Mooring Leg Connector with Double Articulation Axis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mooring leg connectors require complex maintenance and inspection procedures, often necessitating diver intervention and are not adaptable to various mooring leg types, leading to inefficiencies and increased buoyancy requirements.

Innovation Solution

A mooring leg connector with a latch mechanism and double articulation axis, utilizing a cam and follower system that allows for easy connection and disconnection by pulling the elongated body in and out, enabling operation without divers and facilitating dry inspection and maintenance, with a housing fixed to the structure to reduce wear and fatigue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional mooring leg connector is used, then the connector can maintain the mooring leg connection, but the connector requires complex maintenance and inspection procedures involving divers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of maintenance and inspectionVSAvoidcomplexity of maintenance procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector employs a dynamic articulation mechanism that allows the connector body to pivot and adapt to movement in the mooring leg, enabling the articulation to remain submerged while allowing dry access to the housing for maintenance and inspection operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connector is divided into separate functional components: the articulation mechanism remains submerged in the water while the housing can be accessed from above water, allowing maintenance operations to be performed on the housing without requiring diver intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a standard connector design is used, then the connector can function as a mooring connection, but the size and weight of the connector are large, increasing buoyancy requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemooring connection functionVSAvoidweight and size of connector

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The articulation function is extracted as a separate mechanism from the main housing structure, allowing the housing to be optimized for minimal weight and size while the articulation handles the mechanical flexibility requirements, thereby reducing overall connector mass and buoyancy requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a connector with fixed articulation is used, then the structure is simple, but the chain experiences bending fatigue and transversely oriented links are prone to fatigue failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of structureVSAvoidfatigue resistance of chain

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A dynamic articulation mechanism is implemented that allows the connector to pivot and follow movement in the mooring leg, enabling the chain to remain relatively aligned with the load direction and minimizing bending fatigue on the chain links while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If a connector requiring diver intervention is used, then the connector can be operated in deep water, but inspection and maintenance cannot be performed in dry environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperability in deep waterVSAvoidinspectability in dry condition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into submerged components (articulation and chain connection) and above-water components (housing), allowing the housing to be lifted out of water for dry inspection and maintenance while the articulation remains submerged to maintain deep water operability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary element that can be selectively accessed from above water while the articulation mechanism remains submerged, mediating between the requirement for deep water operation and the need for dry environment inspection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 efficient, diverless operation and maintenance, reducing the size and weight of connectors, allowing for easy inspection and replacement of worn parts, and minimizing buoyancy requirements of floating structures.

Implementation Method 1

The rod is provided with a system made by cam (or guiding member) and followers (or orientation pins) between the rod of the connector and the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentUS8683935B2Disconnectable chain connector

Publication Date: 2014.04.01 SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC

AI summary

A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction. The connector has a latch mechanism for fixation of the mooring leg to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement in the direction of the seabed, and a flexible part with a double articulation axis located at the bottom of the connector body above the attachment member, the connector body being received in a housing which is fixed to a part of the structure to be moored, wherein the latch mechanism includes guiding elements and followers or orientation pins between the body of the connector and the housing.