Abstract: Device for absorbing impacts during lowering or lifting respectively of the support legs (1) of an artificial island comprising a pontoon and legs that are movable and lockable with respect to said pontoon further comprising the fact that the legs (1) at or near their lower end are surrounded by an apron (3) out of flexible material that is fixed to the circumference of each leg and extends beyond the lower end of said leg.

Abstract: Device for absorbing horizontally directed impact loads on the supporting legs of an artificial island comprising a pontoon and legs that are movable in the vertical direction and can be locked when the legs are lowered or lifted respectively further comprising energy absorbing and/or transfering means (2) extending downwardly from the lower part (1) of each of the legs.

Abstract: A device for coupling together two bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear displacement with respect to each other, in particular in a self-raising platform structure for coupling together the platform and a leg of the structure, the device comprising at least one pair of first pawls (3), each pawl of which is connected to one of the bodies for a pivotal movement and the contact parts thereof are shaped so that upon a pivotal movement of the pawls towards each other points of the contact parts approach each other, so that the relative movement between the bodies will be inhibited in one direction while being permitted in the other direction, at least one pair of second pawls (4) having the same construction as and spaced apart from the pair of first pawls being provided, which are mounted in such a manner that upon a pivotal movement thereof towards each other corresponding points of the contact parts of the second pawls will approach each other to inhibit rela

Abstract: A walking platform construction comprises a barge or work platform and a plurality of legs movable in a vertical direction and securable with respect to the barge or platform. The barge or platform has a plurality of independently movable auxiliary frames each comprising one or two legs movable and securable in vertical direction with respect to the auxiliary frame. Each auxiliary frame is disposed in a rectangular recess of the barge or platform and movable within the recess in the longitudinal direction of the recess as well as in a transverse direction. In the case in which the auxiliary frame is a long rectangular frame having two legs, each end of the frame has means to move this end in a transverse direction to the frame's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A device for sealing the lower part of a column standing on or in the bottom below a body of water, comprises a plate-shaped body surrounding the column, the plate-shaped body having a flexible border strip that runs around its entire circumference. The plate-shaped body is rigid and is mounted on a rigid sleeve surrounding the column and extending downwardly in the plate, the walls of the sleeve being parallel to the walls of the column. The body and the strip are of an impermeable material. Erosion of the material of the bottom from around the lower part of the column, under the influence of water currents, is thus retarded.