EP2874869A1

EP2874869A1 - Floating unit and assembly for producing a modular floating structure comprising such floating units

Info

Publication number: EP2874869A1
Application number: EP13740283.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georges-Paul Deschamps
Original assignee: Deschamps SARL
Current assignee: Deschamps SARL
Priority date: 2012-07-23
Filing date: 2013-07-23
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Also published as: US20150203174A1; AU2013295048A1; WO2014016313A1; FR2993531B1; FR2993531A1; SG11201500559YA; BR112015001426A2

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a first floating unit (10) and at least one second floating unit (11) intended for assembly to form a floating structure. According to the invention, the first floating unit (10) comprises at least one assembly connecting said first floating unit to the second floating unit (11), said connector assembly comprising a projectile (15) connected to a free end of a mooring line (16) and at least one male and/or female coupling element (12) placed at one of the ends thereof. The second floating unit (11) further comprises at least one means for accommodating-holding (19) the projectile (15) of the first floating unit (10), this accommodating-holding means (19) comprising a housing (22), the shape of said projectile (15) ensuring that it is positioned in said housing (22) in a non-destructive manner and a male and/or female coupling element in addition to the male and/or female coupling element (12) of the first floating unit (10), said at least one additional male and/or female coupling element being distinct from said projectile (15) in such a way as to block, when said floating units are coupled, degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units coupled in this way.

Description

Floating unit and assembly for producing a modular floating structure comprising such floating units

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a floating unit and to an assembly for producing a modular floating structure comprising such floating units.

The present invention further relates to a floating structure with variable configuration formed by the assembly of such units. This floating structure can be a ship, a floating bridge or a floating platform.

Technological background

Floating containers are known which, when stowed together, make it possible to build a boat to fight an accidental oil spill at sea.

These containers advantageously allow a very rapid delivery of means for controlling oil slicks, by air or by ship.

In the latter case, and when the ship causing the oil spill is a container ship, these floating sea containers may already be on board.

However, the time required to assemble the various containers constituting the boat is particularly long and arduous, while the intervention of control means must be the fastest possible to circumscribe as soon as possible the hydrocarbon contaminated area.

Furthermore, it is necessary to place these containers at sea in the immediate vicinity of each other and to the shelter of the container carrier to ensure that the operators can moor them.

The assembly of these containers in the open sea can thus be achieved only under favorable conditions of sea state.

Indeed, as soon as the sea is strong, these containers undergo significant pitching and rolling movements, which upset the Maneuvers, and safety, operators to join and connect the flat faces of these containers.

In addition, it is observed that the containers then tend to move away from each other effectively prohibiting the passage of a container to another to the operator to connect them to each other.

Highly derived containers may be out of the immediate reach of the operator as the incomplete modular boat is rendered inoperable.

However, the use of such modular boats is typically made necessary following a damage or a maritime disaster occurring during adverse weather conditions.

In addition, each container is often functionalized, one carrying the propulsion part of the boat, the other the cockpit of the boat, the third constituting a storage area, ...

It is thus necessary to assemble these containers in a specific order which makes the assembly operations of these containers at sea even more constraining for operators.

These boats also have a length and a width that are determined, which correspond to the assembly of a limited number of containers in a given direction thereof.

However, there is a need for a modular boat whose dimensions can be varied at will in the longitudinal direction and / or transverse thereof.

There is also a need for such a modular boat to have a particular geometric shape, temporary or not, at least at one of its ends (bow or stern) and / or on at least one of its edges depending on the technical needs or logistics, or the wishes of the operator.

The present invention aims to overcome these various drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an assembly for the realization of a modular floating structure, temporary or not, simple in its design and its operating mode, ensuring easy assembly of floating modules between them to build this floating structure, and without risk for operators, even when this assembly must be carried out in adverse weather conditions. Another object of the present invention is such an assembly allowing an evolution in the shape and / or the dimensions of the floating structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to a method for assembling at least two floating units in order to produce a floating structure.

