AU2022203051B1

AU2022203051B1 - A supporting structure to help houses self-float, balance and self-stabilize from flooding water

Info

Publication number: AU2022203051B1
Application number: AU2022203051A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Duy Huu Nguyen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-05-06
Filing date: 2022-05-06
Publication date: 2022-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2042-05-06

Abstract

A supporting structure is introduced for houses built in flood-prone areas. With the structure installed, the house or part of the house self-floats, balances and self-stabilizes when flood water rises, then safely descends to its original position when water retreats - without additional electrical or mechanical manoeuvrers. The supporting structure comprises an upper part for buoyancy generation, a lower part for stabilization, a supplementary component for fine tuning to ensure balance, and a supplementary component used for movement navigation. Figure 1

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

Standard Patent Specification

Title: A supporting structure to help houses self-float, balance and self-stabilize from flooding water

Applicant(s): Duy Huu Nguyen

Inventor(s): Duy Huu Nguyen

Agent: IP Guardian, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys

The following is a full description of the invention which sets forth the best method known to the applicant of performing it.

A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE TO HELP HOUSES SELF-FLOAT, BALANCE AND SELF-STABILIZE FROM FLOODING WATER

Technical Field

[001] The present specification relates directly to the field of civil engineering.

[002] NOTE: It is assumed in this document that: The house, or the portion of the house, allowed to float was completely separated from the foundation, or the base portion, below it, in advance. It may rest on footings, or a beam-column system underneath (also known as 'contact supports') but is not fixed to them by any rigid connection. Plus, drainage, electrical, water and gas supply systems need to be redesigned so that they are stretchable and remain functional during and after floating. However, these are not part of the intended invention and are not discussed further.

Background of the Invention

[003] Climate change is happening with an accelerating rate. This leads to, among other things, record-breaking extreme weather events around the world. Australia, well-known for its typical dry climate and prolonged drought across the entire continent, is now suffering severe, frequent, and deadly floods of centuries spreading through most of its low areas. To make matters worse, the rise of sea level, with an increasing rate recorded over the past decades, if continues, can generate large-scale, permanent floodings and a mass displacement of millions. Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta, to name a few, are among the most crowded yet vulnerable places, which, according to some studies, may be partly or fully under water by 2050.

[004] Slowing or reversing climate change by reducing atmospheric carbon emissions is one side of the story. Having a survival strategy to improve human adaptability to destructive climate impacts is equally important and is more urgent than ever. A typical adaptation strategy of living in a flood-prone area is raising an entire house above historical highest flood level, and/or using waterproof, flood-resilient materials for walls and floors. Despite their certain effectiveness in normal circumstances, neither of these approaches assures a confident survival possibility for the house when a record-breaking flood hits.

[005] This document sets out an alternative strategy of flood adaptation. It introduces a supporting elemental structure, installed to the lowest base of the house or the most critical part of the house, with the following functionalities:

[006] Provides sufficient buoyancy, or upthrust force, to float the whole house, or at least the most critical part of the house, when water raises to the level where the supporting structure is installed.

[007] Helps the house self-stabilize, or improve its stability, against drifting or high-speed flow while floating.

[008] Allows fine-tuning of local buoyancy to ensure balance while floating (without capsizing or flipping).

[009] Ensures that the house descends to its original position when water retreats.

[010] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or element or group of steps or elements but not the exclusion of any other step or element or group of steps or elements.

[011] Anyone of the terms: "including" or "which includes" or "that includes" as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others.

[012] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such background art is prior art nor that such background art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field in Australia or worldwide.

Object of the Invention

[013] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

[014] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a supporting structure for floating, balancing, and stabilizing houses. The main body of the structure comprises an upper part for buoyancy generation, including two or more vertically stacked enclosed, hollow, dry air chambers; a lower part, for stabilization and balancing, made of a top base, and a system of ribs connected to the top base. The top base and the ribs form a system of open compartments which open at bottom. Further, most compartments have at least one open slot on at least one of its ribs for air escape and allow water to fill in. Further, there is a supplementary part, for finetuning of local buoyancy to improve balance, including enclosed, hollow, dry air blocks designed to fit the open compartments of the lower part.

[015] The air blocks of the supplementary part are designed with similar base shape to the compartment into which they are intended to fit.

[016] Each chamber of the upper part is in a box shape with its height being the smallest compared to its base dimensions. The base of each chamber may be in a shape selected from polygonal or rounded shape.

[017] The ribs of the lower part are arranged symmetrically and radically to form concentric rings of open compartments.

[018] The upper part, lower part, and the air blocks of the supplementary part are made of reinforced plastic.

