EP3495562A1 - Carrier system and method for fixing the carrier system - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrier system (1) for fastening at least one testing device and / or cleaning device and / or repair device to a support structure below and / or above a water surface of a body comprises a carriage carrier chain (5) which can be arranged circumferentially around the support structure and a plurality of interconnected Chain elements (3), and- several around the support structure circumferentially arranged and at least on a part of the chain elements (3) fixed winches (11). At least a portion of the chain elements (3) are formed with such flooding and lenzbaren cavities (9) , so that the slide carrier chain (5) has positive buoyancy in water-bound cavities (9) in water, and negative buoyancy in flooded cavities (9). The invention further relates to a method for attaching such a carrier system to a support structure.

Description

The invention relates to a carrier system for fastening at least one test device and / or at least one cleaning device and / or at least one repair device to a support structure below and / or above a water surface of a body of water. The invention further relates to a method of attaching such a carrier system to a support structure.

Wind turbines (also: wind turbines) are in particular in the field of coastal waters (so-called offshore wind turbines) on columnar support structures (also: pile, monopile or piled structure) constructed, which lie partially below the water surface and thus corrosion, especially by seawater, and maritime Vegetation are exposed. For this reason, such support structures, which are at least partially submerged, must be regularly examined and, if appropriate, freed from maritime growth.

From the EP 0 358 682 B1 For this purpose, a device is known in which a brush-carrying ring is provided, which is arranged under the water surface on the support structure.

In addition, the shows US Pat. No. 5,579,818 a device with rollers, which are laced around a support structure and remove by a wave-triggered, fluctuating motion maritime vegetation on the support structure.

Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved carrier system for fastening at least one testing device and / or at least one cleaning device and / or at least one repair device to a support structure below and / or above a water surface of a body of water characterized in particular by a simplified assembly.

This object is achieved by a carrier system with the features of claim 1 or by a method for attaching such a carrier system to a support structure having the features of claim 13.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• eine Schlittenträgerkette, die umfänglich um die Tragstruktur angeordnet werden kann und mehrere miteinander verbindbare Kettenelemente aufweiset, und
• mehrere um die Tragstruktur umfänglich angeordnete und zumindest an einem Teil der Kettenelemente befestigte Seilwinden.

A carrier system for fastening at least one testing device and / or cleaning device and / or repair device to supporting structures below and / or above a water surface of a body of water, comprises:

• a slide carrier chain, which can be arranged circumferentially around the support structure and has a plurality of interconnectable chain elements, and
• a plurality around the support structure circumferentially arranged and at least attached to a part of the chain elements winches.

The carriage carrier chain can be positioned by means of the cable winches on the support structure with respect to the water surface in a predetermined vertical height. According to the invention, at least some of the chain elements have such flooding and deflectable cavities that the carriage carrier chain has negative buoyancy in guided cavities in water, in particular seawater, positive buoyancy and in flooded cavities.

The design of the slide carrier chain is such that it has positive buoyancy in water, in particular seawater, in hollow cavities, ie in particular voids emptied of liquid, and thus floats. In flooded cavities, the carriage carrier chain has negative buoyancy in water, especially seawater, and decreases. This advantageously facilitates the mounting of the carrier system to the support structure, since it can easily be guided around the support structure in the floating state and fastened thereto.

To perform testing and / or repair and / or cleaning work under water, the slide carrier chain, which is designed to position a cleaning, repair and / or testing device under water, floats controlled, so that in particular the vertical position of the carriage carrier chain using the winches with respect to the water surface or given the water level and so the sled carrier chain can be lowered controlled in the water.

The winches are preferably equipped with encoders such that the travel distance of the carriage carrier chain can be reliably detected, especially in the vertical direction. In this way, the position of the carriage carrier chain arranged circumferentially around the carrying structure can be precisely specified, in particular with reference to the water surface.

