GB2042608A - Buoyant Accommodation - Google Patents

Abstract

A buoyant structure comprising a main body ellipsoidal in shape and having a closeable opening in the wall thereof providing access to the interior of said ellipsoid, a passage or channel extending along the minor axis of the ellipse and in which an elongated support member is displaceable, and counterbalance or stabilizing weight means located at the end of said support so as to be displaceable beneath said main body towards and away therefrom. The walls may be formed of foam plastics laminate. The structure may provide dual purpose accommodation for use at sea or on land, e.g., in areas prone to earthquake. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Housing Structure The present invention relates to a unit or structure for use on land or water which provides recreational and/or working space and/or living accommodation. According to the present invention a structure comprises a main body or housing section ellipsoidal in shape and having a closeable opening in the wall thereof providing access to the interior of said ellipsoid, a passage or channel extending along the minor axis of the ellipse and in which an elongate support member is displaceable acting as a stabilizer means on its own or also having a counterbalance or stabilizing weight means located at the end of said support so as to be displaceable beneath said main housing section and towards and away therefrom.

It will be appreciated that such a structure is particularly robust and is also formed so as to be watertight and therefore can function as a multipurpose structure operable on land or water and may be used in very may different environments such as in earthquake areas, areas where access is not readily available to construct conventional buildings or for aquatic purposes such as a marine biology research station.

The counterbalance or stabilizing weight which is preferably provided on the support member is displaceable relative to the main housing section so as to be at a maximum distance therefrom when the structure is used as a floating structure.

When it is desired to remove the structure from water or when the structure is to be used on land, the support for the stabilizing weight is retracted or is in the retracted position in the central passage in the main housing section and the stabilizing mass located adjacent the bottom thereof or is located in an aperture formed in the base thereof - in the latter instance the lower surface of the stabilizing weight means may be so shaped to conform with the exterior surface walls of the main housing section.

Preferably, a continuous passage is provided along the minor axis through the main housing section and said passage is preferably tubular as is the mentioned support which extends completely therethrough -- suitable means being provided for effecting displacement of said support to the desired position. The normally upper end of said support projecting above the main housing section may be adapted to carry a housing for auxiliary equipment providing services for the structure such as generators, ventilation means etc. and this housing will thus be correspondingly displaceable on displacement of the stabilizing mass.

Displacement of said support may be effected by way of a drive motor acting, for example, via teeth on the central support which is displaceable in the central passage. Alternatively, a triangular, tripod like or derrick or lifting frame may be located over the centre of the structure with its feet supported to retaining brackets fixed in the wall of the main housing and a suitable pulley or lifting attachment -- possibly manually operable - may be connected via pulleys and the lifting frame to act on the upper end of said support for the stabilizing mass. Other alternative displacement means may be provided.

The stabilizing mass preferably comprises a tank filled with filtering means which in addition to acting as a stabilizing mass for the whole structure may also function as a filter for waste liquids produced in the housing and such as resulting from washing effluent or sewage effluent. The filtering means will be of suitable type, such as layered sand, and ducts will be provided by way of, for example, flexible piping leading from the units within the housing section to the filtration member forming the stabilizing mass on the lower end of said support. Return ducts may be provided for returning filtered fluids into storage tanks located in the lower half of the main housing beneath the flooring thereof or, alternatively, discharge pipes may be connected to discharge into existing sewers or, if permissible, into the liquid in which the housing may be floating.The tank containing the filtration means will be preferably rectangular or of other shape to provide stabilization to thereby additionally influence and minimize the wave effect on the main housing when floating.

Suitable anchoring means will be provided for the structure and may, in a preferred embodiment, comprise a heavy mass, preferably with fluted bottom or other ground engaging means, located centrally within the bottom of said stabilizing mass, which may be in the form of a filter unit, and with said anchoring means being displaceable possibly by way of a cable and pulley arrangement manually operable or motor driven and displaceable or lowerable to the sea or other bed by way of a cable extending down from the centre support and through the centre of the stabilizing mass which may also incorporate the filter unit. Such anchor may be raised from within the main housing section by pulling upon the cable and lifting such into the stowage region provided in the stabilizing mass.

