BUOY WITH BUOYANT CORE AND COLLAR HAVING MULTIPLE FLOTATION COMPONENTS

Abstract

A buoy is provided. The buoy includes a buoyant core component having a plurality of cavities positioned therein. The buoy additionally includes at least two detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the core component, and a pair of tic bar assemblies. The pair of tie bar assemblies are mounted to the plurality of cavities of the core component.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a buoy. The present invention has particular application to marine buoys, and in particular navigational buoys.

BACKGROUND

Marine buoys are frequently used as markers in the water to serve as navigational guides. Generally, navigational buoys are secured in position by a cable or a chain which is attached to an anchor. The body of the buoy may come in different dimensions, typically ranging between 1 and 3 meters in diameter, although sizes outside this range are also possible.

Small buoys may be fully molded of plastic. For larger buoys, however, the design typically includes a steel superstructure, surrounded by large plastic flotation components to provide buoyancy. Lighting (to increase visibility and/or allow signaling), environmental monitoring sensors and other electronic equipment is often mounted on the superstructure of large buoys, meaning that the buoy can fulfill multiple functions while operational—for example, providing a visual navigational aid and monitoring sea conditions at its location.

There are numerous challenges involved in designing a navigational buoy design, and these challenges become greater as the size of the buoy increases.

At the time of manufacture, complex structures are more expensive to manufacture. Metals are stronger than plastic, but also more expensive to acquire.

Once manufactured, the buoy must be transported to its location. Transporting large buoys can also be a challenge, because the buoy diameter may be greater than the width standard shipping containers. Larger buoys can be equipped with more functional components such as a mooring post and tower, but this means that the buoy also needs a wider base to avoid tipping over in marine conditions. Furthermore, significant lifting stresses are imposed on the buoy during loading and unloading processes.

Frequently, the buoy is partly or fully assembled on land or vessel. Complex structures can be particularly difficult for workers to assemble. For some large buoys, including a large superstructure and numerous other components, it can take time to assemble the buoy in the field, which is labor-intensive and therefore costly.

During use, the buoy will then experience corrosive conditions, as well as mooring stresses which can be very significant in large swells. Therefore, on an ongoing basis, the buoy must also be regularly serviced, to ensure that it is in adequate operating condition (e.g. color is not faded or marred, electronic components are all functional, and it is sitting properly in the water). Defects must be repaired, or the buoy may need to be replaced, and ease of service is a desirable feature for maintenance workers.

The metallic components in larger buoys are also heavier (which requires additional buoyancy to support), more expensive to manufacture, and at risk of corrosion (which can pose an environmental risk and also weaken the components themselves).

The present invention aims to address, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above disadvantages of conventional buoys, or at least to provide a commercial alternative.

SUMMARY

An aspect of this disclosure pertains to a buoy with a buoyant core which comprises multiple floatation components.

The detachable flotation components can be removed for transport of the buoy. Preferably, therefore, the core is appropriately sized for ease of transport. In some embodiments, the core may be substantially circular in cross section, although other shapes (such as square or rectangular) may also be used. Preferably, the core is less than or about 2.35 meters in diameter, in order to fit within a single standard shipping container. The core may be formed of plastic.

The detachable flotation components may be collar components that form a substantially cylindrical collar around and supporting the core. In some embodiments, there may be two or three detachable flotation components. More preferably, there are four or more detachable flotation components. More preferably, there are eight detachable flotation components.

The detachable flotation components and the core component may further include engagement formations. The core component may include a downward lip projection, around a periphery of the core component, and the collar components may each include an upward lip projection. The projections of the respective lips may engage in recesses behind each lip projection, to secure the engagement between the collar and the core and to ensure that the collar provides a secure lifting force on the core component, during use of the buoy.

The buoy may further include one or more tie bars for attachment to a chain or cable, to moor the buoy to an anchor. The buoy may include a pair of tie bar assemblies, mounted within channels through the core, from a lifting point at the top of the buoy to a mooring point at the base of the buoy.

The buoy may further include a tower component additional to the core component, for attachment of functional equipment to the buoy. However, in some embodiments, functional equipment may be attached to or within the core component or the detachable flotation components.

