Magnetic Floating Body Coupling for Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional floating bodies connected by separate devices like hinges or joints face issues such as collision and disconnection due to environmental conditions, and wear from currents, leading to fatigue damage.

Innovation Solution

A floating body system that connects without separate connection devices, utilizing a magnet and coupling member on each floating body, where a magnet on one side interacts with a steel coupling member on another, held in place by a mooring line, allowing for magnetic coupling and stable positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate connection devices like hinges or joints are used to connect floating bodies, then the floating bodies can be connected to each other, but the connection devices suffer from wear due to currents and environmental conditions, leading to fatigue damage and disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidwear from currents

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical connection devices (hinges, joints, wires, chains) with a magnetic connection system. Magnets are installed on the floating bodies to create magnetic attraction forces that connect the bodies without physical mechanical contact, thereby eliminating wear from currents and environmental conditions while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary force to connect floating bodies. Instead of direct mechanical contact between connection devices and floating bodies, the magnetic field acts as a mediator that transmits the connection force without subjecting physical connection components to wear from water currents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If separate connection devices are used to connect floating bodies, then the floating bodies can be connected, but the connection devices collide and disconnect due to environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidcollision from waves

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical connection devices that are susceptible to collision damage from waves with a magnetic connection system. The magnetic attraction force maintains stable connection between floating bodies without the mechanical contact that leads to collision and disconnection under wave action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If separate connection devices like wires or chains are used, then the floating bodies can be connected, but the connection devices wear out due to the influence of current

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection durabilityVSAvoidservice life of connection device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical connection devices (wires, chains) that wear out from current exposure with a magnetic connection system. The magnets create connection forces through magnetic fields without physical contact with water, eliminating the wear mechanism that limits the service life of traditional connection devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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

Enables convenient connection and prevents disconnection issues by using magnetic coupling, reducing wear and maintaining stability in varying environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing a magnet and coupling member on each floating body, where a magnet on one side interacts with a steel coupling member on another

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

a main floating body which floats on water by using buoyancy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS20230115884A1Floating body without separate connection device and connection method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.04.13 KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

A floating body to which an aquatic or marine facility is installed or which is connected to a lower part of the aquatic or marine facility to hold the aquatic or marine facility on water or the sea is proposed. The floating body may include a main floating body which floats on water or the sea by using buoyancy, and a magnet provided on a first vertical side of the main floating body. The floating body may also include a coupling member provided on an opposite vertical side of the main floating body by corresponding to a magnet of another floating body such that the coupling member is coupled thereto, and a mooring line installed on a part of the main floating body to moor and hold the main floating body on water or the sea.