Foldable-Wing Anchor Assembly for Extreme Seabed Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anchor assemblies are unable to withstand extreme loads and lack sufficient resistance force, security, and adaptability to varying seabed conditions, with wings often failing to deploy properly due to seabed hardness or becoming damaged.
Innovation Solution
An anchor assembly with foldable wings hinged in recesses, featuring a main support element and additional support elements that lock into position using a disc-shaped locking plate and lock block, reinforced by concrete filling, ensuring wings remain deployed and resistant to extreme loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wings are arranged on the surface of the pile, then the anchor assembly can provide resistance force, but the wings may not deploy properly due to seabed hardness or mass aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The wings are nested inside the hollow pile body during installation, protected from seabed interference. Upon retrieval, the wings are deployed outward from the nested position, ensuring they are not blocked by seabed masses or hardness during the critical deployment phase.
2Strength
If the pile is inserted further down into the seabed, then the anchor assembly may achieve better anchoring, but the wings will not deploy due to firm seabed
Solution Approach 1:
The wings are pre-positioned inside the hollow pile body in a compact, protected state before installation. This preliminary positioning ensures they remain undamaged during insertion to any depth. The deployment action is then performed during retrieval when the seabed constraint is removed, allowing wings to expand freely regardless of insertion depth.
3Force
If wings are arranged on the pile surface, then they can provide resistance force, but the fastening point may be damaged during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The wings are nested within the hollow pile body during the high-stress insertion phase, protecting their fastening points from damage. The wings are only deployed after insertion is complete, at which point the fastening points have already withstood the insertion forces without damage.
4Shape
If wings are arranged on the surface of the pile, then they can deploy outward, but they cannot exhibit an angle larger than maximum 45 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The wings transition from a constrained single-dimensional arrangement on the pile surface to a multi-dimensional deployment where they can extend outward at various angles and positions. The hollow pile body provides three-dimensional space for the wings to achieve optimal angles greater than 45 degrees relative to the pile axis, significantly increasing retention capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Anchor assembly for arrangement in seabed comprising a main tube provided with foldable wings movably arranged in recesses of the main tube by being hinged in upper end of the recesses, which wings in initial position is aligned with outer surface of the main tube, where the foldable wings are provided with a centered curved main support element extending in a plane perpendicular to inner surface of the wing and wherein rear part of the main support element is provided with a notch, constriction or recess determining the number of degrees the wing is to exhibit in relation to the main tube in deployed state.