Submerged Yoke Mooring System with Adjustable Pendants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single point mooring systems, such as CALM and SALM, face challenges in shallow water where they lack resiliency and are difficult to adjust for varying depths, making them unsuitable for large vessels and locations with ice flows, and are not easily relocatable or disconnectable for storms.
Innovation Solution
A submerged mooring system with a triaxial articulation assembly and a vee-shaped yoke connected via universal joints and pendant linkages, allowing for adjustable elevation connections to accommodate different water depths, and a removable anchor for easy relocation and quick disconnection, combined with a combined bracket for efficient vessel connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional CALM or SALM mooring systems are used in shallow water, then the system structure is simple, but the resiliency is insufficient and the system cannot provide adequate restoring forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mooring system is divided into separate functional components: a submerged mooring base with weights for providing restoring forces, a yoke mechanism for connection, and adjustable pendant linkages for depth accommodation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while collectively providing the necessary resiliency without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Heavy weights are attached to the submerged mooring base to provide a self-actuating restoring force that counteracts the effects of waves, winds, and currents. These counterweights create a stabilizing moment that maintains vessel position and provides the necessary resiliency in shallow water conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mooring system is designed for deep water, then it provides adequate restoring forces, but it cannot be adjusted for shallow water locations
Solution Approach 1:
The mooring system incorporates adjustable pendant linkages that can be configured at different lengths or positions to accommodate varying water depths. The yoke mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of the connection geometry, enabling the same base system to adapt to both deep and shallow water locations without requiring complete redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The mooring base and yoke mechanism are designed as universal components that can function across a wide range of water depths. The adjustable linkages and connection points allow a single mooring system design to serve multiple depth conditions, eliminating the need for depth-specific system variants.
3Reliability
If the mooring system is fixed to the seabed, then it provides stable mooring, but it is difficult to relocate or disconnect for storms
Solution Approach 1:
The mooring system is pre-configured with detachable connections and release mechanisms that allow rapid disconnection before storm conditions arrive. The adjustable linkages and connection points are designed to be easily reconfigured or detached, enabling preliminary action to be taken for safety while maintaining stable mooring during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mooring system uses separable components including detachable linkages, adjustable connection points, and modular weights that can be independently managed. This segmentation enables the system to be quickly disassembled and relocated or stored during storm events while maintaining stable mooring functionality during calm conditions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the mooring system uses fixed connection points, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying water depths
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure incorporates adjustable and movable elements rather than fixed points. The pendant linkages can be repositioned or reconfigured to accommodate different water depths, and the yoke mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of connection geometry, providing depth adaptability without requiring an overly complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mooring system allows change in geometric parameters such as linkage lengths, connection angles, and positioning to accommodate varying water depths. By adjusting these parameters, the same connection structure can adapt to different depth conditions without requiring complete structural redesign.
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
The system provides a resilient and adjustable mooring solution that is independent of water depth, easily relocatable, and quickly disconnectable, ensuring vessel stability in varying conditions and allowing for safe operation during storms.
Implementation Method 1
Heavy weights are carried at the outward ends of the two yoke arms, resulting in large axial tension forces in the yoke suspension pendant linkages. As the pendant linkages become inclined as a result of wind, wave and current forces acting on the vessel, the horizontal component of the axial forces in the pendant linkages provides a self-actuating restoring force to the vessel.
Implementation Method 2
Universal joints and/or triaxial articulation joints are included in the mooring system to allow the moored vessel to weathervane, roll, pitch and heave under the effects of current, wave, wind and tides.
Data Source
AI summary
A single point mooring includes a yoke-shaped articulated arm assembly, which is affixed to the seabed by a fixed foundation or mooring base assembly, and a mooring support structure, which is retrofitted to a vessel. The articulated arm is connected to the base by a triaxial articulation joint for accommodating yaw, pitch and roll. To moor the vessel, the arm is connected to the mooring support structure with weighted pendants on port and starboard sides. The pendants are suspended at an adjustable elevation with respect to the mooring support structure, thus allowing the mooring system to be used at varying water depths. A combined connection bracket hosts both pendant linkages and umbilicals or hoses for speeding the process of connecting and disconnecting a vessel from the mooring system. A removable anchor, such as a suction pile, fixes the mooring system to the seabed, allows the system to be easily redeployed to another location.