable device which may be easily conformed and tailored to meet a variety of damming configurations. It is a still further object to provide a device which is readily adherent to the spill surface. Finally, it is an object to provide a device which comports with the above objectives, but which may be quickly employed on site for emergency spill control, and further which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.
The invention is a device for damming and diverting liquids on a spill surface having an elongated, pliable dike with a first end, a second end, and a tacky exposed surface. Variations in construction provide for improved tear resistance, UV resistance and chemical compatibility. The exposed surface adheres to a spill surface to prevent flow of liquid past the dike and is preferably smooth.
The device also includes methods for joining the end of one device to another device to increase the effective length of the dike. These methods include various geometric shapes that increase the effective length of the joint area. Each end of the dike may have a tacky abutment surface, so that when adjacent ends of successive dikes are engaged, they will adhere to one another to form a joint. A joint housing whose internal dimensions conform to the external dimensions of the dike may be used to overlap the joint to help seal the joint. The ends of the dike may also comprise interlocking configurations, such as dovetails or male/female connections.
The invention also includes a method for creating a liquid control zone on a spill surface, utilizing the dike described above. The method may include severing a portion of the dike to form specific liquid control areas.
The invention may be utilized both to contain liquid and to divert liquid flow. The dike is readily pliable to conform to various damming configurations. Portions of the dike may be severed on site by the user, without special tools, to tailor the dike for specific damming needs. All exposed surfaces on the dike can be inherently tacky. However, some variations may have a durable covering on one or more surface.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood following a review of this specification and drawings.
As shown in
As used herein, the term “low-density bonding layer” means a deep pile or lofty material having at least one surface comprising entanglement fibers that extend from the layer to provide additional surface area and attachment sites for the protective layer 16 and/or pliable, tacky sealing body 12. The low-density bonding layer 14 has a density that is typically less than 0.26 ounces per cubic inch, preferably from 0.02 to 0.1 ounces per cubic inch. The low-density bonding layer 14 has a typical thickness of at least 0.01 inch, for example, from 0.02 to 0.25 inch. In one embodiment, the thickness is from 0.04 to 0.06 inch. The low-density bonding layer 14 typically has a weight per area of less than 20 ounces per square yard, for example, from 1 to 10 ounces per square yard. The low-density bonding layer 14 provides secure and permanent attachment between the protective layers 16 and the pliable, tacky sealing body 12.
The protective layer 16 is liquid impermeable and is made of a flexible and durable material. The protective layer 16 can have a tensile strength at least 25 percent higher than the tensile strength of the pliable, tacky body 12. The protective layer 16 can comprise any suitable material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, EPDM rubber, nitrile rubber or plastics such as thermoplastic olefin, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene and the like. In one embodiment, protective layer 16 may be a composite material. Examples of composite materials include rubber laminated to plastic film, plastic film laminated to mesh, rubber laminated to mesh and combinations thereof. The thickness of protective layer 16 typically ranges from 0.002 to 0.25 inch.
Metal reinforcement 18 can be used to provide structural support to the extended vertical sections of the durable cover. The metal reinforcement 18 in the preferred embodiment is flattened expanded metal. Other options beyond expanded metal include perforated metal, wire screen and wire cloth. Expanded metal is typically less expensive than perforated metal, and the associated alloys tend to more malleable. Wire screen and cloth tend to have an undulating surface due to the associated weaving and can require a thicker plastic to cover and fuse into the open areas. The undulating surface of standard expanded metal is what leads to the preference toward the flattened version.
The reinforced dikes are made from polyurethane or other flexible materials such as polyvinyl chloride. Particularly, a mixture of various polymers are poured into a mold and allowed to cure. The liquid is mixed and cured in a manner which gives a moderate degree of inherent tackiness. The molding and curing process creates a substantially smooth bottom surface, which may contain minor undulations. As mentioned above, the polyurethane dike is soft, yet resilient, and thus may be easily severed by a user with a knife. Surfaces on the dike which are exposed when a portion of the dike is severed are also inherently tacky.
In use, the dikes can be shipped and stored in coiled, five-foot or ten-foot sections either wrapped in plastic film or packed in a wax-lined box. The coils are separated by either the plastic film or cardboard sheets to preserve the tackiness.
Further advantages are derived from use of the reinforced dike to dam or divert liquids as follows.
The reinforced dike enables high-adhesion formulations of the pliable, tacky body. Without durable covering, the pliable, tacky body is limited in adhesion. If the adhesion is too strong, a dike that is not reinforced can tear during removal. The methods shown in the various figures allow for increased tensile and tear strength of the dike. In addition, the durable coverings shown also provide puncture and tear resistance. Since the adhesion level can now be increased, the mass of the reinforced can be reduced. Excessive weight is no longer needed to help form the seal.
The durable covering shown in
Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/297,906 filed Jan. 25, 2010, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61297906 | Jan 2010 | US |
