Floating cover

Abstract

A floating cover for covering a liquid storage comprises an inflatable bladder kept under continuous positive gas pressure. A preferred embodiment has a plurality of discrete inflatable bladder segments positioned on a common plane in abutting relation to form an inflatable bladder assembly. A gas communication conduit extends between the bladder segments for communication of positive gas pressure between the bladder segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floating cover, comprising:
 an inflatable bladder; and   an inflation assembly for keeping the inflatable bladder under continuous positive gas pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises:
 a plurality of discrete inflatable bladder segments positioned on a common plane in abutting relation to form a bladder assembly; and   a gas communication conduit extending between the bladder segments for communication of positive gas pressure between the bladder segments.   
     
     
         3 . The floating cover of  claim 2 , wherein the bladder segments are wedge-shaped and are arranged in a basic central configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The floating cover of  claim 3 , wherein the basic central configuration is a circular pie configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The floating cover of  claim 3 , wherein at least one inflatable border made from bladder segments surrounds the basic central configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The floating cover of  claim 5 , wherein the inflatable border forms a ring. 
     
     
         7 . The floating cover of  claim 2 , wherein there are connectors that connect abutting bladder segments. 
     
     
         8 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder has an upper bladder membrane, a lower bladder membrane, and straps that extend between the upper bladder membrane and the lower bladder membrane to maintain them in constant spaced relation during inflation.