Integrated Dan Buoy with Vertical Weight Stabilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine life saving equipment, such as life rings and rescue buoys, face challenges in providing adequate buoyancy and visibility in bad weather, leading to reduced survival rates due to complex structures and safety hazards like entanglement and loss of physical strength for users.
Innovation Solution
A compact life saving dan buoy with a strip-shaped first air bag and C-shaped second air bag, connected by a weight to maintain vertical positioning, providing stable buoyancy and visibility through an integrated light system, along with a simple and safe webbing mechanism for user support and rescue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional life rings are used to provide buoyancy, then people can float over the sea, but it is difficult to see people with life rings in the large ocean under bad weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies high-visibility coloring to the dan buoy structure, using bright colors that contrast with the ocean environment to ensure the buoy remains visible under bad weather conditions while maintaining its buoyancy function
2Reliability
If life buoy and dan buoy are separated and connected by a rope/line, then rescue function is provided, but the structure is complicated and the person may get strangled by lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the life buoy and dan buoy into a single integrated structure where the dan buoy serves as both the buoyancy device and the rescue marker, eliminating the need for connecting ropes or lines and removing the strangulation hazard while maintaining rescue functionality
3Reliability
If mast is immersed into the water to provide support, then buoyancy is provided, but the marking of the location is getting unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the high-visibility marking and identification features at the top of the dan buoy structure, above the water line, ensuring that location marking remains clear and visible even when the buoy is providing full buoyancy support in rough seas
4Ease of manufacture
If person holds the cord outside lug pieces to use inflatable flag buoy, then position marking is achieved, but the person loses physical strength during bad weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cord-holding requirement by designing the dan buoy with an integrated structure that provides both position marking and buoyancy support without requiring the user to grip external components, allowing hands-free operation and preserving physical strength
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
Enhances user safety and survival chances by providing stable buoyancy, clear location marking, and easy rescue operations, reducing the risk of entanglement and physical strain during emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
an air chamber being filled with air to produce buoyancy for keeping the flag buoy afloat
Implementation Method 2
The weight is disposed at a lower part of the first air bag and is maintained under sea surface so that the first air bag is standing vertically in the sea
Data Source
AI summary
A life saving dan buoy for marine saving is revealed. The life saving dan buoy includes a strip-shaped first air bag, a second air bag disposed on a lower part of the first air bag, at least one inflation valve arranged at the first air bag and/or the second air bag for filling gas into an air chamber and allowing the first and the second air bags to expand and float over the water, and a weight. The first air bag and the second air are communicating with each other to form the air chamber. The second air bag includes an open space area that allows a user's body to get through. The weight is connected to a lower part of the first air bag so that the first air bag is standing vertically in the sea while the second air bag is floated over the sea.