Protective device of the floating barrier type

Abstract

A protective device ( 1 ) of the “floating barrier” type for preventing a floating body from colliding with a construction includes a barrier element ( 2 ) consisting of a cable provided with floats ( 4 ), each of the two ends ( 2 a ) of which cable is connected to a respective one of the posts ( 3 ), and at least one of which ends is connected to the respective one of the posts ( 3 ) via an energy-dissipation system ( 5 ). The energy-dissipation system ( 5 ) advantageously includes: at least one chain having a segment that is folded in half, being made up of links that are connected together in pairs by breakable ties; and at least one spring member.

1 . A protective device of the “floating barrier” type for preventing a floating body from colliding with a construction, which protective device ( 1 ) comprises a barrier element ( 2 ) that is mounted between two anchoring posts ( 3 ) and that is associated with a plurality of floats ( 4 ) designed to float on the surface of the water (E), said protective device being characterized in that said barrier element ( 2 ) comprises a cable provided with said floats ( 4 ), in that said cable ( 2 ) has two ends ( 2   a ), each of which is connected to a respective one of said posts ( 3 ), and in that at least one of said ends ( 2   a ) of said cable ( 2 ) is connected to the respective one of said posts ( 3 ) via an energy-dissipation system ( 5 ). 
     
     
         2 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the two ends ( 2   a ) of the cable ( 2 ) is connected to the respective one of the posts ( 3 ) via an energy-dissipation system ( 5 ). 
     
     
         3 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the energy-dissipation systems ( 5 ) comprises:
 at least one chain ( 8 ) having a segment that is folded in half, being made up of links ( 9 ) that are connected together in pairs by breakable ties ( 10 ); and   at least one spring member ( 7 ).   
     
     
         4 . A protective device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the spring member ( 7 ) is suitable for being moved between a rest configuration and a deformed configuration, and in that said spring member ( 7 ) is associated with means ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ) for delivering a braking force designed to limit the speed at which the spring member moves from said deformed configuration to said rest configuration. 
     
     
         5 . A protective device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the spring member ( 7 ) consists of a compression spring suitable for being moved in compression and in decompression, in that said spring member ( 7 ) is encased in a casing ( 13 ) enclosing a piston ( 15 ) that is movable in translation and that is made up of a head ( 15   a ) and of a rod ( 15   b ), so as to form a damper assembly ( 16 ) comprising said casing ( 13 ), said piston ( 15 ) that is movable in translation, and said spring member ( 7 ), which casing ( 13 ) and which piston head ( 15   a ) form two surfaces ( 17 ,  18 ) holding said spring member ( 7 ) captive, and which casing ( 13 ) and which piston rod ( 15   b ) are provided with respective fastening points ( 20 ,  21 ) enabling them to be connected to the cable ( 2 ), to the chain ( 8 ), or to the pile ( 3 ), as applicable. 
     
     
         6 . A protective device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the casing ( 13 ) is filled with liquid, and in that the piston head ( 15   a ) is provided with openings ( 19 ) enabling the liquid to flow through. 
     
     
         7 . A protective device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the chain ( 8 ) of the energy-dissipation system ( 5 ) is interposed between two spring members ( 7 ). 
     
     
         8 . A protective device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that a first damper assembly ( 16 ) is connected at one end to the cable ( 2 ) and at the other end to the chain ( 8 ), and in that a second damper assembly ( 16 ) is connected at one end to the post ( 3 ) and at the other end to the chain ( 8 ). 
     
     
         9 . A protective device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the breakable ties ( 10 ) are constituted by metal ties or by rope ties. 
     
     
         10 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the energy-dissipation system ( 5 ) is connected to the post ( 3 ) via a collar ( 25 ) mounted to move in vertical translation along said post ( 3 ), in order to enable the cable ( 2 ) to remain floating in the event that the level of the water (E) varies. 
     
     
         11 . An energy-dissipation system for a protective device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 at least one chain ( 8 ) having a segment that is folded in half, being made up of links ( 9 ) that are connected together in pairs by breakable ties ( 10 ); and   at least one spring member ( 7 ).   
     
     
         12 . An energy-dissipation system according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the spring member ( 7 ) is suitable for being moved between a rest configuration and a deformed configuration, and in that said spring member ( 7 ) is associated with means ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ) for delivering a braking force designed to limit the speed at which the spring member moves from said deformed configuration to said rest configuration. 
     
     
         13 . An energy-dissipation system according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the spring member ( 7 ) consists of a compression spring suitable for being moved in compression and in decompression, and in that said spring member ( 7 ) is encased in a casing ( 13 ) enclosing a piston ( 15 ) that is movable in translation and that is made up of a head ( 15   a ) and of a rod ( 15   b ), so as to form a damper assembly ( 16 ) comprising said casing ( 13 ), said piston ( 15 ) that is movable in translation, and said spring member ( 7 ), which casing ( 13 ) and which piston head ( 15   a ) form two surfaces ( 17 ,  18 ) holding said spring ( 7 ) captive, and which casing ( 13 ) and which piston rod ( 15   b ) are provided with respective fastening points ( 20 ,  21 ) enabling them to be connected to the cable ( 2 ), to the chain ( 8 ), or to the post ( 3 ), as applicable. 
     
     
         14 . An energy-dissipation system according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the casing ( 13 ) is filled with liquid, and in that the piston head ( 15   a ) is provided with openings ( 19 ) enabling the liquid to flow through. 
     
     
         15 . An energy-dissipation system according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the chain ( 8 ) of the energy-dissipation system ( 5 ) is interposed between two spring members ( 7 ). 
     
     
         16 . A protective device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that each of the energy-dissipation systems ( 5 ) comprises:
 at least one chain ( 8 ) having a segment that is folded in half, being made up of links ( 9 ) that are connected together in pairs by breakable ties ( 10 ); and   at least one spring member ( 7 ).   
     
     
         17 . A protective device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the chain ( 8 ) of the energy-dissipation system ( 5 ) is interposed between two spring members ( 7 ).