Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a floatable island and to the use of a floatable island, the floatable island comprising at least one layer, and the layer has a structure containing grains, the grains consisting of an expanded mineral material.
Claims
1. A floating island comprising at least one layer, said at least one layer comprising a structure with grains, said grains consisting of an expanded mineral material, preferably foam glass gravel, said grains being angular, wherein the floating island is free of additional buoyancy bodies.
2. The floating island of claim 1, wherein the buoyant grains are compacted in the structure, wherein the angular grains being interlocked with each other and in the structure to provide buoyancy to the structure.
3. The floating island according to claim 1, the structure comprising one or more flexible strips, the strip or strips being arranged in parallel, the strips being connected in a laterally staggered manner so that the plurality of strips form a structure of honeycombs or cells when pulled.
4. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein the structure of honeycombs or cells comprises a bottom.
5. The floating island of claim 4, wherein the floor is formed of a plurality of flexible wires or cables, the wires or cables being arranged in parallel, the wires or cables being connected together in a laterally staggered manner so that the plurality of wires or cables form a structure of honeycombs or cells when pulled, the floor being connected to the structure so that the floor can be extended simultaneously with the structure when pulled.
6. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein the strips have openings.
7. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein the strips have a perforated surface.
8. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein the strips and the bottom consist of a grid.
9. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein a binder is arranged between the grains, preferably an elastic adhesive or drainage concrete.
10. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein the island comprises a plurality of layers according to one of the preceding claims, preferably at least two layers, in particular at least three layers, wherein the plurality of layers are arranged in layers on top of each other.
11. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers comprise grains having different mean grain diameters, preferably the mean grain diameter of the grains of a lower layer being larger than the mean grain diameter of the grains of an upper layer.
12. The floating island according to claim 1, wherein plants are planted in a surface of the floating island.
13. A method of implementing floating islands according to claim 1 for improving water quality, counteracting and/or preventing water eutrophication, as habitat for fish and other aquatic life, as protection against bank erosion and/or for reducing the flow velocity of the water body, as protection against coastal erosion, for land reclamation and/or land stabilisation on the water, for purification of rainwater and/or waste water, as hydroponics and/or aquaculture and/or aquaponics, wherein the floating island is placed in a body of water in a floating manner and planted.
14. A method of making a floating island comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a structure to receive grains of expanded mineral material. (b) Inserting grains of buoyant expanded material into the provided structure. (c) Compaction of the inserted grains with the provision that they interlock with each other and in the structure, (d) If necessary, application of a binder to the surface of the floating island, if necessary, installation of a grid on the surface of the buoyant island, wherein no additional buoyancy bodies are incorporated into the structure.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein a plurality of structures are interconnected, preferably releasably, to form a floating island.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0076] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0077] The disclosure is further explained below with reference to the figures. The figures show possible embodiments of the disclosure. In principle, however, combinations or variations of the embodiments are also possible within the scope of the disclosure.
[0078] FIG. 1 shows isometrically the first embodiment of the buoyant island.
[0079] FIG. 2 shows isometrically the first embodiment of the floatable island from FIG. 1 with several layers.
[0080] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the first embodiment.
[0081] FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment in top view, with the honeycomb structure extended in an accordion-like manner.
[0082] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the first embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein the honeycomb structure has a flexible bottom.
[0083] FIG. 6 shows a section A-A of a first embodiment.
[0084] FIG. 7 shows the shape of the grains of the buoyant mineral material.
[0085] FIG. 8 shows the distribution of forces within a honeycomb of the honeycomb structure of FIG. 6, filled and compacted with buoyant mineral material.
[0086] FIG. 9 shows the first embodiment of FIG. 4 in top view, with the honeycomb structure having a bend.
[0087] FIG. 10 shows isometrically the first embodiment of FIG. 1 with plants.
[0088] FIG. 11 shows isometrically a section of the honeycomb structure from FIG. 1 with ropes.
[0089] FIG. 12 shows schematically the procedure for installing the first embodiment of the floating island on water.
[0090] FIG. 13 shows isometric sections of different variants of the honeycomb structure from FIG. 10.
[0091] FIG. 14 shows isometrically an embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 2, whereby the island consists of four layers and has openings in the middle layer.
[0092] FIG. 15 shows isometrically an embodiment of the buoyant island from FIG. 2, whereby the island consists of an upper layer and in sections of further layers.
[0093] FIG. 16 shows isometrically an embodiment of the buoyant island of FIG. 15, where the layers are connected to each other with different depths.
[0094] FIG. 17 shows an isometric embodiment of the buoyant island of FIG. 10, wherein the interior of the honeycomb structure is open.
[0095] FIG. 18 shows a second embodiment of the floating island in top view.
[0096] FIG. 19 shows a third embodiment of the floating island in top view.
[0097] FIG. 20 shows, similar to FIG. 19, the third embodiment of the floating island in top view, where the cell structure comprises rectangles.
[0098] FIG. 21 shows a fourth embodiment of the floating island for the construction of buildings.
