Modular floating structure

Claim 2

A floating structure comprising: a. a plurality of juxtaposed interchangeable buoyant modules aligned in longitudinally and laterally extended directions in a manner such as to define a plurality of laterally spaced, longitudinally extended buoyant columns of multiple modules, each module including a vertically spaced pair of parallel walls, the lowermost wall of each pair being adapted to be disposed beneath the water line of a supporting body of water; b. means for securing the modules of said columns in serial alignment, including a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extended beams; and c. means interconnecting said modules into an integrated structure including laterally spaced columns having low-drag characteristics, comprising a plurality of coplanar, longitudinally spaced I-beams disposed substantially above the water line of said body of water and being fixedly connected at their opposite ends with said modules.

Claim 3

bracket means circumscribing the transverse end walls of said modules,

Claim 4

bracket means circumscribing the transverse end walls of said modules,

Claim 5

A floating structure comprising: a plurality of modular floats interrelated in size and shape for assembly into a unified floating structure, said floats each having connecting means disposed to permit their interconnection one with another; and a plurality of connecting members disposed adjacent said floats and interconnected with said float connecting means in a truss forming relationship; said floats being disposed to form a plurality of longitudinal rows with each longitudinal row having a plurality of floats aligned end to end, and a plurality of lateral rows with each lateral row having a plurality of floats aligned side to side, and said floats have end connecting flanges on end portions juxtaposed an adjacent longitudinally aligned float and side connecting flanges on side portions juxtaposed an adjacent laterally aligned float; and said connecting members including longitudinal members disposed between adjacent longitudinal rows of floats and interconnected with said side connecting flanges on floats in said longitudinal rows, and cross-members disposed between adjacent lateral rows of floats and interconnected with said end connecting flanges on floats in said lateral rows.

Claim 6

A floating structure comprising: a plurality of modular floats interrelated in size and shape for assembly into a unified floating structure, said floats each having connecting means disposed to permit their interconnection one with another; and a plurality of connecting members disposed adjacent said floats and interconnected with said float connecting means in a truss forming relationship; said floats being disposed to form a plurality of longitudinal rows with each longitudinal row having a plurality of floats aligned end to end, and a plurality of lateral rows with each lateral row having a plurality of floats aligned side to side, and said floats have end connecting flanges on end portions juxtaposed an adjacent longitudinally aligned float and side connecting flanges on side portions juxtaposed an adjacent laterally aligned float; and said connecting members including longitudinal members disposed between adjacent longitudinal rows of floats and interconnected with said side connecting flanges on floats in said longitudinal rows, and cross-members disposed between adjacent lateral rows of floats and interconnected with said end connecting flanges on floats in said lateral rows.

Claim 7

Z-bars having horizontal surfaces aligned in planes common to the plane of the horizontal surfaces of the channular bars adapted to receive a boat deck thereon; means defining a U-shaped member including a vertically directed pair of parallel side members extending vertically from the elongated beams adapted to receive vertically disposed bulkheads thereon, whereby received bulkheads may be coupled with the lateral and longitudinal trusses; a horizontal boat deck supported on said Z-bars and channular bars; roof means including a sun deck joining the bulkheads for completing living compartments disposed above the deck of the floating structure, whereby the floating structure may be employed in a housing capacity; and means filling selected modules with flotage and consumable ballast, whereby a self-contained floating structure is provided.

Claim 8

Z-bars having horizontal surfaces aligned in planes common to the plane of the horizontal surfaces of the channular bars adapted to receive a boat deck thereon; means defining a U-shaped member including a vertically directed pair of parallel side members extending vertically from the elongated beams adapted to receive vertically disposed bulkheads thereon, whereby received bulkheads may be coupled with the lateral and longitudinal trusses; a horizontal boat deck supported on said Z-bars and channular bars; roof means including a sun deck joining the bulkheads for completing living compartments disposed above the deck of the floating structure, whereby the floating structure may be employed in a housing capacity; and means filling selected modules with flotage and consumable ballast, whereby a self-contained floating structure is provided.

Claim 9

four elongated parallel angle beams having first and second adjoining surfaces defining an included angle therebetween connected with and joining the side walls at the junctures thereoF, and a third protruded portion extending away from the surface of the modules, and

Claim 10

four elongated parallel angle beams having first and second adjoining surfaces defining an included angle therebetween connected with and joining the side walls at the junctures thereoF, and a third protruded portion extending away from the surface of the modules, and

Claim 11

A self-contained floating structure comprising: a plurality of contiguous columns, each column comprising a multiplicity of juxtaposed buoyant modules, and each module including:

Claim 12

A self-contained floating structure comprising: a plurality of contiguous columns, each column comprising a multiplicity of juxtaposed buoyant modules, and each module including:

Claim 13

A floating structure comprising: a plurality of modular floats interrelated in size and shape for assembly into a unified floating structure, said floats each having connecting means disposed to permit their interconnection one with another; and a plurality of connecting members disposed adjacent said floats and interconnected with said float connecting means in a truss forming relationship; said connecting members including longitudinal members disposed to interconnect said floats into longitudinally aligned columns, said longitudinal members being inteconnected with the connecting means on said modules to form therewith a truss structure longitudinally disposed with respect to said floating structure, and cross members disposed to interconnect said modules in lateral alignment, said cross members being interconnected with the connecting means on said modules to form therewith a truss structure laterally disposed with respect to said floating structure.

