GB2529252A

GB2529252A - Structures Incorporating Used Vehicle Tyres

Info

Publication number: GB2529252A
Application number: GB1414553.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Peter Sorrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-15
Filing date: 2014-08-15
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Also published as: GB201414553D0

Abstract

A structure 10 and method for preventing scour comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres 12 being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising first 20 and second 22 concentric arrays of piles of tyres in which each pile in the second array is arranged to abut and interlink to two adjacent piles in the first array. The structure may form a scour prevention collar to be located, preferably coaxially or concentrically, around a scour forming structure 14 e.g. wind turbine monopiles. The structure may further have a third concentric array 24. Each array may include the same number of tyre piles, be substantially circular in shape and be arranged like a honeycomb with voids for trapping sediment. A securement means 15 between adjacent piles may comprise bolts, ropes, chains, cable ties and/or cables and a mixture thereof. The structure may be constructed using modular units (16, Fig. 3).

Description

Structures Incorporating Used Vehicle Tyres

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a structure incorporating used vehicle tyres, an assembly comprising a structure incorporating used vehicle tyres together with an underwater structural body and a method of forming a structure from used vehicle tyres. In particular, the present invention relates to a structure incorporating used vehicle tyres for the prevention of the formation of scour holes in the seabed around subsea structural bodies and to a method of preventing or inhibiting the formation of scour holes in the seabed around subsea structural bodies.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Scour is a significant problem in relation to the long term location of subsea structural bodies and facilities underwater and specifically on the sea bed. Scour relates to the erosion of sand or other sediment located adjacent to an underwater structure. In particular, this erosion of material around a subsea base of a structure can alter the structural integrity of the structure. Scour holes are formed adjacent to monopiles of wind turbines within marine locations and the scour damage may be exacerbated in tidal regions. Such holes and erosion can cause significant problems to the integrity of the overall structure (i.e. the wind turbine).

These structures inherently have to withstand significant forces at the upper region and these forces need to be dissipated through the structure to the sea bed at the base of the structure.

Scour holes may be filled in using rocks or other similar objects. However, this may exacerbate the problem in that the rocks will also tend to form scour holes and this will therefore not solve the problem in the long term.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art, whether referred to herein or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a structure comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres, the tyres being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising a first peripheral array of piles of tyres and a second peripheral array of piles of tyres and wherein the second peripheral array of piles of tyres is concentric with the first peripheral array of piles of tyres and the first peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an inner array and the second peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an outer array, in which each pile of tyres in the second peripheral array is arranged to abut and be interlinked to a first pile of tyres and a second pile of tyres within the inner first peripheral array of piles of tyres.

The invention provides apparatus for preventing and inhibiting the formation of scour holes and provides a defence against further scour.

The inner array and the outer array may form a scour prevention collar which is arranged to locate around the periphery of a scour forming structure.

The structure may comprise a first (inner) array of tyre piles, a second (intermediate) array of tyre piles and a third (outer) array of tyre piles. The third array of tyre piles may be concentric with the first and second arrays.

Each array of tyre piles may include the identical number of tyre piles.

The arrays of tyre piles may comprise (substantially) circular arrays of tyre piles.

The centres of all the tyre piles within a circular array may be all positioned on a circle to form a circular array.

Preferably there are no straight linear lines of tyre piles in the structure. Preferably there are no contiguous linear straight lines of tyre piles in the structure.

Preferably within the structure any three directly adjacent tyre piles have centres that form an arc or an angle and the centres do not lie on a straight line.

The circumference and diameter of the second array may be greater than the first array. The circumference and diameter may be greater in the third array than both the first and second arrays.

Each pile of tyres may comprise three tyres.

Each pile of tyres may form a sleeve component having a central void for the collection of sediment.

The structure may be arranged in a honeycomb arrangement with sediment trapping voids being defined within a tyre pile and between adjacent tyre piles.

The spacing between adjacent tyre piles in the second array may be greater than the spacing between adjacent tyre piles in the first array. The spacing between adjacent tyre piles in the third array may be greater than the spacing in both the first array and the second array.

The tyre piles in the first array may directly abut adjacent tyre piles within the first array. Each tyre pile in the first array may abut two adjacent tyre piles in the first array. The tyre piles in the second array may be remotely spaced from adjacent tyre piles within the second array. The tyre piles in the third array may be remotely spaced from adjacent tyre piles within the third array.

Preferably adjacent piles of tyres are secured by securement means. The securement means may comprise securement bolts, ropes, chains, cables and/or cable ties. The structure may comprise a mixture of securement means with some securements being made using bolts and some securements being made using ropes or cables or chains or cable ties.

Preferably adjacent tyre piles within the first array are secured together by bolts.

Preferably adjacent tyre piles within the second array are secured together by flexible securement members (ropes/cables/chains/cable ties). Preferably adjacent tyre piles within the third array are secured together by flexible securement members (ropes/cables/chains/cable ties).

Preferably the tyre piles in the second array are secured to adjacent tyre piles in the first array by bolts. Preferably the tyre piles in the third array are secured to adjacent tyre piles in the second array by bolts. However, in a modular construction using modular units, adjacent tyre piles in different modular units (regardless of which array) may be ultimately secured together by flexible securement members (ropes/cables/chains/cable ties).

The use of cables or ropes or chains or cable ties allows a degree of flexibility between the tyres so that the tyres can move to a sufficient extent for them to conform to local conditions. Where chains are used, the advantage is obtained that tyres can be simply added to or removed from the structure by undoing chain fasteners, or connecting further lengths of chain to the links. Instead of chains, it is possible to use other types of flexible fasteners, for example ropes or webbing. It is particularly advantageous to use a material which is similar in its wear resistance and flexibility to the material of the tyres themselves.

The structure may be a modular structure which is assembled by a plurality of modular units. Each modular unit may include a number of tyre piles. Each modular unit may include at least one tyre pile from the first array and at least one tyre pile from the second array and preferably at least one tyre pile from the third array. Preferably each modular unit includes two tyre piles from the first array and two tyre piles from the second array and preferably two tyre piles from the third array.

Each modular unit may comprise six tyre piles.

Adjacent tyre piles may be secured to each other within a modular unit such that the spacing between adjacent tyre piles is limited. For example, the spacing between directly abutting adjacent tyre piles may be fixed whereas the spacing between remotely spaced (non-abutting) tyre piles may be limited (by a cable/rope/chain/cable tie) to be adjustable up to a predetermined limit.

The structure may be constructed and assembled in modular units using auxiliary assembly apparatus and wherein the assembly apparatus may comprise a frame, means for suspending a plurality of columns of vehicle tyres beneath the frame, and means for lifting the frame from above, the lifting means being arranged so that upon lifting the tyre piles suspended from the frame remain substantially vertical.

The means for suspending tyre piles may comprise a cross bar suspended from the frame by a tension member so that the cross member can engage in a tyre in the tyre pile to lift the pile. There may be six such cross bars, each of which may have two associated tension members, and the tension members may be a pair of chains both connected to the frame at the same point but connected to the cross member at spaced apart positions.

The means for suspending tyre piles may alternatively comprise a series of hooks suspended from the frame by means of tension members so that the hooks can engage with a tyre in a tyre pile to lift the pile. The tension members may be chains connected to the frame at a single point, with each chain being connected to a hook. There may be twelve such hooks, each of which will be connected by a tension member to the frame.

The frame is preferably a generally planar skeletal structure, with the means for suspending the tyre piles being arranged so that adjacent suspended tyre piles make tangential contact with one another.

The means for lifting the frame preferably comprises an eye for connection to the hook of a crane, located centrally of the frame and, preferably, above the plane of the frame. The eye may be connected by chains to spaced points on the frame.

The structure may be assembled or made up by fastening or securing together three or six piles to form a building unit or modular unit, and then building or assembling the structure with such units. At least the bottom tyres in each pile may be buried in the sea bed or ground.

The invention may be used as prevention against scour comprising a structure as set forth above, wherein the peripheral or circular arrays of tyre piles extend coaxially or concentrically around a base of a subsea body. At least a part of the periphery of the outer array of piles of tyres is preferably anchored to the ground.

Preferably the structure forms an anti-scour collar made up of a plurality of interlinked piles of tyres, which all lie coaxially or concentrically around the scour forming body.

Posts may be driven through the centre of some or all of the piles of tyres forming the structures.

A protective wall may be attached to the outer array of tyres on the side facing outwardly.

The invention may also be embodied in a scour prevention collar comprising a structure as set forth above, wherein the arrays of tyre piles extend coaxially to a wind turbine monopile and the tyres are fastened together and form a peripheral barrier around the monopile.

The tyres are laid in piles with one tyre being laid directly on top of another so that when the pile is complete, the central apertures of all the tyres register with one another and the central void of all the tyres can be filled with filling material through the top of the pile.

Used vehicle tyres have the great advantage that they are readily available and can be acquired at little or no cost. They are very resistant to corrosion and degradation in the aggressive atmosphere on the sea coast. Because they are flexible they can absorb some of the force from the sea by the yielding of individual tyres against that force, whilst the wall of tyres holds firm to resist the force.

In order to avoid an obtrusive appearance, the tyres may be painted to blend in with their surroundings, and techniques for painting tyres are known.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising an underwater structural body and a structure comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres, the tyres being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising a first peripheral array of piles of tyres and a second peripheral array of piles of tyres and wherein the second peripheral array of piles of tyres is concentric with the first peripheral array of piles of tyres and the first peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an inner array and the second peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an outer array, in which each pile of tyres in the second peripheral array is arranged to abut and be interlinked to a first pile of tyres and a second pile of tyres within the inner first peripheral array of piles of tyres.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing or inhibiting the formation of scour holes adjacent to an underwater structural body, the method comprising assembling a structure from used vehicle tyre on the sea bed adjacent to the underwater structural body, wherein the structure comprises interlinked used vehicle tyres, the tyres being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising a first peripheral array of piles of tyres and a second peripheral array of piles of tyres and wherein the second peripheral array of piles of tyres is concentric with the first peripheral array of piles of tyres and the first peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an inner array and the second peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an outer array, in which each pile of tyres in the second peripheral array is arranged to abut and be interlinked to a first pile of tyres and a second pile of tyres within the inner first peripheral array of piles of tyres.

The method may comprise forming a collar on the sea bed surrounding the underwater structural body.

The method may comprise securing some adjacent tyre piles with first securement means and some adjacent tyre piles with second securement means. The first securement means may comprise bolts and the second securement means may comprise ropes/chains/cables/cable ties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow, in which: Figure 1 is a plan schematic view of a first embodiment of a structure incorporating used vehicle tyres.

Figure 2 is a side schematic view of a modular unit for use in constructing a structure incorporating used vehicle tyres.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modular unit for use in constructing a structure incorporating used vehicle tyres.

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the base of a monopile together with a preferred embodiment of a scour prevention collar in accordance with the present invention in an initial configuration.

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the base of a monopile of a wind turbine together with a preferred embodiment of a scour prevention collar in accordance with the present invention in an embedded configuration.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the base of a monopile of a wind turbine together with a preferred embodiment of a scour prevention collar in accordance with the present invention located in an existing scour hole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3, a structure 10 for use in the prevention of scour comprises a number of used vehicle tyres 12 which are retained together in order to provide an integral structure 10 at or adjacent to the base of a facility, for example a pile or monopile 14 of an offshore wind turbine.

The tyres 12 are arranged in piles and adjacent piles are secured to each other using securement means 15. The securement means 15 may comprise bolts, cables, chains, ropes or cable ties. The tyres l2within a pile are also secured to each other using securement means.

As shown in Figure 1, the peripheral wall of the monopile 14 of a wind turbine is circular. In the preferred embodiment of this present invention, the structure 10 may be formed from a number of modular units 16 (as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3) which may be lowered into position around the base of the monopile 14.

Each modular unit 16 includes six tyre piles which are secured together.

In the final arrangement of the present invention, the monopile 14 is surrounded by a first peripheral or circular array 20 of piles of tyres, a second peripheral or circular array 22 of piles of tyres and a third peripheral or circular array 24 of piles of tyres. Each peripheral or circular array 20, 22, 24 is concentric and each peripheral or circular array includes the identical number of piles of tyres. Since the diameter of the second circular or peripheral array 22 of piles of tyres is greater than the diameter of the first circular or peripheral array 20 of piles of tyres, then the spacing between adjacent piles of tyres is greater in the second array 22 compared to the first array 20. Similarly, the spacings between adjacent piles of tyres in the third circular or peripheral array 24 is greater than between the piles of tyres in the first array 20 or the second array 22.

As shown in Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 6, the structure 10 comprises a number of piles of tyres. Each pile includes a number of tyres 12 which are effectively stacked on top of each other such that the tyres 12 form a contiguous sleeve component or pile. The tyres 12 are arranged in such piles in order to increase the volume of the internal space for the present invention by providing protection against scour. In the preferred embodiment, each pile of tyres includes three used vehicle tyres 12 which are secured to each other.

The final structure may be constructed from modular units 16 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 and each modular unit 16 comprises six piles of tyres and these can be secured to each other at the surface or on shore. The modular unit 16 is arranged to be suspended from a transportation frame 30 in order to provide a single suspension point 32. The single suspension point 32 enables each modular unit 16 to be quickly and simply lowered into position from a suitable vessel. The modular units 16 are located adjacent to further modular units 16 and these can be secured to each other by any suitable means. For example, divers may be required to complete the final securement of adjacent modular units 16.

