Smart floating platforms
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
InventorsMoe Momayez, Nathan Barba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are modular floating platforms configured to be joined together to form a cover over surfaces of natural and artificial bodies of water and other liquids, for reducing evaporation and other purposes. The floating platforms may be motorized and provided with remote control systems, so that the platforms may be assembled together on command to provide uniform coverage of the surface of the body of water. The floating platforms are optionally capable of solar and wind power collection. The platforms are useful for covering mining tailing storage ponds.
Claims30
A buoyant platform comprising:
- a substantially planar panel having a top face, a bottom face and at least one edge;
- a buoyancy element integrated on or in the panel;
- and
- a coupler on or adjacent the edge of the panel for joining the platform to another buoyant platform,
- wherein the buoyancy element is:
- (a) the panel, and the panel is comprised of a buoyant material;
- (b) substantially encapsulated by the panel;
- or (c) attached to the panel,
- wherein the buoyancy element is selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) an inflatable substantially flexible container;
- (b) a substantially hollow, substantially rigid container;
- (c) a container filled with a buoyant material selected from foam, solids, liquids and mixtures thereof;
- and (d) a solid or semi-solid buoyant material, and
- wherein the buoyancy element comprises a plurality of spherical or elliptical buoyancy elements.
A buoyant platform comprising:
- a substantially planar panel having a top face, a bottom face and at least one edge;
- a buoyancy element integrated on or in the panel;
- a coupler on or adjacent the edge of the panel for joining the platform to another buoyant platform,
- a propulsion system;
- and
- a control system configured to control position of the platform, or to control the propulsion system, or to control selective coupling and decoupling of the platform to another platform,
- wherein the buoyancy element is:
- (a) the panel, and the panel is comprised of a buoyant material;
- (b) substantially encapsulated by the panel;
- or (c) attached to the panel, and
- wherein the buoyancy element is selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) an inflatable substantially flexible container;
- (b) a substantially hollow, substantially rigid container;
- (c) a container filled with a buoyant material selected from foam, solids, liquids and mixtures thereof;
- and (d) a solid or semi-solid buoyant material.
A buoyant platform comprising:
- a first substantially planar panel and a second substantially planar panel disposed substantially parallel to one another, and each panel having:
- a top face and a bottom face that is hexagonal-shaped, six edges, and orifices transversing the top face through the bottom face of each panel;
- a plurality of spherical buoyancy elements disposed between the first and second panels, and seated within the orifices in each panel;
- and
- at least one coupler on or adjacent each edge of the first panel, the second panel or both panels for joining the platform to another buoyant platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.