Swivel Subsea Anchor System Abrasion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea anchor systems for buoys and floating objects are prone to failure due to abrasion and structural weaknesses, particularly when used with concrete blocks that lack hooks or eyelets, leading to buoy displacement under various forces like wind and waves.
Innovation Solution
A swivel subsea anchor system comprising an anchor bracket with a support pole embedded in a concrete block, featuring a swivel arm that rotates 360 degrees and a fixed eyelet for attachment to a buoy line, along with nylon washers for reduced abrasion, allowing for flexible attachment to buoys, rafts, docks, or boats, and enabling local manufacturing of concrete blocks in various sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a concrete block without hooks or eyelets is used as an anchor, then the anchor can be manufactured locally in different sizes or shapes, but the buoy line becomes abraded or the block sidewalls break, enabling the buoy to float away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an anchor bracket as an intermediary component between the buoy line and the concrete block. The bracket includes a support pole embedded in the block and a swivel arm with a grommet that connects to the buoy line, mediating the connection to prevent direct abrasion between the buoy line and the concrete block surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor system is segmented into distinct functional components: the concrete block (providing weight and local manufacturability), the support pole (providing structural support and embedding), and the swivel arm with grommet (providing durable buoy line attachment). This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together as a complete system.
2Device complexity
If a fixed anchor attachment is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot handle forces from different angles effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel arm is designed to rotate freely around the support pole, introducing dynamic adaptability to the anchor structure. This rotation capability allows the buoy line attachment point to automatically adjust its orientation in response to forces from different directions, enabling the simple overall structure to effectively handle multi-directional forces.
3Ease of operation
If the buoy line is directly attached to the concrete block, then the attachment method is simple, but the buoy line section contacting the block is gradually abraded
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet or bushing formed near the distal end of the swivel arm serves as a protective intermediary through which the buoy line passes. This intermediary component prevents direct contact and abrasion between the buoy line and the hard concrete block or metal hardware, maintaining attachment simplicity while significantly improving abrasion resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor system for a floating object that includes an eyelet mounted on a rotating swivel arm. The eyelet is adapted to connect to a rope or cable that extends downward from the floating object. The swivel arm is adapted to rotate freely 360 degrees around a rigid support pole. The lower end of the support pole includes at least one support flange that is imbedded into a concrete block during manufacturing. The swivel arm includes a horizontal flange with a center bore adapted to receive the support pole. The support pole includes a lower stop surface and an upper stop surface. When assembled, the swivel arm is mounted on the support pole so that the horizontal flange is positioned between the lower and upper stop surfaces. Disposed around the support pole and between the horizontal flange and the upper and lower stop surfaces are upper and lower nylon washers.