US3788254A - Floating platform - Google Patents

Floating platform Download PDF

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US3788254A
US3788254A US00213102A US3788254DA US3788254A US 3788254 A US3788254 A US 3788254A US 00213102 A US00213102 A US 00213102A US 3788254D A US3788254D A US 3788254DA US 3788254 A US3788254 A US 3788254A
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units
platform
float
top surface
predetermined
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J Sheil
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/50—Vessels or floating structures for aircraft
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/34—Pontoons
    • B63B35/38—Rigidly-interconnected pontoons
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413—Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A floating platform having a plurality of float units which are interconnected together in end to end relation with their top surface portions being substantially flush with each other, each of the interconnected units having a predetermined buoyancy which is sufficient to float the platform in a flotation medium, such as water, wherein at least two of the units have a differ- 1 Jan. 29, 1974 ent relative predetermined buoyancy with respect to each other and the flotation medium prior to external loading thereof.
  • the platform is arched along at least a predetermined portion of its length prior to external loading thereof.
  • the arched portion may be either convex or concave or a combination thereof, depending on the relative buoyancy of the interconnected units and the intended use of the platform.
  • the buoyancy of the various units may be chosen so as to float the platform below the surface of the flotation medium or to float the plat form with at least a portion thereof above the surface of the flotation medium.
  • the units are preferably interconnected by means of tension elements, such as rods or cables which are post-tensioned during the assembly of the platform.
  • a floating platform may also be formed from a plurality of such float units which are interconnected together in side to side relation with their top surface portions being substantially flush with each other, in addition to having the units interconnected together in end to end relation.
  • the relative buoyancies of the side to side interconnected units may also be different so as to provide a side to side arched portion as well as an end to end arched portion for the complete structure, or any combination thereof.
  • the units are preferably interconnected in side to side relation by transverse tension elements in the same manner as the longitudinal end toend interconnections.
  • the present invention relates to structural floating platforms comprised of interconnected modular units.
  • the present invention overcomes these disadvantages of the prior art.
  • a floating platform includes a plurality of float units which are interconnected together in end to end relation with their top surface portions being substantially flush with each other, each of the interconnected units having a predetermined buoyancy which is sufficient to float the platform in the desired flotation medium, such as water.
  • at least two of the units have a different relative predetermined buoyancy with respect to each other and the flotation medium prior to external loading thereof whereby the platform is arched along at least a portion of its length prior to external loading thereof.
  • the arched portion of the platform may be either convex or concave or a combination thereof, depending on the intended use; When the arched portion is convex with respect to the surface of the flotation medium, the resistance to impact loads of the platform is relatively high.
  • the arching of the platform may provide a camber in the direction of anticipated applied load which camber is preferably a predetermined amount depending on the amount of applied dead load, which is normally known, so that when the predetermined concentrated dead load is applied to the platform at the point of camber, the platform will become level, as desired, rather than deflecting so as to be concave at this point, which would be undesirable.
  • the relative buoyancy of the various units may be adjusted so as to have the platform float beneath the surface of the flotation medium such as when the platform is desired to be used as a drydock.
  • the various units of the platform are interconnected by tension elements, such as cables or rods, which are post-tensioned during the assembly of the platform.
  • resilient compression pads are preferably provided between adjacent float units for distributing the compressive load between the units and compensating for any non-uniformities in the end wall of the units.
  • the units may be connected in subassemblies of multiple units interconnected by tension elements which are joined to another subassembly of units interconnected by tension elements by means of structural tubing interconnecting the appropriate tension elements.
  • several units may be interconnected by means of a tension rod which is tensioned at the end of the rod by means of a nut. In either event, a substantially continuous tension element is provided for interconnecting the units comprising the platform.
  • the relative variations in buoyancy of respective units may be provided by providing units of varying depth or size or by utilizing uniform size units of the dimension of the largest required and then adding ballast to appropriate float units to adjust their buoyancy to the desired amount.
  • the floats may be a bottomless box, a hollow box with a bottom, or a hollow box with or without a bottom whose interior is filled with foam or some other medium to provide buoyancy.
  • the floats may also be constructed of a substantially solid buoyant material, although this is not the preferred arrangement.
  • a floating platform structure may also be formed from a plurality of such float units which are interconnected together in side to side relation with their top surface portions being substantially flush with each other, in addition to having the units interconnected together in end to end relation.
  • the relative buoyancies of the side to side interconnected units may also be different so as to provide a side to side arched portion as well as an end to end arched portion for the complete structure, or any combination thereof.
  • the units are preferably interconnected in side to side relation by transverse tension elements in the same manner as the longitudinal end to end interconnections.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an artificially suspended platform constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a convex arched platform
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the platform of FIG. 2 with an illustrative concentrated dead load thereon;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of still another alternative embodiment of the present invention showing a concave arch for the platform
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention showin g both a convex arch together with a concave arch for the platform;
  • FIG. 8 is a partial sectional perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the platform of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating a different manner of coupling the tension element means together;
  • FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of another modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 11 is a partial sectional perspective view, similar to FIG. 8, of an alternative embodiment of the platform of the present invention showing a plurality of units interconnected in side to side relation as well as end to end relation;
  • FIG. 12 is a partial sectional perspective end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11.
