JP2003279816A - Manufacturing/shipping method and manufacturing/ shipping plant for optical submarine cable - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing/shipping method for an optical submarine cable capable of manufacturing the optical submarine cable of one unit length as long as possible, safely placing a submarine repeater connected to the optical submarine cable in a shipping route, preventing the vibration of the submarine repeater at the time of shipping and reducing the shipping cost. <P>SOLUTION: The method of manufacturing the optical submarine cable from an optical fiber unit formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a center steel wire and surrounding the optical fibers with a resin layer and shipping it comprises a process of forming a composite pressure resistant layer around the optical fiber unit and manufacturing an intermediate body in a composite pressure resistant layer plant (31), a process of forming a coating around the intermediate body and manufacturing the optical submarine cable in a coating plant (32), the process of connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater in a connecting plant (34), and the process of shipping the optical submarine cable in a shipping line (36). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing and shipping optical submarine cables and a manufacturing and shipping factory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical submarine cable is manufactured at a factory from an optical fiber unit formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire and surrounding the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer and adjoining the factory. Loading is carried out on a ship docked on the quay. The same applies to an armored optical submarine cable in which the armor is processed in place of the optical submarine cable.

The optical submarine cable is usually laid in the deep sea where the depth of the seabed is 500 meters or more.
On the other hand, the exterior optical submarine cable is an optical submarine cable with the exterior processed, and there are bedrock, rocks, coral, etc. on the seabed, and the submarine or coastline that is easily affected by natural phenomena such as tidal currents and waves. It is laid on the seabed along.

[0004]

(1) A single-length optical submarine cable is manufactured with a predetermined length, and two single-length optical submarine cables that should be positioned adjacent to each other are mutually connected via a submarine repeater or a joint box. Connected. Since the demand for optical submarine cables with a total length of several thousand kilometers is increasing, there is a demand for forming a single-length optical submarine cable as long as possible. That is, the number of submarine repeaters in the total length of the optical submarine cable is determined by the attenuation of the optical fiber built into the optical submarine cable or the performance of the submarine repeater. Submarine repeaters are required, and the higher the performance of the submarine repeaters, the smaller the number of submarine repeaters can be. Therefore, as a result of the development of low-attenuation optical fibers or the development of high-performance submarine repeaters, it is required to lengthen one single-length optical submarine cable. However, if we cannot manufacture the required single-length optical submarine cable,
It is possible to connect optical submarine cables of a manufacturable length with a joint box and make them have a predetermined length, but this causes problems such as occurrence of connection loss and securing of reliability of the connecting portion.

By the way, conventionally, the connection room for connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater was provided on the same floor as the floor on which the tank for temporarily storing the optical submarine cable wound around a coil was installed. Therefore, if an optical submarine cable having a length of one tens of kilometers can be obtained, a problem arises when the submarine repeater connected to the optical submarine cable is placed on the shipping route. That is, the tank for winding the optical submarine cable having the above-mentioned length and having an outer diameter of 20 to 60 mm in a coil shape and temporarily placing the optical submarine cable in a coil shape has a height required for temporarily placing it, for example, 5 The height is -6 meters, and the route to carry in the optical submarine cable and the shipping route to carry out the optical submarine cable connected to the submarine repeater can be carried in and out from the tank according to the rigidity of the optical submarine cable. Height higher than the tank, eg 9
It will be -10 meters. Therefore, with the optical submarine cable hanging long from both ends of the submarine repeater with a length of 1-1.5 meters and a weight of 250-300 kilograms, lift the submarine repeater and the optical submarine cable to the shipping route,
It is difficult to put on the shipping route, and it is dangerous.

An optical submarine cable connected to a submarine repeater is
After the system test is completed, it will be loaded on the optical submarine cable laying ship, freighter ship, etc. berthed from the connected factory or the inspection factory adjacent to the connected factory to the quay outside this factory. The conventional equipment used for this loading includes a track such as a roller conveyor laid from the factory to the quay, and a hoisting rail laid along the track above the track. Shipping by this is as follows.
When the optical submarine cable is placed on the orbit and the optical submarine cable is towed by the traction device installed on the ship, the optical submarine cable moves on the orbit and is sequentially guided to the ship. When the submarine repeater is to be transported, the pulling of the optical submarine cable is temporarily stopped and the submarine repeater is suspended on the hoist. After that, when the towing of the optical submarine cable is restarted, the optical submarine cable moves on the orbit, and the submarine repeater moves along the rail while being suspended by the hoist and is guided to the ship.

A submarine repeater is the above-mentioned heavy-duty precision component that houses an amplifier and other equipment. It is necessary to hold such precision parts so as not to vibrate during transportation to protect the internal equipment. However, it is difficult to prevent shake in the transportation in the state of being suspended by the hoist, and the submarine repeater is vibrated during the transportation. in addition,
Since an optical submarine cable with high rigidity is connected to the submarine repeater, if there is a bend in the track, not only the submarine repeater but also the optical submarine cable will swing, and it will be safe by contacting the pillars in the track. May be damaged.

Further, in the conventional equipment, a hoisting rail, which is used only for moving the submarine repeater, is laid above the track over the entire length of the track. Considering that the laying distance from the factory to the quay is hundreds to thousands of meters, not only the rail laying cost, but also the maintenance and inspection costs are enormous, which affects the shipping cost.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to manufacture an optical submarine cable of a single length as long as possible and to connect it with an optical submarine cable. The present invention is to provide an optical submarine cable manufacturing / shipping method and manufacturing / shipping factory that can safely place the equipment on the shipping route, prevent vibration of the submarine repeater during shipping, and reduce shipping costs. .

