Modular Marine Float Structure with Central Damping Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marine structures face challenges in reducing movement due to waves and surges, which can disrupt the operation of marine facilities, and there is a limitation in increasing the size of floating structures, making them complex to construct and difficult to couple securely.

Innovation Solution

A floating marine structure design featuring a central float with a damping unit and surrounding floats connected via coupling holes and protrusions, allowing for easy and secure coupling, and reducing movement through the use of air shock-absorbing spaces created by covering gaps between floats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the size of floating structure is increased to provide stable platform, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases and construction becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floating structure is divided into multiple modular floats that can be independently manufactured and then coupled together. Each float is a standardized module with coupling holes and protrusions, allowing the overall structure to achieve large size and stability while maintaining simple individual components that are easy to construct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple floats are connected to form large structure, then productivity is improved, but reliability of coupling decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction efficiencyVSAvoidcoupling security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple coupling mechanisms are combined into a single integrated coupling system. The coupling protrusion simultaneously engages with coupling holes to provide both mechanical connection and alignment, while additional coupling elements work together to secure the connection, achieving high reliability through the combined action of multiple coupling features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If damping unit is added to reduce movement, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement reductionVSAvoidcomponent complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damping unit is integrated with the float structure itself rather than being added as a separate external component. The damping mechanism is combined with the floating body design, allowing movement reduction functionality to be achieved while maintaining the simplicity of the overall float structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The structure effectively reduces movement due to waves and surges by up to 60% and facilitates easier construction and expansion, providing a stable platform for marine facilities while allowing for air shock-absorbing spaces that can be used for additional purposes.

Implementation Method 1

a damping unit coupled to the bottom of the floating body at the center, having the same cross-section shape as the floating body, having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the floating body, and reducing movement of the first float in the sea

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir shock absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3075648B1Marine float structure composed of multiple floats
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
  • EP3075648B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3075648B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3075648B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3D

AI summary

A floating marine structure having floats includes: a first float disposed at the center; and a plurality of second floats disposed around the first float; wherein the first float has a floating body made of a floatable material in a polygonal prism shape, a damping unit coupled to the bottom of the floating body at the center, having the same cross-section as the floating body, having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the floating body, and reducing a shake of the first float in the sea, and at least one coupling hole formed at each side of the floating body; and the second float has the same shape as the floating body and has coupling protrusions formed at sides facing the sides of the floating body and inserted in the coupling holes, and wherein the coupling holes are formed at alternate sides of the floating body.