Stationary Boom Support System

Abstract

A containment boom system for use in a liquid body includes a base support structure and a containment boom. An elongated rod has a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end. The proximal end is hingedly attached to the base support structure and extends laterally therefrom. A buoy is coupled to the containment boom and is coupled to the distal end of the elongated rod. The buoy has sufficient buoyancy so as to remain floating on the liquid body while supporting the elongated rod.

1 . A containment boom system for use in a liquid body, comprising:
 (a) a base support structure;   (b) an elongated rod, having a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end, the proximal end hingedly attached to the base support structure and extending laterally therefrom;   (c) a containment boom; and   (d) a buoy coupled to the containment boom and coupled to the distal end of the elongated rod, the buoy having sufficient buoyancy so as to remain floating on the liquid body while supporting the elongated rod.   
     
     
         2 . The containment boom system of  claim 1 , configured to be used to maintain the containment boom at a distance from a fixed location, wherein the base support structure comprises:
 (a) a support platform;   (b) a support structure, having a top, extending upwardly from the support platform; and   (c) a hinge affixed to the top of the support structure and coupled to the proximal end of the elongated rod.   
     
     
         3 . The containment boom system of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed location includes a ground surface and further comprising at least one anchoring rod driven into the ground surface so as to secure the support platform to the ground surface. 
     
     
         4 . The containment boom system of  claim 2 , wherein the distal proximal end of the elongated rod defines a opening passing therethrough and wherein the hinge comprises:
 (a) two vertical parallel plates extending upwardly from the top of the support structure, each parallel plate defining a hole passing therethrough, the two vertical parallel plates spaced apart at a distance sufficient to allow the proximal end of the elongated rod to be placed therebetween; and   (b) a pin configured to pass through the holes defined by the vertical plates and the opening defined by the proximal end of the elongated rod so as to hold the proximal end of the elongated rod in a vertically pivotal relationship with the support structure.   
     
     
         5 . The containment boom system of  claim 1 , configured to maintain the containment boom at a distance from a ferrous metal structure, wherein the base support structure comprises:
 (a) a support platform having a first side and an opposite second side;   (b) a magnet affixed to the first side of the support platform and configured to hold the support platform against the ferrous metal structure; and   (c) a hinge affixed to the support platform configured to be coupled to the proximal end of the elongated rod.   
     
     
         6 . The containment boom system of  claim 1 , configured to separate a floating liquid from a water surface and further comprising a reclamation loop disposed on a side of the containment boom so that a portion of the reclamation loop is in contact with the floating liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The containment boom system of  claim 6 , wherein the reclamation loop includes a hydrophobic material configured to adsorb the floating liquid and configured not to absorb water. 
     
     
         8 . A reclamation system for use on a body of water on which is disposed an oil spill, comprising:
 (a) at least one elongated rod, having a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end, the proximal end hingedly attached to a base support structure and extending laterally therefrom, the distal end supported by a buoy;   (b) a first containment boom having a first end secured to a first location and an second end secured to a spaced apart second location, the first containment boom laterally supported by the at least one elongated rod so that the first containment boom separates a portion of the body of water from the oil spill;   (c) a reclamation loop disposed on a selected side of the first containment boom so that a portion of the reclamation loop is in contact with the oil spill, the reclamation loop including a material that absorbs oil and that does not absorb water, the reclamation loop mounted on at least one wheel that allows lateral movement of the reclamation loop;   (d) a loop driver configured to cause the reclamation loop to move laterally in a continuous loop; and   (e) a reclamation station coupled to the reclamation loop and configured to extract oil from the reclamation loop as the loop passes therethrough, thereby reclaiming oil therefrom.   
     
     
         9 . The reclamation system of  claim 8 , further comprising a second containment boom laterally supported by the at least one elongated rod so as to be spaced apart from the first containment boom. 
     
     
         10 . The reclamation system of  claim 8 , wherein the buoy has sufficient buoyancy so as to remain floating on the water while supporting the elongated rod. 
     
     
         11 . The reclamation system of  claim 8 , configured to be used to maintain the containment boom at a distance from a fixed location, wherein the base support structure comprises:
 (a) a support platform;   (b) a support structure, having a top, extending upwardly from the support platform; and   (c) a hinge affixed to the top of the support structure and coupled to the proximal end of the elongated rod.   
     
     
         12 . The reclamation system of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed location includes a ground surface further comprising at least one anchoring rod driven into the ground surface so as to secure the support platform to the ground surface. 
     
     
         13 . The containment boom system of  claim 11 , wherein the distal proximal end of the elongated rod defines a opening passing therethrough and wherein the hinge comprises:
 (a) two vertical parallel plates extending upwardly from the top of the support structure, each parallel plate defining a hole passing therethrough, the two vertical parallel plates spaced apart at a distance sufficient to allow the proximal end of the elongated rod to be placed therebetween; and   (b) a pin configured to pass through the holes defined by the vertical plates and the opening defined by the proximal end of the elongated rod so as to hold the proximal end of the elongated rod in a vertically pivotal relationship with the support structure.   
     
     
         14 . The reclamation system of  claim 8 , configured to maintain the containment boom at a distance from a ferrous metal structure, wherein the base support structure comprises:
 (a) a support platform having a first side and an opposite second side;   (b) a magnet affixed to the first side of the support platform and configured to hold the support platform against the ferrous metal structure; and   (c) a hinge affixed to the support platform configured to be coupled to the proximal end of the elongated rod.   
     
     
         15 . A method of providing lateral support to a containment boom, comprising the steps of:
 (a) coupling the containment boom to a buoy;   (b) hingedly attaching a proximal end of an elongated rod to a base support structure;   (c) hingedly attaching a distal end of the elongated rod to the buoy; and   (d) coupling the base support structure to a predetermined location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined location comprises a ground location on a shoreline. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined location comprises a sidewall of a floating vessel and wherein the step of hingedly attaching a proximal end of an elongated rod to a base support structure comprise the step of applying a magnet to the base support structure and to the sidewall of the vessel so as to hold the base support structure to the sidewall of the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of attaching the proximal end of the elongated rod to the base comprises the steps of:
 (a) attaching a hinge to the proximal end of the rod, the hinge configured to allow vertical movement of the rod but not allow lateral movement of the rod; and   (b) attaching a portion of the hinge to the base.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the containment boom separates an oil spill from a portion of a body of water and further comprising the step of removing oil from the oil spill by:
 (a) attaching a reclamation loop to a portion of the elongated rod so that a portion of the reclamation loop is configured to move through a portion of the oil spill, wherein the reclamation loop includes a material that absorbs oil but that does not absorb water; and   (b) continuously passing the reclamation loop through a reclamation station that removes oil from the reclamation loop.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing the containment boom about an inlet; and   (b) separating the containment boom from the inlet by coupling the distal ends of a plurality of elongated rods to a corresponding plurality of buoys affixed to the containment boom and coupling the proximal ends of the plurality of elongated rods to a corresponding plurality of base support structures spaced apart and affixed to the inlet.