Lift Bag System for Marine Anchor Testing and Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current anchor testing and removal systems for helical anchors in marine environments are inefficient, requiring divers and large crane systems, which are costly and have limited availability, and lack a practical method for verifying holding capacity and load testing.
Innovation Solution
A surface-accessible lift bag system that operates near the surface, using high-flow-rate low-pressure air to inflate, allowing for rapid anchor testing and removal without divers, and can handle high-load anchors with a small, transportable system from a support vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If divers and large crane systems are used for anchor testing and removal, then anchor holding capacity can be verified, but the system becomes costly and has limited availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core function of anchor testing and removal from the complex divers-and-crane system, isolating it into a dedicated lift bag system that can perform these specific tasks independently, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining verification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The lift bag acts as an intermediary device between the anchor and the support vessel, providing a mechanical advantage system that enables high-load anchors to be tested and removed without requiring large crane systems, thus simplifying the overall equipment needed
2Productivity
If high-flow-rate low-pressure air is used for inflation, then rapid anchor testing and removal is enabled, but the system requires surface accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the lift bag operation at the water surface where pressure is minimal, creating an equipotential condition that allows high-flow-rate low-pressure air to efficiently inflate the lift bag, thereby achieving rapid deployment without requiring complex high-pressure delivery systems to depth
3Device complexity
If a small transportable system is used, then cost and accessibility are reduced, but handling high-load anchors becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pulley system that provides mechanical advantage, effectively creating a counterweight system where the lift bag's buoyant force is amplified through the pulley arrangement, enabling a small transportable system to generate sufficient force to handle high-load anchors
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 enables efficient anchor testing and removal, reducing costs and increasing accessibility by allowing for quick inflation and operation from a small vessel, while tolerating small leaks and providing a practical method for verifying anchor holding capacity.
Implementation Method 1
A lift bag system and method for anchor testing and/or removal may be used
Implementation Method 2
The lift bag can be inflated using a air compressor or blower
Data Source
AI summary
A method that includes introducing fluid into a lift bag system to increase buoyancy of the lift bag system within a body of water to cause testing of an anchor and/or removal of the anchor from a substrate within a body of water. The lift bag system includes a lift bag body that includes a lift bag top end and one or more sidewalls that define a lift bag cavity configured to hold a volume of fluid. Introducing fluid into the lift bag system increases buoyancy of the lift bag body within the body of water to cause testing of the anchor and/or removal of the anchor from the substrate within the body of water. The lift bag system also includes a compression tube that extends between a compression tube top end and a compression tube bottom end, an attachment point, and a plurality of bridles.