PLATFORM FORMED FROM FLOATING MEGASTRUCTURES

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Israel Patent Application No. 276719 filed on Aug. 13, 2020, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments disclosed herein relate in general to the field of floating marine platforms and more specifically improved configurable floating megastructures.

BACKGROUND

The need for a floating platform increases with the rise in world population. A floating platform can be used for several uses. A floating base provides a way that may enable airports or other buildings to be formed in seas, oceans and lakes with less time and less expenses.

For example, a marine vessel or floating platform at sea can be envisioned, with a lift force resulting from a large gap between the platform's low “curb weight” and the much larger amount of water that was rejected by the floating platform.

Today, due to the increasing use of containers in sea transportation, there are a large number of containers on the market, which after normal marine use, are sold at less than their production price despite still being fit to use as a floating body with high lifting capacity, low production and low operation costs. These used shipping containers are currently predominantly used as scrap metal, but it is not really practical to convert them into such. There is an enormous surplus of such containers just waiting for a beneficial use that would also obviate their deleterious environmental impact.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in a rear view the structure of a known marine raft or platform 100. FIG. 1 further illustrates that the marine raft 100 includes several containers 102, 103, 104 and 105. The containers may have reinforced concrete (not shown) in the inner walls of the containers and at the bottom of the containers (opposite doors facing the sky).

FIG. 1 further illustrates that the marine raft 100 includes two engines 111-112 which are connected to propellers 113, and a propellable cylinder 115. The marine raft 100 may connect with other rafts to create an array of rafts. Ascending or descending to the platform can be done using a freight elevator and/or a cargo lift. The structure 100 can be moved in sea and on land and can be connected to other rafts to create an array of rafts.

The containers 102, 103, 104 and 105 are also bodies that are able to withstand the forces created by sea waves and the blows of sea waves and objects that float on the sea and the ocean, without submerging the containers and their contents. The prior art floating raft 100 is further made with a container 101 that couples the containers 105 and 103 with containers 102 and 104, thus creating a catamaran-like raft structure.

Such floating rafts are suitable for small or medium-sized uses, such as a small store, a night club, or a sailing vessel. They would not be suitable in strength to use as a town, or an airport, for example, and it would take too long to construct any structure for such uses and suitably secure them at the desired location at sea.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described below aim to address shortcomings of the known art described above and provide further advantages and improvements.

According to one aspect, at least one megastructure is provided, that contains a plurality of hollow shipping containers that are placed in an “upright” position wherein at least three containers are stacked one on top of another to form a chamber. Each container may have a door at a first end and an opposing panel at a second end. The containers may be placed one above the other such that a door of one container is connected to an opposing panel of an adjacent container in the chamber.

The containers may be attached to each other with attachment means such as beams including for example cement. A number of megastructures may be attached to each other side-by-side to form a very large floating platform.

According to one aspect an amphibious carrying device is provided that may be used to build the megastructures thereon. The device may have means for propulsion and direction for example jet engines. The device may be provided with ballast tanks on at least two parallel sides of the device that keep the megastructure laden thereon out of water until arrival of the device at a selected location. At the location water enters the tanks to lower the megastructure and let it float to a selected place.

In some embodiments, this device further has passive conveyance means such as wheels or rollers that help move the device and the megastructure laden thereon from land into sea.

The carrying device can be placed at the sea edge and conveyed into the sea water. There may be provided a hard and strong surface such as a concrete floor on which the megastructure can be built, and this surface may extend from a beach into adjacent water. The carrying device can subsequently be skimmed/rolled out on the surface and into the water, until freely afloat.

In some embodiments a plurality of large pipes are provided, each large pipe having an inner diameter of two meters for example. These large pipes may be inserted in the water and then to the bottom of the sea at about the place where the platform is being constructed.

In some embodiments the platform includes a plurality of insert rods, having for example an outer diameter of 1.80 m. The insert rods may be attached to or be part of each or some of the megastructures, for example at intervals of 10 m along the platform, in a plurality of rows.

In some embodiments the insert rods can be lowered and inserted into the large pipes embedded in a sea bottom, and the large pipes may be connected to the platform itself. The platform may thus have shock absorbance to withstand an impact equivalent to applying a momentary force of 2000 tons or even more to the platform, such as the momentary load from a landing commercial airliner.

