Patent Publication Number: US-2022212763-A1

Title: Floating type aquatic support apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a floating-type on-water support apparatus, and more specifically, to a floating-type on-water support apparatus allowing an offshore structure to be prevented from rotating in place. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A floating-type on-water support apparatus, which is disclosed in Public Patent No. 10-2017-0108900 and Registered Patent No. 10-1857949 and on which a wind power generator or another structure can be installed, is developed in order to install the wind power generator on the sea because a magnitude of a wind is not large due to friction with the ground of the land. 
     The above-disclosed floating-type on-water support apparatus includes a ball, a floating part, and a support rod. The floating part floats on water and supports the ball. The support rod is coupled to the ball, and one end of the support rod is heavier than the other end thereof. Accordingly, the support rod stands vertically. A wind power generator or another structure may be installed on one end of the support rod. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Publication Patent No. 10-2017-0108900 (Publication Date: Sep. 27, 2017) 
         Patent No. 10-1857949 (Registration Date: May 9, 2018) 
         Publication Patent No. 10-2017-0051204 (Publication Date: May 11, 2017) 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the case of a disclosed conventional floating-type on-water support apparatus, a support rod is coupled to a ball. In this case, since the ball is supported by a floating part, the ball may be rotated. Accordingly, the support rod may also be rotated about a central axis thereof. In this case, when a wind power generator is installed on the support rod, the wind power generator may be rotated about the central axis thereof. Then, since blades of the wind power generator are not directed to face the wind, there is a problem in that a power generation quantity is reduced. 
     The present invention is directed to providing a floating-type on-water support apparatus capable of allowing a support rod for supporting a structure to be prevented from being rotated about an axis of the support rod even when the support rod may be rotated about a ball. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a floating-type on-water support apparatus including a ball, a floating unit, and a support rod. 
     A guide groove is formed along a circumferential surface of the ball. The floating unit includes a floating part which floats on water and supports the ball so that the ball is rotatable. One end of the support rod is exposed above the water so that a structure is installable, the other end is heavier than the one end so that the support rod stands vertically, and the support rod passes through the circumferential surface and is coupled to the ball. In this case, the floating unit further includes a restriction protrusion fitted into the guide groove to restrict the ball from being rotated about an axis of the support rod. 
     In addition, in the floating-type on-water support apparatus, the floating unit may further include a fixing member by which the restriction protrusion is installed on the floating part. 
     The ball may further include a fixing groove formed in the guide groove at two sides of the ball to be perpendicular to a central axis of the support rod. In this case, the restriction protrusion may be fixed to the fixing member to be movable toward or away from the fixing member in a radius direction of the ball so as to be fitted into the fixing groove. 
     The fixing member may include a moving plate and a fixing frame. The moving plate may be coupled to the restriction protrusion so that the restriction protrusion is moveable forward and rearward when the restriction protrusion is rotated and bent in a circumferential direction the ball. The fixing frame may be coupled to the floating part to restrict the moving plate to be slidable within a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction of the ball. 
     The fixing member may further include a clamp coupled to the fixing frame to press the moving plate so as to fix sliding of the moving plate. 
     The floating-type on-water support apparatus may further include a blocking cover coupled to the floating part to prevent water, on which the floating unit floats, from being introduced into the ball. 
     In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a floating-type on-water support apparatus including a floating unit, a support unit, and an installation base. The floating unit includes a floating part which floats on water. The support unit includes a coupling rod coupled to the floating part and a support rod of which one end is coupled to the coupling rod coupled using a universal joint and the other end is heavier than the one end so that the support rod stands vertically. The installation base is exposed above the floating unit and coupled to the support rod so that a structure is installable on one end thereof. 
     The floating-type on-water support apparatus may further include a blocking cover coupled to the floating part to prevent water from being introduced into the universal joint. 
     The support rod may be coupled using a joint to be foldable. 
     A weight of the support rod may be adjustable by injecting a fluid into the other end of the support rod. 
     The floating part may be formed as a hollow case to accommodate the other end of the support rod therein. 
