EP1985766A2 - Véhicule pour la pose d'un produit allongé dans la fosse d'un fond océanique - Google Patents

Véhicule pour la pose d'un produit allongé dans la fosse d'un fond océanique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1985766A2
EP1985766A2 EP08251502A EP08251502A EP1985766A2 EP 1985766 A2 EP1985766 A2 EP 1985766A2 EP 08251502 A EP08251502 A EP 08251502A EP 08251502 A EP08251502 A EP 08251502A EP 1985766 A2 EP1985766 A2 EP 1985766A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
trench
cutting
sea floor
vehicle
cutting means
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08251502A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1985766A3 (fr
Inventor
John 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.)
Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd
Original Assignee
Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd
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 Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd filed Critical Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd
Publication of EP1985766A2 publication Critical patent/EP1985766A2/fr
Publication of EP1985766A3 publication Critical patent/EP1985766A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • E02F5/105—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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle for laying an elongate product in a trench in the sea floor, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a vehicle for cutting a trench into rock or other hard material and laying a pipe therein.
  • tractor-type unmanned sub-sea vehicles to be used to cut trenches into the sea floor in order that a pipe or other elongate product can be located therein.
  • this trenching operation can be carried out using a ship-hauled plough or a water jetting device.
  • a mechanical cutter must be used. Such cutters typically use tungsten carbide picks mounted on a chain, rotating wheel or drum that progressively breaks up the hard material into small pieces and it is then removed from the trench that has been formed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a trench cutter of the prior art, viewed from the front.
  • a chain cutter 10 cuts a trench 12 in sea-floor 14.
  • the chain cutter 10 is formed as a belt consisting of a series of hinged plates with each plate carrying tungsten carbide teeth (not shown) arranged in rows across the width of the plate.
  • the vehicle operating the chain cutter 10 With the pipe 16 already laying in position on the sea-floor 14, the vehicle operating the chain cutter 10 is lowered onto the sea floor 14 and the trench 12 is cut under the pipe 16.
  • the pipe 16 In order to cut the trench 12, the pipe 16 must be lifted from the sea floor 14 to accommodate cutter chain 10.
  • Trench cutting vehicles of this type have significant problems.
  • the pipe must be lifted a considerable height from the sea-bed, typically at least two metres, to allow the entire chain cutter, mechanical supports and drive systems to be mounted underneath. This applies stresses to the pipe that can result in damage and can mean that this type of trench cutting vehicle cannot always be used. Because a single cutter is used, where a very wide pipe is being placed in the trench, a very wide cutter must be used. This significantly reduces the efficiency of the chain cutter. Furthermore, the vertical sides of the trench are not stable in some sea-beds and additional cutters or jetters are needed to ensure that the trench remains open and stable whilst the pipe is laid therein.
  • an alternative trench cutter shown in figure 2 , uses multiple angled cutters 20, 22, 24 and 26 to cut the sea floor 28 underneath pipe 30.
  • four cutters are used arranged in symmetrical pairs to cut the trench two different depths, whilst the pipe 30 remains on sea floor 28. Because the pipe is quite rigid, it sags very little over the length of the trenching machine and therefore stays at sea floor level despite the ground underneath having been removed until well after the vehicle has passed.
  • a trench forming vehicle of this type has the significant problems, particularly in hard ground, that the cutters must be kept well away from the pipe as any contact between pipe and chain cutters will result in damage to the pipe.
  • the cutters must also be kept well apart from each other in order to prevent them from touching and damaging each other.
  • a central region underneath the pipe is not cut.
  • this is only a limited problem as the central portion collapses and material is removed by the cutting blades.
  • sea floors of harder material a central portion can remain in tact thereby preventing the pipe from entering the trench.
  • the problems of chain cutters contacting each other or the pipe are further exacerbated in hard ground as the hard ground causes vibration, and slight movement, of the chain cutters.
  • Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above disadvantages of the prior art.
  • a vehicle for laying an elongate product in a trench in a sea floor comprising:-
  • the vehicle may further comprises third cutting means for cutting a third portion of said trench.
  • the advantage is provided that in the sea floor that is formed from similarly hard material throughout the whole depth of the trench the vehicle is able to cut a trench, ensuring that all of the hard material is cut away within the trench whilst at the same time not requiring the pipe to be lifted very far above the sea floor. In particular, the pipe does not need to be lifted as high above the sea floor as seen in the prior art.
  • the third cutting means is located at a forwards most position in the direction of travel of the vehicle and cuts said third portion of said trench from said second side, said first cutting means is located behind said third cutting means in the direction of travel and said second cutting means is located behind said first cutting means in the direction of travel.
  • the first, second and third cutting means may comprise a chain cutter.
  • a compact cutter can be provided with a very low height that when in use, efficiently transports spoil from the cutting face backwards before it is removed from the trench.
  • At least one of said chain cutters is adapted to engage the sea floor at an angle of 45°.
  • the vehicle may further comprise product handling means for lifting the product from the sea floor.
  • the product handling means comprises fore and aft pipe lifters.
  • said vehicle has two working modes:-
