Patent ID: 7421965
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A flexible mooring buoy comprising: an airtight hollow structure formed of a flexible membrane which is made of any of rubber and resin, which includes a reinforcement layer buried therein; and a flange opening including a gas inlet which is fixed to at least one place of the hollow structure, wherein buoyancy is controlled by using an internal pressure of a gas injected in the hollow structure, wherein an outside of the hollow structure is armored with a coupling structure formed of chains, wherein hanging attachments are fixed to positions of the coupling structure, the position corresponding respectively to longitudinal end portions of the hollow structure, and wherein a circumference of each of the chains constituting the coupling structure is covered with a tubular body made of flexible material, wherein the reinforcement layer is constituted of any one of a large number of arrayed reinforcing cords, and fabric cloth, wherein the hollow structure is formed into a cylindrical shape which has hemispherical shapes on both longitudinal end portions thereof, wherein the reinforcement layer is formed of a plurality of reinforcing cords arranged in the longitudinal direction of the hollow structure and a plurality of reinforcing cords arranged in the circumferential direction thereof, wherein tensile stiffness of the reinforcement layer in the circumferential direction is not less than twice as high as tensile stiffness thereof in the longitudinal direction, wherein a clearance P is formed between the lowest surface of the hollow structure and a surface of land, when the flexible mooring buoy is left at rest on the land in a state that a longitudinal direction of the hollow structure is horizontal, wherein the clearance P is not less than 50 mm to not more than 100 mm, and wherein tensile stiffness of the reinforcement layer in the circumferential direction is not less than twice and not more than four times as high as the tensile stiffness thereof in the longitudinal direction.