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. The gist of the invention according to claim 1 is to arrange a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire, manufacture an optical submarine cable from an optical fiber unit formed by surrounding the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer, and ship it. 1) a step of processing a composite pressure-resistant layer around the optical fiber unit to produce an intermediate,
a: Along the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit, three metal pieces formed in a circumferentially divided form are provided along the circumferential direction, b: a plurality of tensile members are wound around these metal pieces, c Resin is filled in the gaps between these tensile strength members, and d is a copper tape accumulator around the strength member filled with resin, and even if the supply on the inlet side of this copper tape accumulator is stopped, the supply on the outlet side can be continued. Wrapping with a copper tape supplied via a copper tape accumulator, e welding the mating surface of this copper tape into a tube, f producing an intermediate body including squeezing the tubular copper tape from the outer circumference Process,
2) A step of manufacturing a submarine optical cable by processing a coating around the intermediate body, wherein the accumulator is an accumulator and can continue the supply to the outlet side even if the supply to the inlet side of the accumulator is stopped. Supplying the intermediate body via a turn-sheave, which is capable of maintaining the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side of the turn sheave substantially constant. C, processing a coating having an electrically insulating function around the intermediate on the inlet side of the turn sheave, d another coating having a protective function for the coating around the coating on the outlet side of the turn sheave. A step of manufacturing an optical submarine cable including processing, and 3) a step of connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater, comprising: a optical submarine Providing a temporary storage place for temporarily placing the cable, b providing a connection chamber for connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater at a position higher than the temporary storage place, c An optical submarine cable and a submarine relay that include pulling an end portion to be connected upward from the temporary storage location and guiding it to the connection chamber, and connecting the end portion of the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater in the connection chamber. 4) a step of connecting the optical submarine cable, and 4) a step of loading the optical submarine cable, comprising: a placing the submarine repeater on a dolly and placing the dolly on a track; and applying a traction force to the optical submarine cable. And moving the carriage on the orbit to guide the optical submarine cable to a ship, the optical submarine cable being loaded. - resides in the shipping method. The gist of the invention according to claim 2 is a step of manufacturing the optical fiber unit before starting the step of manufacturing the intermediate body of 1), wherein a plurality of optical fibers are arranged around a center steel wire. B. A method of manufacturing and shipping an optical submarine cable according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of manufacturing an optical fiber unit including enclosing the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer. The gist of the invention according to claim 3 is a step of winding a sheath wire around the optical submarine cable after the step 2) and before the step 3), wherein: a yarn is provided around the optical submarine cable. To form a seat, b to wrap a plurality of exterior wires around the seat, and c to continuously and automatically dissolve the paint that is solid at room temperature into the paint applicator. A step of supplying and winding a sheathing wire including applying a dissolved coating material to the plurality of sheathing wires and forming an outer coating when the plurality of sheathing wires pass through the paint coating device. Claim 1 characterized by the above.
Alternatively, it lies in the method of manufacturing and shipping the optical submarine cable according to claim 2. The gist of the invention according to claim 4 is to arrange a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire, manufacture an optical submarine cable from an optical fiber unit formed by surrounding the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer, and ship it. Is a factory that
1) A composite pressure-resistant layer factory for processing an intermediate body by processing a composite pressure-resistant layer around the optical fiber unit, which is formed into a stand for supplying the optical fiber unit a, and a configuration in which b is divided into three in the circumferential direction. A stand for supplying the three metal pieces along the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit; c, a twisting machine for winding a plurality of strength members around the three metal pieces; A resin injecting device for filling a resin in a gap between the body and a copper tape accumulator for supplying a copper tape. Even if the supply of the copper tape to the inlet side of the copper tape accumulator is stopped, the resin is supplied to the outlet side. A copper tape accumulator formed so as to be able to continue, f a former that molds the copper tape so as to wrap the strength member, and g a welding surface of the copper tape , A composite pressure-resistant layer factory equipped with a tube-shaped welding machine, and a drawing die for narrowing the tubular copper tape from the outer periphery, and 2) a coating factory for manufacturing an optical submarine cable by processing a coating around the intermediate body. An accumulator for supplying the intermediate, wherein the accumulator is formed so that the supply of the intermediate can be continued even if the supply of the intermediate to the inlet side of the accumulator is stopped; A turn sheave which is capable of maintaining substantially constant tension on the inlet side and the outlet side of the turn sheave; c disposed on the inlet side of the turn sheave and processing a coating around the intermediate body A coating plant comprising a first resin molding machine and a second resin molding machine disposed on the outlet side of the turn sheave and processing another coating around the coating,
3) A connection factory for connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater, wherein: a, a temporary storage place for temporarily storing the optical submarine cable; and b, the light provided at a position higher than the temporary storage place. A connection factory comprising a submarine cable and a connection room for connecting the submarine repeater; and 4) a shipping line for loading the optical submarine cable, wherein the connection factory or an inspection factory adjacent to the connection factory From a berth to a quay, and a loading line that includes: b. A trolley on which the submarine repeater is placed and which is placed on the orbit and which moves on the orbit by a traction force applied to the optical submarine cable. Located at the optical submarine cable manufacturing and shipping factory. The gist of the invention according to claim 5 is a unit factory for manufacturing the optical fiber unit before the composite pressure-resistant layer factory according to 1) above.
A unit factory is provided, which includes a rotation stand that supports a roll around which a central steel wire is wound, b an optical fiber collecting machine that supplies an optical fiber around the central steel wire, and a device that surrounds the optical fiber with a resin layer. Characterized by
The present invention resides in a manufacturing / shipping factory of the optical submarine cable. The gist of the invention according to claim 6 is an exterior factory which winds an exterior wire around the optical submarine cable between the coating factory of 2) and the connection factory of 3), wherein: A rotating stand around which a yarn is wound to form a seat, b a twisting machine that winds a plurality of exterior wires around the seat, c a paint applicator that applies paint to the plurality of exterior wires, d A coating material dissolving tank for melting the coating material that is a solid at room temperature and automatically and continuously supplying it to the coating material coating device, and e to form an external coating,
An optical submarine cable manufacturing / shipping factory according to claim 4 or 5, wherein an exterior factory equipped with a rotating stand for winding the yarn and a paint applying device for applying paint is arranged.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A method of manufacturing and shipping an optical submarine cable according to the present invention is shown in FIG.
Referring to, in the unit factory 30, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged around the central steel wire, and the plurality of optical fibers are surrounded by a resin layer to manufacture an optical fiber unit.
Next, in the composite pressure-resistant layer factory 31, the composite pressure-resistant layer is processed around the optical fiber unit to manufacture the intermediate body, and in the coating factory 32, the coating is processed around the intermediate body.
Manufactures single-length optical submarine cables. The single-length optical submarine cable is temporarily stored in a predetermined pan in the pan yard 33 for each use. After that, the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater are connected in the connection factory 34, and various tests are conducted in the inspection factory 35. An independent factory may be installed as the inspection factory 35, and the connection factory 34 may perform inspection. The optical submarine cable that has been inspected is guided to the ship by the shipping line 36. Here, the factory means a line, and does not mean that each factory is in an independent building.

In the case of manufacturing an exterior optical submarine cable, the optical submarine cable is guided to the exterior factory 37 to process the exterior of the optical submarine cable, and then, in the connection factory 34, the optical submarine cable and the undersea repeater having the exterior processed are processed. Connect.

In the unit factory 30, as shown in FIG. 2 showing a schematic side view, a plurality of optical fibers 42 drawn from an optical fiber collecting machine 41 are arranged around a central steel wire 40, and these are arranged on a resin coating device. While passing 43, the optical fiber 42 is surrounded by resin, and the resin is cured by the resin curing device 44 to manufacture the optical fiber unit 45. The optical fiber unit 45 is pulled out by the take-up device 47, and is taken up by the take-up drum 46. The optical fiber unit 45 is manufactured by the following two methods. That is, the optical fiber unit 45 is manufactured at another factory unrelated to the optical submarine cable manufacturing / shipping factory according to the present invention and carried into the optical submarine cable manufacturing / shipping factory according to the present invention, or The optical submarine cable according to the invention is manufactured and manufactured at a shipping factory. In the former case, the manufacturing method carried out in the manufacturing and shipping factory of the optical submarine cable according to the present invention is a step after the composite pressure-resistant layer step. In either case, the central steel wire 40 is installed in the unit factory 30.
Rotating stand 49 for supporting the roll 48 wound with
And an optical fiber assembling device 41, and a device for enclosing the optical fiber 42 with a resin layer, such as a resin coating device 43 and a resin curing device 44.

In the composite pressure-resistant layer factory 31, as shown in FIG. 5 showing the end face of the optical submarine cable, the optical fiber unit 4 is used.
The composite pressure-resistant layer is processed around 5, and the intermediate body 50 is manufactured. The intermediate body 50 is shown in FIG. 3 showing a schematic side surface of the composite pressure-resistant layer factory 31 and FIG. 4 showing a side surface of the copper tape accumulator.
5 and FIG. 5, the optical fiber unit 45 is divided into three parts in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction.
Align two metal pieces 51, these metal pieces 51
Wrapping a plurality of strength members 52 around, and filling the gap between these strength members 52 with resin 53,
Is supplied through a copper tape accumulator 54 which is a copper tape accumulator 54 and which can be continuously supplied to the outlet side even if the supply to the inlet side of the copper tape accumulator 54 is stopped. It is manufactured by wrapping with copper tape 55, welding the mating surface of copper tape 55 into a tube shape, and narrowing tubular copper tape 55 from the outer periphery.

The metal piece 51 is divided into three pieces in the circumferential direction, that is, the metal piece 51 becomes a cylinder when the metal pieces 51 are attached to each other, and the inner peripheral surface is formed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit 45. Made of steel. The three metal pieces 51 are continuously drawn out so that the axis of the metal piece 51 is located in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the continuously drawn optical fiber unit 45, and the optical fiber unit 4
5 are arranged in parallel along the outer peripheral surface.

After placing the three metal pieces 51 on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit 45, the strength member 52 is wound around the three metal pieces 51. The tensile strength body 52 is, for example, a high tensile strength steel wire having a diameter of 1.725 mm, and in the embodiment of FIG. 5, 14 high tensile strength steel wires surround three metal pieces 51. A resin 53 is filled in the gap between the tensile strength members 52 to prevent water running in the composite pressure resistant layer.

After that, the copper tape 55 is formed into a tube shape by the former 56 so that the strength member 52 is wrapped with the copper tape 55 supplied through the copper tape accumulator 54, and the welding surface of the copper tape 55 is attached by the welding machine 57. Are welded to obtain a copper tube, and the strength member 52 is housed in the copper tube.

