Hoisting System Automatic Coupling Guiding Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hoisting systems for fall-pipe systems in marine vessels are inflexible and cumbersome due to the need for pre-attachment of fall-pipe sections to cables or chains, limiting adaptability to varying depths and requiring extensive storage space.
Innovation Solution
A hoisting system that enables automatic coupling and decoupling of fall-pipe sections with the winch system, allowing for flexible storage and operation, using a chain with central openings and guiding units with holding and urging loops to facilitate secure and efficient attachment and detachment of hoist elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fall-pipe sections are pre-attached to cables or chains, then the hoisting system can operate, but the system becomes inflexible and requires extensive storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fall-pipe into separate sections that can be independently stored and coupled to the cable or chain only when needed. The coupling members are detachably connected to the cable links, allowing fall-pipe sections to be separated from the hoisting system during storage, thereby reducing required storage space and increasing flexibility for different depth requirements.
2Ease of operation
If fall-pipe sections are pre-attached to cables or chains, then the system is ready for operation, but manual coupling and decoupling increases human error and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage the fall-pipe sections with the cable or chain through guiding units that align the coupling members with the cable links. The guiding units with holding and urging loops automatically position and secure the coupling, eliminating the need for manual intervention and thereby preventing human error while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fall-pipe sections are pre-attached to cables or chains, then the system is simple, but the distance between coupling positions cannot be varied for different water currents
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic coupling members that can be positioned at various locations along the fall-pipe sections and independently coupled to different links on the cable or chain. The guiding units enable flexible positioning of coupling points, allowing the distance between coupling positions to be adjusted according to water current conditions without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A hoisting system comprises a plurality of hoist elements to be hoisted; a winch system comprising a cable or chain to allow hoisting hoist elements; a plurality of coupling members, each coupling member being configured for coupling a hoist element to the cable or chain of the winch system; and a coupling station configured for automatically coupling or decoupling a hoist element and the cable or chain of the winch system through a coupling member. The coupling station comprises a first guiding unit configured for guiding the cable or chain of the winch system through the coupling station and a second guiding unit configured for guiding the hoist element through the coupling station. The guiding units are coupled to provide synchronization of a travel speed of the cable or chain of the winch system and a travel speed of the hoist element, and are configured to guide the cable or chain of the winch system and the hoist element towards each other or away from one another and to allow for automatic coupling or decoupling, respectively, of the hoist element and the cable or chain of the winch system.