Pilot Ladder Wireless Magnetic Attachment for Wire-Free Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pilot ladders with magnetic attachments are inconvenient to manage due to wire configurations and prone to safety accidents from wire damage or malfunction, hindering safe climbing and disembarkation.

Innovation Solution

A pilot ladder with a remote attachment/detachment function using magnetic switch magnets integrated with steps, controlled by a wireless controller, eliminating the need for wires and ensuring safe and stable operation through ground and load sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetic switch magnets are connected by wire to receive power, then the ladder can be fixed to the hull, but the wire arrangement makes winding and storage inconvenient and may hinder climbing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed state of ladderVSAvoidconvenience of winding and climbing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the wire-based power transmission system with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. The magnetic switch magnets are powered wirelessly through electromagnetic induction, eliminating the mechanical wire connections that hindered winding and climbing operations while maintaining the reliability of the fixed state through controlled magnetic activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the wire component from the system entirely. By eliminating the wire that connected power sources to magnetic switch magnets, the invention resolves the conflict between maintaining fixed reliability and ensuring ease of operation during winding and climbing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If wire is used to supply power to magnetic attachments, then the ladder can be controlled, but wire damage or malfunction causes immediate release and safety accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of magnetic attachmentsVSAvoidsafety during climbing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the vulnerable wire-based control system with a wireless electromagnetic control system. This replacement eliminates the single point of failure represented by the wire, maintaining ease of control through wireless signal transmission while dramatically improving reliability and safety by removing the risk of wire damage causing immediate ladder release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements prior cushioning by providing backup power and control mechanisms that are independent of the primary wireless system. This ensures that even if the wireless control fails, the ladder maintains its fixed state through redundant magnetic attachments, preventing safety accidents during climbing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Length of moving object

If the ladder is made long (10-20m) for harbor entry, then pilots can embark/disembark, but the ladder swings seriously causing safety accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength of pilot ladderVSAvoidswinging stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the magnetic attachment system adjustable and responsive. The magnetic switch magnets can be activated or deactivated based on the ladder's position and movement, allowing the system to adapt to dynamic conditions during harbor entry. This dynamic control reduces unnecessary swinging while maintaining the required length for pilot embarkation and disembarkation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the magnetic field parameters dynamically along the ladder's length. By adjusting the strength and distribution of magnetic fields at different segments of the 10-20m ladder, the system maintains stability during movement while preserving the full operational length needed for safe pilot transfer between ship and harbor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Facilitates easy management and prevents safety accidents by wirelessly controlling magnetic attachments, ensuring stable ladder use and safe climbing, even on curved hulls.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic switch magnet module (200) installed in the compartment (100) in such a way as to be attachable to an outer plate (S) of the hull

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic forces: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

a driver (230) operating with the power of a battery (220) to control the on/off operations of the magnetic switch magnet (210)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic transformation: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP4293191B1Pilot ladder having remote attachment/detachment function
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 KOREA OCEAN TECH CO LTD
  • EP4293191B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4293191B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4293191B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pilot ladder having a remote attachment/detachment function that can safely fix, by using magnetic force, a ladder for a pilot who safely guides a ship to an inner harbor. The present invention relates to a pilot ladder having a remote attachment/detachment function, which comprises a rope (1) and multiple steps (2) and is installed on the outer place of a hull so as to be used when a pilot embarks and disembarks, the pilot ladder comprising: a compartment (100) formed on the bottom surface of each of the steps (2); a magnetic switch magnet module (200) installed in the compartment (100) and provided to be attached to the outer plate (S) of the hull; and a wireless controller (300) provided to control the on/off operations of the magnetic switch manet module (200). In case of using the pilot ladder having a remote attachment/detachment function, a magnetic switch magnet has an improved structure in which the magnetic switch magnet is integrated with a step and the on/off operations thereof are controlled by the wireless controller, and thus an existing wire configuration for magnet control is omitted, so that management required for ladder winding storage is easy, and malfunction of the magnetic switch magnet due to damage to a wire can be prevented.