A flexible pleated floating breakwater and its construction method
By using a modular design of flexible grid floating breakwaters, and combining curtains and cross shafts made of PVC coated fabric and TPU fabric sheets with a water-filled and air-filled frame, the problems of low installation efficiency, high cost and large environmental disturbance of existing breakwaters in temporary operation scenarios are solved, enabling rapid deployment and recovery, and reducing equipment investment and maintenance costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WUHAN UNIV OF TECH
- Filing Date
- 2026-05-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
Smart Images

Figure CN122304322A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of water conservancy engineering technology, and in particular to a flexible grid floating breakwater and its construction method. Background Technology
[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of the marine economy and near-shore activities, temporary and mobile operational scenarios such as offshore construction, temporary testing, emergency disaster prevention, and seasonal aquaculture have gradually increased. These types of operations are typically characterized by short operation cycles, non-fixed deployment locations, and significant susceptibility to wave conditions. Therefore, specific requirements have been placed on breakwater facilities that are "quick to be deployed and retrieved, easy to transport and reuse, have minimal environmental impact, and possess good wave-dissipating performance" to adapt to changing sea conditions and flexible operational needs.
[0003] Currently, breakwaters, as core wave-damping and protection facilities, are mainly divided into two categories according to their structural form: fixed and floating. Fixed breakwaters include various types such as gravity breakwaters, riprap breakwaters, and caisson breakwaters. They are usually permanent structures. The construction of these breakwaters requires complex foundation treatment technology and has strict requirements on the water depth and geological structure of the work area. Not only is the construction period long and the project cost high, involving a large amount of building material transportation, large construction equipment investment, and labor costs, but more importantly, once a fixed breakwater is built, its location is fixed and it is difficult to dismantle, relocate, and recycle, making it completely unsuitable for temporary operations. At the same time, its large-scale foundation excavation and building material laying will have an impact on the marine ecological environment. From the perspective of wave dissipation mechanism, the wave dissipation effect of conventional floating breakwaters mainly relies on volume reflection and radiation damping. Its wave dissipation performance is closely related to the ratio of the effective width of the structure to the incident wave wavelength. Only when the effective width of the breakwater reaches one-third or more of the incident wave wavelength can a relatively ideal wave height attenuation effect be achieved. However, long-period swells are common in marine environments. In order to achieve the expected wave dissipation effect, the structural width of the breakwater must be significantly increased. This directly leads to an increase in the self-weight of the breakwater, a significant increase in material consumption and manufacturing costs, and a significant increase in transportation difficulty and costs. More importantly, the increased structural size makes the installation and recovery process more complex, requiring large construction vessels and supporting equipment. This not only results in high construction costs but also imposes stringent requirements on sea conditions, making it difficult to complete rapid deployment and recovery in a short period of time, which seriously reduces its practicality in temporary operations and emergency protection scenarios. Summary of the Invention
[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes a flexible grid floating breakwater and its construction method to solve the technical problem mentioned in the background art that the existing breakwater technology is unable to simultaneously meet the comprehensive requirements of temporary operation scenarios for "significant wave dissipation effect, rapid installation and recovery, lightweight modular storage and transportation, economic reusability, and low environmental disturbance".
[0005] The technical solution of this invention is implemented as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention proposes a flexible grid floating breakwater, comprising wave-dissipating modules and module connecting components, wherein the module connecting components respectively connect two adjacent wave-dissipating modules, and the wave-dissipating module comprises a grid, a water-filled frame, and an air-filled frame, wherein: The enclosure includes curtains and cross shafts. The curtains and cross shafts are made of PVC coated fabric or TPU fabric sheets. Each curtain has connecting sections around its perimeter. The connecting sections on both sides are heat-sealed to the connecting sections of the cross shaft branches. The upper connecting section of the curtain inside the enclosure is heat-sealed to the internal pipe section of the inflatable frame. The upper and lower connecting sections of the curtains located around the enclosure are heat-sealed to the top and bottom horizontal frame sections of the water-filled frame, respectively. The cross shaft is formed by heat-sealing two sheets together along their center lines to obtain four branches of the cross. The four branches of the cross shaft inside the enclosure are heat-sealed to the curtain sheets. One branch of the cross shaft located around the enclosure is heat-sealed to the vertical pipe of the water-filled frame, and the other three branches are heat-sealed to the curtain sheets. The water-filled frame is located around the perimeter of the enclosure. The water-filled frame includes a top horizontal frame, a bottom horizontal frame, and a vertical pipe. The vertical pipe is connected to the top and bottom horizontal frames via a heat-sealing process to form a cuboid frame, which is interconnected as a whole and supports the three-dimensional shape of the enclosure. The axes of the top and bottom horizontal frames are connected to the upper and lower connecting sections of the curtains surrounding the enclosure via a heat-sealing process. The vertical pipe is connected to a branch of the cross axis surrounding the enclosure via a heat-sealing process. A water inlet valve and an air vent valve are installed on the top horizontal frame, and a drain valve is installed on the bottom horizontal frame. The inflatable frame includes an outer frame and an inner horizontal tube. The outer frame is closely attached to the inner side of the horizontal tube of the top water-filled frame and is positioned by point heat sealing and tied together with straps. An air inlet valve is installed on the outer frame. The inner horizontal tube is connected to the curtain section by heat sealing. The various component tubes of the inflatable frame are heat-sealed together and connected as a whole, floating on the water surface to provide buoyancy and support for the expansion of the enclosure on the water surface. The module connecting component is used to bind the water-filled top horizontal frame and outer frame of adjacent wave-damping modules together.
[0006] In some optional embodiments, preferably, the water-filled frame is made of materials such as PVC coated cloth, with unobstructed internal flow channels and uninterrupted connection between pipe sections; the top horizontal frame of the water-filled frame is provided with mounting holes for water inlet valve and air vent valve, and the bottom horizontal frame of the water-filled frame is provided with mounting holes for drain valve, and the water inlet valve, air vent valve, and drain valve are installed in the mounting holes by heat sealing process.
[0007] In some optional embodiments, preferably, the inflatable frame is made of materials such as PVC coated fabric, with unobstructed internal flow channels and uninterrupted connection of each pipe section; the outer frame of the inflatable frame is provided with an air inlet valve mounting hole, and the air inlet valve is installed in the mounting hole by a heat sealing process.
[0008] In some alternative embodiments, preferably, a towing member is also included, one end of which is connected to the top horizontal frame and the outer frame, and the other end is fixed to the towing vessel, for pulling the flexible breakwater to the towing location or pulling it back for storage.
[0009] In some alternative implementations, preferably, a mooring component is also included, which is used to connect the top horizontal frame and the outer frame tie-down, so that the breakwater can sway freely in the moored state but will not drift away from its destination.
[0010] Secondly, the present invention proposes a construction method for a flexible diaphragm floating breakwater as described in the first aspect, comprising: The wave-damping module is folded and rolled up along its length to form a compact shape and packaged. Then, a crane is used to smoothly lift the rolled-up wave-damping module package into the cargo compartment of a transport truck, which then transports it to the designated destination. There are two scenarios for the implementation plan of the breakwater submersion installation: Implementation Plan 1 for Launching and Installing the Flexible Breakwater Module: On the shore, unpack the flexible breakwater module and arrange adjacent modules in sequence. Secure adjacent modules with straps and inflate the inflatable frame. Then, use a breakwater towing vessel to tow the breakwater to the installation site using towing ropes. Connect the breakwater to the already deployed anchor and cables using mooring ropes to initially position it. Continue inflating the frame until the breakwater is fully horizontally deployed. When the inflatable frame has sufficient rigidity, stop inflating and close the air inlet valve. Open the vent valve on the top horizontal frame of the water-filled frame and inject water through the water inlet valve. After water exits the vent valve, close it and continue inflating. When the water-filled frame has sufficient rigidity, stop adding water and close the water inlet valve. Once the breakwater is fully deployed and three-dimensionally formed, adjust the mooring to ensure the breakwater is in the designed position, thereby blocking wave propagation and protecting the safety of the sheltered area. Implementation Plan Two for Launching and Installing: The breakwater packaging is delivered to the destination via a breakwater installation workboat; then, the breakwater module packaging is transported to the deck near the rolling frame via a flatbed truck; the packaging is opened on the deck, and adjacent modules are tied together with straps; the towing rope is passed through the rolling frame to the towing workboat, which tows the breakwater from the rolling frame to the ramp, thus launching the breakwater into the water; the inflatable frame is inflated on the water surface and towed to the installation site; at the installation site, it is connected to the already towed mooring buoy for initial mooring and positioning, and inflation continues until the breakwater is fully deployed and the inflatable frame has a certain rigidity, at which point the valves are closed; the water-filled frame is vented and filled with water until the breakwater is three-dimensionally formed and has a certain rigidity, at which point the vent valve and inlet valve are closed; after the overall breakwater is formed, the mooring is readjusted to position the breakwater in the designed location, providing wave protection. Check the module's deployment status, mooring stability, and the sealing of each valve. If there are no problems, it can be put into use.
