Floating platform

Abstract

 A floating platform comprises at least two floating elements (2,3) linked by means of at least one fastening element (1), the two floating elements consisting of at least two lateral faces (4,5) with at least one vertical projection (6) on one of them and at least one vertical projection on the other, of two lateral faces (7,8) with at least one vertical cavity on one of them and at least one vertical cavity on the other, corresponding to the vertical projections, of top and bottom faces (10,11), forming together a hollow body of the corresponding floating element. Each vertical projection is configured with a constricted portion (13), extending to an expanded to the periphery portion in the portion of the corresponding lateral face thus forming a supporting surface (15), and each vertical cavity is configured with a constricted portion, extending to an expanded to the center portion (17) of corresponding floating element in the portion of corresponding lateral face thus forming a supported surface, wherein one of each floating element lateral faces comprising a vertical projection is provided with at least a projection (19) surrounding the corresponding fastening element from above and placed on one side of said vertical projection and with at least a projection supporting the corresponding fastening element and placed on the other side of said vertical projection, the projections being portion of corresponding fastening elements mating parts, and the other of each floating element lateral faces comprising a vertical projection is projection is provided with surfaces supporting each fastening element and placed on both side of said vertical, projection, the surfaces being portions of corresponding fastening elements mating parts, wherein said lateral face of at least one floating element contains an additional surrounding projection provided between the vertical projections.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to floating equipment designed for specific purposes, namely, to pontoons, floating docks, rafts and other floating structures.

[0002] The closest in technical essence to the invention proposed is a floating platform chosen as a prototype comprising at least two floating elements linked by means of at least one fastening element, the two floating elements consisting of at least two lateral faces with at least one vertical projection on one of them and at least one vertical projection on the other, of two lateral faces with at least one vertical cavity on one of them and at least one vertical cavity on the other, corresponding to the vertical projection; of top and bottom faces forming together a hollow body of the corresponding floating element.

[0003] (Russian Federation patent

2322549, dated on 30.09.2005).

[0004] The prototype disadvantages are the unreliability of the design caused by the increased stress effecting the eyes having stress concentrators, in the course of the vertical loads and the platform floating elements imbalances through their unreliable fixation because of the emerging forces leading to the wavelike or angular projections mutual displacement relative to the wavelike or angular cavities in the course of their interaction, while the fastening elements being placed in sight does not exclude possibility of unauthorized platform disassembling and making its top surface uneven, and also causes the necessity of their producing on special shape, wherein the presence of the eyes won't allow for using a larger operating volume yet preserving overall dimensions of the platform, that reduces full load weight and bearing capacity of the latter.

[0005] The technical result of the invention as provided consists in extending the operational capabilities through increasing the full load weight and bearing capacity through increasing the operating volume yet preserving overall dimensions of the platform, as well as through excluding unauthorized platform disassembling and making its top surface even without extra elements due to the concealed fastening elements provided, in increasing reliability due to improving the floating elements horizontal fixing and transferring increased vertical loads from the vertical cavities supported surfaces to the vertical projections supporting surfaces with no eyes having stress concentrators used in the structure, as well as in simplifying the whole structure through standard profile fastening elements being used.

[0006] The technical result as stated is achieved with a floating platform comprising at least two floating elements linked by means of at least one fastening element, the two floating elements consisting of at least two lateral faces with at least one vertical projection on one of them and at least one vertical projection on the other, of two lateral faces with at least one vertical cavity on one of them and at least one vertical cavity on the other, corresponding to the vertical projections, of top and bottom faces, forming together a hollow body of the corresponding floating element, wherein each vertical projection is configured with a constricted portion, extending to an expanded to the periphery portion of the corresponding lateral face thus forming a supporting surface, and each vertical cavity is configured with a constricted portion, extending to an expanded to the center potion of the corresponding floating element in the portion of the corresponding lateral face thus forming a supported surface, wherein one of each floating element lateral faces comprising a vertical projection is provided with at least a projection surrounding the corresponding fastening element from at least above and placed on one side of said vertical projection, and with at least a projection supporting the corresponding fastening element and placed on the other side of said vertical projection, the projections being portions of corresponding fastening elements mating parts, and the other of each floating element lateral face comprising a vertical projection is provided with flanges supporting each fastening element and placed on both sides of said vertical projection, the flanges being portions of the corresponding fastening elements mating parts, wherein said lateral face of at least one floating element contains an additional surrounding projection provided between the vertical projections. Besides, each floating element third lateral face comprising at least one vertical cavity may be provided with at least some abutments for the corresponding fastening element provided on both sides of said vertical cavity, wherein each vertical projection and each vertical cavity may have a dovetail cross section with rounded corners.