In some embodiments, a megastructure, includes: a plurality of container assemblies fixedly attached to one another, each container assembly including two stacks of containers, each stack of containers including a plurality of containers arranged and fixedly attached one on top of the other in an upright position, each container assembly further including a horizontal top container fixedly attached and joining the two stacks of containers to form a hollow interior in the container assembly.

In some embodiments, the plurality of containers and the horizontal top container are coated inside and outside with reinforced concrete. In some embodiments, adjacent container assemblies are fixedly attached to one another along an upper top edge of the horizontal top containers. In some embodiments, the adjacent containers are fixedly attached using interlocking knuckles with a rod passing therethrough.

In some embodiments, the megastructure further includes one or more flexible pipes running along the length of the megastructure in the hollow interior such as to absorb pressure from ocean waves that pass through the megastructure. In some embodiments, the megastructure further includes motors driving propellers and/or rollers. In some embodiments, the megastructure is configured as a floating platform.

In some further embodiments, a floating platform includes: a plurality of floating chambers, wherein each floating chamber comprises at least three containers, each container having a door at a first end and an opposing panel at a second end, the containers placed one above the other such that the door of one container is connected to an opposing panel of another container.

In some embodiments, the platform further includes reinforced concrete that fills spaces between adjacent containers. In some embodiments, the platform further includes reinforced concrete that surrounds each floating chamber to form a concrete structure. In some embodiments, the containers are filled with air. In some embodiments, a thickness of outer sides of the concrete structure and a thickness of the floor of the concrete structure are greater than a gap between adjacent containers.

In some embodiments, the platform is configured to allow air trapped inside the containers to enabling floating of the platform on a sea surface. In some embodiments, the reinforced concrete comprises an iron mesh or net. In some embodiments, a first floating chamber is connected to an adjacent second floating chamber with interlocking concrete beams in between the floating chambers. In some embodiments, the floating platform, includes an airstrip. In some embodiments, the floating platform, includes reinforced light gravel admixed with the concrete or embedded within the reinforced concrete.

In some embodiments, the platform includes a plurality of interconnected megastructures, each megastructure includes a plurality of interconnected floating chambers forming together at least three layers of containers.

In some embodiments, a carrying device is sized to accommodate a megastructure described above and configured to allow carrying the megastructure to a selected location in a sea and release the megastructure to float free of the carrying device. In some embodiments, the carrying device includes rollers or wheels allowing conveying the megastructure loaded thereon from a waterfront or a seafront location to a desired location in a sea.

In some embodiments, the carrying device, includes a building base sized and shaped to accommodate a megastructure during building thereon and during the conveying to the desired location. In some embodiments, the carrying device, includes means for propulsion and direction of the carrying device loaded with a megastructure from a seafront or waterfront location to a desired location in a sea and for returning the carrying device back to a seafront or waterfront location.

In some embodiments, the carrying device, includes ballast tanks on sides of the carrying device that are capable of keeping the megastructure out of water until a selected location in a sea. In some embodiments, the carrying device can be disconnected from the megastructure after placing the megastructure at a selected location in a sea.

In some further embodiments described herein, a method of manufacturing a floating platform, includes: providing a floatable carrying device having a base, the providing being at a seafront or waterfront location; forming a chamber by fixedly stacking a plurality of containers, wherein a first container is placed on top of a second container such that a panel of the first container that is opposite a door of the first container is engaged with a door of the second container; interlocking a plurality of chambers on the base to form at least three layers of interlocked containers; and making a reinforced concrete box on the base, the base holding the plurality of interlocked chambers to form a megastructure.

In some embodiments, the method, further includes: conveying the megastructure with the carrying device to a desired location in a sea and releasing the megastructure to float at the desired location; shuttling additional identically built megastructures to the same desired location and interlocking the megastructures; and securing the interlocked megastructures with insert rods to large pipes embedded in a seabed under the interlocked megastructures to create a floating stable platform.

In some embodiments, the method further includes placing the containers on the carrying device and then stacking and connecting the containers together. In some embodiments, the method further includes locking the megastructures together with interlocking concrete beams.

