Hull Draft Reduction Using Guide Baffles and Buoyancy Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

The deep draft of a ship increases energy consumption and reduces speed due to greater resistance, necessitating a mechanism to reduce the draft while maintaining stability and carrying capacity.

Innovation Solution

A hull auxiliary mechanism featuring guide baffles and diversion pressure plates with hydraulic cylinders to adjust water flow and increase buoyancy, combined with a propeller assembly lifting mechanism to control draft and energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the draft of the hull is increased to enhance carrying capacity, then the carrying capacity is improved, but the energy consumption increases and speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrying capacityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs adjustable diversion pressure plates that can change their angle dynamically through hydraulic cylinders. This allows the hull to adapt its underwater profile - creating deeper effective draft when carrying capacity is needed and reducing draft when speed and energy efficiency are prioritized, thus resolving the contradiction between carrying capacity and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameter of draft depth by adjusting the angle of diversion pressure plates. By modifying the angle parameters of these plates, the hull's effective draft is altered, enabling the system to achieve different carrying capacities while managing energy consumption levels through parameter variation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the draft of the hull is increased to enhance carrying capacity, then the carrying capacity is improved, but the speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrying capacityVSAvoidspeed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable diversion pressure plates enable dynamic modification of the hull's underwater profile. When high speed is needed, the plates are adjusted to reduce effective draft, minimizing resistance. When carrying capacity is prioritized, the plates create deeper draft. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between carrying capacity and speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the draft of the hull is reduced to decrease energy consumption, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the carrying capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcarrying capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the hull's underwater surface into multiple adjustable segments (diversion pressure plates). Each segment can be independently adjusted to optimize local water flow and buoyancy distribution. This segmentation allows the system to maintain adequate carrying capacity while reducing overall draft to lower energy consumption, as the segmented plates can be positioned to minimize resistance while preserving necessary buoyancy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Speed

If the draft of the hull is reduced to improve speed, then the speed is improved, but the carrying capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovespeedVSAvoidcarrying capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic adjustment capability of the diversion pressure plates allows the system to optimize for speed by reducing effective draft when high velocity is needed, while preserving the ability to increase draft when carrying capacity becomes the priority. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between speed and carrying capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 mechanism effectively reduces the draft of the hull by optimizing water flow and buoyancy, enhancing speed and reducing energy consumption while maintaining maneuverability and carrying capacity.

Implementation Method 1

The first hydraulic cylinder is arranged in the hull. The rod body of the first hydraulic cylinder passes through the inclined plate at the front end of the hull and is hinged to the upper end of the first diversion pressure plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

adjust the water flow at the bottom of the hull, increase the buoyancy of the hull and reduce the draft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

The guide baffles on both sides are used to direct the water flow to the hull

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 4

The propeller assembly is connected to the winding drum on the hull by a chain. Through the winding drum, the chain can be retracted and released to control the lifting and lowering of propeller assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical lifting: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3858725B1Hull assisting mechanism for reducing draft of hull
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 TANG XUMING
  • EP3858725B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3858725B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3858725B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention discloses a hull auxiliary mechanism for reducing the draft of a hull, which includes a guide baffle on both sides of the hull. The two ends of the guide baffle extend out of the front and rear ends of the hull. The lower end of the guide baffle extends out of the bottom of the hull. The front and rear ends of the hull are flat inclined plates. The bottom of the hull is a flat plate; the auxiliary mechanism also includes a water resistance mechanism, and the water resistance mechanism includes a first diversion pressure plate, a second diversion pressure plate and a third diversion pressure plate. Both sides of the guide baffle are used to direct the flow of water to the hull. At the same time, there are three groups of diversion pressure plates at the bottom of the hull. The angles of the diversion pressure plates are adjusted by the hydraulic cylinders, so as to adjust the water flow at the bottom of the hull, increase the buoyancy of the hull and reduce the draft.