DK155458B - MACHINE FOR APPLYING ELEVATIVE WIRES IN THE BOTTOM UNDER A WATER AREA - Google Patents

Description

DK 155458 B

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a machine for attaching elongated wires or connecting means, such as fluid conveying lines or electrical power or signal cables, to the bottom beneath a water area, said machine comprising a main frame 10 adapted to be advancing in the working direction of the machine. means for advancing excavation of bottom material to form a trench;

A variety of machines of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1 are known, for example, from the disclosures of U.S. Patents Nos. 3,238,734 and 3,434,297. The machine disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,238,734 is carried by a surface vessel anchored to the seabed and that of U.S. Pat.

25 3,343,297 specified machines are equipped with crawler belts so that the machine can run on the seabed. These and other known machines are difficult to work with if more precise laying is required, for example by a fluid conveying line, because the entire machine is moved during the burial, with a forward movement of the entire machine while the burial is being performed. .

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of

DK 155458 B

2 the type in question, with which a fairly precise burial of a cord can be made, without at the same time obtaining a very complicated apparatus.

5 This object is achieved by a machine of the kind specified, which machine is peculiar in that the said working members are arranged on a common working carriage which is arranged to be displaceable on and in relation to the main frame by means of web members on the main frame. -10 lightweight, and that the track means are arranged so that the main frame can both carry the common work truck and can be carried by it.

This results in a machine that can be advanced on the seabed, yet arranged so that the main frame can stand still while work is being done, that is, while the common working vehicle for the machine is slowly shifted forward in the laying direction of the cable or pipe laying. When the common work trolley 20 has reached one of the outer positions on the main frame, the work is stopped for a short while, since it is now the common work trolley that can lift and carry the main frame, while this is shifted forward to a new position. This gives you a design-simple machine for laying elongated wires, for example in the seabed, which allows you to make a reasonably inexpensive and yet very accurate lay-off, because the main frame can always stand still and firm with the bottom when working.

30

By designing the machine according to the invention, as claimed in claim 2, it is possible in a simple and very reliable way .. to alternately support the common working carriage and the main frame on the seabed, so that

DK 155458B

3 the machine can walk on the sea floor, the track means used to guide and carry the common work truck during the sequence of work is now also used to provide the walking movement.

5

With the means according to claim 3, it is possible to control and rotate the machine.

Preferably, the machine is formed with mounting means which are suspended as claimed in claims 4 or 5, thereby ensuring that the laying becomes precise and precisely at the desired depth at the bottom.

The machine is preferably configured with automatic control means, as claimed in claim 6, so as to ensure that the downed line is laid correctly and straight, irrespective of the bumps and bumps in the seabed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments of a machine according to the invention, and parts thereof, in which: FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a machine operating submerged by laying an electric cable; FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a machine which operates at smaller depths and therefore protrudes partially from the water and which is adapted for casting a pipe; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 4

DK 15Γι458 B

machine shown.

The FIG. 1, the machine shown consists of two main components, namely a main frame 3 and a working car 29. In the illustrated embodiment 5, the machine is arranged to lay an electric cable 11 under a seabed 1. During the laying of the electric cable 11, the main frame 3 stands still on the seabed 1, while the working carriage 29 travels along a web member 6 arranged on the main frame 3 or 10 formed thereunder. The main frame 3 supports the seabed 1 by means of hydraulically up / down adjustable legs 5, which in the working position shown are brought down to abutment to the seabed 1 and thereby carrying the weight of the main frame 3 and the resulting work carriage 29, 15 whose hydraulically up / down movable legs 4 in this working position are pulled up and do not touch the seabed 1.

On the working carriage 29 is arranged a downwardly extending excavating means, which in the example shown consists of a cup chain excavator 2, but which can also be formed differently. The cup chain excavator 2 excavates bottom material from the seabed 1, thereby forming a ditch in which the electric cable 11 is laid down by means of retaining and / or pressing means 9 and 10 which, as indicated, may be provided with rollers to reduce frictional resistance with respect to Electric cable 11. Electric cable 11 is otherwise supplied from a supply roller which may be placed in a vessel in front of the machine, ie.

30 in FIG. 1 to the left of this one. The excavated bottom material is guided from the top end of the cup chain excavator 2 by a horizontal conveyor 25 rearwardly to a fallout shaft 13, through which the bottom material as indicated falls back into the trench formed by the cup chain excavator 2 and covers the electrical cable laid therein .

As can be seen, the trench is only open during the time it takes for the work trolley 29 to travel a path length corresponding to the distance between the cup chain excavator 2 and the outlet of the drop shaft 13, therefore the risk of the trench "adding" due to strong water flows that carry bottom sand are very small. This risk can be further reduced by placing 10 longitudinal shield plates not shown on the working carriage 29, the lower edges of which lie close to the bottom or cut slightly therein and which are carried by up / down movable supporting means, for example hydraulic cylinders. The movement of the working carriage 29 in the web member 6 is effected by means of movement means (not shown), for example hydraulic cylinders.