The term container as used herein refers to shipping containers. These may be new or used shipping containers.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to figures attached hereto that are listed following this paragraph. Identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labelled with a same numeral in all the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. In the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a known art marine raft;

FIG. 2A is an elevational view of a floating megastructure according to an example implementation;

FIG. 2B is a close-up view of a part of the megastructure illustrated in FIG. 2A according to an example implementation;

FIG. 3A is a schematic side view of a carrying device with a megastructure according to an example implementation;

FIG. 3B is a close-up view of part of a concrete structure around floating containers of a megastructure laden on the carrying device according to an example implementation;

FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of another carrying device according to an example implementation;

FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of the carrying device illustrated in FIG. 4A according to an example implementation.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a floating platform made with the disclosed megastructures according to an example implementation.

FIG. 6A shows a floatable container assembly for use in constructing a floatable megastructure according to an example implementation; and

FIGS. 6B and 6C are respectively top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a megastructure constructed using container assemblies according to an example implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A marine vessel or floating platform formed from “megastructures” at sea is provided, with a lift force resulting from a large gap between the platform's low mass (“curb weight”) and the much larger mass of water that is displaced by the floating platform.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a megastructure 200′ according to an example implementation. Megastructure 200′ as shown includes one floatable unit that can be connected to other similar units to create a floating platform 1000 such as shown in FIG. 5. The floating platform 1000 can be used as an airport landing area for example or any other purpose that needs a floating platform.

According to one aspect the megastructure includes hollow containers in the sense that the containers contain air to provide maximum buoyancy. In some embodiments the entire megastructure could be made with modified containers that are hollow inside and organized in a larger concrete structure. The modified containers would have the ability of connection to other containers with lift power that is adaptable to different purposes.

FIG. 2B is a close-up view of a part of the megastructure 200′ illustrated in FIG. 2A according to an example implementation. The embodiment 200′ has a construction made of a hollow concrete box 205 with walls 201 which are made for example of reinforced concrete. In general, the hollow concrete box 205 can be made in different ways using different types of material as needed.

The dimensions of the box 205 can reach, for example, 48 meters wide, 48 meters long and about 40 meters high.

Each box 205 contains a plurality of containers 204, typically used shipping containers that have been modified such as will be described below. In some embodiments, containers 204 may be coated inside and outside with reinforced concrete to both strengthen them and protect them from corrosion in the platform 1000. The coating with concrete is one modification of the containers 204.

The concrete hollow box construction 205 serves to stabilize the modified shipping containers 204 inside and help keep them together as one unit. The platform megastructure 200′ can thus be moved to the selected location as one piece. The height of the box 205 is for example approximately 40 meters where each modified container 204 is approximately 12 meters high. Each box 205 may typically include 240 modified containers; that number can be changed according to need.

One aspect provides at least three modified shipping containers 204 arranged one on top of the other in an upright position (such that their doors are facing the sky) such as to create a structure of at least three layers, each layer made of a plurality of containers 204, all in the upright position, to maximize the buoyancy of the megastructure 200′.

Typically, in a first step of constructing a megastructure 200′ a chamber 202 is built from several modified containers 204 vertically stacked on top of each other; typically, the chamber 202 includes at least three shipping containers to allow for uses such as airports.

In some embodiments each of the modified containers 204 may include, or have affixed thereto, at least one container socket (not shown). The sockets may be another independent modification of the shipping containers. A container rod (not shown) may be provided having a length at least as long as one container length. The container rod may have a circular profile with a diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of each container socket.

The container rod may also have a conical end to help ease the rod into and through each container socket. After carefully aligning three or more chamber containers on top of each other such that the container sockets are aligned to create one hole extending along all the chamber containers, the container rod can be passed through all the container sockets to lock the chamber containers to each other in perfect alignment.

Multiple chambers 202 are connected to each other such as to create at least three layers of containers 204.

Note that in some megastructure embodiments the container sockets are positioned to allow each rod to go via at least six container sockets, at least three of a first chamber and at least three of a second chamber, thus allowing to secure adjacent first and second chambers to each other. In turn the second chamber in some embodiments includes at least three more container sockets that allow for a rod to secure the second chamber to a third chamber and so forth.

In some embodiments, gaps between adjacent containers in a layer are filled with concrete to help stabilize the structure.

In some embodiments the connection between containers is made with a cement beam/s or cement layer/s that at least partially occupy spaces between the containers (typically before said spaces are filled with concrete).

