Smart Coupling Piece for Container Ship Safety Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
During sea transport, containers on container ships are often lost due to improper coupling, weight mismanagement, and fires, which are difficult to detect, leading to safety and economic concerns.
Innovation Solution
Integration of distance sensors and transmitting units into coupling pieces to ensure correct locking and monitoring of container positions, along with additional sensors for temperature and gas detection, allowing for real-time feedback and early detection of potential issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coupling pieces are used to secure containers during sea transport, then container stability is improved, but detection of improper coupling and fires remains difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through sensors that continuously monitor coupling status, container position, and environmental conditions. Distance sensors detect whether containers are properly coupled by measuring gaps between them, while temperature and gas sensors provide feedback on fire risks. This real-time feedback enables immediate detection and response to improper coupling or fire hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual inspection methods with automated sensing systems. Instead of relying on visual checks or physical examination of coupling pieces, the system uses distance sensors, temperature sensors, and gas sensors to automatically detect coupling status and fire conditions. This substitution of mechanical inspection with electronic sensing dramatically improves detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If manual inspection and monitoring of containers are performed, then detection accuracy is improved, but port handling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention. Sensors automatically detect coupling status, container displacement, and fire conditions, and transmit this information to the ship's control system. This self-service capability maintains high detection accuracy while eliminating the time consumption associated with manual inspection during port operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing system provides continuous monitoring throughout the container stacking and transport process, rather than requiring intermittent manual checks. This continuous automated monitoring ensures detection accuracy is maintained at all times while port handling proceeds without interruption or time loss.
3Reliability
If additional sensors and monitoring systems are integrated into coupling pieces, then safety and detection capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pieces are designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical coupling of containers, distance measurement for coupling verification, temperature monitoring for fire detection, and gas detection for fire or leakage identification. By integrating these diverse sensing capabilities into a single multi-functional device, the patent improves safety and detection capability while managing device complexity through functional consolidation.
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
Enhances safety by ensuring secure container coupling and early detection of fires or malfunctions, reducing the risk of container loss and damage, and optimizing port handling times.
Implementation Method 1
a distance sensor (29) which is configured to detect a distance from the first corner fitting (22) and/or second corner fitting (26)
Implementation Method 2
a transmitting unit (28) which is configured to transmit an identification signal for identifying the coupling piece (20) and a status signal which is representative of the detected distance
Implementation Method 3
a weight sensor that records the weight resting on the bottom lock as the status of the bottom lock
Implementation Method 4
a temperature sensor which is configured to detect a temperature as the state of the coupling piece
Implementation Method 5
a gas sensor which is configured to detect the presence of smoke or a harmful gas as the state of the coupling piece
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a coupling piece (20) for securing first corner fittings (22) of a first container (25) to second corner fittings (26) of a second container (23, 44) at least to prevent horizontal movement in relation to one another. In order to improve the safety during the transport of containers on vehicles, in particular on container ships, the coupling piece (20) according to the invention is characterised by a sensor (29, 32) which is designed to detect a state of the coupling piece (20), and a transmitter (28) which is designed to emit an identification signal and a state signal (38) which represents the detected state of the coupling piece (20). The invention also relates to an assembly composed of a container (23, 43) and a coupling piece (20) of this kind, as well as to a container ship (46) on which containers (23, 43) are secured by means of coupling pieces (20) of this kind, and to a method for monitoring state data of the coupling pieces (20) and/or of the containers (43).