Additionally, a buoy is disclosed. The buoy includes a core component, wherein the core component is a buoyant core component. The buoy further includes at least two detachable flotation components that surround and support the core component.

Furthermore, a buoy is disclosed. The buoy includes a core component, wherein the core component is a buoyant core component. The buoy further includes two or more detachable flotation components that surround and support the core component, and at least one tie bar assembly.

Moreover, a detachable floatation component for a buoy is disclosed. The component having an upper lip formation to engage a ledge of a core component of the buoy, and a lower lip formation to engage with a corresponding formation around a periphery of the core component, wherein the lower lip formation includes an upward lip projection, and a recess behind the upward lip projection.

A buoy is provided. The buoy includes a buoyant core component having a plurality of cavities positioned therein. The buoy also includes at least two detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the core component. The buoy can also include a pair of tie bar assemblies mounted to the plurality of cavities of the buoyant core component.

In some aspects, the plurality of cavities includes at least two lifting holes located at an upper portion of the buoyant core component, and at least two mooring holes located at a lower portion of the buoyant core component. In some forms, each of the pair of tic bar assemblies includes an outer bracing rod and a middle bracing rod. In some embodiments, the outer bracing rod includes a connecting component and a fork component. In some aspects, each of the pair of tic bar assemblies comprises a rod assembly comprising one or more rods extending substantially through a height of the core component, a first bracing mount fixed to a top of the rod assembly for lifting the buoyant core component, and a second bracing mount fixed at a bottom of the rod assembly for mooring of the buoy. In some forms, the first bracing mount and the second bracing mount are generally T-shaped with a vertical support and a cross member. In some forms, the vertical support is designed to couple to the rod assembly, and the cross-member includes a cross channel designed to receive a cable, chain or pin for at least one of mooring or lifting the buoy. In other aspects, at least one of the first bracing mount or the second bracing mount may be secured to a bottom portion of the buoy by way of a pin.

In another aspect, a buoy is provided. The buoy includes a buoyant core component having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two lifting holes, and wherein a lower portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two mooring holes. The buoy additionally comprises two or more detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the buoyant core component, and a pair of tic bar assemblies mounted to the plurality of cavities of the buoyant core component.

In some embodiments, the pair of tie bar assemblies provide a lifting point towards a top portion of the buoy and a mooring point towards a bottom portion of the buoy. In some forms, each of the at least two detachable flotation components and the buoyant core component include respective engagement formations, such that each of the two or more detachable flotation components and the buoyant core component are coupled together by way of the engagement formations. In other aspects, each tie bar assembly of the pair of tic bar assemblies includes an outer bracing rod and a middle bracing rod. In yet another aspect, each of the pair of outer bracing rods further comprises a connecting component and a fork component. In some aspects, each of the pair of tie bar assemblies comprises a rod assembly with one or more rods extending substantially through a height of the buoyant core component, a first bracing mount fixed to a top of the rod assembly for lifting the buoyant core component, and a second bracing mount fixed at a bottom of the rod assembly for mooring the buoy. In other embodiments, the first bracing mount and the second bracing mount each comprise a vertical support designed to couple to the rod assembly, and a cross-member having a cross channel designed to receive a cable, chain or pin for at least one of mooring or lifting the buoy.

In another aspect, a buoy is provided. The buoy includes a buoyant core component having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two lifting holes, and wherein a lower portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two mooring holes. The buoy additionally includes two or more detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the buoyant core component, and a pair of tie bar assemblies mounted to the plurality of cavities of the buoyant core component. Each tie bar assembly of the pair of tie bar assemblies includes a rod assembly with one or more rods extending substantially through a height of the buoyant core component, a first bracing mount fixed to a top of the rod assembly for lifting the buoyant core component, a second bracing mount fixed at a bottom of the rod assembly for mooring the buoy.

