EP0010915B1 - Défonçeuse pour creuser des tranchées - Google Patents

Défonçeuse pour creuser des tranchées Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0010915B1
EP0010915B1 EP79302297A EP79302297A EP0010915B1 EP 0010915 B1 EP0010915 B1 EP 0010915B1 EP 79302297 A EP79302297 A EP 79302297A EP 79302297 A EP79302297 A EP 79302297A EP 0010915 B1 EP0010915 B1 EP 0010915B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plough
towing
pipeline
landside
trenching
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP79302297A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0010915A1 (fr
Inventor
Alan Richard Reece
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BP PLC
Original Assignee
BP PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BP PLC filed Critical BP PLC
Publication of EP0010915A1 publication Critical patent/EP0010915A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0010915B1 publication Critical patent/EP0010915B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/10—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables
    • E02F5/104—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/10—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables
    • E02F5/104—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water
    • E02F5/106—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water using ploughs, coulters, rippers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/14—Component parts for trench excavators, e.g. indicating devices travelling gear chassis, supports, skids
    • E02F5/145—Component parts for trench excavators, e.g. indicating devices travelling gear chassis, supports, skids control and indicating devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a trenching plough which is suitable for towing underwater to form a trench for a previously laid underwater cable or pipeline.
  • GB-A-1,349,515 describes a plough towed by a vehicle wherein the plough follows a path either directly behind, or parallel to, the towing vehicle.
  • the line of travel of the plough is determined by that of the towing vehicle and a ram which adjusts the angle of a hinge connecting a towing beam of the vehicle to the plough.
  • Trenching ploughs have also been previously described for burying pipelines on the sea bed.
  • the plough is towed by means of a cable connected to a surface vessel.
  • GB-A-1,384,078 describes a trenching plough which comprises a framework that straddles the pipeline to be buried and is pulled by means of a cable from a surface vessel.
  • the line of the towing force may sometimes deviate significantly from the axis of the pipeline with the result that a potentially damaging lateral force is exerted on the pipeline.
  • the towing member is connected to the plough at the hitch point allowing pivotal movement whereby the direction of travel of the plough is within limits independent of the direction of travel of the towing vehicle.
  • the trenching plough (1) is further characterised in that the apparatus (9) for engaging the previously laid cable or pipeline is located at the front of the plough (1).
  • the hitch point (46) can be located so that in use the projected line of the towing force (56) passes through the point (50) over the landside (45).
  • the point in the region of the landside will be located at a position along the length of the implement where the landside extends and rearward of the soil cutting member.
  • the hitch point can be movable on a laterally extending arm, the arm being so disposed so that the point moves on the circumference of a circle whose centre is at the point in the region of the landside.
  • the point in the region of the landside through which the line of the towing force passes can be located so that the components of the towing force and the soil cutting force in the direction of travel create no significant couple in the horizontal plane through that point.
  • the plough can be used for making a trench for a pipeline at an underwater site and can have in the region of the front thereof a carriage adapted to run on the pipeline so that at least a portion of the weight of the plough is supported by the pipeline.
  • the plough can further have located forward with respect to the carriage, a support member capable of contacting the ground to reduce the risk of overloading an unsupported section of pipeline.
  • the support member can be movable between a ground contacting position and a raised position free of the ground and means can be provided for moving the support member from one position to the other.
  • pipeline is intended to include flowlines.
  • trenching device according to the invention is intended primarily for use underwater it can nevertheless be used on land.
  • Reference to the line of towing force means the line of the towing force projected in the horizontal plane through the hitch point.
  • the trenching plough according to the present invention may be employed to make a trench parallel and close to a pipeline or cable which can be moved sideways into the trench at a later time.
  • the plough can be employed to make the trench and place the pipeline or cable therein in one operation.