Each chamber 202 (three containers stacked on top of each other) may alternatively or additionally be connected to the adjacent ones 202 with beams 203 built for example with structural concrete.

In turn when the megastructures are brought to their desired destination there is need to connect them with adjacent megastructures of the platform. Each megastructure 200′ may be connected to the adjacent ones with lock components which may be affixed to the megastructures or manufactured as part thereof during the construction of the megastructure at a seafront.

The lock components may have various suitable profiles. For example, the lock components may fit together to form male-female locks so that the chambers can be easily maneuvered into place and locked one to the other. Typically, all of the chambers 202 are identical and include, extending from a first wall, a male-shaped protuberance, and extending from an opposite second wall, a substantially matching female-shaped protuberance.

The lock components may each have a contour that leads to the desired locking when the complementing components are brought together: for example the female component may include a cavity that includes a triangular cavity, and the male component may include a cylindro-conical or arrow-like structure wherein the conical/triangular part is slightly narrower and shorter than the respective width and height of the female's triangular cavity.

Bringing together and aligning and manoeuvring the megastructures, such as to lock them to each other, is typically not so difficult, despite the enormous mass of each megastructure, because the operation is entirely performed in the water with the structures floating. Cables and ratchets typically suffice to secure the locking.

The megastructures can be transferred, typically one at a time, to a selected marine location via a carrying device that can also be used as a building platform for each megastructure, when the carrying device is parked at a waterfront on shore.

FIG. 3A is a schematic side-view illustration of an amphibious carrying device 300′ according to an example implementation that can be used as a land base for building megastructures 200′ and/or 650 as well as for shuttling the megastructures 200′/650 to the selected location. The amphibious carrying device 300′ has a floor 302 e.g., made of concrete, that is the base upon which the megastructures 200′/650 can be built.

The amphibious carrying device 300′ has wheels or rollers 301 that help the device move from the construction site to the selected location and back.

The new design enables the amphibious carrying device 300′ to carry the floating megastructures 200′/650 to the selected site and place it in the water.

The floor of the carrying device can have a rim or a rail for example to secure the megastructure while moving it from land to water. When the carrying device is lowered into the water, the megastructure can float over the rim/rail and be placed in the selected area.

FIG. 3B is a close-up view of the concrete walls 201 and box structure 205 around the containers 204, placed on the carrying device 300′ according to an example implementation. The carrying device 300′ is designed to be used as a basis for the building of each megastructure unit and moving it to the selected location. Every carrying device 300′ can be disconnected from the built unit 200′/650 and moved back to build a new unit 200′.

FIG. 4A shows in a perspective frontal view another carrying device 400′ according to an example implementation. The carrying device 400′ may have jet engines 401 for example for propulsion and direction. The device 400′ may be provided with ballast tanks 412 on the side that keep the megastructures 200′/650 in the carrying device 400′ and out of the water until the selected location, to reduce resistance of the water against the movement. At the location water is controllably allowed to enter the tanks to lower the megastructure 200′/650 and let it float to place.

The carrying device allows placing the megastructure into the water without sinking or exposing the engines 401 to water. The carrying device 400′ can be used for building as many megastructures 200′/650 as needed to form an airport/floating platform 1000. Typically, the floor 402 or the carrying device 400′ is at least 10 m wider and longer than the respective width and length of the megastructure 200′/650.

The ballast tanks 412 may have a faucet and a drain pump (not shown). The faucet and the drain pump control the amount of water that enters the ballast tanks, and the draining of the water enables the carrying device to exit from the water to the land. The ballast tanks 412 may have a concrete structure 403 surrounding them.

Concrete beams 404 may connect between the layers of the ballast tanks 412 in the carrying machine 400′.

When the megastructure 200′/650 with the carrying device 400′ arrives at the designated destination, the carrying device 400′ can be disconnected from the megastructure 200′/650 to be placed into the water and it can be used as building unit for the floating platform 1000 (airport for example), the carrying device 400′ sails back to the factory/workplace to build another megastructure 200′/650.

The carrying device has engines 401 that sit on an elevated platform that is connected only to the floor 402 of the carrying device 400′.

In some embodiments the carrying device is configured to allow utilizing solar power or wind power to accelerate the movement of the moving rollers/wheels as needed.

