Mooring Winch Rope Shifting Tool Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mooring winch systems require significant labor and time to shift mooring ropes from storage to tension sections, especially with wire ropes, and existing solutions complicate the drum structure, making it difficult to utilize existing drums effectively.
Innovation Solution
A shifting tool attachable to existing mooring winches, featuring an outside fixing member, a partition side fixing member, and a guiding member that inclines to facilitate the mooring rope's movement from the storage section to the tension section without human power, using a detachable design and clamping mechanism to ensure stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual hauling and shifting of the mooring rope is performed using tools such as a rope hook, then the mooring rope can be shifted from the storage section to the tension section, but significant labor and time are required and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drum's own rotation during winding automatically drives the mooring rope through the guiding groove and over the notched disc, eliminating the need for separate manual hauling operations. The system uses its own operational motion to accomplish the shifting function.
Solution Approach 2:
A guiding groove with decreasing diameter and a notched disc serve as intermediary structures that redirect and guide the mooring rope from the storage section to the tension section, enabling automatic shifting without direct manual intervention.
2Extent of automation
If a notched disc with guiding groove is added to the drum structure, then automatic rope shifting is enabled, but the drum structure becomes complicated and existing drums cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The drum is divided into two functional sections: the storage section for winding up the mooring rope and the tension section for maintaining tension. The notched disc and guiding groove act as separate modular components that facilitate transition between these sections without redesigning the entire drum.
Solution Approach 2:
The notched disc serves multiple functions: it acts as a separator between storage and tension sections, provides a guiding surface for the rope transition, and maintains structural integrity of the drum assembly, reducing the need for additional dedicated components.
3Ease of operation
If the guiding groove diameter decreases eccentrically, then the mooring rope is smoothly guided to the tension section, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding groove has a curved cross-section with a radius of curvature between 0.9 to 1.3 times the rope diameter, creating a smooth transition path that naturally guides the rope without sharp angles or abrupt changes, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining operational smoothness.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
A shifting tool for a mooring rope (10) attachable to a mooring winch (11) includes an outside fixing member (25), a partition side fixing member (26), and a guiding member (27). The mooring winch (11) includes a drum (13) having outside flanges (12) on both sides. The drum (13) is divided into a storage section (22) and a tension section (23) for a mooring rope (20) by a partition flange (21) provided with a notch (24). The outside fixing member (25) is fixed to the outside flange (12) on the storage section (22) side. The partition side fixing member (26) is fixed to the partition flange (21). The guiding member (27) spanned between the outside fixing member (25) and the partition side fixing member (26) moves the mooring rope (20), which is wound onto the storage section (22) along with rotation of the drum (13), toward the notch (24).