JPS5818277B2 - Floating factory for manufacturing building structures - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a floating factory for manufacturing modular structures for construction, and in particular, the factory is constructed from a plurality of modular barges, and the entire factory is completely disassembled to transport individual barges to various locations. Concerning floating factories that can be easily moved.

In recent years, widespread attempts have been made to develop techniques for the mass production of building supplies, such as building units and materials, in particular building supplies for houses, in factories permanently fixed above ground.

However, progress in this field has been somewhat constrained by the many building regulations that exist in each region where building supplies are supplied from fixed factories.

Additionally, the problem of locating factories near transportation routes such as railroads and highways limits the available land for such factories.

More importantly, the transportation costs of materials and units produced in fixed factories are considerable, and of course these costs increase the greater the distance from the construction site to the factory.

Therefore, the areas where products can be economically supplied from fixed factories are extremely limited.

Additionally, if a factory is required to be able to produce a sufficient variety of building structures (or units) that meet the building regulations of the area it serves, this becomes yet another cost factor and is one of the costs for a fixed factory. This is a big drawback.

An alternative to setting up fixed factories supplying a wide variety of building materials and units to selected areas is to construct temporary on-site factories on land at or in the immediate vicinity of the construction site.

However, with this method, the factory itself occupies part of the land on which the development takes place, so it is not possible to install too many facilities, and if adjacent land is available as vacant land, it cannot be rented or Buying and selling must be considered, and moreover, economical temporary factories are usually less efficient than permanent factories.
They require significant costs to move, set up, and dismantle, and often require major changes when they are moved from one location and used in another.

Therefore, in view of the problems of the prior art described above, the present invention combines the advantages of a fixed factory that can perform mass production with high efficiency, and the advantages of an "on-site" factory that can be installed relatively close to the construction site. It also aims to provide a new factory for manufacturing modular building elements.

In other words, the factory according to the invention for producing modular architectural structures is a floating factory.

The floating factory consists of a number of separate large, heavy rectangular blocks, each ballasted or constructed from scratch, arranged in adjacent relation to each other to form a work area of predetermined geometry. barges, and maintain said working area substantially stable under water motion, transfer of live loads between barges, and other conditions, while at the same time ensuring that each barge and the products and machinery on each barge are not overstressed. Each barge shall be coupled to each other to permit limited and controlled relative movement between each barge in response to extremely large forces applied to each barge to prevent damage from occurring. , and a barge coupling device arranged to be easily uncoupled to permit separation of each barge and individual movement of each barge to another location, and a barge coupling device, each permanently installed on each barge, arranged to allow easy disconnection of each barge and its individual movement to other positions. a number of major factory components, each of which is substantially independent of each other on a barge, and the substantial dismantling of each factory component by moving the individual barges; The barge coupling device, which allows the factory to be easily moved from one location to another without the need for transportation, and which interconnects each barge includes a cable which interconnects the barges;
and a line winch that normally restrains the cable but provides a controlled release of the cable in response to extreme forces applied to the cable, thereby providing a controlled release of the cable in response to extreme forces applied to the cable. A large number of barges grouped together form a group of elastic systems that allow controlled relative movement between the barges.

In this way, this floating factory can be easily moved from one location to another at relatively low cost, and creates an architectural element suitable for other projects in other locations. Changes to factory facilities for this purpose are minimal.

The barges constituting the floating factory according to the invention are, as mentioned above, balanced with ballast or constructed in such a way as to maintain the working area nearly level with all barge decks.

If this barge factory is located in still water, such as in small bays, coves, riversides, etc., where there is no heavy maritime traffic and is not covered by wakes or waves, the barges may be rigidly connected to each other at that location. , when, as is most often the case, there is some degree of water wave action on the installation site, either by natural wind waves or by sea-traffic waves, instead of keeping these barges from moving relative to each other by rigid and sturdy connections, K. The barge coupling device described above allows the barges to be elastically coupled next to each other to allow controlled relative movement, thereby reducing wave action and the transfer of loads between the barges. allow the barge to move relative to each other under conditions such as wind forces, wind forces, and other conditions that cause relative movement.

In most cases where some degree of water movement is expected, the sides and ends of the barge's hull should be flat and the hull structure strong enough to allow the barge to be coupled by controlled pressure engagement. shall be.

The weight, size and pressure engagement of the barges limit relative movement between adjacent barges, making the barge fleet as a whole very stable.

However, the above-described barge coupling device allows the barges to be elastically coupled to each other, allowing relative movement and making the movement controlled and damped.

Resilient coupling by barge coupling devices can take various forms.

When the waters of the floating factory are relatively calm and free from violent wave action, the barges of the barge factory can simply be tied together by cables.

A preferred cable configuration is to provide tie points on adjacent barges at fairly wide intervals, and to run the cable between the tie points on one barge and the tie points on other barges that are separated from each other. The extensibility of the barge allows for some elastic movement between the barges.

The cable is guided through a tie point to a tension line winch which maintains the desired tension on the cable at all times and releases when a large force is applied to the cable to allow the barge to escape.

Another method of interconnecting barges, which can be used when heavy waves or wakes from maritime traffic are likely to occur, is to connect the barges to each other by means of cables, etc., and to place pilings in a ring around the entire perimeter of the barge group. It consists of providing.

