US4118941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stressed caisson retained island
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1977-05-16
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Granted: 1978-10-10
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Expires: 1997-05-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for constructing an island in a body of water including a plurality of caissons and means for connecting the caissons in an end-to-end configuration to form a ring. Once the caissons have been connected together to form a ring and ballasted to set the caissons upon the bottom of the body of water, sufficient fill material is placed inside the ring of caissons to construct an island in the body of water.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Bruce
- 👤 John F. Davies
- 👤 Jacobus J. A. DE Jong
- 👤 Kalju Pullerits
- 👤 Richard H. B. Sangster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:57
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for constructing an island in a body of water comprising: a plurality of caissons adapted to be set upon the bottom of the body of water; and flexible means for connecting the caissons together to form a ring of connected caissons which is capable of containing an amount of fill material sufficient to construct an island in the body of water, said connecting means being sufficiently flexible so as to permit relative movement between said plurality of caissons in any direction and having controlled flexibility.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for constructing an island in a body of water comprising: a plurality of caissons adapted to be set upon the bottom of the body of water; and flexible means for connecting the caissons together to form a ring of connected caissons which is capable of containing an amount of fill material sufficient to construct an island in the body of water, said connecting means being sufficiently flexible so as to permit relative movement between said plurality of caissons in any direction and having controlled flexibility.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a horizontal key on an end of a first caisson and a horizontal keyway on an end of a second caisson, the ends of the first and second caissons being those that will contact each other when the caissons are connected together, the key and keyway adapted to vertically align the caissons when the caissons are placed end-to-end to be connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vertical key on an end of a first caisson and a vertical keyway on an end of a second caisson, the ends of the first and second caissons being those that will contact each other when the caissons are connected together, the key and keyway adapted to horizontally align the caissons when the caissons are placed end-to-end to be connected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for constructing an island in a body of water comprising: a plurality of caissons adapted to be set upon the bottom of the body of water; and flexible means for connecting the caissons together to form a ring of connected caissons which is capable of containing an amount of fill material sufficient to construct an island in the body of water, said connecting means being sufficiently flexible so as to permit relative movement between said plurality of caissons in any direction, said connecting means comprising (a) cable means extending circumferentially around the caisson ring within each caisson, said cable means comprising a cable extending longitudinally within each said caisson and means for connecting the ends of the cables of adjacent caissons; and (b) means for tensioning said cable means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for constructing an island in a body of water comprising: a plurality of caissons adapted to be set upon the bottom of the body of water; and flexible means for connecting the caissons together to form a ring of connected caissons which is capable of containing an amount of fill material sufficient to construct an island in the body of water, said connecting means being sufficiently flexible so as to permit relative movement between said plurality of caissons in any direction, said connecting means comprising (a) cable means extending circumferentially around the caisson ring within each caisson, said cable means comprising a cable extending longitudinally within each said caisson and means for connecting the ends of the cables of adjacent caissons; and (b) means for tensioning said cable means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for connecting the ends of the cables of adjacent caissons comprises connecting heads connected to the ends of the cables, each connecting head having a connecting link projecting horizontally therefrom, each link having a hole extending vertically therethrough, the connecting heads of adjacent caissons being adapted and positioned so that the links of the connecting heads of adjacent caissons can be intermeshed and the holes in their links aligned, and a connecting spud adapted to be inserted through the aligned holes in the links of the connecting heads of adjacent caissons to connect the connecting heads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
An island constructed in a body of water comprising: a plurality of caissons set upon the bottom of the body of water and having a height such that the caissons extend upward from the body of water at least to the surface of the body of water; means for connecting the caissons in an end-to-end configuration to form a ring of connected caissons, said connecting means being flexible so as to permit relative movement between said plurality of caissons in any direction, said connecting means comprising (a) cable means run circumferentially around the caisson ring within the caissons, said cable means comprising a cable extending longitudinally within each caisson and means for connecting the ends of the cables of adjacent caissons; and (b) means for tensioning said cable means; and fill material placed within the ring of caissons in an amount sufficient to construct an island in the body of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
An island constructed in a body of water comprising: a plurality of caissons set upon the bottom of the body of water and having a height such that the caissons extend upward from the body of water at least to the surface of the body of water; means for connecting the caissons in an end-to-end configuration to form a ring of connected caissons, said connecting means being flexible so as to permit relative movement between said plurality of caissons in any direction, said connecting means comprising (a) cable means run circumferentially around the caisson ring within the caissons, said cable means comprising a cable extending longitudinally within each caisson and means for connecting the ends of the cables of adjacent caissons; and (b) means for tensioning said cable means; and fill material placed within the ring of caissons in an amount sufficient to construct an island in the body of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The island of claim 6 further comprising means for plugging the gaps between adjacent caissons to prevent the fill material contained within the caisson ring from escaping through the gaps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The island of claim 6 wherein said body of water contains ice formations and further comprising means positioned on top of said caissons for deflecting said ice formations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The island of claim 6 wherein said body of water contains ice formations and said caissons have a slanted outer surface for deflecting said ice formations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-09 | 1982-04-10 | 1982-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-09 | 1986-04-10 | 1986-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-09 | 1990-04-10 | 1990-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |