System for mooring a marine structure and method of paying out and taking up a line
By using detachable male and female fasteners, combined with a floating body and cable guide device, the problem of cumbersome line casting and retrieval in existing marine mooring methods is solved, enabling fast and safe mooring of marine structures and improving mooring efficiency and stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WUCHANG SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY GROUP CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing marine mooring methods are cumbersome in the process of setting up and retrieving lines, and cannot quickly connect or disconnect from the facilities to be fixed, resulting in insufficient connection strength and long time consumption, which affects the flexibility and safety of marine structures.
It adopts a detachable male and female fastener connection method, combined with a floating body and a guide cable device, to achieve quick connection and disconnection. The guide cable device can adjust the direction of line release and take-up, improving mooring efficiency and stability.
It enables rapid connection and disconnection between marine structures and facilities to be secured, improving the flexibility and safety of offshore platforms or vessels, and reducing mooring time and construction costs.
Smart Images

Figure CN117622382B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application belongs to the field of marine mooring technology, and in particular relates to a system for securing marine structures and a method for launching and retrieving mooring lines. Background Technology
[0002] Marine mooring refers to the method of anchoring marine structures in a designated sea area to restrict external forces from altering the state of the structure or vessel, thus maintaining its predetermined position. For example, offshore platforms or vessels are secured to the coast or port using cables. These cables are guided and pulled through a series of cable guides to connect to the structures at appropriate angles, ensuring the stability of the offshore platform or vessel at sea. The marine structures or vessels, whether floating on or below the sea surface, are also considered floating bodies in the ocean.
[0003] Existing marine mooring typically involves anchoring and positioning the vessel directly. Alternatively, cables can be directly connected to the facility to be secured, such as the coast or port, thus ensuring the stability of the offshore platform or ship at sea. These cables are usually equipped with guides, which use guide rollers to change the cable's direction and prevent wear and breakage.
[0004] To ensure a secure connection, marine structures or vessels need sufficient connection strength with the facilities to be secured, especially in rough seas. However, existing marine mooring methods involve cumbersome cable deployment and retrieval processes, and cannot quickly connect or disconnect from the facilities to be secured. Existing cables that can be quickly deployed and retrieval inevitably do not meet the required connection strength. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application aims to solve the technical problems of rapid mooring to at least some extent. To this end, this application provides a system for securing marine structures and a method for launching and retrieving lines, which can quickly connect or disconnect from the facilities to be secured. The process is simple and fast, improving the flexibility of offshore platforms or vessels, ensuring safety, and being able to cope with special working conditions; at the same time, it also saves time and construction costs.
[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a system for securing marine structures, comprising:
[0007] The first cable is used to secure the marine structure to the facility to be secured, with one end of the first cable connected to the marine structure.
[0008] The release device includes a female buckle and a male buckle, which are detachably connected. The male buckle is connected to the other end of the first cable, and the female buckle is connected to the facility to be secured.
[0009] Existing marine mooring methods use cables to secure the structure to be moored. While this method is relatively secure, it also results in time-consuming and cumbersome wiring and retrieval processes when connecting and retrieving marine structures, including offshore platforms or vessels, to the mooring equipment. This application addresses this by providing mutually detachable male and female fasteners, allowing for rapid connection and detachment of marine structures from the mooring equipment. The process is simple and quick, requiring only the connection or disconnection of the male and female fasteners. After mooring, the stability of the marine structure is ensured, and the flexibility of the offshore platform or vessel is improved. This allows for rapid mooring and detachment in dangerous situations, ensuring safety. The quick-detachable connection method can handle special working conditions, making the deployment and retrieval process fast and efficient.
[0010] In an optional embodiment, the system also includes a float with a material density less than seawater. The float has an opening for accommodating the female buckle. When not connected to the male buckle, the female buckle can engage with the opening, and when connected to the male buckle, it can disengage from the opening. Using a float allows the female buckle to be carried and float without the need for other securing equipment. The female buckle floats on the ocean and connects or disconnects from the male buckle, enabling the entire line deployment and retrieval process to be carried out on the ocean surface, increasing the safety of the process.
