Floating platform, associated disassembly and assembly processes

Abstract

Floating platform, associated disassembly and assembly methods The invention relates to a floating platform (10) comprising: - a structure (14) comprising a lower surface (44), - a plurality of floating boxes (16) arranged under the structure (14), each floating box (16) having an upper surface and defining an internal volume, each floating box (16), the structure (14) being supported on at least a portion of the upper surface of the floating boxes (16). Each floating box (16) comprises a centering member (18) extending projecting from the upper surface of the floating box (16) towards the structure (14). The structure (14) comprises a housing (32) adapted to receive the centering member (18). Each floating box (16) further defining at least one access orifice to the internal volume intended for filling said internal volume with a fluid and for emptying said internal volume. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Description Title of the invention: Floating platform, disabling methods associated assembly and assembly

[0001] — The present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a floating platform intended to be placed on a body of water, the floating platform comprising:

[0002] - a structure comprising a lower surface,

[0003] — - a plurality of floating boxes arranged under the structure, the floating boxes being intended to be at least partly submerged in the body of water, each box floating having an upper surface and defining an internal volume, each floating box extending mainly in a longitudinal direction,

[0004] the structure being supported on at least part of the upper surface of the floating boxes.

[0005] — The structure of such a floating platform is intended to receive, for example, a establishment such as a restaurant, cafe, hotel, swimming pool or any other establishment welcoming public building.

[0006] | The body of water is for example a river, a lake, a stream, or other.

[0007] — The regulations for this type of floating establishment require the creation of a fairing, that is to say regular maintenance of the submerged part of the platform, a predetermined frequency, for example every 10 years. This constraint regulates- mentary involves moving the floating platform, generally not motorized, to a facility capable of performing maintenance. Moving the platform floating is difficult to implement because generally the platform is equipped with footbridges and pontoons fixed on one bank of the body of water. In addition, the platform floating generally has one or more infrastructures fixed on the structure, which makes moving the whole thing all the more difficult. The floating platform usually has large dimensions and is often very heavy, which requires, during its maintenance, suitable lifting equipment which is not necessarily found- necessarily near the floating platform. Maintenance of the platform floating is therefore expensive and tedious.

[0008] — In addition, during the maintenance period of the floating platform, the establishment present on the platform is forced to suspend its activity, which results in a significant loss of earnings.

[0009] = An object of the invention is to propose a floating platform which makes it possible to facilitate its periodic maintenance.

