Two-Part Chain Link Marker for Secure Position Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chain markers made of rubber material frequently get pushed out by adjacent links during deployment or retrieval, making it difficult to maintain their position and indicate the length of deployed chain accurately.
Innovation Solution
A chain marker design comprising two body portions with aligned apertures and recesses that securely fit around the circumference of a chain link, using fasteners to maintain position, optionally with rigid materials and wing members for enhanced visibility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rubber chain marker is push fit into the aperture of a chain link, then the marker can be easily installed, but the marker is frequently pushed out by adjacent links during deployment or retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The chain marker is divided into two separate body portions that can be independently inserted into the chain link aperture from opposite sides. This segmentation allows each portion to be pushed in independently and then locked together, providing both easy installation and secure positioning that prevents the marker from being pushed out during chain deployment or retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The two body portions are designed to fit together within the confined space of the chain link aperture, with one portion nested alongside the other. The portions feature complementary shapes with protrusions and recesses that allow them to interlock securely while remaining contained within the aperture boundaries, preventing displacement by adjacent links.
2Reliability
If a chain marker is designed to remain securely in place, then position stability is improved, but the installation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The marker structure is segmented into two body portions with relatively simple individual geometries. Each portion has a straightforward shape that can be manufactured easily, and the complexity is minimized by using basic geometric forms with protrusions and recesses that enable secure interlocking without requiring complex internal mechanisms or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The two body portions are designed with asymmetric complementary features - one portion has a protrusion that fits into a corresponding recess in the other portion. This asymmetric design provides secure positioning and prevents rotational movement or displacement, achieving high position stability while maintaining simple manufacturing processes for each individual component.
3Reliability
If the chain marker encompasses a portion of the link circumference, then the marker resists being pushed out, but the marker may interfere with equipment during deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The two body portions are designed to nest together within the boundaries of the chain link aperture, with the combined outer dimensions of the assembled marker fitting within or close to the aperture circumference. This nesting arrangement allows the marker to effectively engage with the link structure for displacement resistance while minimizing the overall volume occupied, thereby reducing interference with deployment equipment such as winches or handling gear.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker design utilizes the three-dimensional space within the chain link aperture efficiently by arranging the two body portions in a configuration that engages with the link structure in multiple dimensions. The portions can be positioned to engage with different surfaces or features of the link, providing multi-directional resistance to displacement while maintaining a compact overall form that minimizes protrusion into the surrounding space where equipment operates.
Data Source
AI summary
A chain marker comprising: a first body portion having an aperture, a first end and a second opposing end, wherein each of the first and second ends has a recess for receiving at least a portion of a first link of a chain; a second body portion having an aperture and first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second ends has a recess for receiving at least a portion of the first link, wherein the chain marker is adapted such that, in use, the first and second body portions may be brought together such that the apertures of the first and second body portions are aligned for receiving a fastener and the recesses of the first and second ends are aligned such that the first and second body portions encompass at least a portion of the circumference of a straight portion of the first link such that the chain marker is held in position within the aperture of the first link.