US3788254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating platform
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-28
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Granted: 1974-01-29
•
Expires: 1991-12-28
Abstract
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 different 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. Furthermore, if desired, 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 platform 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 posttensioned 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 to end interconnections.
Inventors
- 👤 J Sheil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:08
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/50; B63B35/34; B63B35/38; B63B35/44; B63B35/4413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
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 units together with said pressure contact therebetween, at least said two interconnected float unit top surface portions providing an arched portion in said platform top surface configuration for said platform in said floatation medium, said arched portion being along at least a predetermined portion of said platform top surface prior to external loading thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
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 units together with said pressure contact therebetween, at least said two interconnected float unit top surface portions providing an arched portion in said platform top surface configuration for said platform in said floatation medium, said arched portion being along at least a predetermined portion of said platform top surface prior to external loading thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mass of said interconnected units is sufficient to float at least a part of said arched portion of said platform above the surface of said flotation medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of float units includes at least one other float unit having a predetermined mass prior to external loading thereof which is substantially the same as the predetermined mass of one of said two units, said post-tensioning means interconnecting said one other unit and said two units in a substantially symmetrical arrangement in accordance with the relative masses of said units, said one other unit and said two units providing a substantially symmetrical arched portion in said platform top surface configuration along at least a predetermined portion of said platform top surface prior to external loading thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein 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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 4 wherein 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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
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 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 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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
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.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein 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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said units comprises a hollow concrete box.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein 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.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein 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.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 11 wherein 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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A floating platform in accordance with claim 13 wherein said side to side and said end to end interconnection means further includes means for maintaining a predetermined tension on each of said respective tension element means for holding said float units together with a predetermined degree of pressure contact therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
261 words
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-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 with the size of the unit, the relative mass varying in accordance with variations in unit size, said post-tensioning means interconnecting said plurality of float units together with said pressure contact therebetween, at least said two interconnected float unit top surface portions providing an arched portion in said floatation medium, said arched portion being along at least a predetermined portion of said platform top surface prior to external loading thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
261 words
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-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 with the size of the unit, the relative mass varying in accordance with variations in unit size, said post-tensioning means interconnecting said plurality of float units together with said pressure contact therebetween, at least said two interconnected float unit top surface portions providing an arched portion in said floatation medium, said arched portion being along at least a predetermined portion of said platform top surface prior to external loading thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |