Deep-Sea Diving Ballast Segmented Plastic Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scuba diving weights are incomplete, fragile, and have limited aesthetic and recycling options, with the coating process being time-consuming and expensive, and offering reduced environmental friendliness and customization possibilities.
Innovation Solution
A scuba diving weight structure featuring a metal core covered by a plastic shell coating, where the shell is composed of two complementary parts held securely around the core using gluing, interlocking, or heat-sealing methods, allowing for customizable aesthetics and easier recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plastic coating is deposited by dipping the metal core into liquid coating material, then the ballast becomes more environmentally friendly and durable, but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is divided into multiple separate parts (first shell part and second shell part) that are molded independently and then assembled around the metal core. This segmentation allows for faster production compared to dipping a single continuous coating, while still providing complete coverage and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell parts are pre-formed by injection molding before being assembled with the metal core. This preliminary action of creating ready-to-assemble components significantly reduces the overall production time compared to the step-by-step dipping and drying process.
2Reliability
If a solid color coating is applied to the metal core, then the ballast is more durable, but aesthetic choice and customization possibilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is segmented into multiple parts that can be independently molded with different colors, patterns, or surface treatments. This allows for aesthetic customization while maintaining the protective function of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the shell (front face, peripheral face, through slots) can have different aesthetic qualities or surface treatments applied to specific shell parts, allowing customization while maintaining durability in all areas.
3Reliability
If the metal core is covered by a coating, then the ballast becomes more environmentally friendly and durable, but the intimate assembly complicates and limits recycling possibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is divided into separate parts that can be easily detached from the metal core, facilitating recycling. The securing means allow for reversible assembly, enabling the metal core to be recovered and reused without the complexity of separating a permanently bonded coating.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell parts can be removed and taken off the metal core separately, allowing the metal core to be extracted for recycling while the shell parts can be reused or recycled independently. This extraction capability simplifies the recycling process compared to permanently bonded coatings.
4Weight of moving object
If standard weights made of raw lead are used, then the ballast provides sufficient weighting, but the weights are poorly finished and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast combines the metal core (providing weight) with a plastic shell (providing protection and finish). This composite structure maintains the weighting capability of the metal while adding durability and aesthetic quality through the protective shell.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell provides different qualities to different parts of the ballast: protection against fragility for the metal core, and aesthetic finish for the external surfaces. Each material is applied where it provides its specific advantage.
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 durable, customizable, and environmentally friendly weight option with reduced production costs and enhanced recycling capabilities, addressing the limitations of traditional weights.
Implementation Method 1
The securing means are chosen from at least one of the following securing means: means for bonding the shell part(s) with the metal core and/or with each other
Implementation Method 2
means for heat-sealing the shell parts together
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to ballast (3) for a deep-sea diving belt, said ballast (3) comprising a metal core (4) covered with a coating (5), and means for the assembly thereof to a belt strip. According to the invention, the coating (5) is in the form of an add-on shell consisting of at least one shell part (6, 7) made of a plastic material and held around said metal core (4) by securing means (8).