Suction Pile Vent Plug Sealing With Latching and Flow Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suction pile anchors face challenges in maintaining a secure seal during installation and operation, which can affect their anchoring efficiency and durability in offshore environments.
Innovation Solution
The development of vent plugs with O-ring seals and latching mechanisms that provide a watertight seal when closed, and can be easily opened to allow air and water flow, along with parking receptacles for temporary storage, enhances the sealing and operational efficiency of suction piles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vent plugs are used to seal vents during suction pile installation, then watertight sealing is improved, but device complexity increases due to latching mechanisms and parking receptacles
Solution Approach 1:
The vent plug system is divided into separate functional components: the vent plug itself with O-ring seal, the latching mechanism for securing, and the parking receptacle for storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism is designed to automatically engage and secure the vent plug in place before installation operations begin. The parking receptacle pre-provides a designated storage location, eliminating the need for temporary storage solutions and ensuring the plug is readily available when needed.
2Ease of operation
If vents are opened to allow air and water flow during installation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential contamination or debris entry
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic open state during installation operations. The vent plug can be easily removed and reinstalled, allowing the system to adapt between sealed and open configurations as needed during different phases of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent plug acts as an intermediary element between the sealed interior and the external environment. When removed, it allows controlled access for air and water flow; when installed, it restores the seal. The latching mechanism ensures the plug remains securely in place during open operations.
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 ensures a reliable and secure anchoring system by maintaining a watertight seal, improving the suction pile's ability to resist axial and lateral loads and secure mooring lines effectively.
Implementation Method 1
vent plugs with O-ring seals that provide a watertight seal when closed
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include a suction pile vent plug having a cylindrically-shaped body having a sealing element, a plurality of coupling features, and a handle connected to the cylindrically-shaped body. The sealing element is configured to form a watertight seal with walls of a suction pile vent into which the vent plug is installed. The plurality of coupling features are configured to engage with corresponding coupling features of the suction pile vent. The movable handle is configured to be moved into one or more locked configurations. Disclosed embodiments further include a suction pile vent having a hollow cylindrically-shaped body having coupling features. The coupling features are configured to engage with corresponding coupling features of a suction pile vent plug to thereby mechanically couple the suction pile vent plug to the suction pile vent. Disclosed embodiments further include a fluidic port that fluidically couples a suction pile to a removable fluidic coupling.