Anti-fouling device for a marine vessel

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of anti-marine biofouling devices for ship, including flexible tensioning component, the flexible tensioning component is the hollow closed cavity being arranged in the underwater portion of ship side edge, pump body for controlling the fluid volume in flexible tensioning component is connected on the flexible tensioning component to make the flexible tensioning component expand or reduce, the pump body is connected with the flexible tensioning component by the pipeline connection of being equipped with solenoid valve;By the periodic expansion and reduction of flexible tensioning component, mechanical fatigue effect is generated to attached organism to thereby realize peeling, this method is durable and can be maintained without docking;Meanwhile, the damage of traditional scraper operation to ship antirust coating is avoided by pure physical cleaning method, effectively protect the ship structure, discard toxic antifouling paint.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ship protection equipment technology, and in particular to a device for preventing marine organism attachment on ships. Background Technology

[0002] As core equipment for modern transportation and marine resource development, ships' operational efficiency and service life directly affect economic costs and navigation safety. However, when ships navigate in the marine environment for extended periods, their underwater components, such as the hull, propeller, rudder, and piping systems, inevitably face the serious threat of marine organism attachment.

[0003] Marine organism attachment typically refers to the phenomenon where organisms such as barnacles, oysters, algae, and bryozoans settle, grow, and reproduce on the underwater surface of ships. This process is also known as "biofouling." Biofouling can damage the structure and equipment of ships. The metabolic products of attached organisms are corrosive and can corrode the hull metal and coatings, reducing the service life of the hull. At the same time, organisms attached to critical parts such as propellers and rudder blades can affect the ship's maneuverability and increase navigational safety risks. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a device for preventing marine organism attachment on ships.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows: A device for preventing marine organism attachment on ships includes a flexible expansion and contraction component, which is a hollow, sealed cavity disposed on the underwater part of the side of the hull. A pump body is connected to the flexible expansion and contraction component to control the fluid volume inside the component, thereby expanding or contracting the component. The pump body is connected to the flexible expansion and contraction component via a pipeline equipped with a solenoid valve.

[0006] Furthermore, the flexible expansion and contraction component is a long strip-shaped capsule, or multiple interconnected capsules arranged in an array.

[0007] Furthermore, the flexible expansion member includes an expansion body with deformable capabilities and an outer surface covering the expansion body that forms a surface layer for attracting marine organisms to attach.

[0008] Furthermore, the interior of the expansion body is provided with a support body that is free in the hollow cavity of the expansion body, and the support body has several protruding parts on the outside.

[0009] Furthermore, the surface layer is formed directly on the outer surface of the tension body through surface roughening treatment, and the surface layer and the tension body are integrated into a component through an overmolding process.

[0010] Furthermore, the inlet end of the pump body is connected to seawater or air.

[0011] Furthermore, the solenoid valve is a three-way solenoid valve, with its first port connected to the pump body, its second port connected to the flexible expansion and contraction component, and its third port serving as a pressure relief port leading to the external environment.

[0012] Furthermore, the protrusions provided on the support body are spherical, columnar, or rib-shaped with rounded ends.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages: This invention utilizes the periodic expansion and contraction of flexible expansion and contraction components to induce mechanical fatigue in attached organisms, thereby achieving detachment. This method is long-lasting and can be maintained without docking. Furthermore, the purely physical cleaning method avoids damage to the hull's anti-rust coating caused by traditional scraping operations, effectively protecting the hull structure. It also eliminates the need for toxic antifouling paint. By controlling the fluid through a pump to drive the flexible expansion and contraction components through physical deformation, the entire process releases zero toxic substances, fundamentally preventing pollution of the marine ecosystem. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible expansion and contraction component (single capsule) in this utility model. Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view (single capsule) of the flexible expansion and contraction component in this utility model. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of this utility model.

