Sectional Door Guidance for Seagoing Vessel Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handling sectional doors on seagoing vessels is challenging due to varying weather conditions and heavy seas, which can cause instability and safety issues for large glass sections.

Innovation Solution

The sectional door design includes additional components protruding from holding members that engage with a separate receptacle in the sliding guide, providing secure guidance and fixing in the parking position through a comb-like fixing element and a traction system with chain links and rollers, ensuring stability even in rough seas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sectional sections are made large and heavy for better closing performance, then the closing capability is improved, but the stability and safety during movement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing capabilityVSAvoidstability during movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sectional door is divided into multiple horizontal sections that can move independently through the sliding guide system. Each section is individually guided and can be locked separately, allowing the large door to be handled in manageable segments while maintaining overall stability and safety during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a simple sliding guide is used for ease of operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against heavy seas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of movementVSAvoidsecurity against heavy seas
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A profile pin protruding from the holding member acts as an intermediary element that engages with a corresponding receptacle in the sliding guide. This intermediary connection provides secure guidance and locking against heavy seas while maintaining smooth operation through the tracked movement system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The profile pin is pre-positioned on the holding member before movement begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the securing connection is already in place to prevent the sectional section from being displaced by heavy seas during operation, while allowing easy movement when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If additional securing components are added for safety, then the security against heavy seas is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against heavy seasVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The profile pin serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a guiding element for the sectional section's movement, a securing element that engages with the sliding guide receptacle, and a locking element that prevents displacement during heavy seas. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining high security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design ensures secure guidance and fixing of sectional sections, preventing them from being endangered by strong waves, maintaining stability and safety during operation.

Implementation Method 1

The holding member (2) is movable in the sliding guide (9) via a roller (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling contact: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP3838733B1Sectional door for an opening in a surface of a vessel.
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 JOACHIMMEYER PETER
  • EP3838733B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3838733B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3838733B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A sectional door for an opening in a surface element on a seagoing vessel, in particular in a side wall formed at least in sections from glass, comprising horizontally separated sectional sections which are held at their free ends in holding members, and comprising a sliding guide for the sectional sections for bringing the sectional sections into a parking position, wherein the holding members of the sectional sections are attached to a traction means received in the sliding guide, is characterized in that an additional component protruding from the holding member is arranged on each of the holding members for the sectional sections to guide the sectional sections during their movement and that a separate receptacle is provided in the sliding guide for this additional component, wherein the additional component can also be brought into a holding operative connection with a fixing member when the sectional sections are in the parking position.Such a sectional door is well suited for use on a seagoing vessel.