A protection apparatus protects a harbor or an area in a body of water or adjacent to a body of water. The protection apparatus floats on the body of water, and includes a plurality of barrier units positioned side-by-side, each of the barrier units includes a composite-based durable barrier structure. The barrier structure is configured to hold a net in place in order to protect an area in the body of water or abutting the body of water from waterborne craft. The protection apparatus also includes connectors respectively provided between adjacently-positioned ones of the barrier units. Each of the connectors includes a tensile member and a dampening member for handling forces applied to the protection barrier and for maintaining the integrity of the protection barrier.

Protection barrier apparatus

A marine barrier system comprising first and second barrier sections and a coupler system. The first and second barrier sections comprise first and second main flotation members, respectively, and each main flotation member contains buoyant material. The coupler system is arranged at the juncture of the first and second barrier sections. The coupler system is arranged such that the first and second main flotation members may be placed in a storage configuration and in a deployed configuration. In the storage configuration, the first and second main flotation members are arranged in a parallel, side by side arrangement. In the deployed configuration, the first and second main flotation members are arranged end to end to define a barrier line in a body of water across which movement is limited.

Coupling systems and methods for marine barriers

A breakwater pier apparatus is disclosed in the preferred and illustrated embodiments. The two embodiments utilize a framework floated in the water by buoyant tanks therein, the apparatus including a rearwardly sloping wave energy absorbing wall adapted to float partly underwater and partly above the surface of the water and facing the direction of the wave action, this wave energy absorbing wall being slotted to intercept part of the wave action to create a force tending to hold the breakwater in vertical position. The framework includes an upright wall which also floats partly out of the water. Appended to the wall is a set of floating stub piers for individual boat anchorages. The apparatus is tethered or guided on an upstanding piling.

Breakwater pier apparatus

An electrophoresis device is disclosed that is capable of reducing waves occurring in a fluid in which the capillary tips of a capillary assay are immersed. A plurality of partition plate members can be provided in a container containing the fluid to divide the surface of the fluid into several sections. The container can be transported at a high speed, and the capillary tips can be immersed in the fluid quickly, thereby preventing resolution degradation caused by a long period of exposure of the capillary tips to air. Throughput of sample analysis can also be improved because it is not necessary to wait until waves disappear before conducting an analysis.

Capillary electrophoresis device

The wave break has an elongated shape and three wave-breaking surfaces mounted thereon and forming an elongated triangular configuration. The wave break has a lazy side on its forward edge, such that the force of the wave tilts it about the forward edge to increase a projection of its wave-breaking surfaces against the incoming wave. Because of the lazy forward side of the wave break, the leading stringer dive into each wave without deviating substantially from a horizontal plane. The trailing side of the wave break is subject to the lifting forces of each wave and therefore, the trailing side tilts upward and downward in use. The trailing side tilts upward and downward about the leading stringer to rotate the wave-breaking barriers into a more or less perpendicular alignment relative to the wave movement, for breaking the wave more effectively.

Self-adjusting wave break

A floating breakwater or wave tripper supported by pontoons or floats is disclosed. The breakwater is useable for moderating waves and for creating a generally calm surface on the water behind the breakwater. Since the device is carried by floats or pontoons, it is portable and may be moved and positioned as desired. The pontoons or floats which support the breakwater are so shaped that the device cuts through waves striking it instead of floating over them, and is therefore more effective in reducing the height of incident waves than are prior devices which float on the surface of the wave. Suitable anchors are provided to secure the device in a desired location and a plurality of wavebreakers may be joined together to form a portable breakwater of generally any desired length.

John M. Potter

Papers

Portable floating wave tripper