Knotless Pilot Ladder Security Device with Composite Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pilot ladders are often improperly secured due to lack of knowledge, inadequate training, and insufficient strength in alternative securing devices, posing risks to pilot safety, especially when ladders are not height-adjustable or have inadequate lashings, leading to potential human injuries and deaths.
Innovation Solution
A Knotless Security Device comprising a multi-strand polyester rope with a thimble eye or shackle on one end and a long soft eye on the other, featuring integrated polyolefin core for enhanced strength and flexibility, allowing secure and quick attachment to ship deck lashing points without the need for knots or additional mechanical fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional polyester rope with polypropylene core is used, then the rope meets contrasting color requirement for wear indication, but the breaking strength is insufficient (less than 24 kN)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite core structure combining polypropylene fibers (for color contrast and wear indication) with high-strength aramid or dyneema strands (for increased breaking strength exceeding 24 kN). This composite material approach allows the rope to simultaneously meet both the wear indication visibility requirement and the minimum breaking strength requirement.
2Strength
If larger diameter suspension members are used to increase strength, then the breaking strength requirement is met, but the pilot ladder becomes more difficult to deploy and store
Solution Approach 1:
By using high-strength synthetic fibers like aramid or dyneema in the core, the patent achieves the required 24 kN breaking strength with a smaller diameter rope compared to traditional constructions. This allows the pilot ladder to meet strength requirements while remaining easy to deploy and store.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the rope core, transitioning from low-strength polypropylene to high-strength aramid or dyneema fibers. This parameter change enables the use of thinner ropes that are easier to handle while still meeting the minimum breaking strength requirement of 24 kN.
3Reliability
If knot-based securing methods are used, then the ladder can be attached to ship deck, but the process is time-consuming and requires skilled personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the knot-tying operation from the securing process by providing pre-formed eyes at both ends of the ladder rope. These eyes allow direct attachment to ship deck fittings using simple hardware like shackles or carabiners, eliminating the need for complex knot-tying operations and reducing deployment time while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-forming eyes at the ends of the ladder rope during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site knot-tying operations, allowing rapid deployment by simply connecting the pre-formed eyes to ship deck fittings with basic hardware.
4Strength
If additional mechanical fittings are added to the rope, then the securing strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the rope itself multi-functional by incorporating pre-formed eyes at both ends, allowing it to serve both as the structural ladder support and as the attachment mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate mechanical fittings, maintaining securing strength while reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-contained knotless security device and method for adjustably securing rope-style pilot ladders and debarkation ladders from any rung to ship deck lashing points, the device not relying on additional mechanical fittings or knot-tying skills. The device comprising a section of multi-strand polyester rope comprising an integrated polyolefin core and having a ship end and a ladder end, the ship end comprising a rugged, wear and corrosion-resistant thimble eye or shackle and the ladder end comprising a flexible long soft eye on the other end. The method comprising encircling ladder suspension members with the device and securing the device to the ship deck lashing point. Alternate polyolefin core construction provides tailored performance characteristics.