Floating structures including honeycomb cores formed of elongate hexagonal cells

An ocean transport vessel suitable for transporting oil products and the like, said transport vessel comprising:

• 1. a tug vessel suitable for towing a plurality of transport modules connected in a chain;
• 2. a plurality of transport modules, each of said transport modules including:
• a. a honeycomb core comprising a plurality of elongate cells, each having a hexagonal cross-section, arrayed in a uniform manner such that each cell defines an enclosure that is independent of each and every other cell, said cells defined by unitary walls;
• b. a hull comprising at least a bottom and sidewalls, said bottom and sidewalls formed of a plurality of reinforced precast concrete panels;
• c. hull expansion joints located between the plurality of reinforced precast concrete panels forming said bottom and sidewalls;
• and,
• d. mounting means for mounting said honeycomb core in said hull, said mounting means mounting said honeycomb core in spaced relationship with respect to said bottom and sidewalls of said hull in a manner such that an enclosure suitable for transporting ballast water is formed between said honeycomb core, said bottom and sidewalls, said mounting means including core expansion joints located between said honeycomb core and said bottom and sidewalls of said hull;
• and,
• 3. connecting means for connecting said transport modules together and to said tug vessel in a chain, said connecting means connecting said transport modules and said tug vessels in a semi-rigid manner that allows said transport modules and said tug vessels to move essentially independently of one another while maintaining a minimum spaced distance between adjacent ones of said transport modules and said tug vessel, said connecting means comprising a universal joint located at opposing ends of each module, a telescoping tube projecting outwardly from each universal joint and coupling means located at the outer end of each telescoping tube for coupling together adjacent telescoping tubes projecting outwardly from adjacent ones of said transport modules and said tug vessel.

An ocean transport vessel suitable for transporting oil products and the like, said transport vessel comprising:

• 1. a tug vessel suitable for towing a plurality of transport modules connected in a chain, said tug vessel including:
• a. a honeycomb core array defining a plurality of hexagonal cells separated by walls formed essentially entirely of concrete;
• b. sponsons located on either side of said honeycomb core, said sponsons terminating amidships of said honeycomb core;
• and,
• c. driving means extending rearwardly from the rear end of each sponson, said driving means including propellers adapted to rotate in opposite directions;
• 2. a plurality of transport modules, each of said modules including a honeycomb core comprising a plurality of cells arrayed in a manner such that each cell is independent of each and every other cell, said cells being defined by unitary walls essentially entirely formed of reinforced concrete;
• and,
• 3. connecting means for connecting said transport modules together and to said tug vessel in a chain, said connecting means allowing said transport modules and said tug vessel to move essentially independently of one another.

A concrete floating structure comprising:

• a plurality of elongate cells, each of said cells having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape, the walls of said cells being essentially entirely formed of reinforced concrete;
• orienting, spacing and attaching means for attaching said cells to one another in spaced relationship so as to form a honeycomb of spaced cells;
• concrete located in the space between said cells so as to attach adjacent cells together such that a structurally uninterrupted lightweight reinforced concrete honeycomb core is formed;
• and,
• a housing surrounding said structurally uninterrupted lightweight reinforced concrete honeycomb core, said housing formed of precast concrete panels connected together and to said structurally uninterrupted lightweight reinforced concrete honeycomb core by expansion joints that allow a predetermined amount of housing deformation to occur without cracking and breaking of either the precast concrete panels forming said housing or said structurally uninterrupted lightweight reinforced concrete honeycomb core.

A transport module comprising:

• a honeycomb core comprising a plurality of elongate cells having a hexagonal cross-section arrayed in a uniform manner such that each cell defines an enclosure that is independent of each and every other cell, said cells being defined by unitary walls;
• a hull formed of a plurality of reinforced precast concrete panels;
• hull expansion joints located between the plurality of reinforced precast concrete panels forming said hull;
• mounting means for mounting said honeycomb core in said hull in spaced relationship with respect to said hull in a manner such that an enclosure suitable for transporting ballast water is formed between said honeycomb core, and said hull, said mounting means including core expansion joints located between said honeycomb core and said hull;
• and,
• connecting means for connecting said transport module to other transport modules in a manner that allows said transport module to move essentially independently of other transport modules while maintaining a spaced distance between said transport module and adjacent transport modules, said connecting means comprising first and second universal joints located at opposing ends of said transport module, first and second telescoping tubes projecting outwardly, respectively, from said first and second universal joints, and first and second coupling means located, respectively, at the outer end of said first and second telescoping tubes and adapted to rigidly couple the outer ends of the telescoping tubes of said transport module with the outer ends of the telescoping tubes of other transport modules.