Marine Hose Boom Safety Stop With Articulating Cradle Arrest
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a passive safety mechanism to prevent uncontrolled descent of tank barge hose booms due to winch failure, which currently relies on user attentiveness and is susceptible to human error, leading to potential injury and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A marine hose boom safety stop device with a base plate, vibration-dampening layer, telescopic shaft assembly, and articulating cradle assembly that automatically intercepts and secures the descending hose boom, absorbing kinetic energy and preventing impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passive safety mechanism is implemented to prevent uncontrolled descent of hose booms, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is divided into distinct functional segments: a base plate for mounting, a shaft assembly for positioning, and a cradle assembly for intercepting the hose boom. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the complex safety mechanism to be constructed from simpler, manageable components that can be independently manufactured and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a passive safety mechanism that automatically engages without requiring active control systems, sensors, or power sources. The mechanical design enables self-activation through the natural motion of the hose boom during uncontrolled descent, eliminating the need for complex electronic controls while maintaining high reliability.
2Speed
If the winch handle slips or safety dog disengages, then the boom descends rapidly, but this causes severe injury or fatality to nearby personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle assembly is pre-positioned and designed to automatically engage with the hose boom before it can strike personnel or equipment. The mechanical intercept mechanism creates a counter-action that opposes the uncontrolled descent, arresting the motion through purely mechanical means without requiring detection or response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device converts the kinetic energy of the rapidly descending hose boom into a controlled mechanical engagement with the cradle assembly. The rapid descent that would otherwise cause harm is instead channeled through the mechanical intercept mechanism, which dissipates the energy safely through friction and mechanical resistance in the cradle and shaft assembly.
3Productivity
If operators attempt to manually arrest a falling winch handle, then they may stop the descent, but this results in personal injury due to rapid force and motion
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device performs the boom arrest function automatically without requiring operator intervention. The mechanical intercept mechanism activates through the natural motion of the descending boom, eliminating the need for operators to physically engage with the falling equipment and thereby preventing injuries while maintaining boom control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle assembly acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the descending hose boom and the deck structure. It provides a controlled interface that arrests the boom's descent through mechanical engagement rather than direct impact, mediating the force transfer in a way that protects personnel while maintaining system control.
4Reliability
If a mechanical intercept device is used to arrest the descending boom, then it prevents injury and damage, but it may generate sparks causing additional hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle assembly incorporates friction-based arresting mechanisms that use consumable or replaceable components designed to withstand controlled friction and heat generation during engagement. These components can be replaced after use rather than requiring the entire device to be replaced, allowing for safe mechanical interception without the need for expensive fireproof materials throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle assembly serves as an intermediary that controls the engagement between the metal hose boom and the deck structure. By providing a controlled friction interface, it reduces the likelihood of direct metal-to-metal sparking while still effectively arresting the boom's descent, mediating the interaction to minimize harmful spark generation.
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
Minimizes personnel injury and structural damage by redirecting kinetic forces safely, eliminating spark generation, and accommodating dynamic boom trajectories without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
A vibration-dampening layer may be integrated into the base plate and is composed of elastomeric materials to absorb kinetic energy from impact events
Implementation Method 2
e elastomeric materials to absorb kinetic energy from impact events
Implementation Method 3
lined with impact-absorbing, non-metallic materials to prevent spark generation and surface damage
Data Source
AI summary
A marine hose boom safety stop device is provided and is designed to mechanically intercept and secure a descending tank barge hose boom, thereby reducing the risk of injury to personnel and preventing structural damage in scenarios of winch failure or operator error. The device comprises a base plate which includes a plurality of distributed openings for mechanical attachment to the deck via marine-rated fasteners. A vibration-dampening layer may be integrated into the base plate and is composed of elastomeric materials to absorb kinetic energy from impact events. Extending perpendicularly from the base plate is a vertical shaft assembly. A pivot point of the shaft assembly allows multidirectional articulation of a cradle assembly to adjust to varying boom trajectories once secured to the same. Upon deployment, the device acts as a passive fail-safe, engaging automatically with the descending boom to arrest its motion and redirect energy through the structural components.