  • the floating platform 20 of the present invention preferably is formed from a plurality of modular float units 22.
  • the platform 20 shown in FIG. 1 comprises eleven such float units 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 22g, 22h, 22j, 22k and 22m.
  • each of these float units 22a through 22m, inclusive is identical in construction, the only variation between particular units, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, preferably being in the relative buoyancy of the respective unit with respect to the flotation medium for the floating platform 20.
  • the flotation medium is water, although the present invention may be utilized in any other desired flotation medium, such as a viscous fluid.
  • the floating platform 20 is preferably constructed of at least two modular portions having a different relative predetermined buoyancy with respect to each other and the flotation medium prior to any external loading of the platform 20.
  • the platform 20 is shown as a symmetrical configuration of various areas of different relative buoyancy.
  • the end areas 24 and 26, in the example shown, are preferably arranged to have the lowest relative buoyancy with respect to the flotation medium and, since as was previously mentioned, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 represents a symmetrical configuration, these areas are of equal buoyancy.
  • both areas 24 and 26 are formed from two modular flotation units 22a and 22b for area 24, and 22k and 22m for area 26, by way of example and not limitation.
  • buoyant areas 28 and 30 which, in the illustrative symmetrical configuration shown in FIG. 1, are each of equal buoyancy.
  • buoyant areas 28 and 30 are each illustratively shown as being composed of two modular flotation units, 22c and 22d for area 28, and 22h and 22j for area 30.
  • the center portion of the illustrative symmetrical configuration for platform 20, buoyant area 32 is illustratively shown, by way of example and not limitation, as being formed of three identical modular units 22e, 22f and 22g.
  • the overall dimensions of the respective modular units 22a through 22m inclusive are substantially identical except for the relative height or depth of the unit.
  • the cross sectional areas of each of the units are substantially identical and the variations in buoyancy are due to the variations in the height of the unit.
  • units 22c, 22d, 22h and 22j are all preferably of substantially identical size, including height, and are thus, preferably, of equal buoyancy.
  • units 22c, 22d, 22h and 22j are all, preferably, of substantially identical size, including height, and are all of equal buoyancy; however, the relative height and, thus, the relative volume of the respective modular units comprising areas 28 and 30 is greater than that for areas 24 and 26 and, thus, the buoyancy of units 22c, 22d, 22h and 22j is greater than the respective buoyancy of units 22a, 22b, 22k and 22m.
  • the respective heights and, thus, the respective volumes of units 22e, 22f and 22g comprising area 32 are each substantially equal to each other and greater than the respective heights and thus volume of the units comprising both areas 24 and 26, and 28 and 30.
  • area 32 has a greater buoyancy then the other areas.
  • the differences in relative buoyancy need not be obtained by variations in the volume of the respective modular units but rather may be obtained in any other conventional manner such as by utilizing modular units which are all of the same overall dimensions, including interior volume, of the largest unit required and then adding ballast to the appropriate units or material to the bottoms thereof to adjust their relative buoyancy to produce the appropriate variations in buoyancy, the deeper units occurring on the extremeties and the shallower ones in the center in the latter case.
  • the individual modular units 22 are each preferably composed of hollow box configurations.
  • box it is meant to include configurations both with and without an integrally formed bottom portion although, as shown and preferred, the modular units are preferably formed with an integral bottom portion or bottom slab.
  • configurations without such a bottom such as those configurations normally termed inverted bathtubs" in the art may be utilized.
  • the interior of the hollow unit may be filled with air or may be filled with a buoyant substance such as a foam-like substance available under the trade name Styrofoam.”
  • the modular unit may be constructed of a substantially solid mass of buoyant material, although such a construction is not preferred.
  • the modular unit 22 is preferably a hollow enclosed box, having a bottom portion or slab 34, a pair of upstanding end wall portions 36 and 38, a pair of upstanding sidewall portions 40 and 42 (not shown) and a top wall or slab portion 44.
  • the hollow enclosed box is preferably formed of concrete, although any other structural material such as wood, steel, fiberglass, or plastic, by way of example, may be utilized.
  • the top wall or slab portion 44 of the hollow enclosed box is of sufficient thickness to withstand expected external loading on the floating platform structure in the area of the particular modular float unit.
  • this loading may be a dynamic impact load or may be a static dead load applied to the floating platform structure 20, such as by a building.
  • this bottom wall or slab is preferably of sufficient thickness to withstand hydrostatic pressures caused by the condition of submergence of the particular modular unit portion of the floating platform 20.
  • the thickness of the top wall or slab portion 44 is considerably greater than that of the bottom wall or slab portion 34 due to the relative differences in the applied forces.