[0010] — To this end, the subject of the invention concerns a floating platform of the aforementioned type, in which each floating box comprises respectively one of a member of centering and a housing, the centering member extending projecting from the upper surface of the floating box towards the structure, the structure comprising the other of a centering member and a housing, the centering member extending projecting from the lower surface of the structure towards each floating box, the housing being adapted to receive the centering member, each floating box further defining at least one access orifice to the internal volume intended for filling said internal volume with a fluid and for emptying said internal volume. Thus, each floating caisson of the floating platform can be easily disassembled from the structure by filling the internal volume of the caisson with, for example, water. The floating caisson then sinks sufficiently to allow the centering member to disengage from the housing. The floating caisson can then be easily removed from the platform for maintenance operations without disturbing the stability of the floating platform and without loss of operation for the establishment installed on the structure. In the same way, the floating caisson is easily reassembled to the structure by positioning the floating caisson under the structure and emptying the contents of the internal volume so that the centering member enters the housing. The floating caissons are interchangeable, which further facilitates maintenance of the floating platform. This eliminates the need to move the entire floating platform for refitting operations. Each floating caisson is dismantled afloat, leaving the floating platform afloat. The size of the lifting equipment required is also reduced, as the floating caissons are handled and lifted one by one. According to different embodiments, the floating platform further comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations: - each floating box comprises a vent in fluid communication with the internal volume to evacuate a volume of air present in the internal volume when said internal volume is filled with fluid; - each floating box comprises a pumping pipe extending at least partly inside the internal volume, the pumping pipe comprising an upper end fluidly connected to the access port or extending through the access port, and a lower end disposed in the internal volume; - the centering member is movable between a first deployed position in which the centering member projects from the upper surface of the floating box towards the structure, and a first retracted position in which the centering member is received inside the internal volume of the floating box, or wherein the centering member is movable between a second deployed position in which the centering member projects from the lower surface of the structure toward each floating box, and a second retracted position in which the centering member is received within a volume defined by the lower surface and an upper surface of the structure; - the floating platform extends mainly in a direction of extension, the plurality of floating caissons comprising at least a first series of floating caissons aligned with each other along a first direction, and a second series of caissons aligned with each other in a second direction, the first and second directions being substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the floating platform, the longitudinal direction of each of the floating caissons of the first series and the second series being substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the floating platform; - the centering member is received free to move in the housing; - each floating box comprises at least two centering members extending in projection from the upper surface of the floating box towards the structure, the centering members being aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the floating box, the structure comprising two housings receiving the two centering members; and - the upper surface of each floating box defines a manhole for inspection of the interior of the internal volume. The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a method of disassembling at least one floating caisson of the plurality of floating caissons of a floating platform as described above, the method comprising the following steps: - filling the internal volume of the floating box through the access hole so as to place the centering member outside the housing, - moving the floating box away from the structure, and - emptying of the internal volume of the floating box. Finally, the invention relates, according to a third aspect, to a method of assembling at least one floating box of a floating platform as described above, the method comprising the following steps: - filling the internal volume of the floating box through the access hole, - moving the floating box under the structure so as to place the centering member and the housing opposite each other, and - emptying the internal volume of the floating box so as to position the centering member in the housing. Other aspects and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, among which: - [fig.1] [fig.1] is a perspective view of a section of a floating platform according to a first embodiment of the invention, - [fig.2] [fig.2] is a partial section along a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the floating platform of [fig.1], - [fig.3] [fig.3] is a perspective view of a floating box of [fig.1], - [fig.4)[fig.5][fig.6] figures 4 to 6 are schematic representations illustrating the disassembly of a floating box from the floating platform of [fig.1]. In the following description, the terms "upper" and "lower" are used in relation to an elevation direction. [Fig. 1] is a perspective representation of a floating platform 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The floating platform 10 is intended to be arranged on a body of water 12 (Figures 4 to 6). The body of water 12 is for example a lake, a pond, a river, a stream, a canal, a sea, etc. or other. The body of water 12 is natural or artificial. The floating platform 10 comprises a structure 14, extending mainly in an extension direction E, and a plurality of floating boxes 16 arranged under the structure 14, each floating box 16 extending mainly in a longitudinal direction L. Each floating box 16 comprises at least one centering member 18. Each floating box 16 further defines at least one internal volume 20 and an access orifice 22 to the internal volume 20. Preferably, each floating box 16 comprises one or more of the following elements: a vent 24, a manhole 26, a fixing system 28 of the floating box 16 ([fig.3]), and / or a pumping pipe 30 ([fig.2]). The structure 14 comprises at least one housing 32 adapted to receive said centering member 18. In the example of [fig.1], the plurality of floating caissons 16 comprises a first series of floating caissons 16 aligned with each other along a first direction P1, and a second series of floating caissons 16 aligned with each other along a second direction P2. The first direction P1 and the second direction P2 are substantially parallel to the extension direction E of the floating platform 10. The longitudinal direction L of each of the floating caissons 16 of the first series and of the second series is substantially perpendicular to the extension direction E of the floating platform 10. Each floating box 16 is intended to be at least partially submerged in the body of water 12. For example, outside of any maintenance operation, when the floating box 16 is resting against the structure 14, between 60% and 92% of the volume total of the floating box 16 is immersed in the body of water 12, preferably 92% of the total volume of the floating box 16 is immersed in the body of water 12. Each floating box 16 has, for example, a substantially parallelepiped shape. Thus, each floating box 16 comprises an upper surface 34, a lower surface 36, two longitudinal lateral surfaces 38 each extending at least partly in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and two transverse lateral surfaces 40 each extending at least partly in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal lateral surfaces 38 and transverse lateral surfaces 40 connect the upper surface 34 to the lower surface 36 of the floating box 16. Each transverse lateral surface 40 defines with the upper surface 34 two recesses 42. The recesses 42 are substantially aligned along the longitudinal direction L and preferably extend mainly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. At least a portion of the upper surface 34 of each of the floating boxes 16 is intended to bear against the structure 14, and more particularly against a lower surface 44 of the structure 14, when the floating platform 10 is arranged on the expanse of water 12. Advantageously, one of the transverse lateral surfaces 40 of each of the floating boxes 16 extends in a plane close to an outer edge 46 of the structure 14, that is to say at a distance for example between 10 cm and 1 m from the outer edge 46 of the structure 14. This facilitates access to the floating box 16 during operations of disassembling the floating box 16, in particular when it is necessary to fix a cable to the floating box 16 to extract it away from the structure 14. Advantageously, the floating boxes 16 of the plurality of floating boxes 16 are identical. This facilitates the interchangeability of the floating boxes 16 during assembly and disassembly operations and provides modularity to the floating platform 10. Alternatively, the plurality of floating boxes 16 comprises at least a first plurality of floating boxes 16 having a first dimension along the longitudinal direction L, and a second plurality of floating boxes 16 having a second dimension along the longitudinal direction L, distinct from the first dimension. Preferably, each floating caisson 16 is for example formed by a maritime container with a length of 20 feet in the longitudinal direction L, i.e. approximately 6.058 m. This is particularly advantageous because each of the floating caissons 16 can easily be transported by sea, rail or road to the assembly site of the floating platform 10. Alternatively, the length of the container is 40 feet (i.e. approximately 12.192 m) or any other dimension. Alternatively, the length of the floating box 16 is approximately 4 meters which, once assembled together by 3, can form a floating box 16 with a length of 40 feet. This makes it easier to transport. The centering member(s) 18 extend projecting from the upper surface 34 of the floating box 16 towards the structure 14. In the example of Figures 1 to 6, each floating box 16 comprises two centering members 18 extending in projection from the upper surface 34 of the floating box 16 towards the structure 14. The centering members 18 are preferably aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the floating box 16. The centering members 18 are for example arranged substantially equidistant between the two longitudinal lateral surfaces 38 of the floating box 16. Preferably, the centering members 18 are arranged close to the transverse lateral surfaces 40 of the floating box 16, that is to say at a distance of between 10 cm and 1 m from each of the transverse lateral surfaces 40. Each centering member 18 is fixed on the upper surface 34 of the floating box 16, for example in each of the recesses 42. Preferably, the centering member 18 comprises a lower element 47A and an upper element 47B assembled on the lower element 47A, for example by means of a flange 49. The lower element 47A is fixed to the floating box 16 and in particular to the upper surface 34. This facilitates the transport of the floating box since the upper element 47B of each of the centering members 18 can be dismantled, thus preventing the centering member 18 from projecting from the upper surface 34 of the floating box 16 during