Claim 14

A floating structure comprising: a plurality of modular floats interrelated in size and shape for assembly into a unified floating structure, said floats each having connecting means disposed to permit their interconnection one with another; and a plurality of connecting members disposed adjacent said floats and interconnected with said float connecting means in a truss forming relationship; said connecting members including longitudinal members disposed to interconnect said floats into longitudinally aligned columns, said longitudinal members being inteconnected with the connecting means on said modules to form therewith a truss structure longitudinally disposed with respect to said floating structure, and cross members disposed to interconnect said modules in lateral alignment, said cross members being interconnected with the connecting means on said modules to form therewith a truss structure laterally disposed with respect to said floating structure.

Claim 15

locking means defining at least one slotted opening at the opposite ends of each of said elongated beams; a plurality of laterally spaced elongated beams extending in a first plane parallel the adjacent edge portions of the columns comprising a plurality of inverted U-shaped stringers so disposed as to have a pair of parallel sides extending in a first direction to receive the protruded portions of the angle beams for securing said columns of modules in a side-by-side relationship; means disposed in a second plane normal to said first plane defining at least one elongated coupling disposed in vertical alignment with at least one of the elongated beams and joining at least a pair of said columns in side-by-side relationship in a manner such that the elongated coupling, brackets and elongated beams are interconnected to assume a structural configuration conforming to a longitudinally extended truss disposed in a vertical plane between selected columns of modules; a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of parallel, vertically displaced beams, each having a T-shaped configuration and extending laterally between adjacent surfaces of said modules in planes normal to the plane of the longitudianlly extended truss, whereby the locking means of the elongated beams is caused to receive therein one portion of an adjacent T-shaped beam; boat deck support means including:

Claim 16

locking means defining at least one slotted opening at the opposite ends of each of said elongated beams; a plurality of laterally spaced elongated beams extending in a first plane parallel the adjacent edge portions of the columns comprising a plurality of inverted U-shaped stringers so disposed as to have a pair of parallel sides extending in a first direction to receive the protruded portions of the angle beams for securing said columns of modules in a side-by-side relationship; means disposed in a second plane normal to said first plane defining at least one elongated coupling disposed in vertical alignment with at least one of the elongated beams and joining at least a pair of said columns in side-by-side relationship in a manner such that the elongated coupling, brackets and elongated beams are interconnected to assume a structural configuration conforming to a longitudinally extended truss disposed in a vertical plane between selected columns of modules; a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of parallel, vertically displaced beams, each having a T-shaped configuration and extending laterally between adjacent surfaces of said modules in planes normal to the plane of the longitudianlly extended truss, whereby the locking means of the elongated beams is caused to receive therein one portion of an adjacent T-shaped beam; boat deck support means including:

Claim 17

A floating structure as described in claim 4 in which: said floats are aligned longitudinally and each has an end connecting frame on an end portion disposed adjacent the end portion of an aligned adjacent float, said end connecting frames each including a longitudinally projecting flange adjacent the periphery of said float, and said floats each has longitudinally extending connecting flanges Projecting normally to the direction of projection of said end connecting frame flanges; and said longitudinal members are interconnected with said longitudinally extending connecting flanges, and said cross-members are interconnected with said end connecting frame flanges.

Claim 18

A floating structure as described in claim 5 in which: said connecting members further include U-shaped longitudinal members and T-shaped cross-members.

Claim 19

Floating structure comprising: a plurality of juxtaposed buoyant modules so aligned in both longitudinal and lateral directions as to define parallel columns of multiple modules; angle members extending along the edge portions of each of said modules and connected therewith; a plurality of spaced, elongated beams extending in a first plane parallel adjacent edge portions of the columns and coupled to said angle members for securing said columns in side-by-side relationship; elongated coupling means disposed in a second plane normal to the first plane, and arranged in vertical alignment with selected beams joining at least a pair of the columns of multiple modules in side-by-side relationship; verically positioned bracket means fixed to the modules and extending between the beams and coupling means in a manner such that the elongated coupling means, angle members, and elongated beams are caused to be interconnected to assume a structural configuration conforming to an elongated longitudinal truss disposed in a vertical plane between selected columns of said modules; a plurality of pairs of parallel, vertically spaced, transversely extended beams disposed in multiple parallel planes normal to the plane of the elongated truss and between adjacent surfaces of said modules; and locking means securing the beams with the angle members in a manner such that a plurality of transverse truss structures including a plurality of truss elements is provided and connected with the longitudinal truss, whereby the modules are caused to be supported by truss structure extending in both lateral and longitudinal directions.