According to the invention, the following steps are carried out:

a) launching from a first floating unit a projectile placed at the end of a tether in the direction of a receiving-holding means of said projectile placed on a second floating unit,

b) said projectile being non-destructively received in said receiving-holding means, positioning said tether along or about a traction axis of said second floating unit and pulling said tether from said first floating unit for bringing said second floating unit closer to said first floating unit,

c) said first floating unit comprising at least one male and / or female coupling element placed on the outer surface of its shell and said second floating unit comprising at least one female and / or male coupling element complementary to said element of male and / or female coupling of said first floating unit, coupling said at least one male and / or female coupling element of said first unit and said at least one complementary coupling element of said second unit to block degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units thus coupled,

d) locking the assembly of said first and second floating units.

The projectile of the connection assembly is thus capable of being launched or projected from the first floating unit in order to ensure the coupling of this first floating unit with another floating unit without the need for an operator to intervene. during this coupling phase on this second floating unit. Once these two units coupled, the respective coupling elements cooperating to block degrees of freedom of movement between these floating units, the assembly thus formed is stable, and the operator can therefore, if necessary, climb on the ground. another floating unit to perform maneuvers or operations. For purely illustrative purposes, these operations may aim to couple this assembly with a new floating unit or to join these floating units thus coupled with complementary fasteners such as pins, keys or other locking devices, intended to be received in ears or housings placed so that they remain manipulable or accessible from the top of the floating units.

The present invention therefore advantageously makes it possible to couple floating units placed at a distance from each other without risk for the operator, the latter remaining on the first floating unit, or without personnel on board, the operations being remotely controlled.

To do this, the projectile is received in the housing of a receiving-holding means of a floating unit after being launched or projected from another floating unit, and is held there without any manual assembly step or to secure this projectile in this housing is necessary.

On the other hand, when the floating units are placed in the water, the various forces generated by the water on these floating units tend to move vertically and / or in rotation these relative to each other. The shape of the coupling elements advantageously makes it possible to block these different movements, which could lead, for example, to a defect of the fastening members ensuring the joining of the floating units thus coupled or of the mooring tensioned to ensure this joining.

In various particular embodiments of this method for producing a floating structure, each having its particular advantages and capable of numerous possible technical combinations:

said at least one female and / or male coupling element complementary to said second floating unit is guided towards said at least one male and / or female coupling element of said first floating unit when bringing said second unit closer to said second floating unit; first floating unit.

For purely illustrative purposes, this guidance can be obtained by the flared shape of a female coupling element and the complementary shape of the male coupling member. said receiving-holding means of said projectile is placed on said one or more of said female and / or male coupling elements complementary to said second floating unit,

at least the steps a) to d) are repeated with another floating unit for enlarging said floating structure, said other floating unit comprising means for receiving / retaining a projectile from said first floating unit or said second floating unit, said projectile being placed at the end of a mooring line so as to be launched from said first floating unit or from said second floating unit thus assembled to said first floating unit and at least one complementary female and / or male coupling member of another male and / or female coupling element of said first floating unit or of said second floating unit,

the shell of at least one of said floating units comprising at least one sealed compartment defining an at least partially floodable housing in which is placed a male coupling element integral with a floatable base and said shell having an opening for the passage of said male coupling element, at least partially said sealed compartment is flooded so that said male coupling element passes from its retracted position in which it is fully placed in said compartment to its extended position in which it is placed in position. protruding from said shell to mate said floating unit with another floating unit having a complementary female coupling element,

each receiving-holding means comprises an opening for the passage of said projectile, at least one wall comprising a stop-forming face for blocking the projectile when the latter has passed through said opening, is placed in contact with said abutment-forming face, said wall comprising a passage allowing the release of at least a portion of the end of the mooring tied to said projectile, said passage not allowing the passage of said projectile.

The present invention also relates to an assembly for implementing the method for producing a floating structure as described above, comprising a first floating unit and at least one second floating unit intended to be assembled together to form said floating structure. According to the invention,

said first floating unit comprising a shell, it comprises at least one connection assembly to said second floating unit, said at least one connection assembly comprising a projectile connected to a free end of a mooring line, and at least one element of male and / or female coupling placed on said shell of said floating unit,

said second floating unit comprises at least one receiving-retaining means of at least said projectile of said first floating unit, said receiving-retaining means comprising an opening for the passage of said projectile, at least one wall comprising a stop-forming face; to block the projectile when the latter having passed through said opening, is placed in contact with said abutment face, said wall comprising a passage allowing the release of at least a part of the end of the mooring line connected to said projectile, said passage not allowing passage of said projectile, and a female and / or male coupling element complementary to said male and / or female coupling member of said first floating unit, said at least one female and / or male coupling element complementary to said projectile, so that said at least one male and / or female coupling member of said first unit float engages and cooperates with the female and / or male complementary coupling element of said second floating unit during the coupling of said floating units to block degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units thus coupled.

