Tide self tuning modular wharf resilient connection system and method

Abstract

A connector for connecting a floating module to a beached module of a modular wharf, the connector comprising: a resilient member adapted for resiliently opposing movement of the floating module toward the beached module; a sliding connector for slidably connecting said floating module to said beached module to allow vertical movement of the floating module relative to the beached module during tides of said body of water while restricting horizontal and lateral movement of said floating module.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A connector for connecting a floating module to a beached module of a modular wharf, the connector comprising:
 a resilient member adapted for resiliently opposing movement of the floating module toward the beached module;   a sliding connector for slidably connecting said floating module to said beached module to allow vertical movement of the floating module relative to the beached module during tides of said body of water while restricting horizontal and lateral movement of said floating module.   
     
     
         2 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sliding connector further comprises:
 A wall member having a resilient member side and a slider side;   A fastening assembly to secure said wall member to a first wharf module chosen from said floating module and said beached module and to sandwich said resilient member between said resilient member side of said wall member and a face of said first wharf module, said resilient member side facing said face of said first wharf module;   A slider assembly having two sliding sections, one sliding section of said two sliding sections being affixed to said slider side of said wall member and another sliding section of said two sliding sections being affixed to a face of a second wharf module, said second wharf module being a different one of said floating module and said beached module, said slider side of said wall member facing said face of said second wharf module, said sliding sections being adapted to be slidably interconnected thereby securing said wall member to said second wharf module and being adapted to slide with respect to one another.   
     
     
         3 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first wharf module is a floating module and said second wharf module is a beached module. 
     
     
         4 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a chain assembly for securing said resilient member to said first wharf module, said chain assembly including chains. 
     
     
         5 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said fastening assembly further includes a tension loader, said tension loader being adapted to move said wall member towards said face of said first wharf module thereby compressing said resilient member. 
     
     
         6 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said resilient member is a pneumatic fender. 
     
     
         7 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said resilient member side of the slider member is concave between a top of said slider member and a bottom of said slider member. 
     
     
         8 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein one of said two sliding sections of said slider assembly comprises a roller support with rollers and another one of said two sliding sections comprises at least one channel for receiving said rollers. 
     
     
         9 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein one of said two sliding sections of said slider assembly comprises a protruding elongated flange and another one of said two sliding sections comprises a recessed elongated member for receiving said protruding elongated flange. 
     
     
         10 . The connector as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said flange is one of trapeze-shaped, H-shaped, T-shaped, C-shaped and O-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an elongated connector, wherein both of said two sliding sections of said slider assembly comprise a recessed elongated member each for receiving a side of said elongated connector. 
     
     
         12 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an elongated connector, wherein both of said two sliding sections of said slider assembly comprise a protruding elongated member and said elongated connector has an elongated recessed channel on each side for receiving both said protruding elongated members. 
     
     
         13 . The connector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said elongated connector is made of a resilient material. 
     
     
         14 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a stopper provided on at least one of said sliding section, and said wall member for limiting displacement of at least one of said sliding sections of said slider assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said two sliding sections of said slider assembly are elongated and extend generally vertically. 
     
     
         16 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sliding connector further comprising two sliding sections, each sliding section of said two sliding sections being affixed to one of said floating module and beached module each of said sliding sections being adapted to receive a portion of said resilient member and to be slidably interconnected using said resilient member thereby interconnecting said floating module to said beached module and being adapted to slide with respect to one another to allow vertical displacement of said floating module with respect to said s beached module. 
     
     
         17 . The connector as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said resilient member is made of an elastomeric resilient material. 
     
     
         18 . The connector as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said resilient member has a cross-sectional shape with two opposed protruding ends and each protruding end of the connector is received in a corresponding recessed section of one of said sliding sections. 
     
     
         19 . The connector as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said resilient member has a cross-sectional shape with two opposed recessed ends, wherein both of said two sliding sections have a protruding elongated member and said recessed ends of said resilient member receiving both said protruding elongated members. 
     
     
         20 . A modular wharf comprising:
 a beached module secured to a bottom of a body of water to prevent vertical movement of the beached module during tides of said body of water;   a floating module disposed on a surface of said body of water, near said beached module;   a resilient member adapted for resiliently opposing movement of the floating module toward the beached module;   a sliding connector for slidably connecting said floating module to said beached module to allow vertical movement of the floating module relative to the beached module during tides of said body of water while restricting horizontal and lateral movement of said floating module.