  • the relative buoyancy of a given unit 22 may be adjusted by thickening the bottom slab 34 which, correspondingly, places the added weight of the unit in a position which lowers the center of gravity thereof and, therefore, aids in the stability of the unit.
  • the end wall portions 36 and 38 are each of non-uniform thickness, the end walls 36 and 38 preferably being thicker above the flotation line or water line of the buoyant box, which is preferably concrete in the example shown, than below this line.
  • the end walls may be of uniform thickness, the thickness being great enough to withstand the maximum applied force to the modular unit 22, whether it be to the top wall portion 44 or the bottom wall portion 34, as well as being sufficient to support the top wall portion 44. However, this is less efficient than providing a nonuniform thickness for the end wall portions 36 and 38.
  • the non-uniform thickness for the end wall portions 36 and 38 is shown in FIG. 8 as being provided in a steplike fashion although, if desired, this non-uniform thickness may be provided by a more gradually tapered arrangement.
  • the arrangement for the end wall portions 36 and 38 preferably likewise applies to the arrangement, that is, configuration, of the side wall portions 40 and 42, which has been omitted for purposes of clarity.
  • the end wall portions 36 and 38 are preferably shown and preferred as being thickened. internally, if desired these walls could be thickened externally or both internally and externally to provide for the requisite desired deflection of an arched platform structure.
  • the side wall portions as well as the end wall portions may be similarly thickened.
  • the various modular units 22 comprising the floating platform 20 are preferably interconnected together in end to end relation solely by means of a pair of spaced apart tension rods 50 and 52 or, if desired, tension cables, although, if desired, more than one pair of tension elements may be utilized.
  • internal chaseways 54 and 56 are provided in the end wall portions 36 and 38 of the various modular units 22a through 22m, inclusive, preferably in the thickened portions thereof, comprising the floating platform 20.
  • the chaseways 54 and 56 may be provided by a hollow sleeve, such as a polyvinyl chloride sleeve, a steel pipe sleeve or an aluminum pipe sleeve, therein with the respective tension rods 50 or 52 passing therethrough.
  • the modular units 22a through 22m, inclusive are interconnected via the tension rods 50 and 52, which are preferably in the same horizontal plane with respect to each other, so as to provide a flush top surface for the platform from the various top surface portions 44 of the modular units 22a through 22m, inclusive.
  • the internal chaseways 54 and 56 are preferably located in the end wall portions 36 and 38 in the same position.
  • the modular units 22 may be interconnected with the chaseways aligned in the horizontal plane so as to provide a flush top surface to be utilized as the structural platform 20.
  • the top surface of the overall platform as well as of the individual modular units need not be integrally formed therewith or therefrom and a separate top surface may be mounted on the assembled units or utilized to complete the unit structure.
  • tension rods 50 and 52 are located in the floating platform structure 20 such that they always occur in the upper plane of each modular unit 22 and in the same relative location with reference to the top surface, no matter how the overall dimension of the units is varied to provide the different relative buoyancies.
  • the tension rods 50 and 52, or cables may each be formed of a continuous element or, as is more practical, may be formed of several elements linked together either by a coupling nut or structural tubing. The use of structural tubing is illustrated in FIG. 9 and the use of a coupling nut is illustrated in FIG. 8.
  • resilient bearing pads 60a, 60b, 60c and 60d are provided between end to end connected adjacent modular units 22 comprising the floating platform.
  • These pads 600 through 60d, inclusive which may be formed of any resilient material, such as neoprene rubber, serve to compensate for deflections created in the assembled floating platform 20, distribute the load (pressure contact between the units) on the given end wall surface area and compensate for any non-uniformities in the end wall portion.
  • These pads are preferably placed where compression will occur and, thus, are always preferably utilized at the location of the tension rods 50 and 52 between the adjacent end wall portions at these points.
  • the tension rods 50 and 52 pass through an aperture in the appropriate bearing pad 60, such as through the center thereof, similar to the arrangement described in US. Pat. No. 3,091,203.
  • the respective apertures are of slightly greater transverse cross sectional area than that of the tension element passing therethrough and are preferably axially aligned with the respective chaseway.
  • a bearing pad or pads are provided near the bottom wall portion of one of the adjacent modular units so that the bottom portion of the end wall portion does not bear directly against the adjacent modular units.
  • four resilient bearing pads are provided for each modular unit, two in a horizontal plane close to the top surface 44 and two in a horizontal plane close to the bottom surface 34 of the particular modular unit 22.
  • bearing plates or washers 62a and 62b are preferably utilized in conjunction with the bearing pads 60a and 60b, respectively, in order to distribute the compressive effect of the nut from which the tension is applied, 61a and 61b, respectively, across the respective bearing pads 60a and 60b, the thickness of the bearing plates 62a and 62b being dependent on the tensile stress of the appropriate rod nut 61a and 61b or the cable clamp (not shown).
