WO2022101829A1

WO2022101829A1 - Marine platform formed from containers

Info

Publication number: WO2022101829A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/060467
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mordechay Gavish
Original assignee: Mordechay Gavish
Priority date: 2020-11-12
Filing date: 2021-11-11
Publication date: 2022-05-19
Also published as: IL278664A

Abstract

A marine platform, including: two side structures, a base bridge and flooring, wherein each side structure comprises two fixedly attached horizontal containers forming a side base and two vertical pillars fixedly attached to the side base, wherein each vertical pillar comprises at least two containers positioned vertically end-to-end, wherein the base bridge comprises two containers fixedly attached on either side to the two side structures.

Description

MARINE PLATFORM FORMED FROM CONTAINERS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Israel Patent Application No. 278664 filed on November 12, 2020, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments disclosed herein relate in general to the field of marine platforms and more specifically improved configurable marine platforms formed from used shipping containers.

BACKGROUND

A marine platform may have several uses, providing a base for residential structures, hotels, entertainment sites, halls and event centers, commercial centers, fish cages, electricity generation from floating solar panels, airports, and deep seaports for light ships.

Today, due to the increasing prevalence of containers in sea transportation, there are many containers on the market, which after normal marine transport use, are sold at less than their production price despite still being fit to use as a floating body with high lifting capacity, low production and low operation costs. These used shipping containers are predominantly sold as scrap metal, although the costs to break them down render them unsuitable for this purpose. There is an enormous surplus of such containers just waiting for a beneficial use that would also obviate their deleterious environmental impact.

It would therefore be beneficial to provide easily constructed marine platforms that can make good use of used shipping containers.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments described below aim to address shortcomings of the known art described above and provide further advantages and improvements. A marine platform formed from used containers is described herein. The platform is formed from two side structures, a base bridge that joins the side structures, and flooring. In some embodiments, the platform is a floating platform. In some embodiments, the platform may rest on the seabed in its desired position of use. In some embodiments, the assembled container structure may be filled with a contiguous concrete fill. In some embodiments, the platform may include metal bows that may be positioned at its base to present a low fluid profile to ocean currents and prevent sand build-up around the platform base. In some embodiments, adjustable vertical anchors may be used to keep the floating platform in a desired position at sea.

In some embodiments, the platform may rest upon a gravel layer that has been laid on the seabed beneath the platform. In some embodiments, multiple platforms may be provided adjacent to one another to form a marine structure. The structure is thus modular enabling construction of a structure from placement of multiple platforms side by side to thereby increase the useable surface area on the provided flooring.

The term container as used herein refers to shipping containers. These may be new or used shipping containers.

In some illustrative embodiments, a marine platform includes: two side structures and a base bridge, wherein each side structure includes two fixedly attached horizontal containers forming a side base and two vertical pillars fixedly attached to the side base, wherein each vertical pillar includes at least two containers positioned vertically end-to-end, wherein the base bridge includes two containers fixedly attached on either side to the two side structures.

In some embodiments, the platform is configured so as to be a floating platform. In some embodiments, the platform is configured so as to rest on a seabed. In some embodiments, the platform further includes flooring coupled to the base bridge and/or the vertical pillars.

In some embodiments, the platform further includes bows fixedly attached to each of the side structures. In some embodiments, the bows are formed from diagonally sliced containers. In some embodiments, the bows are formed from metal sheets. In some embodiments, the containers are coated inside and outside with reinforced concrete. In some embodiments, the containers are coated outside with a weather-resistant coating.

In some embodiments, the horizontal and vertical containers of the side structures include therein a contiguous concrete filling. In some embodiments, the platform further includes anchors. In some embodiments, the anchors include a fixed portion and an extending portion, wherein the extending portion is configured for being drilled into a seabed.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to figures attached hereto that are listed following this paragraph. Identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labelled with a same numeral in all the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. In the figures:

FIG. 1 A is an illustrative drawing showing a side structure of a marine platform according to some embodiments;

FIG. IB is an illustrative drawing showing two side structures of a marine platform joined by a base bridge according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1C is an illustrative drawing showing flooring for use in a marine platform according to some embodiments;

FIG. ID is an illustrative drawing showing flooring on a lower layer of a partially constructed marine platform according to some embodiments;