In various particular embodiments of this assembly for producing a floating structure, each having its particular advantages and capable of numerous possible technical combinations:

at least said first floating unit comprises a first male and / or female coupling element at a first end of said first floating unit and at least a second male and / or female coupling element placed on the periphery of said first unit floating at a location distinct from said first end to mate with a third floating unit, said third floating unit having a complementary female and / or male coupling element of the second coupling member of the first floating unit so as to block degrees of freedom of movement between said first and third floating units when mating these floating units.

The first floating unit may then comprise a second connection assembly comprising a projectile connected to a free end of a tether for its connection to said third floating unit, or a projectile-receiving means of a projectile of said third floating unit, said receiving-retaining means having a housing for receiving said projectile, the shape of said projectile ensuring its placement in said housing in a non-destructive manner.

the shell of at least said first floating unit having at least n faces with n≥3, at least one of said faces comprises a male and / or female coupling element for coupling said first floating unit with an element complementary coupling female and / or male of another floating unit so as to mate said floating units and to block degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units thus coupled, and in that said first floating unit comprises for each face of said shell comprising a male and / or female coupling element, a connection assembly comprising a projectile connected to a free end of a tether for its connection to the corresponding floating unit, or a receiving-receiving means; holding a projectile of the corresponding floating unit, said at least one female and / or male coupling element complementary to said a floating unit being distinct from said projectile,

said projectile is a hollow or solid spherical body,

said or each of said receiving-retaining means of said at least one projectile opens into the upper part of said corresponding floating unit, said upper part being placed opposite the lower part of said floating unit intended to be at least partially immersed; by ensuring the buoyancy of said floating unit.

Preferably, said or each of said receiving-holding means of said at least one projectile comprises an orifice placed in the upper part of said corresponding floating unit, said orifice being in communication with said housing placed inside said floating unit, said orifice being delimited on at least a portion thereof by a funnel-shaped wall for guiding said at least one projectile towards said housing. This funnel may have any suitable shape such as pyramidal, conical or frustoconical. Preferably, the upper end of this funnel is flush with the upper surface, or bridge, of the corresponding floating unit.

Advantageously, the passage opens on the one hand on the orifice placed in the upper part of the corresponding floating unit and on the other hand, on the periphery of this corresponding floating unit, this passage being intended to receive a portion of said mooring line. .

The lower end of this passage may be centered on a corresponding coupling element or on the face of said floating unit carrying said at least one corresponding coupling element.

This embodiment advantageously allows to orient the mooring and therefore to bring the floating units in a preferred direction.

at least one of said floating units comprising means for receiving and holding said projectile) further comprises means for folding said projectile towards said receiving-holding means, said folding means being retractable between an inactive position and an active position where it is projecting from the deck surface of said floating element. This folding means advantageously allows, when it is deployed, to intercept the projectile launched or projected and to bring it back to the orifice of the receiving-holding means.

As a purely illustrative example, this folding means can be formed by a bridge portion of the corresponding floating unit, which is raised and lowered by means of at least one remotely controlled actuator.

said housing has a hollow cylindrical shape.

The inner surface of this housing can be smooth.

The receiving-holding means may comprise a retractable partition for blocking the projectile in this housing. This partition may then include a recess for the passage of the mooring which is connected to the projectile.

This partition can be moved in the orifice to close the housing by means of an actuator such as a cylinder.

- Mooring said or each of said connection assemblies at its other end connected to a winding device / unwinder of said mooring and passes through a coupling member of said floating unit, preferably in the center of said member.

This winder / unwinder device advantageously makes it possible to tension the tether and to block the floating units thus coupled together forming a rigid structure.

at least one of said floating units comprising a connection assembly comprises a launching device and / or a device for depositing said projectile.

Preferably, it comprises in addition to the launch device, a sighting device facilitating the operator launching or firing the projectile to the receiving-retaining means of another floating unit.