  • FIG. 2 if the relative buoyancies of the various modular units 22 comprising the floating platform are adjusted so as to-provide a symmetrical configuration, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the extremities are the least buoyant portions of the platform structure 20 and the center thereof is the most buoyant portion, then when this platform structure 20 is assembled in the water or flotation medium and all external loading is removed therefrom, a platform 20 which is arched in a convex fashion, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, will be provided. Such a platform 20 has a high resistance to impact loading.
  • the convexity of the platform 20 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is created by the dead load of the system, that is the load of the system prior to any external loading thereof, overcoming the artificially created top plane surface of the structure.
  • the arching of the platform creates locations within the platfrom structure 20 where the platform is suspended above the plane of its theoretical at rest position, thereby providing additional built-in potential of the platform to resist impact loads.
  • the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 is useful where resistance to such live loads is desired, such as in a roadway or aircraft runway or helicopter landing platform.
  • innumerable possibilities are provided with such a structure.
  • the buoyancy of the extremities of the platform 20 which is a platform similar to the platform of FIG.
  • a convex platform similar to the symmetrical configuration shown in FIG. 2 may be provided with a camber in the direction of anticipated applied dead load, the camber being a predetermined amount dependent on the known dead load to be resisted.
  • the platform 20 when a dead load, such as a building structure 100, is mounted on such a platform 20, the platform will become flat along its top surface due to the balancing of the buoyant force causing the camber, which in this instance is a convex arch, by the dead load of the building structure mounted thereon.
  • the platform 20 is prevented from being undesirably concave at the point of application of the known dead load.
  • the floating platform 20a may also be constructed in an unsymmetrical configuration such as where the buoyancy of one extremity is less than the buoyancy of the outer extremity. This may be accomplished by interconnecting various modular units whose relative predetermined buoyancies are such that the units at one extremity have lower buoyancy than the units at the other extremity. Such a platform could be utilized as a wave suppressor for protecting harbor areas. Once again, the inclined arched surface also aids in providing drainage runoff.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the same basic principle of the present invention wherein the floating platform 20b is constructed of modular units in which at least two of the units have a different predetermined relative buoyancy; however, the arched platform in FIG. 6 is shown as providing a concave top surface.
  • the platform structure 20b shown by way of example in FIG. 6, is a symmetrical configuration and the concavity is provided for the structure 20b by interconnecting modular units at the extremities which are more buoyant than the modular units provided at the center of the platform 20.
  • Such a concave platform may be utilized for many uses such as a floating swimming pool, catch basin, etc.
  • a floating platform 20c constructedin accordance with the present invention may have both concave portions and convex top surface portions such as may be required for complex loading configurations or to handle drainage properly.
  • FIG. 7 wherein the floating platform 200 may be utilized as an airplane runway having a shallow water bath restraint at the end thereof for overshoot of the runway.
  • the modular units at the point of convexity have a greater buoyancy than the adjacent modular units and the modular units at the point of concavity have a lower buoyancy than the adjacent modular units.
  • Such variations in buoyancy may be accomplished either by means of additional ballast being added to the appropriate modular units or by changing the overall dimensions of the appropriate modular units.
  • the buoyancy of the various modular units and, hence, the overall buoyancy of the assembled floating platform 20 may be adjusted such that the floating platform floats or is suspended beneath the top surface of the flotation medium or water such as for use as a drydock. Accordingly, by the use of the term float or buoyant is meant the suspension of the platform in a fixed position in the flotation medium.
  • a pair of side to side interconnected duplicate assemblies of flotation units 22a] through 22ml, inclusive, and 22az through 22mz, inclusive is shown, which units are correspondingly identical to those previously described above and which, preferably, have their respective top wall portions 44, side wall portions 40 and 42, and end wall portions 36 and 38 aligned in the assembled structure, with the corresponding top wall portions being substantially flush in both the longitudinal or end to end direction and the transverse or side to side direction.
  • the flotation unit assemblies 22a] through 22ml, inclusive, and 22az through 22mz, inclusive are preferably interconnected in end to end relation as described above with reference to the exemplary single unit wide floating platform structure 22a through 22m, inclusive.
  • the interconnection of the duplicate assemblies of the corresponding flotation units 22a] through 22ml, inclusive, and 22az through 22mz, inclusive, in side to side relation, that is side wall portion 40 of a corresponding adjacent unit 22a! through 22ml, inclusive, being interconnected through side wall portion 42 of the corresponding transversely adjacent unit 22az through 22mz, inclusive, is accomplished in a similar manner to that previously described above with reference to the end to end interconnection of the flotation units.
  • the side wall portion 40 and 42 are preferably thickened in the same manner and for essentially the same purpose as end wall portions 36 and 38.
  • Transverse internal chaseways 100 and 102 similar in structure and purpose to chaseways 54 and 56 are preferably provided in the side wall portions 40 and 42 preferably in the thickened portions thereof, and preferably in the same horizontal plane with respect to each other but preferably slightly above or below the horizontal plane of the longitudinal chaseways 54 and 56 located in the end wall portions 36 and 38 so as not to intersect, the transverse chaseways 100 and 102 preferably being parallel to each other and normal to chaseways 54 and 56.