Since the copper tape 55 is pulled out from the copper tape roll 58, the length of the copper tape 55 wound around the copper tape roll 58 is limited. Copper tape 5
Since 5 supplies electric power to the submarine repeater, it cannot be discontinuous, and after the copper tape 55 is pulled out from one copper tape roll 58, the end portion of this copper tape 55 is separated. It is necessary to connect to the starting end of the copper tape 55 pulled out from the copper tape roll 58. In the copper tape accumulator 54 used in the present invention, even if the supply of the copper tape 55 at the inlet side A of the copper tape accumulator 54 is stopped, the supply of the copper tape 55 at the outlet side B can be continued. While connecting the terminal end of the tape 55 and the starting end of the new copper tape 55, it is possible to continuously supply the copper tape 55 on the outlet side B and continuously obtain the composite pressure-resistant layer without interrupting the production. it can.

After welding the mating surfaces of the copper tape 55, when the welded copper tape 55, that is, the copper tube passes through the drawing die 59, the copper tube is squeezed from the outer periphery, the three metal pieces 51 and the tensile strength member 52. To hold.
This completes the manufacture of the intermediate body 50.

At the time of manufacturing the intermediate body 50, the drawing die 59
The intermediate body 50 is pulled by the pulling machine 60 on the downstream side of the optical fiber unit 45, the metal piece 51, the tensile strength body 52, and the copper tape 55. Intermediate 50
Is then wound on the winding drum 61 and completed.

According to the manufacturing process of the intermediate body 50 in the composite pressure-resistant layer factory 31, while the end portion of the copper tape 55 and the start portion of the new copper tape 55 are carefully connected over the conventional time. Since the supply of the copper tape 55 can be continued, the composite withstand voltage layer is formed around the optical fiber unit 45 without interrupting the production while always maintaining the balance with other devices in the production line of the intermediate 50. The body 50 can be manufactured. As a result, it is possible to manufacture the intermediate body 50 having the composite pressure resistant layer, which can form the single-length optical submarine cable as long as possible.

In the coating factory 32, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical submarine cable 65 is manufactured by processing the coatings 62 and 63 around the intermediate body 50. As for the method of manufacturing the optical submarine cable 65, referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 showing a schematic plane of the coating factory 32, even if the supply on the inlet side of the accumulator 66 is stopped, the outlet side is The intermediate body 50 is supplied through an accumulator 66 capable of continuing the supply to the intermediate body, and the intermediate body is provided through the turn sheave 67 which is capable of keeping the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side substantially constant. Moving 50,
A coating 62 having an electrically insulating function is processed around the intermediate body 50 on the inlet side of the turn sheave 67, and another coating 63 having a protective function for the coating 62 is processed around the coating 62 on the outlet side of the turn sheave 67. Including doing.

The accumulator 66 is formed so that the supply of the intermediate body 50 to the outlet side is continued even if the supply of the intermediate body 50 to the inlet side of the accumulator 66 is stopped. As a result, for example, when the end portion 50a of the intermediate body 50 of the roll 68 reaches the inlet of the accumulator 66,
Even if the supply of the intermediate body 50 is stopped at the inlet side of the accumulator 66 in order to connect the starting end portion 50b and the terminal end portion 50a of the roll 69 to be coated next, the intermediate body 50 still remains at the outlet side of the accumulator 66. The supply is maintained.

The intermediate body 50 reaching the outlet side of the accumulator 66 is washed by the washing machine 70, heated by the burner 71, and then reaches the extrusion molding machine 72. The intermediate body 50 is extruded with a coating 62 having an electric insulating function, for example, a low-density polyethylene resin by an extrusion molding machine 72. The coating 62 is cooled while the intermediate body 50 processed with the coating 62 passes through the cooling trough 73. Then turn sheave 6
The intermediate body 50 having the coating 62 reversed in 7 reaches the extrusion molding machine 74, and the coating 63 having a protective function, for example, a high-density polyethylene resin is extruded by the extrusion molding machine 74. While the intermediate body 50 processed by the coating 63 passes through the cooling trough 75, the coating 63 is cooled and the optical submarine cable 65 is obtained. The optical submarine cable 65 is wound around a pan 76 in the panyard 33 (FIG. 1).

During the production of the optical submarine cable 65, even if the tension applied to the intermediate body 50 on the inlet side and the outlet side of the turn sheave 67 fluctuates, the turn sheave 67 operates to absorb the fluctuation of the tension, Keep the tension between the outlet side and the outlet side constant. Therefore, since the molding process by the extrusion molding machines 72 and 74 is performed while the tension applied to the intermediate body 50 is kept constant, the coatings 62 and 63 are wrinkled and the layer thickness is varied. Can be prevented. Tension to the intermediate body 50 is applied by the take-up caterpillar 77 for taking the optical submarine cable 65 and the take-up caterpillars 78, 79 arranged at the inlet side and the outlet side of the accumulator 66.

Optical submarine cable 65 in the coating factory 32
According to the manufacturing method, since the processing of the coating 62 having the electric insulating function and the processing of the coating 63 having the protective function are performed in the same processing line 80, after the coating 62 is processed, the coating 63 is processed.
There is almost no possibility that foreign matter such as dust adheres to the coating 62 before the processing. Therefore, the presence of foreign matter between the coatings 62 and 63 does not affect the withstand voltage characteristic of the optical submarine cable 65 and does not hinder the power supply to the submarine repeater by the copper tube.

When the intermediate body 50 is supplied through the accumulator 66, even if the supply on the inlet side of the accumulator 66 is stopped, the supply on the outlet side can be continued, so that the coatings 62 and 63 in the processing line 80 can be processed. Continuous processing is possible without stopping, and the optical submarine cable 65 can be efficiently manufactured. In other words, one single long optical submarine cable 65 can be obtained. Further, since the coatings 62 and 63 are processed in the same processing line 80, the processing time is about half that in the case where processing is performed in separate processing lines, and material loss can be significantly reduced. The cost can be reduced.

In the connection factory 34, the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 are connected. This connection is connected factory 3
4 showing the front state of FIG. 4, FIG. 11 showing the plan view of the connection factory 34, FIG. 12 showing the state before the submarine repeater 82 is connected, and the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 are connected. With reference to FIG. 13 showing the state, a temporary placement place 84 for temporarily placing the optical submarine cable 65 is provided, and a connection chamber 85 for connecting the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 is provided from the temporary placement place 84. Also, the end portion 65a of the optical submarine cable 65 to be connected is pulled out upward from the temporary storage location 84 and guided to the connection chamber 85. In the connection chamber 85, the end portion 65a of the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater are connected. 82 and connecting.

The optical submarine cable 65 is temporarily coiled and wound around the temporary storage location 84 according to the finally determined laying order or shipping order.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the submarine repeater 82 has a tubular shape as a whole and houses an amplifier and other necessary equipment. The optical submarine cable 65 is connected to the submarine repeater 82 via two couplings 83 each having a bellows. In the connection chamber 85, the end portions 65a of the two optical submarine cables 65 to be connected and the submarine repeater 82 are, as is known per se, optical, electrical and electrical while ensuring watertightness and electrical insulation. Mechanically connected.

The temporary storage location 84 for the optical submarine cable 65 is
It is a cylindrical tank having an opening at the top and is installed on the floor 86. Instead of the tank, it is also possible to make the temporary storage place 84 by a plurality of circular columns arranged in a circle at intervals in the circumferential direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the tank is approximately 1
It has a height of 0 meters. Optical submarine cable 65 carried in via a carry-in path 88 at the same height as the shipping path 87
Is placed in the tank from above the tank and wound in a coil. As a result, the two end portions 65 a of each single-length optical submarine cable 65 are extended to the vicinity of the connection chamber 85 and temporarily placed.

According to the connection factory 34, the connection chamber 85 is provided at a position higher than the temporary storage place 84, which is almost the same as the shipping route 87 at the height position of about 10 meters, for example. It can be installed at a height position. As a result, the ends 6 of the two optical submarine cables 65 are
Since it is not necessary to lift the submarine repeater 82 to which the 5a is connected from the floor 86 to the shipping route 87, the workability can be ensured and the risk of the work can be reduced.

Optical submarine cable 65 at the connection factory 34
When connecting the submarine repeater 82 and the submarine repeater 82, the submarine repeater 82 is temporarily placed in the optical submarine cable 65.
Is provided at a position higher than the temporary placement place 84 for temporary placement, and the connection chamber 85 is provided at the same height as the repeater temporary placement place 89 in the horizontal direction from the repeater temporary placement place 89. Is preferred. In this case, the submarine repeater 82 temporarily placed in the repeater temporary placement place 89 is moved to the connection chamber 85, and the end portion 65 of the optical submarine cable 65 to be connected is connected.
a is drawn upward from the temporary storage location 84 and guided to the connection chamber 85, where the end portion 6 of the optical submarine cable 65 is connected.
5a and the submarine repeater 82 are connected.

