Flexible Hose Loading Device for Bulk Carriers in Rain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for loading bulk carriers in rainy weather require robust structures and high installation costs, are difficult to install in adverse weather conditions, and cannot handle different types of cargo hold openings, leading to material contamination and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A compact, cost-effective device with a smooth and folding hose configuration, attached to the ship loader nozzle, allows loading without opening the cargo hold covers, using a flexible and durable hose system that absorbs ship movements and seals the hatch opening, enabling efficient material transfer in rainy conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If storage hold covers are opened to allow ship loader access, then loading operation can be performed, but material is exposed to rain and contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The device nests the smooth hose inside the folding hose, creating a protected material transfer path. The folding hose acts as an outer protective layer that can be folded back during loading, while the smooth hose remains inside to convey material directly into the hold, preventing exposure to external contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding hose is configured to cover and protect the opening of the storage hold, acting as a flexible shell that seals the hatch opening. This flexible protection allows loading to proceed while preventing rain and contaminants from entering, replacing the need to open rigid covers completely.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If robust protective structures are installed on storage hold openings, then material protection is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing robust rigid protective structures, the invention uses flexible hoses that can be easily deployed and removed. The folding hose provides protection through its flexible nature, requiring minimal installation infrastructure and reducing both complexity and cost while maintaining effective protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective system is made dynamic rather than static - the folding hose can be folded back and forth, and the smooth hose can be inserted and removed as needed. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for permanent robust installations, reducing complexity while maintaining protection during loading operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid protective covers are used to seal hatch openings, then material protection is improved, but adaptability to different cargo hold types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The folding hose's flexibility allows it to adapt to various shapes and sizes of cargo hold openings. Unlike rigid covers that must be precisely fitted to each hold type, the flexible hose can be configured to seal different opening geometries, providing universal compatibility while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter changes in hose configuration - the folding hose can be adjusted in length, curvature, and folding pattern to match different cargo hold dimensions and opening types. This adjustability provides versatility across different ship configurations while maintaining effective sealing and protection.
4Productivity
If shipping operations proceed in rainy weather with opened covers, then loading speed is maintained, but material contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The folding hose provides a flexible protective shell that seals the cargo hold opening during loading in rainy weather. This allows the loading operation to proceed at normal speed with the hose in place, while simultaneously preventing rain and contaminants from contaminating the material, thus maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose system acts as an intermediary between the external rainy environment and the internal cargo hold. It mediates the loading process by allowing material transfer while blocking harmful external factors, enabling continuous operation in adverse weather without compromising material quality.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure refers to a device for assisting in the loading of bulk carriers even in rainy weather. Such device comprises: a smooth hose configured to be inserted into the opening of the hatch of the storage hold cover of the ship; a folding hose placed above the smooth hose and configured to absorb the movements of the bulk carrier relative to the device; an upper flange for fastening the device to the free end of the nozzle of the ship loader; and a lower flange configured to connect the device to the hatch opening of the storage hold cover of the ship. The disclosure also includes a method of loading bulk carriers using the device.