EP1541458B1

EP1541458B1 - Method for constructing a float

Info

Publication number: EP1541458B1
Application number: EP04106399A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hendrikus Johannes Maria Van Dijk
Original assignee: Unidek Group BV
Current assignee: Unidek Group BV
Priority date: 2003-12-12
Filing date: 2004-12-08
Publication date: 2009-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-08
Also published as: DK1541458T3; EP1541458A3; DE602004019620D1; ATE423728T1; NL1024998C2; ES2322588T3; EP1541458A2

Abstract

A method for constructing a float for at least one building to be placed thereon, which float is at least substantially made of a buoyant material, characterized in that a concrete foundation is formed in the buoyant material of the float. In a preferred embodiment, the concrete foundation is provided in situ.

Description

The invention relates to a method for constructing a float for at least one building to be placed thereon, which float is at least substantially made of a buoyant material.
Such a method is known from European patent No. 0 058 654 (Hedén). Said method is based on the use of a float made of expanded polystyrene, through which a pipe extends, which pipe serves both as a ventilation pipe and as a point of attachment when the entire arrangement is to be lifted up out of the water. With the known method, a greenhouse is placed on the float, wherein use is made of columns which are fixed to the aforesaid pipe by means of arms.
A drawback of the method that is known from the aforesaid European patent publication is the fact that an unstable float is provided. Said instability may lead to swell-induced rocking of the float, for example, which may result in serious damage being caused to the greenhouse that is present thereon. The known float and the greenhouse that is built thereon may even sink as a result of said rocking of the float. It stands to reason that the aforesaid instability involves economically unacceptable risks.
The object of the invention is to obviate this instability drawback, and in order to accomplish that object a method of the kind referred to in the introduction is according to the invention characterized in that a concrete foundation is formed in the buoyant material of the float. Thus a solid, durable and stable float suitable for all kinds of uses is provided, with a "floating foundation" being obtained, as it were.
Another object of this invention is to improve the method for constructing a buoyant foundation as the one disclosed by the document US-4 548 153 , which is considered to be the closest prior art.
In a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, the concrete foundation is provided in situ. By constructing the float in situ, i.e. in the water, the construction of the present float can take place in a very efficient and cost-saving manner, which no longer involves costly, labourious and risky transportation of a float that is ready for use from a construction site to the site where the float is to be used.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, recesses are formed in the float, into which recesses concrete is subsequently poured so as to form the concrete foundation. In particular, recesses being communication with each other are formed in the float, wherein concrete is poured into one of the recesses from a central part of the float. This achieves that the concrete is distributed from said one recess in the central part of the float over all the recesses that are in communication with said one recess. By pouring concrete in the central part of the float, possible instability of the float due to rocking thereof during the provision of the concrete foundation is prevented.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, the recesses are formed in the float by means of a material-removing operation. Said material-removing operation is a cutting, sawing or milling operation.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, the float is at least substantially constructed of blocks of a buoyant material, wherein groups of blocks are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks. Preferably, the float is at least substantially constructed of at least two layers of blocks of a buoyant material, wherein blocks in the lower layer abut against each other and wherein groups of blocks in the upper layer are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks. In particular, the float is at least substantially constructed of at least three layers of blocks of a buoyant material, wherein blocks in the lower layer abut against each other and wherein groups of blocks in the middle layer and the upper layer are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, the buoyant material is a synthetic material, in particular expanded polystyrene, also called "styropor".
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, a bumper is formed round the float. Said bumper is in particular made up of blocks of concrete and/or blocks of a buoyant material, such as the aforesaid expanded polystyrene.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, at least one house is built on the float in situ. In another variant, a greenhouse is built on the float in situ.
In another preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, a water reservoir having a wall of a flexible plastic material is present at the bottom side of the float, which reservoir functions to supply the greenhouse with water.
Preferably, a reinforcement is provided in the recesses before concrete is poured into the recesses. Such a reinforcement can be mounted in the recesses in such a manner as to be spaced from the bottom thereof by means of spacers. If a reinforcement consisting of cables is used in the recesses, said cables can be tightened (after pouring and curing of the concrete), e.g. by means of swivels, so as to set up a tensile force in the concrete. Instead of using separate cables it is also possible to provide an assembly of cables - a so-called cable cage - in the recesses.
Instead of using a separate reinforcement, it may be preferable to use fibre-reinforced concrete. Concrete of this type is reinforced with metal fibres, for example.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, in which:

Figs. 1-4 show successive steps of the construction in the water of a float according to the invention; and
Fig. 5 shows a greenhouse present on the float that has been constructed in accordance with the steps as shown in Figs. 1-4.

