Marine Equipment Deployment System With Lateral Tow Line Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for deploying and recovering marine equipment from waterborne carriers face challenges such as limited control over the course and depth of towed equipment, vulnerability of tow lines, and complexity in deployment and recovery processes, which can be hazardous and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a hoist winch with a lift line and lateral deployment-recovery assemblies, including a tow winch, aft lateral outrigger, tow line guide, and guider winch, which allows for controlled and efficient deployment and recovery of marine equipment by guiding the tow line to prevent entanglement and damage, eliminating the need for manual tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling tools are used to position and untangle tow lines during deployment and recovery, then the deployment process can be completed, but the operation becomes cumbersome, inefficient, and dangerous to crew
Solution Approach 1:
The tow line guide is designed to automatically guide the tow line from the hoist winch to the outrigger without requiring manual intervention. The guide structure itself performs the positioning and untangling function that previously required crew members to use tools, making the system self-servicing and eliminating manual handling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The tow line guide acts as an intermediary device between the hoist winch and the outrigger. It mediates the tow line's path, automatically guiding it through the deployment process and preventing entanglement without requiring direct manual handling, thus reducing both time loss and operational complexity
2Ease of operation
If the tow line is allowed to move freely during deployment, then the equipment can be lifted, but the tow line becomes vulnerable to entanglement and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tow line guide serves as an intermediary structure that constrains and directs the tow line's movement during deployment. It prevents the line from moving freely and becoming entangled while still allowing the equipment to be lifted, thus protecting tow line integrity without compromising deployment ease
Solution Approach 2:
The tow line guide is pre-positioned and structured to anticipate the path the tow line will take during deployment. By having the guide structure in place beforehand, the system proactively prevents entanglement and damage before they can occur, rather than reacting to problems as they arise
3Area of stationary object
If paravanes are used to span a broad tow lane, then area coverage is improved, but control over course and depth is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamically adjustable tow line length and outrigger positioning to control the lateral displacement of towed equipment. Instead of fixed paravanes, the tow line length can be adjusted to achieve the desired scan width while maintaining control, allowing both broad area coverage and course control to be achieved simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of tow line length to control the lateral position of towed equipment. By adjusting this parameter, the vessel can achieve both broad scan area coverage and precise course control, eliminating the trade-off present in paravane systems where course control is lost
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 safe and efficient deployment and recovery of marine equipment under various conditions, reducing the risk of damage and improving operational efficiency by maintaining the tow line at an extended position and allowing for precise control over the equipment's position.
Implementation Method 1
a sheave for guiding the guide line such as to enable guiding of the tow line guide towards the seat
Implementation Method 2
a hoist winch comprising a lift line for lifting the marine equipment from the carrier into a water
Implementation Method 3
a tow winch comprising a tow line for towing the marine equipment
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes a system for the deployment, towing and recovery of marine equipment from a waterborne carrier, which carrier comprises a hoisting arrangement for lifting the marine equipment into the water. The system cooperates with the hoisting arrangement, and comprises a lateral deployment-recovery assembly for deployment and recovery on a lateral side of the carrier, and includes: a tow winch and an aft lateral outrigger connected to the carrier. The assembly also comprises a tow line guide and a guider winch including a guide line attachable to the tow line guide. The aft outrigger comprises a seat for the tow line guide and a sheave for the guide line to enable guiding of the tow line guide to the seat. The document also describes a method.