Device for capturing and conducting away liquids and/or gases escaping from a bed of a body of water

Abstract

Capturing and conducting away fluids or gases escaping from a bed of water. Modules of identical design forming a hose system. Each module has a hose wall made of a flexible woven fabric. A flange is arranged at the open ends of each module surrounding the opening. Each module has stabilizing rings around the periphery, arranged in the longitudinal direction of the module at a distance (a) from each other, which is smaller than the diameter (D) of the module. A pressure equalization opening is formed in each module forming a hose section, each module has connectors for fastening buoyant/ballast bodies and the individual modules are joined, forming a hose system such that connectors for fastening buoyant/ballast bodies are located where two modules meet. At least one pressure equalization opening is located at the lower, open end of the hose system facing the bed of the body of water.

1 . A device for collecting and conducting away fluids or gases ( 13 ) escaping from a seabed, comprising a plurality of identically constructed modules ( 1 ) forming a hose section that can be assembled into a hose system, wherein
 each module ( 1 ) comprises a hose wall ( 2 ) made of a flexible fabric,   a flange ( 3 ,  4 ) surrounding the opening is arranged at each of the two open end faces of the module ( 1 ),   the module ( 1 ) comprises stabilization rings ( 6 ) disposed around the periphery of the hose wall ( 2 ) and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the module ( 1 ) with a mutual spacing (a) that is smaller than the diameter (D) of the module ( 1 ),   at least one pressure equalization opening ( 7 ) is formed in the module ( 1 ) forming a hose section,   the module ( 1 ) comprises connectors ( 8 ) for attaching buoyant and ballast bodies ( 9 ), respectively, and   
       wherein the individual modules ( 1 ) are interconnected into a hose system in such a way that connectors ( 8 ) for attaching buoyant and ballast bodies ( 9 ) are disposed at least in a region of a respective joint between two modules ( 1 ) as well as at the ends of the hose system, and at least one pressure equalization opening ( 7 ) is disposed at a lower end of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ). 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hose wall ( 2 ) is composed of a composite fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein retaining tabs are disposed on the hose wall ( 2 ) of a module ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the modules include end-side openings and wherein the connectors ( 8 ) for fastening buoyant and ballast bodies ( 9 ) are arranged on the flanges ( 3 ,  4 ) surrounding the end-side openings of a module ( 1 ) forming hose section. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure equalization openings ( 7 ) are is formed as check valves. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure equalization opening ( 7 ) comprises several pressure equalization openings ( 7 ) that are distributed along a periphery of the lower hose section formed on the lower open end of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hose wall ( 2 ) of the lower, last module ( 1 ) of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ) is in the region of the lower opening of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ) formed of a resilient material which surrounds this opening with an annular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a spacer elements ( 11 ) pointing towards the seabed ( 10 ) are arranged at the lower open end of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ), wherein the spacer elements ( 11 ) prevent the lower open end of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ) from resting on the seabed ( 10 ) and keep the lower open end of the hose system facing the seabed ( 10 ) at a pre-selectable distance from the seabed ( 10 ).