Ship lock protection structure

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ship lock protection, in particular to a ship lock protection structure which comprises a ship lock wall, a positioning frame, a reset buffer mechanism, a belleville spring set, a force transmission assembly, a composite energy absorption panel, a telescopic sleeve, a force transmission cam, a lever arm, a sliding groove and a honeycomb core material. Linear impact force is converted into rotary motion, so that the buffering time is greatly prolonged, and the peak impact force is reduced; meanwhile, due to the sliding grooves formed in the hinged positions of the two ends of the lever arm in the axial direction, motion interference possibly occurring in the complex motion process is effectively avoided, and it is guaranteed that the whole buffering system can work smoothly at various collision angles and forces; when the water filling or draining stage is finished and the water flow tends to be stable, the energy stored in the belleville spring set enables the composite energy absorption panel to automatically reset to the initial position through the reverse action of the force transmission assembly, and the next buffering operation is prepared.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lock protection technology, specifically a lock protection structure. Background Technology

[0002] A ship lock is a hydraulic engineering facility mainly composed of a lock chamber, upstream and downstream gates, and a water conveyance system. It is used to solve navigation problems between waterways with different water levels. When a ship faces a difference in water level, the lock regulates the water level within the lock chamber, allowing the ship to pass safely and smoothly through the obstacle. It overcomes water level differences in natural or artificial waterways, preventing ships from being forced to detour or being unable to pass. Furthermore, it can rationally regulate water flow, serving multiple functions including navigation, flood control, and water resource utilization.

[0003] During the operation of the lock, the non-steady flow generated during the filling and emptying phases creates complex vortices and turbulence, making it difficult for ships to maintain stability due to irregular hydrodynamic forces. Large ships, due to their large inertia, slow response, and reduced rudder efficiency, are easily affected by water flow in confined waters, resulting in deflection and drift. Their free swaying frequency and water flow fluctuation frequency may even resonate. Traditional lock walls lack effective buffering and guiding structures. If a ship collides with the lock wall, the ship's hull plate near the waterline may be deformed, dented, or even cracked. The lock chamber facilities face problems such as concrete spalling and steel structure deformation, significantly increasing the frequency of maintenance. Repairs caused by collisions often require navigation to be stopped. A moderate lock wall repair can cause navigation interruption for several days to several weeks, leading to waterway congestion.

[0004] In view of this, in order to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention proposes a lock protection structure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, the technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: A lock protection structure according to this invention includes a lock wall, and further includes:

[0006] A positioning frame, which is fixedly installed on the lock wall;

[0007] A reset buffer mechanism, comprising a disc spring assembly and a force transmission component mounted on a positioning frame, for buffering and storing energy;

[0008] A composite energy-absorbing panel is mounted on a positioning frame via a telescopic sleeve. The composite energy-absorbing panel abuts against a reset buffer mechanism to absorb the initial kinetic energy of a collision.

[0009] Preferably, the disc spring assembly includes multiple disc springs installed in a counter-mounted and series-connected manner to form a buffer structure with stable stiffness characteristics. A connecting plate is also fixedly installed at the top of the disc spring, and the connecting plate is used to connect with the force transmission component.

[0010] Preferably, the force transmission component includes:

[0011] The force transmission cam adopts an involute design and is rotatably mounted on the positioning frame.

[0012] The lever arm has one end rotatably connected to the outer edge of the force transmission cam and the other end rotatably connected to the end of the connecting plate. The rotating support rod of the lever arm is rotatably installed with the positioning frame. The length ratio of the lever arm is 2.5:1.

[0013] Preferably, the lever arm is provided with a sliding groove along the axial direction at the hinge positions at both ends. The sliding groove is used to avoid motion interference between the force transmission cam and the connecting plate during the movement.

[0014] Preferably, the composite energy-absorbing panel is a sandwich structure, including a front panel, a rear panel, and an aluminum alloy honeycomb core material filled between the two panels, and the surface of the front panel is provided with an anti-slip structure.

[0015] Preferably, the honeycomb wall thickness in the central region of the honeycomb core material of the composite energy-absorbing panel is less than that in the edge region, so that the crushing deformation extends in an orderly manner from the center to the edge, forming a plastic zone with a gradually expanding diameter.

