Towing Device With Adjustable Gripping Elements For Tubular Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing devices for elongated, flexible, and fragile tubular objects like submarine cables and sonar antennas face challenges in maintaining effective traction while minimizing damage and facilitating maintenance, particularly due to rapid belt aging in marine environments.
Innovation Solution
A towing device with adjustable pulley systems and high-adhesion treads that allow for controlled tension adjustment and reduced wear, featuring a movable deflection pulley to manage belt tension and a spring mechanism for diameter adaptation, along with modular design for easier maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a belt is used to grip the object continuously during towing, then the object can be kept in continuous contact with the traction means, but the belt undergoes rapid aging due to tension and marine environment exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive, long-lived but high-tension belt with cheaper, shorter-lived gripping elements (such as grippers or clamps) that can be easily replaced. These gripping elements exert force through normal contact rather than continuous tension, reducing wear and extending effective service life despite shorter replacement cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous belt is segmented into discrete gripping elements distributed along the traction means. Each gripping element independently maintains contact with the object, allowing the system to maintain continuous gripping capability while individual elements can be replaced without replacing the entire gripping system.
2Force
If high tension is applied to the belt to ensure effective gripping, then the object can be securely held, but the fragile structure of the object may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying uniform high tension through the entire belt length, the patent uses distributed gripping elements that apply localized normal forces at multiple points along the object. This distributes the gripping force, achieving secure holding without concentrating stress that could damage the fragile tubular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using tension (pulling force) to grip the object, the patent employs compression (pushing/normal force) through the gripping elements. This inversion of the force application method allows effective gripping while reducing the risk of tensile damage to the fragile object structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the belt tension is increased to adapt to diameter irregularities, then the gripping effectiveness improves, but the wear on the belt increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs gripping elements that can dynamically adjust their position and applied force to accommodate diameter irregularities along the object. Each gripping element independently adapts to local variations in object diameter, maintaining effective contact without requiring increased tension that would accelerate belt wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive, wear-prone belt with cheaper, easily replaceable gripping elements. These elements can withstand the mechanical stresses of adapting to diameter variations without the cumulative wear issues that plague continuous belts, as each element can be independently replaced when worn.
4Reliability
If a complex belt tensioning system is used to maintain consistent contact pressure, then the towing operation becomes more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping elements in the patent are designed to self-adjust and self-regulate their contact force with the object. Through mechanical compliance and distributed positioning, the system automatically maintains consistent gripping pressure without requiring external tensioning mechanisms, actuators, or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the continuous belt into discrete gripping elements, the system eliminates the need for complex global tensioning mechanisms. Each gripping element independently maintains its own contact pressure, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining reliable and consistent traction across the entire object length.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances reliability and repairability by maintaining consistent traction, reducing belt wear, and allowing for adaptive tension during operations, thus improving the handling of long, flexible tubular objects in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
traction means capable of dragging the object by friction in a hauling direction
Implementation Method 2
the gripping means comprise a belt stretched between two main pulleys and wound in helix around the object to be hauled and the tread
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for hauling long tubular objects, comprising: - traction means (12, 13, 14) capable of pulling the object (10) by friction in a hauling direction, - gripping means (110, 112, 113) capable of exerting force on the traction means (12) to maintain continuous contact between the traction means (12) and the hauled object; the gripping means (110) being animated by a relative movement with respect to the hauled object in a direction opposite to the hauling direction, - drive means (115, 116), capable of driving the traction means (12, 13, 14) and the gripping means (110, 112, 113) in a coordinated manner to ensure continuous and homogeneous traction of the object, characterized in that it further comprises adjustment means (30, 31), capable of adjusting the force exerted on the traction means (12).