Wind-Powered Container Ship Transshipment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transshipment systems in container ships with wind propulsion are hindered by masts and sails, which obstruct the movement of overhead cranes, making conventional designs unsuitable for wind-powered vessels.
Innovation Solution
A container ship design with containers oriented longitudinally along the transverse direction, featuring a transverse hold and overhead cranes that travel along rails, allowing lateral transshipment without changing container orientation, and incorporating sail/wing propulsion systems distributed outside the hold to avoid interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional transshipment systems with overhead cranes are used on wind-powered ships, then container transshipment can be performed, but the masts and sails obstruct the movement of the overhead crane
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the overhead crane laterally over the containers as in conventional systems, this invention moves the overhead crane longitudinally along rails that extend along the length of the ship. The container orientation is changed from transverse to longitudinal, allowing the crane to travel parallel to the container length without obstruction from masts and sails.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimension of crane movement from lateral (transverse direction) to longitudinal (along the ship's length). The rails are positioned along the longitudinal axis, and the crane moves along this longitudinal dimension, avoiding the transverse space occupied by propulsion systems while maintaining transshipment functionality.
2Device complexity
If containers are oriented longitudinally along the transverse direction, then lateral transshipment can be performed without changing container orientation, but the overhead crane movement is hindered by propulsion systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by moving the crane longitudinally instead of laterally. The rails are positioned to allow longitudinal travel, and the lifting mechanism operates in the longitudinal dimension, eliminating interference with transverse-mounted propulsion systems while maintaining container orientation.
3Productivity
If the overhead crane travels laterally over containers, then transshipment can be performed, but port facilities are required for efficient unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The ship becomes self-sufficient in container transshipment by carrying its own overhead crane system with longitudinal rails. The crane can independently move containers from the hold to the deck and laterally to the quay without requiring external port cranes, enabling operation in ports without transshipment facilities.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~3a
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a wind-powered container ship that has at last one hull (2) comprising a hold (3) configured to accommodate a row of containers (Co), the containers being longitudinally oriented in the transverse direction of the ship, and a transshipment system (4, 4) comprising an overhead travelling crane configured to travel above the containers of the row in the longitudinal direction, between sails of the ship, and a hoisting system (5) installed on the overhead travelling crane. During unloading, the hoisting system (5) is configured to hoist the container out of the hold and to move the container laterally in a cantilevered manner in order to unload same. The overhead travelling crane can be anchored to the hull when sailing in order to limit deformation thereof. The hoisting system is retracted onto the overhead travelling crane and into a position in which it occupies minimal vertical space, thereby eliminating the risk of interference with the sails.