Modular Mechanical Arm for Underwater Pile Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cleaning technologies for underwater pile foundations face issues such as physical damage during cleaning, incomplete removal of substances, limited effectiveness of anti-corrosion coatings, and the lack of real-time monitoring and damage detection capabilities, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A modular mechanical arm with a transmission arm, modular interface, and soft moving and cleaning parts, integrated with underwater UAV control, waterproof cameras, and adjustable arm frames for adaptive cleaning and damage detection, allowing for efficient and safe cleaning while collecting corrosion data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hard blades are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but physical damage to the pile foundation structure occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidphysical damage to pile foundation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hard blades with a soft cleaning component comprising a flexible base layer and a cleaning layer. The flexible base layer can deform to adapt to the pile foundation surface, while the cleaning layer removes attached substances through gentle contact, eliminating the risk of physical damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If manual cleaning operations are performed, then cleaning can be conducted, but operation convenience and safety are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidoperation convenience and safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates a detection component that automatically detects the condition of the pile foundation surface and the degree of attachment. This detection information is transmitted to control the cleaning component to adjust its cleaning action, enabling the system to perform self-service cleaning without manual intervention, thereby improving operation convenience and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If anti-corrosion coating is applied, then corrosion protection is improved, but the ability to repair damaged foundations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidrepair capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs cleaning operations before corrosion damage progresses further. By detecting and removing attached substances early, the system prevents the conditions that lead to corrosion, serving as a preliminary protective action that maintains foundation integrity without requiring subsequent repair interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11666949B1Modular mechanical arm for adaptive cleaning and damage detection of underwater pile foundation

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 GUANGZHOU UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A modular mechanical arm of an underwater pile foundation structure includes a modular interface disposed at one end of the transmission arm rod, a mechanical arm connecting part disposed at the other end of the transmission arm rod. The mechanical arm connecting part is separately provided with two arm frames, each of the arm frames comprises an inner arm frame and an outer arm frame, the inner arm frame and the outer arm frame are coupled by a joint, and a soft moving and cleaning part is disposed on an inner side of each of the arm frames; the modular interface is coupled with an underwater UAV interface to transmit current and a control signal, a waterproof steering gear is built in the transmission arm rod to receive the control signal.