WO2007030013A2

WO2007030013A2 - Floatable construction

Info

Publication number: WO2007030013A2
Application number: PCT/NL2006/050222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hein Douwinus Voskamp
Original assignee: Hein Douwinus Voskamp
Priority date: 2005-09-05
Filing date: 2006-09-05
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: WO2007030013A3

Abstract

A floatable construction (1, 2) for carrying a building structure, such as a house or other building, comprises a number of frame parts (3, 4) which are connected to each other to form a chassis (12, 13) and which all have a substantially trapezoidal, for instance rectangular, main shape such that the construction (1, 2) has the main shape of a rectangular block, this construction (1, 2) comprising floating means (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14) which are accommodated within the main shape of the construction such that the construction (1, 2) can float together with a building structure carried thereby.

Description

FLOATABLE CONSTRUCTION

A floatable construction for carrying a building structure such as a house or other building is known. Such a floatable construction is known for instance in the form of a concrete container. It is an object of the invention to embody a floatable construction such that it has a greater net buoyancy per unit of volume compared to these known constructions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a floatable construction which can withstand significant differences in load on the floatable construction.

It is also an object of the invention to embody a floatable construction such that it can be readily coupled to another floatable construction, such that the two or more thus mutually coupled floatable constructions together form a substantially rigid unit. It is also an object of the invention to provide a floatable construction which can be transported easily and cheaply in that it has a low own weight compared to known constructions .

Another object of the invention is to embody a floatable construction such that it requires little maintenance.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to embody a floatable construction such that, taking into account the advantages already stated above, it can be manufactured for a maximum of the same price as, or even more cheaply than known floatable constructions.

Said objectives are generally realized according to the invention by a floatable construction for carrying a building structure such as a house or other building, which construction comprises a number of frame parts which are connected to each other to form a chassis and which all have a substantially trapezoidal, for instance rectangular, main shape such that the construction has the main shape of a rectangular block, this construction comprising floating means which are accommodated within the main shape of the construction such that the construction can float together with a building structure carried thereby.

In a specific embodiment the construction has the special feature that the frame parts are assembled from aluminium profile beams, for instance square tube profiles. I-profile beams can also be used.

In order to increase the rigidity thereof the construction can have the special feature that at least a number of frame parts comprise at least one stiffening beam, which prevents shearing and enhances the rigidity of the construction.

A specific embodiment has the special feature that to the main shape are added a base and four upright walls which are connected watertightly thereto and which are all connected to the chassis to form a container. In this embodiment the floating means are effectively formed by the air present in the container formed by the base and the upright walls. Light, strong and inexpensive is an embodiment in which the beams consist of aluminium.

With such an embodiment it is recommended that said base and walls also consist of aluminium. Corrosion problems are hereby prevented. As an alternative to the use of a watertight container, the construction can have the special feature that the space available within the main shape is occupied by a watertight mass of foam material with a closed cell structure, the effective density of which is considerably lower than that of water.

It will be apparent that said provisions can also be applied in the case of an embodiment with a watertight container as floating body.

The above described embodiment can have the special feature that the foam material is EPS (expanded polystyrene) .

It is noted that according to the invention the main shape can also accommodate other provisions, for instance ballast tanks, a water treatment apparatus and other provisions desirable or necessary for the building structure. By means of suitable means the ballast tanks can be used to hold the structure in a horizontal position. For this purpose water is pumped into and out of the various, preferably regularly and symmetrically distributed ballast tanks. The construction can have the further feature that a base and four upright walls are added to the main shape so as to improve the resistance of the construction, in particular the mass of foam material, against possible eating away by harmful animals or damage by outside influences.

In order to prevent galvanic corrosion the construction can have the special feature that it comprises a number of mutually coupled components consisting of metal, for instance aluminium, and that all components consist of the same metal.

A practical and very strong construction is obtained with very simple means in an embodiment in which the construction comprises a number of metal profile beams, these profile beams being mutually connected by means of coupling elements comprising sleeves pushed over the ends of the beams and/or tubes or rods pushed into the ends of the beams, which coupling elements are mutually connected by welding, for instance MIG-welding or friction welding. According to another aspect of the invention, the construction has the special feature that all frame parts have the same dimensions, in accordance with a chosen modular size, such that a construction can have a length, width and height the size of a whole number of times the relevant modular sizes.

Galvanic corrosion is effectively prevented with an embodiment in which the construction bears a load comprising metal components, which load is coupled to the construction using steel bolts which are provided with an electrically insulating layer in at least the area of the zones co-acting in force-transmitting manner with the construction.

This latter embodiment can have the special feature that the insulating layer consists of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) . PTFE is a mechanically strong material which has excellent electrical insulation and is easy to process.

In a determined embodiment the construction has the special feature that at least a number of frame parts are covered with respective cover plates.

Using such cover plates an extra mechanical strength and rigidity can be obtained in an embodiment in which each cover plate is connected in force- transmitting manner to the relevant frame part. It is noted that the cover plates can consist of strips. Depending on the desired force transmission, such strips can optionally be connected to each other.