As shown in Figure 1, the piles of tyres in the inner first array 20 each abut to adjacent piles of tyres in the first array 20. These piles of tyres can be linked using bolts for solidity and where applicable, these may be secured at the surface.

Alternatively, these abutting adjacent piles of tyres may be secured by ropes in order to increase the flexibility of the structure.

The piles of tyres forming the second circular array 22 do not directly abut any other pile of tyres within the second array in the final structure 10. However, each pile of tyres in the second array 22 will abut two inner piles of tyres located in the first array 20. These abutting piles of tyres can be secured using bolts for solidity or ropes for flexibility. However, the adjacent piles of tyres in the second array will be secured to each other using ropes due to the spacing required by the adjacent piles. Alternatively, a suitable spacing bolt or bar may be used.

Finally, in a similar formation to the second array 22 of tyres, the piles forming the third circular array 24 of piles of tyres each abut two inner adjacent piles of tyres but are spaced from two further adjacent piles of tyres located in the third array 24.

Again, each pile of tyres in the third array 24 may be bolted to the two inner piles in the second array 20 and secured by ropes (or spacing bolts/bars) to two adjacent piles in the third array.

As shown in Figure 1 the tyre piles for a honeycomb structure that surrounds the pile of the wind turbine. There are no set of three adjacent tyre piles that form a linear arrangement and the centre of any middle pile in a row of three adjacent piles affectively forms an apex such that the other two tyre piles are angularly arranged about the middle tyre pile.

As shown in Figure 4, the modular units 16 may be lowered into position in order to surround the base of the monopile 14 on the seabed 42. The structure 10 effectively provides a scour prevention collar 10 placed around the rnonopile 14.

This collar 10 is preferably located around the monopile 14 during the construction phase (as shown in Figure 4) and is then allowed to settle at seabed level (as shown in Figure 5). This causes sediment to fill the gaps and spaces within the piles of tyre and also between the piles of tyres. This scour prevention collar 10 is arranged to be permanently left in position.

After a period of time, placed around the monopile and has been allowed to settle at seabed level there will be noted that the upper surface of the collar 10 locates at or just below the level of the seabed, as shown in Figure 5.

As an alternative, the scour prevention collar 10 can be used with existing monopiles 14 after construction where a scour-hole has already been formed as shown in Figure 6. In this situation, it may be initially necessary to fill the scour-hole partially with rocks 40 and/or flint to approximately one metre below the seabed level. Once this material has been placed into the scour-hole to the predetermined level, the scour prevention collar 10 can then be located such that the upper surface of the collar 10 is at or just below the seabed level. After a relatively short period of time, the sediment from the seabed 42 will locate within and fill the gaps within the piles of tyres and between the piles of tyres such that the collar will then prevent any further scour-hole from being formed.

Overall, the present invention provides a quick and easy method for preventing scour-holes being formed at the base of a monopile 14 on the seabed 42 and/or filling an existing scour-hole and to prevent further scour. The present invention uses used vehicle tyres 12 which may be relatively cheap and readily available and provides a recycling use for vehicle tyres which may overcome the problem of the disposal for such items.

