US3426109A - Method of fabricating a concrete flotation pier - Google Patents

Method of fabricating a concrete flotation pier Download PDF

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Publication number
US3426109A
US3426109A US504593A US3426109DA US3426109A US 3426109 A US3426109 A US 3426109A US 504593 A US504593 A US 504593A US 3426109D A US3426109D A US 3426109DA US 3426109 A US3426109 A US 3426109A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pontoon
casting
cast
air
cell
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Expired - Lifetime
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US504593A
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English (en)
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Harry E Dempster
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HARRY E DEMPSTER
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HARRY E DEMPSTER
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
    • E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
    • E02B3/06—Moles; Piers; Quays; Quay walls; Groynes; Breakwaters ; Wave dissipating walls; Quay equipment
    • E02B3/062—Constructions floating in operational condition, e.g. breakwaters or wave dissipating walls
    • E02B3/064—Floating landing-stages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B5/00—Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material
    • B63B5/14—Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material made predominantly of concrete, e.g. reinforced
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A10/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE at coastal zones; at river basins
    • Y02A10/11—Hard structures, e.g. dams, dykes or breakwaters

Definitions

  • the basic article of manufacture of the present invention comprises a floating unit which relies for its buoyancy upon air trapped in compartments or chambers which may, if desired, have an open bottom.
  • each pontoon unit is cast in two steps, from concrete and in the general case by means of two separate casting-form structures.
  • the first casting form is designed to float in the water at the construction site, and has a plurality of upwardly extending cell-cores which are used to form the flotation chambers of the pontoon. These core-cells may supply additional buoyancy to the floating form. Concrete is poured into the form over the cellcores in order to fabricate the lower portion of the pontoon.
  • the upper portion of the pontoon may, if desired, include a platform structure which is cast after the lower portion has set.
  • a separate platform support form is installed on the lower portion of the pontoon after the casting has set. Thereafter, the floating pontoon, together with its floating casting form is towed from the construction site to the desired mooring site.
  • the pontoon thus constructed may also be provided with various extensions, fixtures, and/or attachments which are integrally cast into the structure and which permit it 3,426,109 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 to be assembled to adjacent pontoons in multiple unit configurations, or to be secured to anchoring means at the mooring site.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of constructing a floating pontoon unit which may be fabricated from concrete or like material which may be combined with a plurality of similar separate units in a variety of patterns, as may be desired.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved method of constructing a floating pontoon structure having many years of useful life under constant exposure to an ocean environment.
  • Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved method of constructing a pontoon structure which is made entirely of concrete and/or other relatively low-cost materials.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved method of cOnStructing a pontoon structure which can be combined together in any one of a variety of patterns by means of integral interconnecting means for securing the pontoon units together, and which may be arranged in such a way that they may be conveniently anchored or secured to the ocean floor or to other structures.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a floating pontoon structure as produced in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the interior of the pontoon and the casting form used in its construction.
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the floating form used to cast the flotation cell portion of the pontoon device of FIGURES l and 2.
  • FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of a pontoon unit constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the pontoon unit of FIGURE 4.
  • FIGURE 6 is .a top plan view of still another embodiment of a pontoon unit constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a circular pontoon constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of a plurality of hexagonal pontoons constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which illustrates the manner of interconnection of multiple hexagonal units.
  • FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary, vertical cross section view, illustrating a modification of the casting form structure used to fabricate a pontoon unit.
  • FIGURE 10 illustrates the arrangement of the apparatus of FIGURE 9 during the form removal cycle.
  • FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary, vertical cross section view of still another embodiment of a removable form for casting the buoyant cells of a pontoon.
  • FIGURE 12 illustrates the manner of removal of the form of the apparatus of FIGURE 11.
  • FIGURE 13 illustrates embodiments of the pontoon Structure wherein closed flotation elements are incorporated into the buoyant cells.
  • FIGURE 1 there is shown a preferred construction of a floating pontoon unit constructed in accordance with the method and apparatus of the invention.
  • the article of construction comprises a pontoon 1 having a ribbed cover 2 which may also serve as a platform support.
  • the ribbed portions of the cover 2 extend beyond each of the corners of the pontoon 1 and each extension is provided with a corresponding attachment ring, a typical one of which is indicated at 3.
  • Stanchion 4 is adapted to extend upwards through extension ring 3 and is provided at its lower extremity with an anchor 5 which may serve as a ballast or may be used to support the entire structure on the floor of the ocean or other body of water.
  • Platform 6 extends upwardly from ribbed cover 2 and is secured thereto by means of pedestal 7. It should be understood that the entire structure comprising pontoon 1, ribbed cover 2, the attachment rings 3, pedestal 7, and platform 6 may be cast as an integral unit.
  • the casting material preferably comprises reinforced concrete although it should be understood that various other casting materials, or lightweight concrete may be
  • FIGURE 2 there is shown additional detail of the structure of FIGURE 1 and further illustrates the casting form used to fabricate the lower portion of the pontoon.
  • the casting form is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending core-cells, such as indicated at 11, which form the hollow-interior of flotation compartments.
  • a typical flotation compartment is indicated at 8.
  • the form comprises a floor 9 which supports the individual core-cell 11.
