Hydraulic Ship Lift Anti-Overturning Stabilizing Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic ship lifts face the risk of overturning due to unbalanced loads and water displacement, leading to tilting of the ship reception chamber, which can result in catastrophic consequences.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a mechanical synchronizing system, a stabilizing and equalizing hydraulic driving system, and a self-feedback stabilizing system to provide anti-overturning capability, including resistance equalizing members, circular forced ventilating mechanisms, and guide wheels with flexible supporting mechanisms to stabilize and balance the ship reception chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ship reception chamber is filled with water for operation, then the lifting function is enabled, but the water body load moves when tilted causing gravity center shift and increasing tilt risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning counterweights on the balancing beam before the ship reception chamber tilts. These counterweights are arranged to generate counterbalancing moments that oppose the overturning moments caused by water load displacement, thereby preventing gravity center shift and maintaining stability during lifting operations
2Ease of operation
If the ship reception chamber is tilted under water load, then the ship can be positioned, but the water body load moves causing positive feedback that increases tilt and risks overturning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements anti-weight principle by installing counterweights on the balancing beam that generate counterbalancing moments opposite to the overturning moments. These counterweights are strategically positioned to offset the shifting water body load, thereby eliminating the positive feedback effect and preventing catastrophic overturning while allowing ship positioning
3Productivity
If traditional hydraulic driving system is used, then the ship lift can operate, but unbalanced loads cause the ship reception chamber to tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback principle by incorporating sensors that detect the position and tilt angle of the ship reception chamber in real-time. This information is fed back to the control system, which automatically adjusts the hydraulic cylinder forces and counterweight positions to maintain chamber levelness, thereby eliminating tilt caused by unbalanced loads while preserving operation capability
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 combined systems effectively prevent the ship reception chamber from tilting, ensuring safe, stable, and reliable operation by reducing unbalanced loads and water-induced disturbances, thereby enhancing the anti-overturning capability and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible member fixedly arranged between the support and the base, the flexible member is a spring
Implementation Method 2
a guide wheel arranged on the support and capable of rolling along a corresponding guide rail
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic ship lift, including: a mechanical synchronizing system; a stabilizing and equalizing hydraulic driving system; and a self-feedback stabilizing system. The stabilizing and equalizing hydraulic driving system includes first resistance equalizing members arranged at corners of branch water pipes or/and second resistance equalizing members arranged at bifurcated pipes, circular forced ventilating mechanisms arranged at front of water delivery valves of a water delivery main pipe, and pressure-stabilizing and vibration-reducing boxes arranged behind the water delivery valves. The self-feedback stabilizing system includes a plurality of guide wheels; each guide wheel of the self-feedback stabilizing system is fixed on a ship reception chamber through a supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism includes a base connected to the ship reception chamber, a support articulated on the base, a flexible member fixedly arranged between the support and the base, and a limiting stopper arranged on the outer side of the flexible member.