As mentioned, the area beneath the floor of the main housing, which is preferably located somewhat below the medial axis thereof, will be formed as sealed tanks or compartments which may receive waste fluids or store liquids such as water or fuel for use in the structure.

Suitable windows, portholes or other sealable access means may be provided and the structure provided with suitable coatings etc. for example, for heat retention or reflection purposes.

It is also envisaged that a tubular framework structure may be provided on which the main housing may be located, and possibly secured thereto, with the stabilizing mass located against the bottom of the main housing or within a recess provided therein so as to permit the structure to function as a land unit and be suitably and stably supported by said framework. The framework may be provided with wheels which thus permit the combination to function as a trolley for displacement of the main housing possibly for launching thereof into water.

It is envisaged that a number of such units may be provided such as, for example, for a marine laboratory and be arranged in groups or clusters and interconnected by suitable floating gangways or walkways pivotally connected adjacent the access opening for each unit. A central buoyant member with walking space and suitably shaped to accommodate the desired number of structures may be provided possibly covered with a suitable protective or covering structure.

The structure when being moored in a floating condition unattached to any shore installation, is preferably connected to the anchor by way of a single centrally placed very flexible steel cable and a fall and rise tension winch is provided to automatically compensate for tidal effect and to keep the structure in position.

The structure may be of G.R.C. although is preferably built on a sandwich principle comprising two skins of G.R.P - an outer and inner skin with a sandwich layer of polystyrene providing stiffness for the construction of thermal insuiation. Preferably the structure is of an elliptical shape made up of sixteen segments for ease of transportation overland. The topmost part of the structure contains eight segments with moulded-in stiffening ribs of G.R.P. The lower part of the structure comprises eight segments strongly reinforced with laminated timber ribs which gives the structure or "hull" the required strength and also supports the floor and live load.

As one form of entrance, an openable "gullwing" swing-up transparent panel is provided in the top half of the eighth segment and is provided with additional hydraulic support arms to facilitate opening and closing.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a part schematic cross-section through an ellipsoidal housing unit; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing the interconnection of segments; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing a buffer device anchored to the housing wall by means of the rods extending through the wall section and backing plates either side of the wall.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the resilient mounting for anchor means.

Figs. 5a, a to 5c, c each comprise plan and side elevations of various stabilizing means - Fig. 5b, b being found of preferred shape.

In Fig. 1 a housing is illustrated comprising an ellipsoidal shell 13 of GRP/GRC sections (only part thereof illustrated) and has a closable opening in the form of a "gullwing" swing-up transparent panel in the top half of the eighth panel.

A passage extends along the minor axis of the ellipse and is formed by a fixed outer tube 1 secured to top and bottom regions of the shell 1 3 and having an inner tube 2 displaceably mounted within tube 1. Tube 2 is slidably guided in a fixed reinforcing guide member 4 located below floor level 3 and having rubber or plastics seals 6 fixed thereto. Laminated ribs 5 are formed extending inwardly from the edges of the segments forming the shell and are interconnected as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Apertures 7 are provided in outer and inner tubes 1 and 2 which, when in register, allow the passage of conditioned air into the interior of the housing fed thereto by an air impeller 10 located beneath a displaceable cover mounted on tube 2 and adapted to draw air over conditioning fluid 11 contained within a tray 12 therefor. Arresting flanges 14 are located at the top of fixed tube 1 and engageable by the tube 2 or members thereon in the lowermost position of tube 2.

A ballast tank 9 is mounted on the end of tube 2 and provided with additional bracing by means of stiffening gusset plates 8. Watertight access covers 1 5 are provided in the top of tank 1 5.

Fig. illustrates in section the interconnection between two segment panels 1 6 forming the housing. Each panel 1 6 has inwardly directed glass fibre ribs 1 7, 1 8 bolted together by means of bolt 1 9 sandwiching a sealing layer 20 of closed cell neoprene or PVC closed at each end by sealing means 21 in the form of RTV Selastic as sold by Dowcorning. The interconnection is covered with a layer of glass fibre 22 and further covered by glass fibre cover 23.

