Oil-boom repair and reconfiguration system and method

Abstract

A system and method for repairing and reconfiguring an oil containment boom, using end connectors and attached curtain members in various arrangements to form outer booms, inner booms, extending booms, and transverse booms for added safety and protection and for an enhanced ability to contain, collect, and recover spilled oil contaminates.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for repairing and reconfiguring an oil containment boom, the apparatus comprising:
 (i) at least one end connector having an elongated rigid planar body having a pair of planar portions oriented at an acute angle in relation to each other, one of the planar portions of the first end connector being provided with a T-shaped slot having a first part extending from the bottom edge of the body and a second part extending transversely to the first part, the second part being formed a distance below an upper edge of the body, where each said end connector is configured to engage the oil containment boom when lowered onto the oil containment boom; and   (ii) at least one liquid-impermeable curtain member extending from and engageable with at least one said end connector, the curtain member having sufficient longitudinal and vertical dimensions to function as an extension of the oil containment boom when engaged with the boom.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising two said end connectors, both attached to an end of one said curtain member of sufficient length to form an outer boom, each said end connector being engaged with the oil containment boom such that the oil containment boom can be safely uncoupled to form a temporary opening in a location encompassed by said curtain member forming an outer boom. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising two said end connectors, each engaged with different oil containment booms running generally parallel each to the other, each said end connector attached to an end of a different said curtain member of sufficient length to form an outer boom extending a major portion of the distance between the generally parallel oil containment booms, where said curtain members form booms running generally parallel and in close proximity each to the other, forming a gate between the oil containment booms. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising two said end connectors, both attached to an end of one of said curtain member of sufficient length to form an inner boom, each said end connector being engaged with the oil containment boom such that the portion of the oil containment boom enclosing a concentration of wind and current driven oil can be segregated by said curtain member forming an inner boom. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where at least one said end connector attached to an end of a said curtain member is engaged with an oil containment boom such that said curtain member forms an extension boom extending generally perpendicular to the oil containment boom. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one said end connector attached to an end of a said curtain member, leaving the other end of said curtain member free, such that said curtain member forms a boom extending generally perpendicular to the oil containment boom across less than the full width of a channel of flowing water, thereby functioning as a cascade. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one end connector engaged with one oil containment boom anchored across a channel of flowing water such that said oil containment boom is formed into a chevron shape that deflects and concentrates oil contaminates. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one end connector engaged with one oil containment boom anchored across a channel of flowing water, said end connector being anchored in place, such that said oil containment boom is formed into a chevron shape that deflects and concentrates oil contaminates. 
     
     
         9 . A method for repairing and reconfiguring an oil containment boom, the method comprising:
 (i) providing at least one end connector having an elongated rigid planar body having a pair of planar portions oriented at an acute angle in relation to each other, one of the planar portions of the first end connector being provided with a T-shaped slot having a first part extending from the bottom edge of the body and a second part extending transversely to the first part, the second part being formed a distance below an upper edge of the body, where each said end connector is configured to engage the oil containment boom when lowered onto the oil containment boom;   (ii) providing at least one liquid-impermeable curtain member extending from and engageable with at least one said end connector, the curtain member having sufficient longitudinal and vertical dimensions to function as an extension of the oil containment boom when engaged with the boom;   (iii) engaging at least one said end connector with a said curtain member; and   (iv) engaging at least one said end connector engaged with a said curtain member to the oil containment boom such that the said curtain member functions as an extension of the oil containment boom.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising two said end connectors, both attached to an end of one said curtain member of sufficient length to form an outer boom, each said end connector being engaged with the oil containment boom such that the oil containment boom can be safely uncoupled to form a temporary opening in a location encompassed by said curtain member forming an outer boom. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising two said end connectors, each engaged with different oil containment booms running generally parallel each to the other, each said end connector attached to an end of a different said curtain member of sufficient length to form an outer boom extending a major portion of the distance between the generally parallel oil containment booms, where said curtain members form booms running generally parallel and in close proximity each to the other, forming a gate between the oil containment booms. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising two said end connectors, both attached to an end of one said curtain member of sufficient length to form an inner boom, each said end connector being engaged with the oil containment boom such that the portion of the oil containment boom enclosing a concentration of wind and current driven oil can be segregated by said curtain member forming an inner boom. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , where at least one said end connector attached to an end of a said curtain member is engaged with an oil containment boom such that said curtain member forms an extension boom extending generally perpendicular to the oil containment boom. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one said end connector attached to an end of a said curtain member, leaving the other end of said curtain member free, such that said curtain member forms a boom extending generally perpendicular to the oil containment boom across less than the full width of a channel of flowing water, thereby functioning as a cascade. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising one end connector engaged with one oil containment boom anchored across a channel of flowing water such that said oil containment boom is formed into a chevron shape that deflects and concentrates oil contaminates. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising one end connector engaged with one oil containment boom anchored across a channel of flowing water, said end connector being anchored in place, such that said oil containment boom is formed into a chevron shape that deflects and concentrates oil contaminates.