[019] There is also disclosed an installation method for one set of the components. The method comprising step of installing the chambers of the upper part either completely below, completely above, or both above and below the lowest floor slab of the house, or the lowest floor slab of the portion of the house, allowed to float, installing the lower part either below and directly to the bottommost chamber of the upper part, or below and directly to the bottom surface of the lowest floor slab of the house, or the lowest floor slab of the portion of the house, allowed to float, installing the air blocks of the supplementary part inside the open compartments of the lower part, installing the air blocks of the supplementary part either in the compartment above which there is a local excessive weight, or in adjacent compartments to that compartment (above which there is a local excessive weight) and closer to the nearest outer edges of the lowest floor slab. There may be two or more air blocks dedicated to a compartment. Combined height of the air blocks fit in a compartment may be less than or equal to the average height of the compartment.

[020] The installation method further comprises the step of, installing consecutive sets, to cover at least 90% the floor area of the lowest floor slab of the house, or the lowest floor slab of the portion of the house, allowed to float.

[021] In order to connect the components mentioned above and the lowest floor slab, either high strength glue or metal frames are used.

[022] There is also disclosed a supplementary part for navigation (Navigator) for the house, or the portion of the house, allowed to float, including the components mentioned above, comprises more than one unit of a column, a set of leaf springs. The leaf springs are installed on at least a portion of at least one surface of the column, along its longitudinal axis, where adjacent leaf springs have a gap between them.

[023] In each Navigator unit, the column has a solid, or hollow or shaped cross section. The column is made of either steel, concrete or timber. Further, the leaf springs are made of metal.

[024] There is also disclosed an Installation method for the Navigator units. The method comprising steps of installing the Navigator units either along the edges, at corners, or in the middle of the lowest floor slab. In an embodiment, installing the Navigator units vertically or inclined. Further, fixing the Navigator units to foundation and are not connected to any part of the house, or portion of the house, allowed to float. Furthermore, installing the leaf springs on the column surface(s) where the peak of the spring cambers support the house. There may be a safe gap between the peak of the spring cambers and the house. Quantity and arrangement of the Navigator units allow vertical movement, while restricting movements in all horizontal directions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[025] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described byway of specific example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing main body, including the Upper Part (Buoyancy Generator) and Lower Part (Stabilizer), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[027] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing supplementary parts, including the Fine Tuner and Navigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing installation method with different layout options, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[029] While the present invention is described herein by way of example using embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of drawing or drawings described and are not intended to represent the scale of the various components. Further, some components that may form a part of the invention may not be

illustrated in certain figures, for ease of illustration, and such omissions do not limit the embodiments outlined in any way. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. As used throughout this description, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e. meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense, (i.e. meaning must). Further, the words "a" or "an" mean "at least

one" and the word "plurality" means "one or more" unless otherwise mentioned. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein is solely used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as "including," "comprising," "having," "containing," or "involving," and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited, and is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Likewise, the term ''comprising" is considered synonymous with the terms "including" or "containing" for applicable legal purposes. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.

1. MAJOR COMPONENTS

1.1. MainBody

1.1.1.Upper Part - Buoyancy Generator

[030] Figure 1 illustrates Main body, including the Upper Part (Buoyancy Generator) and Lower Part (Stabilizer), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 1, in its most basic form, the Upper Part of the main body contains at least two enclosed, hollow chambers stacked vertically. The Upper Part serves as a buoyancy generator which can be partly or fully submerged, with a capacity to float a house, or a separate portion of the house above it and connected to it.

- The chambers are made of reinforced plastic or other suitable materials.

- The chambers are dry inside and only contain air, preferably helium. They are fully enclosed, meaning no air inside is allowed to escape. Also, external substances (including air, water, and solid particles) are not allowed to enter.

- Each chamber is preferably in a box shape with its height being the smallest compared to its base dimensions. The base of each chamber may be in a polygonal or rounded shape.

o Its base dimensions, however, should not exceed 10 times the height of each individual chamber.

o Thickness of each chamber is preferably uniform and sufficient to sustain water pressure from all directions.

o Chamber heights may be equal or different. Edges may be rounded or unrounded (i.e., sharp).

o Chambers may have similar or different base shapes.

1.1.2. Lower Part - Stabilizer

[031] In its most basic form, the Lower Part of the main body is a single 'leaf with an open bottom. This part is designed to be fully submerged and acts as a self-stabilizer for the floating house against drifting forces.

- The leaf is made of reinforced plastic or other suitable materials. It contains a flat top base of preferably uniform thickness, sufficient to sustain vertical water pressure, and a system of vertical ribs. Edges may be rounded or unrounded (i.e., sharp). The shape of the flat top base may be similar to or different from the base of the upper part's chambers.