[0011] In some alternative implementations, preferably, it also includes: During recovery, the towing workboat sails to the target sea area and disconnects the mooring lines from the buoys; the towing rope is connected to the workboat; the inlet valve and vent valve at the top of the water-filled frame are opened; the drain valve on the bottom horizontal frame of the water-filled frame is opened, and the seawater inside the water frame is discharged by gravity or an auxiliary water pump; the air inlet valve on the air-filled frame is opened to allow natural air release, reducing the volume of the breakwater and retaining buoyancy to keep the breakwater floating on the water surface. The breakwater recovery implementation plan has two scenarios: Recovery Implementation Plan 1: Tow the breakwater back to shore by a towing workboat; drain the water and air from inside the breakwater on shore; disassemble the modules; gather, roll, fold, and pack each module separately, hoist it onto a transport vehicle, and transport it to the storage warehouse; Recovery Implementation Plan Two: The towing workboat pulls the breakwater back to the installation workboat; the towing rope uses the rolling frame on the ship to pull the breakwater from the ramp onto the installation workboat; the flexible breakwater is folded onto the deck by the rolling frame; water and air are completely drained; the modules are disassembled; each module is gathered, rolled, folded, and packaged separately, hoisted onto a flatbed truck, and sent to the ship's hold; finally, it is transported to the storage warehouse. During the recovery and collection process, check the wave-damping module for damage or leakage. If there is any local damage, repair it promptly with special repair materials.
[0012] The flexible grid floating breakwater and its construction method of the present invention have the following advantages over the prior art: (1) Two adjacent wave-damping modules are connected by the connecting membrane. The enclosure includes two main sheets and four connecting sheets to form an overall cross structure. The water bladder is installed on the periphery of the enclosure. The water bladder includes a horizontal pipe, a vertical pipe and a tee. The horizontal pipe forms a two-layer rectangular frame. The intersection of the vertical pipe and the horizontal pipe is connected by the tee to form a cuboid frame. The horizontal pipe and the main sheet are connected by a heat-sealing process. During storage and transportation, the water in the water bladder is drained and the air in the air bladder assembly is drained. This integrated design allows the floating breakwater to be quickly deployed, easily retrieved and repeatedly deployed in different locations using engineering vessels. It does not require large construction vessels and greatly reduces the equipment investment cost, operation time and disturbance to the marine environment of temporary wave protection. At the same time, the wave-damping module can be replaced separately after damage, which significantly reduces maintenance costs and solves the pain points of fixed breakwaters that are immovable, conventional floating breakwaters that have low deployment efficiency and poor practicality in the prior art. (2) The buoyancy airbag is connected to the horizontal tube. The buoyancy airbag is equipped with a first air inlet valve. Air is injected into the buoyancy airbag through the first air inlet valve to provide buoyancy for the entire wave-damping module. The support airbag is connected to the inner side of the upper rectangular frame. The support airbag is equipped with a second air inlet valve. Air is injected into the support airbag through the second air inlet valve to support the enclosure and facilitate the deployment of the wave-damping module. (3) The upper end of the curtain is welded to the bottom of the inner tube by heat sealing process, and the lower end of the curtain is aligned with the top of the main sheet. The curtain is sewn by sewing machine needle through the seam. This way, after the supporting airbag is inflated, the enclosure can be lifted upward to avoid collapse and deformation of the device, thus ensuring the wave-damping ability. (4) When recovery is required, the work vessel sails to the target sea area and arranges for staff to disconnect the mooring lines from the seabed load-bearing blocks or buoys, leaving only the towing rope connected to the work vessel; open the drain valve on the lower surface of the water bladder and use gravity or an auxiliary water pump to drain the seawater from the water bladder; the work vessel tows the wave-damping module back to the shore and completely drains the gas from the air bladder components; fold and roll the module back into a compact form, which takes up little space for storage and transportation and is convenient for multi-point relocation and reuse in different locations. Attached Figure Description
[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation state of the flexible grid floating breakwater of the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the lattice configuration of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the packaging of the flexible pleated floating breakwater of the present invention; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a flexible, floating breakwater being towed on the water surface; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the underwater installation of the flexible grid floating breakwater of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the launching and installation method of the flexible grid floating breakwater of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart of the recycling and installation method of the flexible grid floating breakwater of the present invention.