Alternatively, if this operator controls the firing or launching of the projectile remotely, the launching device and / or the depositing device can be coupled to a camera.

Advantageously, said launching device and / or said depositing device are placed in the upper part of said at least one of said floating units, said upper part being placed opposite the lower part of said floating unit intended to be at least partially immersed in providing buoyancy of said floating unit.

said male coupling element has an isosceles triangle-based prism shape, the lateral faces of this prism being rectangular or trapezoidal, the female coupling element having a complementary shape to ensure the adjustment of said elements during their coupling ,

- At least one of said floating units comprises a propulsion system of said floating structure, said propulsion system being reported or not.

Thus, preferably, a propulsion system is attached to at least one of the floating units, not initially provided with such propulsion means, which advantageously makes it possible not to require an order in the assembly of these floating units.

- At least some of the coupling members may have a variable geometric shape in at least one of their dimensions, which could result for example from the combination of at least two distinct geometric shapes. For purely illustrative purposes, the male coupling member could thus be broken down into two parts arranged along its longitudinal dimension, a first part placed at its free end and a second part integral with the body of the corresponding floating unit.

This first part would have a shape ensuring its guidance in the female complementary coupling member, such as a conical shape. The second part for its part comprises a cylindrical body of smaller section and provided with at least two fins laterally projecting from the cylindrical body in a horizontal plane (and / or vertical).

The complementary female coupling member of this male member also comprises two parts:

^* A first receiving portion of the male member comprising an opening delimited by two mobile jaws so as to move away from each other during the passage of the first part, these jaws defining a funnel when they are in contact with each other, and

^* A second part forming a housing for receiving and rigidly holding the first part of the male coupling member, such as a cavity of complementary shape to that of the first part.

Once the first part of the male coupling member engaged in this housing, there would then be no more obstacle for the jaws returned to their initial position by compression springs, are closed on the second part of the housing. male coupling member thereby enclosing the first part of the male coupling member and also blocking the pivoting of one floating unit relative to the other. Alternatively still, at least some floating units could have on the same side two coupling members intended to block each movement of the ship in a given direction.

As an illustration, one of these members could ensure the blocking of the vertical displacement of the floating units relative to each other while another coupling member would ensure the pivotal locking of these floating units.

at least some of said floating units comprise a hydraulic and / or electrical circuit comprising at least one connection port whose end is placed at the outer shell surface of said corresponding floating unit, said port coming into abutment with a port of connecting another floating unit when they are coupled to ensure the continuity of hydraulic circuit and / or electrical said units thus coupled.

These connection ports can advantageously be configured so that the hydraulic and / or electrical connection between two ports is automatically established when the two corresponding floating units are mated.

said receiving-holding means of said projectile is placed on said one or more of said female and / or male coupling elements complementary to said second floating unit.

the shell of at least one of said floating units comprises:

^* At least one sealed compartment defining a housing at least partially flooded in which is placed a male coupling member secured to a base adapted to float,

^* An opening into said compartment for the passage of said male coupling member when said sealed compartment is at least partially invaded by water, and

means for at least partially invading said compartment with water.

at least one of said floating units has a shape different from the other floating unit (s).

The present invention also relates to a modular floating structure comprising at least two floating modules assembled together. According to the invention, at least some of said floating modules are floating units of the set as previously described.

This floating structure that can be temporary or permanent, can then form a boat, a floating bridge, a floating bridge or a floating platform to receive facilities.

The invention further relates to a floating unit comprising:

at least one connection assembly comprising a projectile connected to a free end of a tether, the shape of said projectile ensuring its installation in a means of receiving and holding said projectile in a non-destructive manner,

at least one means for receiving and holding at least one projectile of another floating unit, said receiving-holding means comprising a opening for the passage of said projectile, at least one wall comprising a stop face to block said projectile when the latter having passed through said opening, is placed in contact with said abutment face, said wall comprising a passage allowing the release of at least a part of the end of the mooring line connected to said projectile, said passage not allowing passage of said projectile,

at least one male and / or female coupling element placed on the shell of said floating unit,

said at least one male and / or female coupling element being intended to engage and cooperate with a complementary female and / or male coupling element of another floating unit when coupling said floating units to block degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units thus coupled.