  • the vehicle By having two working modes, one in which the third cutting means operates and one in which it is inoperative, has the advantage that the vehicle can be used most effectively and efficiently in all sea floor types. For example where a soft layer covers a harder layer on the sea floor the pipe lifting apparatus need not be used, but if the vehicle encounters sea floor that is formed from hard material throughout its depth, it is equally able to produce a trench whilst at the same time applying minimal strain to the pipe.
  • the vehicle may also further comprise pumping means for pumping sea and spoil cut from said sea floor out of said trench.
  • the pumping means comprises a respective dredge pump for each cutting means, each said pump located behind its respective cutting means.
  • a method of laying an elongate product in a trench in a sea floor comprising:-
  • the method may further comprise cutting a third portion of said trench.
  • the third portion of said trench is formed in front of said first portion and is formed from said second side.
  • the third portion of said trench is formed centrally, said first portion of said trench is cut forming a first face of said trench on said first side and said second portion of said trench is cut forming a second face of said trench on said second side.
  • the method may further comprise lifting the product from the sea floor.
  • the product is lifted at a location in front of the position where the portions of the trench are formed and at a location to the rear of the position where the portions of the trench are formed.
  • the method may also further comprise pumping material from said trench portions using at least one dredge pump.
  • a vehicle 40 for laying an elongate product, typically a pipe 42, in a trench 44 that the vehicle 40 cuts in sea-floor 46 has a body, in the form of frame 52, that is adapted to travel along the sea floor using caterpillar tracks 54.
  • the vehicle 40 is provided with three cutting means in the form of first, second and third cutting chains 56, 58 and 60.
  • the cutting chains are of a type known to persons skilled in the art.
  • Each chain cutter is formed as a belt approximately 800mm wide formed from interlinked plates of high strength steel with high hardness steel and tungsten carbide used to form teeth 62 and in other high wearing areas.
  • the chain cutters are of a type known as Dint header type chain cutter assemblies.
  • the cutting chains 56, 58 and 60 are able to move from inoperative positions, shown in figures 5a , 6a and 7a , to operative positions, shown in figures 5b , 6b and 7b .
  • the vehicle 40 also has pipe handling apparatus in the form of fore and aft pipe lifters 64 and 66, that are each formed from a pair of crescent-shaped grab arms 68.
  • the vehicle 40 has two modes of operation.
  • a first mode depicted schematically in figure 8
  • the first operational mode is for use where the sea floor 48 is formed from a shallow layer of soft material 100 which sits on top of a deeper layer of hard material 102.
  • the pipe 42 sits on top of soft material layer 100 and the vehicle 40 is lowered so as to straddle pipe 42 with a caterpillar track 54 on either side, as seen in figures 5a , 6a and 7a .
  • a first cutting chain 56 cuts a first trench portion from a first side 106 of the trench.
  • the first cutting chain 56 is set at an angle of 45° to the sea floor 48, as seen in figure 8a .
  • first trench portion 104 As the first trench portion 104 is cut the soft material immediately below pipe 42 falls into first trench portion 104 and is excavated by a combination of the first cutting chain 56 and the dredge pumps 78. As can also be seen in figure 10B this leaves the pipe suspended above the partially formed trench. However, because the pipe is being supported on the sea-floor it is able to sag into the bottom of trench 44 over a long distance and in the area immediately adjacent the vehicle remains at approximately the same height as the sea floor 48.
  • a second trench portion 108 is cut using second cutting chain 58 which approaches the trench from a second side 110 that is opposite the first side 106. The first trench portion 104 and second trench portion 108 overlap in the area adjacent the apex at the bottom of the trench 44.
  • Trench 44 has a first face 114 and a second face 116 that join at a right-angled apex 118.
  • the rigidity of the pipe means that it does not reach the bottom of the trench until the vehicle has moved some considerable distance forward and as a result there is no danger of the pipe sagging into the first and second trench portions 104 and 108 whilst the trench is being cut.
  • a pipe 42 is again laid in a trench 44 cut in sea floor 48.
  • This second mode of operation is for use where the material from which the sea floor 48 is formed is hard, typically formed from clay or rock, throughout all or most of the depth that the trench is cut.
  • This second mode of operation works in substantially the same way as the first except that a third cutting chain 60 is used to initially cut a third trench portion 120 in sea floor 48. This third trench portion 120 is cut immediately below pipe 42. This cutting step is undertaken because the hard material that extends throughout the sea floor 48 will not simply fall away as the soft layer 100 does in the first operational mode.
  • the fore and aft pipe lifters 64 and 66 are lowered to adjacent the pipe 42 and the grab arms 68 are closed using hydraulic ram 70 around pipe 42, as shown in figure 10b .
  • the pipe is then lifted and once lifted two roller beds 72 are lifted into position to support the pipe from underneath.
  • vehicle 40 moves forward on caterpillar tracks 54 the pipe remains stationary and rolls on the series of rollers that form the pair of roller beds 72.
  • the first, second and third cutting chains 56, 58 and 60 can be moved from their inoperative positions, shown in figures 5a , 6a and 7a and brought into their operative positions in figures 5b , 6b and 7b .
  • third cutting chain 60 is the forwards most cutting chain in the direction of travel D it is the first cutting chain to cut a portion of the trench, this being third trench portion 120.
  • the first trench portion 104 is cut by first cutting chain 56 from first trench side 106.
  • the second cutting chain 58 cuts second trench portion 110 from second trench side 110.
  • the overlap portion 112 is again present adjacent apex 118 of first and second faces 114 and 116.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
EP08251502A 2007-04-26 2008-04-23 Véhicule pour la pose d'un produit allongé dans la fosse d'un fond océanique Withdrawn EP1985766A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0708082A GB0708082D0 (en) 2007-04-26 2007-04-26 Vehicle for laying an elongated product in a trench in the sea floor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1985766A2 true EP1985766A2 (fr) 2008-10-29
EP1985766A3 EP1985766A3 (fr) 2012-03-28

