FR2778506A1 - Method, infrastructure and machine for laying services in bed of water course to link distant geographic locations - Google Patents

Abstract

The services are installed in a trench (6) cut in the ground (8) which forms the bed (7) of a water course (2). The installation is made from a barge which floats on the water and carries excavating machinery on the front, and a cable laying machine and trench filler on the back

Description

DESCRIPTION

  "Method, infrastructure and machine for establishing a link between geographically distant places" The invention relates to a method for establishing a link such as electrical, telephone, fluid, telecommunications, signaling, transmission, etc., between places geographically distant. The present invention also relates to an infrastructure resulting from the implementation of this method. The present invention also relates to a laying machine for implementing the method or for

infrastructure construction.

  Up to now, in the continental zone, connections of the kind targeted by the invention have been established along the terrestrial communication channels and in particular the

  along roads and railroad tracks.

  These sites, which have been used for a long time for the establishment of communication networks, are

more and more crowded.

  In addition, installation, maintenance, repair or modification work is made difficult for inclement weather and by the

more and more traffic.

  Cables were also installed along the banks of the waterway and in particular along the towpaths. However, this solution proved to be complex due to numerous obstacles such as aqueducts, trees, streams, bridges, drinkers, access slopes to the watercourse. The banks can be -2- narrow, fragile or on the contrary present reinforcements or supports. It is generally necessary to clear the brush before any work. On the contrary, if the banks are maintained, some traffic generally exists and requires

additional precautions.

  The aim of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a method which escapes the aforementioned constraints linked to the congestion of existing sites, to the traffic constituting the primary vocation.

  of these sites, and / or climatic hazards.

  According to the invention, the method for establishing a connection between geographically distant places by means of a longilinear connection structure such as pipeline, electric line, telecommunication line, transmission line, optical fibers and the like, is characterized in that '' we install at least part of the structure

  longitudinally in a waterway.

  The idea which is the basis of the invention is to use the bed of streams such as rivers, canals, rivers as sites hosting a network or

  at least part of a link network.

  More particularly, the bed of rivers and waterways in general represents a very important natural network and currently unexploited as a site

  d.'implantation for technical link networks.

  In addition, the bed of waterways has advantages of relief and geology. The rare obstacles such as weirs, waterfalls, locks, are easy to cross and bypass. Climatic events -3 - have no effect on the geology and in particular on the behavior of the materials surrounding the structure

of longilinear connection.

  In addition, there is little or no traffic on the waterways, which further facilitates the organization and implementation of construction, maintenance, modification or repair work. It is within the scope of the invention to establish a connection over part of its length in a waterway as we have just explained and on another

  part of its length on a different site.

  It is also part of the invention to provide a connecting artery in a waterway, and to serve, from this artery, points of a network by means of lines leaving the artery towards these different points being installed on sites

  which may not be aquatic.

  Preferably, the structure is buried, over at least part of its length, in the bed of the waterway. This protects the structure from the direct or indirect effects of the water current as well as possible human activities affecting the bed of the

waterway.

  The structure can advantageously be placed in a notch which is formed in the bed of the waterway, then which is filled either with the material extracted during the formation of the notch or with a filler material compatible with the aquatic environment,

  in particular a cement, a concrete or a resin.

  -4- Preferably, we place the structure in the notch as we just formed each successive part of the notch, and / or we fill each part of the notch as we just got there place the structure. The notch is formed with a width preferably between about 30 and 500 mm, and a depth between about 100 and 800 mm. Different dimensions can however be envisaged as a function of the transverse dimensions of the elongated structure and / or of the nature of the soil forming the bed of the waterway. In particular, depths

  greater than 800 mm are possible.

  For the installation of the elongated structure, one can use a machine moving on the bank of the waterway, a machine moving on the bed of the waterway, or a floating machine that can be example to maneuver from one of the banks or from the two banks. The machine has a tool

  dipping into the water of the waterway.

  Between two successive sections of the structure, which we both install in the waterway, we can connect the structure to an emerged installation, such as a technical room, a manhole, a connection between successive elongated elementary structures of the structure, a connection installation for a bypass, a regulating member such as a valve if the structure is a pipe, or an interrupting member, a means of energy supply such as a pump for a pipeline, control body, etc. -5- Preferably, the two sections are connected separately to the emerged installation, so that a certain length of the waterway extends between the

two sections.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, the infrastructure comprising an elongated connection structure such as pipeline, power line, telecommunications, transmission or signaling line, optical fibers or the like, extending between geographically distant places, is characterized in that over at least part of its length the structure extends longitudinally in a waterway, preferably being buried in the

waterway floor.