Preferably, the projectile is a hollow or solid spherical body. This body can be made of wood, plastic or metal.

Advantageously, said at least one receiving-holding means opens at a first of its ends into the upper part of the corresponding floating unit, said upper part being placed opposite the bottom part of this floating unit intended to be at the less partially immersed by ensuring the buoyancy of the floating unit.

Thus, said at least one receiving-holding means may comprise an orifice placed in the upper part of the floating unit, this orifice being in communication with said housing placed inside this floating unit, said orifice being delimited on at least a portion thereof by a wall having a funnel shape for guiding said at least one projectile to said housing.

In addition, said at least one receiving-holding means may comprise at least one groove, this groove opening on the one hand on this orifice placed in the upper part of said floating unit and on the other hand, on the periphery of this unit. floating, this groove being intended to receive a portion of the mooring of a connection assembly of another floating unit.

The bottom of this groove is advantageously centered on a corresponding coupling member or on the face of said floating unit carrying said at least one corresponding coupling member. In order to increase the effectiveness of the coupling member described here, it is preferably centered on the faces intended to allow coupling.

Preferably, this floating unit comprises a parallelepipedal body having the dimensions of all or part of an Iso transport container 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet or 45 feet, or any other dimension of a standard container defined by the ISO 668 and ISO 1496-1 standard or any other reference, standard or standard used in maritime, river, road, rail or air multimodal transport, this body comprising arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said unit each of said arrangements being placed at a corner of said body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, for an explanatory and non-limiting purpose, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a first embodiment of the invention, the projectile of the first floating unit being represented in different phases of its displacement towards the receiving-holding means of the second floating unit,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view in longitudinal section of the assembly of FIG. 1,

3 is a partial view in perspective of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing the floating units being mated, the projectile being represented in its final position in the housing of the receiving-holding means of the second unit; FIG. floating,

FIG. 4 is a partial and sectional sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a partial view from above of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing the assembled floating units,

FIG. 6 schematically shows an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a second embodiment of the invention, the projectile of the first floating unit being represented in different phases of its displacement towards the receiving means. retention of the second floating unit, FIG. 7 is a partial view in perspective of the assembly of FIG. 6 showing the floating units being mated, the projectile being represented in its final position in the housing of the receiving-holding means of the second unit; floating,

FIG. 8 is a partial and enlarged view of the second floating unit of an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 9 shows the projectile received in the housing of the receiving-holding means of the second floating unit of the assembly of FIG. 8,

- Figure 10 is a partial view in section of a floating unit of an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, the male coupling element being in its position of rest,

- Figure 1 1 shows the male coupling element of the floating unit of Figure 10 in its extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF

THE INVENTION

First, we note that the figures are not scaled.

Figures 1 to 5 show an assembly for the formation of a modular boat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

This modular boat comprises a first floating unit 10 and a second floating unit 11 each having the shape of a hexahedron defining a hollow body with six quadrilaterals. These bodies are here made of steel.

The first floating unit 10 comprises a male coupling member 12 placed at one of its ends. This male coupling member 12 has an isosceles triangle-based prism shape, the lateral faces 13 of this prism being trapezoidal. Alternatively, these lateral faces 13 could be rectangular.

The second floating unit 1 1 comprises a female coupling member 14 having a shape complementary to this male coupling member 12 to ensure the adjustment of these bodies 1 2, 14 during their coupling. This particular form of the coupling members 12, 14 of the units advantageously provides a progressive coupling of the floating units 10, 1 1 between them to form the modular boat.

When these floating units 10, 1 1 are coupled, these coupling members 12, 14 additionally block the vertical and rotational displacements of the floating units relative to one another.

The first floating unit 10 also has a weight 15 secured to a sling 16 and placed at the free end thereof. This sling 16 has its other end which is connected to a winding device / unwinder 17 through the center 18 of the top of the male coupling member 1 2, this body being itself centered on the rectangular front face of the body of the first floating unit 10.

This weight, which is here a hollow steel sphere, is advantageously heavy enough not to be deviated from its trajectory by a weak gust of wind while being light enough to be launched by an operator placed on the first floating unit. remote from the second floating unit 1 1 towards a receiving-retaining means 1 9 of the latter.

