A subsea buoy comprises a rigid watertight external shell extending continuously around a supporting internal structure that is sealed and fully enclosed by the shell. The shell is formed integrally and simultaneously with the internal structure by the same additive manufacturing process. The internal structure comprises cavities disposed between structural members, such as struts of a lattice or webs of a matrix. The structural members and cavities may be in a hierarchical or fractal array comprising a relatively narrow outer tier adjoining the shell and at least one relatively wide inner tier within the outer tier.
Pressure-resistant buoys
2021-09-30
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch