Stabilized floating structure

Claim 2

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a body only partially immersed in a fluid, said body having a plurality of constantly totally immersed, vertically disposed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereof with said fluid, means for supplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers, means for controlling the supply of air under pressure to and the venting of said chambers, means for sensing variations of said floating structure relative to said predetermined orientation, and said control means being operable responsive to said sensing means to selectively supply air under pressure to and vent said chambers to provide variable pressures in said chambers to vary the volumes of displaced fluid in said chambers and correspondingly vary the buoyant forces acting on said floating structure, while maintaining constant the resultant buoyant force applied to said floating structure, acting through the center of gravity thereof, to return said structure to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 3

A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 4

A floating structure according to claim 2 wherein said means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body comprises weighing means.

Claim 5

A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing lateral loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 6

A floating structure according to claim 2 including a second plurality of constantly totally immersed, vertically disposed chambers, disposed on opposite sides of said body, having the lower ends thereof communicating with said fluid, means for supplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers second means for sensing variations of said body relative to said predetermined orientation to lateral forces applied to said body, and said control means being operable responsive to said second sensing means to selectively supply air under pressure to and vent said second plurality of chambers to provide variable pressures in said chambers and thereby vary the volumes of displaced fluid therein and correspondingly vary the buoyant forces acting on said body to counteract the upsetting effects of said lateral forces, and return said body to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 7

A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing both vertical and lateral loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 8

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body only partially immersed in a body of water, having longitudinal and transverse center lines and a plurality of vertically disposed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereof with said body of water, disposed on each side of at least one of said center lines, said chambers being disposed constantly below the water line, means for supplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers, means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, and control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively supplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers to provide variable pressures in said chambers, for varying the displaced volumes of water in said chambers and correspondingly varying the buoyant forces acting on said fluid body, while maintaining constant the resultant force applied to said floating structure, acting through the center of gravity thereof, to provide counteracting forces operable to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 9

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body only partially immersed in a body of water, having longitudinal and transverse center lines and a plurality of vertically disposed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereof with said body of water, disposed on each side of at least one of said center lines, said chambers being disposed constantly below the water line, means for supplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers, means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, and control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively supplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers to provide variable pressures in said chambers, for varying the displaced volumes of water in said chambers and correspondingly varying the buoyant forces acting on said fluid body, while maintaining constant the resultant force applied to said floating structure, acting through the center of gravity thereof, to provide counteracting forces operable to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 10

A floating structure comprising a first body section adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation, means for limiting the upper displacement of said first body section, a second body section supporting said first body section said first body section being displaceable relative to said second body section, said second body section having a portion thereof partly immersible in a fluid to produce a buoyant force acting on said structure, means for varying the displacement between said body sections, means responsive to variations of said first body section relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying the displacement between said bodies thereby varying the immersed volume of said second body section whereby the buoyant forces acting on said structure are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return said first body section to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said first body section relative to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 11

A floating structure comprising a first body section adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation, means for limiting the upper displacement of said first body section, a second body section supporting said first body section said first body section being displaceable relative to said second body section, said second body section having a portion thereof partly immersible in a fluid to produce a buoyant force acting on said structure, means for varying the displacement between said body sections, means responsive to variations of said first body section relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying the displacement between said bodies thereby varying the immersed volume of said second body section whereby the buoyant forces acting on said structure are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return said first body section to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said first body section relative to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 12

A floating structure according to claim 8, wherein said means for varying the displacement between said bodies comprises at least one variable volume chamber disposed between said body sections and said actuating means comprises a system of fluid under pressure connected to said chamber for varying the volume thereof whereby a variation of volume of said chamber will cause displacement between said body sections thus producing corresPonding variations in the buoyant forces acting on said structure.

Claim 13

A floating structure according to claim 8, wherein said sensing means includes a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said first body section.

Claim 14

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted in said body at selected loci varying the buoyant forces acting on said selected loci, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied at selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 15

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted in said body at selected loci varying the buoyant forces acting on said selected loci, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied at selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 16

A floating structure according to claim 11 wherein said means mounted at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body comprise a plurality of immersed chambers communicating with said fluid, each of said chambers having a piston for varying the displaced volume of fluid therein, said piston being operatively connected to said actuating means, and wherein said actuating means comprises a fluid system including a source of fluid under pressure, fluid operated actuators for extending and retracting said pistons to vary the displaced volume of said fluid selectively, and control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid operated actuators.

