Receiving Assembly Stabilizes Seagoing Vessel During Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handling and lifting systems on floating buildings, such as ships, face challenges in stabilizing seagoing vehicles during deployment and recovery due to oscillations caused by swell and movements of the articulated arm, leading to potential equipment damage and safety risks for operators.
Innovation Solution
A reception assembly with a U-shaped profile and elastically deformable material is used to block rotation and translation movements of the seagoing vehicle, combined with a spring mechanism and visual indicators to ensure stable positioning and minimal operator intervention, and passive damping systems to absorb movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the articulated arm moves between deployment and storage positions, then the seagoing vehicle can be deployed and recovered, but the vehicle experiences uncontrolled vertical movements and oscillations that make operations difficult and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving assembly acts as an intermediary device between the articulated arm and the seagoing vehicle. It includes a lower part with receiving means that delimit a hollow to receive the vehicle, and a spring mechanism that absorbs vertical movements and oscillations, thereby protecting the vehicle and operators during deployment and recovery operations
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism in the receiving assembly provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing vertical movements and oscillations before they can affect the seagoing vehicle. This cushioning effect prevents uncontrolled movements and potential damage during the deployment and recovery process
2Stability of the object's composition
If manual cable tensioning is used to maintain vehicle height, then vertical stability can be achieved, but high operator availability and experience are required
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism in the receiving assembly provides self-service by automatically absorbing vertical movements and maintaining vehicle stability without requiring continuous manual intervention. The spring self-adjusts to the vehicle's position and absorbs oscillations passively, eliminating the need for operators to constantly tension the cable
3Stability of the object's composition
If active constant traction devices are used to prevent vertical movements, then vehicle stability is improved, but the system becomes expensive and requires electrical energy input
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the active electrical constant traction device with a passive spring mechanism. The spring provides the necessary mechanical force to absorb vertical movements and maintain vehicle stability without requiring electrical energy input, thereby eliminating the need for complex active control systems
4Stability of the object's composition
If the receiving means completely constrain the vehicle, then stability is maximized, but the vehicle cannot be properly positioned or adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving assembly provides dynamic constraint through the spring mechanism. The spring allows the vehicle to be positioned and adjusted during initial placement, then progressively absorbs movements as the vehicle stabilizes. The constraint is not rigid but adaptive, maintaining positioning capability while providing stability
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 effectively stabilizes the seagoing vehicle during deployment and recovery, reducing the risk of damage and operator fatigue while being cost-effective and energy-independent.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged so as to allow the receiving means to be moved away from the sole in the vertical direction, when said receiving assembly is suspended from said arm
Implementation Method 2
the receiving means are made at least partially of elastically deformable compressible material so as to absorb shocks between the machine and the receiving means
Implementation Method 3
passive damping systems to absorb movements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A receiving assembly (2) for receiving a seagoing vessel (1), which can be suspended on a hinged arm (4) of a handling structure (3) provided with a lifting cable (8) intended to lift a seagoing vessel (1) and to move said vessel in a vertical direction (z), so as to deploy and/or recover said vessel (1) in the sea from a floating building (5) whereon said handling structure (3) is secured, said receiving assembly (2) comprising a lower portion (14) comprising receiving means (16) for receiving said vessel (1), said receiving means (16) having a passage through which the cable (8) can pass, said receiving means (16) defining a hollow that can receive said vessel (1) when said vessel is suspended by means of the lifting cable (8) and being arranged so as to block the rotational and translational movements according to the vertical upward direction (z), of a seagoing vessel (1) having a generally tubular shape, relative to the receiving means (16), when the seagoing vessel (1) is received by the hollow and comes to bear against said means.