  The infrastructure may include at least one emergent installation located near the waterway and to which the elongated structure is connected. This emerged installation can belong to the group comprising a technical room, a manhole, a connection installation, a connection between two successive elongated elementary structures of the structure, a means of energy supply, a transformer, a regulation device or interruption such as a valve for a network

  fluidics, a control device.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, the laying machine for implementing the method or for producing an infrastructure according to the second aspect is characterized in that it comprises: - a frame supporting a reserve of elongated structure ; -6- - means for translating the chassis along a waterway; - a tool for digging a notch in the bed of the waterway; and - means for unwinding the elongated structure from the reserve and guiding the elongated structure to an insertion zone of the elongated structure in the notch behind the digging tool. Preferably, the tool is mounted at the end of an articulated boom supported by the chassis, and the means for guiding the elongated structure are at least partially supported by the boom. It is preferred that the boom also supports means for filling the notch behind the insertion area. The filling means may include means for injecting a filler material suitable for

  aquatic environment, such as concrete, cement or resin.

  Other features and advantages of

  the invention will become apparent from the description

  below, relating to non-limiting examples.

  In the accompanying drawings: - Figure 1 is a schematic sectional and perspective view of a waterway equipped with an infrastructure according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of the waterway of Figure 1, during the implementation of the method; - 7- - Figure 3 is a sectional view of the soil constituting the bed of the waterway in a second embodiment of the method; - Figure 4 is a sectional and perspective view of the waterway of Figure 1 during the implementation of the method by means of a machine according to the invention; - Figure 5 is a schematic view of the boom and the tooling of the machine of Figure 4; - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with a second embodiment of the machine; - Figure 7 is a partial sectional and perspective view of the waterway where the method is implemented with a third embodiment of the machine; - Figure 8 is a plan view of the infrastructure at a location where an emerging installation is provided; and - Figure 9 is a sectional view along IX-IX of

Figure 8.

  In the example shown in Figure 1, a slender structure 1 is placed longitudinally in a waterway 2, and in particular in the area

  flooded under water level 3 of waterway 2.

  Waterway 2 can be a natural watercourse such as a river, or a canal. The waterway

may be navigable or not.

  More particularly, the structure 1 is placed in the bottom of a notch 6 which has been made through the bed 7 of the stream, in the ground 8

defining this bed.

  -8- The slender structure 1 is covered by a filling material 9 whose upper surface

is flush with the bed 7.

  Figure 2 illustrates the process being implemented for a line 1 of relatively large

  diameter, for example a water or gas pipe.

  The notch 6 has a depth P of up to for example 800 mm and a width L of up to for example 500 mm. The width is at least equal to the diameter of the structure, increased by a sufficient installation clearance. The depth P is preferably much greater than the diameter of the structure, for example three times greater as shown in the

figure 2.

  In the situation shown, the notch 6 has been formed and the structure 1 has been installed in the notch 6. The material extracted during the formation of the notch 6 forms a swath 9 along the track

of water 2.

  In particular if the structure 1 is non-metallic, it is advantageous to also place in the notch 6, as shown, a means. location constituted in the example by a warning grid 11 capable of influencing a tracking device. It may for example be a metallic mesh 11 capable of influencing a magnetic tracking device. This will allow you to easily locate the slender structure

  if this later requires intervention.

  Following this, as illustrated by the arrows 12, the material of the windrows 9 is reintroduced into the notch 6 in order to reseal it above 9- the elongated structure 1 and the locating means

  11 so as to fill the notch 6.

  In the example shown in Figure 3, the elongated structure 1 is of relatively small diameter. The dimensions of the notch 6 are smaller than in the example of FIG. 2, the depth P being able to be reduced up to 100 mm and the width L up to 30 mm. The possible locating means 21 consists in this example of a metal wire 51 placed along the elongated structure 1. The filling material 59 is at least partly constituted by a filler material compatible with the aquatic environment, for example cement, concrete, resin, etc. The depth P is preferably calculated from the stable surface of the bed 7, and not from the surface of a possible layer of mud which in many cases covers the stable surface of the bed 7. In the drawings, the layer of mud is not

represented.

  To control the depth of digging of the notch, one can use precise topographical surveys which pre-exist for most waterways.

  and in particular for navigable waterways.