  • the form is filled with plastic concrete, as will appear hereinafter, to cast the lower portion of the pontoon 1. Separation of the cast unit and the form is facilitated by means of a plurality of valves 12-14 which permit the ingress and egrees of water and air in a certain sequence, as will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • the peripheral wall 15 of the form in conjunction with certain interior walls, one of which is indicated at 16, provide the form for casting the ballasts 5.
  • Wall 17 defines the outer wall of compartment 8 and also supports wall 16.
  • valve 13 At the commencement of the casting process, cell 11, is filled with air and valve 13 is closed. Valve 12, which is supported atop valve 14, is closed. This will cause the entire form to be buoyant. The concrete is then poured into the form of the level of valve 12. Next, valves 13 and 14 are opened permitting water 22 to flood cell 11. Simultaneously, valve 12 is opened and air under pressure, from a source not shown, is forced into compartment 8. This causes the form to sink. Air entrapped in compartment 8 will cause pontoon 1 to remain floating.
  • a water-tight, flexible bladder 18 may be integrally secured to the interior of the buoyant cells to enhance the buoyancy of the resulting pontoon. That is, a compartment of the type indicated at 8 relies on entrapped air to float the pontoon. However, due to the slight solubility of air in water, it may be necessary to re-introduce air under pressure via valve 12 to compartment 8, from time to time, to maintain the desired degree of buoyancy of the overall structure. The use of an integrally cast bladder as shown at 18 obviates this requirement for occassional replenishment of air in the flotation cell.
  • a modified form of bladder comprises flexible member 19, which may be made of a flexible plastic material, and which is secured to rigid, water-tight, base 21. This arrangement will give greater durability to the exposed lower surface of the pontoon.
  • the superstructure comprising the ribbed portion of cover 2, platform 6, and pedestal 7 may be integrally cast on top of the lower portion comprising the individual compartments (e.g., 8), by any suitable and well-known means. Also, it should be understood that the size and shape of the superstructure will be determined by the end use to which the device is put.
  • Compart ments 26-29 define the peripheral boundaries of the form and in a preferred construction provide a given fixed buoyancy to the overall structure. This fixed positive buoyancy may be overcome by flooding the interior of the cells (e.g., 11, 23, 24, and 25) in the manner previously described, thus causing the overall structure to have a negative buoyancy and sink.
  • Cavities or depressions 31-34 in corresponding portions of the upper exterior surface of compartments 26-29 serve to define the casting form for the ballast members (see ballast 5 in FIGURES l and 2).
  • FIGURE 4 a top plan view of a pontoon unit 37 generally similar to the one shown at 1 in FIGURES 1-2 except that ribbed portion 35 does not carry a superstructure.
  • the attachment rings one of which is indicated at 36, permit the unit 37 to be secured to an anchor, and/or to other similar units.
  • FIG- URE 5 illustrates the underside of unit 37 and as can be seen there are a plurality of individual compartments which provide the desired buoyancy to the unit 37. Typical ones of these compartments are indicated at 38 and 39 in FIGURE 5.
  • the pontoons constructed in accordance with the invention may be suitably modified as to shape to meet a variety of individual requirements and/or applications.
  • FIGURE 6 an elongated pontoon 42 wherein the ribbed members extend orthogonally from the pontoon 42 rather than through the corners thereof.
  • the ribbed portion is indicated generally at 41, and a typical one of the attachment rings or fixtures is indicated at 43.
  • the pontoon may be made circular as shown in FIGURE 7.
  • the pontoon 44 is provided with radially extending ribssuch as shown at 45 and with an attachment ring 47 at each extremity thereof.
  • a support pedestal or other superstructure may extend upwardly from the central juncture of the radial ribs 45.
  • FIGURE 8 The manner in which individual pontoon units may be interconnected into a composite structure of any desired area, or which may be made to support any desired load, is shown in FIGURE 8.
  • the pontoon units 48 and 49 shown in this example, have hexagonal configuration and each have six radially extending rib elements.
  • the outer extremity of each rib element certain ones of which are indicated at 51 and 52, are provided with corresponding attachment rings. As can be seen two such rings are interconnected at 54 and three such rings are interconnected at 53.
  • FIGURES 9-12 Modifications of the method of fabrication of the basic pontoon structure are shown in FIGURES 9-12.
  • FIGURES 9 and 10 there is shown a form in which the individual core-cells are made from a flexible material, such as rubber, in lieu of the rigid core-cells (11, 23-25) of the embodiment of FIGURES 2 and 3.
  • cell 58 is initially inflated prior to pouring the concrete into the form.
  • a conduit 59 is integrally cast into the pontoon 56 to provide fluid communication into the area of chamber 57.
  • Inflation of cell 58 is accomplished by supplying air under pressure to the interior of the cell via conduits 61 and 62.
  • air is admitted into sump 63 via conduit 64 which extends through the floor of the form. Air entering in the direction of arrow 65 fills compartment 66 and enters the interior of cell 58 via conduit 62. Thereafter, the concrete is poured into the form.
  • the cell is collapsed as shown in FIGURE 10. This is accomplished by forcing air under pressure through conduit 59 in the direction of arrow 68. This action will collapse the form (cell 58) causing the air therein to escape through conduit 62 in the direction of arrow 69, and thence through conduit 61.
  • sump 63 (see FIGURE 9) is flooded with water 67 via conduit 64. This combined action separates the form from the cast pontoon and also causes the form to sink.
  • FIGURES 11 and 12 there is shown still another modification which facilitates the separation of the corecells and the cast pontoon.
  • the pontoon 71 is cast over cell form 72 which defines chamber 73.
  • Form 72 is made of a rigid material such as metal and is supported above floor member 74 by means of support 76 and fastening member 77.
  • Vertical wall 79 joins floor member 74 in air-tight relationship.
  • Conduit 75 extends through floor member 74 and permits flooding of compartment 73 during separation of pontoon 71 and the form.
  • Fastener 77 rotates about the axis of the shaft comprising support 76 and supports form 72 at its bottom edge. Air is admitted to the form via conduit 78 thereby making the form buoyant.
  • Conduit 81 is integrally formed with pontoon 71.
  • a pontoon 86 constructed by any one of the foregoing methods, may have its buoyancy chambers filled, subsequent to the casting step, with a solid buoyant material 87 such as expanded polystyrene foam.
  • the buoyancy chambers of pontoon 86 may contain an impermeable gas-filled bag 88 which maintains the air-tight integrity of the chambers.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
US504593A 1965-10-24 1965-10-24 Method of fabricating a concrete flotation pier Expired - Lifetime US3426109A (en)

