JP2000152450A - Monitor for bottoming of submarine cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a submarine cable bottoming monitor which enables cost reduction without using a costly RCV(remote-controlled vehicle), etc., enables sure bottoming monitoring and confirmation by safe work without using a diver, enables simultaneous monitoring and confirmation with submarine cable laying and enables time reduction as well. SOLUTION: A submarine television camera 7 is fitted to the outside of a grasping device 6 fitted to an unbottomed part of a submarine cable 1, and the device is equipped with a means such as rollers, a float, or weight, etc., for stabilizing the attitude of the television camera 7. It is desirable that the television camera 7 be fitted to the upper part side of the grasping device 6, and that the weight be fitted to the lower part side of the device, along with fitting rollers for receiving the side surfaces of the submarine cable 1 inside the device. The television camera 7 may be fitted to the lower part side of the grasping device 6. Moreover, it does not matter if the float is fitted to the upper part side of the grasping device in place of the weight, when the television camera 7 is fitted to the lower part side of the grasping device 6. It is desirable that the grasping device have vertically-split cylindrical closable construction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of submarine cable laying technology, and more particularly, to an apparatus for monitoring and confirming whether or not the submarine cable has landed on the seabed when the submarine cable is laid. Although the present invention is mainly applied to laying a submarine cable, the present invention is also applicable to laying a submarine water pipe, and in this case, "submarine cable" is replaced with "submarine water pipe" in the following description. Please refer to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, to monitor and confirm whether a submarine cable to be laid has landed on the seabed (whether a submarine cable is on a rock on the seabed), ROV;
There was the use of a remote control car 16 and direct viewing by diver diving.

In the case of using the ROV, as shown in FIG. 5, when the submarine cable 1 extended from the laying ship 2 into the sea 4 is laid on the seabed 3, the ROV 16 is connected to the submarine cable. Remote control is performed so as to run near the bottom point, and the underwater television camera 7 mounted on the ROV 16 is pointed at a portion of the submarine cable 1 before landing.
The image of the underwater television camera 7 is taken from the monitor 1 of the laying ship 2.
Monitor the status of the submarine cable landing by looking at 2
That's what you are trying to check A control / communication cable 11 connects the ROV 16 and the underwater television camera 7 with a remote control device (not shown) on the laying ship 2 and a monitor 12.

[0004]

Among the above-mentioned prior arts, when an ROV is used, the ROV itself becomes very large because a drive system is mounted thereon, so that it is very costly, and the submarine cable is laid at low cost. There was a problem to do.

[0005] On the other hand, in the case of a diver, there is a danger that the diver itself may suffer from dive diseases and the like, and if the diver dive many times a day, the danger of the diver's life may be affected. Also, although not as great as ROVs, employing divers can add considerable labor costs. Furthermore, while the diver dive and check the submarine cable landing status, the submarine cable laying must be interrupted, which delays the submarine cable laying time, and furthermore, the information is transmitted through the diver. Since the exchange is performed, there is also a problem that a series of operations lacks quickness and accuracy, such as difficulty in accurately transmitting information.

Therefore, the problems to be solved by the present invention (objects)
Can reduce costs without using costly ROVs to monitor and confirm the status of submarine cable landing. Secure monitoring of landing with safe operation without using divers It is an object of the present invention to provide a submarine cable landing monitoring device that enables confirmation and, at the same time, enables monitoring and confirmation at the same time as laying a submarine cable and shortens the time.

[0007]

The submarine cable bottom monitoring device provided by the present invention is provided with a catching device for passing the submarine cable at a portion before the bottom of the submarine cable, and a submerged cable is provided outside the catching device. A television camera is attached, and the trapping device is provided with means such as a roller, a float or a weight for stabilizing the posture of the underwater television camera.

The underwater television camera is preferably mounted on an upper side of a catching device, and the catching device is provided with a roller for receiving a side surface of a submarine cable inside and a weight attached on a lower side.

Alternatively, the underwater television camera may be attached to a lower portion of a catching device, and the catching device may have a roller for receiving a side surface of a submarine cable therein and a weight attached to a lower portion. good.

[0010] Alternatively, the underwater television camera may be attached to a lower portion of a catching device, and the catching device may have a roller for receiving a side surface of a submarine cable inside and a float attached to an upper portion. good.

Incidentally, in any of the above means, the catching device is preferably a vertically divided cylindrical shape which can be opened and closed.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows an application example of a submarine cable landing monitoring apparatus according to the present invention. The submarine cable landing monitoring device shown in FIG. 1 lays a submarine cable 1 which is unreeled from a laying ship 2 into the sea 4 and laid on the seabed 3 so as to pass the cable at a portion before the bottom. Ship 2
, A submersible television camera 7 attached to the outside of the trapping device 6, a monitor 12 on a laying boat for displaying the images taken by the submersible television camera 7, and a submersible television camera 7 and monitor 1
2 and a control / communication cable 11 for connecting
While the submarine cable 1 is laid on the seabed 3, the state of the submarine cable landing can be monitored and confirmed in real time from the laid ship. (Therefore, neither ROV nor diver is required.) FIG. 2 shows the catching device 6 in the submarine cable landing monitoring device.
And a first embodiment of ancillary items such as the underwater television camera 7 and the like, as vertically-slit cylindrical catching device 6, underwater television camera 7, and means for stabilizing the posture of underwater television camera 7. Rollers 8, 9 and a weight.