[0011] In an optional embodiment, the female buckle has a first end and a second end. The first end of the female buckle is detachably connected to the male buckle. The size of the first end of the female buckle is larger than the size of the second end of the female buckle. The shape of the opening matches the female buckle, so that when the female buckle is inserted into the opening, the second end of the female buckle enters the opening before the first end.
[0012] In an alternative implementation, the system further includes a second cable, through which the female buckle is connected to the facility to be secured.
[0013] In an optional embodiment, the float body is further provided with a slot, and an opening penetrates the float body. The slot connects the surface of the float body with the opening, so that the second cable can be released from the float body through the slot.
[0014] In an optional embodiment, the system further includes a cable guide device, which includes a universal swivel drum and a main body. The universal swivel drum includes a support and an outer cylinder. The support is used for installation onto a marine structure. The outer cylinder is bushed with the support. The main body is fixed to the outer cylinder. The main body can rotate on a horizontal plane through the outer cylinder. The first cable is connected to a male buckle through the main body or to a male buckle through a shackle.
[0015] Existing cable guides are installed on offshore platforms or ships, such as at the edge of a ship's deck. Their exit direction is relatively fixed, making it unsuitable for omnidirectional cable exit. Furthermore, the cable is often fixed to the coast, port, or another vessel, especially when the anchorage is on the seabed, making it difficult to secure the cable. Additionally, cable guide rollers are typically cast iron or welded steel plates, which can cause wear on the cable. This application, however, employs a cable guide device that allows for a certain degree of rotation on the horizontal plane, specifically between 0° and 360°. This facilitates adjustment of the first cable's exit direction from the marine structure, enabling rapid adaptation to the positions of various anchorages and quickly establishing a stable connection, thus ensuring the stability of the marine structure.
[0016] In an optional embodiment, the cable guiding device further includes a cable guiding roller and multiple anti-wear rollers. The cable guiding roller is vertically arranged on the main body, and the multiple anti-wear rollers are connected end to end to form an outlet. The first cable extends outward through the outlet after being turned by the cable guiding roller.
[0017] In an optional embodiment, the cable guide device further includes a limiting roller, which is disposed on the main body and there is a gap between the limiting roller and the cable guide roller. The first cable is wound around the cable guide roller from the gap.
[0018] In an optional embodiment, the cable guide device further includes a limiting pin, which is located inside the main body and between the limiting guide wheel and the first cable inlet of the main body. When the first cable swings, the limiting pin can limit the swing amplitude.
[0019] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a method for launching and retrieving a mooring line, which employs the aforementioned system for securing marine structures. The method includes:
[0020] The marine structure is pre-installed with first cables in multiple directions, and each direction has a device to be fixed. Each first cable corresponds to a male buckle.
[0021] During the laying process, multiple first cables are stretched toward the corresponding facilities to be fixed. Each first cable is connected to the female cable connected to the facility to be fixed through the male buckle, thus securing the marine structure to the facility to be fixed.
[0022] Or, when reeling in the line, disconnect each male buckle from the female buckle it is connected to. The male buckle is retrieved to the marine structure via the first cable, and the female buckle is engaged with the floating body, thus completing the detachment of the marine structure from the facility to be secured.
[0023] If a cable guide device is used, the direction of cable release and release is adjusted by the corresponding winding cable guide device when releasing or retracting the cable.
[0024] Existing mooring line deployment and retrieval methods rely on fixed-position guides and cables. The cable's exit direction is relatively fixed, making it unsuitable for all-around deployment. After exiting the marine structure, the cable direction needs readjustment, causing significant inconvenience during mooring. The retrieval and release process is also cumbersome. This application, however, allows for cable exit at any angle, facilitating direction adjustment after exit. A secure connection is formed directly between the male and female clips, improving overall mooring efficiency. The guide device adjusts the deployment and retrieval direction, enabling rapid stabilization of the cable and marine structure, enhancing mooring stability. The retrieval process for the marine structure is also significantly simplified; the structure can be quickly detached from the anchorage by disassembling the male and female clips. Furthermore, the guide device automatically adjusts the retrieval direction during retrieval, ensuring stability of the marine structure and saving mooring time and deployment / retrieval costs.
