US 5,277,517 A · Mobile cofferdam

Abstract

A mobile cofferdam for use in the construction of elongated structures win a body of water is characterized by a water-tight rectangular shell which is guided and supported off the previously constructed segment of the sill or wall structure being built. The mobile cofferdam shell is floated into place, sunk, dewatered, and used as a cofferdam during construction of the sill. The mobile cofferdam is guided and supported off the previous placed concrete sill or wall and proceeds in a horizontal slip-form fashion. The walls of the mobile cofferdam are designed as spaced truss structures with skin plate on the inner, outer, top and bottom surface thereof to define a chamber which can be filled or evacuated with water to float the shell structure. The trailing end of the shell conforms to the sill or wall under construction and includes seals along the contact area for mating with the previously constructed sill portion.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for building elongated structures in a body of water, comprising the steps of

(a) positioning a mobile cofferdam at the bottom of a body of water, said mobile cofferdam having one side wall contoured to match the contour of the structure being built;
(b) removing the water from the interior of the cofferdam;
(c) assembling a segment of the structure on the bottom of the body of water within the cofferdam;
(d) flooding the interior of the cofferdam;
(e) repositioning the cofferdam along the length of the structure segment at the bottom of the body of water with said contoured side wall mating with the segment;
(f) anchoring the cofferdam in a construction position;
and
(g) repeating steps (b) through (f) until the elongated structure has been completed.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mobile cofferdam

Life of this patent

Mobile cofferdam

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9