In some aspects, the buoy further includes a pair of outer bracing rods and a middle bracing rod, wherein each of the pair of outer bracing rods includes a connecting component and a fork component. In some forms, the pair of tie bar assemblies provide a lifting point towards a top portion of the buoy and a mooring point towards a bottom portion of the buoy. In some embodiments, the fork component is configured to receive a bolt. In additional embodiments, the rod assembly, the first bracing mount, the second bracing mount, the pair of outer bracing rods, and the middle bracing rod are manufactured from steel.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below, along with accompanying figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purposes of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buoy according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a core component of the buoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the core component of the buoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross section of a lip towards the underside of the core component shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a collar component of the buoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section of the collar component of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section of the assembled buoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a tie bar assembly for the buoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mounting component of the tie bar assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a transparent perspective view of a collar component modified for particular environmental applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a buoy 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the buoy 100 is a buoy of 3 meters diameter, although different size buoys may be used in accordance with the invention.

The buoy 100 comprises a core 110, a collar comprised of eight collar components 120, a pair of tie bars or a tie bar assembly 130 for mooring the buoy 100 to an anchor, and a tower 140. The core 110 and collar components 120 are all molded plastic components, preferably formed of polyethylene. This means that the core 110 is buoyant. Both the plastic molded core or core 110 and collar components 120 have internal cavities, which may be filled with air, but depending on the particular application may also be filled with foam and/or a ballast material such as concrete. In this embodiment, the core 110 is more likely to be filled with ballast to suit some applications. Functional equipment can be mounted to the buoy as desired—for example, a light can be mounted at the top of the tower 140. The tower 140 in this embodiment may also be a molded plastic component, although the buoyancy of the core 110 and collar 120 means that the tower may be formed of other materials, such as steel.

FIGS. 2 to 4 depicts the core 110 in more detail. This component is generally cylindrical with a circular cross section. In this embodiment, it has a diameter of no greater than about 2.35 meters, so that it can fit in a standard shipping container. The core 110 may include a downward lip projection 112, around a periphery of the core component. A recess 113 is formed behind the lip projection 112. This forms a downward facing engagement portion, to engage with a mating formation on each collar component 120, which is described further below.

The core 110 further includes a tower mount 116 towards the top of the core 110, and a mooring formation 118 towards the bottom of the core 110, on the underside. Lifting holes 115 are also provided towards the top of the core 110, with mooring holes 119 provided in the mooring formation on the underside of the core 110. A cavity or channel 114 extends through the core 110, to receive a tie bar assembly 130. The tie bar assembly, described in more detail below, is formed of steel and provides strength and rigidity to allow the core 110 to withstand loads associated with lifting (e.g., during transport, retrieval and maintenance) and whilst moored (particularly in large swells).

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a collar component 120 in more detail. Collectively, eight of these collar components 120 create a collar around the periphery of the core 110, as shown in FIG. 1. The eight collar components surround the core, and form a cylinder or ‘donut’ to support the core and provide additional stability and buoyancy. Of course, different shapes and configurations of collar components 120 may be used in different embodiments of the invention.

Each collar component 120 is detachable from the core 110 (particularly for transport), and formed of plastic. The collar components 120 provide additional buoyancy to the buoy 100, and also ensure that the buoy 100 has a wide base to improve stability in large swells. The resulting wide base helps the buoy 100 support a tower and/or have more functional equipment (such as sensors or lights) mounted to it. However, because the collar components are detachable, this means the buoy can be transported in a disassembled state, significantly reducing transport costs—in this embodiment, the assembled buoy (3 meters in diameter) would not fit within a standard shipping container of 2.35 meters width.

Towards the top of each collar component, an upper lip 128 is provided, projecting inwards. In use, this lip will locate over a corresponding ledge of the core 110, where it will help maintain the collar component 120 on the core 110 (primarily when out of the water, and the components are not buoyed upward).

Towards the bottom or each collar component 120, there is also an upward lip projection 122, along an inner edge of the collar component 120. A recess 123 is formed behind the lip projection 122. Together, these provide an upward facing engagement formation to engage with the corresponding formation (or projection 112 and/or recess 113) of the core 110.

FIG. 7 depicts the core 110 and collar component 120 as assembled, in cross section. This engagement resists outward motion of the collar components 120 relative to the core 110, and also resists downward motion of the core relative to the collar components 120, meaning that the buoyancy of the collar components 120 directly supports the core 110.

