Patent Application
20200070937
The present disclosure relates generally to buildings or infrastructure; and more specifically, to floating-buildings.
The increase in population with time has certainly caused shortage of certain basic amenities, such as land for construction of buildings. However, in the same time with the advancement in technology, a possibility of water to be used as an alternative to land for the construction of buildings has become possible. Therefore, nowadays certain buildings can be seen constructed over a water-body, such as on river, sea or ocean.
However, the construction of such buildings over the water-body is associated with numerous limitations. Firstly, the buildings are made to afloat on a water-surface but are subjected to continuous movement of water in the form of waves. The continuous movement of water causes a building to be subjected to continuous undesirable movement. This causes stress leading to development of undesirable strain in various portions or sections of the building, particularly, in the joints between various components and elements of the building. In such situation, prolong strain can cause collapse of the portions of the building subjected to such prolong strain. In order to avoid generation of said undesirable stress or strain, the buildings can be primarily made of steel components and elements, but such steel components or elements must follow certain marine standards for the durability thereof. However, the use of such marine standard steel components or elements increases an overall construction-cost of the building by multiple folds, and the construction of such buildings become a very expensive affair.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with construction of a building on a water-body.
The present disclosure seeks to provide a floating-building. The present disclosure seeks to provide a solution to the existing problems of poor-durability and expensiveness of the construction of a building on a water-body. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in prior art, and provides a floating-building.
In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a floating-building comprising:
Embodiments of the present disclosure substantially eliminate or at least partially address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, and provides a durable and cost-efficient floating-building.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those skilled in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practising the present disclosure are also possible.
In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a floating-building comprising:
The present disclosure provides the aforementioned floating-building. The floating-building comprises the buoyant-base and the anchoring mechanism configured to keep the floating-building afloat on the surface of the water-body. Furthermore, the floating-building comprises the plurality of supporting-components and the plurality of supported-elements movably arranged on the plurality of supporting-components. The movably arranged plurality of supported-elements enable in preventing generation of undesirable stress (or strain) between the plurality of supported-elements and the supporting-components. This enables in increasing durability and robustness of the floating-building by protecting the floating-building from adverse effect of water-movement, which causes undesirable movements of the floating-building. Moreover, the movable arrangement between the plurality of supported-elements and the supporting-components, precludes a primary need for marine standard steel components or elements for the construction of the floating-building. Therefore, the floating-building can be made using the plurality of supporting-components and movably arranged supported-elements, i.e. primarily made of pre-cast concrete or pre-fabricated metal or plastic. This enables in reducing an overall construction-cost of the floating-building of the present disclosure.
Throughout the present disclosure, the term “floating-building” refers to a building configured to afloat on the surface of the water-body. The floating-building can be intended for purposes such as residential, commercial, recreational, and the like. Further, the floating-building can have a specific shape, size and features, based upon its intended purpose. Moreover, the floating-building could be a single or a multi-storeyed floating-building. Examples of the floating-building include but are not limited to a bungalow, a villa, an apartment, a hotel, an office, a community hall, a clubhouse, and the like.
The floating-building comprises the buoyant-base configured to afloat on the surface of the water-body. The term “water-body” used herein may be referred to as at least one of a pond, a lake, a river, a sea or an ocean. Specifically, the water-body has sufficient quantity of water that allows the floating-building to suitably afloat on the water. Furthermore, the water-body may be constituted by a still or moving water.
According to an embodiment, the buoyant-base of the floating-building is a hollow enclosed structure designed to sufficiently counter a buoyant-force provided by the water to keep the floating-building afloat on the surface of the water-body. The hollow enclosed structure may be a three-dimensional hollow structure, such as a hollow cuboid, a hollow cylinder or a hollow frustum; primarily containing air therein. Furthermore, the buoyant-base may be single hollow structure or a combination of multiple hollow structures. As mentioned herein, the buoyant-base is designed to sufficiently counter the buoyant-force that allows the floating-building to afloat on the surface of the water-body. It will be appreciated that the buoyant-base is designed in a manner such that an overall density of the floating-building is less than a density of water, to allow the floating-building to afloat on the water. Notably, the buoyant-base may be designed (or configured) to have a sufficient (or required) overall-surface-area, an overall-volume or an overall-weight, which allows the floating-building to have the overall density less than the density of the water. In simple words, the buoyant-base is designed to bear the overall-weight of the floating-building, particularly, an overall-weight of the plurality of supporting-components and the plurality of supported-elements, without sinking; i.e. by sufficiently countering the buoyant-force exerted by the water.