The edges of the barge group are tied to the pilings by cables and the ends of the individual ligated cables are tied to a constant tension winch.

A barrier may be supported around the barge group by these piles to protect the barge location from the action of water waves outside of this barrier.

The tension on the cables connecting the outer barges to the pilings pulls the individual barges of the group together.

The barge group as a whole acts like a large elastic net with relatively high flexibility, and individual barges are controlled by the action of the swell of waves that enter the floating factory area. The degree to which the barges are separated or spaced is controlled by cables or other ties between the individual barges so that they can swing appropriately in a controlled manner.

This elastic connection of the barge group is advantageously increased functionally by the damping and stabilizing effect of further elastic members interconnecting the barge superstructures.

As described in further detail below, each barge has columns supporting elements such as a roof and overhead equipment and, in the case of peripheral barges in a barge group, walls. ing.

However, although each barge column is structurally independent from adjacent barge columns, damping members coupled between adjacent barge columns assist in barge stability and load distribution.

This dampening element also prevents the individual barges from moving rapidly due to waves, wakes from marine traffic, or gusts of wind.

The elastic cohesion of these or other types of barge fleets provides a relatively stable working plane, but is not rigid enough to create a significant risk of the barge fleet being broken by large waves or other abnormal conditions. This has the dual advantage of not requiring strong and complex joints with .

This elastic approach allows the barge fleet to "shock absorb" by blocking only a portion of the wave and wind energy and transmitting other energy in a controlled manner from barge to barge. It becomes possible.

This preferred feature of the invention is such that the individual barges of the barge group are combined to form a single working area, and
A form of bonding that is relatively easy to disassemble and recombine is provided,
It is also quite important in terms of making it easier to relocate the factory.

The roof and exterior walls cover at least a portion, and preferably the entire, of the work area, and bridges built between barges at the factory site connect the decks of at least some of the barges so that materials and materials around the work area are covered. Create roads for the transportation of products and for people to move between barges.

The shape and dimensions of the individual barges of the entire barge fleet forming the factory are such that the overall factory is modular, allowing for various arrangements of barges to adapt the factory to the body of water in which it is built. It is preferable to

For example, all barges may be rectangular and have a length that is an integral multiple of the width.

A good modular basic body barge whose length is approximately three times its width.

In such a configuration, each barge is preferably subdivided into substantially square sections, this being accomplished by pillars at the corners of each such section.

These columns support the roof structure and the perimeter wall of the factory area.

These columns also support mobile cranes and other material handling equipment,
Used to support overhead equipment such as concrete vibrating equipment, heating equipment, and other factory equipment.

The number of barges forming a barge fleet, as well as the manner in which the individual barges are packed, vary considerably depending on the type of production operation being carried out.

A high-efficiency plant design with a working area that accommodates sufficient equipment to provide a significant production rate requires that each barge be approximately three times its width and approximately 35 feet on a side. It consists of 12 barges divided into three approximately square sections of approximately 5 m) each.

This configuration of individual modular bodies allows the overall shape of the barge group and the arrangement of the individual barges to be varied to suit the site.

One of the barges is equipped with concrete preparation and mixing equipment, and preferably three individual preparation and mixing equipment are installed in each of the three compartments of the mixing barge.

Concrete mixing barges are essentially fixed equipment and are mobile in close association with barge fleets, and therefore can be used with factories located at various locations to accommodate various forms of building elements. Only minor changes are required to produce the .

Other essentially fixed-equipped barges are barges with research facilities and offices for those who operate the factory, perform quality control, and plan functions related to the factory.

This barge is also moved from factory water to water in close association with other barges in the barge fleet.

Power supply bridges may be provided which are stationary in nature and include diesel generators, near compressors, boilers and other central main power units.

Concrete products produced on barges may be used if the water area in which the factory is set up is close to the shore and it is possible to construct a bridge or earthen embankment between the barge fleet and the shore.

After the initial strength of the material is reached, it is removed from the factory area on a fleet of barges, moved onshore for final hardening, and finally transported to the construction site.

If it is not easy or practical to move the building material directly from the factory to the ridge for curing and transport, the barge factory may be equipped with a special permanently installed steam curing barge. .

Each steam curing barge is equipped with a curing chamber that is maintained at elevated temperatures and 100% relative humidity to accelerate the curing of the concrete stock.

Steam generators for the curing chambers on the steam curing barges as well as steam supply devices are also provided on these barges;
This steam-cured barge is designed to function almost independently.

A number of steam curing barges are used to provide sufficient curing capacity to operate the plant productively for a period of time at least equal to the curing time.

Once the material is sufficiently cured, it is transferred from the curing barge directly to shore through a bridge or earth embankment, in the case of a docked factory, or to a transfer barge.

If a transfer barge is used, the factory product can be moved over a much longer distance to the shoreside work site, or transferred to a transfer zone near the work site where it can be collected and delivered directly to the work site.

In other cases, the product recovered from the steam curing barge may be transferred by barge to a convenient storage location on shore and from there to the work site.

Especially in the case of cement and aggregate used in concrete,
It is economical and efficient to send these feedstocks to floating factories by barge.

Reinforcing steel materials and other structural materials may be transported by barge, or if the factory has a bridge or earthen embankment to the land, they may be transported by truck or track.