[0025] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows:
[0026] 1. This application provides mutually detachable male and female fasteners, enabling marine structures to be quickly connected to or detached from the facilities to be secured. The process is simple and quick, requiring only the connection or disassembly of the male and female fasteners. After mooring, the stability of the marine structure is ensured, and the flexibility of the offshore platform or vessel is improved. This allows for rapid mooring of the marine structure and quick detachment in dangerous situations, ensuring safety. The quick-detachable connection method can cope with special working conditions, making the line deployment and retrieval process fast and efficient.
[0027] 2. This application allows for rope deployment at any angle, facilitating direction adjustment after deployment. A secure connection is formed directly between the male and female buckles, improving overall mooring efficiency. The guide cable device adjusts the direction of line release and retrieval, enabling the cable and marine structure to stabilize quickly and enhancing mooring stability. The detachment process for the marine structure is also relatively convenient; the structure can be quickly detached from the fixture by disassembling the male and female buckles. Furthermore, the guide cable device automatically adjusts the retrieval direction during line retrieval, ensuring stable stress on the marine structure and saving mooring time and deployment / retrieval costs. Attached Figure Description
[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other embodiments and drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0029] Figure 1A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system for securing marine structures is shown in its unsecured state.
[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the mooring state of an embodiment of a system for mooring marine structures is shown;
[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the release device is shown.
[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the release device is shown.
[0033] Figure 5 A top-view perspective schematic diagram of an embodiment of the floating body is shown;
[0034] Figure 6 A side view of an embodiment of the cable guide device is shown;
[0035] Figure 7 A top view of an embodiment of the cable guide device is shown after the main body has been removed;
[0036] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the cable guide device is shown;
[0037] Reference numerals: 100, mooring system for marine structures; 110, marine structure; 120, cable; 121, first cable; 122, second cable; 130, cable guide device; 131, universal swivel drum; 131a, support; 131b, outer cylinder; 132, main body; 133, cable guide roller; 134, anti-wear roller; 135, limiting roller; 136, limiting pin; 137, cable guide base; 140, shackle; 150, release device; 151, female buckle; 152, male buckle; 160, floating body; 161, opening; 162, slot; 170, facility to be fixed. Detailed Implementation
[0038] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0039] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.
[0040] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.
[0041] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.
[0042] This application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:
[0043] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to a first aspect of this application, a system for securing a marine structure is provided, comprising: a release device 150 and a cable 120, wherein the cable 120 is made of steel wire rope, synthetic fiber rope, or cable, or may be a chain; the cable 120 includes a first cable 121 for securing the marine structure 110 to a facility 170 to be secured; the first cable 121 has two ends, one end of which is connected to the marine structure 110; wherein the marine structure 110 includes ships, offshore platforms, offshore structures, etc.; and the facility 170 to be secured includes counterweights in ports, coastlines, or the ocean; the release device 150 includes a female buckle 151 and a male buckle 152, wherein the female buckle... The male buckle 152 and the female buckle 151 are detachable. Detachable connections can take various forms, such as snap-fit structures, threaded connections, and insertion slot structures, as long as a detachable connection can be formed. The male buckle 152 is connected to the other end of the first cable 121. The connection method can be bolted or inserted. The female buckle 151 is connected to the facility to be fixed 170. The female buckle 151 is directly connected to the facility to be fixed 170 or connected to the facility to be fixed 170 through the cable 120. In an optional embodiment, the marine structure 110 is a ship, and the facility to be fixed 170 is a port. The ship is moored in the port by connecting the male buckle 152 and the female buckle 151, and can be quickly removed to allow the ship to detach.
[0044] Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, the male buckle 152 has an external thread at its end, and the female buckle 151 has an internal thread at its end. The male buckle 152 and the female buckle 151 are threadedly matched. The male buckle 152 has a connecting hole. One end of the first cable 121 is larger in size, so that after the first cable 121 is connected to the male buckle 152 through the connecting hole, it can be locked with the male buckle 152. The female buckle 151 is connected to the port side by a steel ring. Other connection methods can also be used, such as the female buckle 151 having a buckle groove and a locking slot on both sides of the buckle groove. The male buckle 152 has protruding buckles on both sides, and springs are installed in the protruding buckles so that the protruding buckles can enter the two sides of the male buckle 152 by pressing. After no force is applied, the protruding buckles can protrude from the two sides of the male buckle 152. In this way, the male buckle 152 and the female buckle 151 are connected by a buckle. After the protruding buckles are locked in, they protrude from the locking slot of the female buckle 151. This application provides mutually detachable male and female fasteners 152 and 151, allowing the marine structure 110 to be quickly connected to or disconnected from the facility 170 to be secured. The process is simple and quick, requiring only the connection or disconnection of the male and female fasteners 152 and 151. After mooring, the stability of the marine structure 110 is ensured, and the flexibility of the offshore platform or vessel is improved. When the marine structure 110 is moored, the mooring process can be quickly completed by connecting the male and female fasteners 152 and 151. In dangerous situations, it can also be quickly disconnected, ensuring safety. The quick and detachable connection method can cope with special working conditions, making the line deployment and retrieval process fast and efficient.
