Abstract

A connector (11) for buoyant sheeting (41, 43) used to mitigate or reduce evaporation from a body of water, and a system and method for reducing evaporation from a body of water is disclosed and claimed. The connector (11) is elongate and extends along an edge of the buoyant sheeting (41) or between edges of adjacent buoyant sheeting (41, 43) and has a plurality of fasteners (27, 29, 31, 33) located along the longitudinal extent of the connector (11). The fasteners (27, 29, 31, 33) are located on an upper surface of the connector (11), and are used to secure to edges of the buoyant sheeting (41, 43). The fasteners (27, 29, 31, 33) are best located in a position recessed from the upper surface of said connector, in order to provide greater streamlining of said connector against forces imparted by wind. The buoyant sheeting (41, 43) is provided with complementary fixings along its edges, aligned with the fasteners of the connector, so that sheets of buoyant sheeting can be secured along their edges to connectors (11) extending between adjacent sheets.

IPC Classes  ?

• E03B 3/00 - Methods or installations for obtaining or collecting drinking water or tap water
• B65D 88/36 - Large containers having floating covers, e.g. floating roofs or blankets with relatively movable sections
• E03B 1/00 - Methods or layout of installations for water supply
• B01J 19/16 - Preventing evaporation or oxidation of non-metallic liquids by applying a floating layer, e.g. of microballoons
• B65D 90/38 - Means for reducing the vapour space or for reducing the formation of vapour within containers
• E04H 4/06 - Safety devicesCoverings for baths
• B65D 88/34 - Large containers having floating covers, e.g. floating roofs or blankets
• B65G 5/00 - Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth

Abstract

A container (11) for transporting water on the sea, which has a flexible cylindrical body (13) closed at each end by a conical portion (17, 25) tapering to a point (19, 27) at each end, and being formed of buoyant impervious material. The container (11) has a towing point (31, 33) located from point (19). The body (13) has an uppermost extent (41) which is longitudinally shorter when under tension than a lowermost extent (47), which allows the body (13) expand more underneath when filled with water, and so urging the points (19, 279 to the water surface while the entire uppermost longitudinal extent of the container (11) floats above the sea or ocean surface, minimising drag under tow. Towing and stowing arrangements are also described.

IPC Classes  ?

• B63B 35/28 - Barges or lighters
• B65D 88/78 - Large containers for use in or under water
• B65D 59/04 - Sleeves, e.g. postal tubes
• B66C 13/02 - Devices for facilitating retrieval of floating objects, e.g. for recovering craft from water
• B63B 25/12 - Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing or trimmingVessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed
• B65D 88/22 - Large containers flexible specially adapted for transport
• B65H 75/00 - Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
• B63B 7/06 - Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels having parts of non-rigid material
• B63B 21/56 - Towing or pushing equipment
• B66D 1/52 - Control devices automatic for varying rope or cable tension, e.g. when recovering craft from water