[0099] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0100] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0101] FIG. 1 shows an isometric embodiment of the buoyant island. The island of the embodiment shown has a layer 1. A layer 1 consists of a honeycomb structure 6, said honeycombs are filled with highly buoyant mineral material 5. The honeycomb structure 6 may be made of metal, plastic, mineral fibres or other suitable materials. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the buoyant island may correspond to the shape shown, but may also be formed in any other shapes.
[0102] FIG. 2 shows isometrically an embodiment of the buoyant island of FIG. 1, wherein the island has an upper layer 1, a middle layer 2 and a lower layer 3.
[0103] FIG. 3 shows a top view of one embodiment of the honeycomb structure 6 of the buoyant island. The honeycomb structure 6 consists of parallel flexible or rigid strips 7 of equal height, the strips being connected to each other in a laterally offset manner at constant intervals via connections 8. The strips may be made of welded mesh, for example stainless steel or titanium, the joints 8 of the strips 7 being made by open press clamps or spot welding. Alternatively, the strips may be made of polymers, for example UV stabilised HDPE, with the joints 8 of the strips 7 being ultrasonically welded. Alternatively, the strips may be made of woven mineral fibres, for example glass fibres with a coating of bitumen or other suitable materials.
[0104] FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the honeycomb structure 6 from FIG. 3 in top view, whereby the strips are flexible. The distances of the connections 8 are arranged in such a way that the flexible strips lying flat on top of each other can be pulled out to form said honeycomb structure 6. Accordingly, the strips 7 of the honeycomb structure 6 are flexible.
[0105] FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the flexible honeycomb structure 6 from FIG. 4 in plan view, whereby the flexible honeycomb structure 6 has a bottom 9 which is connected to the honeycomb structure 6 by connections 8. The bottom 9 consists of ropes arranged in parallel, the ropes being connected to one another at constant intervals via connections 8 in a laterally offset manner. The ropes may be made of wires, for example of stainless steel or titanium, the connections 8 of the ropes being made by open press clamps. Alternatively, the wire ropes may be braided together. Alternatively, the ropes can be made of polymers, for example UV stabilised HDPE, whereby the connections 8 of the ropes can be knotted or ultrasonically welded.
[0106] FIG. 6 shows a section A-A through the honeycomb structure 6 of FIG. 3. The honeycomb structure 6, consisting of interconnected strips 7, thus has a bottom 9 which is connected to the honeycomb structure 6 by connections 8. The bottom 9 facilitates the filling and compacting of the honeycombs with buoyant mineral material 5. The bottom 9 can be flexible, as in FIG. 5, or made of the same material as the strips 7 of the honeycomb structure 6 in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the bottom 9 can be solid.
[0107] FIG. 7a shows the buoyant mineral material 5 which has edges in its shape. FIG. 7b shows the buoyant mineral material 5 which, when compacted, interlocks with each other due to its angular shape.
[0108] FIG. 8 shows the distribution of forces within a honeycomb of the honeycomb structure 6 of FIG. 6 filled with buoyant mineral material 5 and compacted. FIG. 8a shows the distribution of buoyant forces 10 of the buoyant mineral material 5, whereby the buoyant forces 10 are diverted in horizontal direction due to the interlocked grains of the buoyant mineral material 5 of FIG. 7 and are finally carried away by the strips 7. The grains of the buoyant mineral material 5 become wedged in the openings or perforated surface of the strips 7. In addition, the weight force 11 of the mineral material 5 above the water level counteracts the buoyant force 10. FIG. 8b shows the distribution of forces within a honeycomb of the honeycomb structure 6 from FIG. 6 under pressure load 12, for example by a person or a structure, so that the honeycomb is submerged deeper into the water and the buoyancy force 10 counteracts the pressure force 12.
[0109] FIG. 9 shows the first embodiment of the flexible honeycomb structure 6 of FIG. 4 in top view, wherein the flexible honeycomb structure 6 has a bend under application of a directional tensile force 13, whereby the honeycomb structure 6 can be formed. FIG. 9a shows bending of the honeycomb structure 6 using a directional tensile force in the horizontal direction. FIG. 9b shows the bending of the honeycomb structure 6 by applying a directional tensile force in the vertical direction.
[0110] FIG. 10 shows isometrically an embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 1, whereby layer 1 is planted with young plants 14. The honeycomb structure 6 has ropes 15 running through it, the ends of which are anchored to the bank of a body of water or the edge of a tank. The ropes 15 allow the honeycomb structure 6 to be filled with mineral material 5 and then the mineral material 5 to be compacted directly on water.
[0111] FIG. 11 shows an isometric section of the honeycomb structure 6 from FIG. 1, with ropes 15 running through the honeycomb structure 6 (FIG. 11a). The ropes 15 can also be used to connect two or more honeycomb structures 6 (FIG. 11b).
[0112] FIG. 12 schematically shows the procedure for installing the first embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 10 on water. The ropes 15 are threaded through the folded honeycomb structure 6 and are attached and tensioned to anchoring devices 16. The honeycomb structure 6 is extended along the ropes and fixed to the rope with clamps 17 (FIG. 12a). The extended honeycomb structure 6 is filled in sections with mineral material 5 and optionally compacted using a floating platform 18 with a compaction device 19, for example a vibrating plate (FIG. 12b). The ropes 15 are then released from the anchorage and fixed so that the island floats in water and can adapt to changes in the water level (FIG. 12c). The floating island can then be planted with young plants 14 (FIG. 12d).
