Shore Cable Feeding Unit with Parallel Reeling for Fast Vessel Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable management systems for vessels face challenges in efficiently and safely transferring heavy power and signal cables due to their bulk weight, requiring multiple crew members and prolonged connection times, especially under harsh weather conditions and vessel movements, which can lead to inefficiencies and time loss at ports.
Innovation Solution
A cable feeding unit with multiple motors, shafts, and rollers, allowing for independent or simultaneous reeling of power and signal cables, featuring cable tensioners and adjustable motors to manage weight and length variations, enabling safe and fast connection to vessel power cabinets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all cables are reeled in together as a bundle, then the cable management system can transfer multiple power and signal cables to the vessel, but the heavy weight of the cables makes feeding difficult and requires multiple crew members
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system divides the cable transfer operation into separate channels, with each cable (or group of cables) having its own dedicated reeling mechanism. This segmentation allows cables to be fed independently rather than as a single heavy bundle, reducing the operational difficulty and crew requirements while maintaining the ability to transfer multiple cables simultaneously.
2Reliability
If all cables are reeled in together, then the connection can be established, but the process takes a long time causing the vessel to lose valuable port time
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous and simultaneous reeling of multiple cables through parallel reeling mechanisms operating at the same time. This eliminates the sequential process of feeding cables one by one, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the connection establishment process, thereby reducing total connection time while ensuring reliable connection of all required cables.
3Ease of manufacture
If heavy cables are pulled through the hatch manually, then the cables can be connected to the power connection cabinet, but multiple crew members are needed increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The reeling mechanisms are designed to automatically feed and guide cables through the hatch and into the vessel without requiring manual pulling by crew members. The system performs the cable feeding operation itself through motorized reeling devices, eliminating the need for multiple crew members to manually handle heavy cables while maintaining full cable installation capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cables are fed under harsh weather conditions and vessel movements, then the cable transfer can proceed, but the heavy weight and environmental factors make the process more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical cable handling with motorized reeling mechanisms that can be controlled remotely or automatically. This substitution of human physical effort with mechanical systems enables cable transfer to proceed effectively under harsh weather conditions and vessel movements, as the motorized systems can compensate for environmental factors without requiring crew members to physically manage heavy cables in difficult conditions.
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
Enables safe, fast, and reliable transfer of cables to vessels, reducing the need for multiple crew members and minimizing connection time, thus optimizing port operations and accommodating various vessel configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a cable feeding unit for a shore cable management system for transferring cables to an electrical or data communication connection in a vessel
Implementation Method 2
The first motor is connected with the first shaft, the first set of rollers is arranged on the first shaft and the first motor is adapted to drive by the first shaft one or more rollers of the first set of rollers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
AI summary
A cable feeding unit (100) for a shore cable management system (190), wherein the cable feeding unit (100) comprises two or more sets of cable reeling means comprising a motor (110, 120, 140), a shaft (112, 122, 142) connected to the motor, one or more sets of rollers (114, 124, 144) arranged on the shaft and transmission means (160) connecting the rollers of the one or more sets of rollers on the shafts.