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08251502A Withdrawn EP1985766A3 (fr) 2007-04-26 2008-04-23 Véhicule pour la pose d'un produit allongé dans la fosse d'un fond océanique

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Country Link
EP (1) EP1985766A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB0708082D0 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20090689A1 (it) * 2009-04-23 2010-10-24 Saipem Spa Gruppo e metodo di posa ed interramento di condotte a fondo mare
EP2787126A1 (fr) 2013-04-05 2014-10-08 Soil Machine Dynamics Limited Appareil de découpe de tranchée
US10435865B2 (en) 2015-07-28 2019-10-08 Saipem S.P.A. Trenching assembly for laying in a trench a continuous pipeline and trenching method
CN112081216A (zh) * 2020-09-01 2020-12-15 深圳五联建设工程有限公司 一种道路排水管施工设备及方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4149326A (en) * 1975-02-11 1979-04-17 Saipem S.P.A. Machine for digging a trench beneath a submerged pipeline
GB2015620A (en) * 1978-02-16 1979-09-12 Land & Marine Eng Ltd Improvements relating to trenching apparatus
US4214387A (en) * 1978-06-01 1980-07-29 Brown & Root, Inc. Trenching apparatus and method
GB2134155A (en) * 1979-09-13 1984-08-08 Panama Overseas Shipping Corp Digging apparatus
EP0543467A1 (fr) * 1991-11-20 1993-05-26 Paragon International B.V. Méthode pour l'enterrement d'objets allongés

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4149326A (en) * 1975-02-11 1979-04-17 Saipem S.P.A. Machine for digging a trench beneath a submerged pipeline
GB2015620A (en) * 1978-02-16 1979-09-12 Land & Marine Eng Ltd Improvements relating to trenching apparatus
US4214387A (en) * 1978-06-01 1980-07-29 Brown & Root, Inc. Trenching apparatus and method
GB2134155A (en) * 1979-09-13 1984-08-08 Panama Overseas Shipping Corp Digging apparatus
EP0543467A1 (fr) * 1991-11-20 1993-05-26 Paragon International B.V. Méthode pour l'enterrement d'objets allongés

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20090689A1 (it) * 2009-04-23 2010-10-24 Saipem Spa Gruppo e metodo di posa ed interramento di condotte a fondo mare
WO2010122395A1 (fr) * 2009-04-23 2010-10-28 Saipem S.P.A. Groupe et procédé pour poser et enfouir des oléoducs sur le fond marin
CN102459767A (zh) * 2009-04-23 2012-05-16 塞彭公司 用来在海底铺设和埋设管道的设备组和方法
US8834068B2 (en) 2009-04-23 2014-09-16 Saipem S.P.A. Group and method for laying and burying pipelines at the seafloor
EA022243B1 (ru) * 2009-04-23 2015-11-30 САЙПЕМ С.п.А. Способ и оборудование для прокладки и закапывания трубопроводов на морском дне
EP2787126A1 (fr) 2013-04-05 2014-10-08 Soil Machine Dynamics Limited Appareil de découpe de tranchée
US10435865B2 (en) 2015-07-28 2019-10-08 Saipem S.P.A. Trenching assembly for laying in a trench a continuous pipeline and trenching method
CN112081216A (zh) * 2020-09-01 2020-12-15 深圳五联建设工程有限公司 一种道路排水管施工设备及方法
CN112081216B (zh) * 2020-09-01 2021-09-14 深圳五联建设工程有限公司 一种道路排水管施工设备及方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1985766A3 (fr) 2012-03-28
GB0708082D0 (en) 2007-06-06

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