US 6,199,502 B1 · Concrete module for floating structures and method of construction

Abstract

A concrete module having a buoyant center core with a light weight concrete outer shell. The modules have lengthwise and width wise passages on non-common planes which are above the water line when the modules are floated with weight. The modules are connected with rods, cables or other interconnecting method through the passages. The sides of the modules may be concaved to allow the modules to fit securely together in a straight line without bowing or bending. The top of the module is constructed with reinforcing ribs for strength. The size of the modules are designed to be transported using standard hauling trucks and moved with skid loaders or fork lifts. The modules have common sizes and connecting passages between modules to make uniform modules to allow custom designed docks and other floating structures to be configured. A variety of brackets are provided for attaching items to the modules making up the floating structure.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A concrete module for assembling floating structures comprising:

a module having a buoyant core surrounded by a concrete shell, said module having a top, at least three sides and a bottom, with a plurality of said modules adapted to being interconnected to form a floating structure;
a plurality of reinforcing ribs within said top of said module;
a concave surface on one or more sides of said modules such that an outer perimeter area of said sides of said module can butt against an outer perimeter area of a side of an adjoining module without a center area on abutting modules contacting each other;
one or more first passages for receiving a first interconnecting device through said module in a first plane, said first plane below and parallel to a top surface of said top of said module, said first plane being above a water line when said module is floated in water;
and
one or more second passages, for receiving a second interconnecting device, through said module along a second plane in which said passages are in a different direction than said first passages in said first plane, said second plane also being parallel with said first plane and also being above said water line.

3 more elements

A concrete module for floating structure comprising:

a buoyant core, said buoyant core having a top, at least three sides, and a bottom with a tapered upper portion along said sides of said buoyant core, one or more notches in a top surface of said buoyant core, grooves along one or more sides within two parallel non-common planes through said buoyant core and said buoyant core having one or more chamfered corners;
a concrete shell surrounding said buoyant core to form a concrete module, said concrete shell made with a lightweight reinforced concrete;
one or more reinforcing ribs integrated within said concrete shell at a top side of said module, said reinforcing rib constructed by said concrete being within said notches on said top surface of said buoyant core, said reinforcing rib providing extra strength for said top of said module;
a concave surface on one or more sides of said module such that an outer perimeter area of said side of said module can butt against an outer perimeter area of said side of an adjoining module without a center area on abutting modules contacting each other;
and
one or more passages through said module, said passages corresponding to a position with said grooves on said sides of said buoyant core, with at least one of said passages in each of said two non-common planes, both of said planes being parallel with a top surface of said module and above a waterline when said module is floated in water;
whereby an interconnecting means can extend through said passages to join a plurality of said modules together to form a floating structure.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Concrete module for floating structures and method of construction

Life of this patent

Concrete module for floating structures and method of construction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26