Of course, the factory should be equipped with appropriate material handling equipment.

Where the individual barges are elastically connected to form a working area and some degree of relative movement between these barges is expected to occur, most practical material handling equipment is typically located on the factory floor. Vehicles that run on roads or tracks on a surface are used.

In such cases, the various working areas of the factory are set up to allow room for the necessary roads and tracks to be laid.

The basic type of good transport vehicle system is a tricycle with a short turning radius, such that the vehicle can turn with a small turning radius of 90° to load and unload materials on one or both sides of the road.

A barge fleet of approximately 12 Mogilara barges typically includes at least six concrete casting barges, each casting barge having appropriate concrete formwork and support equipment.

Some of the building components are injection molded in the platform of formwork that is placed vertically in the barge's hold below deck level.

Other parts are injection molded in horizontal forms on the barge deck.

Fabrication of formwork, cleaning of formwork, fabrication of steel materials, and stair components.

Two further barges may be provided for making window and door frames and their bodies, etc., which are formed in situ by casting or other stamping procedures performed in a factory.

Another one or two of the above 12 barges will have final finishing touches before the architectural structure is finally hardened and further structures are attached. In such cases, a deck with relatively many open areas may be provided.

As previously mentioned, power supply barges, office-laboratory barges, and concrete preparation/mixing barges form another basic barge unit of the factory barge fleet.

Steam-curing barges are further added to the barge fleet as needed, as are transfer barges for providing supplies to and transporting product from the factory.

In addition to providing a semi-permanent, highly efficient factory for the fabrication of architectural structures and having the advantage of being able to move the entire factory from one location to another, the invention provides: Facilities that were once developed, such as manufacturing factories, etc., declined due to the use of land, and as productivity increased from an economic point of view, they fell into a slump or remained undeveloped. Enabling the development of the economic base of coastal areas within urban centers that remain under development.

Such unused or underutilized waterfront sites exist in many urban centers and can be exploited for housing construction, among other uses.

In many cases, such sites are significantly less expensive than other home-building sites within the center of a large city.

The invention is also suitable for developing reclamation plans.

In the floating factories of the present invention, fleets of barges are often moved to convenient shore locations and connected directly to land, which is itself a construction site, by bridges or land reclamation.

Typically, factory barge fleets are disassembled at a previous location, transported by tugboat as individual barges or multiple branches, and reassembled at a subsequent location.

Typically, very little additional effort is required to assemble these barges to produce materials suitable for other operations at new locations.

In some cases it is unnecessary to refit the factory, for example when a new operation uses the same building structure as the previous operation.

In any case, much of the factory's major equipment is permanently installed on selected barges and does not need to be refitted.

On the other hand, it is also an important advantage of the invention that the provision of individual barges for new operations can be easily modified.

For example, a new formwork for the next operation may be prefabricated at or near the site of the next operation (or the previous operation) and then loaded onto a suitable barge.

Similarly, a spare barge could be pre-equipped for a new job and transported to the new factory site to be added to the rest of the barge fleet.

Since various configurations of modular barges are possible, it is advantageous that various types of water bodies can be used as factory sites.

To this end, the barges can be arranged in a geometrical shape that suits the water area in which they will be used.

The main advantage of the invention is that it allows efficient production operations on a large scale in combination with more or less temporary and mobile facilities for the fabrication of architectural structures.

This factory will be built for several months to perhaps 2-3 months depending on the plan.
It will be set up in one location for a year.

The present invention will probably have the greatest advantage when used in shorefront land development.

In this case, the factory will most likely be located very close to the planned site.

Almost every important urban center in the United States, and indeed in most countries around the world, is a body of water that is navigable enough to be approached by the relatively low-draft barge rafts used in the floating factories of the present invention. Being located relatively close to
You can find out by looking at the map.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully understood, embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to Figure 1, the barge group shown as an example consists of 12 rectangular box-shaped barges with flat sides.
Although they are about the same size.

Various sacrifices are made to satisfy several factors for factory production.

In a typical barge fleet, each barge is arranged in a variety of horizontal or vertical configurations, as described below, and consists of a base barge, as described below.

Each basic barge is designated by the same reference numeral in the accompanying drawings.

(1) Office-Laboratory Barge 0-L: This contains the necessary office equipment, laboratory equipment, restroom equipment, rest areas, and other necessary permanent equipment useful in connection with factory operations. It is suitably configured to accommodate office-type facilities.

The individual design of office-laboratory barges can vary widely.

The specific structural and architectural design of Barge 0-L or any other barge is not part of this invention.

To manage factory operations, supply various items needed by factory workers, carry out design work for factory equipment, and perform necessary tests such as quality control tests on raw materials, products, etc. It is well within the skill of the art to appropriately design and equip an office-laboratory barge in an appropriate manner and with appropriate equipment.

(2) Cement Preparation and Mixing Barge CB: This is equipped with a preparation and mixing plant for making concrete mixtures for use in the manufacture of building elements.

Preparation and mixing equipment is typically located above the deck of the preparation-mixing barge so that the mixed cement is delivered to a deck vehicle for transport to the plant's concrete pouring facility, as detailed below. There is.

