FR3059979A1 - INFLATABLE GRAVITY ANCHORAGE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mooring anchor of any object at sea at the bottom of the sea, which can be transported deflated and which can float and then be filled with a heavy hardening fluid that gradually sinks anchor his pose on the seabed. It is formed by a diaphragm (1), which is deformable, airtight and gas-tight, in the form of a balloon of any shape, with an inflation hose (3) and a second hose (4) for pumping a pump. hardening fluid (14). Once on the seabed, the anchor is gradually filled by the curing fluid (14). The membrane (1) is provided with plates (16), of any shape, fixed by bolts or glued; In turn, these plates (16) are equipped with picks (9) or spades (10) to improve grip and friction with the seabed. The device object of the invention is especially intended for the anchoring of marine structures and boats.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

059 979

70745

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 63 B 21/26 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 09.12.16. (© Priority: © Applicant (s): NICOLINIEMILIO— FR. (© Inventor (s): NICOLINI EMILIO. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 15.06.18 Bulletin 18/24. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: ® Holder (s): NICOLINI EMILIO. ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): NICOLINI EMILIO.

£> 4 / INFLATABLE GRAVITY MARINE ANCHOR.

FR 3 059 979 - A1

The invention relates to a mooring anchor of any object at sea at the bottom of the sea, which can be transported deflated and which can float and then be filled with a heavy hardening fluid which gradually causes the anchor to sink its laying on the seabed.

It is formed by a deformable closed membrane (1), airtight and gas tight, in the form of a balloon of any shape, with an inflation hose (3) and a second hose (4) for pumping a hardening fluid (14). Once on the seabed, the anchor is gradually filled with the hardening fluid (14). The membrane (1) is equipped with plates (16), of any shape, fixed by bolts or glued; In turn, these plates (16) are equipped with spikes (9) or spades (10) to improve grip and friction with the seabed.

The device which is the subject of the invention is specially intended for anchoring marine and boat structures.

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- The invention relates to a gravity anchor (or anchorweight) which can be adopted in any context for marine anchors in the open sea and for any need of mooring in the coastal zone.

Gravity marine anchors are generally built on land and transported to the place of installation by boat or by floating in the sea, and are formed by rigid elements whose shape and volume are those of the final anchor in place. This therefore requires heavy lifting barges to deploy the anchor in the sea and then on the seabed in one case, or to transport the rigid floating anchor on the site, before ballasting and setting on the seabed. In addition, traditional gravity anchors are rigid and do not have the capacity to adapt to the geometry of the seabed, particularly for rocky bottoms, which are very irregular.

The anchor invented and presented here overcomes all the limitations described above. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 (rocky bottom or sandy / silty / clayey bottom, respectively), it consists of a closed membrane (1) gas and water tight in the form of a inflatable balloon, of any shape (for example: spherical, cubic, prismatic or toric). This innovative element will allow the transport of the inflatable anchor on a truck or barge in a deflated configuration; The lifting of the anchor on board is carried out by means of a lifting eye (2); Once at the deployment location, the inflatable anchor is thus lifted and placed overboard then inflated until the final shape is obtained, using air or gas pumped by a flexible hose (3) equipped a valve (15). Once inflation is complete, the anchor is deployed in the water and will float. At this stage, a mixture of cement and water (or any other suitable fluid) is pumped into the anchor by a second pipe (4) equipped with a second valve (13) and an equivalent volume of air or gas is released by the sou3059979

- 2 'pope (15) through the pipe (3), in order to keep the shape of the anchor. The inflated final shape could also be imposed by means of cables or internal auxiliary bars (6). As the total mass of the anchor increases during filling with the fluid, it begins to sink into the sea until the seabed is reached.

The mixture of cement and water (14), or any other equivalent hardening fluid, will remain fluid on the bottom of the anchor during deployment and will thus allow the base of the inflatable ring to adapt to the geometry from the seabed. At this point, pumping of the fluid will continue until all air or gas has been released and the hardening fluid (14) has completely filled the volume of the inflatable anchor.

The anchor is also fitted internally with tendons (5) to fix the eyelets (8) to the cement block (14) or any hardening fluid which will completely fill the anchor. This cement mixture or curing fluid can be mixed with an additive to delay curing. Two or more eyelets (8), connected to the tendons (5), can be mounted on the inflatable anchor to allow several mooring or anchoring points if necessary. These eyelets are connected to the mooring lines (7).

The lower part of the membrane (1) of the anchor which is in contact with the seabed, is equipped with plates (16) of any shape; In turn, these plates (16) are equipped with spikes (9) or spades (10) to improve the adhesion or the friction between the anchor and the seabed. The configuration with peaks (9) adapts to the rocky seabed while the spades (10) adapt to the bottom composed of sand, clay or silt. These elements can be of any shape, such as triangular plates, rock blocks, steel spikes, etc.

- 3 70 'The external surface of the inflatable membrane is equipped with a network of cables (12), of all types and materials, to allow in inflated configuration the connection of tools (11) if necessary and to allow fouling organic (bio-fouling) marine.

Claims (10)

1. Gravity marine anchoring device, characterized by an inflatable structure, consisting of a closed membrane (1) which is gas and water tight. The membrane (1) can have any shape once inflated (for example: spherical, cubic, prismatic or toric). 2. Anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring can be transported deflated. 3. An anchoring device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the anchoring is inflated by air or by any other gas. 4. An anchoring device according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the anchoring is filled with a hardening fluid (14) composed of a mixture of cement or any fluid. 5. An anchoring device according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the device is equipped with internal cables or bars (6) to help define and stabilize the final shape of the inflated anchor. 6. Anchoring device according to claim 5, characterized in that the device is equipped with internal tendons (5), which are connected to several mooring eyelets (8); 7. Anchoring device according to the preceding claims taken as a whole, characterized in that the membrane (1) is equipped with plates (16); 8. Anchoring device according to claim 7, characterized in that the plates (16) are equipped with spikes (9) or spades (10) which can be in triangular form, rock blocks, steel spikes , etc. ; 9. An anchoring device according to the preceding claims taken as a whole, characterized in that the external surface is equipped with external cables (12) of any - 5 material, as well as tools (11) allowing the marine biofouling; 10.Anchor device according to the preceding claims taken as a whole, characterized in that the anchor, deflated, can be transported on board a truck or on the deck of a barge, and lifted by an eyelet ( 2) dedicated. ³⁰ 59979