Off-Center Vessel Crane with Movable Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cargo transloading systems face challenges with tilting momentum, leading to instability and reduced capacity due to the central positioning of cranes on bulk vessels, which necessitates costly harbor infrastructure and inefficient cargo handling.
Innovation Solution
A cargo transloading system with a crane positioned off-center relative to the vessel's longitudinal axis, combined with a movable counterweight arrangement that compensates for tilting momentum by adjusting its mass center laterally as a function of the crane's rotation angle, allowing for more efficient cargo handling and increased capacity without introducing additional roll.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a crane is positioned centrally on a bulk vessel, then the vessel maintains good stability, but the transloading capacity is reduced and extensive harbor infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the crane off-center relative to the vessel's longitudinal axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric positioning allows the crane to operate more effectively during transloading operations, increasing capacity while the counterweight arrangement compensates for the resulting tilting momentum to maintain stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a counterweight arrangement that generates a counteracting moment to compensate for the tilting momentum produced by the off-center crane. This counterweight system enables the crane to be positioned optimally for high-capacity operations without compromising vessel stability during cargo handling.
2Productivity
If a crane is positioned off-center on a bulk vessel, then the transloading capacity is increased, but tilting momentum increases causing instability and roll
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately positions the crane off-center to optimize transloading capacity, accepting the resulting asymmetric tilting momentum. The counterweight arrangement is then designed to compensate for this specific asymmetric configuration, enabling high-capacity operations while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight arrangement is specifically designed to generate a counteracting moment that balances the tilting momentum produced by the off-center crane position. This allows the system to achieve both high transloading capacity and acceptable stability during cargo operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a movable counterweight arrangement is added to compensate for tilting momentum, then vessel stability is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable counterweight arrangement that can be positioned to generate the appropriate counteracting moment. While this adds complexity compared to a fixed counterweight, it provides the flexibility needed to compensate for the tilting momentum of an off-center crane during various operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight arrangement is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt its position and counteracting force based on the crane's operational state. This dynamic configuration enables effective stability control during different stages of cargo handling while maintaining system flexibility.
4Stability of the object's composition
If extensive harbor infrastructure is used to support large bulk vessels, then sufficient depth for mooring is ensured, but construction and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the vessel by positioning the crane off-center and implementing a counterweight arrangement. This enables the vessel to operate effectively from harbors with limited infrastructure, reducing the need for expensive deep-water harbor constructions while maintaining adequate mooring capability for transloading operations.
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
This configuration enhances the transloading capacity of vessels by reducing the need for extensive harbor infrastructure and improving operational efficiency, enabling faster and more stable cargo transfer between ships and barges.
Implementation Method 1
a counterweight arrangement, said counterweight arrangement comprising a weight which is movable such that the mass centre of the weight is laterally displaceable between a first end position in which the mass centre is arranged in the vicinity of the first vertical plane and a second end position in which the mass centre is arranged with a second offset in a second side direction opposite to the first side direction with regard to the first vertical plane, said counterweight arrangement being arranged to move the weight while the cargo handling device is rotated about the axis of rotation as a function of the rotation angle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vessel (200, 300, 400, 600) comprising: a cargo transloading system, comprising: a crane (210, 310, 410, 610) supporting a cargo handling device (318, 418), and a counterweight arrangement (450, 550). The cargo handling device (318, 418) being rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation arranged with a first fixed offset in a first side direction with regard to a first vertical plane coinciding with a longitudinal center axis (CA) of the vessel (200, 300, 400, 600). The counterweight arrangement (450, 550) comprising a weight (452, 552, 652) which is movable such that the mass center (554) of the weight (452, 552, 652) is laterally displaceable between a first end position (556, 656) in which the mass center (554) is arranged in the vicinity of the first vertical plane and a second end position (558, 658) in which the mass center (554) is arranged with a second offset in a second side direction opposite to the first side direction with regard to the first vertical plane. The counterweight arrangement (450, 550) being arranged to move the weight (452, 552, 652) while the cargo handling device (318, 418) is rotated about the axis of rotation as a function of the rotation angle (a). The present invention also relates to a corresponding method and a use of the vessel (200, 300, 400, 600).