US1846278A - Floating breakwater - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1932. R. R. ROANE 1,846,278

FLOATING BREAKWATER Filed April 15, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 1 PIT-1 v 3 a Feb. 23, 1932. RQANE 1,846,278

FLOATING BREAKWATER Filed.April 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lmmun hwmn' i Feb. 23, 1932. R. R. ROANE FLOATING BREAKWATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 15, 1929 M llll 1 I 1 ti, 3

I I gwoanto'a 2 I ill Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT ROYAL ROANE, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALSH-BUGBEE (10., INQ, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FLOATING BREAKWATER Application filed April 15,

This invention relates to floating breakwaters, and has for an object the production of a device of this type which will prove effective in the protection of harbors, bathing beaches, yacht basins, anchorages, etc. from open water, chop and Wave movement, in order that a safe harbor for small crafts, water sports and the like will result.

It is an object of this invention to produce a sectional breakwater so coupled or connected together that each will have independent movement for riding the waves and moving under impact thereof, provision being also made for the utilization of the device in tide water so that it will rise and fall with the tide and swing under the varying loads, although being flexible, the sections will adjust themselves to these conditions with each impact. 1

It has been found in practice that a device of this kind will break the Wave action, even though there is heavy wind velocity and it will prevent surf on the beach behind the breakwater.

It is a further object of this invention to produce a sectional breakwater which will extend downwardly in the Water, or, as otherwise expressed, sits very low therein, and offers very little wind resistance and through which the surge preceding the Wind is broken against steel cylinders and other structures.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application Wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a breakwater section and a fragment of another section connected thereto;

Figure 2 illustrates a view in side elevation of one of the sections;

Figure 3 illustrates a view in end elevation thereof;

Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of a 1929. Serial No. 355,315.

fragment of a. section and the coupling elements;

Figure 5 illustrates a water;

Figure 6' illustrates a view in elevation of an anchor with a breakwater section secured thereto;

Figure 7 illustrates a plan view of the posts of the anchor;

Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged view in elevation of the upper end of the anchor'with the cap thereof in section; and

Figure 9 illustrates an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the spring couplings connecting the ends of adjacent frames at the sides thereof.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the anchors or'dolphins, generally identified by the numerals 10 and 11, are proplan view of a breakvided at the endsof the breakwater, and,

preferably, each of said anchors comprises a plurality of piles 12 of such length and size as to prove effective in holding a breakwater of a given size. They should, of course, be driven to a reasonable penetration on appropriate centers, according to the requirements, and the piles are then pulled in at the tops and lashed by fastenings 13, such as galvanized Wire ropes, and appropriately secured in positions. A suitable cap 14, preferably of copper, may be applied to the top of each anchor or dolphin and this may constitute a support for the usual signal lamps, generally identified by the numeral'lo.

In order to provide for the rise and fall of the breakwater, each dolphin has a vertically disposed pulley engaging member 16 which may consistof a wire rope of proper strength which is anchored to the dolphin and engaged by a pulley 17 of a coupling 18. The coupling may ride on the element 16 as the breakwater rises and falls, and the said coupling is connected to one end of the breakwater by a suitablecable or other fastening 19.

The sections of the breakwater are generally identified by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F and G in the present embodiment, although the number of sections may be increased or diminished, according to the length of the protection desired. Since each section is of identical construction, a description of one section will suffice as a disclosure for an understanding of the invention by one skilled in the art.

In the production of a section, twoparallel air cylinders' and 21 are held in spaced relation to each other horizontally by a rugged framework consisting of transversely disposed top-bars 22 and longitudinally extending channel or other irons 23 and 24; on each side, one above the other, and preferably held by bracing elements'25. The iron 24 on each side of. the section. constitutes an anchorage or support for cross irons 25? and the. cylinders-20. and .21 areulodged or anchored in the space encompassed by'the bars 22 and the irons 23,24, 25 and 25,, and

onthe bottomof the structure just described and. it extends well down below the water level. It comprises a plurality. of ribs, such as 26, anchored to the elements 25 and these converge at their lower ends and are connected by a longitudinally extending iron 27. This structure also includes suitable diagonals and struts for proper. strength and durability. The drawings show a plurality of connecting and strengthening plates of different shapes, such as 28, and these will be employed where desirable. The inventor does not wish to be limited with respect to the details of these features nor the locations of their employment.

Each end of each ture and these coupling heads are intended to be associated with a link fitting in cavities, such as, 31, of the head. The cavity is flared outwardly to provide vertical play of the link therein in order that a section may rise or descend with relation to another section without lateral strain on the link and preferably a cushion 32 is interposed between the coupler heads. Brackets or lugs 33 with apertures therein are secured to the sides of the sections near the ends and these constitute abutments for springs 34, through which spring bolts project, the said bolts also extending through an aperture of the element 33. The bolt of one section is secured to the bolt of the adjacent section by means of a chain 35 so that a yielding connection will be provided between the sections at their edges. In the'present embodiment of the invention, M. G. B. springsand spring section has a coupler head 29 appropriately. secured'to the struc-' 4'. A floating bolts are employed connected by heavy BBB chains.

Buflers are provided on the ends of the cylinders and, as here shown, consist of inserts 36 of wood or some such shock absorbing material, and preferably their faces are tapered outwardly so that the face of one buffer will contact the face of the contiguous buffer when the sections are at angles to eachother.

I claim:

1. A floating breakwater including a series of floating frames arranged end to end, opposed coupling members at the transverse centers of adjacent frame ends connecting said: frames to prevent; longitudinal: movement. ofone with respect to another and to :permit. lateral swingingflmovement of one frame with respect to.v the adj acent;frame, and spring couplings connecting. the ends of adjacent frames at the sides. thereof yieldably holding adjacent frames with their longitudinaL-center lines in desired angular relat1on;. V

a '2. A- floating breakwater including. a series-of floating frames arranged end tov end, opposedcouplingmembers at the transverse centersv of. adjacent frame ends connecting said frames to prevent longitudinal .movementof one: with respect to another and to permit lateral-swinging movement: of: one

framewith respect to. the adjacent: frame,

spring couplings connecting the endssof adjacent frames at the sides thereof .yieldably holding adjacent frames. withftheir: longitudinalcentenlines in desired angular relation, and 'meansto adjust thetensions ofthe spring. couplings between adjacent frames whereby to establish desired normal angular relationibetween said frames.

3. A. floating breakwater including: se-

ries of. floating frames. arranged end to end,

opposedcoupling members at the transverse centers: ofadjacent. frame ends connecting said frames to prevent longitudinal move- -ment of-one with respect toanother and to permit. lateral swinging. movement of one frame..;with,resp.ect to the .adjacentframe, spring couplings connecting the. ends of adacent frames at the sides-thereof yieldably holding adjacent frames with their longitudinal center lines inrdesired angular relation, a pair of hollow cylindrical floats extending longitudinally through each frame adjacentv the sides thereof, and bumperson the ends of said floats serving to absorb shocks of impact. I

breakwater including a series of floating'frames arranged endto end,

opposed coupling members at the transverse centers-of adjacent frame ends connecting said frames to prevent longitudinal movement ofone with respect to another-and to permit lateral swinging movement of-orne frame with respect to the adjacent-frame,

spring couplings connecting the ends of adjacent frames at the sides thereof yieldabl holding adjacent frames with their longtudinal center lines in desired angular relation, means to adjust the tensions of the spring couplin s between adjacent frames whereby to est lish desired normal angular relation between said frames, a pair of hollow cylindrical floats, extending longitudinally through each frame adjacent the sides thereof, and bumpers on the ends of said floats serving to absorb shocks of impact.

ROBERT ROYAL ROANE.

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