Flexible Floating Walkway Zigzag Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walkway systems for transferring people and goods between installations at sea or land are inefficient due to space requirements, difficulty in maneuvering ships close to piers, and limited flexibility in deployment and retraction.
Innovation Solution
A flexible floating walkway constructed with alternating floating elements that rotate relative to vertical and horizontal axes, allowing for a compact folded shape and extended zigzag configuration, enabling connection between land and ships or floating installations, and adjustable length to accommodate various distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional gangway construction is used to connect land and ship, then the ship can be connected to land, but the construction takes up too much space in harbour areas and requires the ship to lie very close to land
Solution Approach 1:
The gangway is transformed from a static structure to a dynamic, movable construction that can be rolled out and retracted. The rolling support mechanism allows the gangway to be stored compactly on land and deployed only when needed, significantly reducing the permanent space occupation in harbour areas while maintaining the connection function between land and ship.
Solution Approach 2:
The gangway is divided into multiple segments that can be rolled out in a telescopic manner. This segmentation allows the gangway to extend to the necessary length for connection while being compact when retracted, optimizing both the connection capability and the space utilization in harbour areas.
2Ease of operation
If a traditional gangway is rolled out to connect to a ship, then the connection is established, but the ship must be manoeuvred very close to the edge of the pier which is technically difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling support mechanism allows the gangway to extend dynamically as the ship approaches, rather than requiring the ship to be positioned at a fixed close distance. This dynamic adjustment capability provides greater tolerance for ship positioning, reducing the technical difficulty of manoeuvring the ship into place.
Solution Approach 2:
The gangway system can adjust its own length and position through the rolling mechanism, reducing the need for precise ship manoeuvring. The system compensates for variations in ship positioning, making the connection process more forgiving and easier to execute.
3Length of stationary object
If the walkway is extended to reach the ship, then the connection distance is increased, but the walkway must be folded up into a compact shape for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The walkway is constructed from multiple telescopic segments that can be extended to achieve the required connection distance and then retracted into a compact configuration for storage. This segmentation allows the walkway to adapt its length according to the distance to the ship while maintaining a small storage footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The walkway employs a telescopic mechanism that allows it to dynamically change its length from a compact stored state to an extended operational state. This dynamic transformation enables the walkway to reach ships at various distances while being stored in a space-efficient manner when not in use.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the walkway is made flexible with rotating segments, then the adaptability to different positions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The walkway incorporates rotating segments that allow it to adapt to different angular positions and orientations. These dynamic elements enable the walkway to follow the ship's movements and adjust to varying connection angles, providing high adaptability despite the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating segments serve multiple functions: they allow angular adjustment, compensate for ship movements, and enable the walkway to maintain connection under varying conditions. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile adaptability to different operational scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
A flexible, floating walkway (10) is described to make it possible to securely transport people and/or goods between installations at sea, such as ships, and land (30,20). The walkway is characterised in that it comprises bridge elements (50) coupled in between floating elements (60A, 6OB, 60C) fitted with horizontal and vertical segments, so that the floating elements can be pulled out during use to couple the installations (30,20) (20) and folded up when the walkway (10) is not in use. The bridge elements (50) are designed, together with the floating elements (60A, 60B) to be unfolded and folded up in a zigzag concertina type formation. The invention also relates to applications of the construction to combine with land areas separated by a strait or a river where there is, for example, heavy traffic.