Braking Body for Rope Coiling Tension Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for coiling slack hawsers onto winch drums are time-consuming and costly, as they often result in hawser damage due to uneven tension and axial movement, which is particularly problematic for fibrous hawsers used in deep water applications.

Innovation Solution

The method employs a braking body with V- or U-shaped guiding discs coated with a smooth friction material, such as rubber, to create a high friction surface that maintains tension and prevents axial movement, allowing for efficient coiling by guiding the hawser through multiple discs to achieve a tight, compact wind.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the hawser is spooled tightly onto the winch drum with high tension, then the coiling is compact and space-efficient, but the hawser sinks down between the layers and becomes damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrum capacity utilizationVSAvoidhawser damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A braking body is introduced as an intermediary device between the hawser and the drum. This braking body applies controlled friction to the hawser during coiling, maintaining optimal tension without excessive force that would cause the hawser to sink and damage itself, thus enabling compact coiling while preventing harm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The tension parameter applied to the hawser during coiling is dynamically adjusted using the braking body. By controlling the braking force, the system maintains tension within an optimal range that achieves compact coiling while preventing the hawser from sinking between layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the hawser is spooled loosely onto the winch drum with low tension, then the hawser is not damaged, but the coiling is not compact and drum capacity is not optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehawser damage preventionVSAvoiddrum capacity utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The braking body serves as a mediator that applies controlled friction to the hawser, transforming the loose coiling process into a compact one. By introducing this intermediate friction element, the system achieves both hawser protection and space optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The tension parameter is changed from low (loose coiling) to an optimal intermediate level through the braking body's controlled friction, achieving compact coiling without causing damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If a rough or coarse surface coating is used on the disc groove to increase friction, then the friction against the hawser is maximized, but the wear damage to the hawser increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction forceVSAvoidhawser wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surface characteristics of the braking body are optimized to achieve the right balance of friction. Rather than maximizing friction through rough surfaces, the braking body uses controlled friction parameters that provide sufficient grip without causing excessive wear to the hawser

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The braking body acts as an intermediary that transfers force to the hawser through controlled friction. This intermediate friction mechanism provides the necessary tension control while protecting the hawser from wear damage that would occur with direct rough surface contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution enables smoother and stronger tightening of fibrous hawsers, reducing wear and damage, while optimizing drum capacity, and is specifically suited for fibrous ropes, ensuring a high friction surface without excessive wear, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

each said hawser guiding disc having a V- or U-shaped guiding groove geometry with a friction coating of a smooth surface structure and minimum roughness to provide a high friction between the hawser and the guiding grooves of the discs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2429933B1Device for handling of rope and use thereof
Publication Date: 2015.12.02 I P HUSE
  • EP2429933B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2429933B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A device is described for handling of a line that is coiled onto a rotary drum, where the line that is coiled is led through a breaking body (20) that gives a firm and approximately constant tightening in the stretch of the line towards the drum so that the coils of the line around the drum are lying sufficiently tightened. The device is characterised in that the breaking body (20) comprises breaking units (21,22,23) that offer resistance against the coiling of the drum (11) of the line, said breaking body (20) comprises a number of line guiding discs (21,22,23) via which the line is set up to be led and form a loop, said disc guide groves (36) offer said breaking effect against the hawser up to the drum (11). According to the invention, the device can be used in the handling of hawsers for anchor handling that are loosely coiled onto storage drums from the supplier, with the hawser from the storage drum being transferred into a considerably tightened state by being coiled onto a winch drum with such force that it lies compact and taut on the drum. According to another application, it is used for the tightening of wires, cables, fibrous hawsers, and the like on winch drums in connection with cranes.