Outboard Stabilizer Foam Core with Non-Compressive Inflatable Bladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outboard stabilizing members for watercraft that combine air bladders and foam members face issues such as foam compression, reduced buoyancy, and difficulty in removal and installation, which can be catastrophic in emergency situations and hinder transportation due to increased width.
Innovation Solution
An outboard stabilizing member design featuring a foam core with an inflatable bladder that is configured to inflate without applying compressive force, using inelastic joining members to prevent foam compression, and a removable sheath for easy attachment and detachment, allowing for quick repair and reduced width during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air bladders are used in outboard stabilizing members, then the stabilizing members become removable and easier to transport, but the foam members are compressed by the air bladders causing reduced buoyancy
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing member is divided into separate components: a foam core member and an air bladder that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The foam core provides permanent buoyancy while the removable air bladder provides additional adjustable buoyancy, allowing the stabilizing member to be detached for transport while maintaining foam buoyancy when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bladder is positioned to surround the foam core member, with the bladder nested around the foam. This nested configuration allows the foam to maintain its shape and buoyancy properties while the bladder provides additional flotation capacity without compressing the foam when properly assembled.
2Ease of manufacture
If foam members are compressed to facilitate assembly, then assembly becomes easier, but the foam members shrink and provide less buoyancy
Solution Approach 1:
The foam core member is pre-formed to the correct size and shape with buoyancy chambers designed to provide the required buoyancy when assembled. The air bladder is pre-sized to match the foam core dimensions, ensuring that when assembled, the bladder surrounds the foam without compressing it, thereby preserving the foam's buoyancy volume.
3Stability of the object's composition
If outboard stabilizers extend along the entire length of the watercraft, then stability is improved, but the width increases making transportation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing members are designed to be removable andå¯adjustable in length. They can be attached along the entire length of the watercraft for maximum stability during operation, but can be detached or reduced in length for transportation, allowing the system to adapt between operational and transport modes.
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
This design maintains foam buoyancy, simplifies installation and removal, and reduces the width of the watercraft for transportation, enhancing safety and convenience while preventing foam compression and maintaining stability.
Implementation Method 1
The inflatable bladder is configured to be inflated to a design pressure without applying a compressive force on the foam core
Implementation Method 2
a foam core providing buoyancy to the outboard stabilizing member
Data Source
AI summary
Outboard stabilizing members (110, 210, 310, 410) include a foam core (120, 220, 320, 420) and a bladder (134, 234, 334, 434) configured to be inflated to a design pressure and configured to cover at least a portion of the associated foam core. The bladders are configured to be non-compressive to the foam core. A plurality of joining members (135, 235, 335, 435) connect an inner wall of the bladder with an outer wall of the bladder, such that when the bladder is inflated to the design pressure the outer wall and joining members prevent the inner wall from compressing the foam core. The joining members are preferably inelastic, and may be one-dimensional linear members such as strings or rods, two-dimensional panels, or other webbing.