Marine Craft Mast Stabilization for Safe Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for recovering marine crafts from naval vessels are complicated and dangerous due to the relative movements between the naval vessel and the marine craft, making it difficult for operators to grip lifting cables safely.
Innovation Solution
A marine craft equipped with a mast stabilization device that compensates for rolling, pitching, and heave movements, maintaining the mast's elevation direction vertically, thus stabilizing the position of the gripping element relative to the naval vessel's deck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mast is extended to reach the deck height of the naval vessel, then the operator can grasp the lifting cable, but the relative movement between marine craft and naval vessel causes the mast to move violently away from and towards the deck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the mast height adjustable rather than fixed. The mast can be extended or retracted based on the relative position between the marine craft and naval vessel, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain stability while enabling operator access to the lifting cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs automatic control mechanisms that sense the relative position between the marine craft and naval vessel, and automatically adjust the mast height without requiring manual intervention. This self-adjusting capability allows the mast to compensate for relative movements autonomously, maintaining optimal position for cable grasping.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the marine craft is moved away from the hull of the naval vessel to avoid interference between the mast and the naval vessel, then collision risk is reduced, but the distance between the lifting cable and the operator on deck increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic adjustment of mast height in response to the horizontal distance between the marine craft and naval vessel. When the craft is positioned farther from the hull, the mast extends to maintain reachability of the lifting cable, while when positioned closer, the mast retracts to avoid interference with the naval vessel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of mast height based on the operational conditions, specifically the distance between the marine craft and naval vessel. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize both safety (avoiding collision) and operability (maintaining cable accessibility) across different positioning scenarios.
3Extent of automation
If operators manually grip the lifting cable during recovery, then the marine craft can be attached to the naval vessel, but the operation becomes dangerous due to violent movements of the mast in rough seas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic mast positioning and lifting cable deployment mechanisms. The system automatically senses when the marine craft is in position, extends the mast to the appropriate height, and deploys the lifting cable without requiring manual intervention from operators, thereby eliminating the dangers associated with manual cable gripping in rough seas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of gripping and attaching cables with an automated mechanical system. Sensors, actuators, and control mechanisms work together to automatically position the mast and deploy the lifting cable, substituting human physical intervention with an automated mechanical process that is safer in rough sea conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The marine craft (1) comprises a body (4) and a device (8) for recovering the marine craft from a naval vessel (2), said recovery device (8) comprising a mast (14) up to a second free end (18), said second end (18) carrying at least one gripping element (30) of the marine craft, arranged to be grasped from a reception platform of a naval vessel (2) rising to a height greater than that of the body (4). The first end (16) of the mast (14) is mounted on a stabilizing device (20) of the mast (14) relative to the body (4), said stabilizing device (20) being arranged to compensate at least the rolling movements of the body (4) so as to keep the mast (14) aligned in a substantially vertical direction.