Claim 17

A floating structure according to claim 11 wherein said means mounted at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body comprise a plurality of immersed chambers communicating with said fluid, each of said chambers having a piston for varying the displaced volume of fluid therein, said piston being operatively connected to said actuating means, and wherein said sensing means comprises a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 18

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted in said body at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said selected loci, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied at selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said means mounted at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body comprising a plurality of immersed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereof with said fluid, said actuating means comprising a pneumatic system including a source of gas under pressure, circuit means interconnecting said source of gas under pressure with said chambers, means for venting said chambers and control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to and venting said chambers, and said sensing means comprising a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 19

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted in said body at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said selected loci, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied at selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said means mounted at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body comprising a plurality of immersed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereof with said fluid, said actuating means comprising a pneumatic system including a source of gas under pressure, circuit means interconnecting said source of gas under pressure with said chambers, means for venting said chambers and control means responsive to said sensing means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to and venting said chambers, and said sensing means comprising a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 20

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse center lines, said floating body being at least partially immersed in a fluid, at least one means for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body mounted in said floating body on each side of at least one of said center lines, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orieNtation for actuating said means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 21

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse center lines, said floating body being at least partially immersed in a fluid, at least one means for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body mounted in said floating body on each side of at least one of said center lines, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orieNtation for actuating said means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 22

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse center lines, said floating body being at least partially immersed in a fluid, at least one means for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body mounted in said floating body on each side of at least one of said center lines, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said actuating means being operable selectively to actuate both of said varying means simultaneously to counteract any vertical displacement of said floating body thus returning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, to actuate said varying means selectively to produce righting forces about said center line to counteract external forces applied to said floating body tending to produce upsetting moments about said center line thus returning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, and to actuate said varying means to produce opposed forces acting vertically and about said center line to counteract a combination of forces tending to displace said floating body vertically and simultaneously producing an upsetting moment about said center line thus returning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, and said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 23

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse center lines, said floating body being at least partially immersed in a fluid, at least one means for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body mounted in said floating body on each side of at least one of said center lines, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said actuating means being operable selectively to actuate both of said varying means simultaneously to counteract any vertical displacement of said floating body thus returning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, to actuate said varying means selectively to produce righting forces about said center line to counteract external forces applied to said floating body tending to produce upsetting moments about said center line thus returning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, and to actuate said varying means to produce opposed forces acting vertically and about said center line to counteract a combination of forces tending to displace said floating body vertically and simultaneously producing an upsetting moment about said center line thus returning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, and said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 24

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse center lines and at least a portion thereof immersed in a fluid, at least one set of first reaction means mounted in said floating body, disposed symmetrically relative to at least one of said center lines for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body, at least one set of second reaction means mounted in said floating body, symmetrically relative to one of said center lines, for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said first and second reaction means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce reaction forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, and said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 25

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse center lines and at least a portion thereof immersed in a fluid, at least one set of first reaction means mounted in said floating body, disposed symmetrically relative to at least one of said center lines for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body, at least one set of second reaction means mounted in said floating body, symmetrically relative to one of said center lines, for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body, means responsive to variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said first and second reaction means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce reaction forces tending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating means including means for sensing variations of said floating body relative to said predetermined orientation, and said sensing means including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

Claim 26

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a body of fluid, a platform supported on said floating body, said floating body having a first plurality of spaced chambers, means for detecting loads applied to said platform, means for varying fluid in said first plurality of chambers in response to loading of said platform to vary the buoyant forces acting on said floating body in counteracting the effects of said loading and returning said structure to said predetermined orientation, said floating body having a second plurality of spaced chambers communicating with said body of fluid, means for displacing fluid in said seCond plurality of chambers, and means responsive to exterior forces applied to said structure tending to displace said structure from said predetermined orientation for actuating said displacing means to vary the buoyant forces produced by said second plurality of chambers to counteract the upsetting effects of said exterior forces and returning said structure to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 27

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a body of fluid, a platform supported on said floating body, said floating body having a first plurality of spaced chambers, means for detecting loads applied to said platform, means for varying fluid in said first plurality of chambers in response to loading of said platform to vary the buoyant forces acting on said floating body in counteracting the effects of said loading and returning said structure to said predetermined orientation, said floating body having a second plurality of spaced chambers communicating with said body of fluid, means for displacing fluid in said seCond plurality of chambers, and means responsive to exterior forces applied to said structure tending to displace said structure from said predetermined orientation for actuating said displacing means to vary the buoyant forces produced by said second plurality of chambers to counteract the upsetting effects of said exterior forces and returning said structure to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 28

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said detecting means comprises weighing means.

Claim 29

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said displacing means comprise pistons.

Claim 30

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said actuating means comprise vanes operatively connected to said displacing means.

Claim 31

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said displacing means comprise pistons and said actuating means comprise vanes operatively connected to said pistons.

Claim 32

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 22 wherein said vanes are pivotally connected to said floating body and are engageable by wind and waves acting on said structure.

Claim 33

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 including means for limiting the upward movement of said floating body.

Claim 34

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said detecting means comprises weighing means, said displacing means comprise pistons, said actuating means comprise vanes pivotally to said floating body and operatively connected to said pistons, and including means for limiting the upward movements of said floating body.

Claim 35

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said chambers operable to vary the buoyant forces acting on said floating body are disposed on opposite sides of at least one center line of said floating body to produce selectively vertical and righting forces counteracting upsetting forces applied to said structure.

Claim 36

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 26 wherein said chambers are disposed equidistantly relative to said center line.

Claim 37

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 26 wherein said vanes are disposed on opposite sides of said floating structure and are operatively interconnected to simultaneously actuate at least two displacing means producing cooperative righting forces.