It is known to connect flotation elements together to form various types of constructions. The flotation elements can be connected together in order to form a floating frame for fish farming nets, or the flotation elements can be connected to each other to form a flotation body for docks or walkways. A plurality of flotation elements that are connected to each other can be used for the mooring of boats or the creation of boat slips etc. There are many areas of use, and a single type of arrangement of flotation elements can be suitable for different areas of use.

The connection points between the flotation elements are critical regardless of the type of use the flotation elements are to have. In the case of fish farming nets, it is important that the flotation elements are securely connected to each other while at the same time being, to a certain degree, responsive to the movement of water such that the nets are not destroyed. It is also very important that the flotation elements are held together and that the connections do not break, which can result in a destroyed net and escaped fish.

A known technique for connection of flotation elements is to use a rope, line, or chain as the connection element. The rope or chain is a threaded through a hole in the flotation element and is attached such that the flotation elements appear as a single unit. Because this arrangement is not particularly suitable to accommodate wave motion unless there is a certain distance between the flotation elements, the flotation elements in such an arrangement are exposed to significant wear, and in the worst-case are at risk of being destroyed such that they are separated from each other.

Prior art systems for the connection of flotation elements such as pontoon's etc. include US patent 2 277 885 and US patent 2 893 722 which describe screwed connections for the end joint or the like of elements that are connected together.

In addition, US patent 3 675 881 describes a connection with an internal, through going sleeve designed to hinder the transference of vibrations, where the sleeve is formed of an elastic material. A connection of this type will also have a degree of tolerance for angle differences for example between pontoon's that are effected by waves.

GB 1 337 623 describes a device for the connection of flotation elements comprising a connection element which has one end connected directly to the pontoon by nails and has its other end inserted into a space between the pontoon and a V-formed bracket and secured by a bolt.

The present invention has the object of avoiding the above-described problems by providing a system that ensures a secure connection between the flotation elements while at the same time providing flexibility in relation to the wave motion to which the flotation elements are exposed. It is also an object of the invention to provide a connection device that is flexible in that two or more flotation elements can be connected at a common point, and such that it is simple to produce and utilize and such that maintenance and monitoring can be performed in a simple manner. It is also an object that the connection device can be scaled up or down depending on the area of use.

A further object with the system according to the invention is to provide a means of connecting several flotation elements together in such a manner that the total floating construction can tolerate natural forces such as wave motion without the flotation elements or the connection devices being damaged and without the individual components being exposed to damaging mechanical wear from the motion caused by natural forces or the mechanically applied forces.

The objects are achieved by connection device according to the following claims.

The connection device according to the present invention is utilized between flotation elements where the flotation elements can for example be pontoons, barges, floats that form docks, walkways, support devices for fish farming facilities etc. The connection device is principally intended to be used between two flotation elements, but can also be used as a simple connection device for three or more elements that are gathered at a single point. A flotation element can of course also be arranged with several connection devices on one or more sides of the flotation element. The connection device according to the invention comprises a flexible element that comprises at least two contact sections, each of which is in contact with a contact surface on the flotation elements. On the opposite side of the flexible element in relation to the contact surface is arranged a pressure element. The pressure element is held together with the contact surface by connection means such that the flexible element is pressed between the contact surface and the pressure element and thereby holds the two flotation elements relative to each other by the help of the friction forces between the pressure element and the flexible element and between the flexible element and the contact surface on each of the flotation elements.

A connection of this type between the flotation elements results in a flexible connection that is also secure. Because the surface for the transfer of force between the flexible element and the flotation elements has a larger area, the danger of the connection between the flexible element and the flotation element being damaged is much less than for example a connection of the flexible element with a pure bolt connection. This is a significant improvement over the prior art and provides a more secure connection of the flotation elements.

The flexible element is preferably formed of a type of rubber or other material with similar elasticity, where the material in one embodiment preferably has reinforcement elements integrated in the material. The reinforcement elements should be arranged in a direction that stretches between the opposing flotation elements that are to be connected together since it is in this direction that the device will experience the greatest influence of forces. This means that the material will normally have reinforcement elements in the longitudinal direction of the material.

