Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
  • E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
  • E02B3/06—Moles; Piers; Quays; Quay walls; Groynes; Breakwaters ; Wave dissipating walls; Quay equipment
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B7/00—Barrages or weirs; Layout, construction, methods of, or devices for, making same
  • E02B7/20—Movable barrages; Lock or dry-dock gates
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B7/00—Barrages or weirs; Layout, construction, methods of, or devices for, making same
  • E02B7/20—Movable barrages; Lock or dry-dock gates
  • E02B7/50—Floating gates
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02C—SHIP-LIFTING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS
  • E02C1/00—Locks or dry-docks; Shaft locks, i.e. locks of which one front side is formed by a solid wall with an opening in the lower part through which the ships pass
  • E02C1/02—Locks or dry-docks; Shaft locks, i.e. locks of which one front side is formed by a solid wall with an opening in the lower part through which the ships pass with auxiliary basins
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02C—SHIP-LIFTING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS
  • E02C1/00—Locks or dry-docks; Shaft locks, i.e. locks of which one front side is formed by a solid wall with an opening in the lower part through which the ships pass
  • E02C1/06—Devices for filling or emptying locks
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A10/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE at coastal zones; at river basins
  • Y02A10/30—Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a sinkable device used to make a removable barrier 5 for a channel or, generally, for in any waterway.
• This invention also relates to a removable barrier installation for a channel, which uses such a sinkable device.
• These caissons have compartments which are filled with the water of the channel to be blocked in order to sink and lay them down on the bottom of the channel. To remove the caissons, it is sufficient to expel the water contained inside, thus making them float again and then move them away to free the channel.
• a sinkable device of the type indicated above that is a device for the barrier of a channel or waterway comprising at least one inner compartment and hydraulic means designed to introduce and expel the water of the channel in said at least one inner compartment to make the device sink or float again, characterized in that this device comprises at least one operating gate for the total or partial closure of said channel.
• a removable barrier installation for a channel or a waterway which comprises said at least one sinkable device and, if required, barrier elements to make at least one barrier for said channel.
• the sinkable device always stays in the initial position, filled with water and sunk, whereas to partially or totally open or close the channel it is only sufficient to operate the gates.
• the removable barrier installation has at least one sinkable device and at least two movable gates, the two movable gates being separated from each other and each of which is able to close the channel, so as to define a chamber.
• FIG. 1 is a cross section of a sinkable device according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 - figures 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views of a device according to figure 1, in three different variants;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a removable barrier installation for a channel wherein a sinkable device is used;
• FIG. 6 to 9 are perspective views of a removable barrier installation for a channel whererein two sinkable devices are used in order to make a chamber wherein the different operating phases are represented;
• FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the sinkable device with the gate divided in three parts.
• FIGS 1 and 2 show a sinkable device or hull 20 to be used to make a removable barrier for a channel or waterway, as represented in figures 5 to 13.
• the device 20 has a substantially parallelepipedic shape comprising a first side wall
• the device 20 is divided into compartments 30 by means of watertight bulkheads 32.
• the device 20 comprises a hydraulic system 40 for each compartment 30 for filling and emptying it with the water of the channel wherein it is immersed.
• Each hydraulic system 40 comprises a water intake 42a, a water oulet 42b, four shutoff valves 44a,44b,44c,44d, a pump 46 and connecting ducts 48.
• the device 20 is provided with an operating gate or door 50 hinged at the intersection between the side wall 24b and the front wall 26 and its height is equal to the height of the device 20. At the intersection between the side wall 24b and the rear wall 28, there is a recess 56.
• the gate 50 is provided with motor means 51, such as marine screw propellers, so as to be movable between an operative position wherein it is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side wall 24b (see Fig. 6) and an inoperative position (see Fig. 9) wherein it is arranged parallel with respect to the side wall 24a or against the front wall 26.
• the gate 50 is vertically slideable and is provided with compartments designed to be filled with water and with a hydraulic system for its emptying, so as to be vertically moved.
