EP0225324B1

EP0225324B1 - Submarine element driving means

Info

Publication number: EP0225324B1
Application number: EP19850904502
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sture Kahlman
Original assignee: Kahlman Innovation I Vanersborg AB
Current assignee: KAHLMAN INNOVATION AB
Priority date: 1984-09-05
Filing date: 1985-09-03
Publication date: 1990-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2005-09-03
Also published as: AU4803085A; DK202786A; EP0225324A1; SE444698B; SE8404431D0; DK153804B; SE8404431L; JPS62500183A; DE3575316D1; WO1986001556A1; NO861765L; DK202786D0; DK153804C

Abstract

Submarin element driving means (1) comprising a frame (2) capable of being anchored to a bottom (5) and means (3) for the production of holes (4) in the bottom (5) and for the driving of elements (6) intended for piling or other purposes into said holes (4) once they have been produced. A simple and effective means enabling piling elements (6) to be driven into the surface of a bottom (5) in any desired direction irrespective of the nature of the bottom is achieved by means of the invention. The means (3) is mounted in bearings in such a way as to be capable of being rotated about a bearing shaft (12A) extending along the bottom (5), thereby enabling holes to be produced in the bottom and the elements in question to be driven into the bottom simultaneously in a single operation by driving spiral piling elements (6) into the bottom (5) at the desired angle in relation to a plumb-line, with anchoring means being formed by spiral anchoring means (19) capable of being screwed down into the bottom (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a submarine element driving means according to the preamble of claim 1.
Previously disclosed in US A 4,181,455 is a submarine element driving means intended for the driving of a pile-shaped element designed for mooring purposes, for instance, into a bottom beneath the surface of the water. The means described is, however, complicated with regard both to its construction and its application, and it is not possible to produce, for instance, inclined holes for piles or other elements intended for other purposes which it is wished to secure to the bottom. The object of the present invention is thus to make available a means of the kind indicated above which, amongst other things, will overcome said disadvantages.
Said purpose is achieved by a submarine element driving means in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized in that the means for the production of the holes etc. is also mounted on the frame in bearings for pivotal movement about a bearing shaft extending along a horizontal axis of the frame, thereby enabling holes to be produced in the bottom or the elements to be driven into the bottom in a single operation both at a desired compass bearing in relation to the vertical and at a desired angle to the horizontal, and in that an anchoring means is provided which is formed by spiral anchoring means capable of being screwed down into the bottom, the frame having located thereon angularly adjustable driving units for screwing the anchoring means down into the bottom at a desired angle to the horizontal.
The invention is described below as a preferred embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the submarine element driving means viewed from the side;
Fig. 2 shows the submarine element driving means viewed from above;
Fig. 2A is a section along the line A-A shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 2B is a section along the line B-B shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 3 shows an application for the invention in conjunction with the anchoring of a movable platform;
Fig. 3A shows a view from above of the piling pattern for this anchorage system;
Fig. 4 shows the invention applied for the purpose of anchoring a pipe to the bottom, and
Fig. 5 shows the invention applied for the purpose of anchoring a bottom plate.