FIG. IE is an illustrative drawing of a marine platform according to some embodiments;

FIG. IF is an illustrative drawing of an anchor system for use in a marine platform according to some embodiments;

FIG. 1G is an illustrative drawing showing a cross-sectional view of flooring for use in a marine platform according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A marine platform formed from shipping containers is described herein. FIGS. 1A-1G illustrate the building blocks and structure of a marine platform 100 according to an example implementation. Platform 100 includes two side structures 104, a base bridge 106 that joins the side structures 104, and flooring 108. FIG. 1 A shows side structure 104 of marine platform 100; FIG. IB shows two side structures 104 of marine platform 100 joined by base bridge 106; FIG. 1C shows flooring 108 for use in marine platform 100; FIG. ID shows flooring 108-1 on a lower layer of a partially constructed marine platform 100; FIG. IE shows the assembled marine platform 100; FIG. IF shows an anchor system 111 for use in marine platform 100; and FIG. 1G shows a cross-sectional view of flooring 108. Side structures 104 and base bridge 106 may be formed from multiple containers 110, typically used shipping containers that have been modified such as will be described below. In some embodiments, containers 110 may be coated outside with reinforced concrete to both strengthen them and protect them from corrosion. In some embodiments, containers 110 may be coated inside with reinforced concrete to both strengthen them and protect them from corrosion. In some embodiments, containers 110 may be coated outside with a weatherresistant coating such as but not limited to a polyurea coating. In some embodiments, the weather-resistant coating may be applied on top of the concrete coating.

Each side structure 104 may include a side structure base 109 that in turn may include two containers 110-1 and 110-2 laid horizontally and fixedly attached to one another as shown in FIG. 1A, and containers 110-3, 110-4 and 110-5, 110-6 that may be stacked vertically upon side structure base 109 to form side structure pillars 114. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. IB, side structure base 109 may include platform anchors 111. Platform anchors 111 may be fixedly attached to side structure base 109. As shown in FIG. IF, a platform anchor 111 may include a fixed portion 118 having a substantially cylindrical shape and attached to side structure base 109, and an extending portion 120 running within fixed portion 118 and extending downwards through the water and embedded at its opposite end into a seabed 102. In some embodiments, the extending portion 120 may have a sharpened or drill-shaped distal end so that the extending portion 120 may be rotated and drilled into seabed 102.

In some embodiments, containers 110 of platform 100 may be substantially empty and sealed such that platform 100 may float on water. In floating platform embodiments, anchors 111 may be used to keep floating platform 100 stationary.

In some embodiments, containers 110-1 and 110-2 that form side structure base 109 may be filled with concrete, and in use may be laid upon a seabed 102 so that platform 100 is laid on seabed 102. When laid on seabed 102, platform 100 may still make use of anchors 111. In some embodiments, a gravel substrate (not shown) may be laid on the seabed 102 before platform 100 is laid on seabed 102 to form a flat surface for laying platform 100 thereupon.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, IB and IE, bows 112-1 and 112-2 may be fixedly attached to ends of side structure base 109. Each bow 112 may be formed from a part of a container that has been cut (sliced) diagonally so as to form a triangular structure as shown. In some embodiments, bows 112 formed from such “sliced” containers may be filled with concrete. In some embodiments, the concrete inside bows 112 may be made contiguous with the concrete inside side structure base 109 by cutting holes in containers 110-1 and 110-2 where these meet bows 112. In use, bows 112 may enable flow of ocean currents around structure base 109 while posing minimal fluid resistance so that platform 100 is not affected by the ocean currents. Bows 112 may also prevent buildup of sand pushed by ocean currents against side structure base 109. In some embodiments, bows 112 may be formed from metal plates formed into the structure as shown.

As mentioned, vertically stacked containers 110-3...110-6 form pillars 114 of platform 100. In some embodiments, where platform 100 is positioned on seabed 102, vertically stacked containers 110-3...110-6 may have their doors removed before being stacked end-on-end and may be filled with concrete to thereby create contiguous vertical concrete pillars 114 within containers 110-3, 1104 and 110-5, 110-6. Containers 110-1 and 110-2 that form side structure base 109 may be cut open where they join with vertical containers 110-3 and 110-6 so that the concrete in pillars 114 and base 109 is contiguous.