the transport of the floating box 16. The upper element 47B comprises a lower part 48 fixed on the lower element 47A and an upper part 50 connected to the lower part 48. The lower part 48 defines a substantially cylindrical outer surface of revolution.The upper portion 50 defines a substantially conical or frustoconical outer surface to facilitate the insertion and guidance of the centering member 18 in the housing 32 of the structure 14. Alternatively, the centering member 18 is retractable, that is to say that the centering member 18 is movable between a first deployed position in which the centering member 18 projects from the upper surface 34 of the floating box 16 towards the structure 14, and a first retracted position in which the centering member 18 is received inside the internal volume 20 of the floating box 16. The internal volume 20 is intended to receive a fluid, preferably water, to weigh down the floating box 16 and allow the partial sinking of the floating box 16 during operations of disassembling the floating box 16 from the structure 14, such as described further, The volume of fluid necessary to make the floating box 16 flow is determined in particular as a function of the dimensions of the internal volume 20, the mass of the floating box 16 when empty, the dimensions of the centering member 18, etc. Preferably, each floating caisson 16 further comprises two watertight collision bulkheads 52 ([fig.2]) defining, with the upper surface 34, the lower surface 36 and the longitudinal lateral surfaces 38 and transverse 40, two watertight caissons 54 arranged on either side of the internal volume 20 in the longitudinal direction L of the floating caisson 16. This makes it possible to prevent the floating caisson 16 from sinking in the event of an impact on the transverse lateral wall 40. The watertight caissons 54 thus serve as buoyancy reserves to prevent the floating caisson 16 from sinking completely in the event of an impact. The presence of collision bulkheads 52 is regulatory (French Order of December 30, 2008 relating to the technical safety requirements applicable to cargo boats, passenger boats and floating craft navigating or stationary on inland waters). The access orifice 22 allows the internal volume 20 to be filled with fluid and the internal volume 20 to be emptied. The access orifice 22 opens, for example, into one of the recesses 42 of the floating box 16. The access orifice 22 preferably extends in a plane substantially parallel to the transverse lateral surface 40 of the floating box 16. The pumping pipe 30 extends at least partly inside the internal volume 20. The pumping pipe 30 comprises an upper end 56 (FIGS. 2 and 3) extending for example outside the floating box 16 through the access orifice 22. The upper end 56 comprises for example a connector adapted for the connection of a pump to inject the fluid inside the internal volume 20, or to pump the fluid out of the internal volume 20. The connector is preferably a firefighter type connector. The pumping pipe 30 comprises a lower end 58 arranged in the internal volume 20, preferably arranged close to the bottom of the internal volume 20, i.e. at a distance of between 1 cm and 10 cm from the bottom of the internal volume 20. This makes it possible to drain substantially the entire internal volume 20. The pumping pipe 30, and in particular the upper end 56, opens into the recess 42.This makes it possible to protect the upper end 56 during transport of the floating box 16. The general template of the floating box 16 is thus not modified. The vent 24 is in fluid communication with the internal volume 20 to evacuate a volume of air present in the internal volume 20 when filling said internal volume 20. The vent 24 opens for example into one of the recesses 42 of the floating box 16. The manhole 26 is preferably defined by the upper surface 34 of the floating caisson 16. The manhole 26 allows an operator to descend into the interior of the internal volume 20 for an inspection of the walls of the internal volume 20 or the boarding bulkheads 52. For example, a ladder is fixedly attached against the manhole 26 to facilitate access for the operator. The fastening system 28 is intended to allow the extraction and lifting of the floating box 16 by means of one or more slings. For example, the floating box 16 comprises a plurality of fastening members 60 arranged in the corners of the floating box 16. Each fastening member 60 defines at least one through opening adapted to receive a sling provided, for example, with a hook. This type of fastening pre-exists on maritime containers and is notably defined by the ISO 1161:1984 standard. The structure 14 is for example intended to form a supporting structure to receive on an upper surface an establishment (not shown) welcoming the public such as a restaurant, a café, a hotel, a swimming pool, a nightclub, etc. The structure 14 is for example a lattice structure comprising a plurality of metal bars 62 forming triangles between them making it possible to distribute the forces over all of the metal bars and to limit the deformation of the structure 14. The structure 14, and more particularly the lower surface 44 of the structure 14, rests on at least part of the upper surface 34 of the floating boxes 16. The structure 14 comprises a plurality of housings 32 intended to receive the centering members 18 of the floating boxes 16. In the example of FIGS. 1 to 6, the structure 14 comprises at least two housings 32 adapted to receive the two centering members 18. Alternatively, the structure 14 is of any type. For example, the structure 14 is formed by an assembly of ladder beams also called Vierendeel beams (not shown). Each housing 32 defines for example an access hole to the housing 32 and comprises a substantially tubular side wall extending in projection in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lower surface 44 of the structure 14. The centering member 18 is received freely in movement in the housing 32. In