Lane Rope Float Blade Geometry for Wave Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lane rope floats have a large gap between adjacent units, leading to low wave absorption performance as waves from one lane can easily pass to adjacent lanes.
Innovation Solution
The lane rope float design features a tubular portion with blades protruding parallel to the rope, a wall surface portion covering the blades, and specific geometric configurations to ensure that adjacent ends are closely aligned, reducing the gap between units and enhancing wave absorption. Key features include a vertical plane alignment of at least ½ of the range from the tubular center to the wall surface, a specific gravity of 0.4 to 0.6 for optimal water interaction, and a moment of inertia increase through blade thickness and wall surface design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the outer ends of blades are inclined toward the outer circumferential surface (conventional design), then the manufacturing is easier, but the gap between adjacent lane rope floats becomes large, reducing wave absorption performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the blade outer end, specifically making it perpendicular to the longitudinal center line instead of inclined, and positions it to extend beyond the outer circumferential surface. This parameter change reduces the gap between adjacent floats while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the blade outer end in a radial dimension beyond the outer circumferential surface of the float body. This dimensional extension allows the blades of adjacent floats to meet or overlap, reducing the gap without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Device complexity
If the gap between adjacent lane rope floats is large (conventional design), then the structure is simpler, but waves from one lane pass to adjacent lanes, reducing wave absorption performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the position and orientation parameters of the blade outer ends, making them perpendicular to the longitudinal center line and extending beyond the float's outer circumferential surface. This simple parameter change effectively reduces the gap between adjacent floats without increasing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If the blade outer end is positioned to reduce gap between floats, then wave absorption performance improves, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets the blade outer end at a specific position that extends beyond the outer circumferential surface by a defined distance (5-20mm). This parameter specification provides clear manufacturing targets while ensuring the gap reduction effect, balancing performance improvement with manufacturing feasibility.
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
This design significantly reduces the gap between adjacent lane rope floats, improving wave absorption performance by minimizing wave transfer between lanes and utilizing wave energy effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a lane rope float (100) including: a tubular portion (110)... in a state of floating on the water surface
Implementation Method 2
The lane rope float swings in response to the waves created by a swimmer in each lane in the state of floating on the water surface, whereby it attenuates and absorbs the waves, that is, it performs 'wave absorption'
Data Source
AI summary
A lane rope float having higher wave absorbing performance than before is provided. A lane rope float is one that is attached to a rope R via a tubular portion and divides lanes of a pool, and the lane rope float is characterized by: including a plurality of blades that protrude from a side surface of the tubular portion in parallel with the rope R, and a wall surface portion that is coupled to side end portions of the blades to cover the blades, in which in an outer end portion of the lane rope float from the center of the tubular portion to the wall surface portion, at least ½ of the range from the center of the tubular portion to the wall surface portion is formed along a vertical plane V2 perpendicular to the tubular portion.