DE102019131106A1 - Float and method for stabilizing a float - Google Patents

Abstract

A floating body (1) should be characterized by a vertically acting drive (8) for changing its height.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a floating body and a method for its stabilization according to the independent claims.

State of the art

Floats are already known and used in a wide variety of shapes and designs.

The U.S. 2,889,795 A describes, for example, a floating platform on which a compressor produces compressed air. By opening and closing valves, this presses liquid into or out of parts of buoyancy bodies, which changes their buoyancy and thereby compensates for wave movements.

The CN 105974927 A describes a pontoon in the form of an energy generation system floating on the surface of the water. The facility is not anchored. Your position is adjusted using a combination of GPS, control unit and motor if there are horizontal shifts due to wind and waves. A holding position of the pontoon on the water surface is thus achieved.

The WO 2008 101 512 A1 discloses a floating offshore container reloading station that detects movements caused by waves and load changes by means of inclination and other sensors and compensates for them with vertically and horizontally displaceable counterweights. As in CN 105974927 A In addition, a stop position of the pontoon on the water surface can be achieved with the help of a GPS position determination.

The position of the floats, which in the CN 105974927 A and in the WO 2008 101 512 A1 are described, is regulated with the help of satellite-based position determination systems. Here, however, only a two-dimensional detection and regulation of the position takes place. That is, a comparison of the recorded data with a target position and a change in the recorded position of the float takes place exclusively laterally or horizontally.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Solution of the task

The subjects of the independent claims lead to the solution of the problem. Advantageous refinements are described in the subclaims.

• - Erfassen der Höhe eines Punktes des Schwimmkörpers
• - Abgleich der erfassten Höhe mit einem Soll-Wert
• - Veränderung der Höhe des Schwimmkörpers mit Hilfe des Antriebs, dergestalt, dass die Höhe des Punktes dem vorgegebenen Soll-Wert zumindest angenähert wird.

A method according to the invention for stabilizing a floating body, which comprises a vertically acting drive or is connected to such a drive, comprises the following steps:

• - Detecting the height of a point on the float
• - Comparison of the recorded height with a target value
• - Changing the height of the float with the aid of the drive, such that the height of the point is at least approximated to the specified target value.

A floating body within the scope of the present invention is any body which, when in use, floats in or on the water. The body can therefore be partially or largely above the surface of the water during operation. Alternatively, the body can be largely or completely below the surface of the water during operation.

A floating body within the scope of the present invention can be a swimming platform, which is also called a pontoon.

The floating body can, for example, be attached to the sea bed via anchors, lines or the like. Furthermore, the float can also be attached to the mainland via webs, ropes, etc. Alternatively, the floating body can also be designed to float freely.

A floating body according to the present invention can be used, for example, to support a structure. The floating body can also comprise the structure or parts of the structure. Work platforms, floating or at least partially floating bridges, platforms, drilling rigs, floating bodies for aquaculture, protective devices for dykes, ramparts, breakwaters, docks, port facilities, tunnels, footbridges for people or vehicles and the like can be considered here.

In general, any infrastructure and transport systems in the form of floating bodies can be thought of.

A floating body according to the present invention is usually at least one degree of freedom of movement (translation or Rotation) available, the height of at least one point of the floating body changing when the movement is carried out.

In the context of the present invention, the term “floating body” preferably does not include boats and ships. Furthermore, the term “floating body” preferably does not include any buoys, preferably in particular no signal buoys and preferably no buoys for data acquisition.

A vertically acting drive in the sense of the present invention is any device that can bring about a vertical movement of the floating body. A vertical movement is preferably understood to mean a movement essentially orthogonal to the water surface. A vertically acting drive can be, for example, a turbo machine, for example a turbine or a propeller. For example, the drive can be designed in the form of a ship's propeller. Furthermore, a water jet drive (jet drive) can be considered. Furthermore, magnetohydrodynamic drives can also be considered.

Alternatively, however, buoyancy bodies can also be thought of, the buoyancy of which can be adjusted by changing the density and / or volume. In this connection, an increase or decrease in the size of the float and the letting in or out of gases or liquids from the float can be envisaged.

In the context of the present invention, the height of a point is preferably understood to mean its vertical position, i.e. its distance from the earth's surface or from the seabed in the direction of the center of the earth.

The point is preferably a small surface section of the floating body with an area of, for example, a few square centimeters or a few square meters or even only a few square millimeters.