  • the transverse chaseways 100 and 102 may be provided with a hollow sleeve, such as polyvinyl chloride, a steel pipe sleeve or an aluminum pipe sleeve, with the respective tension rods 104 and 106 passing therethrough.
  • the corresponding flotation units 22a! through 22ml, inclusive, and 22az through 22mz, inclusive are preferably interconnected together in side to side relation in similar fashion solely by means of a pair of spaced apart tension rods 104 and 106 similar to tension rods 50 and 52, or, if desired, tension cables, the respective transverse tension rods 104 and 106 preferably passing through chaseways 100 and 102 slightly below (as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) or above longitudinal tension rods 50 and 52.
  • the tension rods 104 and 106 are preferably located in the floating platform structure such that they always occur in the upper plane of each modular unit and in the same relative location with reference to the top surface no matter how the overall dimensions of the units is varied to provide the different relative buoyancies.
  • the interconnection of the units in both side to side and end to end relation in the manner described above preferably provide a flush top surface for the assembled platform structure in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions from the various top surface portions 44 of the modular units 2201 through 22ml, inclusive, and 22az through 22mz, inclusive.
  • resilient bearing pads 1080 through 108d identical with pads 60a, 60b, 60c and 60d are provided between side to side connected adjacent modular units 22 comprising the floating platform, these pads similarly serving, in this instance, to compensate for deflections created in the assembled platform, distribute the load (pressure contact between the units) on the given side wall surface area and compensate for any non-uniformities in the side wall portion.
  • these pads 108a through 108d are preferably placed where compression will occur and, thus, are always preferably utilized at the location of the transverse tension rods and 102 between the adjacent side wall portions at the points, the tension rods 100 and 102 preferably passing through an aperture in the appropriate bearing pad 108, such as through the center thereof, similar to the arrangement previously described with reference to bearing pads 60.
  • bearing plates or washers 110a and 110b which are preferably identical in structure and purpose to washers 62a and 62b, are preferably utilized in conjunction with the bearing pads 108a and 10812, respectively, in order to distribute the compressive effect of the nut 112a and 112b, respectively, from which the tension is applied, across the respective bearing pads 108a and 108b, the thickness of the bearing plates 110a and 110b being dependent on the tensile stress on the appropriate rod nut 112a and 112b or the cable clamp (not shown).
  • the relative buoyancies of the respective modular units 22a] through 22ml, inclusive, and 22az through 22mz, inclusive may be varied so as to provide a platform which is arched either side to side, end to end, or both simultaneously, in whole or in part, convex, concave or a combination thereof, depending on the desired use of the platform.
  • the variations in relative buoyancies are preferably accomplished in any of the manners previously discussed above with reference to the single unit wide embodiment. While only a two unit wide platform has been illustrated by way of example, it will become readily apparent tha floating platforms of any desired width, length and configuration, including arching thereof, may be constructed in accordance with the present invention, such as multiple unit width platforms of the type discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.
  • the platform in constructing the floating platform of the present invention, if desired, the platform may be assembled in the water from the various modular units with the modular units being nonuniformly loaded during construction so as to provide a flat top surface for the platform during construction for ease in inserting the tension rods or cables through the chaseways. Thereafter, the tension rods or cables may be post-tensioned in a conventional manner, such as by tightening the nuts on the rod with a torque wrench or by adjusting the cable clamps if cables are utilized, to the desired degree of tension. Thereafter, the additional non-uniform external loading utilized during the construction may be removed and the platform will assume the desired shape provided by the different relative predetermined buoyancies of the modular units forming the platform.
  • thickening as used throughout the specification and claims is meant to include built up or strengthened so as to be equally applicable when the float unit is formed of any structural material such as concrete, plastic, wood, steel or aluminum.
  • a floating platform comprising: a plurality of float units, each of said units having at least a substantially planar top surface portion and a pair of substantially upright opposed end wall portions; and post-tensioning means for interconnecting said plurality of float units together in end to end relation with said substantially planar top surface portions being substantially flush with each other, said post-tensioning means extending substantially continuously through said plurality of float units and including means for maintaining a predetermined tension for said post-tensioning means for holding said float units together with a predetermined degree of pressure contact therebetween, said platform having a top surface, said platform top surface having a configuration comprising said interconnected plurality of float unit top surface portions, each of said interconnected units having a predetermined mass upon which a buoyancy associated with a floatation medium for said units is sufficient to float said platform in said floating medium, at least two of said float units having a different relative predetermined mass with respect to each other and the floatation medium prior to external loading thereof, said post-tensioning means interconnecting said plurality of float
  • each of said end wall portions includes at least one tension element receiving passageway therein, each of said passageways being axially aligned and opening on said opposed ends of said units at a level below said float unit top surface portion but in the upper portion of the plane of said end wall portion; and said post tensioning interconnection means includes tension element means extending through said axially aligned passageways.
