FR2868762A1 - Large diameter reel for e.g. fabrication of flexible or rigid tube, has support block moved horizontally by jack whose end has anchoring system for anchoring buckle of traction sling, and drum with tube for supporting sling - Google Patents

Abstract

The reel has a cylindrical drum (2) connected with a lateral wheel (4). The wheel has a hub (5) with a driving dog (8) to be cooperated with a rotating bearing (21) mounted on a support block (23) of a lateral winch (18). The block is horizontally moved by a jack (24) whose end (25) has an anchoring system (26) for anchoring a buckle (27) of a traction sling (28). The drum has a tube (10) for supporting the sling.

Description

1 2868762

  The present invention relates to large diameter coils adapted for receiving flexible tubes or rolled rigid tubes, in particular.

  Coils of this kind usually consist of a hollow cylindrical barrel element, whose diameter may be of the order of 2 to 9 m, provided at its ends with two coaxial lateral wheels, the diameter of which can be understood between 5 and 15m.

  The side wheels consist of a central hub, a plurality of spokes and an outer rim. Both side hubs are provided with protruding drive members, generally known as drive dogs.

  Conventionally, these coils can be used for the manufacture, storage, transport and / or laying of flexible tubes or rigid tubes, for example for off-shore service or other. The lengths of tubes wound on the barrel of such coils can reach in some cases several hundred meters, and the weight can be of the order of several hundred tons.

  As a general rule, the corresponding coils are stored with their horizontal central axis on roller peeling shoes, for example on board the user ships. They are positioned between two running tracks on which winch type installations, adapted to support them individually on each side, lift them and ensure their rotation, in one direction or the other, in function of the winding or unwinding maneuver of the tube that one wishes to achieve.

  The winches in question each comprise a motorized rotating bearing mounted on a movable support block vertically and horizontally.

  When it is desired to implement a coil, two rotary-bearing winches are positioned vis-a-vis, each facing one of the hubs of said coil. The bearing blocks of rotating bearings are brought to height according to the diameter of the coil. The horizontal actuators of the support blocks, generally screw jacks, are introduced into the cylindrical shaft opposite. Then the ends of these two cylinders are connected by a pulling sling; for this purpose, the two ends of cylinders comprise a clevis-shaped system on which is anchored the associated end of the sling, in the form of a loop.

  Once both ends of the sling connected, the cylinders are actuated in tension simultaneously. In a first step, they tend the sling on the axis or substantially on the axis of the drum of the coil, and once the fixed point created, they ensure the displacement of the two rotating bearings in the direction of the wheel hubs, in such a way that the drive members of these bearings engage with those of the hubs of the spool. Once the gearing is completed, the assembly is locked and the unwinding or winding operation can begin, after the spool has been raised slightly into the void by climbing the bearing bearing blocks.

  The towing sling used has a length of several meters and must be very strong to withstand significant traction forces. As a result, this sling is relatively heavy, its weight can reach several tens of pounds. As a rule, two operators enter the drum of the coil to ensure the attachment of the sling loops on the yokes of the traction cylinders, and also to unhook the sling end of maneuver.

  These operations are quite difficult to perform and they are relatively risky, because of the weight of the sling and the large dimensions of the coil.

  The present invention aims to remedy this problem by improving the current coils, and in particular by equipping the inside of the cylindrical barrel of coils with means adapted to support the traction sling, in order to facilitate and secure the attachment of the ends of the this sling on the anchoring systems of side winches.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the sling support means consist of a tube whose axis extends parallel or substantially parallel, and advantageously coaxially, to the axis of the cylindrical drum of the coil.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the sling support tube extends over only a portion of the width of the coil, its ends emerging a little recessed relative to the wheel hubs; this tube is advantageously made of galvanized steel.

  According to another characteristic, the sling support tube is held in axial or substantially axial position inside the cylindrical drum of the coil by means of a plurality of cables.

  According to yet another particularity, the coil comprises a sling support tube associated with holding cables whose one end is fixed at one of the ends of said support tube, and which each extend towards the other end of said tube, to be fixed at their own second end to the cylindrical drum structure.

  According to another advantageous characteristic, the sling support tube is associated with holding cables, at least some of which are provided with a tensioning means.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the sling support tube is held in position by three cables at each of its ends. The three cables of each end are fixed on the support tube by means of anchoring rings spaced 120, the anchoring rings of the two ends of the tube being shifted by about 60.

  But the invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example and represented in the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in section, a coil of large diameter 10 according to the invention, equipped with an inner member in the form of a tube for supporting the traction sling; - Figure 2 is a side view of the sling support tube, shown in isolation; - Figure 3 is an end view of the sling support tube shown in Figure 2; - Figure 4 is an end view of the sling support tube, with the cables for ensuring its maintenance within the cylindrical drum of the coil; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the sling support tube illustrating the particular positioning of its holding cables; - Figure 6 is a partial view, from the side of the coil according to the invention, in position in front of one of the side winches maneuvering.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the large-diameter spool 1 according to the invention comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft 2, whose axis 3 here extends horizontally, and two lateral wheels 4 joined to the ends of said shaft 2.

  The cylindrical shaft 2 is made of an assembly of sheets and steel beams; its diameter can be between 2 and 9 m.

  The two lateral wheels 4 are also made in assembly of sheets and steel beams; their diameter can be between 5 and 15 m.

  Each wheel 4 comprises a central hub 5 and a circular outer rim 6, connected by a plurality of spokes 7.

  The wheel hubs 5 are in the form of a ring 30 centered on the axis 3. Their inner face is provided with protruding drive members 8, here four in number, called driving tocs.

  The coil according to the invention integrates inside its hollow shaft 2 means 10 able to support the traction sling which is used in a conventional manner in the meshing operations of the hubs 5 of the coil with the 35 rotating bearings equipping the maneuvering winches.

  These support means 10 are here in the form of a tube arranged coaxially or substantially coaxially with the axis 3 of the coil, and whose two ends open a little behind the two wheel hubs 5. The distance between the ends of the tube 10 and the inner face of the hubs 5 may be of the order of 30 cm.

  This sling support tube is held in position by a plurality of tension cables 12 forming shrouds. These cables 12 are provided in sufficient number and they are suitably positioned to ensure effective maintenance of the tube 10 in its position coaxial with the cylindrical drum 2.

  The sling support tube 10 is shown in isolation in Figures 2 and 3. It is advantageously made of galvanized steel 5 to 15 mm thick. Its diameter may be of the order of 200 mm, and its length is of the order of several meters, depending on the width of the coil 2 and the distance abovementioned.

  FIGS. 2 and 3 show the presence of anchoring rings 13, 13 'at the two ends of the tube 10, each intended to secure one of the ends of the tensioning cables 12. These rings anchor 13, 13 'are welded to the periphery of the tube 10.

  In the illustrated embodiment, three anchor rings 13 are provided at the first end of the tube 10, and three anchor rings 13 'are provided at its second end. Groups of rings 13 and 13 'can be provided at a distance of the order of 30 to 40 cm from both ends of the tube.

  The three rings 13 or 13 'of the same group are arranged in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube, and they are each spaced apart by about 120. On the other hand, the anchoring rings 13 and 13 'of the two groups are shifted by about 60, as illustrated in FIG.

  FIGS. 4 and 5 show the sling support tube equipped with its six holding cables 12. Each cable 12, made of stainless steel, comprises a fastening member 14, for example of the clevis or loop type, at its ends. two ends.

  On the other hand, at least some of the cables 12 are equipped with a tensioning member 15, of turnbuckle type for example, to allow adjustment of their tension, to ensure a correct and stable positioning of the tube 10 in the center of the barrel 3. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, only two holding cables 12 are equipped with turnbuckles 15 (Figure 4).

  As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the sling support tube is held by cross-positioning of the cables 12, so as to limit its possibilities of axial movements. Thus, each cable 12 fixed on one end of the tube 10 extends towards the other end of said tube, to be fixed at its own other end on the structure of the coil, here on the inner face 2. The coil 1 comprises hooking rings 16 welded to its structure, to ensure the attachment of the corresponding ends of the cables 12. The ends in question of the cables 12 could similarly hook on the inner side of the wheels 4 of the coil.

  FIG. 6 illustrates the reel 1 according to the invention, disposed on its peeling shoes 17, opposite an operating winch 18. For the sake of simplification, the homologous winch located on the other side of the reel has not been represented.

  The two winches 18 located on either side of the coil are movable along a raceway 20. They comprise a motorized rotating bearing system 21 mounted on a support block 22 movable vertically under the action of mechanical means schematized in 23, type cylinders, and movable horizontally under the action of mechanical means schematically in 24, also type cylinders.

  In FIG. 6, the end 25 of the jack ensuring the horizontal mobility of the support block 22 is observed. This end of jack 25 comprises an anchoring system 26 for the end 27 of the pulling sling 28. This system anchor 26 is illustrated here in the form of a hook, but is generally in the form of a yoke.

  The winch 18 as briefly described above is of quite conventional design.

  When it is desired to use a spool 2, for example for unrolling a tube (not shown) wound on the cylindrical shaft 2, the two side winches are suitably positioned facing the corresponding spool. An operator slips the pulling sling 28 inside the support tube 10 so that the two ends 27 of the sling provided with hooking loops protrude from both ends of said tube. In FIG. 6, we note the end loop 27 of the sling in question, which protrudes from one of the ends of the support tube 10.

  The corresponding positioning of the sling 28 is made very easily, by simply pushing inside the tube 10 which then serves as a guide.

  The ends of the two cylinders 25 are then inserted inside the cylindrical drum of the coil, so that their anchoring cap 26 comes to be positioned near the sling loops 27. An operator hooks the sling loops 27 on the copings 26; and the two traction cylinders 25 are actuated simultaneously in spacing, in a first step to tension the sling 28, and then, once the latter 2868762 stretched, its end loops then constituting fixed points, to ensure the The reel 2 can then be slightly raised by means of the support blocks 22 actuated by the mechanical means 23, and its rotation can be initiated to achieve the desired results. unwinding operations desired. The traction sling 28 then extends inside the tube 10 (except its two ends 27); it is held in tension in a fixed manner while the tube 10 rotates according to the movements imposed on the coil.

  At the end of the procedure, the reverse operations are carried out until the manual release of the sling loops 27.

  It is well understood that the support tube 10 greatly facilitates and secures the hooking and unhooking operations of the sling loops 27. Indeed, thanks to this guide and support tube, the sling loops are suitably prepositioned in the center. the spool, facing the actuator clevis 26, without requiring special efforts of lifting and holding by the operators in charge of this maneuver.

  The positioning of the sling 28 and the hooking of its end loops 27 can be achieved by the inside of the drum of the coil, or if the space conditions allow it, by the outside of the coil.

  If the corresponding operations are performed inside the coil, it is advantageously provided to equip the inner face of the cylindrical barrel welded studs constituting some sort of access steps for operators.

  Of course, even though the tube 10 is a preferred means of sling support, any other system for holding the sling loops in a central position just back from the wheel hubs can be envisioned.

  In any case, the pulling sling 28 can be removed from its support means after each maneuver, so that it can be used on another reel. But one can also consider keeping it permanently inside the cylindrical barrel of the coil, disposed substantially on the axis of said coil, supported by its holding means.

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Claims (8)

- CLAIMS -   1.- large diameter coil consisting of a cylindrical barrel element (2) bordered on each side by side wheels (4) each formed of a central hub (5), a plurality of spokes (7) and a rim (6), the hubs (5) of each side wheel (4) having protruding members (8) for cooperating with rolling bearings (21) for winding or unwinding the spool, which bearings (21) are arranged on two side winch type devices (18) provided with means adapted to ensure the meshing of said rotary bearings (21) with said drive members (8) of the wheel hubs (5), this in combination with a traction sling (28), which sling (28) is provided at its ends with hooking means (27) on the appropriate anchoring systems (26) of the two side winches (18), to connect these last passing through the shaft (2) of the coil, characterized in that it comprises, within a cylindrical barrel (2), means (10) adapted to support the pulling sling (28) to facilitate and secure the attachment of the ends (27) of said sling (28) to the anchoring systems (26); ) side winches (18).   2. Coil according to claim 1, characterized in that the sling support means consist of a tube (10) whose axis extends parallel or substantially parallel to the axis (3) of the cylindrical shaft (2) .   3. Coil according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support arranged coaxially with the axis of the cylindrical shaft (2).   4. Coil according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support which extends over only a portion of the width of the coil, its ends opening a only slightly behind the wheel hubs (5), at a distance a from these.   5. Coil according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support maintained in axial or substantially axial position inside the cylindrical shaft (2) by means a plurality of cables (12).   6. Coil according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support associated with holding cables (12), a first end is fixed at one end of said tube support (10), and which each extend towards the other end of said tube (10) to be fixed at their own second end to the cylindrical drum structure (2).   7. Coil according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support associated with holding cables (12), at least some of which are provided with tensioning means (15).   8. Coil according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support held in position by three cables (12) at each of its ends, the three cables (12) of each end being fixed on said support tube (10) by means of anchoring rings (13, 13 ') spaced 120, the anchoring rings (13, 13') of both ends of said tube support (10) being offset by about 60.   9. Coil according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a tube (10) sling support made of galvanized steel.