A practical example of a material with reinforcement elements that is suitable for use as the flexible elements in relation to the present invention is a material similar to that which is used in conveyor belts in industrial settings. This material has the necessary strength and flexibility while at the same time being reinforced in the longitudinal direction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to envision several more or less practical forms of connection between the flotation elements, and in the preferred embodiment the flexible element is stretched in its normal position in a plane, which preferably is essentially horizontal. This provides a simple attachment of the flexible element, an advantageous stress pattern for the flexible element and an advantageous movement pattern of the two or more flotation elements that will be attached to each other. Several other, less practical variations are possible.

In order to achieve a good and stable connection arrangement, the area and pressure stresses of the flexible element are important factors. Normally, the pressure elements will have a surface area that preferably is essentially equivalent to the surface area of the contact surface, and the surface area of the flexible element's contact section is preferably equivalent to the pressure element's surface area. For use of the connection device for the connection of two pontoons, a preferred embodiment is to arrange two connection devices to the edges of the pontoons that will be connected together. These two are spaced apart by relative distance that is as large as possible, that is to say that they are placed on each outer edge of the edges that shall be connected. It is of course possible to envision other variations depending upon the size of the elements that shall be connected. One variation is that the flexible element has a width that is only a portion of the width of the contact surface, but that there is arranged a row a flexible elements beside each other at the contact surface, and that the connection means for holding the pressure element against the contact surface is arranged between the flexible elements. One can also envision a variation where the width of the contact surface is essentially equal to the width of the flotation element.

According to the present invention where the flexible element is essentially held in place by friction forces, it is important to achieve as great a friction as possible between the flexible element and contact surface, and the flexible element and the pressure element. It is possible to achieve improved friction in several ways. One method is to arrange grooves or projecting ribs in the pressure element and/or the contact surface such that the flexible element is partially pressed into the grooves and/or the ribs are pressed into the flexible element when the flexible element is pressed against the contact surface, such that one thereby achieves a more secure connection between the elements. The grooves can be formed by channels or slits or as in one embodiment by full or partially through-going perforations in the pressure plate and/or contact surface and the perforated plate attached to the contact surface or pressure plate. The perforations can also form through-going holes for connecting the pressure plate to the contact surface by the use of a bolt connection.

A perforated element of this type can be formed from a plate of sheet-metal, but it is also important that the edges of the perforated element, grooves and/or ridges, are not so sharp that they cause unnecessary wear on the flexible element.

The flotation elements that are connected together can be of different types, one variation is pontoons that have reinforcement elements that extend into the pontoons. When using such a pontoon, it is natural that the contact surface is in connection with the reinforcement elements such that one achieves a satisfactory dispersion of forces in the pontoon.

It is preferred that the connection device is arranged in channels in the upper surface of the flotation elements with edges that shall be attached against the second flotation element. The channel in a preferred embodiment is formed as an L-shaped groove along one edge of the upper surface of the flotation element. The upper surface is that side of the flotation element that ordinarily is directed away from the medium in which the flotation element floats. Viewed from the side, the bottom of the L-shape forms the contact surface for the connection device. In a preferred embodiment, the depth of the channel, that is the height of the L-shape, corresponds to the thickness of the connection device such that the upper edge of the connection device lies flush with the upper surface of the flotation element. In addition, the convection device has a deck plate arranged in the upper edge of the pressure plate.

The deck plate can have channels such that the connection means for holding the pressure plate against the contact surface are hidden under the deck plate or at least do not stick out over the deck plate in that it terminates at the deck plate. The deck plate can be attached to the pressure plate by for example recessed screws or other type of connection such that in the preferred embodiment it lies flush with the upper surface of the flotation element without any projecting parts.

