Dynamic Horizontal Alignment Device for Floating Sea Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage devices on floating sea platforms face mechanical issues due to platform movements causing high accelerations, misalignments, and fatigue, making offshore projects challenging and sometimes infeasible.
Innovation Solution
A device with adjustable vertical supports, an actuator, and a measuring system dynamically controls the vertical supports to maintain horizontal alignment of objects on floating bases, absorbing both vertical and horizontal forces, and compensating for base orientation changes using a controller connected to sensors like level sensors and gyroscopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the object is fixed on the base, then the installation is simple, but the object suffers from high accelerations, tilts, and fatigue caused by platform movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing fixed support structures with adjustable vertical supports that can dynamically change their height. The actuator system enables the supports to adapt their length in real-time, allowing the object to maintain horizontal alignment despite base movements, thereby protecting the object from fatigue and damage while remaining relatively simple to install.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the vertical extent of the supports through actuator control. The controller adjusts the support height parameter based on measured tilt angles, transforming the static support structure into a dynamic system that adapts to changing base orientations to protect the object from mechanical stress.
2Reliability
If the vertical supports are made adjustable to compensate for base movement, then the object remains horizontally aligned, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the vertical supports to serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, compensate for base tilt, maintain horizontal alignment, and protect the object from movement-induced stress. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate compensation mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable alignment maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using the measuring system to continuously monitor the base tilt angle and feeding this information to the controller, which then adjusts the actuator accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures automatic alignment maintenance without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated control systems.
3Reliability
If the vertical supports absorb horizontal forces, then the object is protected from misalignment, but the supports require additional structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using actuators to dynamically adjust the vertical supports in response to horizontal forces. Rather than designing static overly-strong supports, the system actively compensates for misalignment forces through controlled height adjustments, reducing the permanent structural strength requirements while maintaining protection against misalignment.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A device (1) for the dynamic horizontal alignment of an object (3) on a base (5) is provided, comprising: at least three vertical supports (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) erected on the base (5), each of which is adjustable in its vertical extent and supports the object (3) from below; an actuator (9) designed to change the vertical extents of the vertical supports (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) and is connected to the vertical supports; a measuring system (13) designed to measure at least one measured value (15) of the base (5) and/or the object (3) indicative of at least one tilt angle;and a controller (17) designed to dynamically control the actuator (9) as a function of the at least one measured value (15) such that the dimensions (la, lb, lc, ld) of the vertical supports (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) are adjusted such that the object (3) supported by the vertical supports remains substantially horizontally (24) aligned while the alignment of the base (5) changes.;