Claims

CLAIM S1. A structure comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres, the tyres being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising a first peripheral array of piles of tyres and a second peripheral array of piles of tyres and wherein the second peripheral array of piles of tyres is concentric with the first peripheral array of piles of tyres and the first peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an inner array and the second peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an outer array, in which each pile of tyres in the second peripheral array is arranged to abut and be interlinked to a first pile of tyres and a second pile of tyres within the inner first peripheral array of piles of tyres.
2. A structure according to Claim 1 in which the inner array and the outer array form a scour prevention collar which is arranged to locate around the periphery of a scour forming structure.
3. A structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the structure comprises a first inner array of tyre piles, a second intermediate array of tyre piles and a third outer array of tyre piles and in which the third array of tyre piles is concentric with the first and second arrays.
4. A structure according to any preceding claim in which each array of tyre piles may include the identical number of tyre piles.
5. A structure according to any preceding claim in which the arrays of tyre piles comprise substantially circular arrays of tyre piles.
6. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the circumference and diameter of the second array is greater than the first array and the circumference and diameter is greater in the third array than both the first and second arrays.
7. A structure according to any preceding claim in which the structure is arranged in a honeycomb arrangement with sediment trapping voids being defined within a tyre pile and between adjacent tyre piles.
8. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the spacing between adjacent tyre piles in the second array is greater than the spacing between adjacent tyre piles in the first array and the spacing between adjacent tyre piles in the third array is greater than the spacing in both the first array and the second array.
9. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the tyre piles in the first array directly abut adjacent tyre piles within the first array, the tyre piles in the second array are remotely spaced from adjacent tyre piles within the second array and the tyre piles in the third array are remotely spaced from adjacent tyre piles within the third array.
10. A structure according to any preceding claim in which adjacent piles of tyres are secured by securement means and the securement means comprise securement bolts, ropes, chains, cable ties and/or cables and wherein the structure comprises a mixture of securement means with some securements being made using bolts and some securements being made using ropes or cables or chains or cable ties.
11. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon claim 3 in which adjacent tyre piles within the first array are secured together by bolts, and adjacent tyre piles within the second array are secured together by flexible securement members (ropes/cables/chains/cable ties) and adjacent tyre piles within the third array are secured together by flexible securement members (ropes/cables/chains/cable ties).
12. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the tyre piles in the second array are secured to adjacent tyre piles in the first array by bolts and the tyre piles in the third array are secured to adjacent tyre piles in the second array by bolts.
13. A structure according to any preceding claim in which, in a modular construction using modular units, adjacent tyre piles in different modular units regardless of which array are ultimately secured together by flexible securement members (ropes/cables/chains/cable ties).
14. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the structure is a modular structure which is assembled by a plurality of modular units and wherein each modular unit may include a number of tyre piles and each modular unit includes at least one tyre pile from the first array and at least one tyre pile from the second array and at least one tyre pile from the third array.
15. A structure according to any preceding claim when dependent upon Claim 3 in which adjacent tyre piles are secured to each other within a modular unit such that the spacing between adjacent tyre piles is limited and the spacing between directly abutting adjacent tyre piles is fixed whereas the spacing between remotely spaced non-abutting tyre piles is limited by a cable/rope/chain/cable tie to be adjustable up to a predetermined limit.
16. A structure according to any preceding claim in which the structure is constructed and assembled in modular units using auxiliary assembly apparatus and wherein the assembly apparatus may comprise a frame, means for suspending a plurality of columns of vehicle tyres beneath the frame, and means for lifting the frame from above, the lifting means being arranged so that upon lifting the tyre piles suspended from the frame remain substantially vertical.
17. A structure according to any preceding claim in which the structure is used as prevention against scour, wherein the peripheral arrays of tyre piles extend coaxially or concentrically around a base of a subsea body.
18. A structure according to any preceding claim in which the structure forms an anti-scour collar made up of a plurality of interlinked piles of tyres, which all lie coaxially or concentrically around the scour forming body.
19. A structure according to any preceding claim in which the structure comprises a scour prevention collar wherein the arrays of tyre piles extend coaxially to a wind turbine monopile and the tyres are fastened together and form a peripheral barrier around the monopile.
20. An assembly comprising an underwater structural body and a structure comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres, the tyres being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising a first peripheral array of piles of tyres and a second peripheral array of piles of tyres and wherein the second peripheral array of piles of tyres is concentric with the first peripheral array of piles of tyres and the first peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an inner array and the second peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an outer array, in which each pile of tyres in the second peripheral array is arranged to abut and be interlinked to a first pile of tyres and a second pile of tyres within the inner first peripheral array of piles of tyres.
21. A method of preventing or inhibiting the formation of scour holes adjacent to an underwater structural body, the method comprising assembling a structure from used vehicle tyre on the sea bed adjacent to the underwater structural body, wherein the structure comprises interlinked used vehicle tyres, the tyres being fastened together in piles with the tyres in each pile being arranged coaxially, the structure comprising a first peripheral array of piles of tyres and a second peripheral array of piles of tyres and wherein the second peripheral array of piles of tyres is concentric with the first peripheral array of piles of tyres and the first peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an inner array and the second peripheral array of piles of tyres forms an outer array, in which each pile of tyres in the second peripheral array is arranged to abut and be interlinked to a first pile of tyres and a second pile of tyres within the inner first peripheral array of piles of tyres.
22. A method according to Claim 21 in which the method comprises forming a collar on the sea bed surrounding the underwater structural body.
23. A method according to Claim 21 or Claim 22 in which the method comprises securing some adjacent tyre piles with first securement means and some adjacent tyre piles with second securement means and wherein the first securement means comprises bolts and the second securement means comprises ropes/chains/cables/cable ties.
24. A structure comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompanying figures.
25. An assembly comprising an underwater structural body and a structure comprising interlinked used vehicle tyres substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompanying figures.
26. A method of preventing or inhibiting the formation of scour holes adjacent to an underwater structural body substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompanying figures.