In one embodiment, it is provided that each of the cable winches can be attached to the support structure in a force-locking manner, at least indirectly, by means of electromagnets, in particular by means of two electromagnets arranged vertically offset from each other. In this way, a particularly quick and easy fixation of the carriage carrier chain on the outside of the support structure can be ensured.

Each winch can be connected via a vertically height-adjustable bracket with the electromagnets attaching the winches. The height-adjustable support is used during assembly of the support system to the support structure primarily to position the electromagnets in a vertical height with respect to the water surface, that they are located in an area that is not or only slightly affected by waves.

In a preferred embodiment, a tensioning chain is provided which can be arranged circumferentially around the supporting structure and has a plurality of further chain elements connectable to one another. At least on a part of the other chain elements winches for positioning the carriage carrier chain are attached. There are thus provided two chain structures which surround the support structure in each case circumferentially. The tensioning chain is fixed at least for the duration of the repair, testing and / or cleaning process, for example by means of hydraulically or pneumatically operated tensioning devices, in particular tensioning cylinders, fixed to the support structure and carries the winches, which serve to position the carriage carrier chain in variable vertical heights.

Preferably, pneumatic and / or hydraulic operated clamping devices, in particular clamping cylinder, for attachment to the Support structure formed on at least a portion of the chain elements of the carriage carrier chain and / or on at least a portion of the further chain elements of the tensioning chain or arranged. The clamping devices are used in particular for fixing the carriage carrier chain or the tensioning chain on the outer wall of the support structure and are for this purpose preferably arranged at several positions circumferentially around the support structure.

In one embodiment, the working medium of the hydraulically operated tensioning devices is seawater.

Preferably, the winches and / or tensioning devices can be arranged at regular intervals circumferentially around the support structure.

In one possible embodiment, each winch is releasably attached to a chain element of the carriage carrier chain by means of a locking element. When mounting the carrier system to the support structure thus serve the chain elements of the carriage carrier chain as a floating support for the winches. After the cable winches have been fastened to the support structure, the catch can be released, the cavities flooded and the carriage carrier chain lowered by means of winches to spend in a suitable for repair, testing and / or cleaning the outer surface of the support structure vertical position ,

According to one embodiment, the carriage carrier chain is designed to carry at least one carriage which can be moved in the circumferential direction. The carriage can be equipped with the already described testing device for non-destructive material testing and / or the cleaning device, in particular high-pressure cleaning device, and / or the repair device. In this way, almost any areas of the support structure, in particular under water, can be examined or cleaned. For this purpose, the carriage carrier chain is preferably first placed in a suitable vertical height on the support structure to then move the carriage with the testing and / or repair and / or cleaning device along the carriage carrier chain until the to be examined and / or repaired and / or or the area to be cleaned is reached.

In one embodiment, the carriage has at least one motor-driven or pneumatically driven toothed wheel which engages in a toothed rack arranged circumferentially around the carriage carrier chain. This type of drive ensures reliable movement of the carriage under water, even in the event of currents, since the force for locomotion is at least not exclusively caused by adhesion.

Preferably, a cleaning device, in particular high-pressure cleaning device, and / or a test device of nondestructive material testing, in particular ultrasonic testing or eddy current testing, and / or a repair device, such as a cutting or welding device, is provided or formed on the carriage. The high-pressure cleaning device preferably has one or more nozzles for acting on the outer surface of the support structure with an air and / or water jet. Inspection facilities of non-destructive materials testing are designed, for example, in a conventional manner for ultrasonic testing of components. Other possible embodiments relate in particular to the design of the test device as an eddy-current sensor such that structural damage can be detected at least in a region of the support structure close to the surface. The cutting device is designed according to an embodiment for water jet cutting.

In an advantageous development, the chain elements of the slide carrier chain and / or the further chain elements of the tensioning chain are formed in a circular ring segment. In particular, for the substantially columnar or cylindrical support structure, this shape of the chain elements and the other chain elements is advantageous because they are adapted to the outer shape of the support structure. As a result, the play between the chain elements and the support structure can be minimized and / or the number of chain elements or the further chain elements can be reduced.