     In addition, the floating-type on-water support apparatus may further include a solar panel installed on the floating part. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a conceptual view illustrating one embodiment of a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a conceptual view illustrating a ball and a fixing member of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a floating unit according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a set of operational views illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A floating-type on-water support apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
     The floating-type on-water support apparatus according to the present invention includes a ball  10 , a floating unit  15 , a support rod  25 , and a solar panel  35 . 
     A guide groove  11  and fixing grooves  13  are formed in the ball  10 . The guide groove  11  is formed along a circumferential surface of a virtual cross section passing through a center of the ball  10 . That is, the guide groove  11  is formed along the circumferential surface in which a diameter of the ball  10  is defined. In addition, the fixing grooves  13  are formed in the guide groove  11  at two sides, which are opposite to each other, of the ball  10  in directions toward the center of the ball  10 . 
     The support rod  25  is coupled to the ball  10 , and since the support rod  25  should stand vertically so that one end  25   a  of the support rod  25  is positioned above water and the other end thereof is positioned in the water, the other end is formed to be heavier than the one end  25   a . In this case, a structure such as a wind power generator may be installed on the one end  25   a  of the support rod  25 . When the support rod  25  is coupled to the ball  10 , the support rod  25  is coupled to pass through the guide groove  11  and the center of the ball  10  to be perpendicular to the fixing grooves  13 . In order to change a weight of the support rod  25 , a fluid may be injected into or is discharged from the support rod  25  as in the conventional invention. Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a support rod  25  may be connected using a hinge to be foldable. This is to facilitate easy disassembling or assembling of a floating-type on-water support apparatus. In this way, the support rod  25  that is foldable or allows a fluid to be injected thereinto may be applied to any embodiment which will be described below. 
     The floating unit  15  includes a floating part  16 , restriction protrusions  17 , and fixing members  20 . 
     The floating part  16  floats on water and supports the ball  10 . Accordingly, an accommodation part  16   a  configured to accommodate and support the ball  10  is formed at a center of the floating part  16 , and a cut portion  16   b  is formed by cutting the floating part  16  from the accommodation part  16   a  to an outer circumferential surface thereof so that the support rod  25  is positioned in the accommodation part  16   a  or the other end of the support rod  25 , which is submerged in the water, is moved upward above the floating part  16 . 
     One end of the restriction protrusion  17  is fitted into the guide groove  11  so that the ball  10  is not rotated about an axis of the support rod  25 . In this case, a screw is formed on the other end of the restriction protrusion  17  to move forward or rearward in the fixing member  20 . 
     The fixing members  20  serve to install the restriction protrusions  17  on the floating unit  15 . To this end, the fixing members  20  include moving plates  21 , fixing frames  22 , and clamps  23 . 
     The moving plate  21  is screw-coupled to the other end of the restriction protrusion  17  so that the restriction protrusion  17  is moved forward or rearward when the restriction protrusion  17  is rotated and is formed to be bent in a circumferential direction of the ball  10 . 
     The fixing frames  22  are coupled to the floating part  16  so that the moving plate  21  is slidable within a predetermined distance in a curvature direction of the moving plate  21 . To this end, the fixing frame  22  guides the moving plate  21  to slide, and in this case, collision bars  22   a  are formed to be spaced apart from each other by the predetermined distance so that the moving plate  21  collides with the restriction protrusion  17  after sliding the predetermined distance. That is, the restriction protrusion  17  may slide only between the collision bars  22   a  spaced apart from each other by the predetermined distance. Accordingly, the moving plate  21  is slidable only within the predetermined distance like the collision bar  22   a.    
     The clamp  23  restricts sliding of the moving plate  21 . In some cases, the moving plate  21  should not slide, and the moving plate  21  should be fixed to not slide. In this case, the sliding of the moving plate  21  may be restricted by the clamp  23 . To this end, the clamp  23  is coupled to the fixing frame  22  to press the moving plate  21  when the clamp  23  is coupled to the fixing frame  22 . In the case of the present embodiment, the clamp  23  is screw-coupled to the fixing frame  22  to press the moving plate  21 . 
