Ship Hold Door Closure Using Spring-Assisted Carriage Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ship door closure systems face challenges in ensuring complete retraction of carriage means into the hold after irreversible closure, despite the need to compress a hermetic sealing gasket, due to insufficient force from electric actuator means.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a gear motor group mounted on sliding means with spring-assisted return, allowing carriage means to perform a return stroke for complete retraction by utilizing elastic means and a helical spring arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electric actuator means are used to move carriage means for hatch closure, then the closure operation can be automated, but the force generated is insufficient to compress the hermetic sealing gasket
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electric actuator means with a spring mechanism to merge two different force generation systems. The electric motor provides automated movement while the spring provides the necessary compressive force for gasket sealing, allowing the carriage means to achieve both automation and sufficient sealing force simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism acts as an intermediary between the electric actuator and the gasket compression requirement. It receives the movement from the electric motor and transforms it into the necessary compressive force for sealing, mediating between the limited force of the motor and the high force required for gasket compression
2Reliability
If carriage means are designed to retract completely into the hold, then the system achieves full retraction capability, but requires additional force beyond what the electric actuator can provide
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism functions as a counterweight by storing energy during the forward stroke and releasing it during the return stroke. This compensates for the insufficient force from the electric actuator, enabling complete retraction of the carriage means into the hold without requiring additional motor power
3Reliability
If the transmission is made irreversible to simplify the system, then the closure operation becomes more reliable, but the carriage means cannot return to its initial position
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic spring mechanism that allows the carriage means to move forward under electric motor control with irreversible transmission, then automatically returns to its initial position using spring energy. This dynamic approach maintains operational reliability while enabling the necessary return stroke for complete retraction
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 complete retraction of carriage means into the hold after irreversible closure, maintaining the seal integrity by compressing the gasket effectively.
Implementation Method 1
arrangement of sliding means with spring-assisted return, which allow said carriage means to move and perform such return movement
Implementation Method 2
sliding means with spring-assisted return
Data Source
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AI summary
System (10) for the complete closure of a door of a ship's hold, for storing at least one tender or the like, wherein said system comprises: - a door, provided in a wall of the ship's hold, having a perimeter seal and closed at least partially by means of at least one hatch (S), and a part of deck forming the ceiling of the hold; - a horizontal translation system for moving the tender with respect to said ship's hold, wherein said system comprises at least one translator-elevator device, configured to move in a vertical direction and translate in horizontal direction at least one tender and including: - support and guide means (12), fixed with respect to the ceiling of the hold; - carriage means (11), which support said at least one hatch (S) at a first end (11.1) and which are supported movable with respect to said support and guide means (12), according to a direction parallel with respect to a vertical mid-plane of said door, between a first operating arrangement, in which said first end (11.1) of said carriage means (11) is arranged inside said hold and said at least one hatch (S) at least partially closes said door, and a second operating position, in which said first end (11.1) of said carriage means (11) is extended through said door to the outside of said hold and said door is open, wherein: - said carriage means (11) are moved by means of electromechanical actuator means, comprising at least one electric gear motor assembly (13), and are configured so that, once the gear motor assembly (13) has stopped and the hatch (S) has been closed, the complete closure of the hatch (S) is irreversible by means of the insertion of electromechanical shutters into corresponding seats positioned around the perimeter of the door and which act on said hatch (S), so that the action of the shutters moves the hatch (S), so that it compresses the seal, while the carriage means (11) must still return completely inside the hold, carrying out a return stroke to close the hatch (S) determined by the insertion of the shutters into the respective seats; characterized in that said electric gear motor assembly (13) is mounted on an arrangement (14) of sliding means with spring-assisted return, which allow said carriage means (11) to move and carry out said return movement.