Rail-Guided Shore Power Coupling Across Quay Mooring Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shore power supply systems for ships are not adaptable to varying ship sizes and berth locations, and are obstructed by mooring facilities like bollards, making them difficult to move along quay walls.
Innovation Solution
A movable shore-side coupling unit mounted on a chassis with wheels, allowing it to overlap mooring devices and be guided along a rail, with power supply lines protected in open channels and a cable drum system to facilitate easy connection and disconnection from ships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shore-side coupling unit is made movable to adapt to varying ship positions, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shore-side coupling unit is designed as a movable device mounted on a chassis with wheels, allowing it to be dynamically repositioned along the quay wall to connect with ships at different locations. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt to varying ship positions while maintaining operational simplicity through a straightforward mobile platform design.
2Productivity
If the coupling unit is moved close to the ship, then the connection efficiency is improved, but the risk of cable damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply cable is nested within a protective channel that is integrated into the quay wall structure. This channel provides physical protection for the cable as the coupling unit moves along the quay, preventing cable damage while enabling efficient positioning near the ship for rapid connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective channel acts as an intermediary structure between the cable and the external environment. It shields the cable from mechanical damage during the coupling unit's movement along the quay wall, allowing the unit to operate close to ships without increasing cable damage risk.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rail system is installed on the quay wall for guiding the coupling unit, then the movement precision is improved, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is merged with the existing quay wall structure by installing a simple rail along the quay wall edge. This rail integrates with the quay's existing infrastructure, providing precise guidance for the coupling unit's movement while minimizing additional construction complexity through utilization of the existing structural framework.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device 1 for connecting a ship to a shore-based supply network, wherein a shore-based coupling unit 2 is rail-guided for connection to a cable-connected ship-side plug and is connected to the shore-based supply network via at least one power supply line 16, 17, wherein the coupling unit 2 is arranged on a chassis 4, the wheels 5, 6 of which are arranged side by side in two tracks 7, 8, wherein one track 7 is rail-bound with respect to a rail 9, which is arranged on the fairway side on a vertical side of a quay wall 3, wherein the chassis 4 overlaps mooring devices 11, which project towards a top surface 10 of the quay wall 3, so that the second track 8 is arranged on a side of the mooring devices 11 facing away from the water.