[0045] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5In an optional embodiment, the system further includes a float 160, which is a structure that floats on the ocean surface. The material density of the float 160 is less than that of seawater, such as a hollow buoy, a wooden block structure, or other structures. The float 160 is provided with an opening 161 for accommodating a female buckle 151. The shape of the opening 161 matches the outside of the female buckle 151, and the size of the opening 161 can be greater than or equal to the external size of the female buckle 151, as long as it can be inserted into the female buckle 151. The connection between the female buckle 151 and the float 160 is required under certain conditions. Before the ship's line is laid and secured to the facility to be secured 170, or after the ship's line is retrieved and removed from the facility to be secured 170, that is, when the female buckle 151 is not connected to the male buckle 152, the female buckle 151 can be inserted into the opening 161. When the ship's line is laid and secured to the facility to be secured 170, and the female buckle 151 is connected to the male buckle 152, the female buckle 151 can be disengaged from the opening 161. The use of a float 160 allows the female buckle 151 to be carried. The float 160 serves as a temporary storage structure for the female buckle 151, enabling it to float on the ocean when not in use without the need for other securing equipment. Furthermore, the float 160 can pinpoint the location of the anchorage or mooring point, indicating the position of the anchorage 170. On the other hand, the female buckle 151 floats on the ocean and can be connected to or disconnected from the male buckle 152, allowing the entire line deployment and retrieval process to be carried out on the ocean surface. The float 160 provides a working area for manual operation of the male buckle 152 and female buckle 151 connection, facilitating manual operation, reducing installation and disconnection time to some extent, and increasing process safety.
[0046] Please refer to Figure 1 In an optional embodiment, for ease of description, the ends of the female buckle 151 are marked. The female buckle 151 has a first end and a second end. In the figure, the first end is the top end of the female buckle 151, and the second end is the bottom end of the female buckle 151. The first end of the female buckle 151 is detachably connected to the male buckle 152. The size of the first end of the female buckle 151 is larger than the size of the second end of the female buckle 151, thus forming a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The shape of the opening 161 matches the female buckle 151, so the opening 161 is also designed to be larger at the entrance than at the interior. The entrance of the opening 161 is located at the top of the floating body 160. When the female buckle 151 is inserted into the opening 161, the second end of the female buckle 151 enters the opening 161 before the first end. After being inserted, the female buckle 151 can be stably placed on the float 160 without the need for additional fixing methods. The insertion of the female buckle 151 can achieve a certain degree of stable placement and prevent the female buckle 151 from coming out of the float 160. In an optional embodiment, the female buckle 151 is set as a variable diameter structure, and the outer diameter of the female buckle 151 gradually decreases from the first end to the second end. In this way, the opening 161 is also set as a variable diameter structure, so that the female buckle 151 can be smoothly inserted into the float 160 and easily detached.
[0047] Please refer to Figure 1 In an optional embodiment, the system uses a second cable 122, which may be a steel wire rope, synthetic fiber rope, or other cable type. The female buckle 151 is connected to the facility 170 to be fixed via the second cable 122. The second cable 122 can be fixed to the facility 170 by binding, such as binding to a port railing, or by welding or insertion. The connection between the second cable 122 and the female buckle 151 is an interference fit connection, whereby the second cable 122 is inserted into the female buckle 151, or into the connection hole provided in the female buckle 151. A knot is tied at the connection point. Alternatively, using a second cable 122, the female buckle 151 can have a greater degree of freedom with the facility to be fixed 170, facilitating the connection between the male buckle 152 and the female buckle 151. After connection, it is also convenient to adjust the connection direction of the cable reeling and casting, saving time. In an optional embodiment, the facility to be fixed 170 is a counterweight block, made of a material with a density greater than seawater, such as an iron block, or a heavy object from the ocean. The second cable 122 connects the female buckle 151 to the counterweight block in a vertical direction. Due to the action of the floating body 160, the female buckle 151 can always float on the ocean surface, while the counterweight block can play a role in positioning and securing.
