Telescopic Piling Sleeve for Flood-Resistant Dock Connection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floating dock systems often become unmoored during storm surges and floods due to low-cut pilings becoming submerged, leading to potential damage from high winds and waves, as previous solutions have not effectively maintained a secure connection between the dock and pilings during water level fluctuations.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic piling sleeve that engages a fixed piling and includes a catch mechanism to maintain contact with the floating dock, allowing it to rise and fall with water levels while preventing lateral movement, and can be optionally equipped with tethering means and lights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If pilings are kept low to maintain aesthetic view, then visual appeal is improved, but dock security deteriorates during high water events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual appealVSAvoiddock security

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic piling system employs nested concentric tubes where an inner tube slides within an outer tube. The inner tube extends above the outer tube during high water events to maintain piling exposure and dock security, while retracting during normal conditions to preserve aesthetic appearance. This nesting arrangement allows the system to adapt its effective height based on water levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The piling system transitions from a static fixed height to a dynamic adjustable height through the telescopic mechanism. The inner tube can extend and retract relative to the outer tube, allowing the piling to dynamically adjust its exposed height in response to changing water levels, thus maintaining both aesthetic appeal and security as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If pilings are extended higher to prevent disengagement, then dock security is improved, but visual appeal deteriorates due to interference with view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedock securityVSAvoidvisual appeal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic piling system employs nested concentric tubes where an inner tube slides within an outer tube. The inner tube extends above the outer tube during high water events to maintain piling exposure and dock security, while retracting during normal conditions to preserve aesthetic appearance. This nesting arrangement allows the system to adapt its effective height based on water levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The piling system transitions from a static fixed height to a dynamic adjustable height through the telescopic mechanism. The inner tube can extend and retract relative to the outer tube, allowing the piling to dynamically adjust its exposed height in response to changing water levels, thus maintaining both aesthetic appeal and security as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a fixed piling height is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying water levels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to water levels

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic piling system employs nested concentric tubes where an inner tube slides within an outer tube. The inner tube extends above the outer tube during high water events to maintain piling exposure and dock security, while retracting during normal conditions to preserve aesthetic appearance. This nesting arrangement allows the system to adapt its effective height based on water levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The piling system transitions from a static fixed height to a dynamic adjustable height through the telescopic mechanism. The inner tube can extend and retract relative to the outer tube, allowing the piling to dynamically adjust its exposed height in response to changing water levels, thus maintaining both aesthetic appeal and security as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11008720B2Floating dock piling height extension assembly and method

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 KIRBY ADAM

AI summary

A system and method for maintaining a connection between a floating dock and a fixed piling during a flood event. The system includes a piling sleeve that is adapted to telescopically and slidably fit over and around a fixed piling, wherein the piling is fixed into the ground below the surface of the water, and extends upwardly through an opening in a floating dock. The piling sleeve includes a catch mechanism attached to an upper portion of the piling sleeve. The catch mechanism is designed to “catch” or engage the floating dock when the dock rises with the water to a pre-determined level. The piling sleeve may freely slide upwardly and downwardly with respect to both the piling and floating dock, and when flood waters rise, the catch mechanism causes the sleeve to rise with the dock while maintaining an extended connection to the piling.