Tugboat Line Handling System with Movable Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tugboats face challenges in accurately throwing and securing lines between vessels due to lightweight and wind-sensitive heaving lines, which can be difficult to handle, especially in poor weather conditions, and may result in injury or damage to crew members or equipment.
Innovation Solution
A line handling system on the tugboat featuring a movable line guide mechanism with guide arms that protrude from the hull to guide lines towards a predetermined region, allowing for easier alignment and coupling with the vessel's line, and an actuatable coupling mechanism to securely attach the lines, reducing the need for heavy weights and improving safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a lightweight heaving line is used to be thrown from the other vessel to the tugboat, then the line is easier to throw, but it becomes sensitive to wind and difficult to throw accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a messenger line as an intermediary object to transfer the tow line from the tugboat to the other vessel. The messenger line, being heavier and more stable, is thrown accurately using a guide mechanism, and then used to pull the heavier tow line across, eliminating the need to throw the actual tow line directly
Solution Approach 2:
The guide mechanism is deployed in advance to create a predetermined path for the messenger line. This preliminary setup ensures that when the messenger line is thrown, it follows the correct trajectory and can be reliably caught and secured on the other vessel
2Measurement precision
If additional weight is added to the end of the heaving line to improve throwing accuracy, then the line can be thrown more accurately, but crew members may be injured or equipment damaged by the heavy impact
Solution Approach 1:
The messenger line serves as a mediator that is thrown with controlled weight, and then used to transfer the actual tow line. This eliminates the need to throw heavy objects that could cause injury, while still achieving accurate line transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The guide mechanism is set up in advance to guide the lighter messenger line accurately, eliminating the need to add weight to the line end for accuracy, thus preventing injury from heavy impact
3Ease of operation
If crew members manually handle and align lines between vessels, then the line can be secured, but it is difficult to get hold of the line and align it properly under sea conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The guide mechanism automatically guides the messenger line along a predetermined path from the tugboat to the other vessel without requiring manual intervention for alignment. The system self-adjusts to environmental conditions, making the operation more reliable
Solution Approach 2:
The guide mechanism acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates line transfer, eliminating the need for crew members to manually reach across and align lines in difficult sea conditions
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A tugboat (1) for assisting a marine vessel (2) to manoeuvre comprises a hull (11) having a perimeter P. The tugboat also comprises a line handling system (10) comprising a line guide mechanism (100). The line guide mechanism is movable relative to the hull to an operation position, at which the line guide mechanism is for guiding movement of a portion of a line (13) of the tugboat towards a predetermined region R of the perimeter.