[0015] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 00-wave damping module, 1-enclosure, 2-water-filled frame, 3-inflatable frame, 4-module connecting component, 5-towing component, 6-mooring component; 11- Curtain, 12- Cross axis; 21-Horizontal frame, 22-Vertical pipe, 23-Bottom horizontal frame, 24-Inlet valve, 25-Air vent valve, 26-Drain valve; 31-Outer frame, 32-Internal horizontal tube, 33-Intake valve, 34-Strap; 41 - Straps connecting to the towing components; 42 - Straps connecting to the mooring components; 51-Strap; 52-Tow cable; 61-Hanging strap, 62-Mooring line, 63-Mooring buoy, 64-Anchor. Detailed Implementation
[0016] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.
[0017] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.
[0018] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0020] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
[0021] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. Additionally, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention; however, those skilled in the art will recognize the applicability of other processes and / or the use of other materials.
[0022] The technical solution will now be explained in detail: A first aspect of the present invention, referring to Figures 1-5 As shown, a flexible grid floating breakwater is proposed, including wave-dissipating modules 00, module connecting components 4, towing components 5, and mooring components 6. The module connecting components connect two adjacent wave-dissipating modules 00 respectively. Each wave-dissipating module 00 includes a grid 1, a water-filled frame 2, and an air-filled frame 3, wherein: The enclosure 1 includes curtains 11 and cross shafts 12. The curtains 11 and cross shafts 12 are made of high-strength PVC or TPU film. Several curtains 11 and cross shafts 12 are cut according to the size of the enclosure 1, and the edges of the materials are heat-sealed. Each curtain 1 has connecting sections around its perimeter, and the connecting sections on both sides are heat-sealed together with the connecting sections of the branches of the cross shaft 12. The cross shaft 12 is made by heat-sealing two pieces of material together along the center line to obtain four branches of the cross. The four branches of the cross shaft 12 inside the enclosure 1 are heat-sealed to the curtain 11 pieces respectively. One branch of the cross shaft 12 located around the enclosure is heat-sealed to the vertical pipe of the water-filled frame, and the other three branches are heat-sealed to the curtain 11 pieces respectively. The water-filled frame 2 is located around the perimeter of the enclosure 1 and includes a top horizontal frame 21, a vertical pipe 22, a bottom horizontal frame 23, a water inlet valve 24, an air vent valve 25, and a drain valve 26. The water-filled frame 2 and the enclosure 1 are made of the same high-strength PVC or TPU membrane fabric to ensure material compatibility and reliability. The vertical pipe 22 is connected to the top horizontal frame 21 and the bottom horizontal frame 23 by a heat-sealing process to form a cuboid frame, which is connected as a whole to support the three-dimensional forming of the enclosure. The axes of the top horizontal frame 21 and the bottom horizontal frame 23 are connected to the upper and lower connecting sections of the curtains surrounding the enclosure 1 by a heat-sealing process. Holes are made at preset positions above the top horizontal frame 21 and below the bottom horizontal frame 23. The hole diameter must match the interface size of the water inlet valve 24, the air vent valve 25, and the drain valve 26. The water inlet valve 24 for filling water, the drain valve 25 for auxiliary air venting, and the drain valve 26 for draining are fixed at the opening using a heat sealing process. The valve seat is tightly fitted to the water pipe wall, and there is no leakage at the welded edge. After installation, the valve opening and closing flexibility is tested. The inflatable frame 3 is installed inside the top horizontal frame 21 to support the enclosure 1 and provide buoyancy. The inflatable frame 3 includes an outer frame 31, an inner horizontal tube 32, and an air inlet valve 33. Straps 34 bind the horizontal frame 21 and the outer frame 31 together. The inflatable frame 3 is positioned by point heat sealing and bound to the top horizontal frame 21 with straps. Point heat sealing involves using heat sealing equipment to select multiple evenly spaced points on the outside of the inflatable frame, applying localized heat and pressure, then bonding PVC / TPU sheets to the points. Finally, the outer frame 31 of the inflatable frame 3 is flatly attached to the inside of the top horizontal frame 21 of the water-filled frame 2. The inner horizontal tube 32 of the inflatable frame 3 is connected to the top connecting section of the curtain 1 by a heat sealing process. An air inlet valve 33 is installed on the outer frame 31 of the inflatable frame 3. The components of the inflatable frame 3 are connected by a heat-sealing process, and the internal flow channels are unobstructed and interconnected as a whole. Air is introduced into the inflatable frame 3 through the air inlet valve 33 to support the enclosure 1 and provide buoyancy.