Fig. 1 shows an isometric general view of a floating platform consisting of two floating elements,

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of two floating elements being linked with a fastening element, interacting with an additional surrounding projection,

Fig. 3 is an isometric rear view of a separate floating element,

Fig. 4 is a plan view cross-section of a separate floating element.

[0007] A floating platform comprising at least two floating elements 2 and 3, linked by means of at least one fastening element 1 for example performed as a pipe (rf. Fig. 1 and 2) or a cylindrical pin, wherein the at least two floating elements 2 and 3 (rf. Fig. 1 and 2), consisting of two lateral faces 4 and 5 with at least one vertical projection 6 on one (4) of them and, at least one vertical projection 6 on the other (5), of two lateral faces 7 and 8 with at least one vertical cavity 9 in one (7) of them and at least one vertical cavity 9 on the other (8), corresponding to the vertical projections 6; of top and bottom faces 10 and 11, forming together a hollow body 12 of the corresponding floating element 3 (rf. Fig. 2) (according to Fig. 1 the floating elements 2 and 3 and according to Fig. 2 the floating elements 2 consist of two lateral faces 4 and 5 with two vertical projections 6 on one (4) of then and with one vertical projection 6 on the other (5), according to Fig. 3 they consist of two lateral faces 7 and 8 with two vertical cavities 9 in one (7) of them and another vertical cavity 9 on the other (8), corresponding to vertical the projections 6, of top and bottom faces 10 and 11). Each vertical projection 6 is configured with a constricted portion 13, extending to the periphery portion 14, of corresponding lateral face 4 (5) thus forming a supporting surface 15, and each vertical cavity 9 is configured with a constricted portion 16, extending to an expanded to the center potion 17 of the corresponding floating element 2 (3) in the portion of the corresponding lateral face 7 (8) thus forming a supported surface 18, wherein one of each floating element 2 and 3 lateral faces 5 comprising a vertical projection 6 is provided with at least a projection 19 surrounding the corresponding fastening element 1 from at least above and placed on one side of said vertical projection 6 and with at least a projection 20 supporting the corresponding fastening element 1 and placed on the other side of said vertical projection 6, the projections being portions of corresponding fastening elements 1 mating parts, and the other of each floating element 2 and 3 lateral faces 4 comprising a vertical projection 6 is provided with flanges 21 and 22 supporting each fastening element 1, the flanges being portions of the corresponding fastening elements 1 mating parts, wherein said lateral face 4 of at least one floating element 2 contains an additional surrounding projection 23 placed between the vertical projections 6 and provided for linking the floating elements 2 and 3 each having the lateral faces 4 and 7 with two vertical projections 6 and two vertical cavities 9, correspondingly, being placed either with a displacement (in a brickwork manner, not shown) or for linking the floating elements 2 and 3 with each other, having one floating element 2 having the lateral faces 4 and 7 with two lateral projections 6 and two vertical cavities 9, correspondingly, and another floating element 3 having the lateral faces 4 and 7 with one vertical projection 6 and one vertical cavity 9 on each face (rf. Fig. 2). Each floating element 2 and 3 third lateral face 7 comprising at least one vertical cavity 9 may have at least some abutments 24 and 25 (limit stops) provided on both sides of each vertical cavity 9 for corresponding fastening element 1, and both, each vertical projection 6 and each vertical cavity 9 may have a dovetail cross section 26 with rounded corners 27. Besides the third and the fourth lateral faces 7 and 8, having vertical cavities 9, may have additional cavities 28 on both sides of each one. Whereby, the height h 1 of the lateral faces 4 and 5 portions from the top face 10 to the vertical projections 6 supporting surfaces 15 may be made equal to the height h2 of the lateral faces 7 and 8 portions from the top face 10 to the vertical cavities 9 supported surfaces 18, thus providing uniform vertical loads bearing over the top faces 10 of the floating elements 2 and 3. In each floating element 2 and 3 performed in the hollow body 12 through the extrusion blow molding it is provided an access hole locked with a plug 29.