As shown in FIG. IB, two side structures 104 may be fixedly joined together by base bridge 106. Base bridge 106 may be formed from two containers 110-7 and 110-8 laid horizontally on top of, and fixedly attached (such as by welding or other means known in the art) to side structure bases 109 of side structures 104. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. ID, a width W of platform 100 may thus be equal to the length of the containers used for base bridge 106, such as but not limited to 12ft. In some embodiments, reinforcement rods 116 may be fixedly attached in a diagonal arrangement as shown to provide structural rigidity to platform 100.

FIG. 1C shows exemplary flooring 108-1 that may be laid on base bridge 106 (FIG. ID) and also on top of platform 100 (FIG. IE). In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1G, which is a side-view of a cross section of exemplary flooring 108, flooring 108 may be formed from metal L-shaped beams 122 joined together with connector beams 124, with metal mesh grids 126 laid therebetween. Once so constructed, a concrete fill 128 may be filled into the volume defined by the beams 122, 124 and a suitable sealing surface 130 on the bottom such as with wood or other surface to thereby form the flooring 108.

As shown in FIG. IE, a second level of flooring 108-2 may be provided fixedly attached to the tops of pillars 114 to form the completed marine platform 100. In some embodiments, the upper level of flooring 108-2 may have the same structure as flooring 108-1 described above.

Platform 100 may be further enhanced with electricity, stairs, elevators, escalators, plumbing (not shown) or any such structural development as needed for the structure that will be placed on platform 100 or according to the planned use of platform 100.

It should be appreciated that multiple platforms 100 may be placed alongside one another to form a combined platform with a greater surface area of flooring 108. In some embodiments, platforms 100 may form the basis for any of an airport, a landing strip, a car park, offices, residential structures, hotels, entertainment sites, halls and event centers, commercial centers, fish cages, electricity generation from floating solar panels, seaports, and so forth.

A floating platform 100 may be assembled on land and may then be towed out to the required position in a sea or lake. Anchors 111 may be deployed to keep floating platform 100 in its required position at sea or lake. In some embodiments, where platform 100 is to rest on seabed 102, platform 100 may be towed to the desired position in the sea or lake and then the containers 110-1 and 110-2 of base 109 may be filled with concrete such that platform 100 sinks to the seabed below and rests there.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above may vary in shape and structure from those shown in the figures but fulfill the same or similar purpose such as to essentially achieve the same results.

It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Although the disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, "comprise," "include" and "have" and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

In the discussion unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as “substantially” modify a condition or relationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment. The terms are understood to mean that the condition or characteristic is defined to within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended. Unless otherwise indicated, the word “or” in the specification and claims is considered to be the inclusive “or” rather than the exclusive or, and indicates at least one of, or any combination of, items it conjoins.

Descriptions of embodiments in the present application are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments. Some embodiments utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of that are described, and embodiments comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments, will occur to persons of the art.

Claims

8 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A marine platform, comprising: two side structures and a base bridge, wherein each side structure comprises two fixedly attached horizontal containers forming a side base and two vertical pillars fixedly attached to the side base, wherein each vertical pillar comprises at least two containers positioned vertically end-to-end, and wherein the base bridge comprises two containers fixedly attached on either side to the two side structures.

2. The platform of claim 1 , configured so as to be a floating platform.

3. The platform of claim 1 , configured so as to rest on a seabed.

4. The platform of claim 1, further comprising flooring coupled to the base bridge and/or the vertical pillars.

5. The platform of claim 1, further comprising bows fixedly attached to each side structure.

6. The platform of claim 5, wherein the bows are formed from diagonally sliced containers.

7. The platform of claim 5, wherein the bows are formed from metal sheets.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein the containers are coated inside and outside with reinforced concrete.

9. The platform of claim 1, wherein the containers are coated outside with a weatherresistant coating.

10. The platform of claim 1, wherein the horizontal and vertical containers of the side structures include therein a contiguous concrete filling.

11. The platform of claim 1 , further comprising anchors. 9

12. The platform of claim 11 , wherein the anchors include a fixed portion and an extending portion, and wherein the extending portion is configured for being drilled into a seabed.