As a purely illustrative example, and depending on the strength of the operator, this weight of about 1 kilogram can be launched by the operator at a distance of several meters, for example ten (10) meters, with very good precision.

This receiving-holding means 19 comprises an opening 20 opening onto the bridge 21 of this second floating unit 11. This orifice 20 is in communication with a housing 22 placed in the body of this floating unit 1 1 so that the weight 1 5, once introduced into the orifice 20, falls by gravity into this housing 22.

This orifice 20 is delimited in its upper part by a funnel-shaped wall for guiding the weight 15 towards the housing 22, the upper end of this funnel being flush with the surface of the bridge 21.

This receiving-holding means 19 also comprises a groove 23, opening on the one hand on this orifice 20 placed in the upper part of the second floating unit 1 1 and the housing 22 and on the other hand, on the periphery of this unit floating at the central portion of the complementary female coupling member 14. This groove 23 receives a portion of the sling 16 after positioning the weight 1 5 in its housing 22 and allows when the floating units 1 0, 1 1 are brought closer to one another by winding of a sling 1 6 on the device Reel / unwinder 1 7 advantageously direct the coupling members 12, 14 towards one another.

The housing 22 has a cavity that is off-center with respect to the orifice 20, allowing the weight 15 to be placed in a stable position when the sling 16 is put under tension and preventing any possible release of this weight from its housing 22.

Advantageously, at least one of these floating units 10, 1 1 comprises a propulsion system (not shown). This propulsion system can be reported or be an integral part of the corresponding floating unit 1 0, 1 1.

Figures 6 and 7 show schematically an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The elements of Figures 6 and 7 with the same references as those of Figures 1 to 5 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

This assembly differs from that of Figures 1 to 5 in that the second floating unit comprises a guide means of the mooring line 1 6 to the groove or passage 23 so as to ensure the positioning of this mooring 16 along a direction preferred which is that of a traction axis of the second floating unit 1 1. This guide means takes the form of oblique cutouts 24 made in the structure of the second floating unit 11, which converge towards said groove 23.

Figures 8 and 9 are partial and enlarged views of the second floating unit of an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a third embodiment of the invention.

The elements of Figures 8 and 9 with the same references as those of Figures 1 to 5 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

The second floating unit differs from that of FIGS. 1 to 5 in that the receiving-retaining means 19 of the projectile 1 5 is directly formed on the element or complementary male coupling member of the second floating unit 1 1. For this, this male coupling member is partially recessed to have in its upper part an opening 25 allowing the passage of the projectile 1 5, which is gradually reduced to a passage or groove 26 so as to define a funnel to imprison the projectile 15 when the projectile is received in the bottom of this groove 26 and the mooring line 1 6 is energized. This groove 26 has dimensions allowing however the passage of this mooring 1 6 for its release. The lower end of this groove 26 is centered on the corresponding coupling member.

This ensures an optimization of the deck surface of the second floating unit 1 1, no place being lost to receive the receiving-holding means 19.

Figures 1 0 and 1 1 are partial views in section of a floating unit of an assembly for the construction of a floating structure according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

The elements of Figures 1 0 and 1 1 bearing the same references as those of Figures 1 to 5 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

The hull of the floating unit comprises a sealed compartment 27 defining a partially floodable housing in which is placed a coupling element 28 male integral with a base 29 able to float. The shell also has an opening 30 opening into said compartment 27 for the passage of said male coupling element when the sealed compartment is at least partially invaded with water. The floating unit further comprises means (not shown) for partially filling this compartment 27 with seawater 31. This filling means of the compartment may be a pump, the compartment preferably comprising a probe for controlling this pump so as to stop the invasion of the compartment as soon as the water level has reached a particular threshold given by the position. of the probe in this compartment 27. This level may be the floating line of the floating unit.

The coupling element 28 male can thus be released without human intervention. The floating base 29 ensures that this male coupling element 28 tilts from its retracted position where no part of the coupling element protrudes outwardly from the floating unit. an output position in which the male coupling member 28 is in position to be assembled with a female coupling member of another corresponding floating unit to form a floating structure.