     The solar panel  35  is installed on the floating part  16 . Accordingly, the floating-type on-water support apparatus according to the present embodiment may be self-powered. In the case of the present embodiment, the solar panel  35  is installed on the floating part  16 , but a vertical wind power generator may be installed instead of the solar panel  35 , or both of the vertical wind power generator and the solar panel  35  may be installed thereon. The solar panel  35  and the vertical wind power generator may also be installed in any embodiment which will be described below. 
     When the floating-type on-water support apparatus according to the present embodiment is installed on the sea, the support rod  25  stands vertically. In this case, a wind power generator and the like are installed on the support rod  25 . When the restriction protrusion  17  is rotated and fitted into the guide groove  11  of the ball  10 , the ball  10  is prevented from being rotated about the axis of the support rod  25 . However, the ball  10  is restricted from being rotated about the axis of the support rod  25  but may be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the support rod  25 . Accordingly, even when a wave hits and shakes the floating part  16 , the shaking of the floating part  16  is not transferred to the support rod  25 . 
     However, in this case, the moving plate  21 , on which the restriction protrusion  17  is installed, may slide the predetermined distance. Accordingly, the support rod  25  may be shaken about the axis of the support rod  25  within the predetermined distance. When a strong wind blows to rotate the support rod  25  in the axis direction thereof, a severe load is applied to the restriction protrusion  17 , and thus the restriction protrusion  17  or the ball  10  may be damaged. In this case, the moving plate  21  coupled to the restriction protrusion  17  may slide to reduce the impact. When the moving plate  21  positioned at one side slides, the moving plates  21  positioned at both sides of the ball  10  slide in the same direction. In addition, the moving plates  21  slide in the circumferential direction of the ball  10 . Accordingly, even when the moving plates  21  slide, a predetermined distance between the restriction protrusions  17  positioned at both sides of the ball  10  is maintained. Accordingly, the restriction protrusions  17  are not separated from the guide groove  11  of the ball. 
     Meanwhile, in order to install or dismantle the floating-type on-water support apparatus, the support rod  25  should be rotated to be moved upward above the floating part  16  in order to move the floating-type on-water support apparatus. In this case, the support rod  25  should be rotated so that a part, which is submerged in water, of the support rod  25  is moved upward through the cut portion  16   b  of the floating part  16 . Accordingly, the support rod  25  should be restricted to being rotated about only one axis. In this case, the restriction protrusion  17  is rotated to be moved further forward. Then, the restriction protrusion  17  is rotated and fitted into the fixing groove  13 . Accordingly, the ball  10  may be restricted from being rotated in the other direction and may be rotated about an axis of the restriction protrusion  17 . Accordingly, the support rod  25  may be easily rotated and moved upward above the floating part  16 . 
     According to the present embodiment, since the guide groove  11  is formed in the ball  10  and the restriction protrusion  17  is fitted into the guide groove  11 , the ball  10  may be restricted from being rotated about the axis of the support rod  25 . Accordingly, in a case in which the wind power generator and the like are installed on the support rod  25 , a shaft of the wind power generator may be prevented from being rotated by a wind. However, in this case, the shaft of the wind power generator may be rotated within the distance within which the moving plate  21  is moved in the circumferential direction of the ball  10 . 
     In addition, since the restriction protrusion  17  fitted into the guide groove  11  may be moved with the moving plate  21  within the predetermined distance in order to prevent the support rod  25  from being rotated about the axis thereof, even when a severe load is applied to the restriction protrusion  17 , the impact of the severe load can be reduced. 
     In addition, since the restriction protrusion  17  may be moved forward and fitted into the fixing groove  13  of the ball  10 , the ball  10  is restricted to being rotated in an axis direction of the restriction protrusion  17 . Accordingly, the support rod  25  may be easily moved upward above the floating part  16 . 
