Inflatable Boat Hull Fender Element With Slot Deployment
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boat hull protection devices are cumbersome, mechanically flawed, and inefficient in distributing impact protection due to large separations between fender elements, which increases costs and weakens the boat's hull.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring an inflatable fender element with a flexible, waterproof shell that deploys through a narrow slot-shaped opening, inflating to form a robust elongate tube for effective impact protection, allowing for closer spacing and reduced structural damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sufficient number of protection devices are used to reduce separations between fender elements, then the effectiveness of hull protection is improved, but the cost of implementing the protection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the fender element from deflated (compact) to inflated (expanded) form. This parameter change allows a single fender element to provide protection over a longer effective length when inflated, reducing the number of elements needed while maintaining hull protection effectiveness and reducing implementation cost.
2Ease of operation
If the oblong opening is made wide enough to allow the inflatable tube to pass through, then the fender element can be deployed, but the hull of the boat is mechanically weakened and aesthetics are harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a horizontal oblong opening to a vertical slot-shaped opening. This dimensional change allows the inflatable tube to be deployed through a narrower opening in the vertical direction, preserving hull structural integrity and aesthetics while still enabling effective deployment of the fender element.
3Ease of operation
If a translational maneuvering means is added to move the inflatable fender element, then handling is simplified, but the production is complicated and mechanical faults may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs pneumatic pressure differential to automatically deploy and retract the fender element without requiring complex mechanical maneuvering means. The inflation pressure itself drives the deployment process, and the elastic recovery of the bag material enables automatic retracting, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining ease of operation.
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 simplifies handling and deployment, reduces material usage, and enhances impact protection by allowing for closer spacing of fender elements without compromising the boat's structural integrity or aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
air being blown under pressure into said chamber
Implementation Method 2
device for protecting a boat hull against impacts
Implementation Method 3
passing through the slot-shaped opening by forced extraction of the air contained in said chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A fender element which is inflatable and includes a flexible, waterproof shell which, in a deflated state, forms a bag which is housed inside a box and an external face of which delimits a chamber with the box. In the deflated state, the bag is suitable for being deployed outside the box by passing through a slot-shaped opening of the box and turning inside out by air being blown under pressure into said chamber and for being inflated outside the box to form an elongate permanent fender. In the inflated state, the shell is suitable for being deflated and retracted inside the box by forced extraction of the air contained in said chamber.