• the gate 50 When the device 20 is laid down on the bottom 60c of the channel 60, if the compartments are filled with water, the gate 50, due to its weight, lowers itself until it lays down onto the bottom 60c and aligns itself in height with the device 20. Afterwards, if the compartments are emptied, the gate 50, due to the Archimede' thrust, begins to rise up and move away from the bottom 60c. The raised position is necessary in order to close or open the gate 50, thus avoiding the contact with the bottom 60c of the channel 60, in the manner which will be described subsequently. In figures 3 and 4, two variants of the device 20 are represented.
• Figure 3 represents a device 21 similar to the device 20 but, differently, it comprises a second gate 51, similar to the gate 50, hinged at the intersection between the side wall 24b and the rear wall 28.
• Figure 4 represents a device 22 similar to the device 20, but having four gates 50,51,52,53, the gates 50 and 51 are positioned at the intersection between the side wall 24b and respectively the front wall 26 and the rear wall 28, and the gates 52 and 53 are positioned at the intersection between the side wall 24a and respectively the front wall 26 and the rear wall 28.
• Figure 5 shows a removable installation 250 for the barrier of a channel or waterway 60 delimited by a first bank 60a, a second bank 60b and a bottom 60c.
• the removable installation 250 comprises a sinkable device 20 provided with a gate 50, similar to the previous one, a device 120 similar to the device 20 but without gates, and there caissons 71,72,73.
• the caissons 71,72,73 have compartments which can be flooded with the water of the channel 60, so that they can be sunk and laid down onto the bottom 60c. When the caissons have to be removed, it is sufficient to expel the water contained inside and, then, to move the caissons away.
• the caissons 71,72,73 are positioned inside the channel 60, so as to form a barrier 70, since they are sunk and then, laid down on the bottom 60c with the caisson 71 in contact with the first bank 60a of the channel 60, the second caisson 72 in contact with the caisson 71 and the caisson 73 in contact with the second bank 60b of the channel 60.
• the two caissons 72 and 73 are spaced apart to form a passage opening 76 which is delimited by a first end 76a formed by the part of the caisson 72 opposed to that resting on the caisson 71, and a second end 76b formed by the part of the caisson 73 opposed to that resting on the bank 60b.
• the device 20 and the device 120 are arranged inside the opening 76 so that, once they are sunk, the side wall 24a of the device 120 is resting against the caisson 72 and, then in contact with the end 76a of the opening 76, whereas, the side wall 24a of the device 20 is resting against the caisson 73 and then, is in contact with the end 76b of the opening 76.
• the two devices 20 and 120 are parallely arranged and spaced apart from each other, thus defining a passageway channel, which can be closed with the gate 50 which allows for the passageway of vessels.
• Figures 6 to 9 depict a removable installation 300 for the barrier of a channel or waterway 60 similar to the removable installation 250, wherein there are two sinkable devices 20A,20B of the previous type and three caissons 71,72,73 which make a barrier 70, as described above, having a passage opening 76 delimited by a first end 76a and a second end 76b.
• the two devices 20A,20B are arranged inside the opening 76 so that, once they are sunk, the side wall 24a of the device 20A, at its rear wall 28, is resting against the caisson 72 and then, is in contact with the end 76a of the opening 76, whereas the side wall 24a of the device 20B, at its front wall 26, is resting againt the caisson 73 and then, is in contact with the end 76b of the opening 76.
• the two devices 20A and 20B are parallely arranged and spaced apart from each other, thus defining a passageway channel 90 delimited by the side walls 24b of the devices 20A,20B which allows for the passage of vessels.
• the two gates 50,51 define a chamber which functions as follows.
• the removable installation 300 is installed, that is the caissons 71,72 and the devices 20A,20B are sunk in the desired position and the two operating gates 50 and 51 are opened.
• the two gates 50,51 do not contain water inside and then, they are vertically raised. If required, the two gates 50,51 are closed, as illustrated in figure 6, with their ends resting against the recess 56 of the opposite device.
• the gates are filled with water and then, laid down onto the bottom 60c of the channel 60. If a vessel 92 has to pass, one of the two gates, for example the gate 51 is emptied of water, whereby it rises and moves away from the bottom 60c and then, it is opened, as illustrated in figure 7.
