Filing Information

Inventor(s)	van den Elshout; Johannes · Willem Groen ·
Assignee(s)	I. H. C. Holland N. V. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Foley & Lardner ·
Primary Examiner	Edwin L. Swinehart ·
Application Number	US7723485
Filing date	07/01/1991
Issue date	11/02/1993
Predicted expiration date	07/01/2011
U.S. Classifications	114/263  · 114/267  ·
International Classifications	B63B 5902  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	114263;267 ·
Foreign Priority	NL9001719 - 07/30/1990 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

A floating construction includes a first box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane, a second box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane, a first connecting block having a bore therein and being connected to the contact plane of the first floating unit, a second connecting block having a first bore therein and being connected to the contact plane of the second floating unit, a connecting rod, and an intermediate element. The connecting rod extends through the first bores of the first and second connecting blocks such that a clearance exist between the a respective inner surface of said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks and the connecting rod, thereby allowing relative movement between the first bores of the first and second connecting blocks and the connecting rod. The intermediate element is disposed between the first and second connecting blocks and around the connecting rod, and includes first and second disc portions which each have a side plane and a spherical contact surface. The spherical contact surfaces face each other and are formed complimentary to each other such that when the side planes are subjected to a loaded condition they self-adjust relative to a position of the contact planes of the first and second floating unit.

Independent Claims | See all claims (10)

1. 1. A floating construction, comprising:a box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane;a second box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane;a first connecting block having a first bore therein and being connected to said first floating unit contact plane;a second connecting block having a first bore therein and being connected to said second floating unit contact plane;a connecting rod extending through said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks such that a clearance exists between a respective inner surface of said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks and said connecting rod thereby allowing relative movement between said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks and said connecting rod; andan intermediate element being disposed between said first and second connecting blocks and around said connecting rod, said intermediate element including first and second disc portions which each have a side plane and a spherical contact surface, wherein said spherical contact surfaces face each other and are formed complimentary to each other, and when said side planes are subject to a loaded condition they self-adjust relative to a position of said contact planes of said first and second floating units.
2. 9. A floating construction, comprising:a first box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane;a second box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane;a first connecting block having a first bore therein and being connected to said first floating unit contact plane;a second connecting block having a second bore therein and being connected to said second floating unit contact plane;a connecting rod extending through said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks such that a clearance exists between a respective inner surface of said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks and said connecting rod thereby allowing relative movement between said first bores of said first and second connecting blocks and said connecting rod; andan intermediate element 1) having first and second side planes which include at least one of grooves, irregularities and friction material and 2) being disposed between said first and second connecting blocks and around said connecting rod, wherein when said first and second side planes are subject to a loaded condition they self-adjust relative to positions of said contact planes of said first and second floating units such that said first side plane contacts said first floating unit contact plane and said second side plane contacts said second floating unit contact plane, and said at least one of said grooves, irregularities and friction material permits said floating construction to withstand an increased loaded condition;wherein said first and second box-shaped floating units are rigidly connected to each other due to said connecting rod and the contact between said first side plane and said first floating unit contact plane and the contact between said second side plane and said second floating unit contact plane.
3. 10.10. A floating construction, comprising:a first box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane;a second box-shaped floating unit having a contact plane;a first connecting block having a first bore, a second bore and a third bore therein and being connected to said contact plane of said first floating unit;a second connecting block having a first bore, a second bore and a third bore therein and being connected to said contact plane of said second floating unit;a connecting rod extending through one of said first, second and third bores of said first connecting block and one of said first, second, and third bores of said second connecting block such that a clearance exists between a respective inner surface of said one of said first, second and third bores of said first connecting block and said one of said first, second, and third bores of said second connecting block and said connecting rod, thereby allowing relative movement between said one of said first, second and third bores of said first connecting block and said connecting rod and between said one of said first, second and third bores of said second connecting block and said connecting rod; andan intermediate element having first and second side planes and being disposed between said first and second connecting blocks and around said connecting rod, wherein when said first and second planes are subject to a loaded condition they self-adjust relative to a position of said contact planes of said first and second floating units;wherein said first, second and third bores of said first connecting block are perpendicular to each other and said first, second, and third bores of said connecting block are perpendicular to each other thereby allowing said first and second connecting blocks to be connected to additional connecting blocks.