Anchor Buoy With Movable Loop-Securing Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating anchor buoys are difficult and time-consuming to modify for securing looped anchor cables, posing safety risks due to the weight and complexity of steel structures involved in splicing and forming loops.
Innovation Solution
A floating buoy design with a buoyant body featuring interconnected openings and a loop-securing structure that allows easy passage of the anchor line while preventing the loop from moving through, using detachable plates and securing members to ensure safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel structures are used for floating anchor buoys, then strength and durability are improved, but ease of manufacture and safety are worsened due to difficulty in modifying the structures to receive looped anchor cables
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy is divided into modular components including a buoyant body, separate loop-securing structures, and detachable plates. This segmentation allows the buoyant body to maintain its structural integrity while the loop-securing structures can be independently installed or modified without affecting the entire buoy structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The loop-securing structure incorporates movable plates that can transition between open and closed positions. This dynamic capability allows the structure to adapt during operation - open for cable passage and closed for loop retention - enabling easy modification and installation after the buoy is constructed.
2Strength
If steel structures are used for floating anchor buoys, then strength and durability are improved, but safety is worsened due to risk of injury during splicing and forming loops
Solution Approach 1:
The loop-securing structure is pre-configured on the buoy before cable installation. The plates are positioned and secured in advance, creating a ready-made loop retention mechanism. This eliminates the need for workers to perform dangerous splicing and loop-forming operations on or near the heavy steel buoy structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The loop-securing structure acts as an intermediary device between the buoy and the anchor cable. It provides a safe, pre-prepared interface for cable attachment, eliminating direct interaction between workers and the heavy steel buoy during critical cable installation operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional buoy designs are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but time required for assembly is increased due to difficulty in securing looped cables
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plates in the loop-securing structure enable rapid state changes during assembly. The plates can be quickly opened to allow cable passage and then closed to secure the loop, dramatically reducing the time required for cable installation while maintaining structural integrity throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The loop-securing structure concentrates the functional complexity in a localized area rather than requiring modification of the entire buoy structure. This localized approach allows for rapid assembly operations at a specific point while the rest of the buoy maintains its simple, intact structure.
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
The design simplifies the process of securing a looped anchor line, enhancing safety and reducing the time required for assembly by allowing easy passage and secure retention of the cable, thereby addressing the challenges of prior buoy designs.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyant body, a first opening and a second opening formed in the buoyant body
Data Source
AI summary
A floating buoy for use in securing a looped wire assembly in marine environments is disclosed. The anchor buoy may include a buoyant body and a first opening and a second opening formed in the buoyant body, the first and second openings forming a passage through the buoyant body. The floating buoy may also include a loop-securing structure detachably connected to the buoyant body adjacent to the first opening, the loop-securing structure movable from a first position to a second position and vice versa, the loop-securing structure configured to cover the first opening such that the loop-securing structure in the first position defines a third opening that is narrower than both of the first opening and the second opening.