Current shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore construction projects face significant delays due to strong currents that hinder the effectiveness of divers and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in underwater operations, causing excessive fatigue and halting of diving operations.
Innovation Solution
A water current shield system comprising a frame with selectively movable louver assemblies and a stationer for stability, allowing divers and ROVs to work behind the shield, reducing fatigue and extending operational range by blocking currents, featuring adjustable louver attachment arms, suction pads, and a movable louver system operated by handles or ROV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If divers and ROVs work in strong currents, then underwater construction operations can be performed, but divers and ROVs experience excessive fatigue and operational effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A current shield structure is deployed as an intermediary barrier between the strong currents and the divers/ROVs. The shield includes a frame with louver assemblies that can be adjusted to block or deflect currents, creating a protected workspace that allows divers and ROVs to operate effectively without direct exposure to harmful current forces
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful strong currents into a controlled environment by using the louver assemblies to redirect and manage current flow. The adjustable louver design allows operators to optimize current deflection patterns, transforming the previously harmful environmental condition into a manageable parameter that can be controlled to protect workers while maintaining operational productivity
2Reliability
If strong currents are blocked to protect divers and ROVs, then operational safety improves, but the structure requires complex movable louver assemblies and attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The current shield is divided into modular components including a frame structure and multiple adjustable louver assemblies. Each louver assembly can be independently positioned and secured using quick-attach mechanisms, allowing the system to be configured for different current conditions without requiring a completely different design. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The louver assemblies are designed to be movable and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing operators to dynamically respond to changing current conditions. The attachment arms incorporate quick-release mechanisms that enable rapid reconfiguration of the louver angles and positions, reducing the time and complexity involved in adapting the structure to different operational environments
3Stability of the object's composition
If the current shield structure is made stable with stationer components, then the shield can effectively block currents, but the structure becomes more complex and harder to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The stationer components are pre-configured attachment mechanisms that are already integrated into the frame structure before deployment. These pre-installed stabilization components eliminate the need for complex field assembly or additional anchoring operations, as the structure is designed to be self-stabilizing upon deployment. The preliminary integration of stationer components simplifies the deployment process while ensuring stable current blocking performance
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 system enhances safety and operational efficiency by shielding divers and ROVs from currents, reducing fatigue and enabling work in challenging conditions without the need for weather standby, allowing projects to proceed in a wider environmental range.
Implementation Method 1
suction pads
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
In its various embodiments the water current shield may be used to improve safety for a diver and/or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by shielding them from water currents at an underwater work site, thereby allowing them to avoid excess fatigue from the water currents at the underwater work site. It may also extend an environmental range in which projects can proceed without facing the need to go on weather standby or off hire. The water current shield generally comprises a frame; a predetermined set of louver assemblies operatively connected to the frame, where each louver assembly comprises one or more selectably movable louvers; and a louver mover operatively connected to each selectably movable louver.