Pressure resistant caisson

• US 3,879,952 A
• Filed: 04/23/1973
• Issued: 04/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olav Mo
• Original Assignee: Olav Mo
• Inventors: Mo, Olav
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US05/353,538
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 61/46.5,46,50 114/.5T
• US Class Current: 405/207
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/025 Reinforced concrete structures E02B17/021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0052 Removal or dismantling of offshore structures from their offshore location
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0069 Gravity structures
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0086 Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 23/02 Caissons able to be floated on water and to be lowered into water in situ floating caisson foundations E02D27/06

Abstract

A monolithic offshore platform includes a number of vertical, cylindrical cells which are monolithically attached to each other at the contact points. The cells will therefore circumferentially be subjected to pure compressive forces. In one embodiment, all the cells have the same outer diameter. There is one central cell and around this there are first six cells with the centers on a circle concentric with the central cell, thereafter 12 cells are placed outside. If desired, new rows of cells can be added on the outside. The structure can also be constructed without the central cell. The cells can be closed with a spherical shell in each end.

Claims

1. A monolithic offshore platform comprising:

a heavy substructure which is heavier than the rest of the platform, the sub-structure being formed by a plurality of rigidly interconnected, vertical elongated cells; and

comprising six cylindrical cells connected monolithically at their contact points with centers on a circle with radius equal to the outer diameter of the cells and twelve cylindrical cells of equal size placed outside the six cells and also connected monolithically at their contact points;

a superstructure having a cross-sectional area which is exposed to wave action which area is considerably less than the cross-sectional area of the sub-structure;

the superstructure being formed by at least three vertical elongated cells, each of which having an outer and inner wall at least a portion of which are conical with a larger lower diameter and a smaller upper diameter; and

a deck structure supported by the superstructure;

none of said parts of the platform being moveable in relation to each other.

2. An offshore platform as claimed in claim 1 including a central cell of equal size.

3. An offshort platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein the superstructure is formed by at least three vertically elongated cells superposed above three of the cells in the substructure, the lower diameter of each of the cells in the superstructure being equal to the diameter of the corresponding cell in the sub-structure.

4. A monolithic off shore platform comprising in combination a heavy substructure which is heavier than the rest of the platform, the substructure being formed by a plurality of rigidly interconnected vertical elongated cells;

a superstructure having a cross-sectional area which is exposed to wave action, which area is considerably less than the cross-sectional area of the substructure;

the superstructure being formed by at least one vertical elongated cell, each such cell being formed as a static and continual elongation of one or more cells in the substructure and each being conical at least along a portion of its length with a larger outer and inner lower diameter and a small outer and inner upper diameter; and

a deck structure supported by the superstructure;

none of said parts of the platform being moveable in relation to each other.

5. A monolithic off shore platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein each cell in the substructure which is lengthened to form the superstructure, has a circular cross-sectional area.

6. A monolithic off shore platform as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower diameter of each of the cells in the superstructure is substantially equal to the diameter of the corresponding cell in the substructure.

7. A monolithic off shore platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein the portion of the cells in superstructure which is exposed to water level, has a cylindrical shape.

8. A monolithic off shore platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cells are cylindrical.