Modular maritime dock design
AssigneeValueQuest, Inc.
InventorMark A. Hopper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A maritime dock structure including a plurality of hollow modules each having a buoyancy force associated therewith. A plurality of anchors are coupled to the modules and embedded in an underwater bed. Each anchor opposes the buoyancy force of its associated module as well as lateral forces and load forces directed into the underwater bed.
Claims78
A maritime dock structure, comprising:
- at least one hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume;
- and
- at least one anchor coupled to each module and embedded in an underwater bed, each anchor opposing the buoyancy force of an associated module as well as lateral forces exerted on the associated module and load forces directed into the underwater bed.
A maritime dock structure, comprising:
- a hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume;
- and
- an anchor coupled to the hollow module and embedded in an underwater bed, the anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the hollow module as well as lateral forces exerted on the hollow module and load forces directed into the underwater bed.
A maritime dock structure, comprising:
- a plurality of hollow modules each having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume;
- and
- a plurality of anchors coupled to the modules and embedded in an underwater bed, the anchors opposing the buoyancy forces of the hollow modules as well as lateral forces exerted on the hollow modules and load forces directed into the underwater bed.
A method of constructing a maritime dock structure, comprising:
- floating at least one hollow module into an installation position;
- loading ballast into the at least one module to oppose a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume thereby causing the at least one module to sink to a desired depth;
- anchoring the at least one module with at least one anchor embedded in an underwater bed, the at least one anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the at least one module and load forces directed into the underwater bed;
- and
- removing at least some of the ballast from the at least one module.
A method for rehabilitating an existing dock having a berth line and an apron width, comprising:
- positioning at least one hollow module adjacent the berth line in contact with the existing dock structure, each hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume;
- and
- embedding an anchor coupled to the module in an underwater bed, the anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the at least one module as well as lateral forces and load forces directed into the underwater bed;
- wherein the at least one hollow module increases the apron width of the existing dock.
A method for unloading goods from a cargo ship at a maritime dock structure comprising a hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume, and an anchor coupled to the module and embedded in an underwater bed, the anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the hollow module, lateral forces corresponding to the cargo ship, and load forces directed into the underwater bed, the method comprising:
- securing the cargo ship to the dock structure;
- transferring the goods from the cargo ship into the hollow module;
- releasing the cargo ship from the dock structure;
- and
- transferring the goods from the hollow module to another mode of transportation.
A method for loading goods into a cargo ship at a maritime dock structure comprising a hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume, and an anchor coupled to the module and embedded in an underwater bed, the anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the hollow module, lateral forces corresponding to the cargo ship, and load forces directed into the underwater bed, the method comprising:
- transferring the goods from a first mode of transportation into the hollow module;
- securing the cargo ship to the dock structure;
- transferring the goods from the hollow module into the cargo ship;
- and
- releasing the cargo ship from the dock structure.
A method for anchoring a structure abutting landfill comprising:
- securing a flexible anchor material to a lower portion of the structure, the flexible material comprising a plurality of interconnected vehicle tires arranged in a two-dimensional pattern;
- covering a first portion of the flexible anchor material with a first portion of the landfill;
- folding a second portion of the flexible anchor material over the first portion of the landfill;
- securing the second portion of the flexible anchor material to an upper portion of the structure;
- and
- covering the second portion of the flexible anchor material with a second portion of the landfill;
- wherein lateral forces on the structure and a buoyancy force associated with the structure are resisted in part by soil pressures on the flexible anchor material.
A met hod for constructing a hollow cell structure from a first material, the hollow cell structure having inner and outer dimensions, the method comprising:
- providing a drydock having inner dimensions, and a removable door for providing an opening in the side of the drydock, the inner dimensions of the drydock being substantially the same as the outer dimensions of the hollow cell structure;
- inserting an inner form structure having outer dimensions into the drydock such that an interstitial space remains between the inner form structure and the drydock, the outer dimensions of the inner form structure being substantially the same as the inner dimensions of the hollow cell structure;
- filling the interstitial space with the first material;
- curing the first material to form the hollow cell structure;
- removing the inner form structure from the drydock;
- and
- removing the hollow cell structure from the drydock via the removable door.
An apparatus for constructing a hollow cell structure from a first material, the hollow cell structure having inner and outer dimensions, the apparatus comprising:
- a drydock having inner dimensions and a removable door, the inner dimensions of the drydock being substantially the same as the outer dimensions of the hollow cell structure, the removable door being for providing an opening in the side of the drydock for removal of the hollow cell structure;
- and
- an inner form structure for insertion into the drydock, the inner form structure having outer dimensions such that an interstitial space remains between the inner form structure and the drydock when the inner form structure is inserted therein, the outer dimensions of the inner form structure being substantially the same as the inner dimensions of the hollow cell structure.
A method for rehabilitating an existing dock supported by a plurality of existing piles having spacing therebetween, the existing dock having an underside and a load carrying capacity, the method comprising:
- positioning at least one hollow module in the spacing between the existing piles, each hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith;
- and
- employing at least one anchor coupled to the at least one hollow module and embedded in an underwater bed, the at least one anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the at least one hollow module;
- wherein the at least one hollow module is in contact with the underside of the existing dock, the buoyancy force associated with the at least one hollow module thereby enhancing the load carrying capacity of the existing dock.
A maritime dock structure, comprising:
- at least one hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith;
- at least one anchor coupled to each module and embedded in an underwater bed, each anchor opposing the buoyancy force of an associated module as well as lateral forces exerted on the associated module;
- and
- a secondary module having a buoyancy force associated therewith and an interior, the secondary module supporting the at least one hollow module, the secondary module having a first access conduit for allowing a flow of pressurized air to and from the interior of the secondary module, the secondary module also having a second access conduit for allowing a flow of water to and from the interior of the secondary module;
- wherein the buoyancy of the secondary module is manipulated using the flow of pressurized air and the flow of water to compensate for loads acting on the at least one hollow module.
A structure, comprising:
- at least one hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith due to an interior volume;
- and
- at least one anchor coupled to each module and embedded in an underwater bed, each anchor opposing the buoyancy force of an associated module as well as lateral forces exerted on the associated module and load forces directed into the underwater bed.
A method for enhancing a load carrying capacity of a structure supported by a plurality of piles having spacing therebetween, the method comprising:
- positioning at least one hollow module in the spacing between the piles, each hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith;
- embedding at least one anchor coupled to the at least one hollow module in an underwater bed, the at least one anchor opposing the buoyancy force of the at least one hollow module and load forces directed into the underwater bed;
- and
- wherein the at least one hollow module is in contact with an underside of the structure, the buoyancy force associated with the at least one hollow module thereby enhancing the load carrying capacity of the structure.
A method for enhancing a load carrying capacity of a structure supported by a plurality of piles having spacing therebetween, the method comprising:
- positioning at least one hollow module in the spacing between the piles, each hollow module having a buoyancy force associated therewith, and each hollow module being at least partially ballasted;
- and
- removing ballast from each hollow module such that each hollow module comes into contact with an underside of the structure, the buoyancy force associated with each hollow module thereby enhancing the load carrying capacity of the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.