[0023] The module connecting component 4 is a strap made of hoisting sling material, which binds the top adjacent pipes, side adjacent vertical pipes, and bottom adjacent pipes of adjacent modules together to ensure that the modules are not torn apart. There is also a strap 41 connecting the towing component 5 and a strap 42 connecting the mooring component 6.
[0024] The towing component 5 consists of a strap 51 and a towing cable 52. The strap 51 is tied to the horizontal frame 21 and the outer frame 31. One end of the towing cable 52 is connected to the strap 51, and the other end is fixed to the towing workboat.
[0025] The mooring component 6 includes a tie strap 61, a mooring line 62, a mooring buoy 63, and an anchor 64. After the breakwater is towed to the target area, the breakwater tie strap 61 is connected to the mooring line 62, and the mooring line 62 is connected to the mooring buoy 63, which is connected to the anchor 64.
[0026] Based on the same concept, a second aspect of the present invention is described, with reference to... Figure 6 As shown, a construction method for a flexible grid floating breakwater as described in the first aspect embodiment is proposed, comprising: Step S1: Fold and roll up the wave-damping module 00 along its length to a compact shape. Use a crane to smoothly lift the rolled-up wave-damping module 00 into the cargo compartment of a transport truck and transport it to the designated shore. In step S1, the flexible grating floating breakwater is manufactured in the factory according to the processing technology described in the first aspect embodiment. After the factory processing is completed and the test is passed, all valves are closed, all gas in the water-filled frame 2 and the air-filled frame 3 is discharged, the wave-damping module 00 is folded along the length direction and rolled up into a compact shape, and then the model is packed for easy hoisting and transportation. Inside the truck bed, an anti-slip buffer pad is laid under the wave-damping module 00 to avoid friction damage during transportation. In step S1, after the transport truck arrives at the designated shore, the following steps are also included: hoisting the wave-damping module 00 to a temporary storage area. The storage area must be flat and free of sharp objects. After checking the appearance of the module again and confirming that there is no transport damage, the towing operation is prepared. Step S2: Lay the breakwater module 00 flat on the shore and arrange the adjacent breakwater modules in sequence; tie the adjacent modules together with straps and inflate the inflatable frame 3 with an air compressor; In step S2, the air intake valves 33 of the inflatable frame 3 are connected to the portable air compressor to inflate the frame, so that the wave-damping module 00 maintains its basic unfolded shape and avoids folding and twisting when dragged. Step S3: Tie one end of the mooring rope to the strap 41 connected to the towing component, and fix the other end of the rope to the towing work boat. Slowly tow the flexible grid floating breakwater into the sea by the towing work boat. In step S3, a high-strength rope is selected, and the rope length needs to be reserved with sufficient margin to avoid excessive tension during towing; the work boat starts and slowly moves away from the shore, slowly towing the wave-damping module 00 into the sea. During the towing process, staff are arranged on the shore and on the work boat to observe the status of the wave-damping module 00, control the towing speed, and avoid collisions or friction between the wave-damping module 00 and shore rocks, dock piles, other sharp objects, etc. Step S4: After reaching the target position, the workboat anchors and secures itself, fixing one end of the mooring cable to the strap 61 of the wave-damping module 00, and the other end to the seabed support block or marine buoy. In step S4, the length of the mooring cable is adjusted according to the water depth to ensure that the module does not drift significantly due to wind and waves. Step S5: Continue inflating the inflatable frame 3 until the breakwater is fully horizontally deployed; when the inflatable frame 3 has sufficient rigidity, stop inflating and close the air inlet valve 25. Open the vent valve 25 on the top horizontal frame 21 of the water-filled frame and inject water through the water inlet valve 24; monitor the module's shape in real time during the water filling process to keep the module horizontal; when water comes out of the vent valve 25, close the vent valve 25 and continue filling with water; when the water-filled frame 2 has sufficient rigidity, stop adding water and close the water inlet valve 25.