The invention further relates to a method for attaching the already described carrier system to a support structure which is at least partially submerged. Advantages arise directly from the previous description with respect to the carrier system.

For this purpose, a carriage carrier chain is provided with a plurality of interconnected chain elements. Cable winches are attached to at least part of the chain elements so that the carriage carrier chain can be positioned in a predeterminable vertical height with respect to the water surface. In addition, at least a portion of the chain elements such flooding and deflectable cavities are formed that the slide carrier chain has negative buoyancy in guided cavities in water, especially seawater, positive buoyancy and flooded cavities. The slide carrier chain is guided circumferentially around the support structure at guided water cavities. Subsequently, end-side chain elements of the carriage carrier chain are connected to one another in such a way that the carriage carrier chain circumferentially surrounds the carrying structure at a vertical height of the water surface. The property of the slide carrier chain that it floats in guided, that is emptied of liquid, cavities, can thus be used advantageously to facilitate the temporary mounting of the carrier system to the support structure, in particular for the purpose of testing or cleaning.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the slide carrier chain which is arranged circumferentially around the support structure at a vertical height of the water surface is fastened at least temporarily by means of pneumatically and / or hydraulically operated tensioning devices or cylinders. At least a portion of the chain elements carries winches, which are fixed non-positively in a floating carriage carrier chain, ie in guided cavities by means of electromagnets on an outer surface or wall of the support structure. The vertical height of the electromagnets with respect to the water surface is preferably adjusted by means of a height-adjustable holder prior to activation of the electromagnets. This ensures that the measures provided for the frictional attachment of the winches electromagnets are placed in a range that is so far above the water level or the water surface, that with little or no influence is to be expected by waves.

In one embodiment, it is provided to position the carriage carrier chain in flooded cavities by means of winches below the water surface in a predetermined vertical height, in particular around a wall portion of the To examine supporting structure with the help of a nondestructive testing technique and / or to get rid of maritime fouling.

• Figur 1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Trägersystem gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• Figur 2 das Trägersystem auf Figur 1 mit einer geöffneten Schlittenträgerkette in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• Figur 3 die Montage des Trägersystems aus Figur 1 an einer säulenartigen Tragstruktur, insbesondere einer Windenergieanlage,
• Figur 4 Detaildarstellung einzelner Komponenten des Trägersystems aus Figur 1 in einer perspektivischen Detailansicht,
• Figur 5 weitere Komponenten des Trägersystems aus Figur 1 in einer perspektivischen Detailansicht,
• Figur 6 eine Perspektivansicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Trägersystems in einer zweiten Ausführungsform mit einer Spann- und einer Schlittenträgerkette,
• Figur 7 eine perspektivische Detailansicht von Komponenten des Trägersystems aus Figur 6, und
• Figur 8 weitere Komponenten des Trägersystems aus Figur 6 in einer perspektivischen Detailansicht.

The invention will be explained below with regard to further features and advantages with reference to the description of two embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

• FIG. 1 an inventive carrier system according to a first embodiment in a perspective view,
• FIG. 2 the carrier system FIG. 1 with an open carriage carrier chain in a perspective view,
• FIG. 3 the assembly of the carrier system FIG. 1 on a columnar support structure, in particular a wind energy plant,
• FIG. 4 Detailed representation of individual components of the carrier system FIG. 1 in a perspective detail view,
• FIG. 5 further components of the carrier system FIG. 1 in a perspective detail view,
• FIG. 6 a perspective view of an inventive carrier system in a second embodiment with a tension and a sled carrier chain,
• FIG. 7 a detailed perspective view of components of the carrier system FIG. 6 , and
• FIG. 8 further components of the carrier system FIG. 6 in a perspective detail view.

