GB2287911A - Floatable platforms - Google Patents
Floatable platforms Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2287911A GB2287911A GB9506357A GB9506357A GB2287911A GB 2287911 A GB2287911 A GB 2287911A GB 9506357 A GB9506357 A GB 9506357A GB 9506357 A GB9506357 A GB 9506357A GB 2287911 A GB2287911 A GB 2287911A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- platform
- members
- inserts
- insert
- buoyancy
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 abstract description 6
- 235000019688 fish Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 241000972773 Aulopiformes Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000277331 Salmonidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009313 farming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000019515 salmon Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
- E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
- E02B3/06—Moles; Piers; Quays; Quay walls; Groynes; Breakwaters ; Wave dissipating walls; Quay equipment
- E02B3/062—Constructions floating in operational condition, e.g. breakwaters or wave dissipating walls
- E02B3/064—Floating landing-stages
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
- A01K61/60—Floating cultivation devices, e.g. rafts or floating fish-farms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
- B63B35/34—Pontoons
- B63B35/38—Rigidly-interconnected pontoons
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/80—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in fisheries management
- Y02A40/81—Aquaculture, e.g. of fish
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
Abstract
A floatable platform from which fish retaining nets 10 may be suspended, and which provides walkways around the netted areas is formed from a series of buoyancy members 4, 6, 8 which are linked together by means of cables or chains 18 which pass through inserts received in passageways 16 formed in the members 4, 6, 8. Selected ones of these members 6 are provided with adjustable inserts 34 which are arranged to reduce in length as the cables or chains 16 are tensioned, thus conferring rigidity on the platform assembly. The adjustable inserts 34 comprise two portions 36, 38, with resiliently compressible means, e.g. a spring (42), positioned therebetween. <IMAGE>
Description
FLOATABLE PLATFORMS
The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to floatable platforms, particularly but not exclusively, incorporating tread surfaces for use as walkways for access to sub-surface equipment such as nets.
In the maintenance of such equipment in the presence of water it is essential to provide access for personnel which is convenient and conforms with all relevant safety regulations. For example, in the farming of fish, usually salmon or trout, it is customary to enclose a number of fish within net compartments suspended beneath floats positioned at edges of the net compartments. Conveniently where the floats are for example box-like, these may be linked together to form walkways. It is obvious that such a walkway should be relatively rigid as well as buoyant enough to maintain the netting of the compartments in an outspread condition.
The invention therefore provides a floatable platform suitable for use as a walkway, said platform comprising a plurality of buoyancy members arranged in a desired sequence so that each member is at least substantially adjacent to one or more neighbouring buoyancy members and fastening cable means adapted to link said buoyancy members wherein said buoyancy members are provided with through passageways for the passage of said fastening cable means, means are provided to impart tension to said cable means in said passageways, at least selected ones of said buoyancy members being provided with a plurality of hollow, adjustable inserts adapted to be received in the passageway(s) thereof and through which said fastening cables pass, said adjustable inserts having at least one axially resilient portion so as to be reducible in length as said cables are placed under tension.
Preferably, other, intervening, ones of said buoyancy members may be provided with rigid inserts within said passageways, said cable means comprising chains passing through said inserts within the passageways.
Advantageously, said adjustable inserts comprise a plurality of insert portions including at least one rigid body portion adapted to protrude from said passageway when said fastening cables are untensioned and an axially resiliently mounted end portion, the reduction in length of which insert permits said rigid body portion to be withdrawn so as to be at least substantially received in said passageway.
Advantageously, each said adjustable insert may comprise two insert portions that are rigid and an intermediate, axially resilient portion. Conveniently, the resilient insert portion may be, for example, a spring such as a compression spring, a resilient foam plastics sleeve, or any other suitable means.
Conveniently, one of the rigid insert members may have a tapered outer end portion adapted to engage a tapered recess of an insert of a neighbouring buoyancy member.
In an example of a buoyancy member to be described below, an end portion of one of said rigid insert portion is telescopically received within the second rigid insert portion with the resilient portion interposed therebetween.