The anchoring mechanism is configured to anchor the buoyant-base to the bottom of the water-body. The anchoring mechanism primarily includes a plurality of rigid-structures adapted to be anchored to (or installed on) the bottom of the water-body. In an example, the plurality of rigid-structures may include concrete-bodies, which may be partially inserted into the bottom (i.e. typically soil) of the water-body or may be simply allowed to simply rest or lie on the bottom of the water-body. In simple words, the plurality of rigid-structures include heavy objects (such as concrete-bodies) adapted to rest on the bottom of the water-body without any movement thereby act as anchors. The anchoring mechanism further includes a plurality of lines (or cables or ropes), at one end thereof connected to the buoyant-base and at other end thereof connected to the plurality of rigid-structures. It will be appreciated that the anchoring mechanism, particularly, the plurality of rigid-structures and the plurality of lines, may be coated with a hydrophobia-coating. This allows in protecting the anchoring mechanism from adverse effect of water, such as rusting, decay and the like.
Optionally, the anchoring mechanism includes an adjusting-mechanism operable to adjust a length of the plurality of lines between the buoyant-base and the plurality of rigid-structures. It will be appreciated that the adjusting-mechanism may include a pully and motor mechanism operable to adjust the length of the plurality of lines. Further, it will be appreciated that by adjusting the length of the plurality of lines (between the buoyant-base and the plurality of rigid-structures), the buoyant-force exerted on (or experienced by) the floating-building, particularly, by the buoyant-base may be altered.
According to an embodiment, the anchoring mechanism anchors the buoyant-base to the bottom of the water-body such that the floating-building is subjected to a pull greater than a natural buoyant-force experienced by the floating-building. The term “natural buoyant-force” used herein refers to an amount of upward-thrust (or force), exerted by the water on the floating-building without any influence of an external force. In simple words, when only overall-weight of the floating-building is allowed to counter the buoyant-force exerted by the water on the floating-building and thereby allows the floating-building to float on the water, such buoyant-force may be referred to as the natural buoyant-force.
In an embodiment, as mentioned herein above, the floating-building is subjected to the pull greater than the natural buoyant-force to be experienced by the floating-building. It will be appreciated that the floating-building can be pulled with greater force than the natural buoyant-force by shortening (or lessening) the length of the plurality of lines between the buoyant-base and the plurality of rigid-structures. For example, the length of the plurality of lines may be shorten to an extent such that a substantial portion of the buoyant-base is pulled inside the surface of the water and thereby applying the pull greater than the natural buoyant-force on the floating-building. Accordingly, the floating-building is stopped from moving freely on the surface of the water. This enables in containing various kinds of undesirable movements of the floating-building, typically triggered by movement of the water or change of wind-speed. Therefore, various parts of the floating-building, particularly, the plurality of supporting-components and the supported-elements (at their joints) are precluded form undesired stress or strain caused by the undesirable movement of the floating-building.
The plurality of supporting-components are mounted on the buoyant-base. The term “supporting-components” used herein relates to various parts or portions of the floating-building that primarily functions or acts as supporting structures. The plurality of supporting-components are typically rigidly mounted structures that provide strength and define robustness of the floating-building. Therefore, the plurality of supporting-components combine to form a united structure for rigidly supporting the entire floating-building.
Optionally, the plurality of supporting-components comprise plinth, walls, columns, beams. It will be appreciated that the plinth of the floating-building would relate to a base-structure that is immediately formed or constructed on the buoyant-base to support the walls thereon. The walls are vertical planer structures extending from the plinth to define and enclose various hollow-spaces within the floating-building. The columns are vertical elongate structures extending from the plinth to laterally supports the walls. The beams are also horizontal elongate structures extending between the columns to supports the columns and the walls. The plurality of supporting-components described herein should not be considered as limiting, and the floating-building may include other supporting-components, such as lintels, sills and the like. The plurality of supporting-components (such as the plinth, the walls, the columns and the beams) described herein may be pre-cast concrete structures made of materials, which include, but are not limited to concrete, metal, plastic, wood and the like.
The plurality of supported-elements are movably arranged on the plurality of supporting-components. The term “supported-elements” used herein relates to various parts or portions of the floating-building that primarily functions or acts as integrating structures. However, it will be appreciated that the plurality of supported-elements also, to some extent, provide strength and define robustness of the floating-building.
