Abstract: A temporary flood control barrier system comprising elongated flexible, inflatable, tubular ballast members secured to each other and adapted to be disposed on the earth's surface for anchoring a generally sheetlike vertically extendable barrier wall or an inflatable tubular barrier member disposed above and connected to the ballast members. The ballast members are at least partially fillable with a dense ballast liquid, such as water, and may be inflated with pressure air to add rigidity and increase the height of the flood control barrier system. The sheetlike barrier wall is held erect by spaced apart support poles and sets of flexible retaining lines also attachable to the barrier wall at spaced apart points. An elongated skirt or liner is attached to one side of one of the ballast members and is deployable on the floodwater side of the barrier system to minimize saturation and erosion of the earth's surface adjacent to the ballast members.

Abstract: An oil recovery system includes an inflatable boom wall, a plurality of inflatable storage tanks at spaced intervals along the boom wall, and a plurality of oil catchers adjacent to each of the storage tanks. Selected ones of the oil catchers are attached to the boom wall, adjacent to the storage tanks, while other ones of the catchers are free-floating and attached to corresponding storage tanks by means of a flexible line. The oil recovery system further includes a plurality of plow boats, each of which has adjustable, bow-mounted plates for pushing oil and other surface contaminants into the oil catchers. The material collected by the catchers drains by gravity into the corresponding storage tanks for temporary storage. The storage tanks are pumped out periodically to transfer the contents thereof to permanent storage tanks aboard a barge or other oil collection vessel.

Abstract: An oil recovery system includes an inflatable boom wall, a plurality of inflatable storage tanks at spaced intervals along the boom wall, and a plurality of oil catchers adjacent to each of the storage tanks. Selected ones of the oil catchers are attached to the boom wall, adjacent to the storage tanks, while other ones of the catchers are free-floating and attached to corresponding storage tanks by means of a flexible line. The oil recovery system further includes a plurality of plow boats, each of which has adjustable, bow-mounted plates for pushing oil and other surface contaminants into the oil catchers. The material collected by the catchers drains by gravity into the corresponding storage tanks for temporary storage. The storage tanks are pumped out periodically to transfer the contents thereof to permanent storage tanks aboard a barge or other oil collection vessel.