Adjustable Cable Carousel Structure for Bend-Safe Umbilical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for transporting and deploying heavy-duty electric cables or umbilicals are costly and time-consuming due to the need for ships to embark and disembark cable carousels, resulting in significant idle time and high labor and shipping costs.
Innovation Solution
A cable carousel system with adjustable dimensions and robust construction, featuring a support grid, upstanding supports, and shores that can be easily assembled and disassembled, allowing for secure storage and transport of cables, and utilizing a central connecting organ and reinforcement beams for stability during sea transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cable storage methods (stacking, coiling, winding) are used, then cable storage is achieved, but cable damage occurs due to bending beyond minimum bend radius and crushing
Solution Approach 1:
The cable storage system divides the cable into discrete segments by positioning it horizontally on a support grid with upstanding barriers that create individual storage bays. Each bay accommodates a specific length of cable at the proper bend radius, preventing the harmful bending and crushing that occurs in conventional coiling methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional two-dimensional coiling/winding methods to a three-dimensional horizontal storage approach. The cable is stored horizontally in elevated bays created by upstanding barriers, utilizing vertical clearance rather than horizontal coiling space, thereby maintaining cable integrity while storing long lengths.
2Reliability
If custom cable storage solutions are designed for each cable length, then cable damage is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support grid system with adjustable upstanding barriers provides a universal storage solution that can accommodate multiple cable lengths and types. The barriers can be repositioned along the grid to create bays of different dimensions, eliminating the need for custom-designed storage systems for each cable specification.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier positions on the support grid are made adjustable and reconfigurable, allowing the storage system to dynamically adapt to different cable lengths and storage requirements. This flexibility maintains cable protection while reducing system complexity compared to fixed custom solutions.
3Area of stationary object
If cable is stored in horizontal bays with upstanding barriers, then cable damage is prevented and space is optimized, but device complexity increases due to support structure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The support grid and storage barriers are merged into an integrated system where the grid provides structural support while the upstanding barriers create the storage bays. This combination eliminates the need for separate complex support structures for each cable segment, optimizing space while managing overall system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
Cable carousel comprising a support grid (1) and upstanding supports (2, 2') on the support grid (1) that confine a region in which a heavy-duty electric cable or umbilical can be received and supported by the support grid (1), wherein the upstanding supports (2, 2') are placeable on the support grid (1) at preselected positions defining both an inner barrier (7) and an outer barrier (8) so as to tailor the cable carousel to a dimension between said inner and outer barriers (7, 8) which is necessary and sufficient to store a predetermined length of said electric cable or umbilical, wherein the cable carousel is provided with shores (9) connecting the inner barrier (7) to the support grid (1).