Underwater anchoring body based on bionic conch structure
By designing an underwater anchor body with a biomimetic conch structure, utilizing a rotational embedding mechanism and a spiral shape, the problems of heavy weight, low anchoring efficiency, and poor environmental adaptability of traditional anchor bodies are solved, achieving a high-efficiency, stable, and low-cost anchoring effect.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing underwater mooring structures suffer from problems such as heavy weight, low anchoring efficiency, poor environmental adaptability, complex deployment operations, and ecological incompatibility, making it difficult to meet the needs of marine development.
Adopting a biomimetic conch shell structure design, including a top connecting component, a biomimetic anchor body, and a bottom conical tip, it utilizes a rotational embedding mechanism to provide efficient anchoring force. Through the spiral shape of the biomimetic anchor body and circumferential spiral ribs, it rotates and embeds itself in the seabed, relying on soil confining pressure to lock in place, reducing material usage and enhancing stability.
It provides extremely high pull-out stability and environmental adaptability, reduces installation complexity and cost, and improves anchoring efficiency and eco-friendliness.
Smart Images
Figure CN121734582A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of bionics, and particularly relates to an underwater anchoring body based on a bionic snail structure. BACKGROUND
[0002] In recent years, with the pace of human exploration, development and utilization of the ocean accelerating unceasingly, various marine facilities such as marine ranching, floating wind power, seabed exploration equipment and submersible buoy systems have been developed and applied unprecedentedly. In order to achieve their intended functions, these marine equipment must work stably in complex marine environments for a long time, and they cannot do without a crucial basic subsystem, namely, an underwater anchoring system. The core function of the anchoring system is to provide reliable fixing force for the entire system to resist the drag force, overturning force and uplift force caused by environmental loads such as wind, wave and current. The anchoring body, as the terminal component of the anchoring system that directly contacts the seabed and provides the ultimate anchoring force, its performance directly determines the safety, stability and reliability of the entire marine equipment system.
[0003] At present, the traditional underwater anchoring bodies widely used in engineering mainly fall into two categories: gravity anchors and penetration anchors. The gravity anchor (such as concrete gravity block, cast iron block, etc.) relies entirely on its huge self-weight to provide anchoring force. Its design, manufacture and principle are simple, but there are obvious drawbacks: first, in order to meet the anchoring force requirement, its volume and weight are often very large, resulting in high material cost, and putting forward very high requirements for the tonnage of the transportation and deployment ship and the capacity of the hoisting equipment, which makes the overall deployment cost rise sharply; second, its anchoring efficiency is very low, which is a very uneconomical anchoring way; finally, the huge size will cause significant compression and shielding effect on the seabed area where it is located, damaging the benthic ecological environment. The other category of penetration anchors (such as drag anchor, plate anchor, suction anchor, etc.) penetrate the seabed through a specific structural shape and use the shear resistance of the soil to provide anchoring force. The anchoring efficiency of this type of anchor is higher than that of the gravity anchor, but there are still many limitations: for example, the deployment process of the drag anchor is complex and the trajectory is difficult to control accurately; the plate anchor has poor stability when bearing variable loads and is prone to overturning failure; the suction anchor is difficult to penetrate in sandy soil and has high requirements for the uniformity of the seabed soil. In summary, the existing anchoring bodies generally have the common problems of large self-weight, low anchoring efficiency, poor environmental adaptability (performance fluctuates greatly in different geological conditions such as soft clay and sandy soil), complex deployment operation, and ecological unfriendliness, etc.
[0004] Facing the development trend of ocean exploitation towards deep sea and large-scale and green equipment, developing a new type of anchor body with high anchoring efficiency, strong environmental adaptability, low environmental impact and easy to deploy has become an urgent and important task in the field of ocean engineering. As a cross-disciplinary field, bionics provides a new way to solve the problem of traditional anchor body. After billions of years of evolution, nature has formed many optimized forms and functions, providing valuable inspiration for engineering design. For example, the wing of an airplane imitates the wing of a bird, and the arrangement of the wing is optimized to improve the aerodynamic performance; the shape of the ship is inspired by the streamlined shape of fish, which effectively reduces the sailing resistance. These bionic designs not only improve the performance of engineering equipment, but also promote the development of related technologies.
