Passive Spring Balancing for Tiltable Arm Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices with tiltable arms on floating objects face challenges in maintaining the arm's free extremity at a predefined position, especially in high seas, due to unpredictable acceleration forces caused by waves, leading to unsafe and cumbersome operations.
Innovation Solution
A device with a passive spring system that balances the arm's position by compensating the force of gravity with a spring moment, allowing the arm to stabilize without external energy input, even when not connected to a fixed point, using a gas or hydro-pneumatic spring to manage heavy loads efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a passive spring device is used to suspend the arm, then the arm can be kept taut and supported, but unpredictable acceleration forces are generated due to wave motions, leading to unsafe and dangerous movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a counterweight mechanism to balance the arm, where a counterweight is positioned to offset the arm's weight and create a balanced system. This reduces the spring force required to support the arm and minimizes unpredictable acceleration forces during wave motions, thereby improving safety while maintaining support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the spring characteristic by altering the amount of gas and/or liquid in the accumulator using pump and/or valve devices. This allows dynamic adjustment of the spring's stiffness and damping properties to optimize performance under varying wave conditions, reducing harmful acceleration forces while maintaining adequate support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spring characteristic is adjusted by altering the amount of gas and/or liquid in the accumulator, then the spring can be tuned for optimal performance, but the device complexity increases due to pump and valve mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically adjustable spring system where the accumulator's gas and/or liquid content can be modified in real-time. This allows the spring characteristic to adapt to varying operational conditions and wave patterns, providing versatility while managing complexity through controlled adjustability rather than fixed design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rope or wire connection is used to maintain the arm's free extremity at a predefined position, then the position can be stabilized, but the system becomes cumbersome and creates unsafe situations when the rope breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rope or wire connection with a counterweight-based balancing system. The counterweight creates a mechanical balance that naturally stabilizes the arm's position without requiring additional connection elements. This eliminates the cumbersomeness and safety risks associated with ropes or wires while maintaining position stability through gravitational balance.
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 solution ensures the arm remains balanced and stable during wave movements, reducing energy consumption and enhancing safety by canceling out gravity and spring forces, allowing for safer and more efficient operation even in unpredictable wave patterns.
Implementation Method 1
said suspension and/or support means comprise at least one spring, wherein opposite extremities of the said spring share connecting points with said arm and with said mounting structure
Implementation Method 2
compensating the force of gravity with a spring moment
Implementation Method 3
using a gas or hydro-pneumatic spring to manage heavy loads efficiently
Implementation Method 4
using a gas or hydro-pneumatic spring to manage heavy loads efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device to balance a tiltable arm comprising a free extremity and having a pivot point on a mounting structure which is supported by a floating object, by providing the arm with suspension and/or support means for controlling the arm's inclination with respect to the horizon, and by providing said suspension and/or support means with at least one spring, wherein the spring connects to the arm and to said mounting structure, and embodying the spring as a passive spring which is arranged to balance the arm so as to stabilize a position of a free extremity of the arm during movements of the floating object.