Floating Depth Sounder Isolates Vessel Motion for Stone Dumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stone dumping measuring systems installed on the hull of stone dumping vessels are affected by the vessel's six-dimensional motion, leading to inaccurate measurements, which can only be corrected with high-cost sensing apparatus and complex software.
Innovation Solution
A stone dumping real-time measuring system mounted on the control cabin of the vessel, featuring a boom, signal line, and floater with a positioning device, surge compensator, and depth sounder that uses an acoustic wave beam to measure and report stone dumping results, correcting for errors caused by vessel motion and water turbidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the measuring system is directly installed on the hull of the stone dumping vessel, then the system can measure and report the stone dumping result, but the measuring result is not accurate due to interference from the six-dimensional motion of the hull
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a float as an intermediary carrier between the vessel and the measuring system. The float is connected to the vessel via a cable, allowing the measuring system to be positioned on the float rather than directly on the vessel. This intermediary arrangement isolates the measuring system from the six-dimensional motion of the vessel hull, thereby improving measurement accuracy without requiring complex correction equipment.
2Measurement precision
If high-cost sensing apparatus and computing software are used to correct measurement accuracy, then the measurement accuracy improves, but the system becomes more complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measuring system from the moving vessel environment and places it on a relatively stable float platform. By separating the measuring system from the source of motion interference (the vessel), the patent eliminates the need for complex sensing apparatus and computing software that would otherwise be required to correct for vessel motion, thereby reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If the measuring system is installed on the hull, then the system structure is simple, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to vessel motion interference
Solution Approach 1:
The float serves as a simple intermediary that provides a stable platform for the measuring system. This approach maintains relative structural simplicity while significantly improving measurement accuracy by isolating the system from vessel motion. The cable connection and float design add minimal complexity compared to the alternative of installing complex correction equipment on the vessel hull.
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 system provides accurate and precise real-time measurement of stone dumping results by isolating the floater from vessel motion and using a surge compensator to correct depth sounder errors, enhancing measurement accuracy and precision without the need for costly additional equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The depth sounder is capable of delivering a measuring wave beam towards a water bottom to instantly measure and report a stone dumping result
Implementation Method 2
The floater is connected to the signal line and freely floats on the water
Data Source
AI summary
A stone dumping real time measuring system for a stone dumping vessel includes a boom. The boom is mounted to a control cabin of the stone dumping vessel and can extend outwardly from the control cabin to be located above a predetermined stone dumping position. A signal line hangs from the boom. A floater is connected to the other end of the signal line. The floater is provided with a positioning device, a surge compensator, and a depth sounder. The floater freely floats on the water through the separate design of the floater and the stone dumping vessel. The floater is directly positioned by the positioning device of the floater, and the surge compensator is able to correct a measurement error of the depth sounder to instantly report the stone dumping result and to improve the accuracy and precision of the stone real time measuring system.