Rotatable Buoy Barrier Assembly for Low-Drag Water Deterrence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buoys are vulnerable to unauthorized passage and difficult to construct into a robust, deterrent water barrier.
Innovation Solution
A buoy assembly comprising multiple buoyant sections with a fastening arrangement and a passage, featuring rotatable buoys with deterrent structures and secure connections, forming a barrier that is difficult to traverse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buoys are made with solid construction for strength and security, then reliability is improved, but water drag increases and stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy body is constructed with a foam material that provides buoyancy while maintaining structural integrity. The porous foam structure reduces water drag compared to solid construction while ensuring the buoy remains secure and stable in water.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If buoys are made with curved or tapered ends to reduce water drag, then stability is improved, but see-through visibility between adjacent buoys decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy features a dual-design: the external ends are curved or tapered to reduce water drag and improve stability, while the internal structure includes see-through sections or openings that maintain visibility between adjacent buoys. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between hydrodynamic efficiency and optical transparency.
3Reliability
If buoys are made rotatable on shafts to prevent climbing, then deterrent effect is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy is designed to rotate freely on its shaft rather than being fixed. This dynamic capability allows the buoy to respond to water currents and waves naturally while preventing unauthorized passage, as climbers cannot gain footing on a rotating surface. The rotation mechanism is simple, requiring only a shaft and buoyancy chamber connection without complex components.
4Reliability
If buoys are constructed from multiple sections with fastening arrangements for security, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy is divided into multiple sections: a buoyancy chamber, a body portion, and end sections, each manufactured separately and then assembled using fastening arrangements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured independently using standard processes, then securely assembled to create a robust overall structure that resists unauthorized passage attempts.
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 assembly creates a stable, see-through, and deterrent water barrier that is resistant to attack, reducing water drag and preventing unauthorized passage.
Implementation Method 1
a buoy comprising a body which is formed from at least two buoyant sections
Data Source
AI summary
A barrier comprising a plurality of elongate shafts which are positioned end-to-end, a respective connection between each pair of adjacent shafts to allow for limited pivotal movement of one shaft relative to an adjacent shaft, a plurality of axially spaced buoys rotatably mounted to the shafts, wherein each buoy comprises at least two buoyant sections which are secured together, a plurality of deterrent discs on the shafts wherein at least one disc is respectively positioned between each adjacent pair of buoys, and wherein each said connection between adjacent shafts is respectively flanked by two spaced apart discs which inhibit access to the connection.