- The vertical ribs are connected to the top base. These rips are arranged symmetrically and/or radially to form concentric rings of open compartments (Figure 1).

o Rib thicknesses may be uniform but preferably vary, thick at and near the centre of the top base and gradually thinner out.

o Rib heights are uniform or vary. To ease the manufacture, a uniform rib height is preferrable.

o Most compartments are equipped with at least one open slot per each on a vertical rib to facilitate air escape.

o These compartments are designed this way to allow water to fill in and replace air inside when water rises, and act as the key feature of self-stabilization.

o The arrangement of these (i.e., location and number of water-filled compartments) depend on the actual design of the house, its load distribution and stabilization analysis.

o As a rule of thumb, the outermost compartments are the most suitable and preferrable.

- The remaining compartments with no air-escape slot act as additional buoyancy generators. When water rises, the air trapped inside these compartments generates an additional upthrust force to help the house float. Despite its benefit, the trapped air is not stable and should only be considered a temporary factor.

1.2 Supplementary Parts 1.2.1 Fine Tuner

[032] Fine Tuner is a set of small, enclosed, hollow air blocks, designed to neatly fit the open compartments of the lower part (Stabilizer). Figure 2 illustrates supplementary parts, including the

Fine Tuner and Navigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. These small blocks are designed to be fully submerged and provide additional and permanent buoyancy at local positions where they are installed, to counterbalance local excess loads from the house. The purpose is to maintain the house's balance when it floats.

- The air blocks are designed with similar base shape to the compartment into which they are intended to fit (illustrated in Figure 2). The height of each air block is less than half the height of the compartment, and there are at least two blocks dedicated to each respective compartment. Block heights may be equal or different. Block edges may be rounded or unrounded (i.e., sharp).

- The air blocks are made of reinforced plastic or other suitable materials.

- The air blocks are dry inside and only contain air, preferably helium. They are fully enclosed, meaning no air inside is allowed to escape. Also, external substances (including air, water, and solid particles) are not allowed to enter.

- Thickness of each block is preferably uniform and sufficient to sustain water pressure from all directions.

1.1.1.Navigator

[033] Navigator is a set of horizontal restraint units installed to navigate the vertical movement of the house (demonstrated in Figure 2). The restraint units ensure that the whole house or the portion of the house allowed to float, once water retreats, will descend to its original or close position within a specified tolerance.

- Each horizontal restraint unit comprises a solid, or hollow or shaped column made of either steel, concrete, timber, or other suitable materials. The column is designed with suitable dimensions to sustain horizontal impacts from the house under drifting or strong flows.

- At least on a portion of one column surface, a set of leaf springs is installed along its longitudinal axis. The consecutive springs are not overlapped. Between these springs, there is a sufficient gap for the springs to deform. The gap is determined from the potential maximum force exerted on the springs by the house, the stiffness of the springs and of the column.

- The leaf springs are made of metal or other suitable materials.

- The leaf springs are installed on the column surface by either chemical or mechanical means, for example, high strength glue, weld, screw, or bolt connections.

2. INSTALLATION

[034] This section specifies the installation method for one set of the supporting structure to the lowest floor slab. Depending on the actual composition of the floor (e.g., flat slab, slab with integrated beams, slab with drop panels at columns etc.), more than one sets of the supporting structure, of similar or different layouts, may be installed next to each other to form a consecutive matrix as illustrated in Figure 3.

[035] It is beneficial to ensure all the installed sets of the supporting structure cover at least 90% the horizontal surface (i.e., floor area) of the lowest floor slab.

2.1. Upper Part and Lower Part

[036] Figure 3 illustrates installation method with different layout options, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Load/weight distribution of the house, or portion of the house, allowed to float must be investigated in advance. Quantity of the Upper Part chambers is calculated from the average weight and a safety factor considering future overloads. The Upper Part chambers, or Buoyancy Generator, is firmly fixed to the lowest floor slab of the house, or the portion of the house, allowed to float. There are 3 layout options (illustrated in Figure 3):

- Option 1: All chambers of the Upper Part is installed completely above the lowest floor slab. Accordingly, the Lower Part of the main body, or the Stabilizer, is firmly fixed below and directly to the lowest floor slab.

- Option 2: All chambers of the Upper Part is installed completely below the lowest floor slab. Accordingly, the Stabilizer is firmly installed below and directly to the bottommost chamber of the Upper Part.

Option 3: The chambers of the Upper Part are split, some of which are installed above, and the rest are installed below the lowest floor slab. Accordingly, the Stabilizer is firmly installed below and directly to the bottommost chamber of the Upper Part.

1.2. Fine Tuner

[037] Load/weight distribution of the house, or portion of the house, allowed to float must be investigated in advance. Across the lowest floor slab, there are locations of higher weight distribution than the others, which impose high risks of imbalance when floating. For example, locations under columns, thick and continuous walls, a cantilever balcony etc.

