Modular Floating Frame Structure With Rotary Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating installations in open waters face challenges due to large size, which leads to increased strain from water motions, making construction and relocation costly and demanding, and rigid hulls are particularly stressed in rough seas. Additionally, large horizontal extent is beneficial for access but difficult to achieve with current technologies.
Innovation Solution
A floatable frame structure composed of concatenated lattice cube modules with vertical columns interconnected by upper and lower tie bars, featuring horizontal and spherical rotary joints, and elastic tensile elements, allowing for flexibility and stability while maintaining a large horizontal extent with minimal surface exposure to water motions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid hull is used to provide structural strength, then strength is improved, but the structure is subjected to great strains in rough sea and construction becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is divided into multiple floating modules that can be independently constructed and assembled. Each module is a self-contained unit with its own buoyancy elements and structural framework, allowing for standardized mass production and reduced construction complexity while maintaining overall structural strength through modular concatenation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic connections between modules that allow relative movement and rotation, enabling the structure to adapt to wave motions and environmental stresses. This dynamic flexibility reduces the strain on individual structural components compared to a completely rigid hull, lowering material requirements and construction costs.
2Volume of stationary object
If the installation size is increased to provide large ground area and volume, then buoyancy is improved, but the surface affected by water motions increases and construction becomes more demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The large-volume structure is segmented into multiple smaller floating modules, each contributing to the total buoyancy. This segmentation maintains the required overall volume and buoyancy capacity while simplifying the construction of individual units, reducing the complexity of building and assembling the complete installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple standardized floating modules are combined through concatenation to achieve the required total volume and buoyancy. This merging approach allows for simplified individual module construction while achieving the cumulative buoyancy effect of a large single structure, reducing overall construction complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the horizontal extent is increased to improve access, then ease of operation is improved, but the structure is subjected to greater strains from water motions
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal extent is achieved through dynamic connections between modules that permit controlled movement and rotation in response to water motions. This dynamic configuration allows the structure to span large horizontal distances for improved accessibility while the flexible connections absorb and distribute structural strains, preventing overload of individual components.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used to maintain shape, then stability is improved, but the structure cannot adapt to varying loads and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The structure incorporates dynamic joints and flexible connections between modules that allow controlled movement and rotation. This dynamic design maintains overall structural stability while enabling adaptation to varying loads and environmental conditions, as each module can independently respond to local stresses through rotational and translational movements at the connection points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structure provides a flexible, stable, and adaptable framework that can alter shape under varying loads, reducing vertical displacement and maintaining parallel columns, thus minimizing the impact of waves and wind, while allowing for easy access and reduced construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
The different rotary joints are distributed according to the following principle: Each column is provided with at least one horizontal-rotation joint to prevent the column from rotating around its own centre axis. Each tie bar is provided with at least one spherical rotary joint forming a connection to an associated column
Implementation Method 2
The spherical rotary joint suitably includes a spherical bearing arranged on a joint axle having a centre axis arranged in a plane which is perpendicular to the centre axis of the column
Implementation Method 3
Between the supporting sleeves and the joint sleeve, elastic packing rings are preferably arranged
Data Source
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AI summary
A floatable frame structure formed of several concatenated frame modules, wherein the frame module is formed of four columns arranged substantially vertically, four upper tie bars and four lower tie bars, and wherein neighbouring columns are interconnected in pairs by upper and lower tie bars and form module sections, and the connections between the tie bars and the columns are formed of rotary joints arranged at upper and lower nodes on the columns, there being at least one horizontal-rotation joint arranged for each column in the connection to an associated tie bar, and there being at least one spherical rotary joint or elastic rotary joint arranged for each tie bar in the connection to an associated column, each module section being provided with elastic tensile elements which are secured to diagonally opposite upper and lower nodes, nodes lying diagonally opposite each other in the same horizontal plane and in the same frame module being connected by elastic tensile elements, at least some columns forming containers with submersible portions with positive buoyancy, and adjacent frame modules sharing at least one column.