other words, the centering member 18 is not held in abutment against an interior surface of the housing 32. Thus, the diameter of the access hole of the housing 32 is greater than the diameter of the lower part 48 of the centering member 18. A method of disassembling at least one floating caisson 16 of the plurality of floating caissons 16 of a floating platform 10 will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The method firstly comprises filling the internal volume 20 of the floating box 16 through the access port 22. To do this, the discharge line of a pump is for example connected to the access port 22, and more particularly to the pipe of pumping 30. The volume of water inside the internal volume 20 weighs down the floating box 16. The floating box 16 sinks partially and the centering member 18 comes out of the housing 32 of the structure 14 ([fig.4]). The floating platform 10 is kept afloat thanks to the other floating boxes 16 of the plurality of floating boxes 16. When the centering member 18 is arranged outside the housing 32, the floating box 16 is moved away from the structure 14 by translation, preferably in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension E of the structure 14 ([fig.5]). The internal volume 20 of the floating box 16 is then emptied, which causes the floating box 16 to rise ([fig.6]). The floating caisson 16 is then towed to a careening installation, for example arranged on a bank of the body of water. The floating caisson 16 is then extracted from the water by a lifting device to carry out inspection and maintenance. When the inspection and maintenance are completed, the floating caisson 16 can again be assembled to the floating platform 10. The floating box 16 is moved close to the floating structure. The internal volume 20 of the floating box 16 is filled by means of the pump through the access orifice 22, which causes the floating box 16 to partially sink into the body of water. The floating box 16 is then moved under the structure 14 so as to place the centering members 18 and the housings 32 of the structure 14 opposite each other. The emptying of the internal volume 20 allows the floating box 16 to rise above the surface of the body of water 12. The emptying is carried out progressively to adjust the positioning of the centering members 18 relative to the housings 32 of the structure 14, until the centering members 18 penetrate inside the housings 32. These disassembly and assembly processes are repeated for each of the floating caissons 16 of the floating platform 10 until all or part of all of the floating caissons 16 are inspected. Since the floating caissons 16 are identical, it is not necessary for a floating caisson 16 to take up the same location under the structure 14, which further facilitates the maintenance of the platform 10. Once the Mottant caisson 16 is extracted from the structure 14, a new floating caisson 16 can be installed while the maintenance of the extracted floating caisson 16 is carried out. Alternatively, again, depending on the size of the floating platform 10 and technical considerations related to the overall buoyancy of the structure 14, several floating caissons 16 can be extracted at the same time to further expedite the inspection of all of the floating caissons 16 of the floating platform 10. A second embodiment of the invention (not shown) will now be described. This embodiment will be described by differences from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction L of each of the floating caissons 16 of the first series of floating caissons 16 and of the second series of floating caissons 16 is substantially parallel to the direction of extension E of the floating platform 10. The methods of assembling and disassembling a floating box 16 are identical. As a variant of all the embodiments presented, the centering member(s) 18 extend in projection from the lower surface 44 of the structure 14 towards each floating box 16. Each floating box 16 comprises one or more housings 32 adapted to receive the centering member(s) 18. Each housing 32 then extends in projection from the upper surface 34 of the floating box 16. The methods of assembling and disassembling a floating box 16 are identical. Alternatively, the centering member 18 is retractable, that is to say that the centering member 18 is movable between a second deployed position in which the centering member 18 projects from the lower surface 44 of the structure 14 towards each floating box 16, and a second retracted position in which the centering member 18 is received inside a volume delimited by the lower surface 44 and the upper surface of the structure 14. The floating platform 10 according to the invention is particularly advantageous. Indeed, each floating caisson 16 of the floating platform 10 can be easily disassembled from the structure 14 by filling the internal volume 20 of the floating caisson 16 with, for example, water. The floating caisson 16 then sinks sufficiently to allow the centering member 18 to disengage from the housing 32. The floating caisson 16 can then be easily extracted from the platform 10 for maintenance operations without disturbing the stability of the floating platform 10 and without loss of operation for the establishment installed on the structure 12. In the same way, the floating caisson 16 is easily reassembled to the structure 14 by positioning the floating caisson 16 under the structure 14 and emptying the contents of the internal volume 20 so that the centering member 18 enters the housing 32.The floating boxes 16 are interchangeable, which further facilitates the maintenance of the floating platform 10. Thus, it is no longer necessary to move the entire floating platform 10 for the careening operations. The dismantling of each of the floating caissons 16 is carried out afloat, leaving the floating platform 10 afloat. The size of the machines required lifting is also reduced since the 16 floating ICs are handled and lifted one by one.

Claims

Claims

1. Floating platform (10) intended to be arranged on an expanse of water (12), the floating platform (10) comprising: - a structure (14) comprising a lower surface (44), - a plurality of floating boxes (16) arranged under the structure (14), the floating boxes (16) being intended to be at least partly immersed in the body of water (12), each floating box (16) comprising an upper surface (34) and defining an internal volume (20), each floating box (16) extending mainly along a longitudinal direction (L), the structure (14) being supported on at least part of the su- upper (34) of the floating boxes (16), characterized in that each floating box (16) comprises respec- tively one of a centering member (18) and a housing, the member centering (18) extending projecting from the upper surface (34) from the floating box (16) to the structure (14), the structure (14) comprising the other of a centering member (18) and a housing (32), the centering member (18) extending projecting from the lower surface (44) of the structure (14) towards each floating box (16), the housing (32) being adapted to receive the centering member (18), each floating box (16) further defining at least one orifice access (22) to the internal volume (20) intended for filling said internal volume (20) by a fluid and to an emptying of said internal volume (20).

2. A floating platform (10) according to claim 1, wherein each floating box (16) comprises a vent (24) in communication fluidic with the internal volume (20) to evacuate a volume of air present in the internal volume (20) when filling said volume internal (20) by the fluid.

3. A floating platform (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each floating box (16) comprises a pumping pipe (30) extending at least partly inside the internal volume (20), the pumping pipe (30) comprising an upper end (56) fluidly connected to or extending through the access port (32) of the access port (22), and a lower end (58) disposed in the internal volume (20).

4. A floating platform (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 3, wherein the centering member (18) is movable between a first deployed position in which the centering member (18) extends in projection from the upper surface (34) of the floating box (16) towards the structure (14), and a first retracted position in which the member centering (18) is received inside the internal volume (20) of the box floating (16), or in which the centering member (18) is movable between a second deployed position in which the centering member (18) extends projecting from the lower surface (44) of the structure (14) to each floating box (16), and a second retracted position in which the centering member (18) is received inside a volume delimited by the lower surface (44) and an upper surface of the structure (14).

5. A floating platform (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 4, extending mainly in an extension direction (E), the plurality of floating boxes (16) comprising at least a first series of floating boxes aligned with each other along a first direction (P1), and a second series of boxes aligned with the with each other according to a second direction (P2), the first and second directions (P1, P2) being substantially parallel to the direction extension (E) of the floating platform (10), the longitudinal direction (L) of each of the floating boxes (16) of the first series and of the second series being substantially perpendicular to the direction extension (E) of the floating platform (10).

6. A floating platform (10) according to claim 1 to 5, wherein the centering member (18) is received freely in movement in the housing (32).

7. A floating platform (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 6, wherein each floating box (16) comprises at least two centering members (18) extending projecting from the su- upper (34) of the floating box (16) towards the structure (14), the organs centering (18) being aligned in a substantially parallel direction to the longitudinal direction (L) of the floating box (16), the structure (14) comprising two housings (32) receiving the two centering members (18).

8. A floating platform (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. '7, in which the upper surface (34) of each floating box (16) defines a manhole (26) for inspection of the interior of the internal volume (20).

9. Method for disassembling at least one floating box (16) from the plurality of floating boxes of a floating platform (10) according to one any of claims | to 8, the method comprising the steps following: - filling the internal volume (20) of the floating box (16) by the access hole (22) so as to place the centering member (18) outside the housing (32), - moving the floating box (16) away from the structure (14), and - emptying of the internal volume (20) of the floating box (16).

10. Method of assembling at least one floating box (16) of a floating platform (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 8, the method comprising the following steps: - filling the internal volume (20) of the floating box (16) by the access port (22), - moving the floating box (16) under the structure (14) so ​​as to place the centering member (18) and the housing (32) opposite one of the other, and - emptying of the internal volume (20) of the floating box (16) so as to po- position the centering member (18) in the housing (32).