EP2657410B2 - Device for reducing the propagation of sound, vibration and pressure shocks in a liquid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for reducing the propagation of sound, vibrations and pressure surges in a liquid, in particular of sound occurring when an object is introduced into a subsurface and / or in particular in water, with several damping bodies that can be filled with a gas and a carrier which the damping bodies can be arranged in a suitable relative position to one another, the carrier having a frame with horizontal linkage elements.

A device of the type mentioned is for example from WO 2009/121336 A2 known. The known device has a plurality of damping bodies which can be filled with a gas and which are fastened to a carrier. The carrier and the damping bodies are made in one piece from a thin, elastic hose material, the damping bodies being delimited from one another by constrictions or welding webs in the hose material. The damping bodies can be fixed in a cage by means of the carrier.

Devices of the type mentioned at the outset are used in particular to reduce underwater noise during pile-driving work for offshore wind turbines. In the foundation work for the construction of such systems, impact hammers are predominantly used, which generate an extremely intense sound under water, which can damage the hearing organs of marine mammals and fish. In addition, the behavior of the animals can be impaired over a radius of many kilometers. There is therefore an urgent need to reduce the underwater sound propagation during pile driving. Such pile-driving work includes not only the introduction of piles, but also the introduction of nails into the subsoil in order to fix base elements for support piles on the seabed or the seabed. When such nails are inserted, intense noise is generated under water.

In the case of the WO 2009/121336 A2 The problem of known device is that in the event of damage and leakage of a damping body, which not infrequently occurs during use of the device, replacement of the damping body is virtually impossible. Ultimately, for this purpose, the entire hose-like carrier with all further damping bodies located on it must be replaced or removed from the liquid or from the water for repairs. It can happen that a repair of the damping body is not possible at all due to the size of the leak or the extent of the damage. As a result, there then remains a permanent functional impairment with regard to the respective carrier, since only the remaining intact damping bodies are still effective. As a result, the known device is extremely inflexible, particularly in the event of a repair or when individual damping bodies need to be replaced, and reliable operation of the device cannot be guaranteed over the long term.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing a device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that safe operation of the device is made possible with structurally simple means.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1. According to this, the device is designed and developed in such a way that the damping bodies are arranged on the horizontal rod elements in such a way that individual damping bodies can be decoupled from the rod element and attached to the rod element again.

In the manner according to the invention, it was first recognized that a one-piece construction of the carrier and the damping body from a hose material is extremely unfavorable, particularly when the damping body needs to be replaced or in the event of a repair. In a further way according to the invention, it was then recognized that the design of the carrier with a frame which has horizontal rod elements solves the above problem in a surprisingly simple manner. In concrete terms, it is now possible to arrange the damping bodies in a suitable position relative to one another on the horizontal linkage element. If a defect or a leak in an individual damping body occurs, it is now sufficient to decouple the individual damping body from the linkage element and to replace an intact damping body on the linkage element. If necessary, the defective damping body can also be removed for quick repair and attached again to the linkage element after the repair. The problem of a possibly irreparable damping body with the consequence of a permanent functional impairment - as with the known carrier made of hose material and the damping bodies formed thereon - no longer exists with the device according to the invention. With the device according to the invention it is also possible without any problems, depending on the application, to arrange a different number of damping bodies on the carrier - the linkage element. This is not possible with the known hose-like carrier, since the number of damping bodies is initially specified in the manufacture of the carrier-damping body hose.

Consequently, the device according to the invention provides a device in which safe operation of the device is made possible with structurally simple means.

With a view to particularly safe operation and a particularly stable configuration of the device, the frame could have several vertical and horizontal rod elements arranged perpendicular to one another. In other words, the Frame have a kind of lattice structure made of rod elements arranged perpendicular to one another. The device could be arranged around an object to be introduced into a subsurface in such a way that the vertical rod elements could run essentially parallel to, for example, a post or nail to be introduced. The term horizontal or vertical ultimately refers to an orientation relative to the ground or the bottom of the water, both of which run essentially in a horizontal plane.