The same or corresponding parts are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a support system 1 for attachment of testing, repair and / or cleaning facilities on a support structure T, especially under water. The carrier system 1 of the first embodiment comprises a plurality of chain elements 3 or chain links, which have the shape of circular ring segments and are hinged together.

At least the connection between two end-side arranged chain elements 3a, 3b, as in FIG. 2 shown, detachable, so that the structure formed by the entirety of the chain elements 3 circumferentially around the support structure, as in FIG. 3 illustrated, can be arranged.

The support structure T is, for example, a foundation of a wind turbine that is located in a body of water and is, for example, part of an offshore wind farm.

The chain elements 3 form in the assembled state a closed carriage carrier chain 5 for a carriage 7 which can be moved circumferentially about the essentially cylindrical carrying structure T.

The carriage 7 of the first embodiment is shown in detail in FIG FIG. 4 shown and contributes in a manner not shown testing equipment in particular for non-destructive materials testing, such as ultrasonic testing or eddy current sensors, and / or cleaning means for cleaning the outer surface of the support structure T, and / or repair means for repairing the support structure T.

Because the carriage carrier chain 5 can be arranged in different positions, in particular at different vertical heights H with respect to a water surface W, all wall sections of the carrying structure above or below water can be reached by the carriage 7 and thus tested and / or cleaned and / or repaired ,

The chain elements 3 of the carriage carrier chain 5 have floodable and deflectable cavities 9, which are dimensioned such that the carriage carrier chain 5 together with the components fastened thereto floats in guided cavities 9, ie has positive buoyancy in water, in particular seawater, and in flooded cavities 9 sinks, so has a negative boost.

In addition to the already mentioned slide 7 carries the slide carrier chain 5, in particular at its top a plurality of winches 11 which are provided with brackets 13 for attachment to the outer surface of the support structure T, and hydraulically or pneumatically operated tensioning means 15, which also for at least temporarily securing the carriage carrier chain 5 on the support structure T serve.

The clamping devices 15 are designed to exert a substantially radially directed force for fixing the carriage carrier chain 5 to the support structure T. The clamping devices 15 are therefore, as in particular in FIG FIG. 1 to recognize at regular intervals circumferentially around the support structure T arranged.

The side winches 11, which serve primarily for positioning the carriage carrier chain 5 in a predeterminable vertical height H, are also circumferentially arranged around the carrying structure T at regular intervals for reasons of better distribution of forces. Preferably, at least four winches 11 are provided for this purpose, wherein the number of winches 11 is dependent on the diameter of the support structure T, for example.

FIG. 4 shows details of the carrier system 1. The carriage carrier chain 5 is lowered in particular in flooded cavities 9 by means of the winches 11, so that they can be positioned in variable vertical height H to supporting structure. The winches 11 are releasably secured by means of locking elements 18 having locking brackets 17 at the top of the carriage carrier chain 5. The adjustable in vertical height H holder 13 carries two mutually offset electromagnets 19, which serve for the frictional attachment of the winches 11 on the outside of the support structure T.

The carriage 7 can be moved along the slide carrier chain 5 circumferentially around the support structure T and has for this purpose a driven by a motor 20 gear 21 which engages in a circumferential, on the carriage carrier chain 5 radially outwardly arranged rack 22.

FIG. 5 shows the clamping device 15 in detail. The illustrated hydraulic tensioning device 15 comprises a clamping jaw 16, which is designed to exert a force radially inwards and on the outer wall of the supporting structure T. Since a plurality of clamping devices 15 are circumferentially distributed around the carriage carrier chain 5, this can thereby be fixed non-positively to the support structure T, so that the clamping jaws 16 are employed at different circumferential positions in each case radially to the support structure T. As a working medium of the hydraulic tensioning device 15 is water, especially seawater.

The carrier system 1 is preferably attached to a support structure T set up in a body of water, in particular coastal waters, as follows: The carrier system 1 is preassembled and tested, for example on a ship.

