Floating cover system for large open containers

Abstract

A floating cover system for a container with an open top includes a plurality of floating cover sections with cover connector devices spaced along a periphery of each at a connector spacing. A ballast tube has tube connector devices spaced along the exterior thereof at the same connector spacing. The ballast tube is open at each end and longer ballast tubes also define access holes along a length thereof. Water enters an interior of the ballast tube through the open ends thereof and the access holes, if any. When all the cover sections are installed in the container, the open top of the container is substantially covered by cover sections joined together at seams where adjacent cover connector devices are connected together, and the tube connectors are connected to the cover connectors along a ballast seam such that the ballast tube is located under the ballast seam.

1 . A floating cover system for a container with an open top, the system comprising:
 a plurality of cover sections, each cover section adapted to float on a water surface;   a plurality of cover connector devices attached to, and equally spaced along, a periphery of each cover section at a connector spacing;   a ballast tube and a plurality of tube connector devices attached to, and equally spaced along, a length of an exterior of the ballast tube at the connector spacing;   wherein the ballast tube is open at each end thereof such that water enters an interior of the ballast tube through the open ends thereof;   wherein the cover sections are configured such that when all the cover sections are installed in the container, the open top of the container is substantially covered by cover sections joined together at seams where adjacent cover connector devices are connected together, and the tube connectors are connected to the cover connectors along a ballast seam such that the ballast tube is located under the ballast seam.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the ballast tube further defines a plurality of access holes spaced along a length thereof such that water enters the interior of the ballast tube through the open ends thereof and through the access holes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cover connector devices are provided by connector rings, and wherein adjacent connector rings on adjacent cover sections are connected together by a tie member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein each cover section comprises a fabric strip attached along the periphery thereof, and wherein the connector rings are attached to the fabric strips. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein an inner edge of each fabric strip is attached along the periphery of the corresponding cover section, and the connector rings are attached in proximity to the inner edges of the fabric strips such that the fabric strips extend outward from the connector rings. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  comprising a weight member attached along an outer edge of at least one fabric strip. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  comprising a plurality of rectangular cover sections with the same dimensions, and wherein each rectangular cover section has a width dimension and a length dimension substantially equal to twice the width dimension, and wherein each fabric strip is attached along each edge of each rectangular cover section such that a connector ring is located at each corner of each rectangular cover section, and wherein the connector spacing is an even multiple of the width dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the width dimension is 18 feet, the length dimension is 36 feet, and the connector spacing is three feet. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the tube connector devices are provided by a flap extending from the ballast tube and a connector hole defined in the flap and wherein the connector holes are connected to adjacent connector rings by the tie member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the flap is continuous along the exterior length of the ballast tube and wherein the holes are spaced along the flap at the connector spacing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the tie member is provided by a carabiner. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cover sections comprise a sheet of foam material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the sheet of foam material is flexible and encased in a fabric material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cover sections are inflatable. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the each cover section comprises a plurality of flexible air tight section tubes, each section tube defining a closable air filling orifice. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the sections tubes are joined together to form each cover section by a fabric shell comprising an upper sheet of fabric shell material and a lower sheet of fabric shell material. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the upper and lower sheets of fabric shell material are joined together between adjacent section tubes. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cover sections comprise a flexible sheet with bubbles formed on one side thereof, and wherein the bubbles are on a bottom surface of the cover sections such that the bubbles are in contact with the water when the cover sections float on the water surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the container comprises a substantially cylindrical wall and the open top is substantially circular, and wherein the cover sections include a plurality of rectangular cover sections, and a plurality of edge cover sections configured to substantially cover edge areas of the open top between the rectangular cover sections and the cylindrical wall when the cover sections are installed. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the cover sections are configured such that when the cover sections are installed, a space is formed between the cover sections and the wall such that the cover sections are movable up and down as a level of water in the container moves up and down. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  for use on a first container with a circular top with a first diameter and for use on a second container with a circular top with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the system comprising:
 a plurality of rectangular sections with the same dimensions, and wherein each rectangular cover section has a width dimension and a length dimension substantially equal to twice the width dimension; 
 a plurality of first edge cover sections configured to substantially cover edge areas of the open top between the rectangular cover sections and the cylindrical wall when the cover sections are installed in the first container; 
 a plurality of second edge cover sections configured to substantially cover edge areas of the open top between the rectangular cover sections and the cylindrical wall when the cover sections are installed in the second container. 
 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the ballast tube is formed from a flexible fabric material and comprising a stiff ring attached to the ballast tube at each open end thereof, the stiff ring operative to hold the fabric material open such that water flows into each open end of the ballast tube.