Monolithic floating wharves

Claim 2

A floatation unit a plurality of which may be assembled in various combinations to form layouts of main access floats and finger floats to create marinas and multi-moorage for boats, said unit comprising a monolithic concrete structure having a deck, a base, and sidewalls connecting said deck and base to define a closed floatation chamber, said base and sidewalls being integrally formed of reinforced high density concrete, said deck being formed of reinforced concrete having a density less than that of said sidewalls, a quantity of low density, rigid, expanded material substantially filling said floatation chamber and serving as a floatation agent, and at least one levelling void formed in said expanded material to receive ballasting material to thereby control the floatation level of said unit.

Claim 3

The floatation unit according to claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a plurality of water proof bulkheads to establish a multi-cellular construction.

Claim 4

The floatation unit according to claim 1 wherein said chamber includes at least one crosswall to define a plurality of compartments, and means sealing said compartments from each other.

Claim 5

The floatation unit according to claim 3 further comprising access port means in said deck leading to said compartments whereby said compartments may be provided with ballast material to add weight to the unit.

Claim 6

The floatation unit according to claim 1 wherein said base includes a pair of bases spaced from each other, said sidewalls include a pair of sidewalls for each base, and said deck includes a single deck spanning all of the sidewalls to define a pair of closed chambers spaced from each other.

Claim 7

The floatation unit according to claim 5 further comprising a crosswall extending across each end of the unit to stabilize the unit for floatation purposes, each crosswall being made of concrete integral with said deck.

Claim 8

The floatation unit according to claim 6 further comprising a plurality of service ducts disposed in the space between said pair of chambers and under the adjacent portion of said deck, and a slab of concrete extending under said ducts to be integral with adjacent sidewalls whereby said ducts are completely surrounded by concrete.

Claim 9

Floatation apparatus comprising a plurality of main floats connected together into a multi-moorage assembly, a plurality of secondary floats connected to said main floats whereby the multi-moorage assembly may be extended in a plurality of directions relative to the main floats, each of said main floats consisting of a monolithic concrete unit defining a pair of floatation chambers with a duct chamber therebetween, a floatation agent substantially filling each floatation chamber, means defining a ballast compartment for each floatation chamber, and ballast means in said ballast compartment to control the floatation level of each main float, and each of said secondary floats consisting of a monolithic concrete unit defining a plurality of floatation chambers sealed from each other, access means for each chamber to insert ballast means therein, and locker storage means in at least one of said chambers.

Claim 10

Floatation apparatus comprising a plurality of main floats connected together into a multi-moorage assembly, a plurality of secondary floats connected to said main floats whereby the multi-moorage assembly may be extended in a plurality of directions relative to the main floats, each of said main floats consisting of a monolithic concrete unit defining a pair of floatation chambers with a duct chamber therebetween, a floatation agent substantially filling each floatation chamber, means defining a ballast compartment for each floatation chamber, and ballast means in said ballast compartment to control the floatation level of each main float, and each of said secondary floats consisting of a monolithic concrete unit defining a plurality of floatation chambers sealed from each other, access means for each chamber to insert ballast means therein, and locker storage means in at least one of said chambers.