# US 5,707,172 A · Floating wave attenuators

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- Number: US 5,707,172 A
- Document ID: US5707172A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/492,772
- Filed: 1995-06-21
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-06-21
- Assignees: Waterfront Construction, Inc.
- Inventors: Paul E. Wilcox
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707172A

## CPC

- E02B 3/062: {Constructions floating in operational condition, e.g. breakwaters or wave dissipating walls (floating oil barriers E02B15/08; floating stream regulating devices E02B3/02)}
- Y02A 10/11: Hard structures, e.g. dams, dykes or breakwaters
- E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A floating wave attenuator constructed to float and provide a breakwater to attenuate waves or the like. The wave attenuator includes an elongated pipe closed at its ends and attached to large, heavy deflector plates that extend downwardly and connect at their bottom ends to form a V-shaped configuration. The deflector plates are open on their ends to allow water therebetween to act as ballast and assist in retarding up and down movement of the wave attenuator in response to wave action. A deck structure is mounted to the top of the closed pipe to provide a walkway over the wave attenuator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A floating wave attenuator comprising:
an elongated float comprising a round pipe closed at its ends;
a tapered keel with negative buoyancy, said keel having stiff longitudinal side plates which are connected to said pipe at opposite sides of the pipe and converge downwardly from the float to bottom connections with one another whereby a water-filled chamber is provided beneath the float between said side plates when the wave attenuator is in operating position in a body of water;
said keel and chamber extending a major part of the length of the float, and said float having sufficient positive buoyancy that said float is normally partially exposed above the surface of the body of water in which the wave attenuator is located;
said pipe and keel having a combined weight approximately equal to the weight of water needed to fill one-half the volume enclosed by the pipe.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A floating wave attenuator according to claim 1 in which a flat deck is mounted on said pipe.

### Claim 3

A floating wave attenuator comprising:
a steel tubular float closed at its ends; and
two steel keel plates downwardly converging from respective shackle connections to said float at opposite sides of the float, and shackled together below the float.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A floating wave attenuator according to claim 3 in which said float and keel plates have a thickness in the range of about 0.25 to 1.0 inches.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A floating wave attenuator according to claim 3 in which the combined weight of said float and keel plates is such that said float is about half submerged when the wave attenuator is floating.

### Claim 6

A floating wave attenuator comprising:
a tubular float with a positive buoyancy closed at its ends;
two keel plates with a negative buoyancy downwardly converging from respective connections to said float at opposite sides of the float, and joined together below the float;
stringers connected to said float along opposite sides of the float;
and decking mounted on said stringers.