Buoy Marker Spool Guide for Untangled Anchor Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marker buoys with self-deploying anchors often experience line tangling due to currents and waves, and are complex and difficult to assemble and retrieve.

Innovation Solution

A marker buoy design featuring a spool with spaced arms and cut-away slots to manage the line, a guide for line deployment, and a clicker to maintain line tension, along with a drive connector for power tool engagement for easy retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the line is allowed to deploy freely in water currents and waves, then the anchor can be deployed automatically, but the line becomes tangled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic anchor deploymentVSAvoidline tangling

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the spool and the water environment. The guide includes a guide surface and a stop that work together to control line deployment, preventing the line from becoming tangled while still allowing automatic deployment through the guide structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The problem of line tangling in three-dimensional water movement is solved by constraining the line to a two-dimensional deployment path through the guide structure. The line is directed to travel along a controlled trajectory rather than moving freely in three dimensions, preventing entanglement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a hand-operated crank handle is used to retrieve the anchor, then the anchor can be brought up, but the device becomes complicated and difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor retrievalVSAvoidcrank handle mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex hand-operated crank handle mechanism is replaced with a simple drive connector that can be engaged by a power tool. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical retrieval mechanisms while maintaining the ability to bring up the anchor efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive connector is designed to be universally compatible with various power tools, allowing the same simple component to work with different power sources. This multi-functionality simplifies the device while maintaining operational capability across different retrieval scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the spool is exposed to water currents, then the anchor can deploy via gravity, but the line becomes tangled due to currents and waves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidline tangling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure serves as an intermediary between the exposed spool and the water environment, allowing the spool to remain exposed for gravity-driven deployment while the guide prevents line tangling by controlling the line's path through the water

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9738353B2Buoy marker with deploying anchor

Publication Date: 2017.08.22 RICHARDSON MATTHEW

AI summary

A marker buoy constructed of a main shaft extending vertically when in use and including a marker flag, a floating body, and a spool mounted to the main shaft.