In the inspection factory 35, after the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 are connected, electrical, optical and other necessary tests are conducted. As described above, when the repeater temporary storage location 89 is provided in the connection factory 34, necessary tests can be performed in the connection factory 34.

In the shipping line 36, the optical submarine cable 6
5 and the submarine repeater 82 connected to the optical submarine cable 65 are loaded. As for shipping, referring to FIG. 18 showing a side view and FIG. 19 showing a schematic plane, the optical submarine cable 65 having the submarine repeater 82 is connected to the factory 34 or the inspection factory 3.
Quay 90 outside the factory 34, 35 by pulling out from
It is to be loaded on the ship 91 docked at
2 is placed on the trolley 92, and the trolley 92 is moved along the track 93.
And applying a traction force to the optical submarine cable 65 to move the carriage 92 on the track 93 and guide the optical submarine cable 65 to the ship 91.

The optical submarine cable 65 is pulled out from the connection factory 34 or the inspection factory 35 and placed on the track 93,
It receives the traction force of the traction device 94 installed in No. 1 and moves on the track 93 toward the arrow 95. When the optical submarine cable 65 moves and is loaded on a ship, and most of the optical submarine cable 65 in front of the submarine repeater 82 is unwound, the movement of the optical submarine cable 65 is temporarily stopped. Then, using a hoist or a crane not shown, the submarine repeater 82 is mounted on the carriage 92, and the carriage 92 is mounted on the track 93. In this case, the submarine repeater 82 may be placed on the bogie 92, and then the bogie 92 may be placed on the track 93 together with the submarine repeater 82. Conversely, the bogie 92 may be placed on the track 93 and then the submarine repeater 82 may be placed on the bogie 92. You can put it.

The submarine repeater 82 is mounted on the carriage 92, and the carriage 9
When the traction force is applied to the optical submarine cable 65 after placing No. 2 on the orbit 93, the optical submarine cable 65 moves on the orbit 93. At this time, the submarine repeater 82 receives the traction force, but since the relative slip between the submarine repeater 82 and the carriage 92 is prevented by the frictional force due to the weight of the subsea repeater 82, the carriage 92 ends up on the track 93. It will be moved. In this way, the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 move and are guided to the ship 91.

When the carriage 92 is moved, it is necessary not to cause relative slip between the submarine repeater 82 and the carriage 92. For that purpose, the frictional force can be utilized as described above, but in order to further ensure the reliability, it is preferable to fix the submarine repeater 82 by looping the belt 96 attached to the carriage 92 around the submarine repeater 82. . In addition, submarine repeater 8
It is preferable that a recessed portion conforming to the contour of No. 2 is provided in the truck 92, and the submarine relay 82 is mounted on the truck 92 so that the submarine relay 82 fits into the recessed portion. It is more reliable if the submarine repeater 82 is placed in the recess of the carriage 92 and the submarine repeater 82 is fixed with the belt 96.

When shipping on the shipping line 36,
The submarine repeater 82 and the two couplings 83 are individually mounted on the carriages 92, 98, 99 so that the connecting portion between the submarine repeater 82 and each coupling 83 can be bent. 99 on track 93,
Adding traction to the optical submarine cable 65, trucks 92, 98,
It is preferable to move 99 on the track 93.

A bellows 97 is arranged at a connecting portion between the submarine repeater 82 and each coupling 83, and a gimbal mechanism known per se is incorporated inside the bellows 97.
In the gimbal mechanism, each coupling 83 is a submarine repeater 82.
On the other hand, it is formed so that it can be bent by about 60 degrees in any direction. Then, the submarine repeater 82 and the two couplings 83 are connected to the carriages 92, 98, by the gimbal mechanism.
It is placed on the carriages 92, 98 and 99 so as to protrude from the 99 so that each coupling 83 bends during movement.

In this way, the submarine repeater 82 and the two couplings 83 are individually mounted on the carriages 92, 98 and 99,
If each coupling 83 bends during movement,
It is possible to prevent the coupling 83 and the optical submarine cable 65 from coming into contact with a pillar or the like at the curved portion of the track by the action of the carriages 92, 98, 99 of the pedestals and the optical submarine cable 65, and prevent the optical submarine cable 65 from being damaged. be able to.

According to the shipping line 36, the submarine repeater 8
When 2 is placed on the carriage 92 and is conveyed, the carriage 92 is on the track 93 and is in a state without shake,
Since the submarine repeater 82 is held by the carriage 92, it is possible to prevent the submarine repeater 82 from being vibrated during transportation. Therefore, the equipment housed inside the submarine repeater 82 is not adversely affected by the vibration during transportation. Further, when the optical submarine cable 65 with high rigidity connected to the submarine repeater 82 reaches the bend on the track 93, the submarine repeater 82 suppresses the deflection of the optical submarine cable 65.

Optical submarine cable 6 having submarine repeater 82
When loading 5, the submarine repeater 82 is placed on the dolly 92 and moved on the track 93 together with the dolly 92. Therefore, a hoist that suspends the submarine repeater 82 and travels along the track is not required, and this hoist is run. There is no need for rails. Conventionally, rails have been provided over the entire length of the track, and the cost of equipment, maintenance, and inspection thereof has been enormous. However, according to the shipping line 36, since rails for traveling the hoist are unnecessary, the cost is low. Can be significantly reduced. Further, the carriage 92 does not have wheels and moves on the track in the form of a so-called sled. However, in the case of a wheel that moves a hoist along a rail, the movement speed is limited by the movement of the wheel, but In the form (1), such restrictions are lessened, and it is possible to increase the moving speed as compared with the wheel. As a result, the workability in shipping the optical submarine cable 65 is improved, and the shipping cost can be reduced.

When the optical submarine cable 65 is subjected to exterior processing, the optical submarine cable 65 is guided to the exterior factory 37. For processing in the exterior factory 37, referring to FIG. 23 showing a schematic side surface of the exterior factory 37 and FIG. 14 showing the coating device, winding a plurality of exterior wires 110 around the submarine cable 65, coating the coating device 111, The paint that is solid at room temperature is melted and continuously and automatically supplied, and when the plurality of exterior wires 110 pass through the paint application device 111, the dissolved paint is applied to the plurality of exterior wires 111. Including that.

The optical submarine cable 65 is spirally housed in a pan 76 in the panyard. The optical submarine cable 65 pulled out from the pan 76 is the processing line 112.
Then, the machining line 112 is received by receiving the take-up force of the take-up capstan 113 on the downstream side.

The sheath wire 110 is a steel wire of a predetermined size,
This is wrapped around a predetermined number of optical submarine cables 65. The size and quantity of the exterior wire 110 can be determined as in the conventional case.

According to the exterior factory 37, the paint coating device 11
No. 1 applies a coating material such as an asphalt-based mixture that is solid at room temperature to the exterior wire 110. The coating material is provided independently of the processing line 112, that is, regardless of the processing line 112. In a place, for example, in a paint dissolving tank 114 independently installed outdoors, the pipe 11
5, and the coating application device 111 is continuously and automatically operated.
Is supplied to. As a result, the work efficiency can be increased, and since it is not necessary to manually carry or supply the paint to the paint coating device 111, it is possible to reduce the necessary manpower.

A coating which is solid at room temperature is melted by heating, but the viscosity is relatively large even in a dissolved state. Therefore, when the coating material is applied by the coating material application device 111, the coating wire 110 is passed through the coating material which is being dropped or flowing while the coating material is being dropped or flowing, or the coating wire 110 is guided into a container filled with the coating material, and the coating is applied. It can be done by dipping the wire 110 in paint.

For the exterior processing in the exterior factory 37, the yarn 116 made of synthetic fiber such as polypropylene is wound around the optical submarine cable 65 to form the seat 117, and the paint is applied to the seat 117. It is preferable to carry out.

According to this exterior processing, the optical submarine cable 6
The yarn 116 is wound around 5 to form a seat 117, and a plurality of exterior wires 110 coated with paint are wound around the seat 117. As described above, the optical submarine cable 65 is covered with the coatings 62 and 63 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the external wire 110 is wound directly around the optical submarine cable 65, the external wire 110 is covered with the coating 62,
63 may be damaged. Therefore, by winding the yarn 116 around the optical submarine cable 65,
The yarn 116 acts as a cushion, and the covering 62,
It is possible to prevent damage to 63.

