Flexible joints between floating pier segments

Abstract

Arrangement of flexible joints between bridge sections ( 4 ) and pontoons ( 1 ) that enable flexible floating piers to be in operation in areas with large waves without the sections or construction being subject to structural damage.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A flexible joint between floating piers, wherein it comprises:
 a first and second turn disc axle ( 3 ),   a first and second bridge section ( 4 ) that each has a hole in both ends of the bottom surface,   a first and second flexible fender ( 5 ) each with a through hole, and   a pontoon ( 1 ),   where the first and second turn disc axle ( 3 ) is fixed on the pontoon ( 1 ), and   the first and second flexible fenders ( 5 ) are fixed on the bottom surfaces of the first and second bridge sections ( 4 ), respectively, where the through holes therein correspond with the holes in the bridge sections ( 4 ),   
       wherein:
 the holes in the bridge sections ( 4 ) are at least as large as the outer diameter of the turn disc axle ( 3 ), 
 the holes in the fenders ( 5 ) are at least as large as the outer diameter of the turn disc axle ( 3 ), 
 
       the first and second turn disc axle ( 3 ) are arranged at least partially inside respectively the first and second flexible fenders ( 5 ). 
     
     
         13 . The flexible joint of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible fenders ( 5 ) are rubber fenders, fenders with ball joints, or soft plastic fenders. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible joint of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible fenders ( 5 ) are rubber fenders. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible joint of  claim 12 , wherein the turn disc axle ( 3 ) has an outer diameter that is substantially smaller than the diameter of the hole of the bridge sections ( 4 ) arranged there above. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible joint of  claim 12 , wherein above the turn disc pontoon ( 1 ) and around the axial axes to the flexible fender ( 5 ) is arranged a synchronizing organ ( 26 ), which connects the two bride sections, where the synchronizing organ crosses itself so that when seen from above the synchronizing organ forms a “figure 8” with the axial axes to the flexible fender ( 5 ) in the holes of the “8”. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible joint of  claim 12 , wherein the hole in the bottom surface of the bridge section ( 4 ) are through holes 
     
     
         18 . The flexible joint of  claim 16 , wherein the synchronizing organ is arranged between the bridge sections ( 4 ) and the flexible fenders ( 5 ). 
     
     
         19 . The flexible joint of  claim 16 , wherein the synchronizing organ ( 26 ) is one or more chains. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible joint of  claim 17 , wherein it further comprises:
 a crossing bridge ( 7 ) with a first and second bolt ( 8 ) sticking out of the bottom surface thereof, where the turn disc axle are pipe shaped and arranged to receive the first and second bolts ( 8 ), respectively,   
       wherein
 the crossing bridge ( 7 ) is in contact with the upper surfaces of the first and second bridge sections ( 4 ), 
 the holes in the pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 3 ) are at least as large as the diameter of the bolts ( 8 ), and 
 the first and second bolts ( 8 ) are arranged at least partly inside of the first and second pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 3 ), respectively. 
 
     
     
         21 . The flexible joint of  claim 20 , wherein the crossing bridge ( 15 ) comprises a middle section ( 18 ) and a first and second end section ( 17 ), where the end sections can glide into the middle section, and the first and second bolts ( 8 ) of the crossing bridge are arranged on the first and second end sections, respectably. 
     
     
         22 . The flexible joint of  claim 21 , wherein the middle section ( 18 ) comprises a middle section crossing bridge joint ( 16 ). 
     
     
         23 . The flexible joint of  claim 22 , wherein the middle section crossing bridge joint ( 16 ) is arranged in the middle of the middle section ( 18 ) 
     
     
         24 . The flexible joint of  claim 20 , wherein the pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 3 ) has an inner diameter that is substantially larger than the diameter of the underlying bolts ( 8 ) in the crossing bridge ( 7 ). 
     
     
         25 . A floating pier system, comprising a plurality of serially connected flexible joints wherein the flexible joints comprise:
 a first and second turn disc axle ( 3 ),   a first and second bridge section ( 4 ) that each has a hole in both ends of the bottom surface,   a first and second flexible fender ( 5 ) each with a through hole, and   a pontoon ( 1 ),   where the first and second turn disc axle ( 3 ) is fixed on the pontoon ( 1 ), and   the first and second flexible fenders ( 5 ) are fixed on the bottom surfaces of the first and second bridge sections ( 4 ), respectively, where the through holes therein correspond with the holes in the bridge sections ( 4 ),   
       wherein:
 the holes in the bridge sections ( 4 ) are at least as large as the outer diameter of the turn disc axle ( 3 ), 
 the holes in the fenders ( 5 ) are at least as large as the outer diameter of the turn disc axle ( 3 ), 
 
       the first and second turn disc axle ( 3 ) are arranged at least partially inside respectively the first and second flexible fenders ( 5 ). 
     