With regard to a particularly safe and stable configuration, the frame could be made of metal, for example. For example, steel or stainless steel could be used as the metal. A configuration made of plastic, in particular fiber-reinforced plastic, would be conceivable with a view to simpler handling of the device for reasons of weight, in particular during transport.

In a further preferred embodiment, the frame could have a plurality of frame areas made up of horizontal rod elements, which are coupled to one another via cables. In other words, the different frame areas made up of horizontal rod elements could be positioned in the liquid at different depths. The coupling of these frame areas then takes place via ropes which, as it were, replace the vertical rod elements present in the previously explained embodiment. The connection of the frame areas via the cables thus holds the entire device together and enables particularly space-saving storage or space-saving transport of the device when it is not in use. Ultimately, the frame areas could be positioned close to one another when the ropes are rolled up or otherwise put together in order to achieve the space-saving effect. Ultimately, this configuration of the device also enables material to be saved, since less material is usually required for the provision of the ropes than for vertical rod elements. In the case of the space-saving arrangement with frame areas arranged next to one another, damping bodies attached to the horizontal rod elements could be vented and / or arranged one above the other. Ultimately, with this illustrated embodiment, a kind of folding up of the device could be achieved.

With regard to a particularly convenient and simple configuration of the last-explained embodiment, an uppermost frame area could be designed as a floating body, which could be positioned on the surface or in the area of the surface of the liquid when the device is in use. The remaining frame areas could be designed in such a way that they do not experience any buoyancy force.

With regard to simple handling of the ropes connecting the frame areas, winches for the ropes could be assigned to this uppermost frame area. The winches could be hydraulic winches. Furthermore, the winches could be permanently coupled to the uppermost frame area.

With a view to adapting the design of the device as flexibly as possible to the conditions prevailing when the device is used, for example the shape of an object to be introduced, the frame could have several frame parts or rod elements that can be pivoted relative to one another about at least one pivot axis. In this case, several linkage elements could form such a pivotable frame part, or pivot axes could also be implemented between individual linkage elements, which allow angular positioning of the linkage elements relative to one another.

With regard to a particularly safe operation of the device and with regard to a particularly effective reduction in the propagation of sound, the frame parts or linkage elements could be pivotable relative to one another in such a way that a cylinder jacket-like frame with a substantially closed jacket can be produced. Such a jacket could, for example, securely enclose a pile to be driven into a subsurface during ramming in such a way that a maximum of reducing effect with regard to the propagation of the sound can be achieved. The cylinder jacket-like frame could enclose a post or another object as a cylinder jacket with a polygonal base area corresponding to the number of frame parts or rod elements. In a further advantageous embodiment, the frame parts or linkage elements could be pivotable relative to one another in such a way that a substantially hood-shaped frame can be generated. A nail to be inserted into a subsurface could essentially be enclosed from above and from the side by means of such a hood-shaped frame. A hood that can be placed on a nail in this way could have a passage for an impact tool acting on the nail. The damping bodies could also be releasably attached to the foundation body before the foundation descends and, triggered from above, float up after the pile-driving process for reuse.

With a view to reliably filling the damping body with the desired gas, a pressure line for introducing the gas into the damping body could be assigned to the frame. In concrete terms, each damping body could be flow-connected to the pressure line. A separate flow connection or flow line or pressure line from a pressure source to each individual damping body would also be conceivable and could enable the damping body to be pressurized in a particularly individual manner. The pressure line or the pressure lines could or could in principle be guided along the frame and attached to the outside of the frame. With regard to a particularly safe and Protected operation of the device, the pressure line or the pressure lines could be integrated into the frame or arranged in the linkage elements. Damage to the pressure lines from the outside could thereby be safely avoided.

To compensate for different pressure conditions at different depths in the liquid, the damping bodies could be able to be acted upon with different gas pressures, preferably depending on their depth position in the liquid. This could ensure that the damping bodies always occupy an equally large volume in the liquid regardless of an existing depth-related external pressure.

With regard to a comfortable and safe application of pressure to the damping body, a pressure control device and / or at least one pressure reducer could be assigned to the pressure line. Depending on the intended depth position in the liquid, pressure reducers with different reducing behavior could be used in the pressure line. Basically, damping bodies positioned at the same depth could be subjected to the same pressure. Damping bodies positioned lower down could be subjected to a higher pressure in order to counteract the external pressure that increases with increasing depth.

