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
  • E02F5/108—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 suction-effect devices
• • 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
  • E02F5/08—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with digging wheels turning round an axis
• • 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
  • E02F5/105—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 self-propulsed units moving on the underwater bottom
• • 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
  • E02F5/12—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
  • E02F5/125—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches underwater
• • 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
  • H02G1/06—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
  • H02G1/10—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle in or under water

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for laying submarine cables, such as electrical or telegraph lines. Such a device also applies to the installation of flexible structures of the same kind such as tubes.
• the present invention aims to provide a device for laying the cable much more quickly and economically.
• the device for laying submarine cables and similar flexible structures such as tubes comprises a habitable vehicle provided with propulsion means for advancing on the sea bottom and with digging means for practicing a cut in the bottom to receive a cable. It is characterized in that it comprises a system for feeding and guiding the cable from a ship to deposit it in the trench and means for backfilling the trench as the cable is laid.
• This device makes it possible to carry out simultaneously in a single pass on the site, all the operations relating to the laying of the cable, namely the digging of the trench, the laying of the cable and the final backfilling of the trench. The result is a remarkable saving of time and resources.
• the cable feeding and guiding system comprises two pressing trains mounted on rollers and urged towards each other by elastic means to grip the cable, and one at least one of the rollers is provided with motor means for actuating at least one of the two trains and causing the cable to be brought in.
• the cable is routed regularly from a surface vessel and its deposition in the trench is properly controlled.
• the feed and guide system has a curved path for the cable, substantially vertical at the entrance and substantially horizontal at the exit, so as to gradually bring the cable from its vertical descent position to its horizontal position. rest in the trench.
• the supply and guide system advantageously comprises a series of rollers arranged above the cable in the operating position to apply the cable to the bottom of the trench.
• a link for controlling the speed of the drive roller of the supply and guidance system at the speed of the vehicle on the bottom is provided.
• the feeding and guiding system is articulated on the vehicle about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of advance and motor means are provided to cause its rotation about the aforementioned axis.
• the device advantageously comprises means for detecting the angular position of the feeding and guiding system with respect to the vehicle, for controlling the servo ratio between the speed of the driving roller and the speed of advance of the vehicle.
• the means for backfilling the trench comprise pumping means, the suction of which is located in the zone of action of the digging means and the discharge of which opens at the rear of the vehicle, at - above the trench.
• the digging means comprise a wheel provided at its periphery with cutting tools fixed on supports providing between them peripheral openings. It is through these openings that the extraction of the extracted materials can be carried out with maximum efficiency.
• the digging wheel is surmounted by a sealed bell whose interior communicates with the interior of the vehicle via an airlock.
• This arrangement allows easy and quick replacement, on site, of used cutting tools.
• the digging wheel is fixed to a frame articulated to the vehicle, control means being provided for adjusting the level of the wheel relative to the bottom.
• control means being provided for adjusting the level of the wheel relative to the bottom.
• FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a device according to the invention during operation
• - FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of this device
• - FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along III-III of FIG. 2
• - fig. 4 is a sectional view along IV-IV of FIG. 3
• - FIG. 5 is a view of the periphery of the digging wheel along VV of FIG. 4.
• a setting device 1 according to the invention is shown in progression on the bottom 2 of the sea.
• This device comprises a cockpit 3 connected to the atmosphere by a tube 4 leading to a ship 5 which accompanies the vehicle.
• An underwater cable 6 to be laid is stored on board the ship 5 in the form of a coil 7 from which it is unwound to be brought to the laying device 1, more particularly to the supply and guidance systems. 8 included in this device to be deposited in a trench 9 dug by the device 1.
• a mobile container 11 guided by cables 12 allows, thanks to an airlock 13, the comings and goings of personnel between the cockpit 3 and the ship 5, as well as the transport of equipment.
• the passenger compartment 3 rests on two crawler trains 14, a motor drum 15 of which is controlled by a hydraulic motor, not shown.
• the engine as well as all the engines of the same kind which will be mentioned later, is connected to a hydraulic unit (not shown) placed in the passenger compartment and itself supplied with electrical energy by cables (not shown) passing through the tube 4 .
• the passenger compartment 3 also rests on two crawler trains 32 located towards the front, by means of two fixed arms 32a.
• a digging module 16 which will be described later in detail, is articulated on the passenger compartment 3 by means of a pin 17 and further connected to this passenger compartment by a hydraulic cylinder 18 which makes it possible to adjust the level of the module 16 relative to the passenger compartment 3.
• the system 8 for supplying and guiding the cable 6 is similarly articulated on the passenger compartment 3 by means of a hinge 19.
• the device 8 is further connected to the passenger compartment by a hydraulic cylinder 21 intended to operate tensile and therefore, as is easily understood, to tension the cable 6 resting in the trench 9.
• the device 8 comprises two pressing trains 22, 23 mounted on a frame 24 and each consisting of a mat 25 mounted on rollers, the lower roller 26 being motor and actuated by a hydraulic motor (not shown) from the power station hydraulic above.
• the speed of rotation of the rollers 26 is controlled by the speed of rotation of the drums 15 of the crawler trains 14, in a determined ratio such that the speed of supply of the cable theoretically corresponds to the speed of advance of the passenger compartment 3.