  • said tension maintaining means includes means for maintaining a predetermined tension on said tension element means for holding said float units together with said predetermined degree of pressure contact therebetween.
  • a floating platform in accordance with claim 5 wherein a resilient compression pad is disposed on said end wall portion between adjacent float units, said pad having an aperture therethrough of slightly greater transverse cross-sectional area than the transverse cross-sectional area of said tensionelement means, said aperture being axially aligned with said end wall passageway opening, said tension element means extending through said aperture, said pad being longitudinally compressed to deform said pad and distribute the pressure contact load between adjacent units when a predetermined tension is maintained on said tension element means for holding said float units together with said predetermined degree of pressure contact therebetween.
  • a floating platform in accordance with claim 5 wherein a resilient compression pad is disposed on an end wall portion of each of said float units, said pad having an aperture therethrough of slightly greater transverse cross-sectional area than the transverse cross-sectional area of said tension element means, said aperture being axially aligned with said end wall passageway opening, said tension element means extending through said aperture, said pad being longitudinally compressed to deform said pad and distribute the pressure contact load on the respective unit when a predetermined tension is maintained on said tension element means for holding said float units together with said predetermined degree of pressure contact therebetween.
  • each of said units comprises a hollow concrete box having a thickened top wall capable of withstanding a predetermined external loading of said platform, and said end wall portions are each of non-uniform thickness, said end walls being thicker above flotation line of said buoyant concrete box than below said line.
  • each of said units comprises a hollow concrete box.
  • each of said float units comprises a hollow box, the interior of at least one of said units containing a predetermined quantity of ballast therein for providing said predetermined mass for said unit, the mass varying in accordance with variations in quantity of ballast.
  • each of said units further includes a pair of substantially upright opposed side wall portions, said post-tensioning interconnecting means including means for interconnecting at least a portion of said plurality of float units together in side to side relation and at least a portion of said plurality of float units together in end to end relation with said top surface portions being substantially flush with each other.
  • a floating platform in accordance with claim 11 wherein at least two of said side to side interconnected units have a different relative predetermined mass with respect to each other and the flotation medium prior to external loading thereof, said platform top surface having a width and a length, said post-tensioning means further interconnecting said portion of float units in side to side relation for providing an arched portion along at least a predetermined portion of both said platform top surface width and its length in said top surface configuration in said flotation medium prior to external loading of said platform.
  • each of said side wall portions includes at least one transverse tension element receiving passageway therein, each of said passageways being transversely axially aligned and opening on said opposed sides of said units at a level below said float unit top surface portion but in the upper portion of the plane of said side wall portion; each of said end wall portion includes at least one longitudinal tension element receiving passageway therein, each of said passageways being longitudinally axially aligned and opening on said opposed ends of said units at a level below said float unit top surface portion but in the upper portion of the plane of said end wall portion, said transverse and said longitudinal passageways being out of communication with each other; and said side to side and end to end interconnection means includes tension element means extending through said respective transversely and longitudinally axially aligned passageways.
  • a floating platform comprising: a plurality of float units, each of said units having at least a substantially planar top surface portion and a pair of substantially upright opposed end wall portions; and posttensioning means for interconnecting said plurality of float units together in end to end relation with said substantially planar top surface portions being substantially flush with each other, said post-tensioning means extending substantially continuously through said plurality of float units and including means for maintaining a predetermined tension for said post-tension-ing means for holding said float units together with a predetermined degree of pressure contact therebetween, said platform having a top surface, said platform top surface having a configuration comprising said interconnected plurality of float unit top surface portions, each of said interconnected units having a predetermined mass upon which a buoyancy associated with a floatation medium for said units is sufficient to float said platform in said floatation medium, at least two of said float units having a different relative predetermined mass with respect to each other and the floatation medium prior to external loading thereof, the relative predetermined masses of said units being provided in accordance