FIG. 4B is a perspective side view of the carrying device 400′ according to an example implementation, showing the side ballast tanks 412 of the carrying device 400.

The design shows an example of the moving ability of the carrying device 400′ where the structure is built on rollers 401.

In some embodiments large pipes (not shown), two meters in diameter for example, are inserted in the water and then in parallel rows into the seabed under the planned location of the platform 1000. Insert rods having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the large pipes, for example 1.80 m, may be built onto and along two parallel sides of the megastructure (while on shore or at the desired location), and can be lowered from the megastructure 200′/650.

The insert rods are inserted into the large pipes which may then be connected to the megastructure itself. The platform 1000 can thus have shock absorbance to withstand an impact of up to about 2000 tons such as the momentary load from a landing commercial airliner. In addition, each megastructure is secured from movement at least in one sideways direction.

Note that the large pipes are carefully positioned to be exactly under the insert rods which may be affixed at about 10 m intervals along each megastructure's sides.

In addition, anchors such as shipping containers may be sunk onto the seabed in the vicinity of the platform 1000, ideally somewhat beyond an outer perimeter of the platform, and the platform may be secured to the anchors for example with thick cables that may be drawn very tight, for example with an electrical pulley, such that the floating platform slightly sinks in the waters. Such moorings are expected to render the platform very high stability against lateral movement while allowing for some freedom of vertical movement under loads and waves.

As above, both the large pipes and the securing rods may be installed for example every 10 meters of the platform 1000 on two sides; so a 2,000-metre landing runway will include about 400 each of the large pipe and insert rods described above.

Water bows 405 are provided to additionally control the position and direction of the carrying device 400′ in the water and help the device 400′ cut through the water. The carrying device 400′ also includes fins 406 to help make the device hydrodynamic and/or aerodynamic.

FIG. 6A shows a floatable container assembly 600 for use in constructing a floatable megastructure 650 according to an example implementation. FIGS. 6B and 6C are respectively top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a megastructure 650 constructed using container assemblies 600 according to an example implementation. One or more megastructures 650 may for example be used to create a floating platform 1000 such as shown in FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, container assembly 600 is constructed using hollow containers 602. In some embodiments, containers 602 are shipping containers. In some embodiments, containers 602 are used shipping containers. In some embodiments, containers 602 may be coated inside and outside with reinforced concrete to both strengthen them and protect them from corrosion. In some embodiments, container assembly 600 includes two stacks 603 each including multiple containers 602 arranged one on top of the other in an upright position, such that their doors are facing the sky. In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 6A, each stack 603 includes six containers 602. It should be appreciated that the number of containers 602 used may be determined according to the structural and buoyancy needs of megastructure 650.

In some embodiments, adjacent containers 602 may be fixedly attached to one another. In some embodiments, the attachment means are the same as described above for containers 204 such as using container sockets and rods or such as using beams 203. In some embodiments, gaps between adjacent containers are filled with concrete. In some embodiments the connection between containers is made with a cement beam/s or cement layer/s that at least partially occupy spaces between the containers (typically before the spaces are filled with concrete).

Stacks 603 are joined by a horizontal top container 604. In some embodiments, top container 604 is a shipping container. In some embodiments, top container 604 is a used shipping container. In some embodiments, top container 604 may be coated inside and outside with reinforced concrete. Top container 604 may be fixedly attached to each of stacks 603 using attachment means such as described above for attaching adjacent containers 602. The attachment of stacks 603 to horizontal top container 604 creates an “n” shaped structure with a hollow interior 605 between stacks 603 and horizontal top container 604.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, multiple container assemblies 600 may be attached together to form a megastructure 650. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of section YY shown in FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B shows a top view of five container assemblies 600-1 . . . 600-5 joined together to form megastructure 650. It should be appreciated that any suitable number of container assemblies 600 may be joined together according to the size requirements of megastructure 650. Adjacent container assemblies 600 are fixedly attached along an upper top edge of the top containers 604 as described further below.

In some embodiments, each of top containers 604 may include, or have affixed thereto, knuckles 620. FIG. 6B exemplarily shows four top containers 604-1 . . . 604-4. Knuckles 620 of adjacent top containers 604 are positioned so as to interlock and be joined together by rod 622 passing through knuckles 620. As shown in FIG. 6C, knuckles 620 and rod 622 form a hinge structure between adjacent container assemblies 600 (since the container assemblies 600 are not attached together aside for the attachment of top containers 604) to thereby impart to megastructure 650 a measure of flexibility for adjustment to varying wave heights along the length of megastructure 650.