The concrete preparation and mixing barge C1: can also be provided with a roof-mounted conveyor device for distributing the raw materials to the individual mixing devices.

In view of the two factors of having sufficient supply capacity to the factory and being able to manufacture the various concrete types or compositions used in the various architectural elements produced within the factory, three A mixing device is preferred.

(3) Two pouring barges P: These are equipped with formwork that is placed vertically in a platform that extends downward into the barge hold and is poured from approximately deck level. ing.

Casting barge IP, as well as two other pairs of casting barges discussed immediately below, will be discussed in more detail below.

(4) Two external panels casting barge EP: These are.

It has an in-line casting platform with either vertically oriented formwork or horizontal formwork on the deck.

(5) Finishing barge F: This may be a simple flat-deck barge equipped with minimal equipment used to carry out final finishing operations on architectural elements.

(6) Two deck casting barges DP: These are equipped with horizontal formwork for making architectural floor components.

(7) Two steel fabrication barges SF: Here reinforced steel products are assembled, and other special items are fabricated, such as ladders, window frames, door bodies, etc.

These barges can also be used for erecting formwork and cleaning formwork.

(8) Power Supply Barge PS: It is equipped with the main power supply equipment, such as generators, boilers, heating equipment, transmission, water equipment, near compressors and similar types of equipment.

Much of the equipment on the power supply barge is built into the barge hold, and is used for storage of materials used on the production barge SF, finishing of products, fabrication of formwork, steel work, special parts, etc. Part or all of the barge deck may be left open for this purpose.

Depending on the factory installation, for example, some units of the barge fleet shown in FIG. 1 may not be necessary.

A powered barge may not be used or may not be equipped with a power generator if electrical power is available from a source near shore and can be conveniently and economically brought to the barge.

Depending on the architectural project, one or more casting barges may not be required.

However, other barges may be added to the barge fleet, such as the steam hardening barges described below.

Naturally, the number of barges used for factory operations can be increased or decreased.

More generally, one advantage of the invention is that barge fleets can be tailored to the requirements of a particular production operation.

Although the basic barges create a factory site, the manner in which individual barges are sacrificed and used can be easily varied to meet the needs of individual projects.

Further, referring to FIG. 1, one suitable configuration for the factory is a simple rectangular configuration with all the barges lined up side by side.

) Preparation and mixing of the concrete takes place on barge CB located near one end of the barge group.

Fabrication of steel reinforcement and other fabrication operations are performed on the steel fabrication barge SF located near the other end of the barge.

Utility barges, office-laboratory barges 0-L and power supply barges PS, are provided at both ends of the barge fleet.

The pouring barge and the finishing barge F occupy the central area, and the finishing barge is located between the groups of pouring barges so that the product is transported from the pouring barge to the finishing barge, appropriately finished, and removed from the finishing barge for storage. It's Nishide.

2 to 4 require little explanation except for 230 points described below.

Accordingly, the specific configurations of FIGS. 2-4 will not be described in detail.

The configurations of Figures 2-4 are merely examples of the various geometric configurations by which a barge fleet can be assembled or directed to a particular body of water. This shows that it can be easily made.

In this regard, it is generally desirable that the plant be located in a relatively calm body of water, such as a bay, inlet, river, or other location where wave action is not expected to be a problem.

In general, factories will not be located in areas open to the sea.

If the water body in which the factory is to be built is located in a body of water that is expected to be subject to considerable water action, such as waves caused by natural winds, ocean waves affecting the area, or waves caused by maritime traffic, the second As shown in the Figures and described in more detail below, it is desirable to construct a barrier by driving pilings around the floating factory to protect it from the direct action of waves.

The barrier may be as simple as corrugated steel plates placed between piles.

The individual barges in the barge group preferably control the relative movement of the barges under the action of wave action, wind forces, shifting of moving loads or other forces likely to cause relative movement of the barges. The barges are interconnected and assembled to form a factory area in such a manner as is permissible.

Each barge in the barge fleet is equipped with some suitable stabilization device, many of which are well known in the art.

These devices allow each barge to be raised and lowered in the water so that it is level and its deck is level with the decks of other barges in the barge group.

In some cases, barges may be designed and constructed to float with each deck at the same height with minimal stabilization operations.

Due to the size of the barges and the way they are connected, a fairly stable, continuous and level working area can be created.

Figures 1, 8 and 11 VcI/i, tying the barges together in such a way as to permit relative movement while providing controlled restrictions on that relative movement. A suitable method for doing so is shown.

The barges of the barge group are connected at each end-to-end or side-to-side connection by cables, usually steel cables.

Each barge is then provided with at least one cable winch (usually more than one), each winch, designated by the reference numeral 10, for controlling the cable tied to the winch to a controlled tension. hold it.

Each barge has a number of so-called pabuttons'''12,
Wrap the cable around them or tie the cable to them.

Tie a cable to a button on one barge, or a first barge, lead the cable from that knot to a button at some distance on another barge, or a second barge, and connect it to a button on the second barge. Controlled restraint on barge movement by passing the cable around a button, pulling it back to another button on the first barge, and finally pulling it back to the line winch on the first barge. Utilizes the cable's inherent elasticity and extensibility to provide

For example, in FIG. 11, the tie between the end of one barge 14 and the side of another barge 16 is shown by connecting one end of the cable to button 12a on barge 14 and connecting this cable to button 12a on barge 16. diagonally to button 12d, and then pull this cable across to button 12c opposite button 12d on barge 14;
Furthermore, the cable 12b opposite the button 12a on the barge 16 is pulled back again, and this cable is connected to the button 12a on the barge 16.
2b and returning it to the tension winch 10a.

