Expandable Floating Structure

Abstract

The present invention relates broadly to a floating structure and more particular to a floating structure formed by a plurality of modular floating units, a method for forming a floating structure, and a method for stabilizing a plurality of modular floating units line abreast. The method for forming a floating structure comprises providing a plurality of modular floating units including three of more tunnel thrusters; aligning the plurality of modular floating units wherein each of the three or more tunnel thrusters of each of the plurality of modular floating units are aligned to each of a corresponding three or more tunnel thrusters on an adjacent modular floating unit; and operating at least one of the three or more tunnel thrusters of each of the plurality of modular floating units to generate at least one horizontal pillar of water flow, wherein the at least one horizontal pillar of water flow skewers each of the plurality of modular floating units longitudinally through one of the three or more tunnel thrusters thereof.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for forming a floating structure, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of floating units that respectively comprise one or more tunnel thrusters; and   generating, by at least a tunnel thruster of a floating unit and at least another tunnel thruster of another floating unit, a pillar of water flow that flows along a longitudinal axis shared by the tunnel thruster and the other tunnel thruster, through the floating unit and the other floating unit.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 configuring the plurality of floating units as a power plant.   
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 configuring the plurality of floating units as a wind-based power plant or a solar-based power plant.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 configuring the plurality of floating units as a terminal, an airport, a storage facility, an industrial facility, a habitation facility, or a military base.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 generating, by another pair of tunnel thrusters of the floating unit and the other floating unit, another pillar of water flow that flows along another longitudinal axis shared by the other pair of tunnel thrusters, through the floating unit and the other floating unit.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising:
 generating, by an additional pair of tunnel thrusters of the floating unit and the other floating unit, an additional pillar of water flow that flows along an additional longitudinal axis shared by the additional pair of tunnel thrusters, through the floating unit and the other floating unit.   
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising:
 generating the pillar of water flow and the other pillar of water flow to flow in a same direction; and   generating the additional pillar of water flow to flow in an opposite direction from the direction of the flow of the pillar of water flow and the other pillar of water flow.   
     
     
         27 . A floating structure comprising:
 a plurality of floating units that respectively comprise one or more tunnel thrusters, wherein:
 at least a tunnel thruster of a floating unit and at least another tunnel thruster of another floating unit are configured to generate a pillar of water flow along a longitudinal axis shared by the tunnel thruster and the other tunnel thruster, through the floating unit and the other floating unit. 
   
     
     
         28 . The floating structure as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of floating units are configured as a power plant. 
     
     
         29 . The floating structure as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of floating units are configured as a terminal or an airport. 
     
     
         30 . The floating structure as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of floating units are configured as a storage facility, an industrial facility, a habitation facility, or a military base. 
     
     
         31 . The floating structure as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 another pair of tunnel thrusters of the floating unit and the other floating unit, wherein:
 the other pair of tunnel thrusters is configured to generate another pillar of water flow that flows along another longitudinal axis shared by the other pair of tunnel thrusters, through the floating unit and the other floating unit. 
   
     
     
         32 . The floating structure as recited in  claim 31 , further comprising:
 an additional pair of tunnel thrusters of the floating unit and the other floating unit, wherein:
 the additional pair of tunnel thrusters is configured to generate an additional pillar of water flow that flows along an additional longitudinal axis shared by the additional pair of tunnel thrusters, through the floating unit and the other floating unit. 
   
     
     
         33 . The floating structure as recited in  claim 32 ,
 wherein the tunnel thruster, the other tunnel thruster, and the other pair of tunnel thrusters are configured to generate the pillar of water flow and the other pillar of water flow to flow in a same direction; and   wherein the additional pair of tunnel thrusters is configured to generate the additional pillar of water flow to flow in an opposite direction from the direction of the flow of the pillar of water flow and the other pillar of water flow.   
     
     
         34 . A method comprising;
 maintaining, as a floating structure, a plurality of floating units that respectively comprise one or more tunnel thrusters, wherein:
 the plurality of floating units comprises:
 a floating unit comprising at least a tunnel thruster; and 
 another floating unit comprising at least another tunnel thruster; and 
 
 the maintaining comprises:
 generating, by at least the tunnel thruster and the other tunnel thruster, a pillar of water flow that flows along a longitudinal axis shared by the tunnel thruster and the other tunnel thruster, through the floating unit and the other floating unit. 
 
   
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising:
 configuring the plurality of floating units as a power plant, a terminal, an airport, a storage facility, an industrial facility, a habitation facility, or a military base.   
     
     
         36 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising:
 configuring the plurality of floating units as a wind-based power plant or a solar-based power plant.   
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising:
 generating, by another pair of tunnel thrusters of the floating unit and the other floating unit, another pillar of water flow that flows along another longitudinal axis shared by the other pair of tunnel thrusters, through the floating unit and the other floating unit.   
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 37 , further comprising:
 generating, by an additional pair of tunnel thrusters of the floating unit and the other floating unit, an additional pillar of water flow that flows along an additional longitudinal axis shared by the additional pair of tunnel thrusters, through the floating unit and the other floating unit.   
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 38 , further comprising:
 generating the pillar of water flow and the other pillar of water flow to flow in a same direction; and   generating the additional pillar of water flow to flow in an opposite direction from the direction of the flow of the pillar of water flow and the other pillar of water flow.