The winches 11 and the electromagnets 19 supporting brackets 13 are temporarily secured via the locking brackets 17 and locking elements 18 at the top of the chain elements 3.

The carrier system 1 is left in the water, for example by means of a crane. The open carriage carrier chain 5 is at guided cavities 9 at the water surface W, as in FIG. 3 schematically illustrated, guided around the support structure T and the end-side chain elements 3a, 3b connected to each other, so that a circumferential chain structure is formed.

The clamping devices 15 are slightly biased to fix the carrier system 1 to the support structure T. The rotation lock formed by the locking elements 18 is unlocked and the split electromagnets 19 are moved along the support 13 in a vertical upward direction to guide them out of the shaft-influenced area. After activation of the electromagnets 19, the cable winches 11 are frictionally attached to the outside of the support structure T.

According to the measure to be carried out, the carriage 7 is equipped, for example, with a cleaning device, in particular a high-pressure cleaning device, a testing device, in particular an ultrasonic testing device and / or a repair device, in particular a water jet cutting device. The cavities 9 are flooded with water, in particular seawater and the slide carrier chain 5 with the carriage 7 by means of the winches 11 in the vertical direction down.

Subsequently, the carriage carrier chain 5 is fixed by means of the clamping devices 15 at a vertical height H to the support structure T. The carriage 7 is moved around the support structure T for cleaning, testing and / or repairing the support structure T along the carriage carrier chain 5. Optionally, several trips of the carriage 7, in particular in different vertical heights H.

The track offset for the cleaning, testing and / or repair between the individual, taking place at different vertical heights H rides arises, inter alia, of the physical design of the cleaning, testing and / or repair device used. The offset in the vertical direction depends, for example, on the number and arrangement of the high pressure nozzles of a high pressure cleaning device.

After each process of the slide carrier chain 5 in the vertical direction, this is newly braced by means of the clamping devices 15. For accurate positioning of the carriage carrier chain 5 in the vertical height H, the winches 11 are equipped with encoders.

Alternatively or additionally, the carriages 7 may be equipped with encoders.

The FIGS. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the support system 1, which differs from the first embodiment in the manner of attachment of the winches 11 to the support structure T. Incidentally, reference is made to the previous description, in particular to the description of relevant elements or assemblies, which are provided with the same reference numerals.

The carrier system 1 of the second embodiment comprises a tensioning chain 23, which is formed by a plurality of further chain elements 24 articulated to each other. The tensioning chain 23 can be fixed in a manner similar to the already described slide carrier chain 5 on the outside of the support structure T via electromagnets 19 and clamping devices 15 frictionally. The further chain elements 24 of the tensioning chain 23 are also provided in one embodiment with floodable and deflectable cavities 9.

The tensioning chain 23 is, as in the FIGS. 6 to 8 shown radially inwardly attached to the support structure T. The slide carrier chain 5, which can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the tensioning chain 23, forms a radially outer ring structure around the support structure T.

At the top of some of the other chain elements 24 winches 11 are attached. By means of the winches 11, the carriage carrier chain 5, in particular in flooded cavities 9 under the water surface W be lowered and positioned with respect to the support structure T in a predetermined vertical height H.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1

carrier system

3

chain element

3a

chain element

3b

chain element

5

Carriage support chain

7

carriage

9

cavity

11

winch

13

holder

15

tensioning device

16

jaw

17

locking bracket

18

locking element

19

electromagnet

20

engine

21

gear

22

rack

23

tensioning chain

24

chain element

H

height

T

supporting structure

Claims (15)