At least one continuous rubber or other resilient material buffer may be provided around the exterior of the housing to protect such when the housing is to be used as a floating vessel and be located at a height above the water line appropriate to usage. A plurality of individual mountings 25 may be arranged around the outside of the housing and anchored as shown in Fig. 3 by means of tie rods 26 extending from a backing plate 25' of mounting member 25 which securely receives the PVC buffer rail 24 also defining a water collecting channel. The tie rods 26 extend through the wall of the housing and are bolted to backing plate 27. Suitable pontoon connections (not shown) as described hereinbefore, may be provided.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the attachment means for an anchor (not shown) wherein the inner tube 2 is illustrated having a stainless steel collar 28 glassed into the inside of the tube and has cross bars 28' which support anchoring means in the form of ropes, wires, chains or the like members 29 for attachment to anchoring or the like securing means via rings 30.

The members 29 include tensioning and shock absorbing means 30 in the form of spring and rubber resilient means which take up any slack in the anchor cable and act as a shock absorber.

Stiffening fins 31 are provided between tube 2 and adjacent supporting regions. The members 29 pass through anti-rub rollers 32 mounted at two levels (four to each anchor member 29).

Piston-cylinder arrangements or rams (not shown) which may be hydraulic although are preferably pneumatic are provided as displacing means for displacing the stabilizing weight. Two parallel cylinders of the pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangements are secured within an upper region of the housing structure and each piston extends upwardly above the end of the tube 1 and engages a flange or like projection of the support 2 to permit displacement of said support 2 suitable seals being provided for the piston rods.

The use of pneumatics is desirable since such are also used for other purposes such as displacing sewage waste.

Figs. 5a -- c disclose various preferred shapes of stabilizing weights to achieve desired stabilization and wherein 33 are concave/dished recesses in the stabilizing tanks formed of G.R.P.

It has been found desirable to provide for additional stabilization by means of water or air jets which may issue from apertures 34 in a side of the tank. Suitable control means, e.g. a mercury switch and ducting will be provided so that when the structure tilts in one direction an air or water jet is caused to issue from a face of the stabilizing tank in an opposite direction to improve the stabilization effect.

Preferably four or more dagger boards or fins will be provided on the base of the structure and arranged in opposite directions to prevent the structure "weaving" when on moorings.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. A housing structure comprising a main body or housing section ellipsoidal in shape and having a closeable opening in the wall thereof providing access to the interior of said ellipsoid, a passage or channel extending along the minor axis of the ellipse and in which an elongate support member is reversibly displaceable so that in the extended position beneath said main housing section it acts to stabilize the structure when floating in water.

2. A housing as claimed in claim 1, in which counterbalance and stabilizing weight means are located at the end of said support displaceable towards and away from the housing section.

3. A housing as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein in the retracted position of the support member the stabilizing mass is located adjacent the bottom of the housing unit or is located in an aperture in the base thereof.

4. A housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the passage is provided along the minor axis by means of a tubular member secured in position and in which there slides said support member which extends out of the bottom of said tubular member and carries said stabilizing weight; means being provided to permit displacement of said support and mass.

5. A housing as claimed in claim 4, in which the displacing means comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement wherein the pistons act on the support for the stabilizing weight to effect displacement.

6. A housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the stabilizing mass comprises a tank containing filtering means and having inlet and outlet ducting means for liquid.

7. A housing as claimed in any of claim 1 to 6, in which anchoring means for the structure is connected therewith via cable or the like means including elastic take-up and slack absorbing means.

8. A housing structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 and floatable in combination with one or more identical or similar structures and interconnected by floating pontoons or walkways.

9. A buoyant housing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which water or air jets are provided on an end of the support member to be remote from the main body and having control means adapted to cause a jet to issue in a direction opposite to that in which the main body tilts when subject to wave action to stabilize such.

10. A housing structure substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A housing structure capable of floating comprising a main body ellipsoidal in shape and having a closeable opening in the wall thereof providing access to the interior of said ellipsoid, and means for stabilizing said structure when floating.

12. A housing structure as claimed in claim 11, in which the stabilizing means is mounted to be extendible and retractable relative to the main body.