EP0314676A1 - Process for producing floating constructions and floating elements for the same. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, here called "pouring method on water", is used to produce a floating raft construction made of floating elements (10) or floating sections (15) which serve to define a network of conduits (16a , 16b) for the casting of longitudinal and transverse spacer members used in raft construction and which serve at the same time to form equivalent spacer members for a building or other construction erected on the raft construction. A number of floating elements are cast or assembled in the form of a rectangular or square floating section (15) on a floating submersible pontoon (17), so as to allow the floating section (15) to be put into the water. ) for assembly with the remaining floating sections, with which it forms the raft construction. A floating element (10) is produced to carry out the said method from thin-walled reinforced concrete and it is given a configuration of container generally in the form of a basin. Equivalent clamps which serve to assemble the floating elements (10) in the form of the floating section (15) can be used for the assembly of the floating sections.

Description

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FLOATING CONSTRUCTIONS AND FLOATING ELEMENTS FOR THE SAME.

The present invention relates to a process for producing on sea or lake of a coherent, floating construction, such as quays, buildings or the like, in that floating elements or floating sections are assembled, while they float on the sea or the lake, by means of locking means into a coherent self-floating raft construction while bounded by a coherent network of vertical, upwardly opening slots or ducts after which the network of slots or ducts are filled with a sea-durable casting material which is hardened with possible reinforcing means cast therein.

The invention relates further to a floating element for carrying out the process according to the invention.

From Norwegian patent 139,008 a process is known of the kind indicated by way of introduction, that is to say a so-called "cast-on-water-method" . According to the patent the objective is the production of the floating elements separately in factories on land and the launching of the floating elements separately together with subsequent collecting and binding these together into a coherent, but somewhat elastically flexible raft con¬ struction and bracing of the same into a rigid raft construction which is designed for further erection of an additional con¬ struction, such as quays, different types of building etc., directly on the rigid construction, while this floats on the sea or the lake.

From Norwegian Patent 135,602 a floating element is additionally known in the form of foam material or similar floating material, having vertical, plane side surfaces and a plane top surface and having vertical slots with openings to the top surface and to opposite side surfaces. The floating elements are adapted to be connected side-by-side to each other to form a compact formwork while bounded by through slots in all directions in the raft construction. In said slots there is cast sea-durable casting material with associated reinforcement, so that at the same time as there is constructed a network of cast bracing means between the floating elements to form a rigid raft construction, the network of bracing means can be included as a bracing compo¬ nent of the construction which is to be erected later on the raft construction. I the last-mentioned solution the objective was consequently^' to allow the floating elements to form a part of the raft construction as a coherent portion and thereby also as a coherent portion of the construction which is to be erected on the raft construction.

Purely from a production standpoint the afore-mentioned solutions represent significant advantages, but in certain instances the afore-mentioned solutions involve considerable disadvantages, especially during the use of the finished building or the finished construction which should float on the sea. In certain cases the buoyancy can be undesirably high in the finished construction, and in other cases the buoyancy can be insufficient in certain regions as a result of weakness in the material (foam material or similar floating material) of the floating elements. In most cases the floating elements will have no or the highest minimal positive effects on the finished con¬ struction. Constructively they are only suited to function in earlier building phases. They cannot be expected to contribute to the global constructional strength of the finished building since this contribution is proportionally extremely modest. The floating elements will not function either as a base or lowermost floor plan in the final building. Seen in this way, from the viewpoint of the final building, these floating elements will be an unnecessary appendage technically as well as economically.

With the present invention the aim is a process and floating elements where the use of foam material and similar floating material can_be avoided, but where one can achieve nevertheless essentially equivalent advantages as in the known solutions without being burdened thereby with the same disadvantaσes. More specifically the objective is a solution where one constructs on the sea a raft construction having formwork characteristics for producing a braced raft construction. Instead of using floating elements where one is dependent upon consider¬ able buoyancy from foam material or similar floating material, the aim is a solution where shell-shaped floating elements are used and where the floating elements can form a part of the final construction with mainly bracing and tightening and/or protecting properties, without increasing the buoyancy of the final con¬ struction.

The process according to the invention is characterised in that a floating section of two or more floating elements is erected on a pontoon which floats on the sea or the lake, by means of locking means to form the intermediate, vertical, upwardly opening slots or ducts after which the floating section is caused to float, while the floating pontoon is submerged in the sea or the lake. Thereafter by means of further of the said locking means the floating section is jointed together with one or more neighbouring sections to form the coherent raft con¬ struction with mutually aligned slots or ducts longitudinally and transversely of the raft construction.

