Patent ID: 6443659
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: E02B,E02D

Abstract:
A movable self-elevating work island, comprising:(a) a pair of buoyant hull components each of which: i) is capable of independent buoyant navigation over water; ii) has an elongated rectangular shape when viewed from above; and iii) has at least one leg slidably attached thereto, #at least one of said hull components has at least 2 legs slidably attached thereto at all times, said 2 legs disposed in a spaced apart relationship and substantially at either end of said hull, wherein until said pair of hulls are joined together, each of said hulls retains said elongated rectangular shape without substantial side protuberances; (b) a plurality of non-welded couplings disposed between said pair of buoyant hull components when said buoyant hull components are in a desired proximate relationship, for coupling said buoyant hull components together to form a buoyant unitary work island; and (c) a plurality of jacks attached to said unitary work island and to each of said legs for raising and lowering said legs to the bed of a body of water upon which the unitary work island is buoyantly disposed and for elevating and lowering said unitary work island a desired distance above the surface of said body of water.