- A location of higher weight distribution will be supplied with additional and permanent buoyancy. To do that, at least one air block is fitted into an open compartment of the Lower Part of the main body, either right under that respective location or adjacent to that respective location and closer to the nearest outer edges of the house (see Figure 2). - Quantity of air blocks to be inserted is determined from the intensity of the local weight compared to the average weight of the house. - Total height of the air blocks inside a compartment should not exceed the height of the respective compartment. If additional buoyancy is still needed while the current compartment is already full, then more air blocks are to be fitted into its adjacent or neighbouring compartments. As a rule of thumb, those closer to the nearest outer edges of the house are prioritised (see Figure 2).

1.3. Connection methods

[038] Connections must not compromise or cause any physical damage for any part of the supporting structure and the house in service. To connect the Upper Part chambers, Lower Part, the floor slab, and the air blocks together, either or all the following methods may be used:

- Mechanical connections, for example, the metal frame in Figure 3, or any other types

with equivalent functionality. - Chemical connections, such as high strength glue, or any other types with equivalent functionality

- Chemical connections, such as high strength glue, or any other types with equivalent functionality.

2.4. Navigator

- Navigator units are fixed to the ground/foundation and must not connected to the house, or portion of the house, allowed to float. Its footing may be part of the existing footings of the house or stand separately.

- Navigator units are installed either along the borders, at comers, or in the middle of the lowest floor slab. Either way, the Navigator's leaf springs are installed on a portion of the column surface(s) where they directly support and harmonize potential impacts from the floating house.

o If installed along the border, only one face of the Navigator's column requires leaf springs (for example, the 3D arrangement in Figure 3).

o If installed at corners or in the middle of the floor slab, then two or more surfaces of the Navigator's column will be equipped with leaf springs.

- Each Navigator unit may be installed vertically or inclined. If inclined, its column should lean outward (from the external wall it is supporting) - to respect the extended parts of the house which go beyond external walls (e.g., window frames, gutters etc.). This, as a result, creates more space and accordingly, higher degree of freedom, when floating at higher elevations.

- The peak of each spring camber faces the house at a pre-determined safe distance. When the house moves horizontally, these springs support the house at their peak points (see the 3D illustration in Figure 3).

- Quantity and arrangement of the Navigator units allow vertical movement only. Horizontal

movements in all directions, including front-rear, left-right and in between shall be restricted.

Claims

CLAIMS: The claims defining this invention are as follows:

1. A supporting structure for floating, balancing, and stabilizing houses, the main body of the structure comprising: an upper part, for buoyancy generation, including two or more vertically stacked enclosed, hollow, dry air chambers; a lower part, for stabilization and balancing, made of: a top base; a system of ribs connected to the top base; wherein, the top base and the ribs form a system of open compartments which open at bottom; wherein most compartments have at least one open slot on at least one of its ribs for air escape and allow water to fill in; a supplementary part, for finetuning of local buoyancy to improve balance, including enclosed, hollow, dry air blocks designed to fit the open compartments of the lower part.

2. The supporting structure of claim 1, wherein the air blocks of the supplementary part are designed with similar base shape to the compartment into which they are intended to fit.

3. The supporting structure of claim 1, wherein each chamber of the upper part is in a box shape with its height being the smallest compared to its base dimensions; wherein base of each chamber is in a shape selected from polygonal or rounded shape.

4. The supporting structure of claim 1, wherein the ribs of the lower part are arranged symmetrically and radically to form concentric rings of open compartments.

5. The supporting structure of claim 1, wherein the upper part, lower part, and the air blocks of the supplementary part are made of reinforced plastic.

6. A method for installation of one set of the components of the supporting structure of any one of claims 1 to 5, the method comprising the steps of: installing the chambers of the upper part either: completely below; completely above; or both above and below the lowest floor slab of the house, or the lowest floor slab of the portion of the house, allowed to float; installing the lower part either: below and directly to the bottommost chamber of the upper part; or below and directly to the bottom surface of the lowest floor slab of the house, or the lowest floor slab of the portion of the house, allowed to float; installing the air blocks of the supplementary part inside the open compartments of the lower part; installing the air blocks of the supplementary part either: in the compartment above which there is a local excessive weight; or in adjacent compartments to that compartment above which there is a local excessive weight and closer to the nearest outer edges of the lowest floor slab; wherein there are two or more air blocks dedicated to a compartment; wherein combined height of the air blocks fit in a compartment is less than or equal to the average height of the compartment.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of, installing consecutive sets to cover at least 90% the floor area of the lowest floor slab of the house, or the lowest floor slab of the portion of the house, allowed to float.

8. The method of claims 6 or 7, wherein either high strength glue or metal frames are used to connect the components in any claim from claim 1 to claim 5 and the lowest floor slab.