Patent ID: 9133597
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: E02B,E02D,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A foundation structure for locating an object mounted on the foundation structure on a sea bed or a river bed, the foundation structure comprising: a plurality of integral buoyancy devices, the plurality of integral buoyancy devices including first and second static ballast tanks, and a third movable ballast tank having a rigid control surface and pivotably mounted on the first static ballast tank and above the second static ballast tank, each of the plurality of integral buoyancy devices having variable buoyancy, the third movable integral ballast tank being movable relative to the first and second static ballast tanks to vary the position of the rigid control surface and control the position of a center of buoyancy relative to the position of a center of gravity, wherein the foundation structure is movable between a fully surfaced condition, wherein the foundation structure floats on a surface of a body of water, and wherein the center of buoyancy of the foundation structure is positioned below the center of gravity of the foundation structure, and a fully submerged condition, wherein the first and second static ballast tanks of the foundation structure are adjacent to one another and each of the first and second static ballast tanks are directly in contact with a bed of the body of water and wherein the center of buoyancy of the foundation structure is positioned above the center of gravity of the foundation structure.