There will now be described an example of a floatable platform according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a part of a fish farm floatable platform;
Figure 2 is a portion of the platform of Figure 1 showing linking cables;
Figure 3 shows a buoyancy member having a rigid insert;
Figure 4 is a exploded perspective view of a buoyancy member having an axially compressible insert;
Figure 5 is a cross-section through the assembled insert of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is an arrangement of a corner buoyancy member.
Figure 1 shows a part of a fish farm arrangement having a floating platform 2 comprising a plurality of buoyancy members 4, 6, 8 arranged in a side-by-side manner to form elongate platform portions which provide framework for a number of net containers 10 for the fish being farmed. Each buoyancy member is provided with a tread surface 12 and the platform is provided with handrails 14 secured at intervals to the buoyancy members. Each member 4 and 6 has two passageways 16 (Fig. 2) therethrough each of which receives a cable 18.
In the present example, the cable 18 is in the form of a chain. The buoyancy members are of moulded plastics material and have air-filled cavities.
In assembly of the platform, a series of buoyancy members are linked, as shown, by the chains 18 and at the corner or junction buoyancy members 8 of the platform, the chains are secured by lock-pins 20 after being tensioned as explained below.
Figure 3 shows a standard buoyancy member 4 which is a hollow moulded plastics enclosure having a air-filled cavity. The passageways 16 formed through the member 4 have recesses 22 at mouth portions thereof, which recesses receive end flanges 24 of hollow insert members 26 through which in use the chains 18 pass. In addition, each insert member 26 has a tapered end portion 30 which is received in an end portion 32 of the corresponding insert 26 of the neighbouring member.
Intervening between the members 4 in the string of buoyancy members are the members 6, which are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
Each buoyancy member 6 is similarly formed as a moulded plastics enclosure with passageways 16 therethrough. The construction of insert members 34 received in the passageways is such that the overall length of the inserts is reducible from a condition in which the insert members project from their respective passageways to a condition in which they are almost completely received therewithin. Each insert 34 thus comprises a main rigid body portion 36 and a rigid end portion 38 adapted to slide over the inner end of the portion 36 by a small, variable, distance. The end portion 38 is formed by a hollow sleeve having an inwardly turned annular flange 40. A compression spring 42 is captive between flanges 37 and 39 of the portions 36 and 38 and produces the desired resilience and capability to bring about a change in overall length of the insert member 6. The two inserts 34 are yoked together by a strut 28 which supports upright members of the hand rails 14.
The corner members 8 are conveniently constructed in two separate mouldings as shown in Figure 6. Each moulding 8a, 8b carries a portion of the tread surface 12 and is recessed at 46. An insert assembly constructed from four long inserts 26 arranged in the desired formation and inserted into jointing devices or knuckles 50, and then received in the recesses of the members 8a, 8b as the two portions 8a and 8b are brought together and held in place by the chains 16 passing through the inserts 26.
In assembly, the chains 18 are used to support all of the members 4, 6 and 8 strung thereon under initially slack tension, ensuring that the members are arranged so that tapered end portions 30 confront the recesses 32 of the neighbouring member 4, 6 and 8.
It will be found convenient to apply tension to the chains 18 as the assembly is placed on the water where it is to float. When the desired tension is achieved, the insert members of the buoyancy members 6 have been axially compressed and the platform formed by the members 4, 6 and 8 is rigid, the chains 18 are fastened at the members 8 by lock pins 20 as previously mentioned. The nets 10 are then attached and the handrails 14 secured.
Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (10)
1. A floatable platform for use as a walkway, said
platform comprising a plurality of buoyancy members
arranged in a desired sequence so that each member is
at least substantially adjacent to one or more
neighbouring buoyancy members and fastening cable
means adapted to link said buoyancy members wherein
said buoyancy members are provided with through
passageways for the passage of said fastening cable
means, means are provided to impart tension to said
cable means in said passageways, at least selected
ones of said buoyancy members being provided with a
plurality of hollow, adjustable inserts adapted to be
received in the passageway(s) thereof and through
which said fastening cables pass, said adjustable
inserts having at least one axially resilient portion
so as to be reducible in length as said cables are
placed under tension.
