DE1926455A1 - Method and device for connecting and laying out pipe sections for underwater mining - Google Patents

Description

ΓΓνΤβΓκομεβ S ₉ AUGSBURG

EB-STBA8B · · SMVS

W. 443

Augsburg, May 23, 19-9

¥ estinghouse Electric Corporation, 3 _S Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Method and device for connecting and laying out line sections for underwater dismantling

The invention relates to subsea mining systems and, more particularly, to a method and device for connecting and laying out sections of pipeline for subsea mining. '■. -

For various decomposition processes ₃ which take place in water depths of a few thousand ileters, decomposition stones are used

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has been proposed in which a collection device drives along or along the bottom of the water or is pulled along and on this ".travel desired collections of matter, for For example, graining a slope, collects. The Einsamnelgerät is with ■ a vehicle located on the Gevrässeroberf lache butted line sections connected, which one Form several kilometers of wiring. A lifting resp. Conveyor system, for example an air conveyor or a pump is connected to the wiring harness in such a way that that the collected pieces of material from the collection device to conveyed to the vehicle on the surface.

At the beginning of the dismantling process, the collecting device can connected to a flexible line and then through a working shaft located in the middle of the said vehicle lowered v / earth. While the vehicle is stationary in the water, additional pipe sections in the form of metallic pipe sections set up vertically above the already laid out line, which is supported by a line holding and link station hangs down and is held. The new line section will be with the held line part connected and then lowered into a position; in which this newly attached line section itself the line section to be retained is. In this VJeise

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continue _s until a sufficiently long line is laid out and the collecting device reaches the bottom of the water. Swivel or ball joints in connection with sufficient passage of the flexible line ensure that the ^ insannelgernt remains on the bottom of the water when the Fahrsew; on the ^T .; water gathers speed over the mining area.

U'ihrand the ^T ^ insammeigerät located immediately above the Gewüssergrund, can occur at the water surface conditions, polygamy and-down movement of the 'cause vehicle such as this £ due to the swell or' running.! Rush vertical movements. It can therefore happen that trots; The flexible line connected to the collecting device to the collecting device of heavy ships is created, since the collecting device can be scaled against the bottom of the water through the vertical ship's walls.

^ urc'i; ³ io grfiii'lung should dengen? .. "the task yellow" st v.'or: ^v ? N, ^ ir. '^ r ^ ahren "and connecting and laying out lines ""ν J ^ n u create underwater degradation, in which there is a risk of eiiior ^ 3schSdi, gun ~ of the Sinsanne-l device due to uprising nb "9 * -: e" * ungsn -las Fahrn; eu. ~ it would be avoided,

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when the collection device is brought to the bottom of the water.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the vehicle is driven in order to generate a relative movement between the vehicle and the water ₃ while line sections for lowering the collecting device Ψ are joined together one after the other, such that the line formed from the line sections during the lowering of the collecting device runs at a certain oblique angle.

So while the vehicle is in motion, the laid out wiring harness runs away from the vehicle at a certain oblique angle. Suitable facilities on the vehicle allow the handling and installation of a line section at this angle, so that this Line section can be connected to a fixed line section of the wiring harness.

After laying out a certain length of the line, the relative movement between the water and the vehicle be slowed down by braking the latter so that the collecting device comes into contact with the bottom of the water

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able. The vehicle slows down to a certain speed, the collecting device sets down on the bottom of the water and is then pulled along the bottom of the water for the purpose of dismantling. "

In the following the invention is illustrated by the description of a preferred embodiment with reference to FIG the accompanying drawings explained in more detail. In the Drawings represent:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the

vehicle located on the surface of the water, the cable harness and the collection device an underwater mining system,

2 to 5 side views of the vehicle according to

Fig. 1 in a partially cut-away state to explain various Working conditions when laying out the line

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a cardanic

Arrangement for an inventive Device and

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Pig. 7 is a sectional view ent

speaking of section line VII-VII indicated in FIG. 6.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a water surface The vehicle 10 is in a state of affairs and moves in the direction of the arrow on the water. Hangs from the vehicle 10 at an angle t down a wiring harness 12, at the end of which is a collection device 14 is connected, which for collecting certain Accumulations of matter over the bottom 15 migrates away.

To adapt to differences in height of the water bed the lowermost section 17 of the line strand 12 can be formed by a flexible line piece, which by means of a ball joint 18 with the metallic wiring harness connected is.