• FIG 10 shows a first variant of the sinkable device and a removable installation depicting an installation 400 similar to the the installation 300, wherein a device 120, similar to the device 20 but without operating gates is used and also the device 21 is used with the two operating gates 50,51 provided at the intersection between the side wall 24b and the front wall 26 and the rear wall 28 respectively.
• Figure 11 shows a second variant of the installation 500 similar to the installation 400 comprising a further second barrier 80 with three caissons 81,82,83, similar to the barrier 70, where the caisson 81 is resting against the bank 60a of the channel 60, the caisson 82 is resting against the caisson 81, and the caisson 83 is resting against the bank 60b.
• the caissons 82 and 83 are spaced apart from each other to define an opening 86.
• the device 21 is positioned in the openings 76 and 86 of the barriers 70 and 80, so that its side wall 24a is resting against the caissons 73 and 83, thus defining two passageways between the other side wall 24b and the caissons 72 and 73 which can be closed by the operating gates 50 and 51 of the device 21 respectively.
• the operating gates 50 and 51 define a chamber and, moreover, inside the two barriers 70 and 80 there is sufficient space, accessible through the gates 50,51, to also allow the simultaneous passage of several vessels and even, to form a shelter.
• Figure 12 shows another variant of the installation indicated as reference 600, wherein the sinkable device 22 is used.
• the installation 600 comprises a barrier 70 formed by two caissons 71,72 which are resting and aligned with each other and a caisson 73 spaced apart from the previous ones to form an opening.
• Two devices 120A and 120B similar to the sinkable device 20 but without gates, rest against the caissons 72 and 73 respectively.
• the device 22 is interposed between the devices 120A and 120B, so as to define two passageway channels 90a and 90b respectively.
• the passageway channel 90a can be closed by means of the two gates 50,51
• the passageway channel 90b can be closed by means of the gates 52,53.
• Each pair of operating gates 50,51 and 52,53 define a chamber.
• Figure 13 shows another variant of the installation indicated as reference 700, wherein there are two barriers 70 and 80 comprised respectively of caissons 71,72,73 and 81,82,83 in a similar way to figure 11, but using the sinkable device 22 with four gates 50,51,52,53.
• Figure 14 shows an installation 800 comprising a device 23 similar to the device 20, wherein there is a passageway channel 90c in the upper part 27 which can be closed by two gates 54,55, thus defining a chamber.
• the installation 800 comprises a barrier 70 made up of caissons 71,72,73 and, similarly to figure 5, the caissons 72 and 73 are spaced apart from each other, so as to hold the device 23 which is placed in contact with the caissons.
• the device 20, and the devices 21,22,23 are also provided with inflatable tubular elements 102 which function as watertight elements. After positioning the caissons 71,72,73 and the device 20, the tubular elements are inflated, thus assuring a watertight seal.
• Fgures 15 and 16 show a variant of the watertight means which consist of small doors 110 and 112 which in figure 15 are first represented in the inoperative position and, then opened, whereas in figure 16 they are represented in the operative position and then, closed.
• the small doors 110,112 allow for an easy positioning of the device 20 and of the caissons, and furthermore it makes them independent from each other, thus facilitating both the installation and the removal of each of them.
• figure 17 shows another variant of the sinkable device 20, wherein the gate 50 is divided in three parts or gates 50a,50b,50c, so as to adjust the rate of the opening.
• the height of the devices 20,21,22,23 and of the caissons 71,72,73,81,82,83 is greater than the depth of the channel to be blocked and, moreover, the number of caissons may vary according to the width of the channel. It is also possible to create a removable barrier for a channel or a waterway and, at the same time, to allow the passage of vessels, without compromising the efficiency of the barrier thanks to the chamber.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Barrages (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-01-30 IT IT000003A patent/ITVE20040003A1/it unknown
• 2005
  • 2005-01-24 EP EP05703276A patent/EP1718806A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-01-24 WO PCT/IT2005/000033 patent/WO2005073470A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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