Carrier system (1) for fastening at least one testing device and / or cleaning device and / or repair device to a support structure (T) below and / or above a water surface (W) of a body of water - A carriage carrier chain (5) which can be arranged circumferentially around the support structure (T) and a plurality of interconnectable chain elements (3), and a plurality of cable winches (11) arranged circumferentially around the support structure (T) and fastened at least to a part of the chain elements (3), the slide support chain (5) being connected to the support structure (T) with respect to the water surface (W) by means of the winches (11) can be positioned in a predeterminable vertical height (H), characterized in that
at least part of the chain elements (3) have such floodable and deflectable cavities (9) that the carriage carrier chain (5) has positive buoyancy in guided cavities (9) in water positive buoyancy and in flooded cavities (9) negative buoyancy. Support system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each winch (11) at least indirectly by means of electromagnets (19), in particular by means of two mutually vertically staggered electromagnet (19) on the support structure (T) is non-positively fastened. Support system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each winch (11) via a vertically height-adjustable bracket (13) with the respective winch (11) fixing electromagnet (19) is connected. Support system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tensioning chain (23) is provided, which can be arranged circumferentially around the support structure (T) and a plurality of further connectable further chain elements (24), wherein at least a part of the further chain elements (24) cable winches (11) for positioning the Slide carrier chain (5) in predetermined vertical height (H) to the support structure (T) are attached. Carrier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that pneumatic and / or hydraulic operated clamping devices (15) for attachment to the support structure (T) on at least part of the chain elements (3) of the slide carrier chain (5) and / or at least a part of the further chain elements (24) of the tensioning chain (23) are formed or arranged. Support system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the working medium of the hydraulic tensioning device (15) is seawater. Carrier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable winches (11) and / or clamping devices (15) are arranged at regular intervals circumferentially around the support structure (T). Carrier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each winch (11) is releasably secured to a chain element (3) of the carriage carrier chain (5) by means of a locking element (18). Carrier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage carrier chain (5) carries at least one carriage (7) which can be moved in the circumferential direction. Carrier system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the carriage (7) has at least one motor-driven or pneumatically driven toothed wheel (21), which engages in a toothed rod (22) arranged circumferentially around the carriage carrier chain (5). Support system (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the carriage (7) is provided or designed a cleaning device, in particular high-pressure cleaning device, and / or a test device of nondestructive material testing, in particular Ultraschallprüfeinrichtung, and / or a repair device. Support system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chain elements (3) of the carriage carrier chain (5) and / or the further chain elements (24) of the tensioning chain (23) are designed in the shape of a circular ring segment. Method for fastening a carrier system (1) according to one of the preceding claims to an at least partially underwater carrying structure (T), by means of the following steps: a) providing a carriage carrier chain (5) with a plurality of interconnected chain elements (3), wherein at least on a part of the chain elements (3) winches are attached, so that the carriage carrier chain (5) with respect to the water surface (W) in a predetermined vertical height ( H) is positionable, and wherein at least on a part of the chain elements (3) such floatable and lenzbare cavities (9) are formed, that the carriage carrier chain (5) in guided cavities (9) in water positive buoyancy and flooded cavities (9 ) has negative buoyancy, b) moving around the carriage carrier chain (5) with guided cavities (9) circumferentially about the support structure T on the water surface (W), and c) connecting the end-side chain elements (3a, 3b) of the carriage carrier chain (5) with each other, so that the carriage carrier chain (5) the support structure T at a vertical height (H) of the water surface (W) circumferentially surrounds. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the vertical height (H) of the water surface (W) circumferentially around the support structure (T) arranged slide carrier chain (5) by means of pneumatic and / or hydraulic tensioning means (15) are at least temporarily attached, wherein at least a part of the chain elements (3) carries cable winches (11), which are fastened non-positively by means of electromagnets (19) on an outer surface of the support structure (T) when the slide carriage chain (5) is floating, wherein the vertical height (H) of the electromagnets (19) with respect to the water surface (W) by means of a height-adjustable holder (13) before activation of the electromagnets (19) is adjusted. A method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the slide carrier chain (5) in flooded cavities (9) by means of the winches (11), in particular below the water surface (W), in a predeterminable vertical height (H) is positioned.

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