[0005] As Figure 2 , as a kind of marine organism, the bionic structure of snail has unique scientific basis. The spiral shape of snail shell can effectively disperse the impact force of water flow, reduce local stress concentration and improve impact resistance. In the silt bottom, the thread-like structure can penetrate into the silt, providing strong grip and enhancing the stability of the anchor. Compared with traditional anchor body, bionic snail anchor body can maintain more stable grip in strong current environment, effectively prevent displacement and improve anchor safety. At the same time, its unique structure can reduce the dependence on material weight, reduce transportation and installation cost. With the continuous development of ocean resource development, the demand for high-performance anchor body is increasing in offshore wind farm, deep sea exploration device and other fields. Bionic snail anchor body is expected to be widely used in the field of ocean engineering due to its excellent performance and cost advantage, and provide reliable guarantee for efficient development and utilization of marine resources. SUMMARY
[0006] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present application provides an underwater anchor body based on bionic snail structure, which comprises a top connecting component, a bionic anchor body and a bottom conical tip; the top connecting component is arranged at the center of the top end of the bionic anchor body and comprises a rotary connector and symmetrical auxiliary ear plates; the rotary connector is a disc-shaped or flange-shaped component fixedly connected to the top of the bionic anchor body; the symmetrical auxiliary ear plates are two and symmetrically arranged on both sides of the top end of the bionic anchor body, and are integrally formed with the bionic anchor body; the bionic anchor body is the core bearing structure of the anchor body, and the whole body is in the form of gradually increasing spiral; the shell side contour line of the bionic anchor body is a spiral curve, and the outer surface is provided with a continuous circumferential spiral rib; the inside of the bionic anchor body is a cavity system; the bottom conical tip is a core guiding structure for embedding the anchor body into the soil, which is used for soil breaking, center of gravity stabilization and enhancing the stability of the anchor. The present application is lighter and smaller than the traditional gravity anchor, but can provide several times the holding force of its own weight, and the stability is greatly improved.
[0007] The technical scheme adopted by the present application to solve its technical problems is as follows: An underwater anchoring body based on a bionic conch structure, comprising a top connecting assembly, a bionic anchor body and a bottom conical tip; The top connecting assembly is a connecting core of the anchoring body and the anchor chain, is arranged at the central position of the top end of the bionic anchor body, and comprises a rotary connecting head and symmetrical auxiliary ear plates. The rotary connecting head is a disc-shaped or flange-shaped component, is fixedly connected to the top of the bionic anchor body, and is used for collecting and transmitting loads. The symmetrical auxiliary ear plates are two in number, are symmetrically arranged at two sides of the top end of the bionic anchor body, are integrally formed with the bionic anchor body, are used for connecting auxiliary traction ropes, provide lateral tensile support, and prevent the bionic anchor body from being turned over under the action of horizontal wind and waves. The bionic anchor body is a core bearing structure of the anchoring body, has a gradually changing spiral upward shape as a whole, the shell side contour line of the bionic anchor body is a spiral curve, and the outer surface is provided with continuous circumferential spiral ribs. The bottom conical tip is used for breaking soil, guiding, stabilizing the center of gravity and enhancing the stability of the bionic anchor body.
[0008] Preferably, the top connecting assembly collects alternating loads, including axial tension, lateral bending moment and torsional load, from the mooring cable to a point, smoothly disperses the loads to the large end opening edge of the bionic anchor body, and then transmits the loads to the shell structure of the bionic anchor body.
[0009] Preferably, the top connecting assembly provides an interface for the connection of the shackle and the anchor chain.
[0010] Preferably, the rotary connecting head is provided with a built-in bearing, can realize free rotation, and effectively releases the torsional stress generated by the anchor chain under the action of water flow.
[0011] Preferably, the shell of the bionic anchor body adopts a three-layer composite structure design, and from the outside to the inside, the shell is sequentially provided with an outer wear-resistant layer, a middle reinforcing layer and an inner buffer layer, and the layers are tightly attached to each other; the shell can encounter the minimum resistance during embedding and provide the maximum surface area for contact with the soil.
[0012] Preferably, when the bionic anchor body rotates and sinks, the edges of the circumferential spiral ribs can cut the soil, reducing the sinking resistance; the spiral angle of the circumferential spiral ribs can convert the horizontal drag force or water power into a rotary moment; after embedding, the transverse circumferential spiral ribs lock the surrounding soil, when subjected to the force of pulling out upward, the upper surface of the circumferential spiral ribs generates friction and bearing force with the compacted soil above, and the pull-out resistance of the bionic anchor body is increased.
[0013] The beneficial effects of the present application are as follows: 1. Extremely high anti-pull stability: Based on the "rotary embedding-confining pressure locking" mechanism, its anti-pull ability mainly comes from the confining pressure of the surrounding soil, rather than simply from its own weight. Therefore, under the condition of providing the same grip, the anchor body is lighter and smaller than the traditional gravity anchor, but can provide several times the holding force of its own weight, greatly improving stability.
[0014] 2. Strong environmental adaptability: Suitable for a variety of seabed geology, especially in soft clay, sandy seabed and other seabed where traditional anchor performance is poor. Its installation process has far less disturbance to the seabed than the drag anchor, and is more environmentally friendly.