  • the plough is particularly suitable for use where the pipeline or cable has been previously installed on the sea bed although it is possible to use the plough to bury a pipeline or cable as it is laid down from a surface vessel.
  • the trenching plough indicated generally by numeral 1 comprises a body in the form of beam 4 attached to the rear of which is a blade indicated generally by numeral 7, the leading face 6 of which is the soil cutting member and the sides 5 of which provide the landside.
  • a hitch point in the form of a towing eye 3 to which a towing cable 2 is connected.
  • the forward part of the beam 4 is attached to a laterally extending cross member 13 one end of which is attached to and supported by skid 10 on the sea bed 11.
  • the trenching plough has a steering means in the form of guide wheels 9 which straddle pipeline 8 and are attached to the other end of cross member 13 remote from skid 10.
  • the trenching plough follows the pipeline 8 thus requiring no additional steering.
  • the effect of the hitch point 3 located over the landside 5 is that the sideways component of the towing force is resisted with the result that the steering effect of the towing force is significantly reduced.
  • the plough cuts a trench parallel to the pipeline 8 which has been previously installed in its trench.
  • a scraper 12 At the rear of the plough is a scraper 12 to displace spoil to cover the pipeline.
  • the trenching plough indicated by reference numeral 21 is generally of similar construction to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception of the steering means.
  • the plough comprises a body in the form of a beam 24 attached to the rear of which is a blade indicated generally by numeral 27 the leading face 26 of which is the soil cutting member and the sides 25 of which provide the landside.
  • Located above the sides 25 is a hitch point in the form of towing eye 23 to which a towing cable 22 is attached.
  • the forward part of the beam 24 is attached to a laterally extending cross member 28 the ends of which are attached to, and supported by, skids 30 and 31 on the sea bed.
  • the plough has steering means in the form of sensor 32 which scans the pipeline 29 and controls a servo mechanism (not shown) which operates a hydraulic ram 33 which moves the skids 30 and 31 which have soil engaging blades (only one of which 34 is shown).
  • a servo mechanism not shown
  • the trenching plough is able to follow the pipeline 29 which may in places be buried as shown in Figure 3 and produce a trench parallel to the axis of the pipeline.
  • Attached to the rear of the body 24 are a pair of scraper arms 35 to move the spoil.
  • the trenching plough indicated generally by numeral 41 comprises a body in the form of beam 44 attached to the rear of which is a blade indicated generally by numeral 47, the leading face of which is the soil cutting edge and the sides 45 of which provide the landside.
  • the forward part of the beam 44 is attached to a laterally extending arm 43 the end of which is supported by skid 55.
  • a hitch point in the form of towing eye 46 which is movable on the arm 43 by means of roller 48.
  • the arm 43 has a curved face 49 on which the roller 48 moves so that the hitch point 46 moves on the circumference of a circle whose centre is at point 50 which is over the landside 45.
  • the effect of this is that the projected line of action of the towing force passes through point 50 with the result that the sideways component of the towing force is resisted by the landside 45.
  • the trenching plough has a steering means in the form of a pair of guide wheels 52 straddling the pipeline 54 the latter resting on a roller between the guide wheels 52.
  • a pair of scrapers 60 At the rear of the body is a pair of scrapers 60 for displacing soil sideways.
  • the trenching plough In use the trenching plough is towed by means of a line 56 attached to hitch point 46. The trenching plough passes along and under the pipeline 54. A trench is made into which the pipeline settles.
  • points 3, 23 and 50 are vertically above the effective centre of the landside in each case.
  • the present invention provides improved control of the trenching or other soil moving operation when the line of action of the towing force is up to 45° from the line of travel of the implement and particularly in the range up to 30°. Further the line of the towing force (when projected in the horizontal plane through the hitch point) passes through, or close to, a point on the vertical axis passing through the point of intersection of the lines of action of the soil forces on the cutting member and landside. Thus, any sideways force applied by the towing means is resisted by the landside to reduce the resultant couple in the horizontal plane. It is thus possible to steer the implement with a smaller steering force, with reduced risk of damage to the pipeline.
  • the embodiment in Figures 5 and 6 is particularly suitable for towing by an underwater tractor or other similar vehicle which cannot conveniently straddle the pipeline with the result that the towing force is always at an angle to the axis of the pipeline.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Sewage (AREA)

