JP2002512323A - Submarine trenching vehicle and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A submarine trenching vehicle (1) for laying a hard pipe or a large semi-flexible pipe (2) in a groove (3) of a seabed (4) is disclosed. The vehicle (1) comprises a body (5) adapted to move along a seabed (4) and a heavy chain cutter (9) for cutting a groove having a side wall substantially perpendicular to the seabed (4). ). The vehicle (1) also places the pipe (2) on the groove cutting means prior to inserting the pipe into the seabed, when the groove cutting means remains within a predetermined distance in the direction of the intended groove position; A pipe support roller system (8) is provided for supporting substantially horizontally across the axis of the pipe (2) with little displacement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vehicles and methods for laying elongated products in trenches in a seabed, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to vehicles and methods for laying elongated pipes.

[0002] An ever increasing number of elongated products, such as pipes and cables, lie on the ocean floor, especially on the continental shelf. It is often necessary to lay and / or bury such products in trenches to protect them from mechanical damage from fishing tackles, anchors, etc., and to provide current stability and thermal insulation.

[0003] There are three main types of such elongated products to be buried: flexible cables, such as telephone and power lines, rigid pipes, such as steel pipelines, and so-called flexible pipes, which have a fairly high stiffness. is there.

[0004] Rigid pipes are filled by digging a groove at a desired location on the sea floor and dropping the pipe under its own weight into the groove. Conventional methods of laying a rigid pipe in a groove include cutting the V-shaped groove with up to four inclined chain cutters. The sides of the groove make an angle of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the vertical.

[0005] In this conventional method, a very large amount of power is required to excavate a very large amount of soil by using a chain cutter. There is the disadvantage that frequent surface recovery of the equipment is required for replacement. In addition, it is very difficult to achieve the second pass of the device if the first pass of the device along the desired groove location can only excavate an insufficient amount of soil to achieve the desired groove profile. It is. This is because the groove width becomes excavated material excavated from the groove during the first passage, and obstructs the path of the trenching device during the second passage.

[0006] As a result, trenching vehicles for performing the method are often very large and complex, and have long lightweight chains for cutting inclined groove walls. This makes the chain very flexible, making the vehicle unsuitable even for very soft rocks. Even with four chains, dirt, stones and broken rocks tend not to be sufficiently removed from the ditch, and therefore often do not fill the pipe correctly. Inclined chains are often crushed by stones falling on their tops.

[0007] The prior art described above relies on avoiding contact of the pipe with any part of the excavator. That is, it is necessary to drive the trenching vehicle such that the cutter is generally equidistant from both sides of the pipe to ensure that the pipe falls approximately at the center of the wide groove. However, this makes the method unsuitable for flexible products such as cables and so-called flexible pipes. These products tend to bend significantly when soil is excavated from underneath, so that the lateral movement of the products is so great that they are often destroyed by the cutter.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle for laying an elongated product in a trench of a seabed, the vehicle comprising a body adapted to move along the seabed, and a vehicle substantially perpendicular to the seabed. A groove cutting means provided to be used under the vehicle body for cutting a groove having a side wall of, when the groove cutting means stays within a predetermined distance in a direction of a target groove position, Provided on the vehicle body, used on the groove cutting means prior to inserting the elongate product into the seabed, to support the elongate product with little or no lateral displacement of the elongate product axis. Support means.

By providing a groove cutting means adapted to cut a groove having a substantially vertical wall, the width of the groove is reduced as compared to the conventional method, so that a second passage of the vehicle is facilitated and the groove is removed from the groove. The advantage is that the volume of extra material removed is reduced and energy loss is minimized. By supporting the product on the groove cutting means almost horizontally and laterally with respect to the axis of the product, the product is prevented from being accidentally damaged by the groove cutting means, and at the same time, the product is prevented from laterally shifting. It offers the advantage that otherwise incorrect installation of the product in the groove is avoided. This is a problem, especially in the prior art for laying down products made of hard pipes, since there is a considerable distance between cutting the groove and laying down the pipe in the groove.

[0010] Preferably, the elongate product is substantially free to move within a predetermined limit relative to the upper surface of the support means transversely to the axis of the elongate product and / or to a pivot about a substantially vertical axis. As such, the support means has an upper surface for supporting the elongated product thereon.