Claims

1. Method for assembling at least two floating units in order to produce a floating structure, characterized in that the following steps are carried out:

a) launching from a first floating unit (10) a projectile (1 5) placed at the end of a tether (1 6) in the direction of a receiving-retaining means (19) of said projectile (15) placed on a second floating unit (1 1), b) said projectile (1 5) being nondestructively received in said receiving-holding means (1 9), positioning said tether (16) along or substantially along the a traction axis of said second floating unit (1 1) and pulling said tether (16) from said first floating unit (10) to bring said second floating unit (1 1) towards said first floating unit (10); )

c) said first floating unit (1 0) comprising at least one coupling member (1 2) male and / or female placed on the outer surface of its shell and said second floating unit (1 1) comprising at least one element d coupling (14) female and / or male complementary to said male and / or female coupling element (12) of said first floating unit (1 0), coupling said at least one male coupling element (12) and / or female of said first unit and said at least one coupling element complementary to said second unit for blocking degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units (10, 1 1) thus coupled,

d) locking the assembly of said first and second floating units (1 0, 1 1).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one coupling element (14) female and / or male complementary to said second floating unit (1 1) to said at least one coupling element (12) male and / or female of said first floating unit (1 0) at the approach of said second unit (1 1) to said first floating unit (10).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said receiving-retaining means (1 9) of said projectile (15) is placed on said or one of said coupling elements (14) female and / or male complementary to said second floating unit (1 1).

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that repeats at least steps a) to d) with another floating unit to enlarge said floating structure, said other floating unit comprising a receiving means -retenue (19) of a projectile (1 5) of said first floating unit (1 0) or said second floating unit (1 1), said projectile (1 5) being placed at the end of a mooring ( 16) to be launched from said first floating unit (1 0) or from said second floating unit (1 1) thus connected to said first floating unit (1 0) and at least one complementary female and / or male coupling element another male and / or female coupling member of said first floating unit (10) or said second floating unit (11).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the shell of at least one of said floating units comprising at least one sealed compartment defining an at least partially floodable housing in which is placed a coupling element male integral with a floatable base and said shell having an opening for the passage of said male coupling member, at least partially flooded said sealed compartment so that said male coupling member passes from its retracted position in which it is integrally placed in said compartment at its extended position in which it is placed projecting from said shell to ensure the coupling of said floating unit with another floating unit comprising a complementary female coupling element.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each receiving-retaining means (19) comprises an opening for the passage of said projectile (1 5), at least one wall comprising a face forming a stop for blocking the projectile (15) when the latter has passed through said opening, is placed in contact with said abutment face, said wall comprising a passage allowing the release of at least a portion of the end of the mooring line (1 6) linked to said projectile (1 5), said passage not allowing passage of said projectile (15).

7. A set for carrying out the process for producing a floating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a first floating unit (1 0) and at least a second unit (1 1) intended to be assembled together to form said floating structure, characterized in that

said first floating unit (10) comprising a shell, it comprises at least one connection assembly to said second floating unit (1 1), said at least one connection assembly comprising a projectile (15) connected to a free end of a tether (16), and at least one male and / or female coupling element (1 2) placed on said shell of said floating unit,

said second floating unit (1 1) comprises at least one receiving-holding means (19) of at least said projectile (15) of said first floating unit (1 0), said receiving-holding means (1 9) having an opening for the passage of said projectile, at least one wall comprising a stop-forming face for blocking the projectile when the latter has passed through said opening, is placed in contact with said abutment face, said wall comprising a passage allowing the release of at least a portion of the end of the tether (16) connected to said projectile (15), said passage not permitting the passage of said projectile (15), and a coupling element (14) female and / or male complementary to said male and / or female coupling element (12) of said first floating unit (1 0), said at least one complementary female and / or male coupling element being distinct from said projectile (1 5), so that said at least one male and / or female coupling member (12) of said first floating unit (1 0) engages and cooperates with the complementary female and / or male coupling element (14) of said second floating unit (1 1). ) during the coupling of said floating units to block degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units (10, 1 1) thus coupled.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the shell of at least said first floating unit (1 0) having at least n faces with n> 3, at least one of said faces comprises a coupling element (1 2 ) male and / or female to ensure the coupling of said first floating unit (10) with a complementary coupling element (14) female and / or male of another floating unit to ensure the coupling of said floating units and blocking degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units thus coupled, and in that said first floating unit (1 0) comprises for each face of said shell comprising a male and / or female coupling element, a connection assembly comprising a projectile (15) connected to a free end of a tether (1 6) for its connection to the corresponding floating unit, or a receiving-holding means (19) a projectile (15) of the corresponding floating unit, said at least one female and / or male coupling element (14) complementary to said other floating unit being distinct from said projectile (1 5).

