Flexible Line End Fitting Holder With Axial Load Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing retaining devices for flexible lines in marine environments are laborious to handle, require significant physical strength, and pose safety risks due to heavy loads, with conical geometries exerting high forces on connection endpieces, potentially leading to degradation and accidents.

Innovation Solution

A retaining device with a drive assembly to automate the movement of stop members between open and closed positions, reducing operator intervention and distributing load axially, minimizing radial force on connection endpieces, and featuring a rotatable retaining table for easy interchangeability and alignment of connection endpieces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of stop members is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to laborious handling requiring significant physical strength and skill

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of handling stop membersVSAvoidcomplexity of retaining device

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical handling system with an automated drive assembly that uses a drive shaft, gears, and winch mechanism to automatically position stop members, eliminating the need for operators to manually handle heavy stop members requiring significant physical strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive assembly enables the system to automatically position and secure stop members without continuous human intervention, with the mechanism self-actuating through the winch and gear system to maintain stop members in their proper positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If conical geometry is used for central passage, then stop members can be retained, but force on connection endpiece increases leading to potential degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegrity of connection endpieceVSAvoidforce on downstream connection endpiece

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a conical passage that forces stop members to press radially against the connection endpiece, the patent inverts the approach by using a cylindrical passage with stop members that bear axially on shoulders, reversing the force direction from radial to axial to eliminate harmful radial loads on the connection endpiece

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Force

If retaining table is sized for heavy loads, then load capacity increases, but device bulkiness increases making it difficult to manipulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload capacity of retaining deviceVSAvoidmanipulability of retaining device

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the retaining device into modular components including a rotatable retaining table, separate drive assembly, and interchangeable stop members, allowing the system to handle heavy loads through proper structural design while maintaining ease of manipulation through modularity and reduced overall bulk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3526503B1Device for holding a connection end fitting of a partially submerged underwater flexible line

Publication Date: 2021.12.01 TECH N POWER

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AI summary

The invention relates to a holding device for holding, on a ship (10) for laying flexible line in a marine environment, a downstream connection end fitting (36) of a submerged underwater flexible line (14), said flexible line (14) having a longitudinal axis (1) and said downstream connection end fitting (36) having a shoulder (41), said holding device comprising a holding table (44) having a central passage (66) and, a plurality of stopping members (70, 72) arranged around said central passage (66) and movable between an open position where they are separated from one another and a closed position where they are moved towards one another. The device also comprises at least one driving assembly configured to drive said stopping members (70, 72) between the open position and the closed position.