The invention will be further described in relation to an embodiment, with reference to the drawings where : Fig. 1 A shows two flotation elements, pontoons, connected to a connection device according to the invention viewed from the side, Fig. 1 B shows a detail of the connection device from Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the lower pressure plate in the connection device from Fig. 1 B, Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the upper pressure plate in the connection device from Fig. 1 B, Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the deck plate in the connection device from Fig. 1 B, Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the flexible element in the connection device from Fig. 1 B, Fig. 6 A-D shows sketched variations of use of the connection device in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the connection device according to the invention for connecting two flotation elements, in this instance two pontoons 1,1'. The two pontoons 1, 1'have a shape the cross-section of which is essentially trapezoidal with the slopes directed downward into the fluid in which the elements float. Two opposing edges of the pontoons are connected by a connection device according to the invention.

The pontoons that are shown in this embodiment are formed with a reinforcement element 9 that extends into the pontoons. A lower pressure plate 2 is attached to reinforcement element 9 by welding or other means. The lower pressure plate comprises in this embodiment the contact surface of the flotation element. The contact surface of the connection device is not necessarily formed of a separate pressure plate, but can for example be formed of the flotation body itself. The lower pressure plate 2 is formed, in the embodiment shown in fig 2, of a solid plate 2 with a perforated plate 10 welded to the side directed away from the pontoon. At the lower edge of the lower pressure plate 2 directed towards the pontoon there are arranged nuts for receiving bolts that comprise connection means 6 in this embodiment of the connection device. Contact section 5A/5B of the flexible element 5 are in contact with the perforated side of the lower pressure plate 2, i. e. the perforated plate 10. The flexible element 5 extends from the contact surface of the first pontoon 1 to the contact surface of the second pontoon 1'and forms thereby the connection between the two pontoons 1 and 1'. One embodiment of the flexible element 5 is shown in Fig. 5, where the element is shown with contact sections 5A and 5B and through-going hole 8 for connection means 6.

At the upper edge of the flexible element 5 is an upper pressure plate 3. In this embodiment, upper pressure plate 3 comprises a perforated plate as shown in Fig. 3.

The perforated plate also has a through going hole 8 for the bolts of connection means 6. Bolts or screws pass through the upper pressure plate 3, the flexible element 5 and the lower pressure plate 2 and are screwed into the underlying nuts, whereupon they are tightened such that the upper and lower pressure plates compress the flexible element. In such a manner, the connection of the flexible element 5 is achieved by the surface forces from the two pressure plates, and not by the screws/bolt connection itself. This provides a more secure and robust connection since it is not simply the connection points from the screws or bolts that form the connection, something which would be susceptible to puncture damage that could destroy the flexible element having such a large surface area.

In the illustrated embodiment, there is also arranged a deck plate 4 at the upper edge of the upper pressure plate 3, where the lower edge of deck plate 4 lies flush with the upper side of pontoon 1, and screw connection 6 is recessed or otherwise hidden by deck plate 4. This is done to prevent elements from sticking up over the upper surface of pontoons 1, 1'which would entail a risk of someone kicking or tripping over if persons were to walk on the upper surface of the pontoons. An example for where this is important is where the flotation elements are used for supporting fish farming nets, or as walkways or floating docks.

As shown in figures 6A-D, the connection device according to the invention may be used in many ways. It is advantageous in the connecting of pontoons to arrange a connection device near the outside of the edges of the pontoons that will be connected as shown in Fig. 6A, that is to say with the largest possible relative distance between the two connection devices along one edge of the pontoons. This is because the greatest separation forces are experienced along the outer sides of the edge as opposed to the middle of the edge. Other configurations can of course also be envisioned such as for example a single wide connection device or a plurality of thin ones. In a situation where a plurality of thin flexible element is used, it may be appropriate with a common upper and lower pressure plate for several flexible elements. In such a situation it would not be necessary to form the flexible elements with holes for the connection means, but rather to place the connection means between the flexible elements. In Fig. 6D is shown an example of pontoons where several pontoons are connected in a common point.

The invention has heretofore been described with reference to a single embodiment.

Several variations of that which has been described are possible within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims. The pressure plate and/or the contact surface can be formed with other friction-introducing means, the deck plate can be omitted, the contact surface can be comprised of the flotation element itself and the connection means can be permanently attached to the flotation element itself.