US3773008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fender device for ships and other boats
Assignee: Bertin Technologies SAS
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Filing: 1972-01-26
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A fender device is interposed between the hull of a ship and a wharf or the hull of another ship to absorb the shocks and generate a horizontal repulsion force to move them apart when they tend to approach each other. This fender device is submerged and comprises a deformable water-filled chamber surrounded by a waterproof flexible wall ending with a peripheral lip which defines, with the approaching structure, a daylight clearance for the leakage of water from the chamber upon crushing of the latter due to the approach movement.
Inventors
- 👤 P Guienne
- 👤 J Prouhet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:52
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/20; E02B3/26; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A bracing method to maintain the hull structure of a ship and a quay structure or the hull structure of another ship at a given distance apart irrespective of external forces tending to bring them together, without any permanent solid/solid physical contact between them, thus allowing frictionless relative displacements of the said structures in a vertical plane perpendicular to the said distance apart, comprising the steps of providing a cushion space upon a substantial area of one of said structures with allowance of a restricted peripheral daylight clearance extending all around said area, reserving a collapsible volume of fluid which communicates with said cushion space and is backed upon a substantial area of the other of said structures, and permanently delivering fluid into said volume during the entire period of berthing of the ship to maintain normally said collapsible volume extended and to re-extend it after collapse due to too-close proximity of said structures, whereby a pressurized fluid cushion builds up in said cushion space notwithstanding fluid leakage through said restricted peripheral daylight clearance and exerts a ''''ground effect'''' which opposes the relative approach movement of said structures with a repelling force representing the product of cushion pressure and the former-mentioned area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A bracing method to maintain the hull structure of a ship and a quay structure or the hull structure of another ship at a given distance apart irrespective of external forces tending to bring them together, without any permanent solid/solid physical contact between them, thus allowing frictionless relative displacements of the said structures in a vertical plane perpendicular to the said distance apart, comprising the steps of providing a cushion space upon a substantial area of one of said structures with allowance of a restricted peripheral daylight clearance extending all around said area, reserving a collapsible volume of fluid which communicates with said cushion space and is backed upon a substantial area of the other of said structures, and permanently delivering fluid into said volume during the entire period of berthing of the ship to maintain normally said collapsible volume extended and to re-extend it after collapse due to too-close proximity of said structures, whereby a pressurized fluid cushion builds up in said cushion space notwithstanding fluid leakage through said restricted peripheral daylight clearance and exerts a ''''ground effect'''' which opposes the relative approach movement of said structures with a repelling force representing the product of cushion pressure and the former-mentioned area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the former-mentioned area is larger than the latter-mentioned area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
A fender system adapted to be interposed between the hull structure of a ship and a quay structure or the hull structure of another ship in order to produce a horizontal repelling force opposing the relative approach movement thereof while allowing frictionless relative displacements thereof in a vertical plane perpendicular to the said relative approach movement, wherein the improvement comprises submerged cushion seal means for containing a water cushion backed upon a substantial area of one of said structures with allowance of a restricted peripheral daylight clearance extending all around said area, substantially watertight flexible wall means bounding a submerged water-filled deformable chamber backed upon a substantial area of the other of said structures and communicating with said cushion for feeding the same with water which is pressurized by crushing the said chamber under the action of the ship''s hull on the approach movement of the ship, and a return means to ''''re-inflate'''' the said chamber after such crushing in order to regenerate it so that it can produce a fresh pressure cushion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
173 words
A fender system adapted to be interposed between the hull structure of a ship and a quay structure or the hull structure of another ship in order to produce a horizontal repelling force opposing the relative approach movement thereof while allowing frictionless relative displacements thereof in a vertical plane perpendicular to the said relative approach movement, wherein the improvement comprises submerged cushion seal means for containing a water cushion backed upon a substantial area of one of said structures with allowance of a restricted peripheral daylight clearance extending all around said area, substantially watertight flexible wall means bounding a submerged water-filled deformable chamber backed upon a substantial area of the other of said structures and communicating with said cushion for feeding the same with water which is pressurized by crushing the said chamber under the action of the ship''s hull on the approach movement of the ship, and a return means to ''''re-inflate'''' the said chamber after such crushing in order to regenerate it so that it can produce a fresh pressure cushion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein the former-mentioned area is larger than the latter-mentioned area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said return means comprises superposed tubes adapted to be crushed on the approach movement of the ship''s hull but resuming their original shape with a resilient return effect on movement of the hull away therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein the tubes form a gas chamber, said system comprising a gas containing inflatable bag-like bladder submerged at a level below that at which the deformable chamber is submerged and communicating therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein the tubes form a liquid chamber, said system comprising a liquid containing tank disposed at a higher level than that at which the deformable chamber is submerged and communicating therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein the tubes are lined with cellular elastomer or are made from an internally reinforced elastomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 5, further comprising a sleeve of impermeable and deformable material in which the said tubes are housed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein the said tubes are contiguous and form a sealing-tight lateral casing surrounding the deformable chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 10, wherein the contiguous tubes define a chamber having a general frustoconical shape flaring towards said seal means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |