Yacht Preserver Inflatable Bladder Sealing Hull Apertures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Yachts are prone to sinking due to water influx through openings in the hull, especially during mechanical failures or maintenance, where bilge pumping systems fail to keep up, and existing solutions are inadequate for emergency sealing.
Innovation Solution
A yacht preserver system featuring an inflator device with a gas canister and inflatable bladder that can be quickly deployed to seal openings, using a handle and hose to expand and block water entry, activated by a button, lever, or pull-cord mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bilge pumping systems are used to remove water from the yacht, then water removal capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the pumping system may fail catastrophically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a preserver device that proactively prevents water from entering the yacht through openings, rather than reacting to water accumulation after the pumping system fails. The preserver creates a physical barrier (inflatable bladder) that blocks water influx before it can compromise the yacht, thus providing a reliable backup that does not depend on the pumping system's operational status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the water protection function into two independent systems: (1) the active bilge pumping system for removing water, and (2) the passive preserver device for preventing water entry. This segmentation ensures that failure of one system does not compromise the other, as the preserver operates independently of the pumping system's status.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If openings in the yacht hull are sealed during maintenance or emergency, then water influx is prevented, but accessibility for maintenance operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using an inflatable bladder that can be dynamically adjusted between deflated (open) and inflated (sealed) states. During maintenance operations, the bladder remains deflated to allow access to openings; when protection is needed, it is inflated to seal the opening. This dynamic state change enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements without permanent modification to the hull.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible bladder made of thin film material that can conform to various opening shapes and sizes. The flexible nature of the bladder allows it to be easily inserted and removed from openings without damaging the hull structure, while providing an effective seal when inflated. The thin film construction enables the bladder to flex and adapt to different geometries.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a preserver device is deployed to seal an opening, then water influx is prevented, but deployment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the preserver device near or at the opening before it is needed. The bladder is stored in a ready-to-deploy state, often attached to the hull or positioned in the water adjacent to the opening. When deployment is required, the bladder can be rapidly inflated and positioned without requiring complex assembly or retrieval operations, thus minimizing deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic inflation through a gas canister to rapidly expand the bladder to its sealing configuration. This pneumatic mechanism provides quick inflation (typically within seconds) compared to manual or mechanical inflation methods. The gas canister stores compressed gas that instantly fills the bladder, causing it to expand and seal the opening without requiring external power sources or complex mechanical actuation.
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 yacht preserver system effectively prevents water from entering the yacht through openings, providing a rapid and reliable solution to potential sinking scenarios by creating a watertight seal, reducing the risk of flooding and enabling safe maintenance operations.
Implementation Method 1
The inflator device may include a gas canister, for example, a carbon dioxide canister, and a bladder (for example, an air bag) configured to expand under the influence of gas provided by the gas canister
Implementation Method 2
The inflatable bladder is attached to the lower end of the handle. The hose has one end connected to the inflator device and a second end connected to the bag. Upon activation of the activation device, the inflator device is configured to pass pressurized air from the gas canister through the hose to the inflatable bag, thereby inflating the inflatable air bladder and thereby sealing the opening in the yacht
Data Source
AI summary
A nonlimiting example of a yacht preserver includes a handle, an inflator device connected to an upper end of the handle and an inflatable bladder connected to a lower end of the handle. In this nonlimiting example, the inflator device includes a gas canister that is connected to the inflatable bladder by a tube and is configured to deliver gas to inflate the bladder upon activation. The yacht preserver may be used to seal an opening of a yacht by placing the uninflated bladder near the opening in the yacht and activating the inflator device allowing the bladder to expand to seal the opening.