Segmented Cable Protection Sleeves for Offshore Impact and Abrasion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongate members such as cables or pipes used in offshore locations face damage from impact and abrasion due to waves and tides, and existing installation methods are cumbersome, especially in challenging weather and sea conditions.
Innovation Solution
A protection apparatus comprising interconnectable protection members with male and female formations allowing pivotal movement, made of corrosion-resistant materials like polypropylene, providing snap-fit engagement and buoyancy options, designed for easy installation and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If protection members are made rigid to provide impact protection, then protection effectiveness is improved, but installation flexibility and adaptability to wave movements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is divided into multiple individual protection members that can be interconnected. Each member maintains rigid structure for impact protection while the segmented nature allows flexibility through interconnections that accommodate movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection members incorporate dynamic interconnections that allow relative movement between adjacent members. This enables the rigid protection members to adapt to wave movements and tidal forces while maintaining their structural integrity and impact protection capability.
2Strength
If protection members are made as single integrated units, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of handling and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each protection member is divided into two separable parts that can be assembled on-site. This segmentation makes the components easier to handle, transport, and install while the interconnection mechanism ensures structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
Two separate parts are designed to interconnect and form a complete protection member with full structural integrity. The interconnection mechanism (male and female formations) allows the parts to be easily joined while maintaining the strength and protection capabilities of the complete unit.
3Strength
If protection members are made heavy to provide impact resistance, then protection effectiveness is improved, but ease of installation and need for heavy machinery worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the protection system into multiple lighter segments reduces the weight that needs to be handled during installation compared to a single heavy unit, while maintaining overall protection effectiveness through the combined structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lighter protection members are combined to achieve the same level of impact resistance as a single heavy member, but with the advantage of easier handling and installation of individual components.
Data Source
AI summary
Protection apparatus for a flexible elongate member. The apparatus comprises a plurality of protection members 10. Each protection member 10 defines an opening 22 through which a flexible elongate member can extend. Each protection member 10 is interconnectable end to end with other such protection members 10 to provide protection along the length of an elongate member. Each protection member 10 comprises two parts 12 which are mountable together to define the opening 22 through which an elongate member can extend. The two parts 12 together form a female formation 18 at one end, and a male formation 20 at the other end, such that the female formation 18 can receive a male formation 20 on an adjacent protection member 10 to interconnect the adjacent projection members 10. The female and male formations 18, 20 are configured to permit a predetermined amount of relative pivotal movement between adjacent protection members 10.