Fluid flow control boom

Abstract

Boom or barrier systems adapted to prevent unwanted material located in a fluid body from passing from one side of the barrier to the other side of the barrier are disclosed. Methods of operating the boom system are also disclosed. The boom system may float in a body of fluid, such as a river, to protect one portion of the fluid body from unwanted material, such as debris, while at the same time allowing fluid to flow underneath the boom to the protected portion of the fluid body. In a preferred embodiment, the boom system may include a control side having a lower air supply and an upper water supply. The lower air supply may provide a rising curtain of air along the control side of the boom. The upper water supply may provide jets of water directed tangentially to the control side near the fluid body surface. Debris that approaches the control side of the boom may be lifted towards the surface by the rising curtain of air, and as it nears the surface, swept longitudinally along the control surface by the jets of water near the boom water line.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A boom adapted to float in a fluid body, said boom comprising: 
 a control side extending in a longitudinal direction of the boom;    a first fluid supply line extending in the longitudinal direction of the boom;    a first fluid port disposed along the control side and communicating with the first fluid supply line;    a second fluid supply line extending in the longitudinal direction of the boom; and    a second fluid port spaced from the first fluid port along the control side, said second fluid port communicating with the second fluid supply line.    
     
     
         2 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid port is spaced vertically above the second fluid port.  
     
     
         3 . The boom according to  claim 2 , wherein the first fluid supply line is adapted to supply a liquid, and the second fluid supply line is adapted to supply a gas.  
     
     
         4 . The boom according to  claim 3 , further comprising a ballast member disposed in a lower portion of the boom.  
     
     
         5 . The boom according to  claim 4 , further comprising a protective outer sheathing.  
     
     
         6 . The boom according to  claim 5 , further comprising a buoyant interior member.  
     
     
         7 . The boom according to  claim 6 , further comprising at least one connector adapted to connect the boom to a second boom.  
     
     
         8 . The boom according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of first fluid ports are disposed along the control side. The boom according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of second fluid ports are disposed along the control side. The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid supply line is adapted to supply water.  
     
     
         9 . The boom according to  claim 10 , wherein the second supply line is adapted to supply air.  
     
     
         10 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein the second supply line is adapted to supply a gas.  
     
     
         11 . The boom according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ballast member disposed in a lower portion of the boom.  
     
     
         12 . The boom according to  claim 1 , further comprising a protective outer sheathing.  
     
     
         13 . The boom according to  claim 1 , further comprising a buoyant interior member.  
     
     
         14 . The boom according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connector adapted to connect the boom to a second boom.  
     
     
         15 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein said first port is oriented to encourage the flow of fluid in substantially the longitudinal direction along the control side.  
     
     
         16 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein said second port is oriented to encourage the flow of fluid in substantially the vertical direction along the control side.  
     
     
         17 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein orientation of the first port relative to the control side is adjustable.  
     
     
         18 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein orientation of the second port relative to the control side is adjustable.  
     
     
         19 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein said control side is substantially planar.  
     
     
         20 . The boom according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second control side.  
     
     
         21 . The boom according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of said boom is greater at an upper portion than at a lower portion.  
     
     
         22 . A boom system adapted to float in a fluid body, said boom system comprising: 
 a control side extending in a longitudinal direction of the boom system;    a first fluid supply line extending in the longitudinal direction of the boom system;    a plurality of fluid ports disposed along the control side and communicating with the first fluid supply line;    a second fluid supply line extending in the longitudinal direction of the boom system;    a plurality of second fluid ports spaced vertically below the plurality of first fluid ports along the control side, said second fluid ports communicating with the second fluid supply line;    protective outer sheathing defining individual booms in the boom system;    means for connecting individual booms together in the boom system; and    flexible sheathing disposed at gaps between individual booms in the boom system.    
     
     
         23 . The boom system of  claim 24 , further comprising an upper deck adapted to accommodate the travel of a person.  
     
     
         24 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein the first fluid supply line is adapted to supply a liquid, and the second fluid supply line is adapted to supply a gas.  
     
     
         25 . The boom according to  claim 24 , further comprising a ballast member disposed in a lower portion of the boom.  
     
     
         26 . The boom according to  claim 24 , further comprising a buoyant interior member.  
     
     
         27 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of first ports are oriented to encourage the flow of fluid in substantially the longitudinal direction along the control side.  
     
     
         28 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of second ports are oriented to encourage the flow of fluid in substantially the vertical direction along the control side.  
     
     
         29 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein orientation of at least one of the plurality of the first ports is adjustable relative to the control side.  
     
     
         30 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein orientation of at least one of the plurality of the second ports is adjustable relative to the control side.  
     
     
         31 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein said control side is substantially planar.  
     
     
         32 . The boom according to  claim 24 , further comprising a second control side.  
     
     
         33 . The boom according to  claim 24 , wherein the width of said boom is greater at an upper portion than at a lower portion.  
     
     
         34 . A method of deterring the flow of material past the control side of a boom system disposed in a fluid body, said method comprising the steps of: 
 supplying gas along a lower portion of said control side; and    supplying liquid along an upper portion of said control side,    wherein the gas supply encourages the rise of the material in the fluid body and the liquid supply encourages the movement of the material in the fluid body in a direction substantially tangential to the control side.