According to an embodiment, the plurality of supported-elements comprises floors, windows, doors. The floors are horizontal planer structures extending between the beams to define and enclose the various hollow-spaces within the floating-building. The windows and the doors are passages configured on the walls. The plurality of supported-elements described herein should not be considered as limiting, and the floating-building may include other supporting-components, such as roof, slabs and the like. The plurality of supported-elements (such as the floors, the windows and the doors) described herein may be pre-cast concrete structures or pre-fabricated structure made of materials, which include, but are not limited to concrete, metal, plastic, wood and the like.
Optionally, at least some of the plurality of supporting components and the supported-elements include pipes or conduits arranged there-within or thereon for enabling at least water, air and electrical communication between the supporting components and the supported-elements.
The plurality of supported-elements are typically movably arranged on the plurality of supporting-components to provide integrity to the floating-building. The term “movably arranged” used herein refers to a certain degree of movement of the plurality of supported-elements with respect to the plurality of supporting-components. For example, the plurality of supported-elements may be arranged to change its position (linearly, i.e. horizontally or vertically) in a forward or a backward direction, in an upward or a downward direction, in a leftward or a rightward direction with respect to the plurality of supported-elements. Additionally, the plurality of supported-elements may be arranged to have a rotary (or tilting) movement with respect to the plurality of supported-elements. For example, the degree of movement of the plurality of supported-elements with respect to the plurality of supporting-components may range from couple of centimetres to a meter (i.e. the linear movement), and from one degree to thirty degrees (i.e. the rotary movement).
According to an embodiment, each of at least one supporting-component from among the plurality of supporting-components comprises a supporting-tab for supporting a corresponding supported-element from among the plurality of supported-elements. The supporting-tab is a small concrete or metallic projection integral with (or coupled to) each of the at least one supporting-component for supporting a portion of the corresponding supported-element thereon. In an example, the plurality of supporting-components, such as the beams or the walls, include said supporting-tabs to support the plurality of supported-elements, such as the floors, thereon. It will be appreciated that, at least two beams or walls, opposite to each other, would include at least one supporting-tab for supporting a floor thereon. Alternatively, four beams or walls, adjacent to each other, may include at least one supporting-tab for supporting a floor thereon.
In an embodiment, the supporting-tab comprises a protruding-part configured to movably support the corresponding supported-element thereon. The protruding-part are rigidly configured or mounted on the supporting-tab. According to an embodiment, the protruding-part is configured to have a curved shape. For example, the curved shape of the protruding-part may be defined by a hemispherical shape or a dome shape. The curved shape (i.e. the hemispherical or dome shape) of the protruding-part enables in reducing a contact area between the protruding-part and a supported-element (such as a floor) for reducing a frictional-contact there-between.
According to an embodiment, the protruding-part is implemented by way of one of a bearing, a wheel, a roller. The protruding-part is configured to accommodate the one of the bearing, the wheel or the roller therein. The one of the bearing, the wheel, or the roller is rotatably arranged or mounted within the protruding-part with the help of an axle (a rod or a spindle). This allows the protruding-part to act as a rotary-support. Therefore, the plurality of supported-elements, such as the floors, are movably arranged (or supported) on the plurality of supporting-components, such as the beams or the walls.
According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the corresponding supported-element comprises a protruding-part configured to movably support the corresponding supported-element on the supporting-tab. In another words, the protruding-part is configured on (or integral with) the corresponding supported-element, such as a floor, instead of being arranged on the supporting-tabs. In an example, the plurality of supported-elements, such as the floors, may be configured with the protruding-parts, i.e. at least two protruding-parts, one on each opposite peripheral-edges of the floors for being movably supported on the supporting-tabs extending from the supporting-components. Alternatively, a floor may include four protruding-parts, one on each peripheral-edge of the floor (i.e. having a rectangular shape) for being movably supported on the supporting-tabs extending from the beams or the walls. It will be appreciated that the protruding-parts of the supported-elements are structurally and functionally similar to the protruding-parts (explained herein above) arranged on the supporting-tabs. For example, the protruding-parts of the supported-elements is configured to have a curved shape and is implemented by way of at least one of a bearing, a wheel, a roller. This allows the plurality of supported-elements, such as the floors, each having protruding-parts are movably arranged on the supporting-tabs extending from the plurality of supporting-components.
According to an embodiment, at least some of the plurality of supporting-components comprise at least one groove for movably receiving a peripheral-portion of a corresponding supported-element from among the plurality of supported-elements. In an example, the at least some of the plurality of supporting-components, such as the walls, include the at least one groove for movably receiving the peripheral-portion of the corresponding supported-element, such as a window or a door. The at least one groove may be a rectangular groove that conforms to the peripheral-portion, particularly a frame, of the window or the door for movably receiving the frame therein. It will be appreciated that, in case of a frame less supported-element, such as a fixed-window i.e. a pane of glass, a peripheral-portion of the fixed-window (i.e. a peripheral-portion of the pane of glass) is movably received by the at least one groove.
In an embodiment, the peripheral-portion of the corresponding supported-element is movably supported within the at least one groove by using at least one of an elastic material or bearing-elements. In an example, the elastic material may be composed of a foam or a rubber. The elastic material may get compressed with a force exerted by the peripheral-portion of the supported-elements, such as the windows and the doors, due to the undesirable movement of the floating-building. This allows the elastic material to absorb the undesirable strain, which may be subjected to the supported-elements, due to the undesirable movement of the floating-building. Alternatively, the at least one groove may include bearing-elements for movably supporting the peripheral-portion therein. In an example, the bearing-elements may include rollers or wheels that supports the peripheral-portion of the supported-elements in the groove, and also allows the peripheral-portion of the supported-elements to move with respect to the groove. It will be appreciated that the at least one groove may either include the elastic material or the bearing-elements, or both for preventing the undesirable strain between the plurality of supported-elements and the supporting-components.
According to an embodiment, in addition to above, the plurality of supported-elements may be movably arranged on the plurality of supporting-components using other movable or shock absorbing mechanism, such as actuators, dampers and the like. In an example, either the plurality of supported-elements or the plurality of supporting-components include actuators or dampers at their joints to provide a certain degree of movement therebetween. Further, the actuators and the dampers may be electronically driven components operable to sense the undesirable movement of the floating-building to adjust positions (or maintain desirable positions) of the supported-elements with respect to the supporting-components.
The buoyant-base comprises the stabilizing-unit operable to maintain a uniform-weight-distribution on the buoyant-base to stabilize the floating-building on the surface of the water-body. In an example, the stabilizing-unit may include a plurality of tanks and a plurality of pipes fluidically connected to the plurality of tanks. The plurality of tanks may be designed to accommodate certain amount of water therein, and with the movement of the floating-building, the water from the plurality of tanks may be evenly distributed among themselves through the plurality of pipes to maintain the uniform-weight-distribution on the buoyant-base. As a result, the stabilizing-unit may substantially minimize or eliminates the movement of the floating-building due to the movement of water and/or wind-speed, thereby resulting in a stationary (namely, stable) floating-building. The stabilizing-unit may also include electronic valves operable to sense required water level (or volume) in the plurality of tanks and accordingly regulate the water between the plurality of tanks for maintaining the uniform-weight-distribution on the buoyant-base to stabilize the floating-building on the surface of the water-body.
According to an embodiment, the floating-building further comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system arranged within the buoyant-base. The term “heat, ventilation and air conditioning system” refers to a unit comprising specialized equipment (for example, such as air handling units) for providing requisite thermal comfort and air quality within the floating-building. For sake of simplicity and clarity, the “heat, ventilation and air conditioning system” is hereinafter referred to as a “HVAC system” throughout the description. Notably, the HVAC system regulates temperature within the floating-building by way of heating water, steam or air within a specialized chamber and circulating such water, steam or air throughout the floating-building as per requirement. Furthermore, the HVAC system is arranged to circulate air within the floating-building and exchange the air within the floating-building with air outside the floating-building for providing an acceptable quality of the air within the floating-building. Moreover, the HVAC system also provides cooling, air filtration and humidity control within the floating-building.
Optionally, the HVAC system is implemented by way of at least one air handling unit and a duct system fluidically coupled to the at least one air handling unit. The at least one air handling unit, in operation, performs heating, ventilating and air conditioning operations, and the duct system directs air from/to the HVAC module to/from an external environment outside the floating-building. For example, the at least one air handling unit comprises at least one of: a blower, an air filter, an air heating element, an air-cooling element, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a heat exchanger, a sound attenuator, a vibration stabilization mechanism.
Optionally, the HVAC system is arranged within the buoyant-base of the floating-building. In such a case, the floating-building comprises both the stabilizing-unit and the HVAC system within the buoyant-base. Beneficially, in such a case, the HVAC system may utilize the water stored within the plurality of tanks of the stabilizing unit for cooling and/or heating purposes.
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Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20185741 | Sep 2018 | FI | national |