In a preferred embodiment, the coefficient of friction used transversely of the elongate product axis between the elongate product and the support means is as low as practical. The support means may comprise first and second supports and adapted to support the elongate product along its length at each of the first and second locations, the first support and the first support. The two supports are rigid beam beams adapted to pivot about a substantially horizontal transverse axis that is substantially equidistant from the first and second supports.
, Beams).

By providing first and second supports connected by a rigid beam pivotable about an axis equidistant from the supports, both supports maintain contact with the elongated product, and To minimize the stress in the elongated product.

The first and second supports are preferably located as far apart as practicable. The support means may comprise at least one roller used for rotation about each axis in a substantially horizontal transverse direction and adapted to rotate. Providing one or more rollers rotatable about each axis provides the advantage of minimizing frictional forces acting on the product in the axial direction of the product. In a preferred embodiment, the support means comprises a plurality of said rollers. This provides the advantage of maximizing the radius of curvature around which the product is bent, thereby minimizing stresses that would otherwise damage the product. Preferably, at least one of said rollers comprises a respective wheel rotatably mounted on a shaft and adapted to slide axially along said shaft, the wheel receiving the product when the product is supported thereon. Peripheral groove.

In a preferred embodiment, the support means is pivotable with respect to the vehicle body and provides a substantially horizontal support surface transverse to the elongated product. This provides the advantage of enabling a support means for supporting the elongated product almost without lateral displacement while the vehicle moves along an inclined surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the support means is used such that it can be moved relative to the vehicle body in a direction transverse to the axis of the elongated product. This has the advantage that the flexible product can be supported on a wide range of vehicle movements with almost no lateral displacement, while at the same time enabling a compact structure of the support means.

The support means may be movable with respect to the vehicle body between the working position and the storage position. This has the advantage of facilitating the loading of the product on the support means.

[0017] The vehicle may further comprise: when the groove cutting means exceeds the predetermined distance from a target groove position,
Suppression means may be provided to prevent the product from shifting relative to the support means in the transverse direction of the elongated product axis. This has the advantage that the product is unintentionally released from the vehicle and / or prevents unintended contact between the product and other vehicle parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the restraining means comprises at least one restraining member arranged on each side of the support means. The or each restraining member, at least on one side of the vehicle, may be removable to allow product to pass through. This offers the advantage of facilitating the installation of the product on the support means and / or the emergency removal of the vehicle from the elongated product in the event of a fault.

In a preferred embodiment, the groove cutting means is movable between a working position and a storage position of the means. This makes it possible to place the vehicle on the product with the groove cutting means in its storage position, and to correctly place the vehicle on the product before deploying the groove cutting means to its working position. Bring benefits. This minimizes the risk of damaging the product by the groove cutting means.

Preferably, the support means and the groove cutting means are mounted on a support member, the groove cutting means being pivotable about an axis on the support member between its working position and the storage position. Is pivotable about an axis on the vehicle body that moves the support means between its working position and the stowed position. This simplifies the movement of the support means between its working position and the storage position,
This provides the advantage of simplifying the movement of the groove cutting means between its working position and the storage position.

The vehicle further comprises operating means for removing the product in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body. This has the advantage of facilitating the loading of the product on the support means. The operating means may comprise at least one electric glove.

In a preferred embodiment, the elongated product is only supported by said support means during the operation of the groove cutting means. The vehicle may further comprise one or more water spouts on the seabed and jetting means supported by the vehicle for fluidizing substances in the seabed.

[0023] The squirting means preferably comprises at least one respective squirting leg adapted to be used and arranged on each side of the product, said squirting leg providing a plurality of water spouts. To be adapted. In a preferred embodiment, the jetting means is pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the vehicle body. This offers the advantage that the ejection means can reach an optimal position for the elongated product.