Claim 20

Floating structure comprising: a plurality of juxtaposed buoyant modules so aligned in both longitudinal and lateral directions as to define parallel columns of multiple modules; angle members extending along the edge portions of each of said modules and connected therewith; a plurality of spaced, elongated beams extending in a first plane parallel adjacent edge portions of the columns and coupled to said angle members for securing said columns in side-by-side relationship; elongated coupling means disposed in a second plane normal to the first plane, and arranged in vertical alignment with selected beams joining at least a pair of the columns of multiple modules in side-by-side relationship; verically positioned bracket means fixed to the modules and extending between the beams and coupling means in a manner such that the elongated coupling means, angle members, and elongated beams are caused to be interconnected to assume a structural configuration conforming to an elongated longitudinal truss disposed in a vertical plane between selected columns of said modules; a plurality of pairs of parallel, vertically spaced, transversely extended beams disposed in multiple parallel planes normal to the plane of the elongated truss and between adjacent surfaces of said modules; and locking means securing the beams with the angle members in a manner such that a plurality of transverse truss structures including a plurality of truss elements is provided and connected with the longitudinal truss, whereby the modules are caused to be supported by truss structure extending in both lateral and longitudinal directions.

Claim 21

The structure of claim 7 wherein selected modules include chambers filled with a buoyant compression resistant material.

Claim 22

The structure of claim 7 wherein: each of the interconnected angle members comprises a T-shaped beam, the longitudinal axis of which is extended parallel to the longtitudinal axis of the module and includes two right-angle portions connected with the module and a third portion protruded vertically therefrom; and each of the elongated beams comprises an inverted U-shaped channular member so disposed as to have parallel sides extended in a first vertical direction to receivingly engage adjacent protruded portions of the T-shaped beam therebetween.

Claim 23

The structure of claim 9 wherein the pairs of vertically spaced beams are of T-shaped configuration having three planar surface portions and wherein the locking means includes means defining a slotted opening provided at opposite ends of the angle members, each slotted opening being adapted to receive therein one planar portion of an adjacent T-shaped beam.

Claim 24

The structure of claim 10 wherein the elongated beams further includes a U-shaped channular member having a pair of parallel sides extended in a second vertical direction adapted telescopingly to receive therein vertically disposed bulkhead supports for coupling bulkheads to the longitudinal truss, whereby a coupling of a plurality of bulkheads with the truss structure as it is extended between the buoyant modules is accommodated.

Claim 25

The structure according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of transversely extended, channular members coupled to adjacent modules of the columns of modules for joining the modules at opposite sides of the transversely extended beams and including a plateaued portion adapted to serve as a deck support for supporting a boat deck thereon.

Claim 26

The structure of claim 12 further including a plurAlity of spaced Z-bars extended across the modules between the angle members, each having a surface adapted to support a boat deck thereon, whereby the channular members and Z-bars cooperate to serve as support means for a boat deck thereon.

Claim 27

The structure according to claim 13 wherein each of the modules includes a plurality of pairs of rectangular, parallel walls formed of planar panels of thin-gauge sheet metal secured to the angle members and to the bracket means.

Claim 28

The structure according to claim 14 wherein the panels of sheet metal are secured to the angle members in a manner such that planes of the surfaces of angle members are parallel to and displaced from the planes of th panels of sheet metal.

Claim 29

The structure according to claim 15 further comprising horizontally positioned bracket means fixed to the modules and extending between the vertically positioned bracket means near the opposite ends thereof, and displaced relative to the planes of selected panels of sheet metal in a manner such that a plurality of reliefs are formed for receiving therein planar portions of the vertically spaced beams.

Claim 30

The structure according to claim 14 wherein the sheet metal panels are joined to the angle members in a manner such that the planes of the outer surface of the angle members and the planes of the panels of sheet metal are disposed in a common plane.

Claim 31

The combination according to claim 17 wherein each of the angle members is provided with means defining an elongated slot extending the length thereof adapted to receive an edge portion of a sheet metal panel therein.

Claim 32

The combination according to claim 18 wherein each of the elongated slots are in depth disposed in oblique directions relative to the planes of the panels of sheet metal, and the peripheral portions of the panels are deformed to extend diagonally from the plane of the panel.