GB190617949A - A Floatway System for the Permanent Erection of Floating Docks, Harbours Breakwaters, Bridges, Promenades, and Tunnels. - Google Patents

Abstract

17,949. Pecknold, H. Aug. 10. Docks; quays; breakwaters; harbours; piers. -Pontoons or floats, designed for forming permanent docks, harbours, breakwaters, &c., and adapted as supports for floating bridges or tunnels, are built up of two structures connected and braced together as shown in Fig. 1. In building breakwaters, harbours, &c, the pontoons, which are of uniform size and are fitted with ballast tanks, are secured end to end by any suitable connexion, such as that shown in Fig. 2. A bar B, passing through the adjacent ends of the pontoons, is secured by cotters 3, as shown. The pontoons are fitted with end rubbing pieces and are anchored in any suitable manner to the sea bed. In one arrangement for anchoring, metal blocks C, D, Fig. 3, are placed on the sea bed and are interlocked as indicated, the pontoons being attached to them by mooring-chains. In building harbours or docks, any suitable number of the braced pontoons are placed approximately end to end at such angles as to cause the whole structure to enclose the desired area. The above-water parts of the dock wall may be utilized as a breakwater, or warves, warehouses, or roadways may be built upon them. The shore end of the pontoons is carried in a cutting or creak 17, Fig. 6, and is kept at a constant height by the cantilever structure shown, the free end of which bears upon the end of the most shoreward pontoon. When applied for carrying railways across the sea, the arrangements shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are adopted, the pontoons 19, 20, 25 being fitted with tunnels, bridges, or other superstructures, such as those shown. A clear waterway is provided, as indicated in Fig. 8. The necessary buoyancy for heavy superstructures may be obtained by placing the twin pontoons in parallel series with intervening cross-pontoons. These twin pontoons may be utilized in building sea-walls, promenades, &c.