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
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US00213102A 1971-12-28 1971-12-28 Floating platform Expired - Lifetime US3788254A (en)

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US21310271A 1971-12-28 1971-12-28

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US (1) US3788254A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5238657B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA961708A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2167059A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT972977B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3863455A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-02-04 Richard Buckminster Fuller Floatable breakwater
US3951085A (en) * 1973-08-06 1976-04-20 Johnson Don E Floating structure arrangement
US3977344A (en) * 1974-10-07 1976-08-31 John George Holford Floatable concrete structures
US4067285A (en) * 1975-04-02 1978-01-10 Jones Robert M Modular floating structure
US4223623A (en) * 1977-04-22 1980-09-23 Constructions Navales Et Industrielles De La Mediterranee Hinged floating caissons and unfolding devices therefor
US4479450A (en) * 1980-10-13 1984-10-30 Gotaverken Arendal Ab Floating dock
US4655156A (en) * 1985-02-15 1987-04-07 Dominion Al-Chrome Corporation Ltd. Flotation system
GB2242652A (en) * 1990-03-13 1991-10-09 Robert D Hawkins A hull module
US5529013A (en) * 1995-07-11 1996-06-25 Eva, Iii; W. Allan Floating drive-on dry dock assembly
WO1996023691A1 (en) * 1995-01-30 1996-08-08 Kværner Maritime A.S. Floating runway
FR2832691A1 (fr) * 2001-11-28 2003-05-30 Pascal Guyoton Dispositif d'assemblage de modules flottants
WO2003097442A1 (de) * 2002-05-15 2003-11-27 Clement Juergen Schwimmendes fundament als starre plattform
US6745714B1 (en) 2001-10-29 2004-06-08 Jet Dock Systems, Inc. Control for variable buoyancy floating dock
US6761508B1 (en) 1999-04-21 2004-07-13 Ope, Inc. Satellite separator platform(SSP)
FR2863249A1 (fr) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-10 Gtm Construction Structure flottante a usage industriel, commercial ou de loisirs
WO2007011229A1 (en) * 2005-06-16 2007-01-25 Dr. Techn. Olav Olsen As Floating structure consisting of a number of assembled self-floating elements and method for constructing the floating structure
US20080038067A1 (en) * 2006-08-14 2008-02-14 Sergey Sharapov Floaing platform with non-uniformly distributed load and method of construction thereof
WO2008048778A3 (en) * 2006-10-21 2008-07-10 Fountainhead Llc Highly buoyant and semi-rigid floating islands
US7426898B1 (en) * 2004-02-12 2008-09-23 Roy Ahern Floating berth modular dock system assembly
US20110123275A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2011-05-26 Nelson Carl R Floating Buildings
US20110132250A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2011-06-09 Nelson Carl R Floating Buildings
ITPA20100035A1 (it) * 2010-09-16 2012-03-17 Bartolo Ciresi Piattaforme galleggianti per emergenza
WO2017093772A1 (en) 2015-12-04 2017-06-08 Pompor Gyula Design to connect float modules to each other and/or to assembly units and/or to the superstructure, in a preferred embodiment for pontoons constructed of concrete float modules
WO2018045368A1 (en) * 2016-09-02 2018-03-08 University Of Maine System Board Of Trustees Segmented concrete hull for wave energy converters and method of constructing
IT201600096669A1 (it) * 2016-09-27 2018-03-27 Giorgio Grossi Sistema e metodo per la realizzazione di tunnel sottomarini autonomamente galleggianti formati da moduli singolarmente galleggianti a forma parallelepipeda realizzati in cemento armato
WO2020021507A1 (en) * 2018-07-26 2020-01-30 Legacy Foundry Ag Modular floating structure and method of construction
CN114016382A (zh) * 2021-12-15 2022-02-08 中国电建集团成都勘测设计研究院有限公司 一种预应力浮桥便桥及其施工方法

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5818277B2 (ja) * 1973-10-17 1983-04-12 シヨアライン プレキヤスト コムパニ− 建築構造体を製造するための水上工場
JPH04108497U (ja) * 1991-03-06 1992-09-18 日本コンクリート工業株式会社 ポンツーンの連結構造
ITUB20153314A1 (it) 2015-09-01 2017-03-01 Giorgio Grossi Sistema e metodo per la realizzazione di piattaforme galleggianti in cemento armato post-compresso con quota di galleggiamento fissa ed invariabile

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US2107886A (en) * 1934-03-15 1938-02-08 Creed Frederick George Floating station
US3022759A (en) * 1959-08-19 1962-02-27 Basalt Rock Company Inc Concrete floating wharf
US3276209A (en) * 1962-09-25 1966-10-04 Daryl R Mosdell Floating marine structure
US3468393A (en) * 1967-05-26 1969-09-23 William M Harrison Air cushion transporting system for heavy duty pallet
US3546773A (en) * 1968-08-23 1970-12-15 Upjohn Co Process of fabricating an amphibious load-supporting structure

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US2107886A (en) * 1934-03-15 1938-02-08 Creed Frederick George Floating station
US3022759A (en) * 1959-08-19 1962-02-27 Basalt Rock Company Inc Concrete floating wharf