     
         26 . The floating pier system of  claim 25 , wherein it further comprises:
 a crossing bridge ( 7 ) with a first and second bolt ( 8 ) sticking out of the bottom surface thereof, where the turn disc axle are pipe shaped and arranged to receive the first and second bolts ( 8 ), respectively,   
       wherein
 the crossing bridge ( 7 ) is in contact with the upper surfaces of the first and second bridge sections ( 4 ), 
 the holes in the pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 3 ) are at least as large as the diameter of the bolts ( 8 ), and 
 the first and second bolts ( 8 ) are arranged at least partly inside of the first and second pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 3 ), respectively. 
 
     
     
         27 . A flexible joint between floating piers, comprising:
 a first and second turn disc axel ( 22 ),   a first and second bridge section ( 20 ) that each has a hole in both ends of the bottom surface,   a first and second flexible fender ( 11 ) each with a trough hole, and   a pontoon ( 19 ),   
       where the first and second flexible fenders ( 11 ) are fixed on the pontoon ( 19 ),
 a first and second lower turn dis ( 23 ), with an outer diameter which is at least as large as the hole in the first and second flexible fenders ( 11 ), is fixed around the first and second turn disc axels ( 22 ), and 
 a plurality of flexible connections ( 13 ) attach the first and second turn discs ( 23 ) to the pontoon ( 19 ), 
 
       wherein:
 the holes in the bridge sections ( 20 ) are at least as large as the outer diameter of the turn disc axel ( 22 ), 
 the holes in the fenders ( 11 ) are at least as large as the outer diameter of the turn disc axel ( 22 ), 
 the first and second turn disc axel ( 22 ) are arranged at least partially inside respectively the first and second flexible fenders ( 11 ). 
 
     
     
         28 . The flexible joint of  claim 27 , wherein the flexible fender ( 11 ), is fastened to the turn disc pontoon ( 19 ), and the lower turn disc ( 23 ) with turn disc axel ( 22 ) is arranged on top of the fender and fastened with several flexible ties ( 13 ), to the turn disc pontoon ( 19 ). 
     
     
         29 . The flexible joint of  claim 27 , wherein the lower turn disc ( 23 ) with turn disc axel ( 22 ) is fastened to the top side of the flexible fender ( 11 ). 
     
     
         30 . The flexible joint of  claim 27 , wherein the flexible fenders ( 11 ) are rubber fenders, fenders with ball joints, or soft plastic fenders. 
     
     
         31 . The flexible joint of  claim 27 , wherein the turn disc axle ( 22 ) has an outer diameter that is substantially smaller than the diameter of the hole of the bridge sections ( 20 ) arranged there above. 
     
     
         32 . The flexible joint of  claim 27 , wherein above the turn disc pontoon ( 19 ) and around the axial axes to the flexible fender ( 11 ) is arranged a synchronizing organ ( 26 ), which connects the two bridge sections, where the synchronizing organ crosses itself so that when seen from above the synchronizing organ forms a “figure 8” with the axial axes to the flexible fender ( 11 ) in the holes of the “8” and wherein the synchronizing organ is arranged between the bridge sections ( 20 ) and the flexible fenders ( 11 ). 
     
     
         33 . The flexible joint of  claim 27 , wherein the hole in the bottom surface of the bridge section ( 20 ) are through holes. 
     
     
         34 . The flexible joint of  claim 33 , wherein it further comprises:
 a crossing bridge ( 15 ) with a first and second bolt ( 21 ) sticking out of the bottom surface thereof, where the turn disc axle is pipe shaped and arranged to receive the first and second bolts ( 21 ), respectively,   
       wherein
 the crossing bridge ( 15 ) is in contact with the upper surfaces of the first and second bridge sections ( 20 ), 
 the holes in the pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 22 ) are at least as large as the diameter of the bolts ( 21 ), and 
 the first and second bolts ( 21 ) are arranged at least partly inside of the first and second pipe shaped turn disc axle ( 22 ), respectively. 
 
     
     
         35 . The flexible joint of  claim 34 , wherein the crossing bridge ( 15 ) comprises a middle section ( 18 ) and a first and second end section ( 17 ), where the end sections can glide into the middle section, and the first and second bolts ( 21 ) of the crossing bridge are arranged on the first and second end sections, respectably. 
     
     
         36 . The flexible joint of  claim 35 , wherein the middle section ( 18 ) comprises a middle section crossing bridge joint ( 16 ) and wherein the middle section crossing bridge joint ( 16 ) is in the middle of the middle section ( 18 ).