Multi-Winch Hoisting With Splitable Rope Connectors for Extended Reach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hoisting systems face limitations in flexibility and extension capacity, particularly in reaching deep water depths, due to challenges with steel wire ropes such as weight, corrosion, and fatigue, while fiber ropes offer advantages but are costly and fragile, requiring larger sheaves and drums.
Innovation Solution
A hoisting system comprising a main winch system and an auxiliary winch system with a splitable rope connector, allowing for quick connection and disconnection of sections, and a hang-off point for temporary rope connector handling, enabling the extension of the system's reach without the complexity of additional sheaves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel wire ropes are used in traditional hoisting systems, then the system can achieve sufficient strength and durability, but the weight increases and corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hoisting system is divided into multiple rope sections (first section and second section) that can be independently managed and connected. This segmentation allows the use of lighter fiber rope materials while maintaining overall system strength through modular construction and distributed load bearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs fiber ropes (such as Dyneema® or Spectra®) which are composite materials combining high-strength polymer fibers. These composite materials provide superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to traditional steel wire ropes, directly addressing the contradiction between strength and weight.
2Weight of moving object
If fiber ropes are used to reduce weight, then the weight decreases, but the system becomes more fragile and requires larger sheaves and drums
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates redundant rope sections and connector mechanisms that provide backup capacity. The splitable rope connector design allows for controlled failure modes and easy replacement, cushioning against the fragility issue by enabling rapid system recovery without catastrophic failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the rope system by using high-modulus fiber materials with specific tensile strength properties. These parameter changes allow the use of smaller sheaves and drums compared to what would be required for less advanced fiber materials, thus reducing the fragility issue while maintaining weight advantages.
3Length of moving object
If the auxiliary rope is made extendable with splitable connectors, then the reach and flexibility increase, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rope system is segmented into modular sections connected by standardized splitable connectors. This segmentation enables extended reach by simply adding more sections rather than designing a completely different extended system, managing complexity through repetition of proven components.
Solution Approach 2:
The splitable rope connectors are designed as universal components that can be used at multiple connection points throughout the system. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by using a single connector design for various purposes, rather than requiring specialized connectors for each function.
4Device complexity
If traditional hoisting systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the extension capacity and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hoisting system transitions from a static, fixed-length rope configuration to a dynamic, extendable configuration using splitable connectors. This allows the system to adapt its length and configuration based on operational requirements, significantly improving extension capacity while adding only minimal complexity through the connector mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A hoisting system for hoisting a load includes: i) a main winch system having a main rope with an end connector mounted to an end of the main rope, ii) an auxiliary winch system having an auxiliary rope having at least one rope connector of which at least one is a splitable rope connector, the auxiliary rope comprising a first section and a second section connected to the first section via the splitable rope connector, wherein the splitable rope connector comprises at least two connector parts that are releasably connected with each other for allowing quick disconnection and reconnection between the second section and the first section, wherein the connector parts (are configured for releasably connecting with the end connector of the main rope, and iii) a hang-off point placed and configured for at least temporarily holding a respective rope connector of the auxiliary rope for transferring the load to the hang-off point. The system may include two auxiliary winch systems.