US3276209A (en) * 1962-09-25 1966-10-04 Daryl R Mosdell Floating marine structure
US3468393A (en) * 1967-05-26 1969-09-23 William M Harrison Air cushion transporting system for heavy duty pallet
US3546773A (en) * 1968-08-23 1970-12-15 Upjohn Co Process of fabricating an amphibious load-supporting structure

Cited By (39)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3951085A (en) * 1973-08-06 1976-04-20 Johnson Don E Floating structure arrangement
US3863455A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-02-04 Richard Buckminster Fuller Floatable breakwater
US3977344A (en) * 1974-10-07 1976-08-31 John George Holford Floatable concrete structures
US4067285A (en) * 1975-04-02 1978-01-10 Jones Robert M Modular floating structure
US4223623A (en) * 1977-04-22 1980-09-23 Constructions Navales Et Industrielles De La Mediterranee Hinged floating caissons and unfolding devices therefor
US4479450A (en) * 1980-10-13 1984-10-30 Gotaverken Arendal Ab Floating dock
US4655156A (en) * 1985-02-15 1987-04-07 Dominion Al-Chrome Corporation Ltd. Flotation system
GB2242652B (en) * 1990-03-13 1993-11-03 Robert D Hawkins A hull module
GB2242652A (en) * 1990-03-13 1991-10-09 Robert D Hawkins A hull module
WO1996023691A1 (en) * 1995-01-30 1996-08-08 Kværner Maritime A.S. Floating runway
US5906171A (en) * 1995-01-30 1999-05-25 Kvaerner Maritime As Floating runway
US5529013A (en) * 1995-07-11 1996-06-25 Eva, Iii; W. Allan Floating drive-on dry dock assembly
WO1997002981A1 (en) * 1995-07-11 1997-01-30 Eva W Allan Iii Floating drive-on dry dock assembly
US5682833A (en) * 1995-07-11 1997-11-04 Jet Dock Licensing, Inc. Floating drive-on dry dock assembly
US5947050A (en) * 1995-07-11 1999-09-07 Ocean Innovations, Inc. Floating drive-on dry dock assembly
US6431106B1 (en) 1995-07-11 2002-08-13 Ocean Innovations, Inc. Floating drive-on dry dock assembly
US6761508B1 (en) 1999-04-21 2004-07-13 Ope, Inc. Satellite separator platform(SSP)
US6745714B1 (en) 2001-10-29 2004-06-08 Jet Dock Systems, Inc. Control for variable buoyancy floating dock
FR2832691A1 (fr) * 2001-11-28 2003-05-30 Pascal Guyoton Dispositif d'assemblage de modules flottants
WO2003097442A1 (de) * 2002-05-15 2003-11-27 Clement Juergen Schwimmendes fundament als starre plattform
FR2863249A1 (fr) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-10 Gtm Construction Structure flottante a usage industriel, commercial ou de loisirs
US7426898B1 (en) * 2004-02-12 2008-09-23 Roy Ahern Floating berth modular dock system assembly
WO2007011229A1 (en) * 2005-06-16 2007-01-25 Dr. Techn. Olav Olsen As Floating structure consisting of a number of assembled self-floating elements and method for constructing the floating structure
US20080038067A1 (en) * 2006-08-14 2008-02-14 Sergey Sharapov Floaing platform with non-uniformly distributed load and method of construction thereof
US7575397B2 (en) * 2006-08-14 2009-08-18 Sergey Sharapov Floating platform with non-uniformly distributed load and method of construction thereof
WO2008048778A3 (en) * 2006-10-21 2008-07-10 Fountainhead Llc Highly buoyant and semi-rigid floating islands
US20110123275A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2011-05-26 Nelson Carl R Floating Buildings
US20110132250A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2011-06-09 Nelson Carl R Floating Buildings
ITPA20100035A1 (it) * 2010-09-16 2012-03-17 Bartolo Ciresi Piattaforme galleggianti per emergenza
WO2017093772A1 (en) 2015-12-04 2017-06-08 Pompor Gyula Design to connect float modules to each other and/or to assembly units and/or to the superstructure, in a preferred embodiment for pontoons constructed of concrete float modules
US11027798B2 (en) 2015-12-04 2021-06-08 Gyula Pompor To connect float modules to each other and/or to an assembly and/or to a superstructure mounted onto them, for pontoons constructed of float modules
WO2018045368A1 (en) * 2016-09-02 2018-03-08 University Of Maine System Board Of Trustees Segmented concrete hull for wave energy converters and method of constructing
US10975835B2 (en) 2016-09-02 2021-04-13 University Of Maine System Board Of Trustees Segmented concrete hull for wave energy converters and method of constructing
IT201600096669A1 (it) * 2016-09-27 2018-03-27 Giorgio Grossi Sistema e metodo per la realizzazione di tunnel sottomarini autonomamente galleggianti formati da moduli singolarmente galleggianti a forma parallelepipeda realizzati in cemento armato
WO2018061043A3 (en) * 2016-09-27 2018-05-11 Giorgio Grossi System and method for the realization of self-floating submarine tunnel formed by individually floating parallelepiped-shaped modules made of reinforced concrete
WO2020021507A1 (en) * 2018-07-26 2020-01-30 Legacy Foundry Ag Modular floating structure and method of construction
CN112543733A (zh) * 2018-07-26 2021-03-23 莱格西铸造股份公司 模块化浮动结构和建设方法
US20210188405A1 (en) * 2018-07-26 2021-06-24 Legacy Foundry Ag Modular floating structure and method of construction
CN114016382A (zh) * 2021-12-15 2022-02-08 中国电建集团成都勘测设计研究院有限公司 一种预应力浮桥便桥及其施工方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT972977B (it) 1974-05-31
CA961708A (en) 1975-01-28
FR2167059A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-08-17
JPS5238657B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-09-30
JPS4874040A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-05

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