Megastructure 650 may further include one or more flexible pipes 606 (FIG. 6A) running along the length of megastructure 650 for absorbing pressure from ocean waves that pass through megastructure 650. Pipes 606 are empty (filled with air). Two flexible pipes 606-1 and 606-2 are exemplarily shown in FIG. 6A but it should be appreciated that the number of pipes 606 may be determined according to the structural needs of megastructure 650. Pipes 606 may be suspended by suspension means 608 such as ropes or chains.

Megastructure 650 may further include propulsion means such as motors 610-1 and 610-2 driving propellers 614-1 and 614-2 and/or rollers 616 using drive shafts 612-1 and 612-2. Propellers 614 may be used for propulsion in water and rollers may be used for movement on land such as described above. Propulsion means such as described may be provided on each container assembly 600 or on selected container assemblies within megastructure 650 according to the propulsion needs of megastructure 650. Megastructure 650 may further include rudders 618 for steering of megastructure 650 in water.

It is anticipated that bringing together and aligning and manoeuvring container assemblies 600, such as to lock them to each other, should not be difficult, despite the enormous mass of each container assembly 600, since the operation is entirely performed in the water with the container assemblies 600 floating.

In some implementations, the dimensions of a container assembly 600 may be, for example, 48 meters wide (width of top container 604), 2.5 meters long (width of containers 602 and 604) and about 40 meters high (height of stack 603 plus height of container 604).

To summarize, a new way of stabilizing is suggested. The platform as a one unit can move with the waves, the way of stabilizing allows the platform to move up and down with the movement of the waves which means that the platform is not to be affected by the height of the water, especially not to sink under sea surface and/or be inundated with sea water.

A floating raft made of containers that has concrete on the inner walls is known. We now provide in some embodiments a concrete hollow construction that contains hollow containers. Every at least three containers are securely stacked one on top of the other.

Each container may have a door at a first end and an opposing panel at a second end, the containers may be placed one above the other such that a door of one container is connected to an opposing panel of the other container.

As described herein, every at least three containers as one chamber that in some megastructure embodiments is connected to an adjacent chamber with concrete beams that help secure the chambers to each other and may help with the sealing of the containers on their sides. Each megastructure may have profiles that are arranged in a male-female pattern to form a lock.

When two or more megastructures are already placed in the water, they can be easily be locked and attached one to the other such as by the same male-female locks. There may also be securing rods that pass-through holes in chamber profiles to lock them together in a permanent and unchanging pattern.

The carrying device should have a floor at least about 10 m longer and wider than the dimensions of the megastructure (that is, a carrying device with a floor over 50*50 m). The carrying device may have ballast tanks that should be large enough to contain enough air to prevent flooding of the floor and keep the engines completely dry as well.

In some embodiments the containers are filled with air and have enough buoyancy to allow the megastructure to be used as an airport, landing area or any other use that needs a floating platform.

The airport for example can be designed in different ways wherein the floating platform can be used either for the landing area alone, or for the car parking, offices and more.

The use of the new design can help reduce the time it takes to build the airport due to the simpler structure.

Another aspect is that the new platform is placed on the water which will reduce the costs of the ground buying or renting.

The present disclosure also provides a stable and consistent structure that can maintain its stability for 50 years at least. It also provides a new way of stabilizing the platform in the sea where the platform as a one unit can vertically move in a controlled manner with the waves.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above may vary in shape and structure from those shown in the figures but fulfill the same or similar purpose such as to essentially achieve the same results.

It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Although the disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise,” “include” and “have” and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

In the discussion unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as “substantially” and “about” modify a condition or relationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment. The terms are understood to mean that the condition or characteristic is defined to within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended.

Unless otherwise indicated, the word “or” in the specification and claims is considered to be the inclusive “or” rather than the exclusive or, and indicates at least one of, or any combination of, items it conjoins.

Descriptions of embodiments in the present application are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments. Some embodiments utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of that are described, and embodiments comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments, will occur to persons of the art.

PLATFORM FORMED FROM FLOATING MEGASTRUCTURES

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