The fairly long length of the cable, which runs approximately parallel to the line between the abutting ends of the two barges, allows the cable to have a fairly large degree of elongation, allowing the cable itself to stretch and contract due to its inherent elasticity. can allow relative movement between barges.

If such a force is generated that the relative movement between the two barges exceeds the allowable limits of the extensibility of the cable itself, the tension line winch is released to allow for the excess movement. Loosen the cable and let it out.

Once the force causing the relative lift motion is removed, the tension line winch automatically hoists the cable and pulls the barge back together.

Such resilient interconnections between the barges allow relative movement of the barges both in the horizontal plane and in the vertical direction.

For example, when moving a live load from one barge to another, relative vertical movement between adjacent barges is likely to occur.

The magnitude of this movement varies depending on the amount of load.

However, the magnitude of this relative movement is always largely constrained due to the large size and weight of the individual barges.

That is, the live load to be moved is small compared to the large mass of the barge.

Therefore, wave action around the factory area. It is primarily the large mass of the barge that limits large relative movements due to wind forces and load movements.

Although relatively gentle relative movements of the barge are acceptable,
Preferably, its relative movement is controlled and somewhat limited by an elastic binding system.

On the other hand, each barge fits closely with the other barges, with the flat sides of adjacent barges engaging each other;
Each barge is fitted with rubber bumpers or pads (mounted on the sides of the barge) between the barges that provide friction from other barges against their relative movement both vertically and horizontally.
(See Figure 8) absorbs shock by increasing the friction between the barges and eliminates noise and wear and tear caused by contact between metals.

In this way, the consolidation system shown in Figures 1, 8 and 11 unites the entire barge fleet into a very stable working area, but the working area system is a controlled, relative Allowing movement, it eliminates the need to connect the barges very tightly and rigidly to each other.

In relatively calm waters, the entire barge fleet can simply be anchored with a few anchors or tied to stakes in suitable locations.

Areas of water that are subject to relatively strong wave action, for example, where the wind generates fairly large waves, where the wake of a fairly large ship is likely to cause each barge to sway, or where sea swells enter. In open water areas, the barrier and auxiliary ligature system shown in Figure 2 is preferred.

In Figure 2, the entire barge group is surrounded by piles 18, which are quite close to each other (
For example, the distance is approximately equal to the side of a section of the barge), and it is fairly close to the outer edge of the barge on the perimeter.

The piles 18 support the barrier system 19.

This barrier system may be of relatively simple construction, for example consisting of corrugated metal plates.

The piling is also the omega ligation site for the cable 20, which is held under tension by a tension winch on the barge (not shown in FIG. 2).

Typically, the = end of the cable is tied to a button 12 on the barge or to one of the stakes 18.

The cable is then tensioned to other buttons and pilings on the barge and finally returned to the barge's tension line winch.

A single tension line winch applies continuous elastic pressure to separate individual barges from other barges.

In the completed system, the barges are all tensioned by a surrounding cable ligation system, and at the same time each barge is ligated to each other.

Under these conditions, rubber (or similar) bumpers or mats 17 (FIG. 8) are placed between the barges as spacers and cushioning materials to permit rocking and relative movement.

Perimeter cable tension devices maintain tension throughout the system, while interbarge ligatures prevent adjacent barges from being pulled apart beyond the desired spacing under normal conditions.Perimeter barriers are surrounded by floating factory barriers. This makes the walled area relatively calm, but swells can enter the walled area and shake the barge.

In the resilient system of Figure 2, which allows fairly large swings to occur under controlled conditions, this system dampens the swing motion and brings the group to a stable state relatively quickly. return.

Further ligatures may be provided between the barges to increase the stability of the working area in wave-affected waters by absorbing and displacing forces.

For example, as shown in Figure 12, adjacent barge pillars (
(to be described later), a hydraulic shock absorber 21 can be provided between the two.

The angled shock absorbers shown reduce and distribute both horizontal and vertical forces from barge to barge.

Each shock absorber is coupled between adjacent barge columns by a pivot member 22.

Figure 2 further illustrates other features of the factory.

Barge SC is a steam curing barge that receives freshly made products from casting barges and finishing barges and performs rapid curing in a high temperature, 100° humidity environment.

The steam curing barge SC will be described in more detail later.

The perimeter bundling system at the right and left ends of the barge group shown in Figure 2 is somewhat different, with cables running at right angles from the pile 18 towards the barges, at the left end to the buttons on the preparation and mixing barge CB, and at the right end to the steam curing system. It extends to the barge SC button, while the barrier system is omitted.

Due to the space between the ligated cables at the left end of the barge group adjacent to barge CB, supply barges loaded with raw materials and crane barges are not allowed to reach barge CB to supply materials used in the molding of concrete. You can move forward.

The barge designated with the reference FA is a barge brought in to supply fine material such as sand.

The barge, designated with the reference number CA, is loaded with stone, ie coarse aggregate.

The barge designated by the reference symbol Ce delivers cement to the factory barge group, and the barge W is a tanker-type barge that carries water for concrete.

The crane barge Cr unloads sand and stones and supplies them to suitable conveying equipment connected to the preparation and mixing equipment on the barge CB, or directly to individual hoppers connected to each of these equipment. supply

Water is conveyed by hoses to the mixing device of the cement preparation barge CB, and the cement is unloaded and fed to the mixing device of the cement preparation barge CB by means of a pneumatic conveying device.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a supply barge, a barrier system and a steam-cured barge, so that it may be located some distance from land and possibly subjected to some wave action, as will be clear to those skilled in the art. This is for locations of water that are believed to be.

It is convenient and very economical not only because raw materials used in the factory can be supplied from barges, but also because the factory is located on the water.

The barge T protruding between the ligatures extending at right angles to the right is
Pick up the finished products from the curing barge and transport them to shore for use on shore or for transshipment.

The transport barge T that transports products from factories to shore can transport products over relatively long distances at low cost.

FIG. 3 shows another configuration of the barge group.

No further explanation of FIG. 3 is necessary except to say that FIG. Probably not.

Similarly, floating or other types of bridges can be built over water to transport raw materials to and from factories.

As mentioned above, the same reference numerals are used in all the examples in FIGS. 1 through 4.

However, there are other barges in Figure 3, such as supply barge S, which transport supplies such as reinforcing rods to the factory.

In practice, this barge can be used to take out supplies, temporarily store supplies, and transport products from the factory.

FIG. 4 shows another configuration of a factory barge and a supply barge, and there is no need to explain it again.

As is clear from the description of Figures 1 to 4, each barge has the same horizontal dimensions1.
Many of the barges may have the same basic structure.

That is, many of the barges may be deck barges, all of which have hulls of the same construction and displacement.

Differences in overall displacement due to equipment and moving loads can be adjusted with ballast to create a level working area.

In some cases, a differently shaped hull is required to accommodate special components or to bring the deck level with other working areas, but this may have a completely different volume than the basic barge.

The perimeter of each barge is lowered to the level of the main deck and is provided with a number of buttons 12, as best seen in FIG.

These buttons are provided, one on either side of each pillar (described later) and two on each corner.

Typically, line winches are provided at diagonally opposite corners of each barge.

The total length of each barge is approximately three times its total length, and each barge is further divided by columns 30 into three roughly (not exactly) square sections.

The column may be integrated with the hull structure or: 1. Alternatively, it may be inserted into a vertical shaft and temporarily secured to the ship's structure.

In the latter case, the removal of pillars to make it easier to transport the barge, especially when the barge needs to be moved through a low bridged channel that does not allow convenient passage of the barge's superstructure. I can do it.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pillars 30 are the main beams 3 surrounding each section.
Supports 2'.

This beam 32 supports the modular roof panel unit.

Details of the framework systems and modular units for the roof and walls are not shown in the drawings since the specific structural arrangement used is a matter of design.

The roof panel has 34 skylights to brighten the factory work area.
It is preferable to add .

The columns on the outside of the cluster are fitted with longitudinal members 36 for providing lightweight wall panels 38.

Preferably, this wall panel also has a window 40.

Roof and wall panels can be removed and placed on the deck of a barge for transport, and the walls can be repositioned after the barge fleet is rebuilt at another location, perhaps in a different configuration. It is preferable to assemble it.

If the columns are removable, they should be removed and tied to the deck of the barge when the barge is moved to another location.

Each barge has a superstructure that, apart from the shock absorbers of FIG. 12, is structurally independent from that of the other barges.

A flexible strip or roof connector 42 is provided between the roof and window of each adjacent barge to enclose the factory area.

For example, the roof connector may use a rubber bellows or a corrugated resilient roof and wall joining strip.

This strip or roof connector 42 allows relative movement between adjacent barges and, on the other hand, allows the working area of the factory to be completely enclosed.

As shown in some figures, the decks of individual barges are bridged to adjacent barges, for example by hinged bridging members 44.

Although in the drawings only a single relatively long hinged bridge plate is shown, in practice it is possible to accommodate the relative longitudinal swing of adjacent barges without destroying the supports at the free end of the bridge. To accommodate this, each entire bridging member between adjacent compartments of adjacent barges can be composed of several short bridge bodies.

Each bridging member 44 is preferably hinged to the end of the raised deck of one adjacent barge, with a sill 46 provided adjacent the hinge, as best shown in FIG. It is supported unrestrained by a gently curved end along the deck of an adjacent barge.

This curvature is such that it allows relative movement without causing a violent collision where the free end of the bridging member 44 meets the deck.

The empty area shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and 1. The arrows shown in FIGS. 1-4 represent roads or routes for transporting raw materials and products around the working area of the factory.

This road, or transportation route. As is apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6 and also apparent from FIG. 9, approximately one half of the inner deck portion of each compartment at each longitudinal end of each barge is provided with a When tied together, the road or transfer path may be aligned with the corresponding road or transfer path of an adjacent barge to create a straight road.

It is of course important that the factory is equipped with a raw material transportation system.

One such transport system, which currently appears to be most practical, involves the use of vehicles that move on roads left in the work area.

Preferably. Such a vehicle has a tricycle structure that allows it to rotate fairly sharply through an angle of 90°.

One type of vehicle used in the example material handling system shown in the drawings (Figures 5 and 6) includes a hopper 52 and a casting barge for receiving and removing cement from a mixer on a cement barge CB. This is a concrete transport vehicle 50 having a revolving conveyor 54 that can feed concrete into the desired formwork above.

A second type of vehicle is a mobile crane 56 with a pair of movable lift arms for grasping finished architectural element reinforcement rod assemblies - and generally various materials and products in a factory.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention has an unstaged material handling system, an overhead mobile crane, an overhead cable car, or various other forms of material handling system may be used within the factory. This is also within the scope of the present invention.

However, in one preferred configuration, the interconnection of the barge group is made such that the individual barges are not rigid to resist relative movement, but are capable of relative movement under controlled conditions. This is because such unstaged material handling systems are effective and efficient, and can be applied to flexible connections at the ends of barges, such as those found in overhead mobile cranes or overhead cable equipment. No troublesome problems arise.

Vehicles transporting materials and products inside the factory area are also used for transporting materials and products between the factory and land where a bridge or earth mound has been constructed to allow access to the factory.
It can also be used to move supplies across the water from supply barge to barge, and to load product onto transfer barges that transport product from factories to shore.

Therefore, the versatility of uncontrolled material handling systems provides several advantages over other material handling systems in industrial plants.

The drawings show a factory equipped to make modular interior wall panels, exterior wall panels, and floor or decking panels.

The modular building system consisting of these elements is a common method for mass producing reinforced concrete structures.

However, the specific building systems produced in the factory of the present invention do not constitute the present invention.

In fact, the present invention contemplates the versatility of being able to produce various types of architectural structures in mass production form simply by reconstitution of new shapes and perhaps other individual barges.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the floor or "deck" panel 60 is cast in a horizontal formwork placed on the deck of a casting barge DP; , so as to leave a road portion open for vehicles 50 and 56 to enter and exit.

The exterior wall panel 62 is also cast in a horizontal formwork placed to leave a roadway section on the exterior wall casting barge EP.

In general, interior wall panels are relatively uniform, lightweight, and simple to design, allowing for standardized production methods.

Accordingly, the interior wall panels 64 in the example are poured into a platform 66 of a form that extends vertically into the hold below the deck of the barge IP.

The formwork is constructed so that it can be opened and closed (this aspect is not shown), allowing for the removal of panels and the reinforcing steel,
It becomes easy to attach window frames, door back plates, etc. (not shown).

The platform 66 for the interior wall panel 64 below the deck allows pouring from the deck level, so that a vertical pouring method can be adopted for the above-deck concrete conveyance system by cars 50 and 56. .

Similarly, this facilitates removal of the interior wall panel 64 from the formwork.

Units for stairs and other auxiliary articles can be cast in a similar manner, for example, in molds mounted on the deck, as shown in FIG. 6, or in platform molds below the deck.

The production of reinforced concrete building materials in factories generally requires accelerated initial hardening and sufficient initial strength so that the panels can be removed from the formwork and moved after being left in the formwork for only a few hours. Includes equipment for formation and.

The mold is heated and pressure may be applied thereto to accelerate curing.

For electrical heating of the cast material, power is supplied to the formwork from a power supply barge.

The steam-heated formwork is supplied with steam generated by a boiler built into the power barge.

Hot oil or other fluids are used to transfer heat from each formwork to the concrete.

Each barge is equipped with a suitable vibrating device, and each barge is heated in zones by its own heating equipment to avoid discomfort to the workers and for quality control purposes.

These barge sacrifices are primarily a matter of technology and plant industry available for the mass production of concrete materials, and vary considerably depending on the particular method, end product, and other requirements.

As mentioned above, if the factory has a bridge or earthen embankment that connects it to the land, the product is removed from the formwork and sent to hardening equipment on land.

In offshore locations where bridges or earthen embankments are not available to access the shore, rapid curing of building elements is carried out in steam curing barges of the type shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The basic structure of this barge is the same as most of the other barges in the barge family, but the superstructure of each steam curing barge SC is further divided into curing chambers 55.

In the specific example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the curing chamber 55 is arranged and formed leaving a road section so that the crane 56 can approach the curing chamber, and the arrow in FIG. It shows the passage.

There are two relatively small steam chambers 55a at each end of the barge, and a large steam chamber 55 in the central compartment of each barge CB.
b is provided.

A boiler 14 is provided at the base of the barge SC, and the necessary steam delivery pipes 76 are introduced from the barge into each chamber 55, and each of the three chambers is provided with a vertically sliding compartment door 71.

Usually at least two, and generally more, steam curing barges SC are provided to remove the daily product from the factory and cure it sufficiently for transport to the outside.

Barges have considerable space below deck for storage of materials and supplies, concrete vibrators, electrical equipment, steam supply equipment, ballast pumps and piping, winch motors, etc. It will be clear that each barge itself generally has these facilities.

Many parts of a factory consist of permanent equipment in individual barges, and it is usually at a reasonable cost to re-equip a fleet of barges to make the factory suitable for producing the desired product. 3 Of course, this factory is long-lived so that the initial capital cost of building it is amortized over a long period of time and over the many different building projects used.

