Mooring Buoy With Retractable Connecting Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mooring buoys in buoy fields struggle to prevent unauthorized vessel mooring, as they do not effectively restrict access to the mooring line, leading to inefficiencies and maintenance issues, especially in protected marine areas.
Innovation Solution
A mooring buoy with a sliding first and second body configuration, where a connecting element is housed in a seat and moved between retracted and protruding positions using a fluid circuit controlled by a control unit, allowing access only after authorization, ensuring secure and convenient mooring for vessels of various sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connecting element is made permanently accessible, then vessels can easily moor to the buoy, but unauthorized vessels can also moor without control
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element transitions between retracted and protruding states dynamically based on authorization status. The system moves from a static always-accessible state to a dynamic controlled-access state, where the connecting element's accessibility changes according to whether authorization has been granted by the control unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element is extracted from the buoy body and placed in a movable seat. By separating the connecting element from the fixed buoy structure and making it movable between retracted and protruding positions, the system enables controlled access - the element can be taken out (protruded) for authorized mooring and retracted for security.
2Reliability
If the connecting element is retracted into the buoy body, then unauthorized access is prevented, but water may enter the buoy and damage electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
A movable seat acts as an intermediary mechanism between the connecting element and the buoy body. This seat can be positioned to either expose the connecting element for authorized access or retract it into a protected position within the buoy body, preventing water ingress while maintaining authorization control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the position of the connecting element based on operational requirements. When authorization is granted, the element protrudes for access; when not authorized or during maintenance, it retracts into the buoy body to prevent water damage to electronic components.
3Reliability
If the connecting element is made movable between retracted and protruding positions, then access can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable seat is designed to be actuated by the control unit based on authorization status. The system uses the buoy's existing floating and submerging movements to naturally facilitate the retraction and protrusion of the connecting element, reducing the need for complex additional actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable seat serves multiple functions: it controls access to the connecting element, protects electronic components from water when retracted, and utilizes the buoy's natural movements to facilitate its operation. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite adding movement capability.
4Strength
If the buoy uses traditional anchor mooring, then vessels can be securely moored, but the seabed and marine vegetation are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional anchor-and-chain mechanical mooring system with a buoy-based surface mooring system. Instead of anchoring to the seabed (which causes damage), the buoy floats on the surface and provides mooring through its connecting element, eliminating contact with and damage to the seabed and marine vegetation while maintaining mooring security.
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 solution effectively prevents unauthorized mooring, reduces maintenance needs, and facilitates secure, convenient mooring operations by controlling the immersion depth of the buoy bodies to manage the connecting element's position, enhancing operational efficiency and protecting marine environments.
Implementation Method 1
a first body (10) capable of floating; a second body (20) placed under the first body (10)... said first and second bodies (10, 20) being slidingly connected
Implementation Method 2
said second body (20) being normally submerged when the buoy (1) is in use and in the rest position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a mooring buoy (1) comprising a first body (10) capable of floating, a second body (20) slidingly connected to the first and normally submerged, a connecting element (23) of a mooring line connected to the second body (20), said element being housed in a seat (14) produced in the first body (10) and movable between a retracted position, in which it returns into the profile of the first body (10), and a protruding position, in which it protrudes from the top end (13) of the first body (10) and enables fixing of the mooring line, the buoy further comprising at least one chamber (22), located in the second body (20) or in the first body (10) or in both, a fluid circuit (30), for feeding a fluid into the chamber (22) or, vice versa, for removing it from said chamber (22) toward the outside, and a control unit (50) connected to said fluid circuit (30), in which the control unit controls the fluid circuit (30) to vary the amount of said fluid in the chamber (22) so as to cause a variation of the immersion depth of the first body (10) with respect to the second body (20) or vice versa and, consequently, movement of the connecting element (23) between the aforesaid retracted and protruding positions.