Variable Geometry Sea Anchor for Drift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anchors for watercrafts lack effective drift control, often causing erratic movement, noise disturbance, and seabed damage, while prior solutions like parachute-type sea anchors and drift control socks suffer from complexity, entanglement issues, and restricted fishing areas.
Innovation Solution
A variable geometry anchor system with a support structure, adjustable mast assembly, and web sheet that changes geometry to control drift, featuring actuators for precise orientation and redeployment, allowing for quick setup and fine control of drift direction and rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional anchor is used to prevent watercraft drifting, then the watercraft can be tethered to the seabed, but the watercraft drifts erratically and widely with prevailing currents offering little control
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic parachute-type sea anchor with adjustable canopy configuration that can change its geometry and orientation in response to water flow conditions, providing active drift control rather than passive tethering. The canopy's variable shape allows the operator to adjust drift rate and direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The sea anchor is divided into separate functional components including the canopy, rigging system, and weight assembly, allowing independent adjustment of each element to optimize performance for different fishing conditions and current strengths.
2Reliability
If a parachute-type sea anchor with rigging is used to control drift, then drift control is improved, but the rigging becomes twisted and requires manual untwisting before redeployment
Solution Approach 1:
The rigging system incorporates self-aligning features and automatic untwisting mechanisms that allow the canopy and rigging to reset themselves during retrieval, eliminating the need for manual untwisting operations and reducing redeployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigging is pre-configured with stress-relief elements and rotation joints that prevent twisting accumulation during deployment, so the system remains ready for immediate redeployment without manual intervention.
3Reliability
If a drift control sock is used to restrict water flow and control drift, then drift control is achieved, but the sock becomes entangled in the propeller and requires physical unwinding for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The drift control function is extracted from a sock-type configuration and implemented through a parachute canopy design that operates above the propeller plane, eliminating the entanglement hazard while maintaining drift control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy structure uses dynamic folding and collapsing mechanisms that allow automatic compaction into a compact storage configuration without manual unwinding, and the design prevents entanglement through its rigid yet flexible frame structure.
4Reliability
If the anchor is deployed to control drift, then drift control is provided, but fishing is restricted to the front of the boat and opposite side
Solution Approach 1:
The sea anchor system is designed with universal mounting capabilities and adjustable orientation features that allow it to be deployed from various boat positions and configurations, enabling fishing operations from all areas of the boat including sides and rear, not just the front.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy and rigging system can be dynamically repositioned and reoriented during deployment to accommodate different fishing locations and boat movements, providing versatile fishing access while maintaining drift control.
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 system provides efficient and precise control over watercraft drift, reducing redeployment time, minimizing entanglement, and enabling fishing from all areas of the boat, while maintaining a stable position in varying currents.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first actuator mounted on the support structure, and operably connected to the mast support assembly to selectively control the orientation of the support frame of the mast assembly
Implementation Method 2
A variable geometry anchor for controlling drift of a watercraft... a web sheet mounted by the support frame... the combined support frame and web sheet adopts a configuration effective to control drift of the watercraft
Implementation Method 3
An anchor for a watercraft such as a ship or boat is a device, normally made of metal, is used to connect the watercraft to the bed of a body of water to prevent the watercraft or vessel from drifting due to wind or current
Data Source
AI summary
A variable geometry anchor for controlling drift of a watercraft including: a support structure; a mast support assembly pivotally mounted to the support structure, the mast support assembly including a pair of mast arms and a foldable or flexible structure attached to the mast arms, the mast arms being movable between a first storage geometry and an operation geometry; an open-close sub-system pivotally connected to the support structure and operatively connected to the mast support assembly at fixed pivot mounts on the mast arms; wherein the open-close subsystem controls the geometry of the mast support assembly such that in a storage orientation the open-close subsystem closes the mast arms substantially together whereby the foldable or flexible structure is received between the mast arms, and in an in use condition the open-close subsystem operatively urges the mast arms apart unfolding and fanning the foldable or flexible structure therebetween.