Patent ID: 6588358
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A floating platform which dampens wave induced motion caused by waves of length Lw, where Lw is the wave length which defines the environment, said floating platform comprising:a plurality of buoyant cells, each of said cells having a length (Lp), first and second ends, and plurality of substantially planar sides defining an interior void; a bridge assembly comprising a girder system interposed between any given pair of adjacent buoyant cells, said girder system including a pair of upper end girders, a pair of lower end girders; each of said lower end girders positioned immediately underneath one of said upper end girders, at least one upper center girder interposed between said upper end girders, at least one lower center girder interposed between said lower end girders, said upper and lower girders forming pairs of upper and lower girders, each pair separated by a vertical space, said bridge assembly further comprising a deck assembly; wherein said bridge assembly separates each pair of adjoining buoyant cells by a non-buoyant separation distance such that the total length of said platform is greater than Â½ Lw and not greater than 7 Lw, and wherein said floating platform conforms to a series of relationships that define the dependency of said length of said buoyant cells to said non-buoyant separation distance, wherein said cells are separated from any adjoining cell by a separation distance L1, and wherein Lp and L1 are expressed as a product LpL1 which is greater than approximately two percent (2%) of the square of the known wave length (0.02 Lw2) and not greater than approximately sixty-eight percent (68%) of the square of the known wave length (0.68 Lw2); wherein said bridge assembly also rigidly connects each pair of adjoining cells such that the floating platform is non-articulating, monolithic and opposes wave induced motion by virtue of the separation distance between cells; and a plurality of connection points integral to each of said buoyant cells for connecting the ends of said girders to the opposing sides of adjoining buoyant cells.