Rotating Reel System for Protected Medium Transfer to Vessels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transferring media, such as electrical power and signals, between a vessel and a support member, like a buoy, face challenges in maintaining a reliable connection while allowing the vessel to weathervane and protecting the medium from external influences.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable reel system with a swivel and motor control is used to wind and unwind a medium line, incorporating guide members and a disconnect mechanism, ensuring a secure and protected transfer of media, even during vessel movement, with additional safety features like a break-away monitoring line for emergency shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the medium line is kept extended between the support member and vessel, then the connection remains ready for immediate use, but the medium line is exposed to external influences and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the medium line management into two states: deployed (for active connection) and retracted (for protection). The reel divides the line into a protected stored portion and an active deployed portion, allowing the system to switch between connection readiness and damage protection based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel mechanism dynamically adjusts the length of the deployed medium line based on vessel position and operational requirements. The line can be extended when the vessel approaches and retracted when the vessel moves away or when not in use, transitioning between static protection and dynamic connection states.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the medium line is wound onto the reel when not in use, then the medium line is protected from external damage, but the connection establishment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medium line is pre-loaded onto the reel in a ready-to-deploy configuration. When connection is needed, the line is already positioned and tensioned, requiring only unwinding and connection at the vessel end, significantly reducing establishment time compared to storing the line loosely or in a warehouse.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel maintains continuous tension on the medium line through its winding mechanism, keeping the line ready for immediate deployment. The line remains in a state of controlled readiness on the reel, eliminating the need to repeatedly store and retrieve the line, thus reducing connection establishment time while maintaining protection.
3Device complexity
If a fixed length medium line is used, then the connection is simple and robust, but the system cannot accommodate vessel movement or varying distances
Solution Approach 1:
The reel mechanism transforms a fixed-length line into a dynamically adjustable connection. The line length deployed from the reel can vary continuously based on vessel position, allowing the system to accommodate weathervaning and distance changes while maintaining a simple reel-based connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of line length dynamically through the reel mechanism. By controlling how much line is unwound from the reel, the connection length adapts to varying distances between the support member and vessel, maintaining both simplicity and adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the vessel is allowed to weathervane freely, then the vessel can respond to environmental conditions, but the medium line connection may become compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reel mechanism dynamically adjusts to vessel movement during weathervaning. As the vessel rotates to face different directions, the reel pays out or winds in the medium line to maintain consistent tension and connection, allowing free environmental response while preserving connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reel acts as an intermediary between the fixed support member and the moving vessel. It absorbs the relative movement caused by weathervaning through line length adjustment, mediating between the stationary connection point and the moving vessel to maintain reliable connection throughout the environmental response cycle.
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
Ensures reliable and safe transfer of media, protecting against external damage and enabling vessel movement, with automated control and emergency shutdown features for enhanced safety.
Implementation Method 1
a reel mounted thereon for a rotation around a vertical rotation axis, which reel is intended for winding thereon or unwinding therefrom a medium line
Implementation Method 2
a swivel is provided for connecting the medium line with a medium pathway on the support member
Implementation Method 3
means for applying tension to the medium line (the use of which allows to spool out the medium line while avoiding a compressive force in the medium line)
Implementation Method 4
a spring return system may keep tension on the medium line while pulling it out
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An assembly for trans ferring a medium to a vessel comprises a support member to which the vessel is to be connected by means of secondary mooring members, such as a hawser comprising one or more mooring lines or mooring cables. The support member comprises a reel mounted thereon for a rotation around a vertical rotation axis, which reel is intended for winding thereon or unwinding therefrom a medium line intended for trans ferring the medium to the vessel, wherein a swivel is provided for connecting the medium line with a medium pathway on the support member.