IP Library Granted Patent US 9,132,894
Granted Patent B2
US 9,132,894 · App. 14/003,634 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Spar-type floating structure

Inventors: Haruki Yoshimoto (Tokyo, JP); Yuji Awashima (Kashiwa, JP); Hideyuki Suzuki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignees: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION; THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
B63B35/44F03D11/04B63B2035/442F05B2240/93
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,132,894
App. No.
14/003,634
Granted
Sep 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a spar-type floating structure comprising a tall, thin floating body 2 and a ballast portion 3 provided to the floating body 2 so that the weight of the ballast portion 3 allows the floating body 2 to float in upright position, the floating body 2 includes a horizontally-extending first extended portion 21 arranged at the bottom, a horizontally-extending second extended portion 22 arranged in the middle, and a column portion connecting the first and second extended portions 21, 22 and extending up to the waterline, the first extended portion 21 forms the ballast portion 3 , and the second extended portion 22 constitutes a buoyancy portion giving buoyancy to the floating body 2.

Claims (13)

1. A spar-type floating structure comprising an elongate floating body and a ballast portion provided to the floating body so that the weight of the ballast portion allows the floating body to float in upright position, wherein

the floating body includes a horizontally-extending first extended portion arranged at the bottom, a horizontally-extending second extended portion arranged in the middle, a hollow, cylindrical column portion connecting the first and second extended portions and extending up to a waterline, and a hollow, cylindrical third extended portion extending horizontally and fixedly arranged at the top of the column portion, wherein

the first extended portion forms the ballast portion,

the second extended portion constitutes a buoyancy portion giving buoyancy to the floating body, and

the waterline is located on the third extended portion in waves with normal heights and located on the column portion in waves with large heights.

2. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein the third extended portion has a waterplane area corresponding to 10 to 300% of the average area of the floating body obtained by dividing the displaced volume by the draft of the floating body.

3. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein a columnar member with a reduced horizontal size is joined to the top of the third extended portion.

4. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein a mooring cable for mooring the floating body is connected to the third extended portion.

5. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second extended portion has an inner volume corresponding to one fourth to three fourths of the displaced volume of the floating body.

6. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 5 , wherein a fairlead is provided to the side of the second extended portion to guide the floating-body mooring cable.

7. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second extended portions have sizes determined to meet the requirement GM=Iw/(Δ×tan θ) where GM is the metacentric height, Iw is the wind overturning moment, Δ is the displacement, and θ is the allowable maximum angle of tilt.

8. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 1 , wherein a resisting body is provided to surround the circumference of the first extended portion to adjust the dynamic response of the floating body.

9. The spar-type floating structure according to claim 8 , wherein the resisting body includes an annular guard to prevent the floating-body mooring cables from becoming caught in.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION
To: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048938/0331 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2013
From: YOSHIMOTO, HARUKI; AWASHIMA, YUJI; SUZUKI, HIDEYUKI
To: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION; THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
Reel/Frame 031390/0319 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-049283 · Mar 7, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140026798A1 · Jan 30, 2014