[0024] The vehicle may further comprise detection means for detecting the position of the elongated product with respect to the vehicle body. This offers the advantage that the vehicle can be controlled to keep the installed product in the center of the support means. In a preferred embodiment, the detection means is biased to contact the product used,
At least one detection member is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of laying an elongated product in a trench of a seabed,
The method comprises the steps of passing a vehicle body along a seabed, cutting a groove having vertical side walls on the seabed by a method of groove cutting means provided on the vehicle body, and placing a product in the groove. Prior to laying, support the product on the vehicle above the groove cutting means,
Wherein the product is supported substantially horizontally transverse to the axis of the product with little displacement when the groove cutting means remains within a predetermined distance in the direction of the intended groove position.

[0026] The method further comprises the step of supporting the elongated product on the groove cutting means only while the groove cutting means is in operation. The method further advantageously comprises the step of detecting the position of the elongated product relative to the vehicle body. The product may comprise a substantially rigid pipe. Alternatively, the product may comprise a flexible cable or semi-flexible pipe.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a submarine trenching vehicle 1 for laying hard pipes or semi-flexible pipes 2 in grooves 3 of a seabed 4 is provided by a truck 6 with a seabed, as is known to those skilled in the art. The vehicle body 5 is movable along the vehicle body 4. An electric grab 7 for raising the pipe 2 is provided on the vehicle body 5, and the electric grab 7 is movable along the vehicle body 5 to adjust the position of the pipe 2 supported by the grab 7.

A pipe support roller system 8 is also provided in the vehicle body 5 and comprises one or more rollers rotatable about respective axes, which are arranged generally transverse to the axis of the pipe 2. The end rollers of the support roller system 8 are arranged as far as possible from each other, and the entire roller support system is mounted in a moving beam arrangement. This ensures that both end rollers are always in contact with pipe 2,
Exerts an equal load on both end rollers, ensuring that stresses in the pipe 2 are minimized.

A groove cutter comprising a heavy chain cutter 9 is provided with a series of cutting teeth 10 driven by a chain (not shown) around a pair of wheels 11 to cut the seabed 4 and form the groove 3. The groove 3 has substantially vertically extending side walls.
The chain cutter 9 has a working position as shown in FIG. 1 and the chain cutter 9 is provided with a pipe supporting roller system so that the pipe 2 is supported on the chain cutter 9 and cannot contact the cutter 9. Is located under.

The jetting machine 12 includes a pair of jetting legs 13, each of which is a series of jets arranged in a row to jet pressurized water to fluidize particulate matter in the groove. 14 and the jetting legs 13 are arranged across the pipe 2 so as to be located on each side of the pipe 2. The jetting leg 13 of the jetting machine 12 is mounted on a support 15 which is pivotable about a generally vertical axis 16 passing through the vehicle body 5 at an intermediate position between the trucks 6 of the vehicle 1. As a result, any change in the position of the pipe 2 from the center of the groove 3 is adjusted by the ejector 12.

The jetting machine 12 serves to remove and / or fluidize any soil in the groove 3 after the groove 3 has been formed by the groove cutter 9 or as a result of the collapse of the side walls of the groove 3. . The vehicle 1 is also provided with a discharge system (not shown) for sucking loose sand out of the ditch in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the chain cutter 9 is mounted on the lower part of the support arm 17 so that the chain cutter 9
9, it is rotatable about a shaft 18 between a working position A and a stowed position B, as can be seen in FIG. The carrier arm 17 is likewise mounted on the upper cross frame member 20 of the vehicle body 5, whereby the carrier arm 17 is
1 and extends generally by the action of the hydraulic cylinder 22 transversely to the shaft 18 between the working position shown in FIGS. 1-3 and the storage position shown in FIG.

The pipe support roller system 8 and the chain cutter 9 are arranged such that the truck 6 is placed on each side of the pipe 2, the roller system 8 is in its storage position and the chain cutter 9 is in its storage position. Is installed below the pipe 2, the pipe 2 is vertically lifted by the electric grab 7, and the carrier arm 17 is moved in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 4 while the chain cutter 9 is still in the storage position B. The pipe 2 is pivoted about a pivot 21, after which the pipe 2 is lowered onto the support roller system 8. The chain cutter 9 can then be pivoted about its pivot 18 to its working position A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the support roller system 8 is provided with a pair of generally upright struts 23 on its side towards the storage position of the roller system 8 and a pair of struts 24 on the opposite side. ing. The strut 23 is fixed in place, while the strut 24
Can be lowered by the hydraulic cylinder 25, allowing the loading of the pipe 2 or the release of the pipe 2 from the support roller system 8.