  FIG. 4 illustrates the implementation of the method according to the invention by means of a laying machine 13 comprising a chassis 14 equipped with a pilot cabin 16 and mounted on motorized tracks 17 capable of progressing in bearing on the bed 7 of the waterway 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow 18 parallel to the axis of the waterway 2. The part of the machine 13 - 10- where operators evolve has emerged, it is not therefore not a sub-aquatic type machine. For relatively deep waterways 2, it is possible to provide lifting means (not shown) between the crawler train 17 and the chassis 14. The chassis 14 carries an articulated boom 19. hydraulically controlled, very clearly represented schematic in Figure 4 but which will be described in detail below. The active end of the arrow 19 plunges into the water 4 and carries a tool 21 capable of forming the notch 6, of inserting the structure into it

  slender and fill in the notch 6.

  The elongated structure 1 is, in the example shown, a flexible structure, for example a polyethylene conduit or an electric cable, which is unwound from a reserve carried by the chassis 14

  of the machine in the form of a reel 22.

  Figure 5 illustrates in more detail an example of

  realization for the boom 19 and the tool 21.

  At its submerged end, the arrow 19 carries, in a manner which is in itself conventional, a connection plate 23 on which the tool 21 is mounted interchangeably. The tool 21 comprises, mounted at the head relative to the direction of translation of the machine, a saw or cutter 24 whose axis is horizontal and transverse to the direction of progression. The saw 24 is intended for digging

the notch 6 in the ground 8.

  The saw or cutter 24 is connected to a motor means which is not shown, for example hydraulic, for its

- 11 -

  drive in rotation about its horizontal axis 25. The saw or cutter 24 has an axial dimension which

  corresponds to the width L of the notch 6 to be produced.

  Behind the saw or cutter 24 is installed an intermediate element 26 which is simply moved along the notch 6 as the machine progresses along the waterway. The intermediate element 26 comprises a front face 27 which follows the rear contour of the cutter 24 and ends at the bottom of

  the notch 6 by a scraping edge 28.

  The intermediate element 26 also comprises a rear face 29 which forms a guide slide for the elongated structure 1. The intermediate element 26 has a width corresponding substantially to the width L

of the notch 6 to be made.

  The elongated structure 1 is guided along the arrow 19 by pairs of rollers 31, 32, 33, passes through an opening 34 in the connection plate 23 and is then held against the slide face 29 by rollers 36. The slide face 29 has a concave curvature which is compatible with the acceptable curvatures for the elongated structure 1 being laid, so as to gradually pass the structure 1 from its orientation of diving in the water of the watercourse 2 to its orientation lying against the

bottom of notch 6.

  The tool 21 further comprises from the intermediate element 26 two side plates 37 directed towards the rear. The rollers 36 are supported between these plates 37 and the structure 1 is also -12-

  guided between them along the slide face 29.

  The plates 37, the slide face 29 and the rollers 36 together form a movable guide for inserting the

  slender structure 1 in notch 6.

  The walls 37, the spacing of which corresponds substantially to the width of the notch 6, maintain the spacing between the faces of the notch for

insertion of structure 1.

  In addition, in the example shown, the walls 37 are extended rearwards beyond the rollers 36 to define an injection zone for a filler material forming a grip, which is injected into the notch. 6 to fill it over the

structure 1.

  The filler material, such as resin, cement or concrete, is brought by a pipe 38 extending along the arrow 19 and emerging between the walls 37 behind the insertion zone of the structure 1 and in particular behind the rollers 36. The duct 38 ends with an injection nozzle 41 located between the plates 37 behind a transverse wall 39 extending between the plates and separating the zone

insertion area and injection area.

  Thus, in accordance with a preferred feature of the method according to the invention, the tool 21 makes it possible to insert the structure 1 into each successive part of the notch 6 just after this part has just been dug and just before it be fulfilled. In the example shown in Figure 6, which will only be described for its differences from

- 13 -

  that of FIGS. 4 and 5, the chassis 14, instead of being carried by a train of tracks resting on the bed 7, consists of a chassis floating on the surface 3 of the watercourse 2, the machine being produced under the shape of a barge. This is hauled by means of a hauling cable 57 which can be chosen long enough so that its orientation is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the waterway 2 and to the direction of the notch 6 to be produced. . In a manner which in itself is conventional, the chassis 14 can carry at its front corner, on the side of the bank from which the hauling is ensured, a freely rotating horizontal wheel 42 allowing the chassis 14 to be

  lean without damage, laterally, against the bank.