"As can be seen from FIG. 1, the vehicle 10

an inclined, derrick-like frame 20, which is used to lay out the line strand 12, and this Typical work steps to be carried out when connecting and laying out the line sections are shown in FIG. 2 1-5 of the drawings to which reference is now made may be.

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In Figs. 2 to 5 of the drawings, the central portion of the vehicle 10 is displayed in the side view of _s with a portion broken away, so that the central process chamber 2k to recognize, through which the Einsammelgerät, the Leitungssti'ang and other facilities sum The bottom of the water is lowered. Vehicles with a: n. middle shafts are generally in use for drilling and excavation work and are well known to those skilled in the art.

In the upper level of the main deck 26 is above the Work shaft 24 a line holding and connecting station 28, the means sun holding a section of pipe underneath contains different angles, for which, for example, a cardanic arrangement 33 can be used, which in the Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings are shown in greater detail.

* Fig. Ο shows a plan view of a cardanic arrangement containing an outer frame 32 ^{which is rotatably mounted about an axis XX in bearings 33 and 3 1} I, which are also shown in section in FIG. 7. On the outer frame 32 two bearings 3 ^ and 37 are attached, which with an inner frame 3? are connected, the de'ngen ". ⁿ about the axis YY is rotatable. The opening sentrische ^ l of the inner frame 39 has a chamfered 'iandungstei 1 * J2, as also

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• * ^

can be seen from Figure 7 of the drawings.

Fig. 7 of the drawings it can be seen that the central opening of the inner frame of the cardanic arrangement encompasses a line section 45, which in its position by means of removable wedges, for example 47 and 43, held is, each an inclined, the beveled wall 42 adapted outer surface and a to hold the line 'section 45 serving, toothed or notched inner surface exhibit. Such cardanic arrangements for holding on, of the cable harness are generally in use on mining ships and serve to compensate for pitching and rolling movements of the vehicle in order to reduce the stress on the wiring harness if the equipment is unavailable during the dismantling process is moved along the bottom of the water.

In the case of the erfindunnsc.emüf.en method, however, the

) cardanic arrangement not only to compensate for ramming and Rolling movements of the ship during the execution of the dismantling advance, it is also used to insert the cable harness or a cable section into a specific oblique angle with respect to lon vehicle to be able to hold while the line sections are joined together and the Wiring harness laid out by vehicle --rird.

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Looking again at FIG. 2 of the drawings, one recognizes that the vehicle 10 has a device for holding and aligning a line section at an angle to the perpendicular has, such that a new line section with a can be connected by the cardanic arrangement 30 retained line section. This facility is in Figures 2 through 5 of the drawings in the form of a derrick-like Scaffold 20 shown, which is aligned substantially along a center line C corresponding to the mentioned angle runs. From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the frame 20 has an upper, fixed roller assembly 50 and a lower, reciprocating pulley assembly 52 which is connected to the upper pulley assembly 50 by wire ropes 53 is connected and are guided by guide rails 5 ^ substantially along said center line C. can. The movable roller block or the movable bottle has line grippers 65, which are of the respective The bottle protrude downwards. The movement of the roller block or the lower bottle is controlled by means of a suitable wind generated, which is not shown "

The vehicle 10 has a magazine (not shown) for storing the line sections and each line section can be conveyed to the frame 20 by a conveyor 57,

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'which is arranged in the ^{T shown there} feise above the level of the main deck 26. In Pig. 2 of the drawings shows the state in which "the vehicle 10 is standing still in the water and a Binsanmelgerät 14 connected to the flexible line part 17 has been lowered through the central working shaft, the upper part of the flexible line I? In the Leifcunp ' switch and connection 28 from the gimbal assembly 30 is held.

Due to the flexibility of the lei tunkteiles 17, the section located under the cardanic arrangement 30 hangs vertically downwards, while the line part located above the cardanic arrangement 30, which is connected to the line gripping device 65, is inclined at an angle. However, if such a bend in the line is to be avoided, appropriate precautions can be taken on the scaffolding so that the scaffolding can assume a vertical position. This can be achieved by pivotable supports at the base points 67, which form a pivot mounting for the scaffold columns 69. The lowermost section 70 of the scaffolding column 71 connected to the support 73 can be designed to be collapsible or removable, so that when the scaffolding 20 is erected in a vertical position, the points A of the scaffolding columns 71 can be connected to support girders "Jk .

