Inflatable Watercraft Barrier Gate Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine dry-dock technologies do not effectively prevent water entry, corrosion, and marine growth on watercraft, leading to costly maintenance and potential damage, especially in saltwater environments.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable watercraft barrier system comprising an inflatable perimeter tube and a diaphragm, which can be sealed to form a barrier between the watercraft and the water, reducing direct contact and minimizing water entry, corrosion, and marine growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dry-dock methods are used to remove water from around watercraft, then watercraft can be completely dry, but the watercraft must be removed from the water environment which is costly and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inflatable barrier as an intermediary element between the watercraft and the surrounding water. This barrier creates a controlled environment that protects the watercraft from water contact without requiring complete removal from the water, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable barrier uses flexible inflatable structures to create a water-tight enclosure around the watercraft. These flexible shells can be inflated to provide protection and deflated for easy deployment and storage, maintaining both effectiveness and operational ease
2Object-affected harmful factors
If watercraft are kept in dry storage to prevent water contact, then corrosion and marine growth are minimized, but the cost and complexity of maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable barrier serves as a protective intermediary that creates a physical separation between the watercraft and harmful water elements. This eliminates the need for complex dry storage infrastructure while still providing protection against corrosion and marine growth
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the environmental parameters around the watercraft by creating a controlled, dry or reduced-water environment using the inflatable barrier. This allows the watercraft to remain in water while experiencing dry conditions, reducing harmful factors without complex infrastructure
3Reliability
If an inflatable barrier is used to prevent water entry, then watercraft protection is improved, but the barrier must be completely water-tight which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable barrier is divided into multiple independent inflatable segments or chambers. This segmentation allows each section to be independently sealed and maintained, reducing the overall complexity compared to requiring a single perfect seal while maintaining waterproofing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier uses flexible inflatable structures with integrated sealing mechanisms that are inherently more manageable than rigid water-tight systems. The flexibility allows for easier assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of the sealing system
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 inflatable watercraft barrier effectively reduces water entry, corrosion, and marine growth, while allowing the watercraft to remain in the water, thus minimizing the need for expensive dry storage and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
the inflatable perimeter tube when inflated and diaphragm in combination are less dense than water, and therefore float
Implementation Method 2
the stern portion of the perimeter tube forms a gate portion which is at least partially selectively deflated so as to be denser than water, and therefore sink
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an inflatable watercraft barrier in one example having an inflatable perimeter tube. Also disclosed is a diaphragm sealed to the perimeter tube to form the watercraft barrier between a watercraft and the water in which the watercraft barrier and watercraft float. In one example, a portion of the perimeter tube forms a gate portion which is at least partially selectively deflated so as to be denser than water, and therefore rotates about a gate pivot such that the watercraft may enter the watercraft barrier through the gate portion. Also disclosed is a water pump in fluid communication with the watercraft barrier so as to evacuate water from between the watercraft barrier and the watercraft.