  In the example shown in Figure 7, which will only be described for its differences from that of Figures 1 to 5, the machine 13 may be the same as that of Figure 4 but its tracks 17 rest on the ground 43 from the bank closest to the notch 6 to be made. The arrow 19 is oriented laterally so that its end carrying the tool 21 plunges into the water of the waterway 2 to practice the operations described with reference to FIG. 5. So that a machine such as 13 can operate either as shown in Figure 4 or as shown in Figure 7, it can be expected that the tool 21 is rotatable under the plate 23, which is a - function known per se for

  tool couplings per plate such as 23.

  The infrastructure according to the invention requires in most cases, at regular intervals, emerged structures 44 installed on bank 43, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Such emerged structures can have different functions. A first function may consist in connecting end-to-end elongate elementary structures 61, 71 to one another to constitute structure 1, since the reserve such as 22 (FIG. 4) carried by the chassis

  14 cannot have an infinite length.

  The infrastructure according to the invention will therefore consist of elementary structures connected to each other end to end. In many applications, the connection means must be placed in a protected location, which will also make it possible, in the event of an incident on a -elementary section, to conveniently replace this section without touching the other sections. The emerged structure 44 can also have a connection function for example to serve a local consumption point, a switch function (electrical applications) or a valve

  shutdown or regulation (fluid applications).

  The emerging installation 44 can also contain control instruments or even energy supply means such as, in fluidic applications,

a pump.

  The emerged installation can combine several of the functions which have just been described and / or have

  still other functions, depending on the applications.

  The elementary structures 61 and 71 of the elongated structure 1 are connected separately to the emergent installation 44, the elongated structure 1

- 15 -

  thus making a detour by the emergent installation 44 as well shown in FIG. 8. There is thus in the watercourse 2 an area 52 free from the elongated structure 1 between two sections 62 and 72 receiving the structure 1. L the notch 6 can be interrupted in the zone 52, as illustrated. The two connections 46 between the notch 6 and the emerged installation 44 are of

  preferably underground, as shown in Figure 9.

  The above-ground installation 44 may be underground, for example when it is necessary to respect the landscape or to respect security conditions with regard to unauthorized persons, or else to avoid the formation of obstacles on the bank. In other cases, it may on the contrary be desired that the above-ground installations such as 44 are visible to be easier to access and / or to signal the

presence of infrastructure.

  In the emerged installation 44, each elementary structure 61, 71, can be terminated by a length reserve 47. In the example shown, the emerged installation 44 houses a connection for a branch 48. The connection 49 between the two structures elementaries 61, 71 and the derivation 48 as well as the two length reserves 47 are sheltered

  in an interior chamber 45 of the installation 44.

  For the installation of a structure 1 consisting of a pipe, it is useful to fill the pipe with water so that it falls from it

  even at the bottom of notch 6 and tends to remain there.

  This can be achieved by leaving open in the waterway the end of each elementary structure which

- 16 -

  is set up in the first place. This can also be achieved by injecting water into the pipeline through the other end which is still on the chassis 14 of the machine. This water will then be removed, for example by means of compressed air, before setting in

pipeline service.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to

examples described and shown.

  The digging tools can take different forms depending on the nature of the soil to be dug and the dimensions of the notch to be produced. One can for example use an excavator chain. For a small notch, one can also use a blade pointing vertically downwards in the ground 8 and which is animated by a vibratory movement in its longitudinal direction. Such

  digging tools are commercially available.

  Although the installation of an elongated structure having a certain flexibility is preferred, it is also possible to apply the invention with a more rigid elongated structure of which successive sections are assembled on the chassis of the machine and then left fall into notch 6 behind the machine as they are assembled

end to end.

  The filling material can be at least partly made of filler material even for a structure having large transverse dimensions, and at least partly consisting of extracted material for a structure having small transverse dimensions. - 17 - The notch can be filled with at least two successive layers of different materials, one or

  both of which can be filler materials.