[0008] The floating platform operates as follows:

The floating platform is assembled into an integrated construction, for example of two floating elements 2 and 3 (rf. Fig. 1) through linking the vertical cavities 9 of the floating element 3 lateral face 7 with the lateral face 4 vertical projections 6 of the adjacent floating element 2 and subsequent horizontal fixing the floating elements 2 and 3 to each other through a dovetail connection 26. Whereby, the floating elements 2 and 3 linked the supported surfaces 18 of the vertical cavities 9 rest (with vertical load bearing capability larger than the one of the prototype) upon the supporting surfaces 15 of the adjacent floating element 2 vertical projections 6 thus securing the floating elements 2 and 3 from mutual vertical displacement much more reliably, than for example the eyes of the prototype do. Extra vertical fixation of two floating elements 2 and 3 is provided with a fastening element 1 inserted up to the abutment 24 into the mating part, formed with one of the supporting flanges 21, a surrounding projection 19 and a supporting projection 20. If the floating platform is to be assembled into an integrate construction of two floating elements 2 and 3 according to Fig. 2, first, the vertical cavity 9 of the floating element 3 lateral face 7 links (surrounds) one of the vertical projections 6 of the adjacent floating element 2 lateral face 4 consequently fixing the elements 2 and 3 horizontally to each other through a dovetail connection 26. The floating elements 2 and 3 are further vertically fixed through inserting the fastening element 1 up to the abutment 24 into the corresponding fastening element mating part formed by the other supporting flange 22, the first supporting flange 21, an additional surrounding projection 23 and the supporting projection 20. Consequent third floating element (not shown) is inserted with its vertical cavities 9 of the lateral faces 7 and 8 and surrounds corresponding vertical projections 6 of the lateral faces 5 and 4, securing that the fastening element 1 from displacement by means of the abutment 25.

[0009] The technical solution allows for increased full load weight and bearing capacity through increasing the operating volume yet preserving overall dimensions of the floating platform, excluding unauthorized platform disassembling, making its top surface even without extra elements due to the concealed fastening elements 1 provided, and also for improving the floating elements 2 and 3 horizontal fixing due to the type of connection like dovetail 26 and transferring the vertical loads from the vertical cavities 9 supported surfaces 18 to the vertical projections 6 supporting surfaces 15 with no eyes needed in the construction, as well as for simplifying the whole structure through standard profile fastening elements 1 being used.

Claims

1. A floating platform comprising at least two floating elements linked by means of at least one fastening element, the two floating elements consisting of two lateral faces with at least one vertical projection on one of them and at least one vertical projection on the other, of two lateral faces with at least one vertical cavity on one of them and at least one vertical cavity on the other, corresponding to the vertical projections, of top and bottom faces forming together a hollow body of the corresponding floating element, wherein each vertical projection is configured with a constricted portion, extending to an expanded to the periphery portion in the corresponding lateral face portion thus forming a supporting surface, and each vertical cavity is configured with a constricted portion, extending to an expanded to the center portion of the corresponding floating element in the portion of the corresponding lateral face thus forming a supported surface, wherein one of each floating element lateral faces comprising a vertical projection is provided with at least a projection surrounding the corresponding fastening element from at least above and placed on one side of said vertical projection, and with at least a projection supporting the corresponding fastening element and placed on the other side of said vertical projection, the projections being portions of corresponding fastening elements mating parts, and the other of each floating element lateral faces comprising a vertical projection is provided with flanges supporting each fastening element and placed on both sides of said vertical projection, the flanges being portions of corresponding fastening elements mating parts, wherein said lateral face of at least one floating element contains an additional surrounding projection provided between the vertical projections.

2. The floating platform of claim 1, characterized in that each floating element third lateral face comprising at least one vertical cavity is provided on both sides of said vertical cavity with at least some abutments for corresponding fastening clement.

3. The floating platform of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each vertical projection and each vertical cavity may have a dovetail cross section with rounded corners.

Drawing