By assembling together according to the invention two or more floating elements into a coherent floating section on board a floating pontoon, there is the possibility of being able to handle the floating elements, which individually can have reasonable dimensions, separately in a ready manner, and there¬ after assembling together on a steady foundation the floating elements in a precise manner into larger, relatively rigid, but light weight sections before causing them to float for jointing together with remaining sections on the sea or the lake.

According to the invention there can be employed for example pre-fabricated floating elements, which with relatively simple means can be loaded on board the floating pontoon, for example by means of crane or derrick.

Alternatively the floating elements can be fabricated directly on the mounting location on board the floating pontoon, preferably with simultaneous connection of two or more floating elements with the aid of the locking means into a coherent floating section. In this way the handling of the floating elements can be reduced to a minimum and for example the fabrication of the floating elements can be combined with a simultaneous jointing together of these into a coherent floating section in a practical manner.

A floating section for carrying out the process according to the invention is characterised in that the floating element is made of relatively thin-walled, light weight reinforced concrete, has the form of a plane base member having a square cross-section and which along the edges is rigidly and tig ly connected to mutually coherent, reinforced side members projecting vertically upwards which form an anchoring for locking means for mutually coupling together neighbouring floating elements, and flange- forming flaps which are adapted to form stops against a neigh¬ bouring floating element projecting laterally outwards relative to the side members.

By means of the said light weight floating elements, that is to say thin-walled floating elements having an essentially shell-shaped design, there can be guaranteed with a moderate height of the side members a suitable free board for the floating elements, and for two or more floating elements which are jointed together to a larger floating section. After a controlled launching of the floating section from the floating pontoon by gradually submerging the floating pontoon, there is the possibi¬ lity thereafter of transferring the floating elements in a floating condition to the location for coupling together in a readily controllable manner for connecting neighbouring sections together into a coherent raft construction.

Furthermore during the assembly there is the possibility for easy access for connecting together the floating elements and the floating sections at a level just at the surface of the water via side members of the floating elements. By means of the flange- forming flaps of the floating elements projecting laterally outwards it is possible to form a longitudinal slot or duct along two opposite rows of floating elements and along two rows of floating sections . By employing floating elements having a square bottom portion, there is the possibility of ensuring, in a ready manner, that the rows of floating elements are precisely in alignment with each other to form a rectilinear slot or duct, between the rows and of ensuring at the same time a satisfactory closing off of the slots or the ducts below via the impacting flange-shaped flaps. The locking means between the floating elements and the floating sections can if necessary be utilised to adjust an intended straight line path of the slot or the duct between the rows of floating elements at the same time as the slots or the ducts are set with the desired breadth. Simul¬ taneously one ensures that the bottom portions of the floating elements are set essentially in alignment with each other in a horizontal direction (if necessary combined with a local ballast loading) . At the same time it is possible to ensure an equivalent rectilinear path between the floating elements in two main directions of the raft construction (longitudinal direction and breadth direction) by allowing the locking means to extend sub¬ stantially parallel to the side members of the floating elements. Thereby one can ensure that tension and pressure forces are transmitted in the two main directions of the raft construction mainly through the side members. A considerable bracing of the floating elements can be achieved by bracing of the side members by the bottom member.

It is preferred that the side members of the floating element are mutually braced by means of transverse bracing means, preferably in the form of reinforced partition members between each of the side members to form separate chambers in the floating element.

Further features of the invention will be evident from the following description having regard to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a floating element according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective a floating section according to the invention, consisting of four floating elements according to Fig. 1 jointed together. Fig. 3 and 4 show respectively in a plan view and in a side view with sertain parts illustrated in section, the production of a floating section according to Fig. 2 on a floating pontoon.

Fig. 5 shows the floating section according to Fig. 2 in section during launching, that is to say by submerging the floating pontoon.

Fig. 6 shows the floating section in section in a floating condition on the sea.

Fig. 7 and 8 show the raft construction during jointing together of the floating section according to Fig. 2 illustrated in plan view and in vertical section respectively.

Fig_ 9 shows in vertical section a part of a joint between two floating elements.

Fig. 10 and 11 show respectively in a plan view and a side view a finished raft construction during erecton of a building or a similar construction which is to float on the sea.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a light weight, shell-shaped floating element 10 consisting of a square, horizontal base member 11, from which four rectilinear side members 12 project upwardly at right angles together with two rectilinear partition members 13 crossing mutually in the shape of a cross which extend at right angles to the side members 12. The side members 12 are arranged at a certain distance within the outer edge of the base member 11, so that they project freely outwards relative to four rectilinear flange-shaped flaps 14 of the side members.

