AU3583299A

AU3583299A - Foam buoys

Info

Publication number: AU3583299A
Application number: AU35832/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Denis Annandale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-23
Filing date: 1999-06-23
Publication date: 2001-01-04

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 fr

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*9 .9 9

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S

S.

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT

FOAM BUOYS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me.

FOAM BUOYS This invention relates to improvements in design and performance of marine buoys.

Mooring and marker buoys installed at sea are generally made from steel or high density polyurethane structure filled with closed cell rigid foam otherwise known as polystyrene.

Buoys of this construction lack flexibility or resilience hence have very little capacity to absorb energy on contact by mooring or maintenance vessel. They are also high in maintenance costs being suspect to marine, salt and ultraviolet exposure.

By integrally moulding a wide range of flanges and fitting attachments a complete range of resilient buoys can be manufactured for most mooring and maritime applications.

SDesign features of our flexible foam filled buoy combines pull through strength with flexibility and resistance to damage by ships impact by much greater capacity to absorb energy. Being impact and abrasion resistant, acrylic fibre reinforced and polyurethane skinned to protect the inner core being flexible closed cell foam.

The closed cell foam has very high tensile energy absorbing capacity with excellent memory to maintain shape and configuration. Unique physical properties are obtained by the cross linked structure of the foam.

Design features of our foam-buoy units create superior performance to the more conventional type buoys. This is achieved by the following Incorporating a specially developed foam consisting of polyether polyol and polyester/MDI QUASI prepolymer isocyanate protected with an acrylic reinforced polyurethane outer skin.

This combination of materials creates a tough, high tensile, tear and abrasion resistant unit whilst retaining resilience, memory and flexibility here-in referred to as "Foam-Buoy".

These unique features result in higher energy absorption and lower reaction forces enabling safer mooring of vessels with less damage to buoys, structures and vessels.

Foam-Buoy obtains its high energy absorption by combination of collapsing foam cells and buckling of element. This combination also results in proportionally less destructive reaction forces.

Unlike steel fabricated or rigid foam buoys Foam-Buoy will operate efficiently even when cut or pierced by protruding object from vessel or berth. Units will perform in damaged condition until repairs can be made under programmed maintenance.

e* EDITORIAL NOTE No. 35832/99 Please note that page 5, explanation of the drawings is part of the description and comes before the claims pages, which are numbered 3 and 4. There is no abstract.

To assist with understanding the invention reference will now be made to accompanying drawings.

Typical Construction Page 1 of 2 Figure 1 Shows Foam-Fend typical construction of floating buoys. Structural progression of foam moulded around internal steel core and load distribution plates which continue to upper and lower end fittings. Unit is protected by reinforced urethane skin.

Figure 2 Displays various configurations of end fittings and assemblies which can fitted to Foam-Buoy units.

Typical Configurations Page 2 of 2 Figures 1 through to 5 show typical configurations of buoys pending application and specification. Common to all types is Foam-Buoy construction as detailed in our claims and described here in reference to page 1 of 2.