Flexible Balloon Sealing Device for Irregular Hull Breaches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for sealing breaches in a ship's hull are limited by their complexity, inability to handle irregularly shaped orifices, and require complex mechanical parts, making them difficult to use in emergency situations, especially under water pressure and in rough seas.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a flexible and deformable ball, a blocking bar, a circular plate support, and a flexible rope connection that allows the ball to be compressed against the orifice, providing a simple and effective sealing mechanism without metal parts, suitable for use in emergency situations and adaptable to various orifice sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid threaded shafts and articulated collars with ribs are used to seal the orifice, then the sealing force is sufficient to withstand water pressure, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rigid threaded shaft and articulated collar components from the sealing system, retaining only the essential function of closing the orifice. The simplified plug design extracts unnecessary mechanical complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness through direct insertion and compression against the orifice.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible membrane or thin film material for the sealing surface that can deform to conform to the orifice shape and maintain sealing under water pressure. This flexible approach replaces rigid mechanical components while achieving the same sealing function with reduced complexity.
2Strength
If rigid threaded shafts and metal parts are used, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the ease of manufacture decreases and premature aging occurs in salty environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes composite material construction combining corrosion-resistant materials with flexible sealing materials. This allows the device to maintain structural strength while resisting premature aging in salty marine environments and simplifying manufacturing compared to complex metal assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an umbrella-like deployment system is used, then the sealing coverage is sufficient for irregular breaches, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a flexible, dynamically adaptable sealing surface that can deform and conform to irregular orifice shapes without requiring complex umbrella-like deployment mechanisms. The flexibility allows the same simple device to adapt to various breach geometries while maintaining ease of operation.
4Reliability
If a rigid cover and air chamber system are used, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rigid cover and air chamber components, relying instead on the inherent flexibility and compressibility of the sealing material itself to achieve reliable sealing under water pressure. This extraction of unnecessary components reduces system complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
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 device offers a straightforward, effective, and adaptable solution for sealing breaches up to 20 dm², capable of withstanding water pressure, and can be implemented quickly, even in emergency situations, with minimal manipulation and without complex mechanical parts, making it suitable for nautical safety equipment.
Implementation Method 1
the traction of which on the blocking bar compresses the balloon against the orifice
Implementation Method 2
at least one flexible and deformable balloon... capable of bearing on the at least one balloon and of sandwiching it against the wall
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for sealing an opening in a wall, which includes: at least one flexible, deformable balloon (3); a locking means (1), which is a bar that is slidable into the opening (9) of the wall (8) from one side (10) of the latter and engages with the opposite side (11) of said wall (8); a bearing means (4) that is a circular plate capable of bearing on the at least one balloon (3) and of sandwiching same against the wall (8); and a connection means (2), which is a flexible rope located between the locking means (1) and the bearing means (4), passes through an inner duct (12) of the balloon (3), and is capable of compressing the balloon (3) against the opening (9).