[0015] 1. Flexible tension / contraction component; 2. Tension / contraction body; 3. Surface layer; 4. Support body. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0017] like Figure 1-3As shown, this embodiment provides a marine organism anti-attachment device for ships, which includes a flexible expansion and contraction component 1 disposed on the underwater part of the side of the hull. The flexible expansion and contraction component 1 is essentially a hollow sealed cavity made of a material with excellent elasticity and seawater corrosion resistance, such as polyurethane or synthetic rubber. In practical applications, the flexible expansion and contraction component 1 can be designed as a long strip-shaped capsule extending longitudinally along the hull, or it can be a combination of multiple independent capsules distributed in an array and interconnected by internal pipes. In some embodiments, the flexible tension member 1 can be fixed by some detachable fixing members on the hull. The fixing members can be basic structures that are pre-fixed to the underwater surface of the hull by welding or other fixing methods. Specifically, they can be a series of stainless steel fixing seats with internal threads, or guide rails with T-slots or wedge-shaped locking blocks. For example, the fixing component includes a support frame, which provides a supporting skeleton for the flexible telescopic component 1 and serves as an interface for connection with the fixing component. The flexible telescopic component 1 is pre-installed and sealed within the support frame using bolts or pressure strips via flanges or specific slots on its edges. Mounting ears with through holes are provided on the edges of the support frame. During installation, the frame is aligned with the threaded mounting seat on the hull, and seawater-resistant stainless steel bolts are screwed into the threads of the mounting seat from the outside of the frame to secure the entire module to the hull. A rubber or polyurethane sealing ring is provided between the frame and the hull to ensure watertightness at the connection. In another embodiment, several quick-locking buckles, such as eccentric wheel buckles or pin-type buckles, are provided on the back of the support frame, matching the locking tongue or locking hole on the hull mounting seat. During installation, the module is simply aligned and pushed towards the hull; a locking sound indicates locking. Disassembly can be quickly achieved using a special tool or a manual unlocking mechanism.

[0018] Furthermore, the flexible expansion and contraction component 1 is connected to a pump body through a pipeline equipped with a solenoid valve, together forming a fluid drive system. The pump body, as a power source, is responsible for controlling the volume of fluid flowing into and out of the flexible expansion and contraction component 1, thereby realizing the expansion and contraction of the component. Preferably, the solenoid valve is a three-way solenoid valve, and the connection relationship of its three ports is as follows: the first port is connected to the outlet of the pump body, the second port is connected to the internal cavity of the flexible expansion and contraction component 1, and the third port is used as a pressure relief port, which is directly connected to the external environment outside the ship body, i.e., seawater or atmosphere. The inlet end of the pump body is connected to the fluid source, which can be seawater outside the ship or compressed air, and is used as the working medium. To optimize its function, the flexible expansion and contraction component 1 of this utility model adopts a composite structure, mainly including an expansion and contraction body 2 responsible for generating deformation, and a surface layer 3 covering the outer surface of the expansion and contraction body 2. The surface layer 3 is specifically designed to attract marine organisms to attach. It can be directly formed by roughening the outer surface of the expansion and contraction body 2, such as etching or spraying a rough coating. At the same time, it is manufactured by using an overmolding process with the expansion and contraction body 2 to become an integrated component, ensuring the effectiveness of deformation transfer. In addition, a free support 4 is provided in the hollow cavity of the tension-contraction body 2. The support 4 is not fixed to the inner wall of the cavity, so it can move slightly in the cavity. The support 4 itself is a component with several protrusions on the outside. The shape of these protrusions can be spherical, columnar with rounded ends, or rib-shaped to avoid damaging the flexible inner wall. The function of the support 4 is to prevent the tension-contraction body 2 from collapsing irregularly when it contracts, and to provide multi-point support from the inside during the deformation process, thereby enhancing the stability and deformation effect of the overall structure. Specifically, when the expansion body 2 deforms, the protrusions on the support 4 will apply multiple point forces from the inside. This complex stress distribution helps to effectively transfer the deformation to the outer surface layer 3 and generate a more complex stress combination on the attached organism, thereby improving the desorption effect. In extreme cases, such as external collisions or abnormal internal pressure, the internal support 4 can play a certain role in structural buffering and protection, preventing the tension body 2 from being damaged by excessive compression.

[0019] In this embodiment, supplying fluid to or extracting fluid from the flexible expansion and contraction component 1 requires the coordinated action of multiple pipelines. Specifically, the entire pipeline system consists of two main parts: the main pipeline inside the ship and the module connection system outside the ship. The two are sealed and fluid flows through the ship's through-cabin fittings. The core power and control equipment, including the pump body and the three-way solenoid valve, are centrally installed in a dry, ventilated and easily maintained compartment inside the ship's hull. The main pipeline inside the ship is responsible for safely transporting working media, such as seawater and air, from outside the ship to the pump and valve unit, and then distributing them to various compartment points. Specifically, this includes: Seawater intake pipeline: The pipeline begins at the seawater intake port located at the bottom of the hull. The intake port is equipped with a fouling screen to prevent large foreign objects from entering. The pipeline enters the ship from the intake port and is made of marine UPVC pipe or seamless copper pipe. It is laid along the internal structure of the hull and is firmly fixed. Preferably, a Y-type filter is installed in series in the pipeline before the pump inlet to further filter fine particulate impurities in the seawater and protect the pump. Pump and valve unit piping: The pump body inlet is connected to the outlet of the Y-type filter mentioned above. The pump body outlet is connected to the first port of the three-way solenoid valve through a high-pressure hose or metal bellows, which can effectively absorb the vibration of the water pump during operation. The second port of the three-way solenoid valve is connected to the main pressure distribution pipe, which delivers pressurized seawater to various branches leading to different anti-attachment modules. The third port of the three-way solenoid valve is connected to the pressure relief main pipe, which is also laid along the internal structure of the ship and finally merges into a main pressure relief tunnel to discharge water to the outside of the ship. It should be noted that all pipes that need to pass through the hull must undergo strict sealing treatment. Specifically, holes can be pre-drilled in the hull structure, and standard marine penetration sleeves can be welded or bolted in place. The pipes pass through the sleeves, and marine sealant or rubber sealing modules are injected into the annular gap between the sleeve and the pipe to ensure that the area has the same sealing level as the watertight compartment. Preferably, for ease of maintenance, a manual shut-off valve is installed at the inner end of each branch line, near the penetration component.