[0048] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5 In an optional embodiment, the float 160 is further provided with a slot 162. When the slot 162 is provided, the opening 161 needs to be configured to penetrate the float 160. In the figure, the opening 161 penetrates the top and bottom of the float 160. The opening 161 has a structure with a gradually changing inner diameter near the top, and the diameter at the entrance of the opening 161 is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 161. This allows the female buckle 151 to be inserted and positioned near the top of the float 160. The slot 162 connects the surface of the float 160 with the opening 161. In the figure, the slot 162 extends along the side surface of the float 160 to the opening 161, allowing the second cable 122 to detach from the float 160 through the slot 162. The width of the slot 162 is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 161. The slot 162 only needs to facilitate the release of the second cable 122. Initially, the female buckle 151 is placed at the top of the opening 161. The bottom of the female buckle 151 is connected to the facility to be fixed 170 through the second cable 122. The second cable 122 passes through the opening 161 and extends out of the bottom of the floating body 160. After the female buckle 151 is connected to the male buckle 152, the second cable 122 moves laterally and is pulled by the female buckle 151 to release from the slot 162 and the floating body 160. After release, the marine structure 110 is connected to the facility to be fixed 170 through the first cable 121, the release device 150, and the second cable 122 and connected as one unit.
[0049] Please refer to Figure 1 In an optional embodiment, the system further includes a guide cable device 130. The first cable 121 requires the guide cable device 130 for guidance and traction, so that the marine structure 110, such as a ship, is connected to the facility to be fixed 170 at a suitable angle via the first cable 121. In an optional embodiment, the guide cable device 130 includes a guide cable base 137, which is fixed to the marine structure 110, such as a ship. For example, if it is fixed to the ship's deck by bolting, the guide cable base 137 serves as the foundation of the guide cable device 130, providing support for the entire guide cable device 130. The guide cable device 130 can be arranged at the edge of the marine structure 110, such as the edge of the deck of an offshore platform. Part of the guide cable device 130 extends beyond the platform's side, which not only saves deck space but also avoids friction between the pulled-out first cable 121 and the platform's side. The existing cable guides are installed on offshore platforms or ships, such as the edge of the ship's deck. The direction of the cable exit is relatively fixed, which is not suitable for cable exit in all directions. Furthermore, the cable 120 is fixed on the coast, in the port, or fixed to another ship. Especially when the fixed facility is on the seabed, it is difficult to secure the cable 120 to the fixed facility. In addition, the cable guide roller 133 is generally a casting or welded steel plate, which will still cause some wear to the cable 120.
[0050] Please refer to Figure 6In an optional embodiment, the cable guide device 130 includes a universal rotating drum 131 and a main body 132. The main body 132 has a channel through which a first cable 121 passes. One end of the first cable 121 is fixed to the marine structure 110 and extends out of the cable guide device 130 after passing through the channel of the main body 132, connecting to the male buckle 152. In an optional embodiment, the main body 132 is formed by two opposing stop plates connected by ribs, forming a cavity structure. An inlet and an outlet are respectively provided on one side and the bottom of the other side of the stop plates. Corresponding shaft holes are provided on the opposite surfaces of the stop plates for roller mounting. The main body 132 can also be configured in other structural forms. The universal rotating drum 131 includes a support 131a and an outer cylinder 131b. The support 131a is used for installation onto the marine structure 110, and the outer cylinder 131b is connected to the support 131a. The structure is similar to a bearing, with an inter-sleeve connection. The outer cylinder 131b can rotate relative to the support 131a. The main body 132 is fixed to the outer cylinder 131b, and the outer side of the main body 132 is welded to the outer cylinder 131b. Alternatively, it can be integrally formed, bolted, or other connection methods. The main body 132 can rotate relative to the support 131a on a horizontal plane through the outer cylinder 131b. In an optional embodiment, the rotation angle of the outer cylinder 131b is between 0° and 360°, so that the main body 132 can rotate at any angle. This facilitates the adjustment of the direction in which the first cable 121 exits from the marine structure 110, minimizing damage to the first cable 121 in any exit direction and preventing the first cable 121 from breaking under stress. It can quickly adapt to the positions of various facilities 170 to be fixed, quickly form a stable connection, and ensure the stability of the marine structure 110. For example, this allows the wire rope to be led out from any angle on the ship, realizing the multi-directional guiding function of the wire rope, effectively avoiding the breakage and wear of the wire rope, and enabling the ship to freely adjust the direction of line take-up and release, adapting to the fixed facilities 170 in various directions; the first cable 121 is connected to the male buckle 152 through the main body 132 or through the shackle 140. The first cable 121 can be directly connected to the male buckle 152, and the connection method is as described in other embodiments above. Alternatively, a shackle 140 can be provided. The first cable 121 is first connected to the shackle 140, and then connected to the male buckle 152 through the shackle 140. The male buckle 152 can be provided with a connection hole, and the shackle 140 is connected to the connection hole of the male buckle 152.