The target value is preferably a predetermined target value for the height. In some situations, for example in heavy seas, it is possible that the target value is not reached with the aid of the drive or is only reached for a very short time. However, in the case of a large deviation from the target value, it can often be sufficient if the distance from the target value is greatly reduced without the target value being reached. A setpoint value within the scope of the present invention therefore also includes a corresponding setpoint interval.

The process is preferably carried out continuously. It can be envisaged that a cycle comprising recording the height, target / actual comparison and changing the height runs very quickly, for example to compensate for the effects of heavy and irregular swell. Advantageously, quickly responding vertically acting drives can be used here.

The floating body can comprise exactly one or, of course, two, three, four or more vertically acting drives or be connected to such drives. Similarly, the height of exactly one point or the height of two, three, four or more points can of course be recorded and compared with a target value. The number of drives does not have to correspond to the number of points. For example, two or more vertically acting drives can be used to change the height of just one point. Correspondingly, a single vertically acting drive can be used to change the height of several points.

The altitude can be recorded with the aid of a satellite-supported position determination system. Other possibilities for recording the height are conceivable.

Usually, due to its physical nature, a float does not have a uniform height. If, for example, it is a loading station in the form of a swimming platform, structures attached to the platform, such as cranes and the like, are at a different height than, for example, the level on which such cranes are attached. Therefore, the height of one, preferably several, points of the floating body is usually determined. A determination of the total height of “the float” is naturally not possible in the above-described case because the above-described float does not have a uniform height.

Reliable regulation of every conceivable deviation in height of the float, which also includes every conceivable incline, is best possible if the height is regulated by at least three points that do not lie on a single straight line. Of course, this applies in particular to freely floating floating bodies which are not connected to the mainland or a similar fixed structure (e.g. oil platform). In the case of floating bodies that are connected to the mainland or the like, it may be sufficient to regulate the height of one or two points accordingly.

In some exemplary embodiments of freely floating floating bodies, however, it may also be sufficient to regulate the height in only one or two points. This also depends on the construction of the float.

The change in the height of the float can also take place taking into account data from another sensor. This can be, for example, a camera, a motion sensor, a position sensor or an acceleration sensor. The camera can capture water movements, for example wave movements.

It can also be thought of using more than one additional sensor. If several additional sensors are used, these can be of the same type or of different types. On the one hand, several motion sensors can be used, for example. On the other hand, for example, at least one motion sensor and at least one position sensor can be used.

In general, it should be noted that the number and position or location of the vertically acting drives, the control unit and the receiving devices can be adapted to the size, design and requirements of the float.

In addition to the method described above, the present invention also comprises a floating body described below and a system described below comprising such a floating body. Features that have been described in connection with the method can also be used in connection with the float and / or the system and vice versa.

A floating body according to the invention comprises a vertically acting drive for changing its height. The height of the floating body can therefore be changed by the at least one vertically acting drive.

In addition to the floating body, a system according to the invention comprises a device for determining the height and a control device. The control device is connected to the device for determining the height and the vertically acting drive.

The device for determining height can be, for example, a receiving unit which receives data from a satellite-supported system for determining position. These data contain the information already described about the height of the at least one point located on the float.

The control device can essentially consist of a data processing unit which receives the information from the device for determining the height, compares it with the setpoint values, and controls the drives accordingly.

The system can furthermore comprise a sensor which supplies the control device with data which are taken into account when activating the vertically acting drive.

The floating body can comprise the vertically acting drive or be connected to it. The control device and the device for determining the height can also be located on or on the floating body or be connected to it. Alternatively, they can be in a different location. The altitude data can, for example, be transmitted wirelessly from the device for determining the altitude to the control device. The control data can, for example, be transmitted wirelessly from the control device to the at least one vertically acting drive.

If the height of the at least one point of the float is determined with the aid of a satellite-supported system for determining position (e.g. Galileo, GPS, etc.), the device for determining the height is preferably a receiving device for such satellite data. This receiving device is preferably installed exactly at the point on the floating body, the height of which is to be determined and changed. The same naturally also applies if two or more points and thus receiving devices are present.

As is known, satellite-supported systems for position determination can be used to determine not only the lateral position of the receiver of the satellite signals but also its height. The accuracy of such a height determination - or in general a three-dimensional position determination - is in the centimeter range. While the height data or height information is decisive in the context of the present invention, the position data relating to the lateral (i.e. horizontal) position of the receiver can of course also be used, for example to correct the horizontal position of the float. For this purpose, the floating body can comprise horizontally acting drives. Detecting, comparing with a target value for the (horizontal) position and adapting or changing the horizontal position in the direction of the target value can take place in exactly the same way as already described for the vertical position (height).

Figure list

• den 1 bis 3 verschiedene Ausführungsformen von Schwimmkörpern 1 in Form von Pontons und in 4 einen Schwimmkörper 1 in Form eines Tunnels.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following Description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings; these show in:

• the 1 to 3 different embodiments of floats 1 in the form of pontoons and in 4th a float 1 in the form of a tunnel.

Embodiments

In 1 is a float 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in a schematic side view. The float 1 is partially located above a water surface 3 . The float 1 includes vertical actuators 8th with rotors 12th . Furthermore are the seabed 11 and a direction of action 9 indicated by vertical forces. There is also a point 10 shown.

The float 1 in 2 is one-sided on the mainland 13th stored.

The float 1 in 3 is about an anchor chain 2 on the seabed 11 anchored. It also includes receiving devices 4th above the points 10 and a control device 6th . Furthermore are satellites 14th shown. The float 1 according to 3 also includes another sensor 7th . This can, for example, be a camera for observing water movement and swell.

The float 1 according to the 1 and 3 can be a work platform, e.g. a reloading station, a platform for accommodating a power plant, etc. The float 1 according to 2 can be a bridge, for example.

During the float 1 according to the 1 to 3 is formed in the form of a pontoon, is the float 1 according to 4th formed in the form of a tunnel for vehicle traffic. The vehicles 16 in the tunnel tubes 15th are clearly visible. A density of the float 1 in 4th is expediently chosen so that the float 1 at the desired height below the water surface 3 floats. In the embodiment according to 4th are also firmly anchored tracking devices 17th provided below the water surface, which with the receiving facilities 4th communicate. This communication can be bidirectional, as in 4th indicated by the dashed double arrows.

• Durch Seegang oder andere Wasserbewegungen kann sich die Höhe des Schwimmkörpers 1 ändern. Dies kann einerseits das Auftreten von Hoch- und Niedrigwasser (Ebbe und Flut) sein, wodurch im Zeitverlauf eine eher langsame Höhen-Änderung des Schwimmkörpers 1 erfolgt. Dies können, beispielsweise im Falle von Seegang, aber auch im Zeitverlauf heftige, d.h. in kurzer Zeit mit grosser Amplitude bzw. grossem Ausmass auftretende Bewegungen sein.

Referring to the 1 to 4th the functioning of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained as follows:

• The height of the float can change as a result of swell or other water movements 1 to change. On the one hand, this can be the occurrence of high and low tide (ebb and flow), which results in a rather slow change in height of the float over time 1 he follows. This can be, for example in the case of swell, but also violent movements over time, ie movements occurring in a short time with a large amplitude or large extent.

The float 1 can be, on the one hand, essentially parallel to the seabed, depending on a type of water movement, its shape, other conditions and its anchoring 11 along the indicated arrow direction 9 move. On the other hand, the float 1 also in an inclined position with respect to the seabed 11 be brought when one side of the float 1 its height changes to a greater or lesser extent than the other side.

In addition to the movement of the water (swell, etc.), wind can also cause movement and height changes in the float 1 to care.

In addition to the aforementioned external influences, the change in height of the float 1 can also be caused by internal influences. For example, the height of the float 1 change due to loading, in particular due to the application of weight or a changing load distribution. This change in height due to stress can again occur uniformly or one-sided. In 4th A one-sided load is likely to occur, as the tunnel tube shown on the left 15th with more vehicles 16 is loaded than the tunnel tube shown on the right 15th .

A change in the height of the float 1 or at least one point 10 on the float 1 is undesirable in most cases. For example, such changes in height limit the functionality of walkways, tunnels, work platforms, etc.

As described below, the device and the method according to the present invention actively counteract the external and internal influences. This causes movements of the float 1 reduced or even eliminated, so that people and objects are on the float 1 Feel "like on solid ground". On the one hand, the device and the method are suitable for both rapidly occurring changes in height such as, for example, in heavy seas (and thus movements of the floating body 1 ) to balance. On the other hand, the device and the method according to the present invention can also very slowly occurring altitude Compensate for changes that occur, for example, during ebb and flow or when the weight is slowly changing. The latter changes in altitude are usually not referred to as "movement" of the float 1 designated.

