Exterior hull patch

Abstract

An exterior hull patch and method of use for covering and containing leaks due to hull damage to ships, vessels and barges that has a flexible material center surrounded by an inflatable border or perimeter. The patch is positioned over the damaged area and then drawn tightly against the hull of the vessel via cables that are routed to both sides of the vessel and under its hull and attached to the patch perimeter as well as to winches or similar devices onboard the ship. Once the patch is relatively snug against the hull, the inflatable boarder is inflated with compressed gas to increase the pressure against the hull and leak, thus sealing the leak. This prevents the vessel from sinking as well as prevents liquid cargo to be lost.

1 . A breached hull patch comprising:
 at least one triangular patch body;   an inflatable bladder attached to and forming a border around the perimeter of the triangular patch body;   an anchoring point at each apex of the triangular patch body;   a cable attached to each anchoring point at one end with a second end attached to a deck mounted cable tensioning means, and;   a means for inflating the inflatable bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The breached hull patch of  claim 1  wherein the triangular patch further comprises a chemical resistant flexible supple cloth-like material. 
     
     
         3 . The breached hull patch of  claim 2  wherein the triangular patch further comprises a laminate of materials with varying tensile properties. 
     
     
         4 . The breached hull patch of  claim 1  wherein the triangular patch further comprises a series of rigid lateral supports. 
     
     
         5 . The breached hull patch of  claim 1  wherein the cable tensioning means is at least a deck mounted winch. 
     
     
         6 . The breached hull patch of  claim 1  wherein the means for inflating the bladder is an air compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The breached hull patch of  claim 1  wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a series of inflatable independent internal chambers. 
     
     
         8 . A breached hull patch comprising:
 at least one patch body;   an inflatable toroid shaped bladder attached to and tangentially contacting the perimeter of the patch body;   anchoring points along the perimeter of the patch body;   a cable attached to each anchoring point at one end with a second end attached to a deck mounted cable tensioning means, and;   a means for inflating the inflatable bladder.   
     
     
         9 . The breached hull patch of  claim 8  wherein the patch body and inflatable bladder further comprises a chemical resistant flexible supple cloth-like material. 
     
     
         10 . The breached hull patch of  claim 8  wherein the patch body is triangular in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The breached hull patch of  claim 8  wherein the patch body further comprises a series of rigid lateral supports. 
     
     
         12 . The breached hull patch of  claim 8  wherein the cable tensioning means is at least a deck mounted winch. 
     
     
         13 . The breached hull patch of  claim 8  wherein the means for inflating the bladder is an air compressor. 
     
     
         14 . The breached hull patch of  claim 9  wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a series of inflatable independent internal chambers. 
     
     
         15 . The breached hull patch of  claim 9  wherein the toroid shaped bladder further comprises a plurality of cable anchoring points. 
     
     
         16 . A method for sealing a breached hull comprising:
 affixing cables to each attachment point of a exterior hull patch;   affixing an inflation device to the exterior hull patch;   lowering the exterior hull patch over the side of a vessel in the vicinity of the breach;   affixing a leader line to the cable nearest to the water;   maneuvering the leader line and cable under the hull of the vessel and to the side of the vessel opposite of the breach;   retrieving the leader line and the cable;   securing all cables to a cable tensioning device;   tensioning all of the cables, and;   inflating the exterior hull patch.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method of maneuvering the leader line and cable under the hull of the vessel further comprises:
 attaching the leader line and cable to an inflatable balloon contained in a remote submarine device; 
 lowering the submarine device into the water; 
 maneuvering the submarine device under the hull of the vessel to the opposite side of the vessel; 
 inflating the balloon with lighter than air gas; 
 releasing the balloon, and; 
 recovering the balloon. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method of maneuvering the leader line and cable under the hull of the vessel further comprises:
 attaching the leader line to a pole and walking the line around the bow or stern off the vessel to the opposite side of the vessel. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method of maneuvering the leader line and cable under the hull of the vessel further comprises:
 attaching the leader line to a weight, and; 
 throwing the weight around the bow of the vessel.