Thermoplastic Coating for Outboard Device Friction and Fouling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard devices for marine structures, particularly in salt water, face issues with grease lubrication maintenance, corrosion, and biofouling, leading to increased friction and potential jamming due to metal surfaces, which are difficult to avoid for reasons of statics and strength.
Innovation Solution
The use of a thermoplastic coating between moving components of the outboard device to prevent deposits and corrosion, allowing for the selection of materials that would otherwise be unreliable, and eliminating the need for grease lubrication, with the thermoplastic being applied to sliding surfaces and potentially applied post-attachment to existing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bare metal surfaces are used for outboard device components, then static stability and strength are improved, but deposits of limescale and marine organisms form quickly, increasing friction and risking jamming
Solution Approach 1:
A thermoplastic coating is applied to the metal surfaces of outboard device components, serving as an intermediary layer that prevents direct contact between the metal and the marine environment. This coating layer eliminates deposit formation while preserving the underlying metal's structural integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and fouling resistance.
2Reliability
If grease lubrication is used in plain bearing pairs, then initial functionality is achieved, but regular replacement is necessary due to degradation in warm salt water, making maintenance complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The thermoplastic coating enables the bearing surfaces to operate without external grease lubrication. The coating itself provides the necessary low-friction properties, allowing the system to be self-sufficient and eliminate the need for periodic maintenance interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using degradable grease that requires frequent replacement, the invention employs a durable thermoplastic coating that provides long-term lubrication functionality without degradation, effectively replacing the short-lived grease with a permanent solution.
3Temperature
If plastic fabric bearings or composite plastic running layers are used instead of bronze, then performance in cold ambient temperatures is improved, but adverse effects occur in warm water including rapid deposit formation and potential jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from plastic fabric or composite plastic to thermoplastic coating on metal surfaces. This parameter change maintains the advantages of cold-temperature performance while eliminating the deposit formation issues that occur in warm water, as the thermoplastic-coated metal surfaces do not promote biofouling.
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 thermoplastic coating effectively prevents deposits and corrosion, reduces friction, and allows for flexible material selection, ensuring reliable operation in warm salt water without grease lubrication, enhancing the durability and functionality of outboard devices.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoplastic is arranged between the first component and the second component as a coating to protect against deposits
Implementation Method 2
the thermoplastic ensures that no deposits, for example in the form of limescale or microorganisms, accumulate on a surface of the first and/or second component adjacent to the water
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an outboard device for a maritime structure. Said outboard device comprises a first component and a second component, the first component being movable relative to the second one. An anti-fouling thermoplastic material is disposed as a coating between the first component and the second component.