To wind the armoring wire 110 around the optical submarine cable 65 or around the seat 117, the armoring wire 1
After applying the paint to 10, winding the exterior wire 110,
On the contrary, it is possible to apply the paint to the exterior wire 110 after winding the exterior wire 110. If the exterior wire 110 is wound while applying the paint as in this embodiment, the working time can be shortened and the exterior wire 1 of the paint
Application to 10 can be performed evenly.

The exterior processing in the exterior factory 37 is also performed by applying the dissolved paint to the plurality of exterior wires 110 while the seat 1
After winding a plurality of exterior wires 110 around 17, the yarn 116 is wrapped around the exterior wire 110, and another coating applicator 118 arranged on the processing line 112,
The coating material that is solid at room temperature is melted and continuously and automatically supplied, and when the coating wire 110 and the yarn 116 pass through another coating applicator 118, the coating material dissolved in the coating wire 110 and the yarn 116. Is preferably applied to form the outer coating 119. Then, if necessary, yarn 11
The wrapping of 6 and the application of paint are repeated 1 to several times to grow the outer coating 119.

In this way, the yarn 116 is attached to the exterior wire 110.
The outer wire 110 is wound around the yarn 11 by winding
6 is used to prevent the exterior wire 110 from coming loose. And by applying paint,
The exterior wire 110 is protected against corrosion.

In the case where the coating material is an adhesive coating material such as an asphalt-based admixture, the optical submarine cables 65A which have been coated with an anti-adhesion agent such as calcium carbonate on the outer coating 119 in the coating device 120 and which have been externally processed. Is preferably prevented from adhering to the stockyard.

In the unit factory 30, the central steel wire 40
A plurality of optical fibers 42 are arranged around the optical fiber 42, and the optical submarine cable 65 is manufactured from the optical fiber unit 45 formed by surrounding the plurality of optical fibers 42 with a resin layer. Referring to FIG. 1, the composite pressure resistant layer factory 31, the coating factory 32, the panyard 33, the connection factory 34, the inspection factory 35, the shipping line 36, and the exterior factory 37 are provided. Of these, the unit factory 30
May or may not be located in the factory where the optical submarine cable 65 is manufactured and shipped, as described above. In addition, the pan yard 33 has a function of storing the optical submarine cable 65 for each application, and merely stops the flow in a series of manufacturing / shipping steps. In addition, the inspection factory 35
Only checks and confirms the performance of the manufactured optical submarine cable 65 using a device known per se, and does not have its own factory as a factory at least in the manufacturing sense. The exterior factory 37 is used when the optical submarine cable 65 is subjected to exterior processing. Therefore, the optical submarine cable 65
The minimum required for the manufacturing and shipping factory of is the composite pressure-resistant layer factory 31, the coating factory 32, the connection factory 34,
It becomes the shipping line 36 and incidentally the unit factory 30
Then, the exterior factory 37 is required. Next, each factory will be described, but the unit factory 30 has already been described.

The composite pressure-resistant layer factory 31 for manufacturing the intermediate 50 by processing the composite pressure-resistant layer around the optical fiber unit 45.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a stand 130 for supplying the optical fiber unit 45 and three metal pieces 51, which are formed by dividing the optical fiber unit 45 into three in the circumferential direction, are arranged in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit 45. A stand 131 for feeding along with the wire, a twisting machine 132 for winding a plurality of strength members 52 around three metal pieces 51, and the strength members 5
The resin injection device 133 for filling the resin into the gap 2 and the copper tape accumulator 54 for supplying the copper tape 55. Even if the supply of the copper tape 55 to the inlet side of the copper tape accumulator 54 is stopped, the outlet side Copper tape accumulator 54 formed so that it can be continuously supplied to the former, a former 56 that molds the copper tape 55 so as to wrap the strength member 52, and a welding machine that welds the mating surface of the copper tape 55 to form a tube shape. 57 and a drawing die 59 for narrowing the tubular copper tape 55 from the outer circumference.

The stands 130 and 131 respectively support the optical fiber unit 45 and the roll around which the metal piece 51 is wound, and supply the optical fiber unit 45 and the metal piece 51.

The twisting machine 132 supports the same number of bobbins 134 as the number of the strength members 52 to be wound around the three metal pieces 51, and is rotatable around the optical fiber unit 45. When the twisting machine 132 rotates, the tensile strength body 52 pulled out from each bobbin 134 becomes 3
It is wrapped around one metal piece 51. The bobbin 134 is supplied to the twisting machine 132 by an automatic bobbin supplying system 135.
It is convenient that

The resin injecting device 133 injects the ultraviolet curable resin 53 into the gap between the strength members 52.

The copper tape accumulator 54 has the copper tape 5 on the inlet side A of the copper tape accumulator 54.
Even if the supply of No. 5 is stopped, the supply can be continued at the outlet side B. Therefore, while the supply on the inlet side A is stopped and the copper tape 55 is connected, the supply on the outlet side B is still continued on the outlet side B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the copper tape accumulator 54 comprises a movable roller 140 and a fixed roller 14.
1 and 1. The movable roller 140 is rotatably supported on a carriage 142 movable in the horizontal directions C and D,
The carriage 142 is pulled to the right C in the figure by the winding force of the winch 143. On the other hand, the fixed roller 141 is fixed at a fixed position and is rotatably supported. The copper tape 55 pulled out from the copper tape roll 58 is a movable roller 1.
After reaching 40 through 40, the fixed roller 141 is reached.
It is pulled out from 41 to the former 56 (FIG. 3). The pull roller 144 is arranged on the inlet side of the accumulator 54 and the pull roller 145 is arranged on the outlet side thereof.
Is pulled by these pull rollers 144, 145 with a constant tension. At this time, the dolly 142 remains in a fixed position.

When the copper tape 55 is being supplied on the inlet side A, the carriage 14 that supports the movable roller 140.
2 has stopped at a fixed position. When the supply of the copper tape 55 on the inlet side A is stopped, that is, when the terminal end portion 55a of the copper tape 55 that has already been pulled out and the starting end portion 55b of the copper tape 55 that should be pulled out are connected, it is at the outlet of the pull roller 144. Since the pulling force of the copper tape 55 becomes large, the carriage 142 moves to the left D in the figure.
As it moves, the movable roller 140 and the fixed roller 141
The copper tape 55 located between and is pulled out. As a result, the supply of the copper tape 55 can always be secured at the outlet side B. The connection work on the inlet side A is completed, and the copper tape 55
When the supply of the copper tape 55 is restarted, the pulling force of the copper tape 55 at the exit of the pull roller 144 becomes small.
Moves to the right C by the winding force of the winch 143,
Stop at home position.

The former 56 forms the copper tape 55 into a tube shape so that the strength member 52 is wrapped with the copper tape 55. The copper tape 55 formed by the former 56 and having the mating surfaces facing each other reaches the welding machine 57 to weld the mating surfaces. After welding, while the tubular copper tape 55 passes through the drop die 59, the outer diameter is reduced to grip the three metal pieces 51 and the tensile strength body 52, and the intermediate body 50 having the composite pressure resistant layer is completed. To be done.

The coating factory 32 for manufacturing the optical submarine cable 65 by processing the coatings 62 and 63 around the intermediate body 50 is shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 showing the side surface of the accumulator, and FIG. 8 showing the plane of the turn sheave. Figure 9 showing the side of the turn sheave
Referring to, the accumulator 66, the turn sheave 67, the first resin molding machine 72, and the second resin molding machine 7
4 and.

The accumulator 66 is the accumulator 6
Even if the supply of the intermediate 50 to the inlet side of 6 is stopped, the supply to the outlet side can be continued. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the accumulator 66 is fixed at a fixed position and is supported by a rotatable sheave 150, a vertically movable movable sheave 151, and a rotatable sheave 151.
1 and a weight 152 that applies upward force. Weight 1
The wire 52 is connected to the sheave 151 by a wire 155 extending through a pulley 154 attached to the ceiling 153, and lifts the sheave 151.

The intermediate body 50 on the exit side of the take-up caterpillar 156 is wound around the lower side of the sheave 150 and guided to the upper sheave 151, and is wound around the upper side of the sheave 151 for a half turn and guided downward. The intermediate body 50 reaching the lower sheave 150 is pulled out toward the take-up caterpillar 157, or the sheave 15 is pulled out.
0 winding on the lower side and half winding on the upper side of the sheave 151 are repeated several times to collect the intermediate body 50.
Pull out towards 57.