9. Assembly according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said or each of said receiving-retaining means

(1 9) of said at least one projectile (1 5) opens into the upper part of said corresponding floating unit, said upper part being placed opposite the lower part of said floating unit intended to be at least partially immersed ensuring the buoyancy of said floating unit.

10. The assembly of claim 9, characterized in that said or each of said receiving-retaining means (19) of said at least one projectile (1 5) comprises an orifice (20) placed in the upper part of said corresponding floating unit, said orifice (20) being in communication with said housing (22) placed inside said floating unit, said orifice being delimited on at least a part thereof by a wall having a funnel shape to guide said at at least one projectile (15) towards said housing (22).

1 1. Assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that said passage (23) opens on the one hand on said orifice (20) placed in the upper part of said corresponding floating unit and on the other hand, on the periphery of said corresponding floating unit said passage (23) being adapted to receive a portion of said tether (16).

12. The assembly of claim 1 1, characterized in that the lower end of said passage (23) is centered on a corresponding coupling element or on the face of said floating unit carrying said at least one corresponding coupling element.

13. Assembly according to any one of claims 9 to 1 2, characterized in that at least one of said floating units comprising means for receiving-retaining (19) said projectile (1 5) further comprises a means for folding said projectile (15) to said receiving means retainer (19), said folding means being retractable between an inactive position and an active position where it is projecting from the bridge surface of said floating element.

14. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 1 3, characterized in that the tether (1 6) of said or each of said connection assemblies at its other end connected to a winding device / unwinder of said tether (16). ) and passes through a coupling element of said floating unit, preferably at the center of said element.

15. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that at least one of said floating units comprising a connection assembly comprises a launch device and / or a device for removing said projectile (1 5).

16. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that said male coupling element (12) has an isosceles triangle-based prism shape, the lateral faces of this prism being rectangular or trapezoidal, female coupling element having a complementary shape to ensure the adjustment of said elements during their coupling.

17. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 1 6, characterized in that at least some of said floating units comprise a hydraulic circuit and / or electrical having at least one connection port whose end is placed at the level of the outer shell surface of said corresponding floating unit, said port abutting with a connection port of another floating unit when coupled to provide hydraulic and / or electrical circuit continuity of said coupled units.

18. Assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 17, characterized in that said receiving-retaining means (19) of said projectile (1 5) is placed on said or one of said female and / or male coupling elements. complementary to said second floating unit (1 1).

19. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 18, characterized in that the shell of at least one of said floating units comprises: at least one sealed compartment defining an at least partially floodable housing in which is placed a male coupling element integral with a floating base,

an opening opening in said compartment for the passage of said male coupling element when said sealed compartment is at least partially invaded with water, and

means for at least partially invading said compartment with water.

20. Modular floating structure comprising at least two floating modules assembled together, characterized in that at least some of said floating modules are floating units of the assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. Floating unit for the implementation of the assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 19 comprising:

at least one connection assembly comprising a projectile (1 5) connected to a free end of a tether (1 6), the shape of said projectile (1 5) ensuring its placement in a receiving-retaining means (19); ) of said projectile (1 5) non-destructively,

at least one receiving-holding means (19) of at least one projectile

(1 5) of another floating unit, said receiving-retaining means (1 9) having an opening for the passage of said projectile, at least one wall comprising a stop face for blocking said projectile (15) when the latter through said opening, is placed in contact with said abutment face, said wall comprising a passage allowing the release of at least a portion of the end of the tether (16) connected to said projectile (1 5), said passage n permitting the passage of said projectile (15),

said at least one male and / or female coupling element (1 2) being intended to engage and cooperate with a complementary female and / or male coupling element of another floating unit when coupling said floating units to block degrees of freedom of movement between said floating units thus coupled.

22. Floating unit according to claim 21, characterized in that said unit comprises a parallelepiped body having the dimensions of all or part of an ISO container, said body having arrangements for gripping, handling and fixing said unit, each of said arrangements being placed at a corner of said body.