Interface Explores Maritime Applications Near and Offshore
Land, air, and sea are all the places where Interface force measurement devices are used to test and confirm product designs and measure real-time functions of equipment. Interface has long provided an array of sensor solutions for the maritime industry.
The solutions are diverse including hydrofoil watercraft testing, yacht rigging inspections, and safety weight monitoring on massive cranes used on shipping docks and offshore. Interface provides a range of load cells, load pins, tension links, load shackles, instrumentation, and wireless products for splash-zone, offshore, and underwater sites.
The reason we are a top choice for products in or around the water is our line of submersible, rugged load cells and sensors designed for underwater applications and use in harsh weather conditions. From rigs and docks to structural waterways and bridges, our load cells can withstand underwater submersion at different capacities and still relay reliable, accurate data to instrumentation and receivers at the surface. Interface measurement technologies are helping customers operate in harsh maritime environments, including underwater tension lines for commercial fishing, nearshore hoisting apparatus at shipyards, undersea energy exploration, and storm and tsunami monitoring.
Specifically, our wireless load pins, load shackles, and tension links are ideal for marine applications. These products can be paired with our different wireless sensor transmitters, receivers, and handheld displays. Our Wireless Crosby Bow Load Shackles have been used for line tension testing and rigging. Our load shackles are interchangeable with our WTSTL Wireless Tension Link Load Cell. The WTS-BS-4 Wireless Industrial USB Base Station is also a popular transmitter that gives outstanding coverage and can be easily paired with one of our handheld displays, such as the WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for Multiple Transmitters or the WTS-BS-1-HS Wireless Handheld for Single Transmitters.
Check out a few of our application notes to see how these products can be used for testing in the maritime industry:
Hydrofoil Testing in a Wave Tank
Hydrofoil design for watercraft is a delicate balance between performance and complexity. Finding the right shape without overly complex angles to achieve the desired lift is crucial when designing a successful hydrofoil. Once an engineer’s concepts are ready for testing, the best force-measurement equipment is required to detect subtle differences between hydrofoil designs. Lift and drag are the most important characteristics of a hydrofoil. The Interface Model 3A120 3-Axis Load Cell is needed to read these forces. The Fz senses lift, and the Fx and Fy sense the drag. Using a model BSC4D-USB bridge amplifier increases the visibility of the load cells’ output signals. When using the load cell and bridge amplifier, engineers can record the real-world lift and drag forces acting on the watercraft from the hydrofoils. This data allows a more in-depth comparison of proposed hydrofoil designs to find the best model for the job. Learn more.
Mooring Line Tension Testing
Due to the changing weather conditions, mooring cable lines undergo wear and tear. Users want to ensure all mooring lines for ships or vessels are securely docked at the same loading tension so that they do not risk breaking or causing damage. Interface WTSLTL Lightweight Wireless Tension Link can be attached to each mooring cable in use. Results are sent to customers via the WTS-BS-4 USB Industrial Base Station when connected to the customer’s supplied PC or laptop. Data can also be transmitted to the WTS-BS-1-HA Handheld Display for Multiple Transmitters, allowing the customer to view multiple mooring cable line tensions. Using these Interface products, the customer verified the tensions on multiple mooring cable lines. Thus, resulting in the security of their ship being safely docked on shore. Check out the app note here.
WTS Yacht Rigging Inspection
For a customer who wants a complete rigging inspection to ensure the mast, still lines, and all movable hoisting lines are functional and meet the proper specifications for sailing, Interface has the products to help. To test the tension of the forestay, shroud, and backstay cables, and the tension of the movable lines when sailing, Interface provided a WTSSHK-B Wireless Crosby™ Bow Load Shackle paired with the WTS-BS-1 Wireless Handheld Display for Unlimited Transmitters. This allows customers to switch and view between multiple shackles being tested during the inspection. The WTS-BS-4 USB Industrial Base Station can also be attached to the customer’s PC or laptop to display real-time measurements from the shackles and log data. With this combination of technology, the customer was able to conduct both a running and standing rigging inspection of their ship or vessel and was able to determine if all lines were functional and met safety standards. Learn more here.
Dock Crane Safety and Capacity Verification
It is essential that the heavy equipment used on the dock can verify that its crane is strong enough to safely lift a heavy load. For productivity and timing, it is also helpful to constantly measure and rate maximum load capacity. In these environments, a wireless solution is needed to avoid long cables and achieve faster installation. Using the WTSTL Lightweight Wireless Tension Link Load Cell, operators can measure the load’s maximum capacity. The WTS-RM1 Wireless Relay Output Receiver Modules also can trigger an alarm that can be set when the maximum capacity of weight and force. The data is transmitted and can be reviewed with the WTS-BS-1-HS Wireless Handheld Display, or on the customer’s receiving technology. Read more here.
As you can see, Interface has got Maritime covered with a wide variety of products suitable for submersion and the harsh weather conditions at sea. In addition, if our off-the-shelf products don’t quite meet your use case, Interface’s custom solutions team will work with you to create the most effective and efficient solution tailored to your needs.