[0051] Please refer to Figure 7In an optional embodiment, the cable guiding device 130 further includes a cable guiding roller 133 and a plurality of anti-wear rollers 134. The outer edges of both the cable guiding roller 133 and the anti-wear rollers 134 are provided with grooves for the first cable 121 to be wound and connected. The first cable 121 is inserted into the grooves and has gaps on both sides, facilitating the traction and guidance of the first cable 121 on the cable guiding roller 133 and the anti-wear rollers 134. The cable guiding roller 133 is vertically arranged in the main body 132, and the main body 132 has an internal accommodating space. The axle of 133 is engaged with the inner wall of the main body 132, allowing the guide roller 133 to rotate in a vertical plane. Multiple anti-wear rollers 134 are connected end-to-end to form an outlet. The inlet of the main body 132 is located on the side of the main body 132 connected to the outer cylinder 131b. At least three anti-wear rollers 134 are provided. Multiple anti-wear rollers 134 are connected end-to-end to form a triangular, quadrilateral, or other polygonal structure. The anti-wear rollers 134 have a certain length, at least greater than the outer diameter of the first cable 121, so that the first... A first cable 121 can freely enter and exit the aforementioned outlet. The first cable 121 is always located in the channel inside the main body 132. After being turned by the guide roller 133, the first cable 121 extends outward through the outlet. When it extends out of the main body 132, the first cable 121 changes direction by the anti-wear roller 134. The first cable 121 is always at the outlet and cannot detach. The anti-wear roller 134 is located below or diagonally below the guide roller 133, so that the first cable 121 is turned at a certain angle by the guide roller 133 and then exits from the main body 132. The outlet extends from below the body 132. In an optional embodiment, the anti-wear roller 134 is set horizontally and rolls on a vertical plane. If four anti-wear rollers 134 are provided, the axle of each anti-wear roller 134 is locked on the inner wall of the body 132, and each anti-wear roller 134 can rotate relative to the body 132. The first cable 121 can move relative to the rolling surface of the anti-wear roller 134, so that the first cable 121 will not be broken or worn at any angle when laying and winding the cable.
[0052] Please refer to Figure 6In an optional embodiment, the cable guide device 130 further includes a limiting roller 135, which is disposed on the main body 132. The two ends of the axle of the limiting roller 135 are engaged with the inner wall of the main body 132. The limiting roller 135 also rolls on a vertical plane. There is a gap between the limiting roller 135 and the cable guide roller 133. The first cable 121 winds around the cable guide roller 133 through the gap. The space between the limiting roller 135 and the cable guide roller 133 forms a partial channel within the main body 132. The first cable 121 passes around the guide roller 133 and can be limited by the limiting roller 135 to prevent the first cable 121 from jumping. In an optional embodiment, the limiting roller 135 is located at the relative position of the anti-wear roller 134 forming the outlet. Specifically, the outlet is close to the bottom edge of the main body 132, while the limiting roller 135 is close to the top edge of the main body 132. In this way, the first cable 121 can be restricted to move within the channel, which improves the stability of the first cable 121. In an optional embodiment, the cable guide device 130 further includes a limiting pin 136, which is located inside the main body 132. The two ends of the limiting pin 136 are engaged with the inner wall of the main body 132. For a stable connection, it can be fixed by welding. The limiting pin 136 is located between the limiting guide wheel and the entrance of the first cable 121 in the main body 132. When the first cable 121 sways, the limiting pin 136 can limit the swaying amplitude. In this way, the range of motion of the first cable 121 is further restricted on one side of the cable guide roller 133, so that the first cable 121 moves within a fixed space, avoiding interference and friction between the first cable 121 and other objects or structures, and further improving the stability of the first cable 121 during deployment and reeling.
