Flexible Cover Assembly for Submarine Line End Leakage Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for storing and transporting submarine line sections after decommissioning offshore sites are tedious, expensive, and expose operators to hazardous materials due to the risk of leakage and waste generation from capping each end of the sections.
Innovation Solution
A protection assembly comprising a horizontal base with a transverse end wall, side walls, and a flexible cover that encloses the ends of submarine line sections, preventing leakage by confining liquids and solids within a retention basin, thus eliminating the need for individual capping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic caps are used to seal each end of submarine line sections, then leakage prevention is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple capping operations into a single integrated system. Instead of capping each end individually, the common cap structure allows simultaneous sealing of multiple line section ends, dramatically reducing operation complexity and time while maintaining reliable leakage prevention through the integrated sealing mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The common cap is designed as a universal sealing structure that can seal multiple different line section ends simultaneously. This multi-functional cap replaces numerous individual caps, simplifying the capping operation while ensuring reliable sealing across various line section types and sizes
2Reliability
If individual plastic caps are applied to each submarine line section end, then leakage prevention is achieved, but waste generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common cap is designed to be reusable rather than disposable. After sealing the line section ends during transport, the cap can be removed and reused for subsequent sealing operations, eliminating the need to discard plastic caps after single use and significantly reducing plastic waste generation while maintaining reliable leakage prevention
3Reliability
If operators manually cap each end of submarine line sections on the vessel deck, then leakage prevention is ensured, but exposure to radiation and hazardous contaminants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from manual operator action and transfers it to an automated or mechanically assisted common cap system. This reduces the need for operators to manually handle and position individual caps near potentially contaminated line section ends, minimizing exposure to radiation and hazardous contaminants while ensuring reliable leakage prevention through the automated sealing process
Data Source
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AI summary
The protection assembly (8) comprises a vertically protruding transverse end wall (82) and two vertically protruding side walls (84) extending from the transverse end wall (82) along sides of a horizontal base (80). The transverse end wall (82) and the side walls (84) delimit a storage volume (89) to receive the ends of a submarine line section, the storage volume (89) emerging upwardly via an upper insertion passage (108). The protection assembly (8) comprises a flexible cover (96) movable between a retracted submarine line section loading configuration, at least partially retracted away from the upper insertion passage (108) to allow insertion in the storage volume (89) of ends of submarine line sections through the upper insertion passage (108) and a deployed configuration in the storage volume (89) to cover the ends of the submarine line sections.