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Within the framework structure of the framework 20 there is a working platform 77 and a corresponding direction of the double arrow shown, movable manipulator 80. The task and the mode of operation of the manipulator 80 will be explained with reference to the further figures.

The framework 20 is preferably arranged between a bridge structure 83 of the vehicle 10 and its rear. The vehicle can during the connection and deployment of the Line sections to reduce or avoid undesired Vehicle movements in rough seas with the bow in the most favorable position Direction to be brought.

Z-Iachden the Sinsanimelr; gets 14 through the working shaft is lowered xrorden, the Fahrseug 10 is Ileckrichtung accelerated. It is common practice to propel the vehicle backwards and to tow the wiring harness better Maintain controllability of the vehicle. Is a definite one Vehicle3eselr; / indi '* speed is reached, the from the gimbal assembly 30 retained the lead substantially in the direction of line C through the water, as in Fig. 3 of the drawings is shown. You can see Fig. 3 of the Drawings also take that the conveyor 57 in this State of a line section G6 on the frame 20

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BATH ORIGlNAI,

has promoted where this line section with the gripping devices 65 of the movable bottle 52 is connected.

The movable bottle 52 is then raised to a position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and the manipulator 80 is moved to a position in which it engages the lower end of the line section 86 as soon as it is clear of the conveyor 57. Gripping the lower end of the line section 86 once, the manipulator is moved back into a position in which the line section 86 runs essentially along the line C and assumes the angle θ. The movable bottle bzxtf. the. The pulley block 52 is then lowered slightly so that the line section 86 connected to the line held by the gimbal arrangement 30 can be de η, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. -lach connecting the wedges and Hf ^ 8 (Figure of the drawings. 7) are removed and the f block movable roller 52 is lowered in the direction indicated by broken line position. ^T Iährend this lowering of the roller block is retracted the Ilanipulator 30th

'While the ship is in motion, will the process shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawings is repeated until a certain line lung is found.

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a suitable pump or delivery system is connected to the line to retrieve collected pieces of material, and the vehicle is decelerated, so that the solitary device is placed on the seabed ν; he can.

If a number of additional pipe sections are required for excavation at greater depths, then the vehicle 10 does not have to be brought to a complete standstill., but it is accelerated, whereby the collection ^ orät is lifted from the sea floor .. The additional Line section is then added in the manner described above and the vehicle is then decelerated again in order to be able to start again with the dismantling process.

BADOR ₁ GWL

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Claims (1)

Claims 1 ". Procedure for connecting and laying out pipe sections for underwater mining, in which a mining collection device is connected to these pipe sections from one to the other The vehicle located on the surface of the water is lowered to the bottom, characterized in that the vehicle for the purpose of generating a relative movement between the vehicle and the hater is driven, during successive Leifcungsabschnitt to lower the collection device are joined together, in such a way that the line formed from the line shrinkage Line during the lowering of the Elin collecting device under one certain oblique angles. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after laying out a certain length of the line Relative movement between the water and the vehicle Braking the latter is slowed down so that the collecting device can come into contact with the water bed. 3. Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the on the SAD ORIGINAL 909849/0985 The vehicle (10) located on the surface of the water has a shaft (24) in the middle area, on which a line holding and connecting station (20, 28, 30) is arranged, by means of which a line section (86) to be read is supported so that it extends "downwards" through the shaft to the water. H. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the line holding and connecting station (20, 28, 30) contains a tower-like structure (20) which rises above the shaft (2ft), and a hoist (50, 52, 53 and 65) at polygons ) is arranged with a line gripping device (65). 5. Device: according to claim Ί, characterized in that the ^f "5 frame (20) is adjustable in & enei & te positions. 6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5 _S jekennseichnet characterized that the LeitunGShalte- and bonding station (20j 23, 30) a conveyor (57) for 7.uf "yon jrdern INTR ^ sabschnitten (86) to the bonding station and Leitungshalte- assigned. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the on the vehicle located on the surface of the water has a main deck - 15 - 9098 49/0965 ORfGINAi. having, characterized in that the line holding and connecting station is located at the level of this main deck (26), while said conveyor device (57) is located is on a level above the main deck. 8. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the line holding and connecting station (20, 28, 30) on the vehicle between the navigating bridge (83) and the stern is arranged. - 16 - 909849/0965