IP Library Granted Patent US 8,025,020
Granted Patent B2
US 8,025,020 · App. 12/308,739 · Granted Sep 27, 2011

Auxiliary float of floating structure and method for remodeling floating structure

Assignee: IHI Marine United Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,025,020
App. No.
12/308,739
Granted
Sep 27, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide the auxiliary float of a floating structure which can prolong the lifetime of the floating structure by reducing external force acting on the brace and can be used even at very deep water by increasing buoyancy, and to provide a remodeling method of the floating structure. The auxiliary float ( 11 ) comprises two floats ( 12 ) coupled, respectively, to lower portions of two lower hulls ( 1 ) constituting a floating structure, two main coupling members ( 13 ) for coupling the floats ( 12 ) to each other, and four sub-coupling members ( 14 ) for coupling the main coupling member ( 13 ) and the float ( 12 ). The auxiliary float ( 11 ) is produced in advance and the floating structure is mounted on the auxiliary float ( 11 ), and then the lower hull ( 1 ) and the float ( 12 ) are connected, thus remodeling the floating structure.

Claims (15)

1. An auxiliary float of a floating structure, wherein the floating structure includes a plurality of lower hulls forming a float, an upper hull constituting a deck, a plurality of columns that couples said lower hulls and said upper hull to each other, and a brace coupled to an assembly of said lower hulls, said upper hull and said columns, the auxiliary float comprising:

floating bodies coupled to a lower portion of said lower hulls; and

a plurality of coupling members that couple the floating bodies to each other,

wherein said floating body has a housing that is open on the side to be connected to said lower hull and a partition plate that divides the interior of the housing into a plurality of sections.

2. The auxiliary float of a floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein said housing has a tapered surface at a longitudinal end thereof.

3. An auxiliary float of a floating structure, wherein the floating structure includes a plurality of lower hulls forming a float, an upper hull constituting a deck, a plurality of columns that couples said lower hulls and said upper hull to each other, and a brace coupled to an assembly of said lower hulls, said upper hull and said columns, the auxiliary float comprising:

floating bodies, configured to give buoyancy to the floating structure and to reduce a draft of the floating structure, coupled to a lower portion of said lower hulls; and

a plurality of coupling members that couple the floating bodies to each other,

wherein said coupling members include a main coupling member that couples said floating bodies to each other and a sub-coupling member that is directly coupled to the main coupling member and said floating bodies.

4. A method for remodeling a floating structure, wherein, for a floating structure having a plurality of lower hulls forming a float, an upper hull constituting a deck, a plurality of columns that couples said lower hulls and said upper hull to each other, and a brace coupled to an assembly of said lower hulls, said upper hull and said columns, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an auxiliary float including floating bodies to be coupled to a lower portion of said lower hulls and a plurality of coupling members that couple the floating bodies to each other,

mounting said floating structure on the auxiliary float,

connecting said lower portion of said lower hulls and said floating bodies to each other to thereby reinforce and provide increased strength for the floating structure, and

forming a communicating hole that connects the interior of said lower hull and the inner space of said floating body in the bottom surface of said lower hull.

5. The method for remodeling a floating structure according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of providing an additional auxiliary float on said lower hull; wherein the additional auxiliary float complements the buoyancy of the auxiliary float.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION
To: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048938/0331 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 9, 2018
From: IHI MARINE UNITED INC.
To: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047462/0685 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2008
From: YASUDA, TETSUYA; NEMOTO, MASANORI; YAMAMOTO, HIROMITSU; YOKOKURA, KOZO
To: IHI MARINE UNITED INC.
Reel/Frame 022054/0792 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-187782 · Jul 7, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090183666A1 · Jul 23, 2009