The struts 23, 24 prevent the pipe 2 from falling out of the support roller system 8 and coming into contact with other parts of the vehicle 1. The sturdy frame of the roller system 8 facilitates the mounting of the posts 23, 24 when carrying a workload.

A pair of transducers in the form of a feeler 26 are spring-tilted toward the pipe 2 so that the pipe 2 is supported by the vehicle 1, which detects the pipe position on the support roller system 8. Move over the system 8. This produces a position dependent output signal of the feeler 26 in response to which movement of the vehicle 1 is controlled to maintain the pipe 2 approximately in the center of the pipe support roller system 8.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the support roller system 8 in more detail.
A series of substantially cylindrical rollers 27 are included, each rotatably mounted on a respective shaft 28 supported by a support frame 29. Each roller 27 has a pipe support surface covered by a soft rubber tire 30,
Of the vehicle 1 such that it can crawl laterally under a relatively small load, thereby causing the pipe 2 to slip laterally, provided that the pipe does not come into contact with the uprights 23 or 24. Minimize any trends.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the support roller system 108, where parts common to the embodiment of FIG. 6 are indicated by similar reference numbers, but with an increased digit of 100. I have. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is particularly suitable for small parts 102 and has one or more pulleys 1 with a V-shaped peripheral groove 131 for supporting the pipe 102.
27. Each pulley 127 is mounted on a shaft 128 supported by a frame 129 by low friction bearings 132 such that the pulley 127 slides along the shaft 128 with very low lateral friction.

The operation of the vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The pipe 2 buried in the seabed initially lays on the intended reserve in the seabed. With the vehicle 1 on the pipe 2 from the ship, with the chain cutter 9 in its stowed position B and the support roller system 8 in its stowed position, the truck 6 of the vehicle is positioned on both sides of the pipe 2. Get down. As a result, the chain cutter 9
The risk of damaging the pipe 2 is thereby minimized.

The movable upright 24 is then lowered by the hydraulic cylinder 25. The pipe 2 is lifted generally vertically by an electric grab 7 and the carrier arm 17 is swiveled around a pivot 21 under the action of a hydraulic cylinder 22 to carry the support roller system 8 to a working position below the pipe 2. . The cutter 9 remains in its storage position. The pipe 2 is then lowered by the glove 7 until it is placed on the roller system 8 and the removable upright 24 is moved to its upright position by the action of the hydraulic cylinder 25. The chain cutter 9 is then activated,
The hydraulic cylinder 19 is moved around the horizontal axis 18 from the storage position B to its working position A.
Is turned under the action of

Since the chain cutter 9 is activated and the pipe 2 is supported by the roller system 8 above the chain cutter 9, the risk of damaging the pipe by the cutter is minimized. At the same time, the vehicle 1 is driven forward on its truck 6 (
That is, the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 1), whereby the groove 3 is formed, and the pipe 2 leaves the rear part of the vehicle body 5 and falls into the newly formed groove 3 under its own weight. .

The jet 12 straddles the pipe 2 so as to enter the groove 3, and fluidizes and / or removes any dirt and other particulate matter in the groove 3 so that the pipe 2 It is possible to lead to.

Referring to FIG. 8, side slopes cause problems in prior art mechanical trenching devices. That is, the groove cutter cuts the slope, thereby causing one side of the groove to protrude and collapse. With the vehicle 1 of the present invention, a support roller system 8
Is maintained in a horizontal orientation below the pipe 2 and the chain cutter 9 maintains a vertical orientation. The orientation of the roller system 8 and the groove cutter 9 can be adjusted by the hydraulic cylinder 22 around the pivot 21 in response to signals received from the feeler 26 shown in FIG. 5 and / or control signals from a remote control (not shown). The carrier arm 17 is controlled to create a groove 3 having generally vertical side walls.

Referring again to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, sufficient removal of the particulate matter or fluid in the groove 3 is provided so that the jet 12 can properly place the pipe 2 at the bottom of the groove 3 in a single pass. If the vehicle cannot be changed, a second pass of the vehicle 1 along the groove 3 is performed. Since both sides of the trench 3 are sufficiently steep, the pile 3 of the excavation generated by the trenching operation during the first passage
3 does not hinder the vehicle truck 6.

If the vehicle 1 has to be removed from the pipe 2 at the end of the trenching operation or as a result of an emergency caused by a mechanical failure, the chain
The cutter 9 is raised to its storage position B, the movable strut 24 is lowered by the hydraulic cylinder 25, and the roller system 8 and the chain cutter 9 are removed from the pipe 2 by rotating the carrier arm 17 around the axis 21. It is.

The vehicle 1 of the present invention is also suitable for laying not only hard pipes and semi-flexible pipes but also flexible products such as cables. Since the cable passes over the cutter 9 and is separated from the cutter 9 by the support roller system 8, the movement of the cable as a result of digging the groove 3 under the cable is critical for the cable being damaged by the cutter 9. Does not cause danger. In order to lay down the flexible cable, it is preferable to provide electric gloves 7 at both ends of the vehicle body 5 to assist the cable operation.

Having described the above embodiments by way of example only and not in a limiting sense,
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a pipe trenching vehicle embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the groove cutter and pipe support means of the vehicle of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic end view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 with the groove cutting means and the support means in the working position, respectively. FIG. 4 is a detailed view from the front, corresponding to FIG. 3, of the vehicle of FIG. 1 with the groove cutting means and the support means in the storage position, respectively. FIG. 5 is a view of the vehicle portion of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a sectional end view of the first embodiment of the pipe support means of the vehicle of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a sectional end view of a second embodiment of the pipe support means of the vehicle of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a schematic end view, corresponding to FIG. 3, of the vehicle of FIG. 1 traveling along an inclined plane.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission Date] August 1, 2000 (2008.1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A preferred embodiment of the present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above. According to one aspect of the invention, a body adapted to move along a seabed and a seabed provided for use beneath the body to cut a groove having substantially vertical sidewalls. Groove cutting means, when the groove cutting means stays within a predetermined distance of the elongated product in a substantially horizontal transverse direction of the axis of the elongated product, so as to hardly shift in the lateral direction;
A support means provided on the vehicle body for supporting the elongated product on the groove cutting means during use, prior to inserting the elongated product into the seabed; and A vehicle is provided for laying an elongate product in a trench on a seabed provided with means for generating an output signal, indicating that the product is located at a distance greater than a predetermined distance from a predetermined portion of the means.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

By providing a groove cutting means adapted to cut a groove having a substantially vertical wall, the width of the groove is reduced as compared to the conventional method, so that a second passage of the vehicle is facilitated and the groove is removed from the groove. The advantage is that the volume of extra material removed is reduced and energy loss is minimized. By supporting the product on the groove cutting means almost horizontally and laterally with respect to the axis of the product, the product is prevented from being accidentally damaged by the groove cutting means, and at the same time, the product is prevented from laterally shifting. It offers the advantage that otherwise incorrect installation of the product in the groove is avoided. This is a problem, especially in the prior art for laying down products made of hard pipes, since there is a considerable distance between cutting the groove and laying down the pipe in the groove. By providing means for generating an output signal indicating that at least a portion of the elongate product is located more than a predetermined distance from a predetermined portion of the support means, the product is substantially supported by the support means. This offers the advantage of allowing the vehicle to be controlled to be kept central.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The means for generating the output signal may comprise a detecting means for detecting the position of the elongated product relative to the vehicle body. In a preferred embodiment, the detection means is biased to contact the product used,
At least one detection member is provided.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0025

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to another aspect of the invention, a step of passing a car body along a seabed, and a step of cutting a groove having vertical side walls in the seabed by a method of a groove cutting means provided on the car body. And prior to laying the product in the groove, supporting the product on the vehicle above the groove cutting means,
Supporting the product such that the product is supported with little lateral displacement when the grooving means remains within a predetermined distance of the elongated product in a generally horizontal transverse direction of the product axis; and Generating an output signal indicating that at least a portion of the elongated product is located greater than a predetermined distance from a predetermined portion of the vehicle. A method is provided.

