Elevation system and vessel having a same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lift devices for loading vehicles on roll-on roll-off vessels are inefficient due to high load burden on the drive system, complex fixing structures, and difficulty in adapting to vessel size, leading to inefficient space utilization.
Innovation Solution
An elevation system with multiple deck units, each featuring a movable deck, sliding unit, elevation wires, and sheaves that allow for simultaneous operation and adjustable positioning of decks, reducing load burden and enhancing space utilization through a wire-driven power transmission system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional lift devices are installed to load vehicles in multiple stages, then loading capacity is improved, but drive system load burden increases and fixing structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo hold is divided into multiple decks (first deck, second deck, third deck) with independent elevation systems. Each deck can be elevated or lowered independently through separate elevation wires and sheaves, allowing vehicles of different sizes to be loaded simultaneously on multiple levels, thereby increasing loading capacity while maintaining simple individual deck structures
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mechanical lift devices with heavy drive systems, the patent uses a wire-pulley system where the deck is elevated by winding elevation wires around sheaves. The sheaves rotate to wind/unwind wires, inverting the conventional approach by using rotational motion of pulleys rather than direct linear mechanical lifting, which simplifies the fixing structure
2Productivity
If conventional lift devices are used to increase loading capacity, then space utilization is improved, but installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation wires are routed through the cargo hold space in a nested manner, passing around sheaves that are mounted on the vessel walls. The wires wind around the sheaves multiple times to provide sufficient mechanical advantage, effectively utilizing the three-dimensional space within the cargo hold without requiring additional installation area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by creating multiple elevated decks within the cargo hold. By stacking decks vertically and using wire-pulley systems that operate in the vertical direction, the system increases loading capacity without expanding the horizontal installation footprint of the vessel
3Productivity
If multiple decks are operated simultaneously, then loading efficiency is improved, but drive system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each deck unit is designed with a universal elevation system comprising elevation wires, sheaves, and fixing units that can be independently activated. The same basic mechanism (wire-winding around sheave) is applied to all decks, allowing any combination of decks to be operated simultaneously or individually without requiring different drive systems for each deck
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic control through fixing units that can selectively lock or release the elevation wires at different decks. This allows the drive system to dynamically adjust which decks are being elevated at any given time, enabling flexible operation of one or multiple decks simultaneously while maintaining a relatively simple overall drive architecture
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 system efficiently operates multiple decks, reducing load on the drive system and allowing for flexible space use, enabling efficient loading of vehicles of varying sizes and simplifying installation in vessels of different shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a drive wire which extends through the plurality of deck units and is simultaneously wound around the first sheave and the second sheave of each of the deck units to deliver a driving force to the sliding unit
Implementation Method 2
a drive wire which extends through the plurality of deck units and is simultaneously wound around the first sheave and the second sheave of each of the deck units to deliver a driving force to the sliding unit
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of elevation wires, each of which has one end connected to the movable deck and the other end coupled to the sliding unit via a direction changing sheave installed at the frame
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(d)
AI summary
An elevation system is provided. The elevation system includes a plurality of deck units, each of which including a frame, a movable deck coupled to the frame so as to be movable in a vertical direction, a sliding unit coupled to the frame so as to be movable in a horizontal direction, and a plurality of elevation wires, each of which has one end connected to the movable deck and the other end coupled to the sliding unit via a direction changing sheave installed at the frame; a first sheave installed at each of the deck units and fixed to the frame; a second sheave which is installed at each of the deck units and is coupled to the sliding unit, so that a distance between the first sheave and the second sheave is adjusted as the sliding unit moves; a drive wire which extends through the plurality of deck units and is simultaneously wound around the first sheave and the second sheave of each of the deck units to deliver a driving force to the sliding unit; and a driver which pulls the drive wire to cause the sliding unit to be slidably moved.