In order to achieve particularly effective sound absorption and to reduce the propagation of sound, the damping bodies could have a sound-insulating open- or closed-pore material in their interior - preferably on their inner wall. Such a material could be foam, which is particularly effective in an open-pored configuration. In particular, when gas is introduced into the damping body, open-pore foam or an open-pore material usually relaxes.

^{So-called lifting cushions with an area size of 1 to 1.5 m 2} , for example, could be used as damping bodies in a particularly advantageous and practical manner. Such lifting cushions are particularly easy to handle, in particular because of their size. Ultimately, these are flat damping bodies when not filled with gas, which can be inflated and thus unfolded by the introduction of the gas.

Such damping bodies could have a soft covering medium made of rubber with a reinforcement, preferably an aramid cord insert. This results in a high level of robustness against external damage and corrosion. Furthermore, so-called lifting bags are usually pressure-resistant up to 8 bar and can therefore be used up to a depth of at least 70 meters in a liquid, for example water.

In a particularly simple manner, the damping bodies could have at least one eyelet for attachment to the frame, to a frame part or to a linkage element. The simple assembly also results in simple exchangeability in the event of damage.

The damping bodies fastened to the frame, in particular lifting cushions, orient themselves upwards in the liquid or in the water even without the gas being filled in due to the buoyancy effect. The damping bodies or lifting cushions can be attached to the frame in such a way that the entire device allows a flow of the liquid through, so that when the device is installed, little lateral force is exerted on the device by the flow. This facilitates the installation of the device in the field of use.

As soon as the device is positioned around an object to be introduced, for example, the damping bodies can be filled with the gas or supplied with compressed air.

The reduction in the propagation of the sound results in particular from the fact that sound waves or sound pressure have to penetrate the damping body after a short water distance between an object to be introduced and the device of about 0.5 to 1 m. Depending on the preferred design of the damping body, this means penetration into the outer rubber of a cushion, into the foam, through the compressed air in the cushion, back into the foam and then back into the rubber of the cushion, until sound waves or sound pressure finally clear the system leave or leave in a weakened form in the environment.

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Verminderung der Ausbreitung von Schall in einer Flüssigkeit,

Fig. 2

in einer Seitenansicht, teilweise und vergrößert, die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

in einer Seitenansicht, teilweise und vergrößert, die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 mit mit einem Gas befüllten Dämpfungskörpern,

Fig. 4

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung, schematisch, das Ausführungsbeispiel aus Fig. 1 ohne Dämpfungskörper und im geöffneten Zustand und

Fig. 5

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung, schematisch, das Ausführungsbeispiel aus Fig. 1 ohne Dämpfungskörper und im geschlossenen Zustand.

There are now various possibilities of designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the claims. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the subordinate claims and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred configurations and developments of the teaching are also explained without deviating from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the claims. Show in the drawing

Fig. 1

in a perspective illustration an embodiment of a device according to the invention for reducing the propagation of sound in a liquid,

Fig. 2

in a side view, partially and enlarged, the device from Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

in a side view, partially and enlarged, the device from Fig. 1 with damping bodies filled with a gas,

Fig. 4

in a perspective representation, schematically, the embodiment from Fig. 1 without damping body and in the open state and

Fig. 5

in a perspective representation, schematically, the embodiment from Fig. 1 without damping body and when closed.

Fig. 1 shows in a perspective illustration an embodiment of a device for reducing the propagation of sound in a liquid. The device is used when introducing an object 1 into a subsurface. In this exemplary embodiment, the object 1 is formed by a pile that is to be introduced into the subsoil of a body of water. The device has a plurality of damping bodies 2 which can be filled with a gas and a carrier 3 on which the damping bodies 2 are arranged in a suitable position relative to one another. With a view to safe operation of the device with structurally simple means, the carrier 3 has a frame 4 with horizontal rod elements 5. The damping bodies 2 are attached to these linkage elements 5.

