Autonomous Ladder Cleaning Device Using Wave Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Offshore wind turbine ladders experience significant safety issues due to marine growth caused by being submerged in water, leading to slippery rungs, and existing cleaning solutions are either short-term or impractical for daily maintenance.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous ladder cleaning device using a system of rings and a cord that moves with waves and currents to clean the entire length of the rungs, with attachment devices that allow easy installation and removal, and rings with internal buoyancy for effective cleaning of both submerged and exposed areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high pressure washer is used to clean the ladder, then the marine growth is removed in the short term, but the cleaning effect is not sustained long term and requires frequent manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelong-term cleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmanual intervention requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning device is designed to autonomously clean the ladder rungs by utilizing wave motion and current forces to propel itself up and down the ladder structure, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining sustained cleaning effectiveness over long periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates flexible components and movable joints that allow it to adapt its shape and movement pattern dynamically in response to varying wave conditions and current forces, enabling continuous autonomous operation without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a propelled crawler with water jets is used to clean the ladder, then cleaning capability is provided, but the device complexity increases and the system has not gained success

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates complex propulsion systems, water jets, and control mechanisms from the cleaning device, replacing them with a passive design that utilizes natural environmental forces (waves and currents) to drive the cleaning action, thereby maintaining productivity while dramatically reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes hydraulic forces from waves and currents to propel itself and power the cleaning mechanism, replacing complex mechanical propulsion systems with a simpler fluid-dynamic approach that leverages environmental energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Extent of automation

If an autonomous buoyant ladder cleaning device with brushes is used, then automated cleaning is achieved, but the device complexity increases and success has not been realized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous cleaning operationVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning device achieves autonomous operation by automatically propelling itself up and down the ladder using wave motion and current forces, with self-adjusting cleaning elements that require no external control systems, power sources, or complex automation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex buoyant device that actively navigates the ladder, the invention inverts the approach by using a simpler structure that passively responds to environmental forces, allowing the waves and currents to do the work of propulsion and positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Stability of the object's composition

If rings are fixed rigidly to the ladder rungs, then stable cleaning position is achieved, but the rings cannot move with waves and currents to clean the entire length of the rungs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvering position stabilityVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rings are designed with flexible mounting mechanisms that allow them to move dynamically along the ladder rungs in response to wave motion and current forces, enabling them to clean the entire length of the rungs while maintaining stable contact through elastic deformation and self-adjusting pressure

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 system provides a long-term solution to maintaining ladder safety by effectively removing marine growth from both the upper and lower surfaces of the rungs, ensuring the ladder remains slip-resistant and safe for use, even in harsh offshore conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The rings are adapted to be arranged around rungs of a ladder, a cord passing through a hole in each of said rings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS12076758B2Ladder cleaning device and methods

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 ORSTED WIND POWER AS

AI summary

Devices are methods are disclosed for a ladder cleaning device. The ladder cleaning device comprises a number of rings. The rings are adapted to be arranged around rungs of a ladder. A cord passes through a hole in each of said rings. The device further comprises at least one attachment device adapted for attaching said cord to the ladder. The ladder cleaning device may be in the form of a kit of parts to allow retrofitting on the ladder.