[0015] 3. Self-installation and self-stabilization: The clever design achieves "self-rotation" embedding, reducing the need for complex installation equipment and precise operation, making installation convenient and cost-effective.
[0016] 4. Strong direction adaptability: Due to its axisymmetric bionic spiral structure, whether the pull comes from any direction, it can effectively convert into the tendency of rotary sinking or confining pressure resistance, and has good self-adaptability to complex and variable marine loads. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the anchor body of the present application; Figure 2 is a snail image.
[0018] Reference signs: 1-rotary connector, 2-assistant ear plate, 3-bionic anchor body, 4-bottom tapered tip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and examples.
[0020] As Figure 1 , the present application is a kind of underwater anchor body structure design based on bionic snail structure, its design core lies in imitating the unique spiral conical shape of snail shell and its excellent anti-pullout mechanism in matrix. The anchor body is mainly composed of a top connection assembly, a bionic anchor body and a bottom tapered tip structure.
[0021] The top connecting assembly is the connecting core of the mooring body and the anchor chain, which is arranged at the center of the top end of the spiral shell body and includes a rotary connecting head and symmetrical auxiliary ear plates. The rotary connecting head is a thick and heavy component in the shape of a disc or a flange, which is fixedly connected to the top of the bionic anchor body. Its main function is to collect and transfer the load from the several kilometers long mooring cable, including axial tension, lateral bending moment and torsional load, to a point, and then to disperse the load to the entire shell wall structure of the anchor body through its own solid structure. In addition, it protects the relatively thin opening edge of the anchor body shell wall from direct bearing of wear and tear and extremely high local stress. Finally, the setting provides a reliable, durable and safe interface for the connection of the shackle and the anchor chain, ensuring the compatibility and maintainability of the entire system. In addition, the rotary connecting head has a built-in bearing to achieve free rotation and effectively release the torsional stress generated by the anchor chain under the action of water flow. The symmetrical auxiliary ear plates are two in number and are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the top end of the spiral shell body, which are integrally formed with the shell body and used for connecting auxiliary traction ropes to provide lateral tension support and prevent the anchor body from overturning under the action of horizontal wind and waves.
[0022] The bionic anchor body is the core bearing structure of the mooring body, which has a gradually changing spiral upward shape to optimize the water flow path and reduce wave impact load. The shell of the bionic anchor body adopts a three-layer composite structure design, which is sequentially formed by an outer wear-resistant layer, a middle reinforcing layer and an inner buffer layer, and each layer is tightly attached. This form is optimized by natural selection to encounter the least resistance during embedding and provide the maximum surface area for contact with the soil. Its side contour line is a spiral curve to ensure uniform stress during embedding and avoid stress concentration. The entire anchor body is a hollow system, which greatly saves materials and reduces the overall weight. On the outer surface of the bionic anchor body, there are continuous circumferential spiral ribs. These ribs are key details for function implementation, and their role is similar to the texture on the surface of a snail shell or the threads of a screw, which plays an indispensable role. When the anchor body rotates and sinks, the sharp edges of the ribs can efficiently cut the soil and reduce the sinking resistance. The spiral angle can optimally convert the horizontal drag force or water power into rotational torque. After embedding, these transverse ribs, like countless "barbs", firmly lock the surrounding soil. When subjected to upward pulling force, the upper surface of the ribs will generate a large friction and bearing force with the compacted soil above, greatly increasing the pull-out resistance of the anchor body. Finally, these ribs also act as reinforcing ribs, significantly enhancing the structural stiffness and compression resistance of the thin-walled anchor body shell, enabling it to withstand the huge surrounding pressure of deep soil.
[0023] The bottom conical tip serves as the core guiding structure for the anchor to embed into the seabed, and has multiple key roles: first, the soil breaking and guiding role, the optimized conical angle design can greatly reduce the resistance when the anchor touches the seabed, enabling the anchor to quickly penetrate the seabed surface sediments under the action of its own gravity and the impact force during deployment, laying the foundation for the subsequent embedding of the spiral shell, especially suitable for relatively dense seabed environments such as sandy and gravel environments; second, the gravity center stabilizing role, the conical tip lowers the overall gravity center of the anchor, ensuring that it always maintains a vertical posture when touching the seabed during deployment, avoiding tilting and offset, and improving the accuracy of deployment; third, the enhanced bite stability role, the conical tip forms an anchor point after embedding into the sand, further enhancing the anchor's resistance to pulling and sliding, ensuring stability in complex sea conditions.