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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3512492A (en) * 1968-01-31 1970-05-19 Glenn Edward Hagen Floating structure and method of making
US4068445A (en) * 1975-02-18 1978-01-17 A. B. Chance Company Lightweight, screw anchor supported foundation and method of installing same
US4157695A (en) * 1974-09-26 1979-06-12 Einar Knutsen Construction unit, such as quay, container or platform
US5421282A (en) * 1993-12-16 1995-06-06 Morris; Richard D. Artificial floating island
US5524549A (en) * 1993-12-16 1996-06-11 Morris; Richard D. Artificial floating island
US5564369A (en) * 1994-06-22 1996-10-15 Barber; Todd R. Reef ball
US5743205A (en) * 1993-12-16 1998-04-28 Morris; Richard D. Floating dock element
US5911542A (en) * 1997-01-31 1999-06-15 Diamond Dock, L.L.C. Unsinkable floating dock system
US6082931A (en) * 1998-04-20 2000-07-04 Valuequest, Inc. Modular maritime dock design
US6860219B1 (en) * 2003-03-17 2005-03-01 Harry Edward Dempster Technique and platform for fabricating a variable-buoyancy structure
US6935808B1 (en) 2003-03-17 2005-08-30 Harry Edward Dempster Breakwater
US20110064520A1 (en) * 2008-05-14 2011-03-17 Bergstroem Richard Device for preventing ice formation on a surface layer
US20130098282A1 (en) * 2010-07-12 2013-04-25 Daoda (Shanghai) Wind Power Investment Co., Ltd. Marine wind turbine whole machine