[0027] Step S6: Check the module's deployment status, mooring stability, and the sealing condition of each valve. If there are no problems, it can be put into use. After deployment, check the module's deployment status, mooring stability, and the sealing condition of each valve. Test that the enclosure 1 structure shows no collapse, frame deformation, or leakage. It can then be put into use.
[0028] In some embodiments, the construction method of the flexible grating floating breakwater further includes, during the recovery process: Step S11: Fold and roll up the wave-damping module 00 along its length to a compact shape. Use a crane to smoothly lift the rolled-up wave-damping module 00 into the cargo compartment of a transport truck and transport it to the designated offshore platform. In step S11, the flexible grating floating breakwater is manufactured in the factory according to the processing technology described in the first aspect embodiment. After the factory processing is completed and the test is passed, all valves are closed, all gas in the water-filled frame 2 and the air-filled frame 3 is discharged, the wave-damping module 00 is folded along the length direction and rolled up into a compact shape, and then the model is packed for easy hoisting and transportation. Inside the truck bed, an anti-slip buffer pad is laid under the wave-damping module 00 to avoid friction damage during transportation. In step S11, after the transport truck arrives at the designated offshore platform, the following steps are also included: hoisting the wave-damping module 00 to a temporary storage area. The storage area must be flat and free of sharp objects. After checking the appearance of the module again and confirming that there is no transport damage, the towing operation is prepared. Step S12: The breakwater module package is transported to the deck near the rolling frame by a flatbed truck; the package is opened on the deck and adjacent modules are tied together with straps; the towing rope is passed through the rolling frame to the towing workboat, which tows the breakwater from the rolling frame to the ramp, thereby pulling the breakwater into the water. In step S12, a high-strength rope is selected, and the rope length needs to be reserved with sufficient margin to avoid excessive tension during towing; the work boat starts and slowly moves away from the ramp, slowly towing the wave-damping module 00 into the sea; Step S13: Inflate the inflatable frame 3 on the water surface and tow it to the installation location; after reaching the target location, the workboat anchors and fixes itself, connects to the already towed mooring buoy 63 at the installation location, moors and positions itself, continues to inflate until the breakwater is fully expanded and the inflatable frame has a certain rigidity, and then closes the air inlet valve 25. Step S14: Open the vent valve 25 on the top horizontal frame 21 of the water filling frame and fill water through the inlet valve 24; monitor the module shape in real time during the water filling process to keep the module horizontal; when water comes out of the vent valve 25, close the vent valve 25 and continue filling water; when the water filling frame 2 has sufficient rigidity, stop adding water and close the inlet valve 25. Step S15: Check the module's deployment status, mooring stability, and the sealing condition of each valve. If there are no problems, it can be put into use. After deployment, check the module's deployment status, mooring stability, and the sealing condition of each valve. Test that the enclosure 1 structure shows no collapse, frame deformation, or leakage. It can then be put into use.
[0029] Check all components of the breakwater for damage or leakage. If there is any local damage, repair it promptly with special PVC or TPU repair material. The module is then folded and rolled up into a compact shape, covered with a waterproof membrane, and transported and stored in a designated warehouse for future use.
