Submerged Pipe Support Buoy Anchoring Guide Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing submerged pipe support assemblies in water bodies face challenges in precisely positioning and balancing the supporting buoy and anchoring lines, leading to difficulties in maintaining horizontal pipe configurations and adjusting tension in anchoring lines, especially when multiple lines are used for redundancy.

Innovation Solution

The submerged assembly includes a guide device for the anchoring line with a movable lower section that can transition between extended and contracted configurations, a releasable locking mechanism, and a traction mechanism to adjust the anchoring line's height and tension, allowing for precise positioning and balancing of the buoy and pipes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple anchoring lines are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of positioning increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring line redundancyVSAvoidanchoring line configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide device with a movable lower section that can transition between extended and contracted configurations, allowing the anchoring line length to be dynamically adjusted. This dynamic mechanism enables precise positioning of the supporting buoy while maintaining multiple anchoring lines for redundancy, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If anchoring line length is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuoy positioning precisionVSAvoidanchoring line adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device incorporates a movable lower section that can change configuration between extended and contracted states, enabling continuous adjustment of the anchoring line length. This dynamic adjustment capability achieves precise buoy positioning while keeping the adjustment mechanism relatively simple through the use of a guide structure rather than complex actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If anchoring line tension is increased, then buoy positioning stability is improved, but risk of excessive traction forces increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuoy position stabilityVSAvoidexcessive traction forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movable lower section of the guide device allows the anchoring line length to be adjusted dynamically, enabling the system to achieve optimal tension levels that provide sufficient buoy positioning stability without creating excessive traction forces. The ability to contract or extend the lower section provides fine control over tension distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of anchoring line length by allowing the lower section to transition between extended and contracted configurations. This parameter adjustment enables optimization of the balance between positioning stability and traction force prevention, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables precise and balanced positioning of the supporting buoy and pipes, simplifies the adjustment of anchoring line tension, and prevents excessive traction forces, improving the stability and efficiency of fluid transport in water environments.

Implementation Method 1

a supporting buoy intended to be completely submerged in the expanse of water, the buoy being kept spaced away from the bed of the expanse of water under the effect of its own buoyancy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS8893802B2Assembly for supporting at least one fluid transport pipe through an expanse of water, and associated facility and method

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 TECH FRANCE SA

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an assembly including a supporting buoy and an anchoring assembly (28) comprising a base (100) attached to the bed (12) of the expanse of water. The assembly comprises a flexible anchoring line (30) connecting the anchoring assembly (28) to the supporting buoy (26). The anchoring line (30) comprises a lower section (84) made of chain links (92). The anchoring assembly (28) comprises a device (110) for guiding the lower section (84). The lower section (84) is movably mounted in the guide device (110) relative to the base (100), between an extended configuration and a contracted configuration, and a locking member (114) which can be released from the anchor line (30) on the anchoring assembly (28).