Modular Telescopic Noise Insulation for Offshore Pile Driving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noise insulation devices for offshore pile driving are time-consuming, costly, and require significant maintenance, limiting their practical application, especially in the presence of currents, due to complex fastening mechanisms and high operational effort.

Innovation Solution

A modular noise-insulating device with telescopically extendable and retractable modules that utilize buoyancy and gravitational forces to maintain stability, allowing for easy deployment and retrieval, featuring a telescopic arrangement of noise-insulating modules with overlapping designs to minimize gaps and enhance noise insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex fastening mechanisms are used to secure noise insulation devices, then reliability of noise insulation is improved, but device complexity and maintenance effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise insulation effectivenessVSAvoidfastening mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The noise insulation device is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently assembled and secured. Each module contains integrated fastening features that simplify the overall assembly process while maintaining secure attachment, reducing both complexity and maintenance effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic arrangement allows noise insulation modules to be nested within each other during storage and transport, and automatically deploy when pulled apart. This eliminates complex fastening mechanisms during deployment while maintaining secure positioning during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If traditional noise insulation devices are deployed, then noise insulation is achieved, but installation time and operational costs increase due to high maintenance effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise insulation performanceVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates telescopic modules that can dynamically adjust their length and position. This allows for quick deployment by simply pulling the modules apart and automatic retrieval by pushing them together, eliminating time-consuming assembly and disassembly operations while maintaining effective noise insulation throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic mechanism enables the device to self-deploy and self-retract without requiring complex fastening or unfastening operations. The modules automatically maintain their functional configuration during operation, reducing both installation time and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed-length noise insulation pipes are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to various water depths and pile sizes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipe manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to different water depths and pile sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The noise insulation system is divided into multiple standardized modular sections that can be manufactured using simple, repeatable processes. These modules can be combined in different quantities and configurations to adapt to various water depths and pile sizes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic design allows the assembled device to dynamically adjust its overall length by extending or retracting the modular sections. This enables a single standardized module design to serve multiple applications across different water depths and pile sizes without requiring custom manufacturing for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device provides effective noise insulation with reduced installation and maintenance efforts, suitable for various water depths and pile sizes, while minimizing noise penetration into the ground and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the noise-insulating modules arranged above the bottom module float in the water body in the operating position and the bottom module is pulled down by gravitational force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

the bottom module is pulled down by gravitational force from the water level for unfolding the noise-insulating modules from the storage position to the operating position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3929359B1Modular buoyant noise-insulating device for offshore pile driving
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 AQUSTIX GBR
  • EP3929359B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3929359B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3929359B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a modular noise-insulating device for offshore pile driving, comprising interconnected noise-insulating modules movably nested in a telescopic arrangement in a storage position and constructed to move telescopically relative to each other, wherein the noise-insulating modules are substantially homogeneous or comprise a noise-insulating portion providing a buoyant force and a ballast portion providing a gravitational force, wherein in a surrounding liquid in the operating position, each noise-insulating module arranged above the bottom module provides a ratio of a total buoyant force versus a total gravitational force provided by said noise-insulating module, said ratio being in a first range of ratio between 1 and 5, the bottom module provides a second ratio of a total buoyant force of said bottom module versus a total gravitational force of said bottom module, said second ratio being below a maximum ratio of said noise-insulating modules.