2. A platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein further ones
of said buoyancy members are provided, having rigid
inserts within said passageways, said cable means
comprising passing through said inserts within the
passageways.
3. A platform as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein said adjustable inserts comprise a plurality
of insert portions including at least one rigid body
portion adapted to protrude from said passageway when
said fastening cables are untensioned and an axially
resiliently mounted end portion, the reduction in
length of which insert permits said rigid body portion
to be withdrawn so as to be at least substantially
received in said passageway.
4. A platform as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said
adjustable insert comprises two insert portions that
are rigid and an intermediate axially resilient
portion.
5. A platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein said axially
resilient portion comprises a spring, preferably a
compress ion spring.
6. A platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein said axially
resilient portion comprises a resilient foam plastics
sleeve.
7. A platform as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said rigid insert members have a
tapered outer end portion adapted to engage a tapered
recess of an insert of a neighbouring buoyancy member.
8. A platform as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein there is provided hand rail means to
be secured to the platform, a strut being provided to
yoke together two side-by-side inserts of said
buoyancy members to provide a support for said hand
rail means.
9. A platform as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein there are further provided corner or
junction buoyancy members adapted to permit changes of
direction of the path of said walkway, said corner
members being provided with jointing means adapted to
secure together intersecting ones of said inserts to
maintain them in portion.
10. A floatable platform suitable for use as a walkway,
constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to and as shown in the
drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9406402A GB9406402D0 (en) | 1994-03-30 | 1994-03-30 | Floatable platforms |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9506357D0 GB9506357D0 (en) | 1995-05-17 |
GB2287911A true GB2287911A (en) | 1995-10-04 |
GB2287911B GB2287911B (en) | 1997-07-02 |
Family
ID=10752822
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9406402A Pending GB9406402D0 (en) | 1994-03-30 | 1994-03-30 | Floatable platforms |
GB9506357A Expired - Fee Related GB2287911B (en) | 1994-03-30 | 1995-03-28 | Floatable platforms |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9406402A Pending GB9406402D0 (en) | 1994-03-30 | 1994-03-30 | Floatable platforms |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB9406402D0 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2145727A1 (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2000-07-01 | Cortinas Andres Quinta | Floating structure for rearing molluscs |
GB2374572A (en) * | 2001-04-17 | 2002-10-23 | La Vega Manuel De | Collapsible aqua-culture transport structure |
ITRE20100075A1 (en) * | 2010-09-24 | 2012-03-25 | Stem Srl | MODULAR SYSTEM FOR THE REALIZATION OF ROOMS JOINED BETWEEN THEM |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN108184739A (en) * | 2017-09-21 | 2018-06-22 | 江苏省海洋水产研究所 | A kind of cultivation steck |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2068847A (en) * | 1980-02-11 | 1981-08-19 | Builders Concrete Inc | Interconnecting system for marine floats |
-
1994
- 1994-03-30 GB GB9406402A patent/GB9406402D0/en active Pending
-
1995
- 1995-03-28 GB GB9506357A patent/GB2287911B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2068847A (en) * | 1980-02-11 | 1981-08-19 | Builders Concrete Inc | Interconnecting system for marine floats |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2145727A1 (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2000-07-01 | Cortinas Andres Quinta | Floating structure for rearing molluscs |
GB2374572A (en) * | 2001-04-17 | 2002-10-23 | La Vega Manuel De | Collapsible aqua-culture transport structure |
GB2374572B (en) * | 2001-04-17 | 2003-03-12 | La Vega Manuel De | Collapsible floatable aquaculture transport structure |
ITRE20100075A1 (en) * | 2010-09-24 | 2012-03-25 | Stem Srl | MODULAR SYSTEM FOR THE REALIZATION OF ROOMS JOINED BETWEEN THEM |
EP2433858A1 (en) * | 2010-09-24 | 2012-03-28 | Stem S.r.l. | A modular system for realising chambers joined to one another |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2287911B (en) | 1997-07-02 |
GB9406402D0 (en) | 1994-05-25 |
GB9506357D0 (en) | 1995-05-17 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20040328 |
|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20040328 |