Vessel Hull Layout for Stable Onboard Additive Manufacturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing technologies on vessels face challenges due to process slowness and inaccuracies caused by vessel movements during sea operations, lacking an internal structure to support stable manufacturing and efficient transportation of large parts.
Innovation Solution
A vessel hull design with an additive manufacturing room located at the center of gravity, equipped with a stabilizing platform and dynamic damping system, along with a vertical gallery and elevator for part transportation, and an electronic flow control system to manage sudden oscillations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If additive manufacturing is performed on a moving vessel in open sea, then spare parts can be produced immediately, but vessel movements reduce manufacturing accuracy below required levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a stabilizing platform with active control that dynamically adjusts its position and orientation to counteract vessel movements. The platform uses sensors to detect motion and actuators to compensate, creating a stable manufacturing environment that moves with the vessel rather than fighting against it. This allows continuous additive manufacturing operation while maintaining precision despite sea conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing platform acts as an intermediary between the moving vessel and the stationary manufacturing equipment. It isolates the manufacturing process from vessel movements, providing a stable reference frame for additive manufacturing. The platform absorbs and dampens vibrations and motions, transferring only necessary movements to the manufacturing system.
2Ease of operation
If the additive manufacturing room is located away from the centre of gravity, then easier access and transportation is achieved, but vessel movements cause larger displacements reducing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the additive manufacturing room at the vessel's center of gravity, creating an equipotential point where movements in all directions are minimized and balanced. This location naturally experiences less displacement and rotation during vessel motion, providing a stable platform for manufacturing while maintaining central access to different parts of the vessel.
3Area of stationary object
If large manufactured parts are transported through narrow passages, then space efficiency is improved, but transportation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vessel into multiple decks and levels with dedicated transport routes. Large parts can be moved vertically between decks using elevators or lifts, and horizontally along dedicated corridors. This segmentation of transport paths allows simultaneous movement of multiple parts through different routes, reducing congestion and transportation time while efficiently utilizing available space.
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
Ensures high-quality manufacturing by minimizing vessel movements, enabling efficient transportation and use of large parts across the vessel, and automatic process control during sea conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The platform can partially damp the movement of the vessel relative to its six degrees of freedom (rotation and displacement relative to the X-, Y-, and Z-axes) for which it has a pendular system and dampers arranged according to said three directions
Implementation Method 2
The platform can partially damp the movement of the vessel relative to its six degrees of freedom
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The hull design incorporates an additive manufacturing room (5) around the centre of gravity (6), which can vary with the load distribution of the vessel. Said room has equipment for additive manufacturing of components of different materials. Said equipment is placed on a stabilising platform (7) which can be used to partially damp the movements according to the six degrees of freedom (rotations and displacements relative to the X-, Y-, and Z-axes) and also move in order to offset the modification of the centre of mass on which the additive manufacturing head (18) is placed. Said additive manufacturing head is also equipped with a flow controller to halt production in the event of sudden vessel movements. The hull structure also has a vertical gallery (19) with an elevator (20) and horizontal galleries (4) for the transport of parts (3), and movable watertight bulkheads (16).