ROV Drill Assembly for Ship Skin Tap Installation Underwater

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for extracting fluids from disabled vessels, such as sunken ships, are labor-intensive, expensive, and pose environmental hazards due to manual drilling and the risk of drilling into vessel frames or leaking fluids, with existing techniques being limited to shallow waters accessible by divers.

Innovation Solution

A remotely-operated underwater drilling system comprising a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) and a drilling assembly with a linear and rotary actuator system that installs a tap assembly into a ship's skin, allowing for efficient fluid extraction and installation of a self-tapping tap system for fluid circulation and removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual drilling methods are used to extract fluids from disabled vessels, then the process can be performed with simple equipment, but the operation becomes labor-intensive, expensive, and poses environmental hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of equipmentVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical drilling operations with an automated drilling system that includes a remotely operated vehicle, drilling assembly with linear and rotary actuators, and automated tap installation. This substitution eliminates the need for labor-intensive manual drilling while maintaining equipment simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drilling assembly is designed to automatically perform multiple operations including drilling, tap installation, and fluid extraction without continuous human intervention. The system serves itself by integrating all necessary components (actuators, drill string, tap assembly) into a single autonomous unit that can be remotely operated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If manual drilling is used by divers in shallow waters, then the equipment can be simple, but the scope of operation is limited to shallow waters and poses safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of equipmentVSAvoidoperational depth range

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces diver-operated manual drilling with a remotely operated vehicle-based drilling system. This allows the system to operate in deep waters where divers cannot reach, while the modular design keeps the equipment relatively simple and adaptable to different operational depths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drilling assembly is designed as a universal system that can operate across a wide range of water depths by being mounted on a remotely operated vehicle. The same basic drilling mechanism can be deployed in both shallow and deep waters, making the system highly adaptable to different operational environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If automated drilling systems are implemented, then operational efficiency and safety improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid extraction efficiencyVSAvoiddrilling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the drilling system into distinct modular segments: a remotely operated vehicle, a drilling assembly with separate linear and rotary actuators, a drill string, and a tap assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system efficiency and reducing operational complexity through modularity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a remotely operated vehicle as an intermediary between the operator and the drilling assembly. This mediator allows complex drilling operations to be performed automatically or remotely, improving safety and efficiency while keeping the control interface simple for the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If remote operation is used, then safety and operational scope improve, but the system requires complex control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remotely operated vehicle serves as an intermediary that enables safe remote operation of the drilling assembly. The ROV handles the complexity of remote control and navigation, while the drilling assembly itself remains relatively simple mechanically, improving safety without excessively increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11364982B2Marine salvage drill assemblies and systems

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 RESOLVE MARINE GROUP INC

AI summary

A drilling system configured to install a tap assembly into a ship skin is disclosed. The drilling system comprises a remotely-operated underwater vehicle and a drilling assembly configured to be operated by the remotely-operated underwater vehicle. The drilling assembly comprises a frame comprising an attachment element configured to hold the drilling assembly to a surface of the ship skin. The drilling assembly further comprises a drill actuation system comprising a linear actuator attached to the frame and a rotary actuator, wherein an actuation of the linear actuator is configured to move the rotary actuator relative to the frame to install the tap assembly into the ship skin by driving the tap assembly with the rotary actuator and the linear actuator.