The catching device 6 is formed into a cylindrical shape by dividing the flange portion in the vertical direction and fastening the respective flange portions with bolts 13 and nuts 14. An underwater television camera 7 is mounted on the upper outside, and rollers 8 and 9 are mounted horizontally with the roller shaft 9 fixed inside the same member. 10 and 10 are attached.

According to the first embodiment configured as described above, the underwater television camera 7 is directed toward the bottom of the submarine cable 1 in the use state as shown in FIG.
Can be monitored and confirmed while laying. In addition, since the submarine cable 1 is passed through the trapping device 6 while receiving the side surfaces by the rollers 8 and 9, and the center of gravity of the trapping device 6 is set downward by the lower weight 10, the underwater on the trapping device 6 The attitude of the television camera 7 is stabilized (it can be held horizontally), and the bottom portion of the submarine cable 1 can be reliably photographed. In addition, the catching device 6
By receiving the submarine cable 1 passing through the inside of the submarine cable 1 with the rollers 8 and 9 at two places before and after the submarine cable 1, it is possible to eliminate the deviation in the cable axial direction and to further stabilize the posture of the underwater television camera 7.

Since the catching device 6 is formed into a vertically cracked cylindrical shape, it can be attached to the submarine cable 1 from its side.
In this case, the shape of the device is not limited to a cylinder, but may be an elliptical cylinder or a polygonal cylinder.

Further, if the wire 5 can be wound and unwound on the laying ship 2 by a winch or the like so that the payout length can be adjusted, the wire 5 can be adjusted even if the seabed 3 (water depth) goes up and down. The position of the catching device 6 can be adjusted up and down, and the shooting environment of the underwater television camera 7 can be optimized. In addition, by making the supporting portion of the underwater television camera 7 movable, the direction of the underwater television camera 7 can be changed, so that the underwater television camera 7 can be used not only for the bottom portion of the submarine cable but also for the investigation of the nearby seabed.

The material of the catching device 6, the rollers 8, 9 and the weight 10 may be metal, hardened plastic or ceramic.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of an accessory such as the catching device 6 and the underwater television camera 7 in the submarine cable landing monitoring device, and the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are the same as those in FIG. Since reference numerals are used, also refer to the above description regarding FIG.

In this second embodiment, the underwater television camera is fixed to the lower portion of the catching device 6 as indicated by reference numeral 7 '. , 10 to stabilize the posture. In this apparatus, the movement of the underwater television camera 7 is suppressed by the cooperation of the rollers 8 and 9 and the weight 10.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an accessory such as the catching device 6 and the underwater television camera 7 in the submarine cable landing monitoring device. The same parts as FIG. 2 or FIG. Since the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are used, also refer to the above description regarding FIGS.

In the third embodiment, the underwater television camera is mounted on the lower side of the catching device 6 as indicated by reference numeral 7 '(same as in FIG. 3), and the float 15 is mounted on the upper side of the catching device 6. Things. In this case, the movement of the underwater television camera 7 is suppressed by the cooperation of the floating with the rollers 8 and 9.

In the third embodiment, the catching device 6 is an openable / closable type in which a hinge is joined at one joint of a cylindrical half-split member which can be vertically adjusted. At the other joint, it is preferable to fasten with a bolt / nut or other detachable connecting means.

[0023]

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to reduce the cost without using a costly ROV or the like for monitoring and confirming the submarine cable landing status. A place to provide a submarine cable bottom monitoring device that enables safe monitoring and confirmation of bottom landing by safe operation without using it, and also enables monitoring and confirmation at the same time as submarine cable laying and shortens the time. The task (purpose) of the period can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an application example of a submarine cable landing monitoring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a submarine cable landing monitoring device according to the present invention, mainly showing a catching device and accessories,
Is a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) is a transverse sectional view.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the submarine cable landing monitoring device according to the present invention, mainly showing a catching device and accessories,
Is a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) is a transverse sectional view.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the submarine cable landing monitoring device according to the present invention, mainly showing a catching device and accessories,
Is a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) is a transverse sectional view.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the usage status of a submarine cable landing monitoring device using a conventional example; ROV (remote control vehicle).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Submarine cable 2 Laying ship 3 Submarine 4 Sea 5 Wire 6 Capture device 7 Underwater television camera 8 Roller 9 Roller shaft 10 Weight 11 Control / communication cable 12 Monitor 13 Bolt 14 Nut 15 Floating

Claims (5)

[Claims] An underwater television camera is mounted outside of the catching device at a position before the bottom of the submarine cable, and the posture of the underwater television camera is attached to the catching device. An undersea cable landing monitoring device equipped with means for stabilizing a roller, floating or weight. 2. The underwater television camera is mounted on an upper portion of a catching device, and the catching device has a roller for receiving a side surface of a submarine cable therein and a weight attached on a lower portion. Submarine cable landing monitoring equipment. 3. The underwater television camera is attached to a lower portion of a catching device, and the catching device is provided with a roller for receiving a side surface of a submarine cable therein and a weight attached to a lower portion. Submarine cable landing monitoring equipment. 4. The underwater television camera is mounted on a lower portion of a catching device, and the catching device has a roller for receiving a side surface of a submarine cable therein and a float on the upper side. Submarine cable landing monitoring equipment. 5. The submarine cable landing monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said catching device has a vertically divided cylindrical shape and can be opened and closed.