Intermediate 5 to the entrance side of accumulator 66
When the supply of 0 is continuously performed, the sheave 151 is at the position shown by the solid line in the drawing, and the intermediate body 50 has the sheave 150,
Via 151, it is taken up by the take-up caterpillar 157. When the supply of the intermediate body 50 to the inlet side of the accumulator 66 is stopped, since the tension applied to the intermediate body 50 located between the sheave 150 and the sheave 151 becomes large, the upper sheave 151 pulls up the weight 152, The intermediate body 50 is still taken up by the take-up caterpillar 157, although it gradually moves downward as shown by the phantom line. In this way, the supply on the outlet side of the accumulator 66 is continued. When the supply of the intermediate body 50 to the inlet side of the accumulator 66 is restarted, the tension applied to the intermediate body 50 located between the sheave 150 and the sheave 151 returns to the original state, and thus the sheave 151 is pulled up by the weight 152,
It gradually moves upward to the position indicated by the solid line.

The turn sheave 67 can keep the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side of the turn sheave 67 substantially constant. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the turn sheave 67 is rotatably supported on the shaft 158 and
8 is supported by the base 159 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction 160 with respect to the base 159. A weight 161 is connected to the shaft 158 by a chain 163 extending through a chain wheel 162 and forces the sheave 67 to force W in FIG.
Is pulling to the right.

Assuming that the tension of the intermediate body 50 on the inlet side of the turn sheave 67 is T1 and the tension of the intermediate body 50 on the outlet side is T2, the relationship of T1 + T2 = W is established, and T1 = T2 when the weight 161 is stationary. . When either tension increases, the turn sheave 67 moves in the horizontal direction 16
The weight 161 becomes stationary at the point where it moves to 0 and T1 = T2. Thereby, the tension of the intermediate body 50 on the inlet side and the outlet side of the turn sheave 67 is kept constant.

The first resin molding machine 72 has a turn sheave 6
7 is located on the inlet side and is extruded from low density polyethylene to process the coating 62 around the intermediate body 50. on the other hand,
The second resin molding machine 74 is disposed on the exit side of the turn sheave 67, and extrusion-molds high-density polyethylene to cover 6
Process the coating 63 around 2. First resin molding machine 72
Is automatically supplied with the low density polyethylene supply system 164, and the second resin molding machine 74 is automatically supplied with the high density polyethylene supply system 165.

The factory 34 for connecting the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
A temporary storage location 84 for temporarily placing the optical submarine cable 65, and a connection chamber 8 provided at a position higher than the temporary storage location 84 for connecting the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82.
5 and 5. Optical submarine cable 65 temporary storage location 84
Is a generally cylindrical tank. This tank is installed on the first floor of the building on floor 86, and it will be higher than the tank,
Upper floor of the building that does not overlap the tank above the tank 1
70 is provided with a repeater temporary storage location 89, and the repeater temporary storage location 89 is located on the same upper floor 170 as the repeater temporary storage location 89.
A connection chamber 85 is provided in the horizontal direction with a space therebetween.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the repeater temporary storage place 89 and the connection chamber 85 are located on one side of the temporary storage place 84, and the carry-in route 88 and the shipping route 87 are the other side of the temporary storage place 84. It is located above the temporary storage location 84 on the side.
The carry-in route 88 and the shipping route 87 are located higher than the floor surface of the upper floor 170. This is a result of considering workability on the upper floor 170, and for example, the carry-in route 88 and the shipping route 87 can be set at a position higher by about 0.8 m from the floor surface of the upper floor 170.

As shown in FIG. 14 in the front state, FIGS. 16 and 17, and FIG. 15 in the plan state, the connection factory 34 is
A wall 172 standing up from the floor 171 of the upper floor 170 and having a plurality of doors 17 that can be opened and closed, which has a dustproof function to partition the repeater temporary storage location 89 and the connection chamber 85 (see FIG. 15).
3,174,175. The temporary storage place 84 and the repeater temporary storage place 89 are usually placed in the building, but they are also an environment in which lime, dust and other fine particles are suspended.
In the wall 172, doors 173, 174, 175, and a ceiling (not shown), such fine particles are generated in the connection chamber 85.
Prevent entry into. On the other hand, the connection work in the connection chamber 85 includes not only mechanical and electrical connection but also work to be performed in a highly clean atmosphere such as optical fiber connection and insulator molding. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a clean room 177 surrounded by a surrounding member 176 such as a tent in the connection room 85. The clean room 177 has, for example, a clean degree of 10
Keep 10,000 classes. In FIGS. 14, 16 and 17,
The place where the repeater is temporarily placed is on the front side of the paper surface, and the connection room is on the other side of the paper surface.

In the illustrated embodiment, the wall 172 has a plurality of doors 173, 174, 175 arranged in a line in the horizontal direction.
For opening a plurality of doors 173, 174, 17
5 is attached so that the opening 178 can be opened and closed. A hoist 179 movable between the repeater temporary storage location 89 and the connection chamber 85 is arranged so as to be movable through the wall 172. A hoist door 170 that can open and close the moving path of the hoist 179 is provided.

The doors 173 and 174 have substantially the same size, but are located below the hoist door 180.
Are rotatably supported about the lower pivot axis 181. On the other hand, the two doors 174 on the side of the door 173 are rotatably supported around the upper pivot axis 182. The remaining plurality of doors 175 are substantially the same size and are rotatably supported around the upper pivot axis 182. The hoist door 180 is a so-called double door and is rotatable about a vertical axis.
In the illustrated embodiment, the door 174 and the door 175 have different sizes, but they may have the same size.

The doors 173, 174, 175 and the hoist door 180 are formed in the above-mentioned form by the optical submarine cable 65.
This is based on the convenience of returning the submarine repeater 82 to which is connected from the connection chamber 85 to the repeater temporary storage place 89. 16 and 1
As shown in FIG. 7, when the doors 173, 174, 175 and the hoist door 180 are opened, that is, the door 17
3 is rotated downward and fixed, and doors 174 and 175 are rotated upward and fixed to open all the doors 173, 174 and 175, and when the hoist door 180 is opened, the hoist 179 is provided above the door 173. Although the chain 183 that hangs from the door is located, since the door 173 is rotating downward, it can be prevented from interfering with the chain 183. Door 174,1
The reason why 75 is different from the door 173 is that it is convenient when the end portion 65 a of the optical submarine cable 65 is transported from the repeater temporary storage location 89 to the connection chamber 85. At this time, wall 1
The rubber 184 at the lower end of the opening 178 of 72 prevents the optical submarine cable 65 from being damaged.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the door 17
3, 174, 175 and the hoist door 180 are opened, and the optical submarine cable 65 is guided to the connection chamber 85 through the opening 178 of the wall 172 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Prior to or after that, hoist 179 lifts submarine repeater 82 as shown in FIG.
In the figure, the optical submarine cable 65 and the submarine repeater 82 are shown connected, but the lifting of the submarine repeater 82 itself is the same. ), The submarine repeater 82 is swung so that its axis line is orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 17, or is carried into the connection chamber 85 without turning. After the submarine repeater 82 arrives at a predetermined position in the connecting chamber 85, the submarine repeater 82 is placed in the connecting chamber 85 so that its axis is substantially parallel to the paper surface of FIG.

In the connection chamber 85, the end portion 65a of the optical submarine cable 65 is connected to the submarine repeater 82 via the coupling 83. When it is necessary to work in the clean room 177 at the time of connection, the portion to be connected is guided to the clean room 177 for work. After the connection is completed, as shown in FIG. 16, when the submarine repeater 82 is lifted by the hoist 179, the connected optical submarine cable 65 is carried out together with the submarine repeater 82. The carried-out submarine repeater 82 and the optical submarine cable 65 are temporarily stored in the repeater temporary storage place 89. After the connection is completed, it is placed on the shipping route 87 and shipped.

For the loading line 36 for loading the optical submarine cable 65, refer to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, FIG. 20 showing the plane of the bogie, FIG. 21 showing the side of the bogie, and FIG. 22 showing the cross section of the bogie. Then, the connection factory 34 or the connection factory 34
Track 9 extending from inspection factory 35 adjacent to Wharf 90 to quay 90
3 and a carriage 92 on which the submarine repeater 82 is mounted and which is mounted on the track 93 and which moves on the track 93 by the traction force applied to the optical submarine cable 65.

The track 93 is a roller conveyor in the illustrated embodiment. As the track 93, in addition to the roller conveyor, a track for sticking a resin plate having a low friction coefficient on a sliding surface with the carriage 92, or for floating the carriage 92 by air or magnetism, that is, a low friction track can be adopted.

The trolley 92 has a loading section 190 on which the submarine repeater 82 is placed and a base section 191 that slides on the track 93, and moves on the track 93 by the traction force applied to the optical submarine cable 65.

The loading section 190 is composed of a plurality of plate members 192 which are spaced in the moving direction of the carriage 92, and each plate member 192 is provided with a recess adapted to the submarine repeater 82. On the other hand, in order to avoid interference with the track 93, the base portion 191 is formed by bending the front and rear portions of the carriage 92 in the moving direction upward from the intermediate portion. Base portion 191
A plurality of plate members 192 are fixed on the stacking unit 190, and the entire carriage 92 is a so-called sled.

The trolley 92 is provided with at least one belt 96 that is stretched around the submarine repeater 82 mounted on the loading section 190. A plurality of belts 96 are provided at equal intervals in the moving direction so as to exert a substantially uniform tightening force on the submarine repeater 82.

As shown in FIG. 22, a pair of guides 19 are provided on both sides of a track 93 which is left and right with respect to the traveling direction of the carriage 92.
3 is provided, and the guided objects 194 guided by the guides 193 are preferably provided on the left and right side portions of the carriage 92. The guide 193 has rigidity so that it is not deformed even when the carriage 92 hits it. On the other hand, the guided 194 is the guide 193.
On the other hand, in order to facilitate relative sliding, a low friction resin plate is attached to the contact surface with the guide 193.

It is preferable that the shipping line 36 is provided with carriages 98 and 99 for mounting the respective couplings 83, in addition to the carriage 92 for mounting the submarine repeater 82. Dolly 98,99
Has substantially the same structure as the truck 92, but has a size suitable for the coupling 83. Three carts 92, 98,
99 moves on the track 93 by the traction force applied to the optical submarine cable 65.

The armoring factory 37 for winding armoring wires around the optical submarine cable 65 is arranged in the processing line 112 with reference to FIG. 23 and FIG.
A paint coating device 111 for applying paint to the paint coating device 111 and a paint dissolving tank 114 for melting the paint that is solid at room temperature and automatically and continuously supplying the paint to the paint coating device 111.

The paint applying device 111 and the paint dissolving tank 114 are connected via a pipe 115. Paint application device 1
11 is installed at a predetermined location on the processing line 112. On the other hand, the paint dissolving tank 114 is installed at an arbitrary place outside the processing line 112. The paint which is melted in the paint melting tank 114 and moves in the pipe 115 toward the arrow 200 is continuously and automatically supplied to the paint coating device 111. To this end, two level sensors (not shown) are attached to the paint coating device 111 at intervals in the vertical direction, and when one level sensor detects the highest level of the paint, the supply of the paint is stopped and the other level sensor is When the minimum paint level is detected, the paint is supplied. Or without installing a level sensor,
A larger amount of paint than that used per unit time in the paint application device 111 is supplied per unit time, so that a constant amount of paint is constantly filled in the paint application device 111 and the remaining paint is dissolved in the paint dissolution tank. It may be returned to 114 for circulation.

The coating material application device 111 is supplied with the coating material that is solid at room temperature in a melted state and applies it to the exterior wire 110, and keeps the coating material within a certain temperature range including the supplied temperature. Is preferred. For that purpose, a heat insulating material is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the coating material application device 111 to prevent the temperature from decreasing. On the other hand, the paint dissolving tank 114 is for dissolving paint that is solid at room temperature, has a built-in electric heater or is heated by a boiler, and has a temperature sensor. The paint melted at the temperature set in this temperature sensor is supplied to the paint application device 111 by a pump. The pipe 1115 guides the melted paint to the paint applying device 111, and a heat insulating material is attached to the outer peripheral surface to prevent the temperature from decreasing.

As shown in FIG. 24, when the exterior wire 110 wound around the optical submarine cable 65 moving toward the arrow 201 arrives at the paint coating device 111, the paint is applied to the exterior wire 110. After that, the paint application device 1
The optical submarine cable 65 that has been pulled out from 11 and passed through the die 209 (FIG. 23) moves toward the arrow 202. In FIG. 24, the optical submarine cable 65 pulled out from the paint coating device 111 is painted black.

The exterior factory 37 includes a rotating stand 203 for winding the yarn 116 around the optical submarine cable 65 to form a seat 117, and a twisting machine 204 for winding a plurality of exterior wires 110 around the seat 117. It is preferable to provide. The rotation stand 203 can attach and detach the roll yarn 205 in which the yarn 116 is wound around the core of paper, and the twisting machine 204 can attach and detach the bobbin 206 around which the exterior wire 110 is wound. When the rotation stand 203 and the twisting machine 204 rotate around the optical submarine cable 65, the yarn 116 is wound around the optical submarine cable 65 to make a seat 117 and the exterior wire 110 of the seat 117 is wound around the optical submarine cable 65. It is wrapped around. The bobbin 206 is supplied to the twisting machine 204 by a bobbin automatic supply system 207.
Done by

The exterior factory 37 further includes a rotation stand 208 for winding the outer coating yarn 116 around the outer coating wire 110, and a coating application for coating the outer coating material on the outer coating wire 110 and the yarn 116 wound around the outer coating wire 110. And device 118. Paint application device 11
8 is disposed in the processing line 112, and the paint dissolving tank 114
Paint is supplied from. The rotation stand 208 and the paint coating device 118 are provided in one or a plurality of stages depending on the function required for the outer coating 119. When the paint is adhesive, the anti-adhesion agent applying device 120
Equipped with.

The paint dissolving tank 114 can be installed in a place independent of the processing line 112. Since the processing line 112 has a sufficient space and a total length necessary for exterior processing of the optical submarine cable 65, the processing line 1
It is generally difficult to install the paint dissolving tank 114 on the 12th. In addition, the paint dissolving tank 114 may melt the paint and supply the melted paint to the paint applying device 111, and the function of the paint dissolving tank 114 is required for exterior processing of the optical submarine cable 65 in the processing line 112. Function is different. Therefore, the paint dissolving tank 114 is installed in the processing line 112.
By installing it in an independent place, it is possible to select the optimum place to achieve each function.

[0093]

According to the present invention, a single-length optical submarine cable can be manufactured as long as possible, and the submarine repeater connected to the optical submarine cable can be safely placed on the shipping route. The vibration of the undersea repeater can be prevented and the shipping cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of an optical submarine cable manufacturing / shipping factory according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of a unit factory.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an outline of a composite pressure-resistant layer factory.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an outline of a copper accumulator.

FIG. 5 is an end view of an optical submarine cable.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the outline of a coating factory.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an outline of an accumulator.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an outline of a turn sheave.

9 is a side view of FIG. 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing an outline of a connection factory.

11 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the submarine repeater and two couplings in an exploded manner.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state in which an optical submarine cable and a submarine repeater are connected via a coupling.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a wall and a wall that partition a relay station temporary storage place of a connection factory and a connection chamber, and shows a state in which the door is closed.

FIG. 15 is a plan view schematically showing a state where the end portion of the optical submarine cable is guided to the connection chamber.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a wall and a door that separate the temporary storage space of the repeater from the connection factory and the connection room, showing a state in which the door is opened and the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater are guided to the connection room. ing.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a wall and a wall that partition the repeater temporary storage place of the connection factory from the connection room, showing a state in which the door is opened and the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater are transported from the connection room. Shows.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the main part of the shipping line.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the outline of a shipping line.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the truck.

21 is a side view of FIG. 20. FIG.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage.

FIG. 23 is a side view showing the outline of an exterior factory.

FIG. 24 is a side view showing the outline of a coating material application device.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 unit factory 31 Complex pressure-resistant layer factory 32 coating factory 33 Panyard 34 Connection Factory 35 inspection factory 36 Shipping Line 37 Exterior Factory 40 center steel wire 41 Optical fiber collecting machine 42 optical fiber 43 Resin coating device 44 Resin curing device 45 Optical fiber unit 46 winding drum 47 pick-up machine 48 rolls 49 swivel stand 50 Intermediate 50a terminal part 50b starting end 51 metal pieces 52 Strength member 53 resin 54 Copper tape accumulator 55 copper tape 56 former 57 Welder 58 copper tape roll 59 Withdrawal Dice 60 Collection Caterpillar 61 Winder 62,63 coating 65 Optical Submarine Cable 65a end 66 Accumulator 67 Turnsieves 68,69 rolls 70 washing machine 71 burner 72,74 Resin extrusion molding machine 73,75 cooling trough 76 bread 77,78,79 Collection Caterpillar 80 processing line 82 Submarine repeater 83 Coupling 84 Temporary storage place 85 Connection Room 86 floors 87 shipping routes 88 Carry-in route 89 Repeater temporary storage place 90 quay 91 ships 92,98,99 dolly 93 orbit 94 Towing device 95 arrow 96 belt 97 Bellows 110 exterior wire 111,118 Paint coating device 112 processing line 113 Winding capstan 114 paint dissolving tank 115 piping 116 yarn 117 sitting floor 119 External coating 120 coating device 130, 131 rotation stand 132 stranding machine 133 resin injection device 134 Bobbin 135 Bobbin automatic supply system 140 movable rollers 141 fixed roller 142 dolly 143 winch 144, 145 Pull rollers 150 fixed sheave 151 movable sheave 152 weight 153 ceiling 154 pulley 155 wire 156,157 Collection Caterpillar 158 axis 159 base 160 arrow 161 weight 162 chain hole 163 chain 164 Low Density Polyethylene Supply System 165 High Density Polyethylene Supply System 170 upper floor 171 floor 172 wall 173,174,175,180 Door 176 Enclosing member 177 clean room 178 opening 179 hoist 181,182 Axis 183 chain 190 Loading section 191 Base 192 plate material 193 Guide 194 Guided 200, 201, 202 arrows 203,208 Rotating stand 204 stranding machine 205 roll yarn 206 Bobbin 207 Bobbin automatic supply system 209 dice

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takio Miyamoto             1-2-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             In Ocy Sea F term (reference) 2H001 BB01 BB21 DD04 DD21 DD35                       MM01 MM09

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical submarine cable is manufactured from an optical fiber unit formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire and surrounding the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer.
A method of shipping, comprising: 1) a step of processing a composite pressure-resistant layer around the optical fiber unit to manufacture an intermediate, wherein: a, 3 in a circumferential direction in an axial direction of an outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit. Align three metal pieces made in a divided form, b Wrap multiple strength members around these metal pieces, c Fill resin in the gaps between these strength members, d Fill resin Wrap the strength member around the copper tape accumulator with a copper tape supplied through a copper tape accumulator that can continue to supply to the outlet side even if the supply to the inlet side of the copper tape accumulator is stopped. Welding the mating surfaces of the copper tapes to form a tube, f a step of producing an intermediate body including squeezing the tubular copper tape from the outer periphery, 2) A process for producing a submarine optical cable by processing a coating around a body, comprising: a) an accumulator, which is capable of continuing the supply to the outlet side even if the supply to the inlet side of the accumulator is stopped. Supplying an intermediate; b moving the intermediate through a turn sheave, which is capable of keeping the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side of the turn sheave substantially constant, c the turn sheave Processing a coating having an electrically insulating function around the intermediate on the inlet side of the d. Processing another coating having a protective function for the coating around the coating on the outlet side of the turn sheave. A step of producing an optical submarine cable including: 3) a step of connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater, comprising: a optical submarine cable Provision of a temporary storage location for temporary storage of the optical submarine cable, b providing a connection chamber for connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater at a position higher than the temporary storage location, and connecting the optical submarine cable An optical submarine cable and a submarine repeater including pulling an end portion to be pulled upward from the temporary storage location and guiding it to the connection chamber, and connecting the end portion of the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater in the connection chamber. And a step of: 4) loading the optical submarine cable; a, placing the submarine repeater on a dolly and placing the dolly on a track, and b applying traction to the optical submarine cable. Manufacturing the optical submarine cable, which comprises the step of moving the carriage on the track and loading the optical submarine cable including guiding the optical submarine cable to a ship. Way loading. 2. A step of manufacturing the optical fiber unit, before the step of manufacturing the intermediate body according to 1), comprising: a arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire; The method of manufacturing and shipping an optical submarine cable according to claim 1, wherein the method includes manufacturing an optical fiber unit including surrounding a plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer. 3. A step of winding a sheath wire around the optical submarine cable after the step of 2) and before entering the step of 3), comprising: a. B, winding a plurality of exterior wires around the seat floor, and c) melting the paint that is solid at room temperature continuously and automatically supplying it to the paint applicator. When the plurality of armor wires pass through the paint coating device, a step of winding the armor wire including applying a dissolved paint to the plurality of armor wires and forming an outer coating is performed. A method of manufacturing and shipping the optical submarine cable according to claim 1 or 2. 4. An optical submarine cable is manufactured from an optical fiber unit formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire and surrounding the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer,
A factory for shipping, 1) a composite pressure-resistant layer factory for processing an intermediate product by processing a composite pressure-resistant layer around the optical fiber unit, comprising: a stand for supplying the optical fiber unit, and b a circumferential direction And a stand for supplying three metal pieces formed in the form of three divided pieces so as to be along the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit, and a twist for winding a plurality of strength members around the three metal pieces. A wire machine; d, a resin injecting device for filling the gap between these tensile strength members with resin; and e, a copper tape accumulator for supplying a copper tape, wherein the supply of the copper tape to the inlet side of the copper tape accumulator is stopped. Also, a copper tape accumulator formed so that the supply to the outlet side can be continued, f, a former that molds the copper tape so as to wrap the tensile strength member, Welding machine that welds the mating surfaces of the copper tape into a tube, and h. A composite pressure-resistant layer factory equipped with a drawing die that narrows the tubular copper tape from the outer circumference. 2) Process the coating around the intermediate body. A coating factory for producing an optical submarine cable, wherein: a is an accumulator that supplies the intermediate body, and even if the supply of the intermediate body to the inlet side of the accumulator is stopped, the supply can be continued to the outlet side. An accumulator formed as described above, b a turn sheave capable of maintaining substantially constant tension on the inlet side and outlet side of the turn sheave, and c disposed on the inlet side of the turn sheave, A first resin molding machine for processing a coating around the intermediate body; and a second for processing another coating around the coating, which is arranged on the outlet side of the turn sheave. 3) A coating factory equipped with the resin molding machine of 3), which is a connection factory for connecting the optical submarine cable and the submarine repeater, and a temporary storage location for temporarily storing the optical submarine cable, and b temporary storage location. A connection factory provided at a higher position than the optical submarine cable and a connection room for connecting the optical submarine cable with the submarine repeater; and 4) a shipping line for loading the optical submarine cable, wherein: A track extending from the connection factory or an inspection factory adjacent to the connection factory to the quay; and a bogie on which the submarine repeater is mounted and which is mounted on the track and which moves on the track by the traction force applied to the optical submarine cable. An optical submarine cable manufacturing / shipping factory, which comprises a shipping line equipped with. 5. A unit factory for manufacturing the optical fiber unit, in front of the composite pressure-resistant layer factory according to 1), wherein: a) a rotation stand for supporting a roll around which a center steel wire is wound; The optical submarine cable manufacturing apparatus for producing an optical submarine cable according to claim 5, characterized in that a unit factory including an optical fiber collecting machine for supplying an optical fiber around the line and a device for surrounding the optical fiber with a resin layer is arranged. Shipping factory. 6. A sheathing factory for winding a sheathing wire around the optical submarine cable between the coating factory of 2) and the connection factory of 3), wherein: a yarn is wound around the optical submarine cable. A rotating stand for forming a seat floor, b a twisting machine for winding a plurality of exterior wires around the seat floor, a paint applicator for applying paint to the plurality of exterior wires, and a solid at room temperature. An exterior provided with a paint dissolving tank which melts the paint and continuously and automatically supplies it to the paint applying device, and a rotation stand for winding the yarn, which forms an outer coating, and a paint applying device for applying the paint. A factory is arranged, Claim 4 or Claim 5 characterized by the above-mentioned.
Optical submarine cable manufacturing and shipping factory.