• the trains 22, 23 are kept pressed against one another by springs (not shown) so as to properly grip the cable and to exert on it sufficient traction to bring it.
• these trains are curved so as to be substantially vertical in the vicinity of their entry end of the cable 6, and oblique at their other end, so as to give the cable 6 an arcuate path, to gradually pass from its vertical direction. downhill to its horizontal direction in the trench 9.
• the frame 24 is extended towards the rear by a curved part extending the curvature of the trains 22, 23 and provided with guide rollers 27 which force the cable to conform to this curvature. At its rear end, the frame 24 has a substantially horizontal profile. At the top of the frame 24 of the device
• limit switches are mounted on the jack 21. Their opening determines the stop or the progression of the tracks.
• This module includes a frame 31 articulated at 17 on the passenger compartment as indicated above.
• This frame carries, by means of bearings 33, a shaft 34 on which a sleeve 35 is keyed carrying the web 36 of a digging wheel 37.
• the diameter of this wheel is such, relative to the level of the frame 24 in middle position, that it can dig a trench of predetermined depth in the bottom 2 of the sea.
• On the periphery of the web 36 are fixed V-shaped tool holders 38 (FIG. 5) each carrying a certain number of cutting tools 39.
• the tool holders are also joined by lateral annulariques 41.
• the tool holders 38 are not contiguous but leave between them openings 42 (fig. 5), so that the periphery of the wheel 37 is openwork.
• a bell 48 is fixed to the frame 31 to wrap the wheel 37 and provide an air bubble which can communicate with the passenger compartment 3 by a flexible airlock 49, so as to form, for the personnel, access to the periphery of the wheel in order to possibly change the cutting tools.
• Two suction pumps 51 are arranged on either side of the web 36 of the wheel 37 and their suction chutes 52 open at the internal periphery of the wheel 37 (FIGS. 3 and 4).
• Their discharge pipes 53 meet in a pipe 54 which ends in a chute 55 located at the rear and opening above the trench 9, in an area where the cable 6 has been laid.
• the device transported by any means such as a road vehicle, possibly after partial disassembly, is put in place by the sea with the digging module 16 raised by means of the jack 18 so that the digging wheel 37 is located entirely above the lower level of the crawler trains 14 and 32. It is then advanced in the sea to the starting point of the trench intended to receive the cable.
• the digging module 16 is lowered by means of the jack 18 by a predetermined amount corresponding to the depth which it is desired to give to the trench.
• the cable 6 is lowered from the accompanying ship 5 and its end is engaged in the supply and guidance system 8, thanks to underwater divers.
• the laying device is then started, which progresses on the bottom thanks to its crawler trains.
• the digging wheel executes the trench and the cuttings are evacuated by the suction pumps 51 which suck through the skeleton rim of the wheel 37, between the spaces 42 left free by the tool supports 38.
• the cable 6, taken between the pressing trains 22, 23, is pulled by the belts 25 actuated by the lower rollers 26, and suitably deposited at the bottom of the trench by the guide rollers 27.
• the cuttings sucked by the suction pumps 51 are conveyed by the pipe 54 to the chute 55 which spreads them to backfill the trench.
• the speed of the rollers 26 being controlled by the speed of the crawler trains, the cable feed speed corresponds to the speed of advance of the laying device. Thanks to the jack 21 which operates under tension and which tends to rotate the supply system 8 counterclockwise (in FIG. 2), the cable 6 can be given a predetermined tension.
• the control is carried out by the distributor 29 with proportional opening controlled by the rod 28.
• the central position of this distributor corresponds to a zero flow, that is to say when the roller 26 stops. It is linked to a position median of the frame 31 or, which amounts to the same thing, of the jack 21. An angular deviation of this frame relative to its median position will be accompanied by a movement of the distributor 29 with proportional opening and will lead, at the end of the chain servo, at a speed of the roller 26 proportional to this difference.
• a variation in the speed of the tracks is firstly accompanied by a variation in the angular position of the frame 31, then by a variation of the speed of the roller 26 in the same direction.
• the personnel housed in the passenger compartment 3 maintained at atmospheric pressure by means of the tube 4 monitors possible obstacles, the correct execution of the laying and the state of wear of the cutting tools 39. If proves necessary to replace them, the personnel passes through the bell 48 through the airlock 49 and easily replaces them.
• An essential advantage of the invention is to carry out all the cable laying operations in a single site: digging the trench, removing the cable, backfilling.
• Another important advantage is the mode of removal of the cuttings which, by its very high efficiency, makes it possible to adopt a high speed of advance. Finally, another significant advantage, the staff works at atmospheric pressure.
• the invention is not limited to the example described but also covers any technological variant of the means described. It applies not only to laying cables but also to any flexible structure of the same kind such as tubes.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9237333

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 1980
  • 1980-01-08 FR FR8000330A patent/FR2473228A1/fr active Granted
• 1981
  • 1981-01-07 WO PCT/FR1981/000001 patent/WO1981002034A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-01-07 EP EP19810900136 patent/EP0044314A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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