[0024] The core working principle of the present application is the "rotary embedding- confining pressure locking" mechanism. Instead of relying on pure gravity or instantaneous penetration, it simulates the movement of a snail, and the working process is a continuous and dynamic mechanical process, which can be divided into three main stages: Stage one: initial deployment and touching the seabed; The anchor is lifted or towed to the target seabed by a crane or towing device on the ship. Then it is released, allowing it to sink vertically under its own weight with the anchor tip pointing downward and initially contacting the seabed surface. At this time, the anchor is almost standing upright on the seabed.
[0025] Stage two: rotary embedding stage; This is the most critical stage, which realizes the transition from "placement" to "anchoring". First, a pulling force is applied, and the ship begins to slowly apply a horizontal or nearly horizontal pulling force to the mooring line connected to the rotary connector. This horizontal pulling force acts on the mooring point, and due to the resistance at the contact point between the bottom conical structure and the soil, it generates a downward component and a horizontal component. The downward component will compress the anchor, causing it to have a downward movement tendency. The horizontal component will generate a moment that causes the anchor to rotate because it does not pass through the center axis of the anchor. This rotational moment, combined with the reaction force provided by the soil at the anchor tip, causes the anchor to begin to rotate. At this time, the spiral ribs on the outer wall of the anchor begin to play a role. They are like the threads of a screw, biting into the surrounding soil. As the anchor rotates, these ribs cut and press the soil in front, creating a path for the anchor to move downward. Under the action of continuous pulling force and rotational moment, the anchor continues to rotate around its central axis along the spiral guide path while drilling deeper into the seabed. This process will continue until the anchor is embedded to a sufficient depth, the resistance and pulling force are balanced, or the predetermined embedding depth is reached.
[0026] Stage three: locking and bearing; When the embedment stops, the entire anchor is tightly surrounded by the soil. At this point, the anchor is in working condition. When the vessel experiences upward pull on the mooring line due to wind, waves, and currents, the large surface area of the anchor provides a large static friction force. At the same time, the helical ribs act like a multitude of "barbs" that mechanically interlock with the compacted soil above, directly resisting the pull-out motion. Any attempt to pull the anchor out will need to overcome the weight and lateral pressure of the large volume of soil surrounding it. The conical shape of the anchor means that the more it is pulled out, the larger the volume of soil that is disturbed, and the greater the resistance.
Claims
1. An underwater anchoring hull based on a biomimetic conch structure, characterized in that, Includes a top connecting component, a biomimetic anchor body, and a bottom conical tip; The top connection component is the core of the connection between the anchor body and the anchor chain. It is located at the center of the top of the bionic anchor body and includes a rotating connector and symmetrical auxiliary lugs. The rotary connector is a disc-shaped or flange-shaped component that is fixedly connected to the top of the biomimetic anchor body for collecting and transmitting loads. There are two symmetrical auxiliary ear plates, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the top of the bionic anchor body and are integrally formed with the bionic anchor body. They are used to connect the auxiliary traction rope, provide lateral tensile support, and prevent the anchor body from overturning under the action of horizontal wind and waves. The biomimetic anchor body is the core load-bearing structure of the anchor body, and the whole body has a gradually rising spiral shape; the shell side contour of the biomimetic anchor body is a spiral curve, and the outer surface is provided with continuous circumferential spiral ribs; the interior of the biomimetic anchor body is a cavity system. The bottom conical tip serves as the core guiding structure for anchor body contact and embedding, used for soil breaking guidance, center of gravity stabilization, and enhanced interlocking stability.
2. The underwater anchoring hull based on a biomimetic conch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top connection assembly gathers the alternating loads from the mooring cable—including axial tension, lateral bending moment, and torsional loads—to a single point, smoothly distributes them to the edge of the large end opening of the biomimetic anchor, and then transfers them to the shell structure of the biomimetic anchor.
3. The underwater anchoring hull based on a biomimetic conch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top connection component provides an interface for connecting shackles and anchor chains.
4. The underwater anchoring hull based on a biomimetic conch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotary connector has a built-in bearing, which allows it to rotate freely and effectively releases the torsional stress generated by the anchor chain under the action of water flow.
5. An underwater anchoring hull based on a biomimetic conch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The biomimetic anchor body adopts a three-layer composite structure design, consisting of an outer wear-resistant layer, a middle reinforcing layer, and an inner buffer layer from the outside to the inside. Each layer fits tightly together, which can minimize resistance during the embedding process and provide the maximum surface area for contact with the soil.
6. The underwater anchoring hull based on a biomimetic conch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the anchor body rotates and sinks, the edges of the circumferential spiral ribs can cut the soil, reducing sinking resistance; its spiral angle can convert the horizontal drag force or hydrodynamic force into rotational torque; after being embedded, the transverse circumferential spiral ribs lock the surrounding soil, and when subjected to an upward pulling force, the upper surface of the circumferential spiral ribs generates friction and bearing capacity with the compacted soil above, increasing the anchor body's pull-out resistance.