Silt barrier across river mouth etc. - has woven water permeable panels interconnected via couplings breaking before ship damages barrier

摘要

The barrier for silt etc. is intended for fitting across a river mouth, estuary etc. and consists of panels of water-permeable flexible material woven e.g. from polyester, polyamide or polypropylene yarns which are interconnected by couplings. The barrier is anchored to the river bed whilst its upper edge is below the water line and secured to submerged buoyancy members e.g. in plastic foam. These couplings are arranged such that they break when the parting force exceeds a pre-determined value, i.e. before the material is damaged. Couplings preferably connect loops at opposite ends of vertical and horizontal straps secured to the respective panels whilst the tensile strength and coupling breaking force for the vertical straps and couplings is greater than of the horizontal straps and couplings. The arrangement permits passage of deep-draught vessels without damage to the barrier material or to the ships screw, the couplings being readily replaceable by divers should breakage occur.