[0113] FIG. 13 shows an isometric section of the honeycomb structure 6 from FIG. 10. The strips 7 have openings 20, whereby the openings 20 can have different shapes, for example the openings 20 can be square (FIG. 13a), round (FIG. 13b), oval or rectangular (FIG. 13c). Holes 21 are provided along the joints 8 of the strips 7. Ropes 15 can run through the holes 21, whereby the holes 21 also serve to connect two or more honeycomb structures on the transverse and longitudinal sides of the honeycomb structure 6 by suitable connecting devices, for example by lacing, screwing, bolt or pin connections or other suitable connecting devices.
[0114] FIG. 14 shows an isometric embodiment of the buoyant island of FIG. 2, the island having a further layer 4 and openings 20 in layers 2 and 3. The openings 20 can be created in any size and arrangement by cutting the layers 2 and 3. The openings 20 can penetrate the entire island, thereby regulating the flow of water within the layers 2 and 3, thereby distributing the flow of water within the island so that polluted water is distributed particularly efficiently within the island body and comes into contact with the roots of the plants 14. The openings 20 can also occur only at the edge of the island, so that the openings 20 can be used as burrows for aquatic life, for example lobsters. Accordingly, the island can be used for aquaculture.
[0115] FIG. 15 shows isometrically an embodiment of the buoyant island of FIG. 2, where the island consists of an upper layer 1 and sections of further layers 2, 3 and 4, resulting in sections of the island with greater depths. The sections consisting of several layers can be of any depth and act as a filter for suspended matter and as resistance to flow. In this way, the residence time of polluted water, for example rainwater or river water, can be increased within the island and the flow velocity of the water can be reduced, increasing the cleaning efficiency of the polluted water. Furthermore, the deeper layers, for example at the edges of the island, allow the volume for water treatment to be separated from the rest of the water body.
[0116] FIG. 16 shows isometrically an embodiment of the buoyant island from FIG. 15, whereby the layers of the honeycomb structure 6 with different depths can be connected to each other.
[0117] FIG. 17 shows isometrically an embodiment of the floatable island from FIG. 10, whereby the interior of the honeycomb structure 6 is open. Accordingly, light and oxygen can enter the water inside the honeycomb structure 6, whereby microbial purification processes in the water can be influenced. A net can be attached to the underside of the honeycomb structure 6, resulting in a breeding container for aquatic life. For example, several breeding containers can be installed in one breeding tank, whereby different aquatic organisms can be bred in one breeding tank.
[0118] FIG. 18 shows, similar to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 1 in plan view, whereby the layer 1 has a cell structure 24. The cell structure 24, similar to the honeycomb structure 6 of FIGS. 1-17, consists of parallel, flexible strips 7 of equal height, the strips 7 being connected to each other at constant intervals in a laterally staggered manner via connections 8, the cell structure having a bottom 9, similar to FIG. 5. The strips 7 and bottom 9 may be made of non-woven geotextile, for example a polymer. Alternatively, the strips and bottom may be made of a mesh, for example a coated wire, coated glass fibres, plastic or other suitable materials. The cell structure 24 results significantly from the use of other materials of the strips 7 and their joints 8, whereby the cell structure 24 results from pulling the flexible strips lying flat on top of each other.
[0119] FIG. 19 shows, similar to FIG. 3 and FIG. 18, a third embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 1 in plan view, whereby the layer 1 has a cell structure 24 consisting of squares. The cell structure 24 consists of interconnected strips 7, the cell structure having a solid bottom 9. The strips 7 and the bottom 9 may be made of a grid, for example a welded grid of stainless steel. Alternatively, the cell structure 24 may be made of an injection moulded part, for example of HDPE, wherein the cell structure 24, similar to FIG. 13, has openings which are round, oval, square or rectangular in shape. In addition, the material surface can have a texture so that the angular grains of the mineral material 5 additionally interlock in the cell structure 24. The cell structure 24 essentially results from the use of fixed connections, whereby the cell structure 24 is not flexible, as in the first and second embodiments.
[0120] FIG. 20 shows, similarly to FIG. 19, the third embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 1 in plan view, whereby the layer 1 has a cell structure 24 consisting of rectangles.
[0121] FIG. 21 shows a fourth embodiment of the floating island from FIG. 2 in side view, whereby the layers 1, 2 and 3 have a cellular structure or gabion construction filled with buoyant mineral material 5. A reinforced concrete slab 25 is provided at the upper layer 1, which can be built on with buildings and roads. Mineral material 5 is provided as an intermediate layer for laying infrastructure, for example pipes and sewers, in order to keep the superimposed load as low as possible.
[0122] In FIG. 2, the island consists of three layers 1, 2, 3. In practice, the island can consist of one layer 1 or several layers. The depth of a layer can be arbitrary, and layers with different depths can be connected to each other.
[0123] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclo-sure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or de-scribed. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