- 18 -

Claims (20)

  1- Method for establishing a connection between geographically distant places by means of a longilinear connection structure (1) such as pipeline, electric line, telecommunication line, transmission line, optical fibers and the like, characterized in that installs at least part of the structure longitudinally in a waterway (2).   2- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure is buried, over at least part of its length, in the bed (7) of the waterway (2). 3- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure is placed in a notch (6)   that was formed in the bed (7) of the waterway.   4- Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the structure (1) is placed in the notch (6)   as the notch (6) is formed.   5- Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the structure (1) is buried by filling at least partially the notch (6) after y having placed the structure (1).   6- A method according to claim 5, characterized in that it fills the notch (6) as there is placed the structure (1).   7- A method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that to fill the notch (6) using materials (9) extracted from the ground (8) defining the bed (7) of the waterway (2) when notch formation. - 19-   8- Method according to one of claims 5 to 7,   characterized in that to fill the notch (6) at least one filler material suitable for the aquatic environment is used. 9- Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the filler material (59) is chosen from the   group including cement, concrete and resin.   - Method according to one of claims 3 to 9,   characterized in that the notch (6) is formed with a width (L) of between approximately 30 and 500 mm, and a   depth (P) between approximately 100 and 800 mm.   11- Method according to one of claims 1 to   , characterized in that the structure (1) is installed by means of a machine (13) moving on the bed (7) and having a tool (21) immersed in the water (4) of the waterway (2).   12- Method according to one of claims 1 to   , characterized in that the structure (1) is installed by means of a machine (13) moving on the bank (43) and having a tool (21) immersed in water (4) of the waterway (2).   13- Method according to one of claims 1 to   12, characterized in that between two successive elementary structures (61, 71) of the structure (1), which are both installed in the waterway (2), the structure (1) is connected to an installation emerged (44).   14- The method of claim 13, characterized in that the two elementary structures (61, 71) are connected separately to the emerged installation (44), so that a part (52) of the track - 20- d (2) extends between the two structures elementary (61, 71).   - Infrastructure comprising a longilinear connection structure (1) such as pipeline, electric line, telecommunications, transmission or signaling line, optical fibers or the like, extending between geographically distant places, characterized in that on a part at less of its length the structure extends longitudinally in a waterway (2).   16- Infrastructure according to claim 15, characterized in that the structure (1) is buried in the ground (8) underlying the bed (7) of the waterway (2). 17- Infrastructure according to claim 16, characterized in that the structure (1) is installed in a notch (6) formed in said soil (8) and filled with a filler material (59) adapted to the aquatic environment.   18- Infrastructure according to one of the claims   to 17, characterized in that it comprises an above-ground installation (44) located near the waterway (2) and to which the elongated structure (1) is connected. 19- Infrastructure according to claim 18, characterized in that the emerged installation (44) belongs to the group comprising a technical room, a manhole, a connection installation (49), a means of energy supply, a transformer, a regulation or interruption device, a control device, a connection means (49) between successive individual structures (61, 71) of the slender structure (1).   - Infrastructure according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the layout of the elongated structure (1) makes a detour through the emerged structure (44) so that the bed of the waterway has between two sections (62, 72) receiving the elongated structure (1) a certain length (52) free from the slender structure (1).   21- Laying machine for the implementation of a   method according to one of claims 1 to 14, or for   the creation of an infrastructure according to one of the   claims 15 to 20, characterized in that it   comprises: - a frame (14) supporting a reserve (22) of elongated structure; - Means (17, 57) for translating the chassis (- 14) along a waterway (2); - A tool (24) for digging a notch (6) in the ground (8) underlying the bed (7) of the waterway (2); and - means (22, 31, 32, 33, 37) for unwinding and quiding the elongated structure (1) up to an insertion zone of the elongated structure (1) in   the notch (6) behind the digging tool (24).   22- Laying machine according to claim 21, characterized in that the tool (24) is mounted at the end of an articulated boom (19) supported by the chassis (14), and the means (31, 32, 33, 36) to guide the elongated structure (1) are at least in   part supported by the arrow (19).   -22 - 23- Laying machine according to claim 22, characterized in that the arrow (19) also supports means (37, 41) for filling in   the notch (6) behind the insertion zone.   24- Laying machine according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that it further comprises means (37, 41) for filling the notch (6) behind the insertion area.   - Laying machine according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the filling means (37, 41) comprise means (41) for injecting a   filler material suitable for the aquatic environment. 26- Laying machine according to one of   claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the   translation means include means (17) for   progression on the bed (7) of the waterway (2). 27- Laying machine according to one of   claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the   translation means include means (17) for   progression on a bank (43) of the waterway (2). 28- Laying machine according to one of   claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the chassis is floating.   29- Laying machine according to claim 28, characterized in that the translation means comprise means (57) of traction from a bank of the waterway.