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1383653A (en) * 1918-06-26 1921-07-05 William H Mason Apparatus for and process of constructing and launching concrete ships
US2029004A (en) * 1933-01-03 1936-01-28 Varni Alfredo Method of and apparatus for molding concrete
US2850785A (en) * 1957-01-04 1958-09-09 Ceco Steel Products Corp Method and means for releasing molding forms from a molded product

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1383653A (en) * 1918-06-26 1921-07-05 William H Mason Apparatus for and process of constructing and launching concrete ships
US2029004A (en) * 1933-01-03 1936-01-28 Varni Alfredo Method of and apparatus for molding concrete
US2850785A (en) * 1957-01-04 1958-09-09 Ceco Steel Products Corp Method and means for releasing molding forms from a molded product

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3512492A (en) * 1968-01-31 1970-05-19 Glenn Edward Hagen Floating structure and method of making
US4157695A (en) * 1974-09-26 1979-06-12 Einar Knutsen Construction unit, such as quay, container or platform
US4068445A (en) * 1975-02-18 1978-01-17 A. B. Chance Company Lightweight, screw anchor supported foundation and method of installing same
US5421282A (en) * 1993-12-16 1995-06-06 Morris; Richard D. Artificial floating island
US5524549A (en) * 1993-12-16 1996-06-11 Morris; Richard D. Artificial floating island
US5743205A (en) * 1993-12-16 1998-04-28 Morris; Richard D. Floating dock element
US5564369A (en) * 1994-06-22 1996-10-15 Barber; Todd R. Reef ball
US5836265A (en) * 1994-06-22 1998-11-17 Barber; Todd Ryan Reef ball
US5911542A (en) * 1997-01-31 1999-06-15 Diamond Dock, L.L.C. Unsinkable floating dock system
US6082931A (en) * 1998-04-20 2000-07-04 Valuequest, Inc. Modular maritime dock design
US6860219B1 (en) * 2003-03-17 2005-03-01 Harry Edward Dempster Technique and platform for fabricating a variable-buoyancy structure
US6935808B1 (en) 2003-03-17 2005-08-30 Harry Edward Dempster Breakwater
US7242107B1 (en) 2003-03-17 2007-07-10 Harry Edward Dempster Water-based wind-driven power generation using a submerged platform
US20110064520A1 (en) * 2008-05-14 2011-03-17 Bergstroem Richard Device for preventing ice formation on a surface layer
US20130098282A1 (en) * 2010-07-12 2013-04-25 Daoda (Shanghai) Wind Power Investment Co., Ltd. Marine wind turbine whole machine
US8770132B2 (en) * 2010-07-12 2014-07-08 Aidong Li Marine wind turbine whole machine

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GB1159162A (en) 1969-07-23
NL6615014A (et) 1967-04-25

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