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Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle body adapted to travel along a seabed, and groove cutting means provided under the vehicle body during use to cut grooves having substantially vertical side walls in the seabed; When the groove cutting means stays within a predetermined distance in the direction of the target groove position, it is hardly displaced in a direction substantially horizontal to the axis of the elongated product, and when inserting the elongated product into the seabed. A vehicle for laying an elongated product in a groove on a seabed, comprising: a support means provided on the vehicle body for indicating the elongated product on the groove cutting means during use. 2. The elongate product is free to move within predetermined limits relative to the upper surface of the support means transversely to the axis of the elongate product and / or to a pivot about a substantially vertical axis. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support means has an upper surface for supporting the elongated product thereon. 3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coefficient of friction during use between the elongated product and the support means in a direction transverse to the axis of the elongated product is as low as practicable. 4. The support means comprises first and second supports, and at each of the first and second locations, adapted to support an elongated product along its length, the first means comprising:
The support and the second support are connected by a rigid beam adapted to pivot about a substantially horizontal transverse axis substantially equidistant from the first and second supports. The vehicle according to claim 1. 5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first and second supports are located as far apart as possible. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises at least one roller adapted to rotate during use about each axis in a substantially horizontal transverse direction. Vehicle. 7. A vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the support means comprises a plurality of said rollers. 8. At least one of said rollers comprises a respective wheel rotatably mounted on a shaft and adapted to slide axially along said shaft, wherein the wheel comprises a product when the product is supported thereon. 8. The vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a peripheral groove for receiving the vehicle. 9. The support means is pivotable with respect to the body and in a direction transverse to the elongated product,
A vehicle according to any preceding claim, comprising a substantially horizontal support surface. 10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support means is movable with respect to the vehicle body in use in a lateral direction of a shaft of the elongated product. 11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support means is movable with respect to the vehicle body between a work position and a storage position. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a restraining means for restraining the product from being displaced relative to the support means in a lateral direction of an axis of the elongated product when the groove cutting means exceeds the predetermined distance from a target groove position. 12. The vehicle according to any one of claims 11 to 11. 13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the restraining means comprises at least one restraining member disposed on each side of the supporting means. 14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the restraining members or each of the restraining members, at least on one side of the vehicle, are removable to allow a product to pass therethrough. 15. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the groove cutting means is movable between a working position and a storage position of the means. 16. The support means and the groove cutting means are mounted on a support member, the groove cutting means being pivotable about an axis on the support member between its working position and the storage position. 16. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the support means is pivotable about an axis on the vehicle body, the support means moving between a working position and a storage position. 17. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising operating means for removing the product in a direction substantially perpendicular to a vehicle body. 18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said operating means comprises at least one electric grab. 19. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the elongated product is only supported by the support means while the groove cutting means is operating. 20. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising one or more water jets on the seabed, and jetting means supported by the vehicle for fluidizing a substance in the seabed. The vehicle described. 21. The squirting means comprises at least one squirting leg adapted to be disposed on each side of the product during use, said squirting legs providing a plurality of water spouts. 21. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle is made. 22. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the jetting means is capable of turning around an axis substantially perpendicular to the vehicle body. 23. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit for detecting a position of the elongated product with respect to the vehicle body. 24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the detection means comprises at least one detection member biased to contact a product in use. 25. A step of passing a vehicle body along the seabed, cutting a groove having a vertical side wall in the seabed by a method of groove cutting means provided on the vehicle body, and placing a product in the groove. Prior to laying, support the product on the vehicle above the groove cutting means,
When the groove cutting means stays within a predetermined distance in the direction of the target groove position,
A supporting step adapted to be supported substantially horizontally on the axis of the product with little displacement. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of supporting the elongated product on the groove cutting means only while the groove cutting means is in operation. 27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of detecting the position of the elongated product relative to the vehicle body. 28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the product comprises a substantially rigid pipe. 29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the product comprises a flexible cable or a semi-flexible pipe. 30. A vehicle for laying an elongated product in a trench on a seabed, as fully described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. 31. A method for laying an elongated product in a trench on a seabed, as fully described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.