Mooring Shackle Pin Locking Structure Against Accidental Release

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mooring shackles face challenges in ensuring a secure and reliable connection between mooring chains to prevent accidental disconnection, often requiring complex solutions.

Innovation Solution

A mooring shackle design featuring a shackle pin with a through hole for a locking pin, a securing nut, and a blocking device with wedges to retain the nut, providing redundant blocking to prevent axial movement and disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking pin and securing nut are used to prevent accidental disconnection of the shackle pin, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking pin and securing nut are combined into a single integrated securing mechanism. The locking pin passes through both the shackle pin and securing nut, creating a unified blocking system that prevents accidental disconnection while reducing the number of separate components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking pin acts as an intermediary element that connects and secures both the shackle pin and securing nut simultaneously. By passing through both components, it provides a simple yet effective blocking mechanism that prevents axial movement without requiring complex separate locking systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple blocking mechanisms are implemented to prevent axial movement of the shackle pin, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidinstallation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple blocking functions are merged into a single locking pin assembly that works together with the securing nut. The locking pin simultaneously blocks the shackle pin and secures the nut in place, providing redundant blocking without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The securing mechanism is segmented into functional zones: the securing nut provides first blocking of the shackle pin, while the locking pin provides second blocking by passing through both components. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific blocking function while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4607058A1Mooring shackle
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 VICINAY MARINE INNOVACION AIE
  • EP4607058A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4607058A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4607058A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Mooring shackle comprising a shackle body (100) and a shackle pin (200) for joining the shackle body (100) with a mooring chain (20), the shackle body (100) comprising a lower end (110) with apertures in which the shackle pin (200) having a through hole for receiving a locking pin (204) is arranged, and a securing nut (205) with a further through hole (206), the locking pin (204) passes through the through hole (206) of the securing nut (205) and the through hole of the shackle pin (200) blocking the shackle pin (200) and the securing nut (205), and the shackle pin (200) has a blocking device (207) for retaining the securing nut (205) between the shackle body (100) and said blocking device (207).