Claims (4)

1. Dispositif pour creuser les tranchées qui convient pour être remorqué sous l'eau afin de former une tranchée pour recevoir un câble ou pipeline sous marin (8) précédemment posé qui comprend: un corps (4) auquel est fixé un organe (6) à couper le sol, ledit organe à couper le sol formant en service une surface de sol dans le sens de progression du dispositif (1), un contre-sep (5) qui attaque la surface du sol, un organe tracteur (2) relié à un point d'attelage (3) de manière à permettre une inclinaison du sens de progression du dispositif (1) par rapport à la ligne de la force de traction, le point d'attelage (3) occupant une position telle qu'en service la ligne de la force de traction passe à travers un point qui surmonte le contre-sep (5), ce dispositif étant caractérisé en ce que le dispositif (1) est muni de moyens de direction comprenant un appareil (9) pour venir en prise avec un pipeline (8) ou câble précédemment posé, et l'organe tracteur (2) est articulé au point d'attelage (3) de sorte que le sens de la progression du dispositif est, en dedans de certaines limites, indépendant de la direction de la progression du véhicule remorqueur, les moyens de direction (9) étant espacés du contre-sep (5) et en avant de celui-ci de sorte que lorsque le sens de la progression du dispositif est incliné vers la ligne de la force de traction, les forces latérales sur le pipeline (8) ou câble sont réduites.
2. Dispositif pour creuser les tranchées selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'appareil (9) est situé sur l'avant du dispositif (1).
3. Dispositif pour creuser les tranchées selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le point d'attelage (46) occupe une position telle qu'en service le prolongement de la ligne de la force de remorquage passe par un point (50) au-dessus du contre-sep (45).
4. Dispositif pour creuser les tranchées selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le point d'attelage (46) est mobile sur un bras latéral (43), ce bras (43) étant disposé de manière que le point d'attelage (46) se déplace sur la circonférence d'un cercle dont le centre est le point (50) surmontant le contre-sep (45).
EP79302297A 1978-10-26 1979-10-22 Défonçeuse pour creuser des tranchées Expired EP0010915B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7842021 1978-10-26
GB4202178 1978-10-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0010915A1 EP0010915A1 (fr) 1980-05-14
EP0010915B1 true EP0010915B1 (fr) 1982-10-27

Family

ID=10500600

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP79302297A Expired EP0010915B1 (fr) 1978-10-26 1979-10-22 Défonçeuse pour creuser des tranchées

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0010915B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU534656B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA1123215A (fr)
DE (1) DE2963948D1 (fr)
MX (1) MX149074A (fr)
NO (1) NO150322C (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU554226B2 (en) * 1981-09-11 1986-08-14 British Petroleum Company Plc, The Trenching plough for pipeline
GB8301514D0 (en) * 1983-01-20 1983-02-23 British Petroleum Co Plc Plough assembly
GB8331892D0 (en) * 1983-11-30 1984-01-04 Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd Ploughs
GB8524410D0 (en) * 1985-10-03 1985-11-06 Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd Pipeline/cable plough
EA000749B1 (ru) * 1997-01-09 2000-02-28 Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью Научно-Исследовательский И Технический Центр "Ротор" Машина для вскрытия трубопровода и рабочий орган
GB9922247D0 (en) 1999-09-21 1999-11-17 Engineering Business Ltd Improvements to submarine ploughs

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL227745A (fr) *
FR1185238A (fr) * 1956-10-29 1959-07-31 Appareil de traction à câble
US3024851A (en) * 1960-01-28 1962-03-13 Harres Alfred Earth working tool and carriage of an underground cable laying machine
GB1228373A (fr) * 1967-05-03 1971-04-15
GB1349515A (en) * 1971-06-07 1974-04-03 Hudswell Yates Dev Ltd Mole ploughs
GB1384078A (en) * 1972-03-20 1975-02-19 Faldi G Process and apparatus for achieving the mechanical trenching of a pipe-line in a sub-aqueous depth

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2963948D1 (en) 1982-12-02
AU534656B2 (en) 1984-02-09
NO150322C (no) 1984-09-26
NO793429L (no) 1980-04-29
EP0010915A1 (fr) 1980-05-14
MX149074A (es) 1983-08-18
NO150322B (no) 1984-06-18
AU5208579A (en) 1980-05-01
CA1123215A (fr) 1982-05-11

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