System and apparatus for rapidly installed breakwater

Abstract

A rapidly deployable breakwater is disclosed having a primary barrier containing liquid under pressure, and one or more overtopping barriers. The primary barrier floats at, and extends substantially below, the surface of the water, while the overtopping barriers are positioned on the primary barrier and extend substantially above the surface of the water, the combination being adapted to attenuate wave action in open water. The liquid in the primary barrier is pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding water, and such pressure may be maintained or varied during the period of deployment of the breakwater.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A breakwater structure to be moored in open water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising an elongated primary barrier formed of a flexible material and having an enclosed interior cavity, said barrier being adapted to float in open water and to contain a liquid within said cavity pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water, wherein the pressurized liquid provides the barrier with enhanced stiffness and resistance to deformation by wave action.  
     
     
         2 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the liquid is water introduced from the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         3 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the liquid is fresh water.  
     
     
         4 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  additionally including a pump, mounted on the breakwater, adapted to maintain a desired pressure within said primary barrier at a substantially constant level.  
     
     
         5 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  additionally including at least one vapor release device attached to said primary barrier.  
     
     
         6 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  additionally including at least one sealable opening adapted to form a watertight connection with a pump nozzle.  
     
     
         7 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the liquid in said primary barrier is pressurized to a level adequate to resist wrinkle formation in the material of said primary barrier when under the influence of wave action.  
     
     
         8 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the primary barrier has a diameter of at least about 2 feet and the liquid in the primary barrier is pressurized to a level at least about 10 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         9 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the primary barrier has a diameter of at least about 4 feet and the liquid in the primary barrier is pressurized to a level at least about 3 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         10 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the primary barrier has a diameter of at least about 6 feet and the liquid in the primary barrier is pressurized to a level at least about 1 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         11 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein the primary barrier has a diameter of at least about 12 feet and the liquid in the primary barrier is pressurized to a level at least about 0.5 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         12 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  further comprising a tubular jacket adapted to surround said primary barrier.  
     
     
         13 . The breakwater structure of  claim 12  wherein said tubular jacket comprises a plurality of longitudinal straps and a plurality of circumferential straps.  
     
     
         14 . The breakwater structure of  claim 13  wherein said longitudinal and circumferential straps are made from high strength textile fiber.  
     
     
         15 . The breakwater structure of  claim 12  wherein said tubular jacket comprises a plurality of helically wound straps.  
     
     
         16 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tubular overtopping barrier attached to said primary barrier.  
     
     
         17 . The breakwater structure of  claim 16  wherein said at least one overtopping barriers are two in number, and said overtopping barriers are parallel to each other and spaced sufficiently apart to provide a walkway.  
     
     
         18 . The breakwater structure of  claim 16  wherein said at least one overtopping barrier is formed of a flexible tubular element, adapted to be expanded from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition.  
     
     
         19 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  further comprising a flotation element attached to said primary barrier.  
     
     
         20 . The breakwater structure of  claim 19  wherein said flotation element is formed of closed cell foam.  
     
     
         21 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  further comprising at least one inflatable pressurization tube located within the primary barrier.  
     
     
         22 . The breakwater structure of  claim 1  wherein said primary barrier is made of coated textile fabric.  
     
     
         23 . A breakwater structure to be moored in open water at a selected location to attenuate wave action for a desired period of time, comprising 
 an elongated primary barrier formed of a flexible material and adapted to float in open water and to contain a liquid pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water; and    at least one overtopping barrier connected to an upper portion of said primary barrier at or near the waterline, said overtopping barrier being configured to attenuate waves which would otherwise crest over the primary barrier.    
     
     
         24 . The breakwater structure of  claim 23  wherein said overtopping barrier is filled with buoyant material.  
     
     
         25 . The breakwater structure of  claim 24  wherein said buoyant material is air.  
     
     
         26 . The breakwater structure of  claim 24  wherein said buoyant material is closed cell foam.  
     
     
         27 . A method of attenuating wave action in a body of open water comprising the steps of: 
 placing in the open water a primary barrier made of flexible material and adapted to contain a liquid;    introducing liquid into the primary barrier;    pressurizing the liquid within the primary barrier to a level substantially greater than that of the surrounding open water;    maintaining the pressure within the primary barrier; and    mooring the primary barrier at a selected location and orientation in a body of open water to attenuate wave action in a predetermined area.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of automatically maintaining the pressure within the primary barrier at a substantially constant level.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the diameter of the primary barrier is at least about 2 feet and the level of pressure within the primary barrier is raised to at least about 10 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the diameter of the primary barrier is at least about 4 feet and the level of pressure within the primary barrier is raised to at least about 3 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the diameter of the primary barrier is at least about 6 feet and the level of pressure within the primary barrier is raised to at least about 1 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the diameter of the primary barrier is at least about 12 feet and the level of pressure within the primary barrier is raised to at least about 0.5 psi greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  including the further step of providing and attaching to the primary barrier at least one overtop ping barrier.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27  including the further step of providing and attaching to the primary barrier a flotation element.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  including the further step of mooring the breakwater by at least two points along the length of the primary barrier.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27  including the further step of varying the level of pressurization of the liquid in the primary barrier to accommodate a variation in sea state.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27  including the further step of retrieving the primary barrier when the wave action no longer requires attenuation.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said retrieving step includes the steps of: 
 draining the liquid from the primary barrier; and  
 reeling the primary barrier onto a reel.  
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said retrieving step includes the steps of: 
 draining the liquid from the primary barrier; and  
 folding the primary barrier.  
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the liquid introduced into the primary barrier is water from the body of open water.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the liquid introduced into the primary barrier is fresh water.  
     
     
         42 . A method of attenuating wave action in a body of open water comprising the steps of: 
 placing in the open water a primary barrier adapted to contain a liquid;    introducing liquid into the primary barrier;    towing the tubular primary barrier to a desired location;    pressurizing the liquid within the primary barrier to a level substantially greater than that of the surrounding open water;    maintaining the pressure within the primary barrier; and    mooring the primary barrier at a desired location and orientation in the body of open water.    
     
     
         43 . A breakwater system for attenuating wave action having a prevailing direction in open water, comprising an elongated primary barrier formed of a flexible material and having an enclosed interior cavity, said barrier containing a liquid within said cavity wherein the liquid is pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water to provide enhanced stiffness and resistance to deformation due to wave action and wherein the primary barrier is moored at a desired location in the open water and at a selected orientation relative to the prevailing direction of the wave action.  
     
     
         44 . The breakwater system of  claim 43  wherein said primary barrier is placed at right angles to the prevailing wave direction.  
     
     
         45 . The breakwater system of  claim 43  wherein said primary barrier is placed at an oblique angle to the prevailing wave direction.  
     
     
         46 . A breakwater system for attenuating wave action having a prevailing direction in open water, comprising a plurality of primary barriers, each having an enclosed interior cavity, formed of a flexible material and containing a liquid within said cavity, wherein the liquid is pressurized to a level substantially greater than the pressure of the surrounding open water and wherein the primary barriers are moored at a desired location so as to be adjacent to one another.