A so-called submarine element driving means 1 comprises not only a frame 2, but also means 3 arranged both for the production of holes 4 in the bottom 5, preferably a bottom into which it is wished to drive pile-like elements 6, intended for piling for the purpose of, for example, reinforcing the sea bed in conjunction with the underwater casting of bridge foundations 7 and wharf pillars, etc., and/or for the anchoring of conceivable objects such as movable platforms 8, landing- stages and buoys and beacons, or for pipes 9 which it is wished to anchor to the bottom beneath the surface 10 of the water and immersed in water 11, and for the driving of the elements 6 into the bottom 5 in a single operation.
Said means 3 may suitably consist of an upper unit attached to the frame 2 by, for example, a double-articulated mounting 12 preferably of the gimbal suspension type, or by some other suitable means of attachment which will permit the means 3 to be rotated to the desired angle (compass bearing) in relation to a vertical axis and about an at least imaginary bearing shaft 12A extending along a horizontal axis of the frame 2.
Those elements 6 which it is proposed to drive by the submarine element driving means 1 consist of spiral piling elements which, for at least part of their length, exhibit a screw-like flange 6A or some other component projecting sideways from a core 6B by means of which it is possible to produce suitable holes 4 in the bottom 5. A number of spiral piling elements may suitably be so arranged as to be capable of being connected to one another in their longitudinal direction beneath the surface 10 of the water 11 by remote control via, for example, a camera and/or by divers who are present in said water 11. The other functions of the submarine element driving means can also be controlled in said fashion.
A magazine 14, preferably in the form of a ring, is intended to hold a number of spiral piling elements 6 around its periphery and suitably a part of said upper unit.
The upper unit may suitably consist of a pile screwing means 15 moving vertically up and down the height of the unit, said pile screwing means is preferably being capable of being driven hydraulically and also suitably being supported by an arm 16 or by some other supporting means projecting sideways from a central axis 17 of the means 3 and capable of being rotated about said central axis 17, which can serve as a plumb-line and can also serve as an axis of oscillation, along a storage space 14A in the magazine 14. It is thus possible for the pile screwing means 15 to be rotated about the central axis 17, and for the desired element 6 to be driven into the bottom 5 at the desired angle.
The frame 2 consists of a number of frame legs 18 extending in a direction away from the means 3, said frame legs 10 preferably being evenly distributed around the periphery of the means 3 so as to extend outwards at identical distances from said upper unit.
Preferably arranged at the ends 18A of said frame legs 18 are controllable driving units by means of which spiral anchoring means 19 can be screwed down into the bottom 5 at a desired angle X in relation to the horizontal so as to permit the subsequent precise installation of the elements 6 at the desired angle in relation to a compass bearing and to a plumb-line 13. Said anchoring is intended to take place automatically of its own accord. The spiral anchoring means 19 situated furthest to the front in the direction of travel of the submarine element driving means, i.e. that shown in Fig. 2A, may suitably be screwed down first. Said spiral anchoring means 19 may suitably be so arranged as to be capable of being moved along the bottom 5 in relation to the frame 2, preferably in the direction of travel indicated by the arrows (see Fig. 2A), whereby, once said first spiral anchoring means 19 has been screwed down into the bottom 5, said first driven spiral anchoring means 19 will, in conjunction with the subsequent screwing down of the remaining spiral anchoring means 19, which are so arranged as to be screwed down for each of the remaining frame legs 18, be allowed to flex, as it were, i.e. to move in relation to the frame 2, so as to permit the driving of said other spiral anchoring means 19 to be achieved at the desired angle X.
The frame 2 also exhibits driving means 20, for example crawler tracks or similar, capable of interacting with the bottom 5 so as to enable the submarine element driving means 1 to be moved to a desired point on the bottom 5.
A line 21 or a similar lifting means, which is capable of being attached to a vessel situated at the surface 10 of the water, is capable of being attached to said submarine element driving means 1 for the purpose of enabling it to be raised and lowered from and to a proposed piling position on the bottom 5.
The submarine element driving means 1 and its various functions should suitably be capable of being driven hydraulically, with the driving means intended for same, such as the hydraulic power unit and the control valve, being situated in the upper part of the means. The submarine element driving means 1 can be driven by, for example, electric current supplied either via a cable from the vessel or from its own batteries, etc.
The function of the submarine element driving means should be apparent from the foregoing, it is thus capable, irrespective of the nature of the bottom, of driving so-called spiral piling elements 6 down into the bottom 5 at a desired angle. The driving of the elements 6 in such a way that they are inclined in relation to a plumb-line 13 offers advantages in conjunction with anchoring applications, for example, since the capacity of the pile to absorb high forces is increased in the case of an inclined pile.

Claims

1. Submarine element driving means (1) com- ^. prising a frame (2) capable of being anchored to the bottom (5) and means (3) both for the production of holes (4) in the bottom (5) and for driving of elements (6) intended for piling or other purposes into the bottom (5), said means (3) being mounted on the frame (2) in bearings in such a way as to be capable of being rotated relative to the frame (2) about a vertical axis of the frame (2) characterised in that the means (3) is also mounted on the frame (2) in bearings for pivotal movement about a bearing shaft (12A) extending along a horizontal axis of the frame, thereby enabling holes (4) to be produced in the bottom or the elements (6) to be driven into the bottom (5) in a single operation both at a desired compass bearing in relation to the vertical and at a desired angle to the horizontal, and in that an anchoring means is provided which is formed by spiral anchoring means (19) capable of being screwed down into the bottom (5), the frame having located thereon angularly adjustable driving units for screwing the anchoring means (19) down into the bottom (5) at a desired angle (X) to the horizontal.

2. Submarine element driving means according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (3) consists of an upper'unit mounted on the frame (2) via a double-articulated mounting (12) of the gimbal suspension type.

3. Submarine element driving means according to claim 2, characterized in that said upper unit forms a magazine (14) designed to hold a number of spiral piling elements (6) capable of being connected to one another and of making their own holes in the bottom (5), said magazine preferably being in the form of a ring.

4. Submarine element driving means according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said upper unit contains a pile screwing means (15) moving vertically up and down the height of the unit and being capable of being driven hydraulically.

5. Submarine element driving means according to claim 4, characterized in that the pile screwing means (15) is supported by an arm (16) capable of being rotated about a central axis (17) along a ring-shaped space (14A) in the magazine (14), inside which space (14A) elements (6) are capable of being held.

6. Submarine element driving means according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the frame (2) contains a number of frame legs (18) extending in a direction away from the means (3), on which are arranged a number of said spiral anchoring means (19) capable of being actuated by driving units.

7. Submarine element driving means according to claim 6, characterized in that the frame legs (18) are evenly distributed around the periphery of the submarine element driving means and extend at essentially identical distances outwards in a sideways direction from the upper unit.

8. Submarine element driving means according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the frame (2) exhibits driving means (20) for the submarine element driving means (1) capable of interacting with the bottom (5), preferably in the form of crawler tracks.

9. Submarine element driving means according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the submarine element driving means (1) is capable of being attached by a line (21) or some other lifting device to a vessel situated at the surface (10) of the water (11).

10. Submarine element driving means according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the submarine element driving means (1) and its various functions are capable, of being driven hydraulically, with the driving means intended for same being housed in a watertight space in the upper part of the means.