If there is a change in height of the float 1 This is captured by changing the altitude of at least one point 10 is determined in some way. This is followed by a comparison of the detected height with a target value and an adjustment of the height to the target value by the vertically acting drives 8th the float 1 essentially along the effective direction 9 move. In the context of the present invention, it is irrelevant how the height of the point 10 is captured.

Furthermore, it is irrelevant whether the float 1 on land ( 2 ) or on the seabed ( 3 and 4th ) is anchored, or whether it is free-swimming ( 1 ).

In the embodiment according to 3 includes the float 1 several reception facilities 4th which with satellites 14th a satellite-based system for position determination 5 communicate. This communication is indicated by dashed lines. Receives one of the reception facilities 4th about the system 5 the information that the point at or below it 10 its height (essentially along the direction 9 ) has changed, this information is sent to the control device 6th transmitted, which in turn at least one of the drives 8th heads to the height of the point 10 to change starting from the ascertained actual height value in the direction of a predetermined target value. Cases are also conceivable in which the position of the point 10 is detected without a receiving device in its immediate vicinity 4th is located.

In the embodiment according to 4th becomes the height and preferably also the position, e.g. an inclined position, of the float 1 with the help of the firmly anchored, ie stationary, location devices 17th detected. All existing tracking devices 17th can, for example, the respective distance to everyone on the float 1 existing reception facilities 4th determine. This information can then be used to determine the height and, if necessary, the position of the float 1 be calculated. The height and, if necessary, the position can then be corrected, as already described above. In 4th For the sake of clarity, not all communication links between all locating devices are shown 17th and reception facilities 4th shown.

• Beispielsweise können die Schwimmkörper 1 in allen Ausführungsbeispielen hinsichtlich Abmessungen, Grösse, Gewicht und Gestaltung unterschiedlich gestaltet sein. Diese Schwimmkörper 1 können in verschiedenen Höhen auf, teilweise oberhalb und unterhalb der Wasseroberfläche 3 schwimmen bzw. schweben. Die Schwimmkörper 1 können Bauwerke lagern bzw. tragen und teilweise oder vollständig aus Bauwerken bestehen.

Although only a few preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is obvious that numerous modifications can be added by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention:

• For example, the floats 1 be designed differently in all embodiments in terms of dimensions, size, weight and design. These floats 1 can be at different heights, partly above and below the water surface 3 swim or float. The floats 1 can store or support structures and consist partially or completely of structures.

Furthermore, different drives can be used in all exemplary embodiments 8th come into use.

The floats 1 all exemplary embodiments can be equipped with receiving devices 4th and control devices 6th be equipped.

It should also be noted that in the 1 to 4th the “balanced” state is shown in each case, in which the float is in the desired position at the desired height.

Regarding 3 it should be noted that for a position determination usually at least three, mostly at least four satellites 14th be used. 3 however, like the other drawings, is only schematic.

Regarding 4th it should be noted that in some exemplary embodiments it may be sufficient to have only one receiving device 4th and / or just a location device 17th to be provided. Furthermore, more than two locating devices can also be used 17th or receiving devices 4th be provided. Of course, non-stationary locating devices can also be used.

List of reference symbols

1

Float

2

Anchor chain

3

Water surface

4th

Receiving facility

5

Satellite-based system for position determination

6 |

Control device

7th

sensor

8th

Vertical acting drive

9

Direction of action of vertical forces

10

Point

11

Seabed

12th

rotor

13th

Mainland

14th

satellite

15th

Tunnel tube

16

vehicle

17th

Location device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 2889795 A [0003]
• CN 105974927 A [0004, 0005, 0006]
• WO 2008101512 A1 [0005, 0006]

Claims (7)

A method for stabilizing a floating body (1) which comprises a vertically acting drive (8) or is connected to such a drive (8), the method comprising the following steps: - Detecting the height of a point on the float (1) - Comparison of the recorded height with a target value - Changing the height of the floating body (1) with the aid of the drive (8) such that the height of the point is at least approximated to the predetermined target value. Procedure according to Claim 1 , the change in height additionally taking into account data from a further sensor (7). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the further sensor (7) is a camera, a motion sensor, a position sensor or an acceleration sensor. Procedure according to Claim 3 , wherein the further sensor (7) is a camera that detects water movements. Floating body (1) characterized by a vertically acting drive (8) for changing its height. System comprising a float (1) according to Claim 5 as well as a device for determining the height (4) and a control device (6) which is connected to the device for determining the height and the vertically acting drive (8). System according to Claim 6 comprising a sensor (7) which supplies the control device (6) with data which are taken into account when controlling the vertically acting drive (8).

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