The floating element is fabricated into a construction of concrete with associated reinforcement. For example light weight concrete can be employed in the floating elements or in parts of these. In the side members 12 certain portions of the reinforce¬ ment extend longitudinally and can for example be angled in an annular rectangular contour, while other portions of the rein¬ forcement extend crosswise and continue in the base members 11, and in the partition members 13 , and upwardly in the building which is later to be produced on the fashioned surface. In the illustrated embodiment there is employed relatively thin-walled concrete, so that the floating element takes the form of a shell construction. By this there can be employed relatively moderate heights for the side members, but nevertheless there can be ensured sufficient free board when the floating element is launched.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a system for jointing together four floating elements into a floating section 15 of larger square shape, the four floating elements impacting tightly together edge-to-edge. The floating section does not need in itself to be totally rigid, but can be permitted a certain movement by wave motion and the like. If necessary the elements can be cast together into a coherent floating secttion via a common bottom member. Alternatively the floating elements can be made separately and jointed together by means of locking means between adjacent side members of two neighbouring elements (as shown correspondingly in Fig. 7 and 8) . In all instances provision is made for leaving mutually aligned, longitudinal and transverse slots or ducts 16a and 16b respectively between the floating elements.

In Fig. 3 and 4 there is shown a floating pontoon 17 in the form of a working platform. The floating pontoon 16 is anchored by means of pieces of chain 18 to two opposite floats 19. The working pontoon 17 is adapted to form a solid, level foundation for the fabrication of the floating section 15 directly on this and if necessary also for the fabrication of the floating elements 10 directly on this, followed by a jointing together of the floating elements in the floating condition on the sea surface S into a coherent floating section 15. Alternatively the floating elements can be made on land and transferred by crane or derrick to the working pontoon 17 for subsequent jointing together of four floating elements into a coherent floating section. ^•

Even if it is not shown in the drawing, a smaller or larger number of floating elements in each floating section can be jointed together in practice, but a module of two or four floating elements in each floating section (rectangular or square) is preferred on account of later jointing together of the floating sections into a coherent raft construction which can cover the area for a building or the like. In Fig. 5 the working pontoon 17 is shown in a partially submerged condition and supported by floats 19. In Fig. 6 the floating section is shown after this is caused to float, that is to say after the working pontoon is lowered substantially below the floating section and the working pontoon 17 and the floats 19 are removed. The working pontoon is adapted to be filled with compressed air from a source of compressed air not shown further with associated air supply pipes and/or emptied of water ballast by means of pumps. The valve arrangement for filling the pontoon with water or with air is not shown either, since this equipment is designed in a conventional manner.

In Fig. 7 and 8 the jointing together of several sections 15 is shown for sectional assembling of the raft construction, there being indicated a first type of locking means 20 which extends parallel to side members 12 of the floating elements and a second type of locking means 21 which extends in alignment with the partition members 13. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7 and 8 there are the jointed together floating elements or the mutually braced floating elements in each floating section with equivalent locking means 20 and 21. It will be especially evident from Fig. 7 that one obtains through-going tension-absorbing and pressure-absorbing reinforcing means via the side members 12 and the locking means 20 and via the partition members 13 and the locking means 21, that is to say in the longitudinal direction as well as in the transverse direction of the raft construction. Furthermore it should be evident that there is obtained in addition an essentially square junction point-forming localising of the locking means 20 in the corners between each set of four floating elements 10 impacting together.

In Fig. 9 there is shown in detail a jointing together of two floating elements _ There are shown a pair of upper and lower locking means 20a, 20b, for example in the form of pieces of reinforcing rod which are permanently welded or connected in another manner to fittings 20c, 20d fastened to the reinforcing rod 12a in side member 12 of the floating element. Alternatively the locking means can consist of tension rods or similar axiallly regulatable locking means. On the under side of the joint 22 between edge flaps 14 of the floating elements there is arranged a seal-forming wooden strip 23 which is fastened via a bolt 24 with nut 24a and stop disc 25 which forms an abutment against the upper side of the edge flaps 14. In the joint 22 between the edge flaps 14 and in a layer 26 above the edge flaps 14 there is cast a water-durable joint material for example in the form of con¬ crete. By means of the joint connection as shown in Fig. 9 and suitable end walls 27 (see Fig. 10) at outer edges of the raft construction there is defined a coherent network-formed duct system in all directions of the raft construction. In this duct system there are inserted tension-absorbing reinforcements 15a, 15b for example such as indicated in Fig. 10 and 11, there being cast with concrete into the duct system transverse and longi¬ tudinal foundation girders or foundation pedestals in coherent connection with the locking means 20 and 21 between the rein¬ forcement in the floating elements. At 28 and 29 there are indicated by broken lines the outer walls and partition walls of the final construction (building) , and at 30 there are indicated extra bracing means which extend cross-shaped on top of each floating element, that is to say on top of the partition members 13 impacting in the shape of a cross.

In the arrangement as shown in Fig. 10 and 11 there are employed separate edge-forming floating elements 31 which are jointed together with adjacent floating elements 10 in the raft construction in a manner equivalent to that shown in the mutual jointing together of the floating elements 10. The floating elements 31 can form supports for the end walls 27 or be provided with projections which form the end walls 27. Furthermore the floating elements 31 with the side walls can form equivalent boundaries for the ducts 16a and 16b. As shown the elements 31 are provided on account of the reduced dimension laterally with a substantially greater height (draught) than the elements 10.

During bracing of the raft construction by casting in the slots -or the ducts 16a and 16b, one- can start for example with the casting in the ducts along the periphery of the raft, in order thereafter to drain water which is closed off in the remaining duct system. In this way the weight loading on the raft construction can be effectively reduced before effecting the further casting in the raft construction. If the need exists it is obviously also possible by way of introduction to erect a higher projecting outer wall on the raft construction such as shown by 32 in Fig. 11 before effecting the casting in the afore-mentioned remaining duct system. Without it being shown herein the spaces which are defined in each floating element between the side members 12, the partition members 13 and the base members 11 are if desired filled in with light concrete or reinforced concrete, depending upon the need for reinforcement of the base plate or with ballasting filling materials.

Instead of casting the partition members 13 in each individual floating element 10, such as indicated before the launching, one can for example only fasten in position the reinforcement or portions of the reinforcement for the partition members 13 before the floating element 10 or the floating section are launched, the casting itself of the partition walls 13 being able to be effected after the raft construction has been sealed off and safeguarded by filling in casting material into the ducts 16a and 16b along the periphery of the raft construction.

In producing the floating elements provision is made for casting in fastening fitting for the locking means 20 and 21. For certain of the locking means, for example the four pairs of locking means 20 which connect four floating elements 10 at an impacting corner into a coherent floating section, the locking means can if desired be cast directly into side walls of the floating elements in a case where the floating elements and the floating section are made by casting on the working pontoon.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Process for producing on sea or lake of a coherent, floating construction, such as quays, buildings or the like, in that floating elements (10) or floating sections (15) are assembled, while they float on the sea or the lake, by means of locking means (20, 21) into a coherent, self-floating raft construction while bounded by a coherent network of vertical, upwardly extending slots or ducts (16a, 16b), after which the network of slots or ducts are filled with a sea-durable casting material which is hardened with possible reinforcing means cast therein, characterised in that a floating section (15) of two or more floating elements (10) is erected on a floating pontoon (17) which floats on the sea or the lake, by means of the locking means (20, 21) to form intermediate, vertical, upwardly extending slots or ducts (16a, 16b), after which the floating section is caused to float, while the floating pontoon is submerged in the sea or the lake, and thereafter by means of further of the said locking means (20, 21) the floating section (15) is jointed together with one or more neigbouring sections to form the coherent raft construction with mutually aligned slots or ducts (16a, 16b) longitudinally and transversely of the raft construction.

2. Process in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the floating elements (10) are made by casting directly on the floating pontoon (17), preferably on simultaneously connecting two or more floating elements (10) by means of locking means (20, 21) into a coherent floating section (15) .

3. Floating element for carrying out the process according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the floating element (10) which is made of reinforced concrete, has the form of a plane base member (11) which has a square cross-section and which along the edges is rigidly and tightly connected to mutually coherent, vertical upwardly projecting, reinforced side members (12) which form anchorages for locking means (20, 21) for mutually coupling together neighbouring floating elements, and flange-forming flaps (14) which are adapted to form stops against a neighbouring floating element projecting laterally outwards relative to the side members.

4. Floating element in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that side members (12) of the floating element (10) are mutually braced by means of transverse bracing means, preferably in the form of reinforced partition members (13) between each pair of side members (12) to form separate chambers in the floating element.