[0016] Preferably, the composite energy-absorbing panels are evenly and equidistantly distributed on the lock wall, and each composite energy-absorbing panel is equipped with multiple sets of reset buffer mechanisms to cooperate with it.

[0017] Preferably, the system surface protection adopts a multi-layer anti-corrosion system, the steel structure components are hot-dip galvanized, the aluminum alloy components are hard anodized, and all joints are filled with high-elasticity polyurethane sealant.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0019] 1. By converting linear impact force into rotational motion, the buffering time is significantly extended and the peak impact force is reduced. At the same time, the sliding grooves opened along the axial direction at the hinge positions at both ends of the lever arm effectively avoid motion interference that may occur during complex movements, ensuring that the entire buffering system can work smoothly under various collision angles and forces. When the water filling or draining phase ends and the water flow tends to stabilize, the energy stored in the disc spring group is used to automatically reset the composite energy-absorbing panel to the initial position through the reverse action of the force transmission component, ready for the next buffering operation.

[0020] 2. Through the coordinated action of the orderly crushing deformation of the aluminum alloy honeycomb core material and the multi-point buffer mechanism, the energy absorption capacity and stress uniformity of the lock wall are significantly improved. This not only effectively protects the structure near the waterline of the ship, but also greatly reduces the maintenance frequency of the lock wall itself and extends the service life of the lock. In addition, the anti-slip structure of the front panel can also provide auxiliary positioning function for moored ships in non-collision state, reduce the load on the mooring lines, and improve mooring stability. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the reset buffer mechanism of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 A three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the force transmission component of the present invention.

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Lock wall; 2. Positioning frame; 3. Reset buffer mechanism; 4. Disc spring assembly; 5. Force transmission component; 6. Composite energy-absorbing panel; 7. Telescopic sleeve; 8. Disc spring; 9. Connecting plate; 10. Force transmission cam; 11. Lever arm; 12. Rotating support rod; 13. Sliding groove; 14. Front panel; 15. Rear panel; 16. Honeycomb core material. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a lock protection structure, including a lock wall 1, and further comprising:

[0029] Positioning frame 2, which is fixedly installed on the lock wall 1;

[0030] The reset buffer mechanism 3 includes a disc spring assembly 4 and a force transmission component 5 mounted on the positioning frame 2, which are used to buffer and store energy.

[0031] The composite energy-absorbing panel 6 is mounted on the positioning frame 2 via a telescopic sleeve 7. The composite energy-absorbing panel 6 abuts against the reset buffer mechanism 3 and is used to absorb the initial kinetic energy of the collision.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the disc spring assembly 4 includes a plurality of disc springs 8 installed in a counter-mounted and series-connected manner to form a buffer structure with stable stiffness characteristics. A connecting plate 9 is also fixedly installed at the top of the disc spring 8, and the connecting plate 9 is used to connect with the force transmission component 5.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the force transmission component 5 includes:

[0034] The force transmission cam 10 adopts an involute design and is rotatably mounted on the positioning frame 2.

[0035] Lever arm 11, one end of which is rotatably connected to the outer edge of force transmission cam 10, and the other end is rotatably connected to the end of connecting plate 9. The rotating support rod 12 of lever arm 11 is rotatably installed with positioning frame 2. The length ratio of lever arm 11 is 2.5:1.

[0036] As one embodiment of the present invention, the lever arm 11 is provided with a sliding groove 13 along the axial direction of the lever arm 11 at the hinge positions at both ends. The sliding groove 13 is used to avoid motion interference between the force transmission cam 10 and the connecting plate 9 during the movement.