[0053] Please refer to Figure 8 According to a second aspect of this application, a method for launching and retrieving a line is provided, which employs the aforementioned system for securing a marine structure. The marine structure 110 is illustrated as a ship. The method includes, during line deployment:
[0054] S1. The marine structure 110 is pre-installed with first cables 121 in multiple directions, that is, multiple first cables 121 are connected to its platform from different directions of the ship. For example, multiple first cables 121 are fixed to the deck of the ship from four directions: front, rear, left, and right, or two in front and two in the rear. Each direction is provided with a fixture 170 to be fixed. That is, in the direction in which the first cables 121 are installed, fixtures 170 to be fixed are pre-installed, such as the opposite sides of the port, or counterweights in the ocean. The fixtures 170 to be fixed are described below using counterweights in the ocean. A total of four counterweights are used. Each first cable 121 corresponds to a male buckle 152. The first cable 121 is connected to the male buckle 152, and then needs to be connected to the female buckle 151 through the male buckle 152.
[0055] S2. During the laying process, multiple first cables 121 are stretched toward the corresponding counterweights. Specifically, the first cables 121 are stretched outwards from the ship to the female buckle 151 at the floating body 160. Each first cable 121 is connected to the female buckle 151 of each fixture 170 via the male buckle 152. They are mutually fixed by a detachable connection method, such as by rotating the threaded male buckle 152 and female buckle 151 to complete the securing of the marine structure 110 to the fixture 170. In an optional embodiment, after the male buckle 152 and female buckle 151 are connected, the first cables 121 and the first... The two cables 122 are integrated, and the second cable 122 is detached from the floating body 160. In an optional embodiment, a guide cable device 130 is used. The guide cable device 130 is installed on the deck of the ship. Two guide cable devices 130 are installed at the front and rear of the ship, respectively. The two guide cable devices 130 are offset to the left and right sides of the ship. In this way, after the first cable 121 is released, it is fixed to the counterweights at the front and rear ends of the ship in a figure-eight shape. This can stabilize the ship in multiple directions and ensure that the ship does not deviate from the working area when affected by wind and waves at sea. When releasing or retrieving the line, each first cable 121 adjusts the direction of release and retrieval through the corresponding guide cable device 130.
[0056] When retracting the line:
[0057] S3. Disconnect each male buckle 152 from its connected female buckle 151. The disassembly method is the opposite of the docking method. Different disassembly connections require different disassembly methods. For example, using the threaded matching connection method described above, the male buckle 152 and female buckle 151 can be loosened by rotation. The male buckle 152 is retrieved to the ship via the first cable 121. One end of the first cable 121 has a storage device, such as a winding machine. The first cable 121 carries the male buckle 152 for rapid retrieval. The female buckle 151 is used as a counterweight. Using a downward movement, the second cable 122 is pulled laterally to the slot 162 of the float 160 and locked into the float 160. The female buckle 151 is also locked into the opening 161 of the float 160. The float 160 can be retrieved after the male buckle 152 and the female buckle 151 are connected, and can be placed back into the ocean surface when needed. Then, the female buckle 151 is locked into the opening 161 of the float 160, waiting for the next securing of the marine structure 110, thus completing the detachment of the marine structure 110 from the securing facility 170.
[0058] This application allows for rope deployment at any angle, facilitating direction adjustment after deployment. A secure connection is formed directly between the male and female buckles 152 and 151, improving overall mooring efficiency. The guide cable device 130 adjusts the direction of line release and take-up, enabling the cable 120 and marine structure 110 to stabilize quickly, enhancing and ensuring the stability of the marine structure 110 and the mooring process. The detachment process of the marine structure 110 is also relatively convenient; the detachment from the anchorage 170 can be completed quickly by disassembling the male and female buckles 152 and 151. Furthermore, the guide cable device 130 automatically adjusts the line-reeling direction during reeling, ensuring stable force on the marine structure 110 and saving mooring time and deployment / take-up costs.
