Shell-Shaped Rescue Device Panels for Offshore Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing offshore rescue devices lack adequate protection and safety features, particularly in harsh weather conditions and during transfers, as they do not provide secure attachments, ergonomic positioning, or sufficient protection against external impacts.

Innovation Solution

A rescue device with shell-shaped protective panels, hand gripping elements, and string elements that offer protection from impacts and retention, along with lifting means using an elastomer material cord, and buoyancy and shock-absorbing features to secure passengers in a standing position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If basic basket-type devices are used for offshore transfer, then device simplicity is maintained, but protection against external impacts is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against external impactsVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a shell-shaped protective panel that forms a protective space around the passenger. This shell structure provides comprehensive protection against external impacts from multiple directions (front, rear, sides, and top) while maintaining a relatively simple overall device configuration. The shell acts as a flexible protective barrier that encloses the passenger without requiring complex internal support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If secure attachments and ergonomic positioning are added to improve safety, then passenger security is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger security and safetyVSAvoidnumber of safety features
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple safety functions into an integrated shell structure. The protective panel simultaneously provides impact protection, defines the protective space, and incorporates retention features through its geometric configuration. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate safety components while maintaining comprehensive passenger security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shell-shaped protective panel uses curved surfaces to provide ergonomic positioning and secure retention. The curved geometry naturally guides the passenger into a safe position and provides multi-directional protection, combining comfort and security in a single structural element rather than requiring separate positioning and protection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective panels with shell shape are implemented, then protection from multiple impact directions is achieved, but device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection coverage rangeVSAvoidrescue device weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure is divided into a shell-shaped panel that provides comprehensive protection. This segmented approach allows the protection system to be implemented as a single integrated component rather than multiple separate protective elements, reducing overall weight while maintaining 360-degree protection coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3187228B1Rescue device
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 REFLEX MARINE LTD
  • EP3187228B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3187228B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3187228B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Rescue device (1) comprising a base (2); a plurality of protective panels (3), a plurality of protective panels (3) and hand gripping elements (5). At least one protective panel (3) has a shell shape with a main body (31), at least a top protrusion (32) and side protrusions (33, 34), such that a protective space is formed, the protective space being suitable for a person to be housed in, such that the main body (31) and the at least one side protrusion (33, 34) are suitable for protecting the protective space from an impact coming from directions parallel to the base (2) and comprised in a range wider than 200°, and the top protrusion (32) is suitable for protecting the protective space from an impact coming from a direction perpendicular to the base (2).