[0037] When a ship approaches the lock wall due to the water flow, it first contacts the highly resilient composite energy-absorbing panel 6. This panel absorbs most of the impact kinetic energy in the initial stage of the collision, and then transmits the remaining impact force to the reset buffer mechanism 3 through the telescopic sleeve 7. The specially designed disc spring group 4 uses multiple disc springs 8 installed in opposite directions and connected in series to form a buffer structure with nonlinear stiffness characteristics. Its stiffness characteristics gradually increase with the amount of compression, ensuring that it can provide the best buffering effect under collisions of different intensities. The involute design of the force transmission component 5, the force transmission cam 10 and the lever arm 11 form a precise force transmission system. When the composite energy-absorbing panel 6 is compressed, the pressure is transmitted to the connecting plate 9 through the telescopic sleeve 7, causing one end of the lever arm 11 to move downward. The lever arm 11 amplifies the force with a length ratio of 2.5:1 and transmits it to the force transmission cam 10, causing it to rotate. This design cleverly converts linear impact force into rotational motion, greatly extending the buffering time and reducing the peak impact force. At the same time, the sliding grooves 13 opened axially at the hinge positions at both ends of the lever arm 11 effectively avoid the sliding grooves in complex movements. The system mitigates potential motion interference during operation, ensuring smooth operation of the entire buffer system under various collision angles and forces. Once the filling or emptying phase ends and the water flow stabilizes, the energy stored in the disc spring assembly 4, through the reverse action of the force transmission component 5, automatically resets the composite energy-absorbing panel 6 to its initial position, preparing for the next buffering operation. This protective structure, through the synergistic effect of the composite energy-absorbing panel 6 and the reset buffer mechanism 3, not only significantly reduces the impact force when a ship collides with the lock wall, protecting the structural integrity near the waterline, but also prevents concrete spalling and steel structure deformation in the lock chamber walls, greatly extending the service life of the lock facilities. Furthermore, the automatic reset function eliminates the need for manual intervention in traditional protective devices, ensuring continuous and efficient lock operation, reducing downtime due to maintenance, and significantly improving waterway traffic efficiency. In the long term, the widespread application of this protective structure will significantly reduce lock maintenance costs, decrease ship repair expenses, improve the economy and reliability of the entire water transport system, and provide a solid guarantee for the efficient and safe operation of inland waterway transportation.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, the composite energy-absorbing panel 6 is a sandwich structure, including a front panel 14, a rear panel 15 and an aluminum alloy honeycomb core material 16 filled between the two panels, and the surface of the front panel 14 is provided with an anti-slip structure.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the honeycomb wall thickness of the central region of the honeycomb core material 16 of the composite energy-absorbing panel 6 is less than that of the edge region, so that the crushing deformation extends in an orderly manner from the center to the edge, forming a plastic zone with a gradually expanding diameter.

[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, the composite energy-absorbing panels 6 are evenly and equidistantly distributed on the lock wall 1, and each composite energy-absorbing panel 6 is provided with multiple sets of reset buffer mechanisms 3 to cooperate with it.

[0041] During operation, when a ship collides with the front panel 14, the impact energy first causes the thinner honeycomb wall in the central area to crush and deform. Subsequently, the deformed area expands concentrically towards the edge, forming a plastic zone with a gradually increasing diameter. This controllable deformation mode makes the energy absorption process more stable, avoiding the instantaneous high reaction force peak of traditional buffer structures at the initial stage of collision, and reducing the risk of damage to the ship structure. At the same time, the composite energy-absorbing panels 6 are evenly and equidistantly distributed on the lock wall 1, forming a continuous protective zone to ensure that ships of different sizes receive equal protection when they contact the lock wall at different positions. Each composite energy-absorbing panel 6 is equipped with multiple sets of reset buffer mechanisms 3 to work in conjunction with it. This multi-point support design not only disperses the impact load but also... This design also ensures that the panel remains balanced under stress, preventing uneven stress caused by local tilting. After one filling and draining cycle, the energy stored in the reset buffer mechanism 3 pushes the composite energy-absorbing panel 6 back to its original position, ready to welcome the next ship berthing. Through the orderly crushing deformation of the aluminum alloy honeycomb core material 16 and the synergistic effect of the multi-point buffer mechanism, this design significantly improves the energy absorption capacity and stress uniformity of the lock wall 1. It not only effectively protects the structure near the waterline of the ship, but also greatly reduces the maintenance frequency of the lock wall 1 itself and extends the service life of the lock. In addition, the anti-slip structure of the front panel 14 can also provide auxiliary positioning function for the berthed ship in non-collision state, reduce the mooring load, and improve berthing stability.

[0042] As one embodiment of the present invention, the system surface protection adopts a multi-layer anti-corrosion system, the steel structure components are hot-dip galvanized, the aluminum alloy components are hard anodized, and all joints are filled with high-elasticity polyurethane sealant.

[0043] During operation, the protective structure of the lock is continuously exposed to a harsh environment of high humidity, saline vapor, and frequent wet-dry cycles. Ordinary anti-corrosion measures are insufficient to withstand such complex corrosive conditions, leading to rust on metal components, connection failures, and reduced buffering performance, ultimately requiring large-scale maintenance and shutdown. To address this, hot-dip galvanizing is applied to steel structural components, forming a dense zinc-iron alloy layer on the surface. This treatment not only provides a physical barrier but also offers electrochemical protection to the steel through the sacrificial anode principle, preventing the spread of rust even at localized scratches. Aluminum alloy components undergo hard anodizing, generating a uniformly thick and high-hardness alumina film on the surface, significantly improving its corrosion resistance and wear resistance, making it particularly suitable for… To withstand the frequent contact and friction in the lock environment, all joints are filled with highly elastic polyurethane sealant. This material not only effectively prevents moisture and corrosive media from penetrating into the structure, but also has excellent elasticity and adhesion, allowing it to adapt to minor structural deformations during the lock's filling and emptying process without losing its sealing performance. These three anti-corrosion measures work synergistically to form a complete protection system that combines internal and external elements and complements materials and structure. This ensures that the protective structure maintains long-term stable mechanical properties and functional integrity even in harsh hydraulic environments, significantly extending the equipment's service life, reducing maintenance downtime caused by corrosion, improving the overall operational reliability of the lock, and lowering the total life-cycle maintenance cost. This provides a solid guarantee for the continuous and efficient operation of inland waterway transportation.

[0044] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and significant advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, various changes and improvements may be made to adapt to different usage environments and customer needs, and all such changes and improvements fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A lock protection structure, comprising a lock wall (1), characterized in that, Also includes: Positioning frame (2), which is fixedly installed on the lock wall (1); The reset buffer mechanism (3) includes a disc spring assembly (4) and a force transmission assembly (5) mounted on the positioning frame (2) for buffering and storing energy. The composite energy-absorbing panel (6) is installed on the positioning frame (2) through the telescopic sleeve (7). The composite energy-absorbing panel (6) abuts against the reset buffer mechanism (3) and is used to absorb the initial kinetic energy of the collision.

2. The lock protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The disc spring assembly (4) includes multiple disc springs (8) installed in a counter-mounted and series combination manner, forming a buffer structure with stable stiffness characteristics. A connecting plate (9) is also fixedly installed at the top of the disc spring (8), and the connecting plate (9) is used to connect with the force transmission component (5).

3. A lock protection structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The force transmission component (5) includes: The force transmission cam (10) adopts an involute design and is rotatably mounted on the positioning frame (2); Lever arm (11), one end of which is rotatably connected to the outer edge of the force transmission cam (10), and the other end is rotatably connected to the end of the connecting plate (9). The rotating support rod (12) of the lever arm (11) is rotatably installed with the positioning frame (2). The length ratio of the lever arm (11) is 2.5:

1.

4. A lock protection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lever arm (11) is provided with a sliding groove (13) along the axial direction at the hinge position at both ends. The sliding groove (13) is used to avoid motion interference between the force transmission cam (10) and the connecting plate (9) during the movement.

5. A lock protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The composite energy-absorbing panel (6) is a sandwich structure, including a front panel (14), a rear panel (15) and an aluminum alloy honeycomb core material (16) filled between the two panels. The surface of the front panel (14) is provided with an anti-slip structure.

6. A lock protection structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The honeycomb wall thickness in the central region of the honeycomb core material (16) of the composite energy-absorbing panel (6) is less than that in the edge region, so that the crushing deformation extends orderly from the center to the edge, forming a plastic zone with a gradually expanding diameter.

7. A lock protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The composite energy-absorbing panels (6) are evenly and equidistantly distributed on the lock wall (1), and each composite energy-absorbing panel (6) is equipped with multiple sets of reset buffer mechanisms (3) to cooperate with it.

8. A lock protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system employs a multi-layered anti-corrosion system for surface protection. Steel structural components are hot-dip galvanized, aluminum alloy components are hard anodized, and all joints are filled with high-elasticity polyurethane sealant.

Images