The damping body 2 are according to Fig. 1 arranged around the object 1 in such a way that the object 1 is essentially completely enclosed. For this purpose, the damping bodies 2 overlap slightly or in a suitable manner.

With regard to particularly high stability and thus with regard to particularly safe operation, the frame 4 has a plurality of vertical rod elements 6 and horizontal rod elements 5 arranged perpendicular to one another. To position the device around the object 1, the closed state can be brought into an open state of the device. For this purpose, the frame 4 has several pivot axes 7 so that individual frame parts 8 can be pivoted relative to one another.

the Fig. 2 and 3 show in a partial and enlarged side view the embodiment from FIG Fig. 1 . In Fig. 2 the cushioning body 2, which is designed as a cushion, is not yet filled with gas. However, even when not yet filled with gas, the damping bodies 2 are already essentially arranged in their position of use, since the buoyancy prevailing under water pushes the damping bodies 2 attached to the horizontal rod elements 5 upwards. Fig. 3 shows the same situation with damping bodies 2 which are filled with gas.

the Fig. 4 and 5 show schematically the embodiment from Fig. 1 , where in Fig. 4 the above mentioned open and in Fig. 5 the above-mentioned closed state of the device are shown. Specifically, the frame 4 has a plurality of frame parts 8 which can be pivoted relative to one another about pivot axes 7. The frame parts 8 can be pivoted with respect to one another in such a way that a cylinder jacket-like frame 4 with an essentially closed jacket can be produced, as shown in FIG Fig. 5 is shown. Thus, an object 1 such as a pile can easily be completely enclosed by the device while it is being driven into a subsurface, so that a reliable reduction in the propagation of sound generated during the driving process can be achieved.

In an exemplary embodiment not shown here, the vertical linkage elements 6 can be replaced by ropes, so that the device is ultimately made up of several ring-like frame parts 8 which are coupled to one another via the ropes. In this case, a particularly space-saving storage of the device outside of its use is possible.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiment described above only serves to explain the teaching claimed, but does not restrict it to the exemplary embodiment.

List of reference symbols

1

object

2

Damping body

3

carrier

4th

frame

5

Linkage element, horizontal

6th

Linkage element, vertical

7th

Swivel axis

8th

Frame part

Claims (9)

1. Device for reducing the propagation of sound, vibrations and pressure shocks in a liquid, in particular sound occurring when an object (1) is inserted into a substrate and/or in particular into water, comprising a plurality of damping bodies (2) that can be filled with a gas, and a support (3) on which the damping bodies (2) can be arranged with respect to one another in suitable relative positions, the support (3) comprising a frame (4) having horizontal linkage elements (5), characterised in that the damping bodies (2) are arranged on the horizontal linkage elements (5) such that individual damping bodies (2) can be decoupled from the linkage elements (5) and reattached to the linkage elements (5), and that the frame (4) comprises a plurality of frame parts (8) or linkage elements (5, 6) that are pivotable with respect to one another about at least one pivot axis (7), the frame parts (8) or linkage elements (5, 6) being pivotable with respect to one another such that a cylindrical shell-type frame (4) having a substantially closed shell, or a bonnet-shaped frame can be produced.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame (4) comprises a plurality of vertical (6) and horizontal linkage elements (5) that are arranged perpendicularly to one another.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame (4) comprises a plurality of frame regions which consist of horizontal linkage elements (5) and are coupled to one another by means of ropes.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that an uppermost frame region is formed as a float comprising preferably allocated winches for the ropes.
5. Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a pressure line for introducing the gas into the damping bodies (2) is associated with the frame (4), the pressure line preferably being integrated in the frame (4).
6. Device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a different gas pressure can be applied to the damping bodies (2), preferably depending on their depth position in the liquid.
7. Device according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that a pressure controller and/or at least one pressure reducer is/are associated with the pressure line.
8. Device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the damping bodies (2) comprise a soundproof open-pored or closed-pored material in the interior thereof, preferably on the inner wall thereof.
9. Device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the damping bodies (2) comprise at least one lug for fastening to the frame (4), to a frame part (8) or to a linkage element (5, 6).

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