Hinged Fairlead Sectors for Ship Towing Cable Bend Radius Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing devices for ships, particularly in underwater acoustics, face issues with cable mechanical stress due to bending beyond a minimum radius of curvature, leading to deterioration and damage, and require bulky actuators and articulated arms for maneuvering, which are inefficient and prone to cable stripping.
Innovation Solution
A towing device with a fairlead comprising multiple articulated sectors and limiting means to prevent cable curvature beyond a minimum radius, eliminating the need for an articulated arm by guiding the cable through grooves and controlling its direction with pivot joints, ensuring safe passage and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed fairlead with trumpet shape is used to guide the cable, then the cable's effective bend radius is secured, but the device becomes bulky and requires additional components for maneuvering
Solution Approach 1:
The fairlead is divided into multiple articulated sectors that can move independently relative to each other. Each sector contains grooves that guide the cable, and the sectors are connected by articulations that allow them to pivot and adapt to changes in cable direction while maintaining the minimum bend radius constraint.
2Ease of operation
If an articulated arm is added to maneuver towed bodies, then the passage of towed bodies is facilitated, but the device becomes more complex and requires actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The fairlead's articulated sectors are designed to automatically adjust and pivot in response to the cable's movement and the towed body's position. The system uses the inherent forces from towing operations to drive the articulation movements, eliminating the need for external actuators and control systems.
3Reliability
If the fairlead is designed with fixed structure to prevent cable direction changes, then cable damage is prevented, but the ability to adapt to vessel movements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fairlead employs articulated sectors that can pivot and rotate to dynamically adapt to changes in cable direction caused by vessel movements. The articulations allow the sectors to move relative to each other, enabling the fairlead to accommodate varying cable angles while maintaining the minimum bend radius through the groove geometry.
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 solution effectively prevents cable damage by maintaining a safe curvature radius and simplifies the towing process by eliminating the need for an articulated arm, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing mechanical stress on the cable.
Implementation Method 1
a first articulation with a degree of freedom in rotation around an axis, the articulation connecting the two sectors, the axis being substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the cable extends substantially in the fairlead at the articulation
Implementation Method 2
the fairlead comprises at least a first and a second sector, the sectors making it possible to guide the cable in a groove made in each of the sectors
Implementation Method 3
means for limiting the angular movement of the articulation, and in that the sectors and the limiting means are dimensioned so as to prevent the cable from exceeding a lower limit of the radius of curvature
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a towing device intended to be fitted to the deck of a ship. The device comprises a winch, a cable (14) and a fairlead (20), the cable (14) passing through the fairlead (20) under the action of the winch. According to the invention, the fairlead (20) comprises at least first and second sectors (21, 22), the sectors allowing the cable (14) to be guided into a groove formed in each of the sectors (21, 22), a first hinge (27) with a degree of freedom in rotation about an axis (28), the hinge (27) linking the two sectors (21, 22), the axis (28) being substantially perpendicular to a direction according to which the cable (14) extends substantially in the fairlead (20) at the hinge (27), limiting means for limiting the angular displacement of the hinge (27). The sectors (21, 22) and the limiting means are dimensioned in such a way as to prevent the cable (14) from exceeding a lower limit of radius of curvature.