[0030] The flexible diaphragm floating breakwater and its construction method proposed in this invention have the following advantages: (1) The flexible enclosure 1 structure adopts high-strength PVC or TPU material and cross-point heat sealing process to form a three-dimensional mesh structure. When waves pass through, the enclosure 1 can obstruct the water flow and generate strong turbulence, while triggering wave reflection and generating energy dissipation. It has a significant attenuation effect on medium and long period waves and can quickly build a low wave high working environment in open or semi-open waters. (2) The water-filled frame 2 is made of PVC or TPU material and has an integrated molding design. After being filled with water, it forms a stable support, suppresses the structural deformation caused by the impact of waves, ensures that the grid always maintains its unfolded shape, and can also accurately adjust the draft. (3) The inflatable frame 31 of the same material above the flexible enclosure 1 provides uniform and abundant buoyancy after inflation, ensuring that the breakwater floats on the water surface; the horizontal pipe 32 inside the device provides support for the internal enclosure 1, preventing internal collapse and deformation of the device, and ensuring wave dissipation capability. (4) The device adopts modular integrated processing. During installation, no large professional ships are required. The launching, mooring and positioning operations can be completed by general marine engineering vessels, which greatly improves the deployment efficiency of a single module. During recovery, the liquid and gas can be discharged and then folded and rolled up. The storage and transportation space is small, which facilitates multi-point transfer and reuse in different locations. (5) The core materials are industrially produced high-strength PVC or TPU materials. The one-piece molding process reduces the splicing of parts, reduces production and material loss, and the components can be replaced individually, which greatly saves production and maintenance costs. (6) The construction process does not require underwater foundation excavation, leaves no residual components, and causes minimal disturbance to the marine environment. It conforms to the concept of green engineering and provides an efficient, economical and environmentally friendly wave protection solution for temporary scenarios such as offshore construction, emergency rescue, and seasonal aquaculture.
[0031] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A flexible, lattice-type floating breakwater, characterized in that, The system includes wave-damping modules and module connecting components. The module connecting components connect two adjacent wave-damping modules respectively. Each wave-damping module includes a enclosure, a water-filled frame, and an air-filled frame, wherein: The enclosure includes curtains and cross shafts. The curtains and cross shafts are made of PVC coated fabric or TPU fabric sheets. Each curtain has connecting sections around its perimeter. The connecting sections on both sides are heat-sealed to the connecting sections of the cross shaft branches. The upper connecting section of the curtain inside the enclosure is heat-sealed to the internal pipe section of the inflatable frame. The upper and lower connecting sections of the curtains located around the enclosure are heat-sealed to the top and bottom horizontal frame sections of the water-filled frame, respectively. The cross shaft is formed by heat-sealing two sheets together along their center lines to obtain four branches of the cross. The four branches of the cross shaft inside the enclosure are heat-sealed to the curtain sheets. One branch of the cross shaft located around the enclosure is heat-sealed to the vertical pipe of the water-filled frame, and the other three branches are heat-sealed to the curtain sheets. The water-filled frame is located around the perimeter of the enclosure. The water-filled frame includes a top horizontal frame, a bottom horizontal frame, and a vertical pipe. The vertical pipe is connected to the top and bottom horizontal frames via a heat-sealing process to form a cuboid frame, which is interconnected as a whole and supports the three-dimensional shape of the enclosure. The axes of the top and bottom horizontal frames are connected to the upper and lower connecting sections of the curtains surrounding the enclosure via a heat-sealing process. The vertical pipe is connected to a branch of the cross axis surrounding the enclosure via a heat-sealing process. A water inlet valve and an air vent valve are installed on the top horizontal frame, and a drain valve is installed on the bottom horizontal frame. The inflatable frame includes an outer frame and an inner horizontal tube. The outer frame is closely attached to the inner side of the horizontal tube of the top water-filled frame and is positioned by point heat sealing and tied together with straps. An air inlet valve is installed on the outer frame. The inner horizontal tube is connected to the curtain section by heat sealing. The various component tubes of the inflatable frame are heat-sealed together and connected as a whole, floating on the water surface to provide buoyancy and support for the expansion of the enclosure on the water surface. The module connecting component is used to bind the water-filled top horizontal frame and outer frame of adjacent wave-damping modules together.
2. The flexible grid floating breakwater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water-filling frame is made of materials such as PVC coated cloth, with unobstructed internal flow channels and uninterrupted connection of each pipe section; the top horizontal frame of the water-filling frame is provided with mounting holes for water inlet valve and air vent valve, and the bottom horizontal frame of the water-filling frame is provided with mounting holes for drain valve. The water inlet valve, air vent valve, and drain valve are installed in the mounting holes by heat sealing process.
3. The flexible grid floating breakwater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inflatable frame is made of materials such as PVC coated cloth, with unobstructed internal flow channels and uninterrupted connection of all pipe sections; the outer frame of the inflatable frame is provided with mounting holes, and the air inlet valve is installed in the mounting holes by heat sealing process.