When the working carriage 29 has reached the front end of the main frame 3, ie. the one on the left in FIG. 1, the working carriage legs 4 are lowered so that they 20 come into contact with the seabed 1 and carry the weight of the working carriage 29 and - carried by it through the web means 6 - as well as the main frame 3, whose legs 5 are then lifted free of the seabed 1. Now the working carriage is activated 29 moving means in the opposite direction, whereby 25 the opposite relative movement between the working car 29 and the main frame 3 causes the latter to move forward - ie. to the left of FIG. 1 - until the rear end of the web member 6 has reached the rear of the working car 29. Then, the main 30 legs 5 are lowered again, and the working carriage legs 4 are lifted, whereupon the working carriage 29 can be moved forward again when digging a new piece of trench, laying down another piece of cable, and throwing the trench, by means 2, 9 and 10, 25 and =) \\ [-. (^^, i / 1 6 13, as described above.

The legs 4 and 5 of the working carriage 29 and the main frame 3, respectively, as far as their vertical movements are concerned, 5 may be guided by height and level control means not shown, so that the trench will have the desired depth and inclination (or lack thereof). Further, pivoting and / or lateral movable means may be inserted between the working carriage 29 and its leg 4 and / or between the main frame 3 and its leg 5, for example in the form of hydraulic cylinders, whereby any course deviations can be corrected or the course changed. This is most easily done while the leg set 4 and 5 respectively are pulled up from the bottom, with the load on the bearing members having to transfer the weight of the carriage 29 and the frame 3 to the legs 4 and 5 respectively, in that case the least. The control of the level, slope and heading control obtained by means of the aforementioned moving means can be made automatically by means of depth sensors, inclined sensors and navigation equipment of a suitable kind, in particular the course control can conveniently be made by means of a laser beam from a fixed mounted beam means. , for example, landed.

25

As is well known, laying of electric cables on the seabed occurs in many cases at quite great depths, which is why in this case it is most convenient to leave the machine remotely controlled, for example from the same vessel from which the electric cable 11 is supplied, through a remote control cable 8. In this case, the position of the machine can be o-monitored by means of a marking buoy moored to the machine 26. The down and / or depressurizing means 9 and 10 can be actuated in an up and down direction by

DK 15 5 4!> 8 B

7 using hydraulic cylinders 27 and 28 respectively.

Although it is not immediately apparent from the drawing, in FIG. 1 and 2 showed a not insignificant extent in the "transverse" direction - ie. perpendicular to the drawing plane, this being necessary for the sake of stability. Thus, the legs 4 and 5 will represent pair of legs rather than single legs, since - precisely for the sake of stability - it will be appropriate to place the legs as far as possible from both sides of the machine's "long ship" center line.

The machine may be equipped with underwater television schemes, which may be remote controlled, for monitoring the working field, ie. the area around the cup chain excavator 2 and the fallout shaft 13 and between these two, but if necessary also to keep an eye on the seabed 1 in places where the legs 4 and 5 are lowered, so that one can make sure that the legs get a good substrates, and that they are not cut down on, for example, previously laid out cables, cargo goods or similar objects.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a machine adapted to place a wastewater pipe under the seabed 1 by progressive casting of a concrete pipe 20 in the excavated trench. The sliding shape provided for this is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. In this machine, the parts denoted by reference numerals 2-6, 13, 25 and 29 have the same function and optionally the same design as the parts denoted by the same reference numerals in the FIG. 1, why these parts do not need to be mentioned again, 8 rw 'i r Γ, κ ο η

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as far as the functions mentioned are concerned.

As for the excavation of the bottom material and the casting of the trench formed, it works in FIG. 2 shows the same machine as in FIG. 1, and the same applies to the described stepwise advance of the machine by relative movement between the main frame 3 and the working carriage 29 and the raising and lowering of the legs 5 and 4 respectively.

10

The progressive casting of the concrete pipe 20 is carried out by means of a casting mold 18 attached to the support legs 16 and 17, the upper ends of which are fixed to the hydraulic cylinders 27 and 28, so that the mold 18 can be raised and lowered and possibly caused to pour something. During the advance of the working carriage 29, cement mass is pumped through a cement hose 19 into the front part of the mold 18 which is closed at the front and open rearwardly around a mold core 21, so that 20 it is extruded through the annular opening formed between the mold 18 and the core 21 a concrete string in the form of the pipe 20. In order that new cast concrete pipes 20 do not collapse due to external pressure, it is constantly held through the open end - ie. the end where the casting began and which is assumed to be to the right of FIG. 2 - filled with liquid, for example, water, at a suitable pressure, for example by connecting said beginning end to a well in which the water level is kept so much higher than the height of the pipe 30 that the pressure causes the size to prevent the pipe collapses due to pressure from the surroundings, ie. the water pressure and pressure from the discarded bottom material in the trench. If necessary, sensors or a television camera may be attached to the mold core 21 or a television camera by which the inside of the newly cast tube 20 can be monitored, inter alia, in order to avoid collapse of the tube. The water level in said well can be controlled in known manner by means of level sensors, pumps and valves.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional annular space between the mold 18 and the core 21 at the anterior end is terminated by an end cone 22. The purpose of the end cone 22 is to form a tapered end of the tube 20 if, for any reason, have to interrupt the casting work - which is otherwise assumed to be done in 24 hours - as long as the 15 concrete can reach solidification or harden. The tapered end thus formed causes the length of tube 20 cast on the next occasion to be connected to the already solidified or cured tube with a cone connection, thereby providing a mutual control of the old and new tubes which are not could be achieved at, for example, straight cut ends.