In order to make the influence of for instance rainwater and other external influences on the foam filling in the associated compartments as small as possible, the construction can have the special feature that at least one frame part provided with a foam filling is covered with a cover plate.

The possibility of galvanic corrosion is precluded in an embodiment in which a cover plate consists of the same metal as the associated frame part.

A modular size can for instance be length x width = 2 x 2 m².

For transport by road a modular assembly of a construction with a width of 4 m and a length of 20 m can for instance be applied here. At the launching location the modular assembly of this construction can take place up to for instance an overall construction with a length x width = 20 x 20 m². All constituent parts are preferably manufactured from aluminium. In case it is desired to make use of screw connections, for instance with steels bolts of 8.8 steel, these bolts can also be provided with an insulating coating of for instance PTFE. In an overall floating construction with a surface area of 20 x 20 m² a central part can for instance have dimensions of 12 x 12 m². A very high buoyancy or a very high resistance to bending is realized in this manner. If desired, an additional load can be placed on the corners of a final overall construction. This can serve to compensate the bending which can occur after a load has been placed in a central zone of the construction. Such a load can for instance be a house or other building structure.

Use can be made of balancing means for admitting and removing water to and from chosen compartments using measuring means and pump means controlled thereby, whereby an almost perfect balancing can be realized, particularly in the case of a varying load. It will be apparent that, also with a view hereto, determined standards are then required of the construction in respect of its mechanical strength and rigidity. The balancing can take place in three dimensions, so a correction of any deviation in two directions from a horizontal position can be realized in combination with draught . use can be made of simple means to determine the effectiveness of the balancing and also to perform measurements which can control the balancing pumps. Such provisions can for instance comprise a number of gauge glasses which for instance follow the level in question with a delay of several seconds. The relatively rapid effect of waves is for instance hereby excluded from the level control.

It is generally assumed that the balancing tanks have a water filling level in the order of magnitude of half their volume.

In the case where a number of compartments are filled with for instance blocks of expanded polystyrene or other foam material with a very low effective density, the buoyancy of the construction can be selected as desired by choosing the number of EPS (expanded polystyrene) blocks. It will be apparent that the distribution of such blocks will be chosen in the light of the design load. In the case where the foam blocks are arranged in watertight compartments with a view to lengthening their lifespan, the construction according to the invention has the great advantage that the construction continues to float in the case a leak occurs in a tank. Depending on the number and placing of the compartments still available, servicing spaces for pumps, electrical equipment, storage spaces, fuel tanks, a water treatment apparatus and the like can be placed as desired.

For the purpose of a strong and rigid construction, struts and/or force-transmitting plates can be applied where necessary.

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the floatable construction according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the floatable construction according to the invention, in which several components are omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a construction with a number of watertight compartments;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view corresponding with figure 3 of a construction with a number of watertight compartments and a number of EPS blocks; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view corresponding with figures 3 and 4 of the construction according to figure 3 or figure 4, wherein the frame parts are covered with aluminium cover profiles, strips or plates. Floatable construction 1 according to figure 1 is embodied wholly in aluminium and has the following properties and special features:

- walking height in the container a minimum of 2.15 m - own weight about 50 kg/m²

- net buoyancy in practically immersed situation of about 1500 kg/m²

- requires little maintenance

- can be coupled in both the length and width - can withstand loads distributed unevenly over the floatable construction.

Construction 1 is built up of frame parts of square tube profiles of a size 150 x 150 x 5 cm. These frame parts are encased, in the form of a container closed in watertight manner, by a base 7 and four upright walls 8, 9, 10, 11 consisting of aluminium plates of a thickness of for instance 5 mm. These plates are provided with a regular stiffening profiling, comparable to a sheet pile wall profile, thereby ensuring the desired rigidity. Floatable construction 2 according to figure 2 is not fully drawn. It comprises a water treatment apparatus 21 and two ballast tanks 22, 23 which are all accommodated in the space enclosed by the block-like main shape. The rest of the space is taken up completely by blocks 14 of expanded polystyrene so as to ensure buoyancy.

As described, floatable construction 2 consists of a combination of aluminium frame parts and a number of masses 14 of expanded polystyrene. Just as the floatable construction 1 according to figure 1, floatable construction 2 of figure 2 comprises a number of ballast tanks 22, 23, a water treatment apparatus 21 and/or other provisions desirable or necessary for the building to be carried. Floatable construction 2 has the following properties and special features:

- the construction is unsinkable

- the construction has an own weight of about 50 kg/m² - in the practically immersed situation the construction is subjected to a net buoyancy of about 1500 kg/m²

- the construction requires little maintenance

- can be coupled in both the length and width - can withstand unevenly distributed loads.

The frame parts and the chassis assembled therewith are constructed from profiles with sizes which are subject to the design requirements and wishes of users: - square tube profiles of size 150 x 150 x 5 (this is only an example)

- IPE 180 profile (this too is only an example) .