To secure the collar in place, the collar components 120 are fixed together using a nut and bolt arrangement, through bolt apertures 124, around the circumference of the collar. Optionally, tie straps may be provided around the outside of the collar, and located in external channels 125 on the collar components 120, although tie straps will often be unnecessary in many embodiments.

Assembly of the buoy 100 of the present invention is therefore much simpler and faster than the assembly process for conventional large marine buoys. Typically, such buoys have a heavy steel superstructure, and may have complicated fixing means to secure flotation components to the superstructure. This makes them very difficult to assemble in the field.

In addition, the components of the buoy 100 described above are formed of plastic, without the requirement for a steel superstructure. This significantly reduces the manufacturing cost of the buoy 100.

Furthermore, the buoy 100 of the present invention is likely to be more reliable and more easily serviced than conventional large marine buoys. The use of multiple (preferably three or more) detachable flotation components or collar components 120 means that there is more redundancy in the buoy itself. If one collar component 120 is damaged, this does not greatly affect the buoyancy of the buoy 100 itself. The buoy 100 will also be less expensive to repair in such circumstances, as only the damaged collar component 120 need be replaced. The case of replacement is also likely to address occupation health and safety concerns.

Furthermore, in some cases, the use of multiple collar components 120 may allow a buoy 100 to be more easily reconfigured with additional functional equipment. Functional equipment can be installed in a specific collar component 120, which can then be secured to the buoy—either at the time of assembly for a particular function, or to add functionality or reconfigure a buoy already in use. In a most basic configuration, the core 110 could be used as a buoy in its own right, without any additional collar components 120. In other embodiments, functionality (as well as additional width and buoyancy) could be provided by customized/specific collar components.

For example, FIG. 10 shows a customized collar component 120 having an additional through-hole 129, which can be used to receive environmental monitoring equipment, for example to measure salinity or heavy metal in the water below the buoy. In conventional buoys, environmental monitoring probes must either be located around the outside of the buoy (highly undesirable, as it makes them more susceptible to damage) or an entire buoy must be customized to include a cavity to receive the probe within it. This typical modification means that significant additional costs are incurred to customize a large buoy for an environmental monitoring application—and results in additional transport costs, because the entire buoy is first transported to a location for the environmental probes to be installed, and then to the port for deployment. Utilizing the present invention, however, transport and customization costs are reduced because only a collar component 120 (not the entire buoy 100) needs to be customized and transported.

The figures depict a tie bar assembly 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The tie bar assembly includes a pair of outer bracing rods 134, with a middle bracing rod 135 also provided. Bolts 136 are passed through forks at the end of rod 138, and connector pieces on the end of rods 134 are used to connect the rods together. All of the components of tic bar assembly 130 are formed of strengthened steel. In other embodiments, different materials and/or different connection means may be used.

Importantly, bracing mounts 132 are provided at the top and bottom of the tie bar assemblies 130. Each bracing mount 132 is generally T-shaped, and includes a vertical support for securing to the rest of the tie bar assembly 130, and a cross member having a cross channel 133 therethrough.

In use, a pair of tie bar assemblies 130 are mounted within channels or cavities of the core 110. At the top of the tie bar assembly 130, the upper bracing mount 132 is located in lifting holes 115 of the core component or core 110. At the bottom of the tie bar assembly 130, the lower bracing mount is secured by a pin through the mooring holes 119, as shown in FIG. 1.

The upper bracing mount 132 will provide a lifting point for lifting the core 110 during transport, deployment and retrieval, with a cable or chain received in the channel 133 of the upper bracing mount 132. The channel of 133 of lower bracing mount 132 can likewise receive a cable or chain for mooring purposes, or a pin to secure a bridle plate 200 using an additional shackle 210 as shown in FIG. 1. The tie bar assembly 130 provides sufficient strength to withstand the significant loads and stresses experienced by the buoy during handling and when moored. By providing a pair of tie bar assemblies, this means that the mooring and lifting loads can be spread evenly.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A buoy comprising: a buoyant core component having a plurality of cavities positioned therein;at least two detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the buoyant core component; anda pair of tie bar assemblies mounted within the plurality of cavities of the buoyant core component.

2. The buoy of claim 1, wherein the buoyant core component includes at least two lifting holes located at an upper portion of the buoyant core component, and at least two mooring holes located at a lower portion of the buoyant core component.

3. The buoy of claim 1, wherein each tie bar assembly of the pair of tie bar assemblies includes an outer bracing rod and a middle bracing rod.

4. The buoy of claim 3, wherein the outer bracing rod includes a connecting component and a fork component.

5. The buoy of claim 1, wherein each tie bar assembly of the pair of tie bar assemblies comprises: a rod assembly comprising one or more rods extending substantially through a height of the buoyant core component;a first bracing mount fixed to a top of the rod assembly for lifting the buoyant core component; anda second bracing mount fixed at a bottom of the rod assembly for mooring of the buoy.

6. The buoy of claim 5, wherein the first bracing mount and the second bracing mount are generally T-shaped with a vertical support and a cross-member.

7. The buoy of claim 6, wherein the vertical support is designed to couple to the rod assembly; and wherein the cross-member includes a cross channel designed to receive a cable, chain or pin for at least one of mooring or lifting the buoy.

8. The buoy of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first bracing mount of the second bracing mount is secured to a bottom portion of the buoy by way of a pin.

9. A buoy comprising: a buoyant core component with a plurality of cavities, the buoyant core component having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two lifting holes, and wherein a lower portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two mooring holes;two or more detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the buoyant core component; anda pair of tie bar assemblies mounted to the plurality of cavities of the buoyant core component.

10. The buoy of claim 9, wherein the pair of tie bar assemblies provide a lifting point towards a top portion of the buoy and a mooring point towards a bottom portion of the buoy.

11. The buoy of claim 9, wherein each of the at least two detachable flotation components and the buoyant core component include respective engagement formations, such that each of the two or more detachable flotation components and the buoyant core component are coupled together by way of the engagement formations.

12. The buoy of claim 9, wherein each tie bar assembly of the pair of tie bar assemblies includes an outer bracing rod and a middle bracing rod.

13. The buoy of claim 12, wherein the outer bracing rod includes a connecting component and a fork component.

14. The buoy of claim 9, wherein each of the pair of tie bar assemblies comprises: a rod assembly with one or more rods extending substantially through a height of the buoyant core component;a first bracing mount fixed to a top of the rod assembly for lifting the buoyant core component; anda second bracing mount fixed at a bottom of the rod assembly for mooring of the buoy.

15. The buoy of claim 14, wherein the first bracing mount and the second bracing mount each comprise: a vertical support designed to couple to the rod assembly; anda cross-member having a cross channel designed to receive a cable, chain or pin for at least one of mooring or lifting the buoy.

16. A buoy comprising: a buoyant core component having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two lifting holes, and wherein a lower portion of the buoyant core component includes at least two mooring holes;two or more detachable flotation components surrounding and supporting the buoyant core component;a pair of tie bar assemblies mounted to the plurality of cavities of the buoyant core component, wherein each tie bar assembly of the pair of tie bar assemblies comprises: a rod assembly with one or more rods extending substantially through a height of the buoyant core component;a first bracing mount fixed to a top of the rod assembly for lifting of the buoyant core component; anda second bracing mount fixed at a bottom of the rod assembly for securing to a mooring assembly, for mooring of the buoy.

17. The buoy of claim 16, further comprising a pair of outer bracing rods and a middle bracing rod, wherein each of the pair of outer bracing rods includes a connecting component and a fork component.

18. The buoy of claim 16, wherein the pair of tie bar assemblies provide a lifting point towards a top portion of the buoy and a mooring point towards a bottom portion of the buoy.

19. The buoy of claim 17, wherein the fork component is configured to receive a bolt.

20. The buoy of claim 17, wherein the rod assembly, the first bracing mount, the second bracing mount, the pair of outer bracing rods and the middle bracing rod, are manufactured from steel.