The present invention relates to a method for the realization of assembled structures, in particular building structures, such as artificial islands, embankments, piers, breakwaters, platforms or similar structures, in a body of water as a river, a lake, a sea, a marsh or others.
As known there are several kinds of supporting structures to make buildings, for instance oil platforms, in bodies of water such as rivers, seas, lakes or others. A first kind of supporting structure for the realizations of building structures in bodies of water comprises a set of tubular elements creating a grid frame which is fixed to the bottom of the selected body of water. To this end, the installing phase is carried out through bulky and expensive devices and machineries in order to build the foundation of the supporting structure. That phase is particularly delicate as it is intended to firmly fix the supporting structure to the bottom of the body of water in order to prevent it from being damaged or swept away by the water flow. That action is performed, for instance, through specific drilling machines, installed in boats, which make holes for fixing to the bottom. Anyhow, in spite of such care the supporting structures made have a burden limit which cannot be overcome to prevent the breakdown of the whole structure. This matter, together with high installation costs and with the problems they bring forth, have reduced the spreading of such supporting structures which are used only to build offshore oil platforms.
A different type of supporting structure consists of a floating platform which is the base on which the further building structure is built. Anyway, in this case the floating structure cannot support weighty load, so that it has few possible utilizations.
Further solutions provide the realization of artificial islands through the sequential insertion of material in definite and bordered regions of the body of water.
The main object of the invention is to provide a method for the realization of artificial islands, embankments, piers, breakwaters, platforms or similar structures in bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, seas, marshes or others, which is cheaper and easier to carry on than the solutions of the prior art.
This one and further objects are attained through a method for the realization of an artificial island, an embankment, a pier, a breakwater, a platform or similar structures in bodies of water, comprising the phases of:
In particular, it is possible to realize many structural pillars according to the above set of phases; at the top of the pillars, placed side by side, a continuous flat supporting surface is obtained.
Advantageously, in the case that the site of installation is subject to strong water current, the first pillar is placed with help of at least one cable fixed to the bottom of the body of water by drilling. In that way, the pillar is led, while immerging, to get the desired position at the bottom.
With reference to a further object of the present invention, an artificial island, an embankment, a pier, a breakwater, a platform or a similar structure which can be installed in a body of water, provides at least one pillar comprising:
In a possible embodiment of the invention, an artificial island, an embankment, a pier, a breakwater, a platform or a similar structure provides a plurality of pillars joined each other through structural elements being at the top of the pillars, in order to realize a continuous firm flat surface.
In particular, at least one side wall of the pillar is provided with joining means apt to link with joining means of the pillar which is built adjacent to the first one so that the structural elements are guided during positioning.
Advantageously, the joining means of a pillar provide at least a longitudinal seat to fit side protrusions of the structural elements of a pillar placed adjacent to it. In this way, once the first pillar has been built, to build the following pillar is made easier and is led by the presence of the joining means, so that the pillar is properly placed.
Preferably, the joining means of two side by side pillars make a dovetail joint.
Advantageously, the artificial island, or similar structure, provides a plurality of side by side pillars whose structural elements are placed through their joining means.
Advantageously, coming structural elements of each pillar provide reference means apt to facilitate their mutual arrangement.
In particular, it is provided a container to stock the filling material shipped to the installation site.
Advantageously, each structural element and the basement can be made of sheet metal, wood, concrete material or any other suitable material.
The filling material can be any conglomerate, as concrete, bitumen, waste material of various industrial processes and any other material.
In a possible embodiment, the basement has at least one beneath portion apt to realize one or more steps useful to fit the conformation of the bottom of the body of water.
Furthermore, the bottom of said basement can be provided with fastening means, for instance a pile shoe, apt to firmly fix said basement to the bottom of the body of water.
In particular, the basement and the structural elements have the same measures and the same shape in top view.
Advantageously, the filling material is reinforced with a proper material to increase its strength.
Finally, the structural elements can be partly filled with the filling material to realize a partially hollow pillar.
The invention will now be described by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 3 to 6 schematically show, in an elevated lateral axonometric projection, a likely sequence of phases to build a pillar according to the invention;
In
Afterwards, through, for example, a duct 60 connected to a container 160, placed for instance on a ship, is entered in the basement 15 a certain quantity of filling material 35 until it causes a partial submersion of the basement itself (
In the last (from the bottom) structural element 12 of the pillar 10, or head structural element, is inserted the filling material up to realize a firm flat surface 50 apt to be the base for any kind of building.
As shown in said
The joining means 13 and 23 may be, for example, side protrusions 13 and cuts 23. Though in the disclosed figures the first pillar has side protrusions 13 and the second pillar has cuts 23 in which the protrusions 13 themselves vertically slide during the placement of the respective structural elements, the invention may also is provide to previously install the pillar with cuts and then the pillar with protrusions. By placing several pillars side by side, a continuous flat surface 50 of the desired dimensions can be realized. This one can also be realized by building a series of individually, or in groups, spaced pillars connected through crosspieces, solution not shown in figures.
In FIGS. 8 to 12 is shown a different configuration of the basements 11′ and 21′ and of their structural elements 12′ and 22′, as an alternative solution to the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. In particular, in this case the cuts 13′ and the protrusions 23′ couple together to form a dovetail joint. In FIGS. 13 to 16 are shown further configurations of the basements 11″ and 21″ and of their structural elements 12″ and 21″, having a circle-like section.
In
In
The above description of specific embodiments is able to disclose the concept of the invention so that other people, by using the prior art, will be able to modify and/or arrange for a specific field of application said specific embodiment with no need of further research and without vary the inventive concept, and, so, it is stated that such modifications and arrangements could be considered equivalent to the specific embodiment. Means and materials to realize the disclosed functions could be different always within the limits of the invention.
The above wording is only for disclosing purposes and so it is in no way restricting.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PI2005A000030 | Mar 2005 | IT | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/IB2006/000650 | Mar 2006 | US |
Child | 11856840 | Sep 2007 | US |