The EPS used is of EPS 100 quality. Not drawn are a base and upright walls which, other than in the embodiment of figure 1, do not require watertight connection relative to each other but serve only to improve the resistance of the construction, in particular the foam mass, against possible eating away by harmful animals or damage by outside influences. These plate elements are not drawn, use could for instance be made of a suitable quality of aluminium plate with a thickness of 1 mm. Other materials, for instance plates of plastics optionally reinforced with glass fibres or the like, can also be applied. Figure 3 shows a construction 51 which is built up of aluminium profiles 52. in this embodiment the modular size in both the length and the width is 2 m. These dimensions are indicated at two positions in figure 3 with reference a. It will thus be apparent for instance that a watertight compartment 53 has dimensions of 4 x 2 m². A watertight compartment 54 has dimensions of 2 x 2 m².

In this embodiment the height has a value of about 1.30 m. This height can be chosen as required depending on the desired buoyancy.

Struts 55 are applied in order to strengthen and stiffen the construction. These are situated at different relevant locations.

Figure 4 shows that in this embodiment nine EPS blocks with dimensions of slightly less than 2 x 2 x 1.40 m³ are placed in all spaces except the watertight compartments 53, 54. All EPS blocks are designated with reference numeral 56.

It will be apparent that watertight compartments 53, 54 have a respective base 57, 58 and side walls which each consist of two panels 59.

Finally, figure 5 shows that construction 51 comprises twelve frame parts, each with the modular size of 4 x 2 m², these frame parts each being covered with aluminium plates 60. In this embodiment the aluminium plates are connected in force-transmitting manner to the aluminium profiles of construction 51. This contributes toward the rigidity and strength of the construction. The aluminium plates can for instance be completely smooth, in which case they can transmit tensile forces in all directions. They can transmit pressure forces in the case they have a sufficient thickness. Use can also be made of a suitable profiling in order to increase the bending stiffness in a specific direction. Such a profiling can comprise a wave pattern or a sheet pile wall profile. Coupling partial constructions of for instance 4 x 2 m² to form an overall construction of 20 x 2 m² can take place in the water, in floating situation, with the above described coupling provisions. Use can be made of PTFE-coated M20 bolts. It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the described and drawn exemplary embodiments .

Claims

1. Floatable construction (1; 2) for carrying a building structure such as a house or other building, which construction comprises a number of frame parts (3; 4) which are connected to each other to form a chassis (12; 13) and which all have a substantially trapezoidal, for instance rectangular, main shape such that the construction (1; 2) has the main shape of a rectangular block, this construction (1; 2) comprising floating means which are accommodated within the main shape of the construction {1; 2) such that the construction can float together with a building structure carried thereby.

2. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame parts (3; 4) are assembled from aluminium profile beams, for instance square tube profiles.

3. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a number of frame parts (3; 4) comprise at least one stiffening beam (5; 6) which prevents shearing and enhances the rigidity of the construction (1; 2) -

4. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, wherein to the main shape are added a base (7) and four upright walls (8, 9, 10, 11) which are connected watertightly thereto and which are all connected to the chassis (12; 13) to form a container.

5. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the beams consist of aluminium.

6. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claims 4 and 5, wherein the base (7) and the walls (8, 9, 10, 11) consist of aluminium.

7. Floatable construction (1; 2} as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, wherein the space available within the main shape is occupied by at least one watertight mass (14) of foam material with a closed cell structure, the effective density of which is considerably lower than that of water.

8. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the foam material is EPS (expanded polystyrene) .

9. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in either of the claims 7 and 8, wherein a base and four upright walls are added to the main shape so as to improve the resistance of the construction, in particular the mass (14), against possible eating away by harmful animals or damage by outside influences.

10. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the construction comprises a number of mutually coupled components consisting of metal, for instance aluminium, and all components consist of the same metal.

11. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the construction comprises a number of metal profile beams, these profile beams being mutually connected by means of coupling elements comprising sleeves pushed over the ends of the beams and/or tubes or rods pushed into the ends of the beams, which coupling elements are mutually connected by welding, for instance MIG-welding or friction welding.

12. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein all frame parts have the same dimensions, in accordance with a chosen modular size, such that a construction can have a length, width and height the size of a whole number of times the relevant modular sizes.

13. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the construction bears a load comprising metal components, which load is coupled to the construction using steel bolts which are provided with an electrically insulating layer in at least the area of the zones co-acting in force-transmitting manner with the construction.

14. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the insulating layer consists of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) .

15. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a number of frame parts are covered with respective cover plates.

16. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 15, wherein each cover plate is connected in force-transmitting manner to the relevant frame part.

17. Floatable construction (1? 2) as claimed in claims 7 and 15, wherein at least one frame part provided with a foam filling is covered with a cover plate.

18. Floatable construction (1; 2) as claimed in claim 15, wherein a cover plate consists of the same metal as the associated frame part.