WO2008031142A1

WO2008031142A1 - The seagrass friendly mooring

Info

Publication number: WO2008031142A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Desmond Maslen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-13
Filing date: 2007-08-20
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-13
Also published as: AU2006213936B1

Abstract

An environmentally friendly screwed into sea bed mooring system, primarily aimed at but not limited to the permanent mooring of boats and other maritime vessels.

Description

"Sea grass Friendty Mooring"

Background of Invention

The present invention relates generally to moorings and more particularly to moorings in environmentally sensitive areas.

At present there are a number of mooring systems being used, the most common being the swing type which utilises a heavy dump weight ( normally a concrete block) with heavy chains attached to the block at one end and a rope at the other end which leads to the boat These chains drag around the block with the movement of the boat due to wind and tidal motion and in doing so scour the sea bed clear of any sea grasses.

Attempts to alleviate this problem have resulted in expensive solutions which require the servicing to be done on an annual basis by a scuba diver, thereby further adding to the cost

While screw piling has been used for some time it should be noted that there is not one which incorporates a

"shock cylinder" or a "swivel head", which are both needed to use a screw pile for β mooring anchor. Our system also uses a set of fins which spread the lateral forces at the top of the mooring post to the surrounding sea bed, while there is a system which uses a similar principle it should be noted that our load spreaders go completely under the sea bed without a plate on top of them to permit sea grass growth around the mooring post.

Summary of the invention

The present invention advantageously addresses the needs above by providing a cost effective and easily serviced mooring system which has minimal impact on the sea grass beds.

The present invention is screwed into place with an hydraulic auger drive until the load spreading fins are below the sea bed. This allows the sea grass to continue to grow right up to and around the central post.

When the mooring requires servicing the system is removed by reversing the auger drive thereby allowing the mooring system to come put of the sea bed without removing the sea grasses around it- After servicing it can then be screwed back into the same location.

Brief description of drawings

Drawing 1 is a cross section of the complete mooring system as it would be installed in its present embodiment.

Drawing 2 is of the rotating swivel head which is attached to the top of the mooring post. Drawing 3 is a cross section drawing of the spring return hydraulic shock absorbing cylinder. Drawing 4 is a drawing of the mooring post assembly, note the middle section of the post has been cut away purely to enable a larger presentation of the completed mooring post.

Detailed description of the drawings

The following description of the presently contemplated best mode of practicing the invention is not to be taken in a limiting sense, it is purely for the purpose of describing the principles of the invention.

Referring to drawing 2 shows a side view cross sectioned view of the "Swivel Head" with item 5 being the mooring post. Item 1 is two wear resistant "washers" one of which is located within the mooring post, the other on top. An eye bolt, item 2, is located such that it has the bolt section passing through items 1, 3 and 5 with a "nyloc" nut item 4 fixing the eye bolt in place. Items 3 are metal washers of the same diameter as items 1. Item 5 incorporates a metal "washer" or end plate which is permanently fixed onto the top of the mooring post.

Referring to drawing 3 shows a side view cross section of the "Shock Cylinder". Item 11 is the cylinder assy which is attached via a bolt or pin through the clevis at one end to item 2 on drawing 2. Item 6 is a piston made from wear resistant material with a smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the cylinder to permit flow of water past the piston at a controlled rate. Item 6 is fixed to one end of item 8. A spring, item 7, is located between item 6 and item 10 to enact on the piston to return the piston into the cylinder. Item 10 is a metal washer and item 9 is a load bearing sleeve made of similar material to the piston, item 6. Item 8 is a metal shaft which is attached at one end to item 6 and has an eye at the other end with which to attach a hawser rope from the "shock cylinder" to the surface buoy.

Referring to drawing 4 shows a side view of the mooring post with a section of the post removed to permit a clear viewing of each end of the post. Item 2 refers to the item of the same number in drawing 2 Item 16 is the post which is made of metal of varying sizes and lengths according to the load requirements and consistency of the sea bed being installed into. Accordingly items 17 (screw helix) and 13 (load spreaders) will vary in the same manner. Items 13 are permanently fixed to item 15 which is a hollow tube with a large enough inside diameter to allow free rotation around item 16. Item 15 is held in location around item 16 via items 14 which are permanently attached to item 16. The screw anchor is located into and removed from the sea bed via a driven pipe which has cut outs to locate on items 12.

Claims

What is claimed is:

A screwed in mooring system which is removable for servicing and causes minimal damage to the sea grass when either being installed, removed or during use. This mooring system comprises, a mooring post with a screw helix attached to one end, a set of load spreaders permanently fixed to a cylinder which is in turn rotationally fixed to the said mooring post, a rotationally mounted attachment point on the top of the mooring post, a shock absorbing spring loaded hydraulic cylinder assy which is attached to the attachment point on top of the mooring post, a surface buoy, a hawser rope from the shock absorbing cylinder to the surface buoy, a hawser rope from the surface buoy to the moored vessel.