Marine Boarding Pole Flexible Joint and Storage Cavity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Marine surface vessels equipped with boarding poles face safety hazards and operational inefficiencies due to the protruding boarding poles and hooks when not in use, particularly during high seas, which can interfere with other activities and pose risks to personnel.

Innovation Solution

A marine surface vessel design featuring a boarding pole attached to the deck via a flexible joint, with a holding device that securely stores the boarding engagement device and release mechanism in a non-erected condition, providing protection and easy access for quick deployment, and multiple attachment devices for flexible positioning and air supply connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the boarding pole is not used and left in a non-erected condition, then the vessel can be maneuvered and transported, but the boarding pole and its hard metal hook present a safety hazard to persons on the vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety hazard from hard metal hookVSAvoidaccess to boarding pole

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The boarding engagement device (hook) is extracted from the main boarding pole body and placed in a separate holding device. This separation allows the hook to be stored independently in a protected cavity when not in use, eliminating the safety hazard to personnel while maintaining quick access capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding device is integrated into the vessel structure with a holding cavity that receives and protects the boarding engagement device. The nested arrangement allows the hook to be stored within the vessel's structural framework, providing protection while maintaining operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If the boarding pole is not erected during transport, then the vessel can be maneuvered efficiently, but the boarding pole may be in the way of other activities on the vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel maneuverabilityVSAvoidinterference with other activities

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The boarding engagement device is extracted and placed in a dedicated holding device, separating it from the main pole structure. This allows the pole to be stored in a compact, non-interfering position during transport and other vessel activities, while the engagement device is protected in its own cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The boarding pole system is segmented into separate functional components: the main pole body, the engagement device (hook), and the holding device. This segmentation allows each component to be positioned and stored independently, reducing interference with other vessel activities while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the boarding pole is equipped with a hard metal tip on the hook for effective boarding, then boarding engagement is improved, but safety hazards to persons on the vessel increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboarding engagement capabilityVSAvoidsafety hazard to personnel

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hard metal hook is extracted from the main pole structure and placed in a separate holding device with a protected cavity. This separation maintains the hook's structural integrity and boarding effectiveness while protecting personnel from accidental contact with the sharp metal tip during storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding device provides a protective cavity that cushions and isolates the hard metal hook from the surrounding environment and personnel. This beforehand protection prevents accidental injuries while the hook maintains its full strength and effectiveness when deployed for boarding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enhances safety by preventing injuries from the boarding pole's engagement device when not in use and reduces operational disruptions by allowing for efficient and controlled deployment, minimizing lost time during boarding operations.

Implementation Method 1

a first end of the boarding pole is attached to a deck of the vessel via a flexible joint

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexible joint mechanism: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

The telescopic pole may thereafter be extended, by means of pressurized air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS12179886B2Boarding pole protection

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 FRODE MARINA AB

AI summary

A marine surface vessel includes a boarding pole for maritime boarding actions and the boarding pole is at a first end of the boarding pole, attached to a deck of the vessel via a flexible joint. The vessel includes a holding device presenting, or being arranged to present, a holding cavity arranged to receive, in a non-erected condition of the boarding pole, a boarding engagement device at a second end of the boarding pole, which second end is opposite to the first end.