       FIG. 6  is a conceptual view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of  FIG. 6  further includes blocking covers  40  in addition to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The blocking covers  40  are installed on a floating part  16  to prevent water from being introduced into a ball  10 . The blocking cover  40  may be installed on only a lower portion of the floating part  16  or the blocking covers  40  may be installed on both of the lower portion and an upper portion of the floating part  16  to prevent water from being introduced into the ball  10 . The blocking cover  40  may be formed of a flexible material to be easily deformed when the floating part  16  is shaken. 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the floating part  16  is formed as a plate and the other end of the support rod  25  is submerged in water, but in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , a floating part  16  is formed as a hollow case to accommodate the other end of the support rod  25  therein. Even when a wave hits the floating part  16  and the floating part  16  is shaken due to the wave, the support rod  25  should not be affected by the wave. In this case, since the other end of the support rod  25  is accommodated in the floating part  16 , the support rod  25  is not affected by the wave at all, and thus the support rod  25  may be more safely maintained vertically. 
       FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     The embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 4  includes the restriction protrusion  17  and the fixing member  20  for restricting rotation of the ball  10 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a restriction protrusion  18  is formed as a ball type to restrict rotation of a ball  10  and fitted into a guide groove  11 . In this case, the ball  10  does not need a fixing groove  13 , and a groove capable of accommodating the restriction protrusion  18  is formed in a floating part  16 . Since the restriction protrusion  18  is accommodated in the floating part  16 , a fixing member  20  is also not needed. Meanwhile, in order to reduce friction between the ball  10  and the floating part  16 , a bearing  19  supporting the ball  10  may be installed in the floating part  16 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are views illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     The floating-type on-water support apparatus according to the present invention incudes a floating unit, a support unit  60 , and an installation base  70 . 
     The floating unit includes a floating part  51 , and the floating part  51  is the same as that of the above-described embodiment. 
     The support unit  60  includes a coupling rod  61  and a support rod  63  and is installed on the floating part  51 . An upper end of the coupling rod  61  is formed as a support plate  61   a  and coupled to the floating part  16 , and a lower end thereof is formed to be coupled to the support rod  63  using a universal joint. An upper end of the support rod  63  is coupled to the lower end of the coupling rod  61  using the universal joint. Accordingly, the coupling rod  61  may be rotated in front, rear, left, and right directions with respect to the support rod  63 . A lower end of the support rod  63  is formed to be heavier than the upper end thereof. Accordingly, the support rod  63  always stands vertically. 
     The installation base  70  is exposed above the floating unit so that a structure such as a wind power generator is installed thereon, passes through a through hole formed at a center of the floating part  51 , and is coupled to the support rod  63 . Accordingly, since the installation base  70  is integrally coupled to the support rod  63 , an angle, which is the same as an angle of the support rod  63 , of the installation base  70  is maintained. Accordingly, when the support rod  63  stands, the installation base  70  also stands. 
     In the case of the present embodiment, since the coupling rod  61  is coupled to the support rod  63  using a universal joint, the coupling rod  61  is rotatable in the front and rear or left and right directions with respect to the support rod  63 . Accordingly, when a wave hits the floating part  51 , the floating part  51  is shaken in the front and rear or left and right directions as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Even when the floating part  51  is shaken in the front and rear or left and right directions, since the lower end of the support rod  63  is heavier, the floating part  51  is not shaken in the front and rear or left and right directions and stands vertically. Accordingly, even in the case of the present embodiment, since the installation base  70  stands vertically, when the wind power generator is installed on the installation base  70 , the wind power generator may be maintained vertically regardless of a wave. 
       FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a floating-type on-water support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a floating part  52  in the embodiment of  FIG. 9  is formed as a hollow case as in the embodiment of  FIG. 7  and surrounds a support rod  63 . 
     In addition, even in cases of the embodiments of  FIGS. 7 to 11 , a blocking cover  40  may be installed therein as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     According to the present invention, since a restriction protrusion is fitted into a guide groove of a ball, a support rod coupled to the ball may be prevented from being rotated about a central axis thereof. Accordingly, when a wind power generator is installed on the support rod, rotation of a shaft of the wind power generator due to a wind can be prevented. 
     In addition, a moving plate can slide a predetermined distance on a fixing frame. In this case, when a load by which the support rod is rotated about an axis thereof is large, since some of the load can be absorbed, the restriction protrusion or the ball can be prevented from being damaged due to the severe load.