In FIG. 3, it is further apparent that a movable part of the mold 18 can be displaced - as indicated in a broken line - by means of a hydraulic cylinder 23, in order to provide an opportunity to blow out and flush the entire pumping system in the full length, for example at downtime. In addition, FIG. 3, an eye 24 attached to the mold core 21.

The eye 24 is intended for anchoring a wire or cord which, during the casting of the pipe 20, is pulled through it to the full length of the pipe and which, after the final casting, can be used to pull a ring or inner tube, to cover the inside of the tube through the tube. If the pipe 20 is to be molded with crack, i.e. a change of direction, this can be done by attaching or inserting a sleeve having the required angular deviation on the end of the tube, for example in the end cone formed by the end cone 22, after which the casting is continued from the sleeve.

In order to reduce the friction in the application of the slip mold, the casting surfaces, i.e. the inside of the mold 18 and the outside of the core 21, be coated with a suitable low friction material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The outer surface of the mold 18 may, for the same purpose, be lined with a perforated plate 15 through which pressurized water is pumped out which "lubricates" the surfaces with which the mold 18 slides on the substrate.

The FIG. 2 the machine 15 is provided with a cabin 15 located above the water surface, which is arranged on supporting supports 7 and 14 on the main frame 3. The cabin 15 may contain wheelhouse with control means for the various working and moving means of the machine, which in this case is not remote controlled as in FIG. 1.

The energy for activating the working and moving means as well as the monitoring and position control equipment can be provided in a suitably known manner. If the working and moving means are arranged to be hydraulically actuated, as discussed above, the energy in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied through pressure hoses from the remote control vessel and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 from a previous example.

XI

OK 155458 13 engine, preferably a diesel engine located in the cabin 15 which operates a suitable hydraulic pump unit.

Conveniently, the control of the upward and downward movements of the legs 4 and 5 can be done jointly for each leg set, so that the legs are moved upwards and downwards, and partly for adaptation to bias in the seabed or change of slope-10. in relation to the bottom.

At the first commencement of the work, one can either dig a depression in which the cup chain engraver 2 can be immersed, or the cup chain engraver 2 may be vertically displaceably positioned on the working carriage 29 so that it can dig down from a starting position above the bottom.

The control of the machine's level, slope and / or course 20 is conveniently carried out by means of automatically acting control means which operate in dependence on sensors for the parameters concerned c.

Claims (6)

12 DK 155458B A machine for affixing elongated wires or connecting means, such as, for example, fluid transport lines (20) or electrical power or signal cables (11), to the bottom beneath a water region (1), said machine comprising a main frame (3) comprising means for advancing in the working direction of the machine, means (2) for advancing excavation of bottom material to form a trench, means (9 and 10 or 18) for placing said elongated cables or connecting means on the bottom of the trench, and means (13, 25) for depositing the buried bottom material into the trench about 15 and / or on top of said elongated cables. or connecting means (11, 20), characterized in that said working means (2, 9, 10, 18, 13, 25. are arranged on a common working carriage (29) adapted to be displaced on and in relation to 20 the main frame (3) by means of web means (6) on the main frame, and that the web means (6) are arranged so that the main frame (3) can both carry the common working car (29) and can be carried by it. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that both the working carriage (29) and the main frame (3) have up and down movable support legs (4, 5) in the operating position of the machine. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the machine has means for laterally displacing and / or relative rotation of the common working carriage (29) and the main frame (3). 13 DK 15ϋ4S ίί 8 Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting means (9, 10, 18) are formed by at least one sliding mold (18) with associated casting material supply means (19), which sliding mold 5 is adjustably suspended in support legs (16, 17). ) on the common work truck (29) by means of working cylinders (27, 28). Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means are comprised of holding and / or depressing means (9, 10), which are preferably equipped with rollers for holding or depressing said elongated conduits or means in or on the bottom of the the trench, the positioning means (9, 10) being adjustably suspended in the common working carriage (29) by means of working cylinders (27, 28). Machine according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the machine comprises means for automatically controlling the level, inclination and / or forward direction of the machine, as a function of level, inclined and / or course sensors arranged therefor, which means are adapted to actuate the means for raising and lowering the support legs (4, 5) and means for mutually lateral displacement and / or relative rotation of the common working carriage (29) and the main frame (3).