The ability to move the factory itself, instead of transporting product from a fixed factory to various locations in the region, offers significant economic benefits that more than offset the cost of barge equipment and the cost of refitting the equipment for different jobs. is obtained.

Thus, the present invention provides a versatile solution of great economic value to the building industry, and particularly to the ever-increasing demands of building houses around the world.

The foregoing embodiments of the invention are given by way of example only, and those skilled in the art will be able to make many changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention.

All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 4 are schematic plan views showing the appropriate arrangement of the floating factory of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a concrete example of the factory with the roof and walls partially removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the interior; FIG. 6 is a plan view of four typical concrete pouring barges for one factory arrangement;
An enlarged detail showing the interconnection between two barges and illustrating one way in which the barges are elastically interconnected and the trestle configuration, FIG. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side view of the illustrated corner interconnection in a plane taken along the line in the direction of the arrow; FIG. Figure 10 is
9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the end face of one of the two steam-hardened barges shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing several interconnections between the ends of several barges and the sides of other barges of the factory barge fleet, and the cable bundling and bridging configurations between the barges, and Figure 12 shows
Figure 3 is a slightly diagrammed front view of a portion of columns on adjacent barges with shock absorbers therebetween; 10 (a, b) constant tension rope winch, 12 (a. b, c, d)... button, 14... barge (end), 16... barge (side), 11... Buffer material (bumper), 18... Pile material, 19... Barrier, 20...
Cable, 21...Buffer device, 24...Soil embankment, 30
... Column, 32 ... Beam, 36 ... Grain material, 42 ... Connection strip, 44 ... Hinged bridge member, 50 ... Concrete transport vehicle, 55 (a. b) ... Curing room, 56... Crane truck, 60...
Panel (floor), 62...Panel (outer wall), 64...
Panel (inner wall), 66... base, 14... boiler,
77... compartment door, office lady... janitorial barge, CB...
・Concrete preparation mixing barge, IP...Panel casting barge (inner wall) F...Finishing barge, DP...Panel casting barge (floor), ED...Panel casting barge (wall), SF・...Steel production barge, PS...power supply barge, FA...supply barge (aggregate), Cr...crane barge, CA...supply barge (coarse aggregate), Ce...
・Supply barge (cement), W... Supply barge (water tanker), T... Transshipment barge (product), SC...
・Steam curing barge, S...supply barge (reinforcement rods, etc.)
.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A large number of separate large, ballasted or prefabricated units arranged in adjacent relationship to each other to form a predetermined geometrically shaped working area. Heavy rectangular barges and the products and machinery on each barge and θ while maintaining the working area substantially stable under water motion, live load transfer between barges and other conditions. Each barge shall be constructed in such a manner as to permit limited and controlled relative movement between each barge in response to extremely large forces applied to each barge to prevent overstressing or damage to the barges. and a barge coupling device configured to couple the barges to each other and to be easily uncoupled to permit separation of each barge and individual movement of each barge to another location, and a barge coupling device, each permanently on each barge. a number of major plant components installed and substantially independent of each plant component on the other barges; The factory can be easily moved from one location to another without requiring substantial dismantling;
The barge coupling device which interconnects each barge is connected to a cable which interconnects the barges and which normally restrains the cable, but when an extremely large force is applied to the cable, in response to the extremely large force. and a line winch that provides a controlled release to the cables, whereby a number of barges grouped together form a group elastic system that allows controlled relative movement between the barges. A factory for making heavy buildings or similar heavy structures. 2. A factory according to claim 1, wherein each barge is shaped and sized as a module to be arranged in various relative relationships. 3. Each modular barge shall have its own roof, independent of the roofs of other barges, with columns of uniform relative spacing and modular roof units that are interchangeable between barges. 3. A factory as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a flexible roof connector to bridge the gap between the roofs of adjacent barges. 4. Claims in which each cable extends between spaced ligation points on adjacent barges, providing an elastic connection between each barge by virtue of the inherent elastic extensibility of each cable. Factories listed in scope 1. 5 The main parts of the deck of each barge are on the same level;
The peripheral portion of the deck surrounding the main portion and extending to the side is at a lower level than the main portion, and each barge hitch has all its components located below the level of the main portion of the deck. A patent claim in which a bridging member is provided on the peripheral part of the deck of each barge, and connects the main parts of each deck to the level of the main part of the deck of each adjacent barge and bridges the peripheral part of the deck. The factory described in item 3 within the scope of . 6 Spaced pilings placed around at least part of the perimeter of a group of barges, close to the outer edge of the nearest barge in the group, and from the nearest barge to the pilings. Cables tied to the material and the tension on those cables normally prevent the barges from moving toward each other, but when extreme forces are applied that cause the barges to move relative to each other, 2. A factory as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for enabling the factory to move freely. 1. The factory according to claim 1, wherein elastic high-friction bumpers are provided between the barges for energy absorption, load transfer and noise absorption. 8. Factory according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a damping device connected between the barges for elastic distribution of forces caused by relative movements between the barges. 9. The factory of claim 1, wherein the surrounding barges are moored by outwardly extending and tensioned cables.