Telescoping Shore Power Boom for Tide-Tolerant Plug Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy transmission devices for watercrafts face challenges in accurately positioning plugs due to varying tide, stress, swell, and ramp tolerances, leading to potential misalignment and damage during power transfer.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping boom with a pivoting mechanism and sensors, including 3D and ultrasonic sensors, along with mechanical centering elements, ensures precise plug alignment and safe power transfer by adjusting the boom's position and torque to compensate for vessel movement and misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed rigid connection is used for energy transmission, then structural simplicity is improved, but adaptability to vessel movement and positioning precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed rigid connection with a telescopic boom that can dynamically adjust its length and position. The boom includes telescopic sections that can extend and retract, and pivot joints that allow angular movement, enabling the system to adapt to vessel movement, tide changes, and positioning requirements while maintaining structural integrity for energy transmission.
2Measurement precision
If precise positioning mechanisms are added to compensate for tide and vessel movement, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning mechanisms with sensor-based detection systems. Sensors detect the position of the watercraft and the boom, and a control unit processes this information to automatically control the boom's telescopic and pivoting movements, achieving precise positioning through automated control rather than complex mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-adjusting capabilities where the boom automatically compensates for position changes through its telescopic and pivoting mechanisms. The control unit continuously monitors sensor data and adjusts the boom configuration in real-time to maintain proper alignment, enabling the system to self-correct without external intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the boom is made telescopic and pivotable to cover larger area, then adaptability is improved, but control precision and stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through sensors that continuously monitor the boom's position and the watercraft's location. The control unit receives this feedback information and automatically adjusts the boom's telescopic extension and pivoting angles to maintain precise alignment between the plug and socket, ensuring accurate plug-in even as the boom moves across different positions in the work area.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy transmission device for a watercraft includes a tower arranged on land, a telescoping boom connected to the tower for pivoting about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis, said boom including a free end, and a first plug connected to the free end of the boom and designed to electrically contact for transmission of electrical energy a second upwardly oriented plug on the watercraft via a vertical plugging motion from above by pivoting the boom relative to the tower.