Floating platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9365267-B2
Application number	US-201214232068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2012
Priority date	Jul 13, 2011
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A floating platform is provided including the following: a covering element; at least three buoyant bodies, which are separated from each other, are fixedly mounted to the lower face of the covering element, are open toward the bottom, and are made of a gas-tight, pressure- and corrosion-resistant flexible material. The buoyant bodies enclose a closed hollow space when coming into contact with a liquid surface. At least one compressed-air generating device is also provided for generating an overpressure in the individual hollow spaces.

First claim

We claim:

1. A floating platform comprising the following:
a) a cover element;
b) at least three buoyancy bodies separated from each other and attached in a stationary manner on a the bottom side of the cover element, the buoyancy bodies being open at their bottoms and made of a gas-tight, pressure- and corrosion-resistant, flexible material, each of the buoyancy bodies enclosing a closed hollow space at contact with a surface of a liquid in which the platform floats; and
c) at least one device for generating pressurized air for creating an over-pressure in the closed hollow spaces;
wherein each of the buoyancy bodies has a circular horizontal cross-section and a vertical cross-sectional profile substantially corresponding to an upside down U; and
wherein lower edges of the buoyancy bodies are loaded with weights.

2. The floating platform according to claim 1 , wherein the vertical cross-sectional profile of the buoyancy bodies substantially corresponding to an upside-down U is tapered downwardly.

3. The floating platform according to claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy bodies are internally braced.

4. The floating platform according to claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy bodies are arranged symmetrically around a center of the platform.

5. The floating platform according to claim 4 , wherein the platform is square, and wherein four or nine buoyancy bodies are arranged symmetrically around the center of the platform.

6. The floating platform according to claim 1 , wherein an air feed line leads from the device for generating pressurized air to the center of each of the buoyancy bodies.

7. The floating platform according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one spar buoy attached to the bottom side of the cover element.

8. The floating platform according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one closed floating body attached to the bottom side of the cover element.

9. The floating platform according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one closed floating body has a cross-sectional profile tapered downwardly and toward an edge of the platform.

10. The floating platform according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one closed floating body is provided within each of the buoyancy bodies or around each of the buoyancy bodies.

11. The floating platform according to claim 7 , wherein several spar buoys are arranged symmetrically around the center of gravity of the platform.

12. The floating platform according to claim 7 , wherein several closed floating bodies are arranged symmetrically around the center of gravity of the platform.

13. The floating platform according to claim 1 , wherein the platform is adapted to carry a plant for generating solar energy.

Assignees

• Haider Markus
• Rammerstorfer Franz
• Böhm Helmut
• Diendorfer Christian
• Toth Florian
• Univ Wien Tech

Inventors

• Haider Markus
• Rammerstorfer Franz
• Böhm Helmut
• Diendorfer Christian
• Toth Florian

Classifications

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• B63B35/44 Primary

  Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices {(construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00)} · CPC title

• B63B2035/4453

  for converting solar energy into electric energy · CPC title

• B63B39/03

  by transferring liquids · CPC title

• B63B3/08

  with detachably-connected sub-units · CPC title