Apparatus for retrieving oil-containment booms

Abstract

A pair of elongated arms is pivotally mounted on a gunwale of a flotation vessel and is designed to retrieve and deploy an oil containment boom for inspection or repairs. Each arm is independently connected to an electrical winch assembly mounted on the flotation vessel. A remote control operates lowering and raising of the arms when retrieving and deploying the boom.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for retrieving and deploying an oil containment boom system from aboard a flotation vessel having a gunwale, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one elongated arm pivotally mounted on the gunwale of the flotation vessel, said at least one arm being configured to move between an elevated position above surface of a body of water and a plurality of lowered positions below the surface of the body of water;   a means operationally coupled to the at least one arm for applying pivotal force to the at least one arm; and   a control means for controlling movement of the at least one arm between the elevated and the lowered positions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of parallel arms, each separately mounted and operated by the control means. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said at least one arm having a generally L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said at least one arm comprising a first elongated arm member having a proximate end and a distant end and a second arm member extending transversely to the distant end of the first arm member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , said second arm member being provided with a sloping upper surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , means for applying pivotal force comprising a winch assembly having a pre-determined length of cable wound thereon, one end of the cable being connected to the proximate end of the at least one arm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the means for applying the pivotal force further comprises an electric motor operationally connected to the winch assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for mounting the at least one arm on the gunwale of the flotation vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for mounting the at least one arm comprises a bracket secured to the gunwale of the flotation vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for applying the pivotal force is mounted on the flotation vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control means is configured for remotely controlling operation of the means for applying the pivotal force. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm carries a cleat. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the cleat extends upwardly from the at least one arm. 
     
     
         14 . A method of retrieving an oil containment boom system from aboard a flotation vessel having a gunwale, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one elongated arm pivotally mounted on the gunwale of the flotation vessel, said at least one elongated arm having a proximate end and a distant end;   providing a means operationally coupled to the at least one elongated arm for independently applying pivotal force to the at least one elongated arm;   providing a control means for controlling movement of the at least one elongated arm;   extending the at least one elongated arm over a side of the flotation vessel;   activating the means for applying the pivotal force and causing the distant end of the at least one elongated arm to lower to a position below the oil containment boom;   pivotally moving the at least one elongated arm such that the oil containment boom is lifted above a surface of a body of water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising a step of providing a pair of elongated arms and securing the elongated arms in a substantially parallel relationship on the gunwale of the flotation vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the elongated arms is provided with an independent means for applying pivotal force. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control means is configured for separate independent control of each of the pair of arms. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , said at least one arm having a generally L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , said at least one arm comprising a first elongated arm member having a proximate end and a distant end and a second arm member extending transversely to the distant end of the first arm member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , said second arm member is provided with a sloping upper surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , means for applying pivotal force comprising a winch assembly having a pre-determined length of cable wound thereon, one end of the cable being connected to the proximate end of the at least one arm. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the means for applying the pivotal force further comprises an electric motor operationally connected to the winch assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a means for mounting the at least one arm on the gunwale of the flotation vessel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the means for mounting the at least one arm comprises a bracket secured to the gunwale of the flotation vessel. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one arm carries a cleat extending upwardly from the at least one arm.