SØNDERGAARD, Ole (Højrupvej 20, Horne, Hirtshals, DK-9850, DK)
| Patent claims Floating breakwater for reduction of waves in water including in fjords, seas, oceans or lakes where the floating breakwater is compound by at least one float (2) and at least one pipe (3), which is fully or partially enclosed by a water permeable structure (7) and placed under the float (2), and where the floating breakwater is compound by two or more modules (9), which each consist of at least one float (2) and at least one pipe (3), which is fully or partially enclosed by a water permeable structure (7) characterized in that the floating breakwater above the float (2) is provided with at least one pipe (4), which is fully or partially above the water surface (1 ) and which is connected to the float with a water permeable structure (7) Floating breakwater according to one ore more of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the floating breakwater is fully or partially manufactured from a polymeric material. Floating breakwater according to claim 4 characterized in that the floating breakwater fully or partially is manufactured from polyethene. Floating breakwater according to one or more of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the floating breakwater can be anchored to the ocean bed or seabed. 5. Floating breakwater according to one or more of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the floating breakwater can be provided with at least one perforated pipe (10), which is mounted below the water surface (1 ) and which can be hooked up to compressed air whereby air bubbles from the perforations in the pipe (10) can counteract formation of ice around the floating breakwater. |
The invention relates to a floating breakwater for reduction of waves in water including in fjords, seas, oceans or lakes where the floating breakwater is compound by at least one float and at least one pipe, which is fully or partially enclosed by a water permeable structure and placed under the float, and where the floating breakwater is compound by two or more modules, which each consist of at least one float and at least one pipe, which is fully or partially enclosed by a water permeable structure.
It is known to use floating breakwaters for reduction of wave height in water including in fjords, seas, oceans or lakes for example for protection of piers and harbours. The hitherto known floating breakwaters often reduce the wave height since the water must pass fixed and inflexible mechanical constructions.
From GB 1 163173 A is known a floating breakwater including a container shaped as a pipe, which is closed in both ends and shaped as a float and one or more underlying containers shaped as pipes, which are closed in both ends, where the containers are enclosed by a net and is anchored to the seabed. The floating breakwater can be composed of several, after each other, connected pipe shaped containers and can be made of a synthetic plastic material.
It has been found, however, that there are some drawbacks of this known technique, including that the hitherto known floating breakwaters are relatively expensive to manufacture, mount and maintain. The in GB 1 163173 described floating breakwater has bypassed quite a few of these drawbacks, but the efficiency has in practice shown to be insufficient for effectively reducing waves.
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the known technique for construction of floating breakwaters.
The object of the invention is achieved by a floating breakwater of the type stated in the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the floating breakwater above the float is provided with at least one pipe, which is fully or partially above the water surface and which is connected to the float with a water permeable structure.
In this way it thus becomes possible to manufacture a flexible and mechanical frangible floating breakwater, which is inexpensive to manufacture, mount and maintain.
Also, the wave reducing effect is improved since a part of the wave energy is converted to movement of the water permeable structure.
Further appropriate embodiments of the floating breakwater are stated in claims 2 to 5.
The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, on which: Fig. 1 shows a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater with a float, which is placed in the water surface and which is provided with two overlying and an underlying pipe where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure. Fig. 2 shows a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater, which is compound by two units, as shown in fig. 1 , which each consist of a float, which is placed in the water surface and which is provided with two overlying and an underlying pipe where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure. Fig. 3 shows a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater, which is compound by two units, which each consist of a float, which is placed in the water surface and which is provided with an underlying pipe and where one unit is also provided with two overlying pipes where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure.
Fig. 4 shows a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater with two floats placed in the water surface, which is provided with two overlying and an underlying pipe, where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure.
Fig. 5 shows a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater with a float placed in the water surface, which is provided with two underlying pipes, where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure. Fig. 6 shows a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater with two floats, which are placed below the water surface and which forms buoyancy to an overlying pipe, where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure. Fig. 7 shows a photo of a preferred embodiment of a floating breakwater with a float, which is to float on the water surface and which is provided with two overlying and an underlying pipe where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure. Fig. 8 shows a photo of a preferred embodiment of a floating breakwater with a float, which is to float on the water surface and which is provided with two underlying pipes where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure and where the floating breakwater is provided with a perforated pipe for pumping out air for counteracting ice formation around the floating breakwater.
In fig. 1 is shown a floating breakwater, which is placed in water shown at a water surface titled 1 where the buoyancy of the floating breakwater is created by a float 2, which in a preferred embodiment consists of a closed and air filled pipe.
Above the float 2, two preferably open pipes 4 are placed, and below the float is placed a preferably open pipe 3.
The float 2 and the underlying pipe 3 are connected with a mechanical coupling 5, which can be a plate with cut out holes for placement of respectively the float 2 and the pipe 3.
All the components (2,3,4,5) are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7.
With the in fig. 1 shown construction, waves will be reduced by the mentioned components and qua the flexibility of the enclosing net 7, the floating breakwater will better handle the strain from waves, whereby the durability is improved significantly in relation to the hitherto known constructions.
Also, the water permeable structure 7 will advance the wave reduction effect since the waves are slowed by passage through the water permeable structure where a part of the wave energy is converted to movement, and heat, in the water permeable structure 7. In fig. 2 is shown a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater, which is compound by two units, as shown in fig. 1 , which each consists of a float 2, which is placed in the water surface 1 , and which is provided with two overlying pipes 4 and an underlying pipe 3 where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7.
The two units are connected via a fully or partially flexible mechanical connection 6, which can include a water permeable structure 7. In fig. 3 is shown a variant of the floating breakwater shown in fig. 2, since only one unit in fig. 3 is provided with overlying pipe 4.
Fig. 4 shows a floating breakwater, which consists of two floats 2, which are placed in the water surface 1 , and which are provided with two overlying pipes 4 and an underlying pipe 3 where the floats 2 and the underlying pipe 33 are connected with a mechanical coupling 5, which can be a plate with cut out holes for placement of respectively the floats 2 and the pipe 3.
All components (2,3,4,5) are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7.
In fig. 5 is shown a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater with a float 2 placed in the water surface 1 , which is provided with two underlying pipes 3 where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7. In fig. 6 is shown a simplified diagram of a floating breakwater with two floats 2, which are placed below the water surface 1 , and which create buoyancy to an overlying pipe 3, where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7. For all the in fig. 1 to fig. 6 shown floating breakwaters, it is characteristic that they can be anchored to for example the seabed or the lakebed. In fig. 7 is shown a photo of a preferred embodiment of a floating breakwater with a float 2, which is to float on the water surface 1 , and which is provided with two overlying pipes 4 and an underlying pipe 3 where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7.
As it will appear from fig. 7, the floating breakwater is compound by identical modules 9, whereby the floating breakwater can easily be expanded to any length.
Fig. 8 shows a photo of a preferred embodiment of a floating breakwater with a float 2, which is to float on the water surface 1 , and which is provided with an underlying pipe 3, where all components are enclosed by a water permeable structure 7 and where the floating breakwater is provided with a perforated pipe 10 for pumping out air for counteracting formation of ice around the floating breakwater.
In fig. 8, the water permeable structure 7 consists of a flexible net. The pipe 10 runs along the floating breakwater and can as shown in fig. 8 be mounted in the bottom of the floating breakwater.
In a preferred embodiment, the floating breakwater contains at least one pipe (4), which is fully or partially above the water surface (1 ) and which is connected to the float with a water permeable structure (7).
In a preferred embodiment, the floating breakwater is also fully or partially manufactured from a polymeric material such as polyethene.