[0059] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," "optional example," or "optional implementation," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.
[0060] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.
[0061] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A system for securing marine structures, characterized in that, include: A first cable (121) is used to secure the marine structure (110) to the facility to be secured (170), and one end of the first cable (121) is connected to the marine structure (110). The release device (150) includes a female buckle (151) and a male buckle (152), the male buckle (152) and the female buckle (151) being detachably connected, the male buckle (152) being connected to the other end of the first cable (121), and the female buckle (151) being connected to the fixture (170) to be secured. It also includes a float (160), the material density of which is less than that of seawater. The float (160) is provided with an opening (161) for accommodating the female buckle (151). When the female buckle (151) is not connected to the male buckle (152), it can be inserted into the opening (161). When the female buckle (151) is connected to the male buckle (152), it can be disengaged from the opening (161). The female buckle (151) has a first end and a second end. The first end of the female buckle (151) is detachably connected to the male buckle (152). The size of the first end of the female buckle (151) is larger than the size of the second end of the female buckle (151). The shape of the opening (161) matches the female buckle (151) so that when the female buckle (151) is inserted into the opening (161), the second end of the female buckle (151) enters the opening (161) before the first end. It also includes a cable guide device (130), which includes a universal swivel drum (131) and a main body (132). The universal swivel drum (131) includes a support (131a) and an outer cylinder (131b). The support (131a) is used to install to the marine structure (110). The outer cylinder (131b) is bush-connected to the support (131a). The main body (132) is fixed to the outer cylinder (131b). The main body (132) can rotate on a horizontal plane through the outer cylinder (131b). The first cable (121) is connected to the male buckle (152) through the main body (132) or to the male buckle (152) through a shackle (140).
2. The system for securing marine structures according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second cable (122), through which the female buckle (151) is connected to the fixture (170) to be secured.
3. The system for securing marine structures according to claim 2, characterized in that, The float (160) is also provided with a slot (162), the opening (161) penetrates the float, and the slot (162) connects the surface of the float (160) with the opening (161), so that the second cable (122) can be released from the float (160) through the slot (162).
4. The system for securing marine structures according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable guiding device (130) also includes a cable guiding roller (133) and a plurality of anti-wear rollers (134). The cable guiding roller (133) is vertically arranged on the main body (132). The plurality of anti-wear rollers (134) are connected end to end to form an outlet. The first cable (121) extends outward through the outlet after being turned by the cable guiding roller (133).
5. The system for securing marine structures according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cable guide device (130) further includes a limiting roller (135), which is disposed on the main body (132). There is a gap between the limiting roller (135) and the cable guide roller (133), and the first cable (121) is wound around the cable guide roller (133) from the gap.
6. The system for securing marine structures according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cable guide device (130) also includes a limiting pin (136), which is located inside the main body (132). The limiting pin (136) is located between the limiting roller and the entrance of the first cable (121) of the main body (132). When the first cable (121) swings, the swing amplitude can be limited by the limiting pin (136).
7. A method for taking in and releasing wire, characterized in that, The system employing any one of claims 1-6 for mooring marine structures comprises: The marine structure (110) is pre-installed with the first cable (121) in multiple directions, and each direction is provided with a fixing device (170), and each first cable (121) corresponds to one of the male buckles (152). During the laying process, multiple first cables (121) are stretched toward the corresponding fixtures (170) to be fixed. Each first cable (121) is connected to the female buckle (151) connected to each fixture (170) through the male buckle (152) to be fixed, thus completing the fixation of the marine structure (110) to the fixture (170). When reeling in the line, the male buckles (152) are disconnected from the female buckles (151) they are connected to. The male buckles (152) are retracted to the marine structure (110) via the first cable (121), and the female buckles (151) are inserted into the floating body (160), thus completing the separation of the marine structure (110) from the fixed facility (170). If the cable guide device (130) is used, when releasing or retrieving the line, each of the first cables (121) adjusts the direction of release and retrieval by passing through the corresponding cable guide device (130).