Figs. 1-4 show a preferred variant of the construction of the present float of at least three layers of blocks of expanded polystyrene, with blocks in the lower layer abutting against each other (Fig. 1) and groups of blocks in the middle layer and the upper layer being positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks (Figs. 2 and 3). Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 3, with this understanding that a bumper is provided in Fig. 4.
In Fig. 1, a first (lower) layer 1 having a thickness of 35 centimetres is formed on the water, for which two types of blocks of expanded polystyrene are used. One block type 2 has a length of about 10 m, a width of about 1 m and a thickness of about 35 cm. The other block type 3 has a length of about 5 m and the same width and thickness as block type 2. As Fig. 1 shows, the width of the float is determined by arranging the blocks in rows of four blocks 2 and one block 3, with the block 3 alternately being positioned on one longitudinal side and on the other longitudinal side of the float, seen in the longitudinal direction of the float. Blocks 2,3 positioned adjacently to each other abut against each other without interspaces, said blocks being interconnected by means of interlocking lips. The first layer 1 may be built up of two or more sublayers, with a reinforcement mat in the form of a layer of glass fabric being laid on top of said layer 1.
In Fig. 2, a second layer 4 having a thickness of about 50 cm is laid on top of the first layer 1. Said middle layer 4 is built up of eight groups 5, each consisting of two types of blocks of expanded polystyrene. One block type 6 has a length of about 10 m, a width of about 1 m and a thickness of about 50 cm, whilst the other block type 7 only differs from block type 6 in length (the length of block type 7 is 5 m). Within each group 5, the blocks are arranged in alternating rows - seen in the transverse direction of the float - of two blocks 6 being in line with each other on the one hand and one block 6 with two blocks 7 on either side thereof on the other hand. Blocks 6,7 positioned adjacently to each other within a group 5 abut against each other without interspaces being present therebetween, said blocks being interconnected by means of interlocking lips. Fig. 2 shows the groups 5 in the middle layer 4 to be so arranged relative to each other that recesses 8 are formed between adjacent groups 5. Said recesses 8 form interspaces, which can subsequently be filled with concrete so as to form the concrete foundation of the float.
In Fig. 3, a third (upper) layer 9 having a thickness of about 50 cm is subsequently laid on top of the second layer 4, with thirty-two groups 10 of blocks of expanded polystyrene being used. Each group 10 is built up of four blocks 11 having a length of about 5 m, a width of about 1 m and a thickness of about 50 cm. The blocks 11 forming a group 10 abut against each other with their longitudinal sides, being interconnected by means of interlocking lips. As Fig. 3 shows, the groups 10 in the upper layer 9 are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses 12 between adjacent groups 10 of blocks 11. The recesses 12, too, form interspaces which are subsequently filled with concrete so as to form the concrete foundation of the float.
Fig. 4 shows the subsequent provision of a bumper 13 on the layer 1 and along the circumferential edge of the whole of layers 4,9, which bumper 13 is built up of blocks of concrete 14 having a length of about 5 m, a width and a thickness of about 1 m. In an alternative embodiment, the blocks 14 are made of expanded polystyrene.
Finally, concrete is poured on the float from the centre thereof. Since the recesses 8,12 are in communication with each other, the concrete is distributed over all the recesses 8,12. In this way a solid, durable and stable float is realised, with a concrete foundation being provided in the expanded polystyrene of the float.
Fig. 5 relates to a next step, in which a greenhouse 15 is built on the float.
To prevent the layers 1, 4, 9 from shifting in horizontal direction relative to each other, blocks of adjacent layers that are positioned above each other may be locked in position with respect to each other. Such locking may for example be effected by means of an adhesive, such as a glue. In the latter case, the blocks that are positioned above each other are glued together, therefore.
It is also possible to interconnect blocks 11 of adjacent groups 10 of the layer 9, which are separated from each other by a recess 12, by means of brackets of substantially U-shaped cross-section. One leg of the U-shaped cross-section is inserted into one block 11 in that case, whilst the other leg is inserted into the other block 11. The base of the U-shaped cross-section bridges the recess 12 between said blocks 11 of adjacent groups 10 in that case. Thus, said blocks are prevented from shifting in horizontal direction with respect to each other.
It is noted that the invention is not limited to the preferred variant that is shown herein, but that it also extends to other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Thus it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not necessary within the framework of the invention to use the blocks 2,3,6,7,11 in the configuration as illustrated in the drawing. The essential feature of the invention is the fact that a concrete foundation is provided in the buoyant material of the float.

Claims

A method for constructing a float for at least one building to be placed thereon, which float is at least substantially made of a buoyant material, characterized in that a concrete foundation is formed in the buoyant material of the float.
A method according to claim 1, wherein the concrete foundation is provided in situ.
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein recesses are formed in the float, into which recesses concrete is subsequently poured so as to form the concrete foundation.
A method according to claim 3, wherein recesses being communication with each other are formed in the float, and wherein concrete is poured into one of the recesses from a central part of the float.
A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the recesses are formed in the float by means of a material-removing operation.
A method according to claim 5, wherein said material-removing operation is a cutting, sawing or milling operation.
A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the float is at least substantially constructed of blocks of a buoyant material, wherein groups of blocks are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks.
A method according to claim 7, wherein the float is at least substantially constructed of at least two layers of blocks of a buoyant material, wherein blocks in the lower layer abut against each other and wherein groups of blocks in the upper layer are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks.
A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the float is at least substantially constructed of at least three layers of blocks of a buoyant material, wherein blocks in the lower layer abut against each other and wherein groups of blocks in the middle layer and the upper layer are positioned in spaced-apart relationship so as to form recesses between adjacent groups of blocks.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 9, wherein said buoyant material is a synthetic material, in particular expanded polystyrene.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 10, wherein a bumper is provided round the float.
A method according to claim 11, wherein the bumper is made up of blocks of concrete and/or blocks of a buoyant material.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 12, wherein at least one house is built on the float in situ.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 12, wherein a greenhouse is built on the float in situ.
A method according to claim 14, wherein a water reservoir having a wall of a flexible plastic material is present at the bottom side of the float, which reservoir functions to supply the greenhouse with water.