Buoyancy Tank With Integrated Cylindrical Structures for Watercraft Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for elevating and removing watercraft from bodies of water are often costly, require physical strength, or involve expensive and non-portable mechanical raising assemblies, limiting their accessibility and storage options, especially during winterization.
Innovation Solution
A buoyancy tank with integrated cylindrical structures that uses a pumping device to displace air, allowing the tank to float or sink, supporting a portable floatation apparatus for safe and easy watercraft elevation and removal, and enabling stacking on a boat trailer for efficient storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical raising assemblies are used to elevate watercraft, then watercraft can be raised above water line, but the equipment becomes expensive and non-portable
Solution Approach 1:
The floatation apparatus is divided into multiple separate buoyancy tanks that can be individually handled, transported, and assembled. Each tank functions as an independent module that can be manually positioned and connected to form the complete elevation system, enabling portability while maintaining the watercraft raising capability.
2Reliability
If mechanical raising assemblies are anchored semi-permanently, then watercraft elevation is reliable, but permanent location ownership or lease is required
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy tanks are designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than permanently fixed. The tanks can be temporarily positioned, adjusted, and reconfigured based on water depth and location requirements, eliminating the need for permanent anchoring while maintaining elevation stability during operation.
3Ease of operation
If manual winch assembly is used to remove watercraft, then watercraft can be pulled onto trailer, but significant physical strength is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic buoyancy tanks filled with air to provide lifting force. By controlling the air pressure and volume in the tanks, the apparatus can generate sufficient buoyant force to elevate and support the watercraft weight, replacing the need for manual winching and reducing physical strength requirements.
4Reliability
If hired equipment or personnel are used for watercraft elevation, then professional service is obtained, but continuing expense is incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The floatation apparatus is designed as a self-contained system that watercraft owners can operate themselves. The modular buoyancy tanks and simple assembly design enable owners to perform their own watercraft elevation and storage without hiring external services, eliminating continuing expenses while maintaining reliable operation.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, portable, and modular method for elevating and removing watercraft, overcoming previous drawbacks by allowing safe and easy watercraft removal and storage, while reducing storage and transport space, and enabling convenient winterization.
Implementation Method 1
A pumping device may be used to displace a volume of air into the buoyancy tank which will cause the buoyancy tank to float in a body of water
Implementation Method 2
A pumping device may be used to remove a volume of air which will cause the buoyancy tank to sink in a body of water
Data Source
AI summary
A buoyancy tank for a portable floatation apparatus which allows for the elevation of a watercraft above a water-line and which allows for the removal of the watercraft from a body of water. The buoyancy tank has at least one and/or a plurality of integrated cylindrical structures which supports the floatation apparatus in transport and storage. The integrated cylindrical structures provide sufficient support to allow the removal of the floatation apparatus by use of a boat lift and further provide sufficient support to allow a watercraft to be stacked on top of the floating apparatus while the floating apparatus is stacked on top of the floating apparatus for the purposes of storage. A plurality of said buoyancy tanks may be connected to the portable floatation apparatus by use of connecting means. The portable floatation apparatus should have a pumping device which pumps a sufficient volume of air into a plurality of the buoyancy tank which is effective to selectively and conveniently elevate a watercraft above a water line.