4. The flexible grid floating breakwater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a towing component, one end of which is connected to the top horizontal frame and the outer frame, and the other end is fixed to the towing vessel, for pulling the flexible breakwater to the towing location or pulling it back for storage.
5. The flexible grid floating breakwater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes mooring components for connecting the top horizontal frame and the outer frame tie-down, so that the breakwater can sway freely in a moored state but will not drift away from its destination.
6. The construction method of the flexible grid floating breakwater as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, include: The wave-damping module is folded and rolled up along its length to form a compact shape and packaged. Then, a crane is used to smoothly lift the rolled-up wave-damping module package into the cargo compartment of a transport truck, which then transports it to the designated destination. There are two scenarios for the implementation plan of the breakwater submersion installation: Implementation Plan 1 for Launching and Installing the Flexible Breakwater Module: On the shore, unpack the flexible breakwater module and arrange adjacent modules in sequence. Secure adjacent modules with straps and inflate the inflatable frame. Then, use a breakwater towing vessel to tow the breakwater to the installation site using towing ropes. Connect the breakwater to the already deployed anchor and cables using mooring ropes to initially position it. Continue inflating the frame until the breakwater is fully horizontally deployed. When the inflatable frame has sufficient rigidity, stop inflating and close the air inlet valve. Open the vent valve on the top horizontal frame of the water-filled frame and inject water through the water inlet valve. After water exits the vent valve, close it and continue inflating. When the water-filled frame has sufficient rigidity, stop adding water and close the water inlet valve. Once the breakwater is fully deployed and three-dimensionally formed, adjust the mooring to ensure the breakwater is in the designed position, thereby blocking wave propagation and protecting the safety of the sheltered area. Implementation Plan Two for Launching and Installing: The breakwater packaging is delivered to the destination via the breakwater installation workboat; then, the breakwater module packaging is transported to the deck near the rolling frame via a flatbed truck; the packaging is opened on the deck, and adjacent modules are tied together with straps; the towing rope is passed through the rolling frame to the towing workboat, which tows the breakwater from the rolling frame to the ramp, thus launching the breakwater into the water; the inflatable frame is inflated on the water surface and towed to the installation site; at the installation site, it is connected to the already towed mooring buoy for initial mooring and positioning, and inflation continues until the breakwater is fully deployed and the inflatable frame has a certain rigidity, at which point the valves are closed; the water-filled frame is vented and filled with water until the breakwater is three-dimensionally formed and has a certain rigidity, at which point the vent valve and inlet valve are closed; After the breakwater is completed, the moorings are readjusted to position the breakwater in the designed location so that it can play a role in blocking waves and providing protection. Check the module's deployment status, mooring stability, and the sealing of each valve. If there are no problems, it can be put into use.
7. The construction method of the flexible grid floating breakwater as described in claim 6, characterized in that, include: During the recovery operation, the towed workboat is driven to the target sea area and the mooring lines are disconnected from the buoy. Connect the towing rope to the workboat; Open the inlet and outlet valves at the top of the water-filled frame; open the outlet valve on the bottom horizontal frame of the water-filled frame and use gravity or an auxiliary water pump to drain the seawater from the water frame; open the inlet valve on the air-filled frame to allow natural air release, thereby reducing the volume of the breakwater and retaining buoyancy to keep the breakwater floating on the water surface. The breakwater recovery implementation plan has two scenarios: Recovery Implementation Plan 1: Tow the breakwater back to shore by a towing workboat; drain the water and air from inside the breakwater on shore; disassemble the modules; gather, roll, fold, and pack each module separately, hoist it onto a transport vehicle, and transport it to the storage warehouse; Recovery Implementation Plan Two: The towing workboat pulls the breakwater back to the installation workboat; the towing rope uses the rolling frame on the ship to pull the breakwater from the ramp onto the installation workboat; the flexible breakwater is folded onto the deck by the rolling frame; water and air are completely drained; the modules are disassembled; each module is gathered, rolled, folded, and packaged separately, hoisted onto a flatbed truck, and sent to the ship's hold; finally, it is transported to the storage warehouse. During the recovery and collection process, check the wave-damping module for damage or leakage. If there is any local damage, repair it promptly with special repair materials.