[0020] The external module connection system includes: Main distribution pipe and pressure relief pipe: After passing through the hull, the main pressure distribution pipe and pressure relief main pipe extend along the surface of the outer hull plate and are firmly fixed to the hull using stainless steel clamps. Module branch pipe connection: From the main distribution pipe outside the ship, a branch pipe is led out for each flexible expansion and contraction component 1. The branch pipe is connected to the water inlet of the flexible expansion and contraction component 1 by a short seawater resistant flexible hose. The two ends of the hose are locked with stainless steel double wire hose clamps. The flexible connection method not only compensates for installation errors, but also adapts to the small deformation and displacement between the ship structure and the module. In some embodiments, to facilitate rapid underwater module replacement, a self-locking quick connector can be designed at the interface between the flexible hose and the flexible expansion member 1, allowing divers to connect and disconnect the pipeline without tools.

[0021] This utility model device can realize the working cycle by manipulating the pump body and the three-way solenoid valve. When starting, the three-way solenoid valve first switches to the position connecting the pump body and the flexible expansion and contraction component 1, and starts the pump body to pump fluid into the component, causing it to expand and relax. Then, the three-way solenoid valve switches to the position connecting the flexible expansion and contraction component 1 with the external pressure relief port. At the same time, the pump body stops working, and the fluid in the component is quickly discharged under the pressure difference and its own elasticity, causing the component to contract and recover. This "expansion-contraction" process is repeated several times to form a cleaning cycle. Its anti-adhesion principle is based on the mechanical fatigue effect. The periodic expansion and contraction of the flexible tension and contraction component 1 subject the attached organisms on its surface to repeated tensile and compressive stresses. This alternating stress is concentrated on the interface of the bio-adhesion structure, causing micro-cracks to be generated and continuously expanded. Ultimately, adhesion failure occurs due to material fatigue, thereby achieving the peeling off of the organisms. This purely physical method does not require complex automatic control units and chemical agents. The mechanical deformation caused by simple fluid on / off control can achieve a highly efficient and environmentally friendly anti-adhesion effect.

[0022] The specific embodiments of the utility model have been described in detail above, but they are only examples. The utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments and descriptions above are merely illustrative of the principles of the utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to the utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the utility model as claimed. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A device for preventing marine organism attachment on ships, characterized in that: Includes a flexible expansion and contraction component (1), which is a hollow, sealed cavity located on the underwater side of the hull. A pump body is connected to the flexible expansion and contraction component (1) to control the fluid volume inside the flexible expansion and contraction component (1) so that the flexible expansion and contraction component (1) expands or contracts. The pump body is connected to the flexible expansion and contraction component (1) through a pipeline equipped with a solenoid valve.

2. The anti-marine biofouling device for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible expansion and contraction component (1) is a long strip-shaped sac or a series of interconnected sacs arranged in an array.

3. The anti-marine biofouling device for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible expansion member (1) includes an expansion body (2) with deformable capabilities, and an outer surface covering the expansion body (2) to form a surface layer (3) for attracting marine organisms to attach.

4. A marine biofouling prevention device for ships according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inside of the tension body (2) is provided with a support body (4) that is free in the hollow cavity of the tension body (2). The support body (4) is a component with several protrusions on the outside.

5. A marine organism anti-fouling device for ships according to claim 3, characterized in that: The surface layer (3) is formed directly on the outer surface of the tensile body (2) through surface roughening treatment, and the surface layer (3) and the tensile body (2) are made into an integrated component through a coating molding process.

6. A marine organism anti-fouling device for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inlet end of the pump body is connected to seawater or air.

7. A marine organism anti-fouling device for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that: The solenoid valve is a three-way solenoid valve, with its first port connected to the pump body, its second port connected to the flexible expansion and contraction component (1), and its third port serving as a pressure relief port leading to the external environment.

8. A marine organism prevention device for ships according to claim 4, characterized in that: The protrusions provided on the support (4) are spherical, columnar or rib-shaped with rounded ends.

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