JP4577066B2 - Flexible buoy - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible buoy.

  More specifically, it is used to reduce the weight of oil pipes installed in the sea in oil drilling in an oil field on the sea floor, and can be used in response to changes in the depth of the sea (underwater). It relates to a new buoy that is structurally devised.

  Conventionally, buoys are usually used floating on the surface of the sea or harbor, and are not considered to be used at deep water depths.

  That is, when the buoy sinks at a deep water depth, the volume of the buoy is reduced by the water pressure, and the buoyancy is reduced, making it impossible to fulfill the role of the buoy.

  On the other hand, there is the use of buoys for the purpose of reducing the weight of oil pipes in the sea between the sea floor and the sea, but there is a problem of buoyancy reduction of the buoys as described above depending on the installation water depth. ) Actually, buoys that can exert the buoyancy function of buoys were not realized regardless of the depth.

  Although the buoy of the present invention will be described later, the structure is like a double structure, but conventionally, as a structure (pneumatic fender etc.) configured to exhibit a structure like a double structure, Some have been proposed (Patent Documents 1-4).

However, in order to improve the damage resistance and durability when floating on the sea surface (water surface), the basic technical idea is that these materials have a double structure by means such as covering. There is no special consideration for the structure of buoys used in deep sea (underwater).
JP-A-5-25812 JP-A-6-255579 JP-A-6-255580 JP 2003-90025 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a novel buoy that can be used in accordance with the size and change of the depth of the sea (underwater) used in view of the above points.

The object described above can be achieved by a flexible buoy having the following configuration (1).
(1) A main buoy and an auxiliary buoy included in the main buoy. A main buoy supply / exhaust port and an auxiliary buoy supply / exhaust port are provided on the base of the main buoy. A flexible buoy characterized in that the exhaust port and the auxiliary buoy are communicated with each other through a communication pipe.

In addition, the flexible buoy of the present invention preferably has the following configuration (2) or (3).
(2) The flexibility as described in (1) above, wherein the auxiliary buoy is capable of being inserted and removed from the opening portion from which the base of the main buoy is removed when the air in the auxiliary buoy is exhausted. buoy.
(3) The flexible buoy as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein the flexible buoy is used in a water depth range of 30 m to 1000 m.

The above-described object can be achieved by using a flexible buoy having the following configuration (4).
(4) a main buoy and an auxiliary buoy included in the main buoy, and a base material provided on the film material constituting the main buoy or the film material constituting the main buoy includes a main buoy air supply / exhaust port; An auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port is provided, and the auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port and the auxiliary buoy communicate with each other through a communication pipe, and the gas filling pressure in the main buoy and the gas filling pressure in the auxiliary buoy are A flexible buoy characterized in that it can be set independently.

  According to the present invention, the buoyancy performance as a buoy can be used according to the size and change of the depth of the sea (underwater) used, that is, regardless of the size and change of the depth of the sea (underwater) used. A buoy that can be used while being held is provided.

  In particular, although the buoy according to the present invention depends on the air pressure filled in the auxiliary buoy, in general, the buoy can be suitably used in a water depth range of 30 m to 1000 m.

  Further, for example, when it is desired to reduce the weight of the above-described oil feeding pipe, water feeding pipe, seabed / undersea cable, etc. installed in water, it can be used regardless of the depth of the installed water.

  Moreover, according to the present invention, a deep buoy can be provided at a low cost.

  For example, when the unit strength and configuration of a reinforcing material such as a fiber cord that reinforces a rubber film are the same, the pressure resistance of the buoy is approximately inversely proportional to the diameter of the buoy. For example, if the inner diameter of the main buoy is 2000 mm and the inner diameter of the auxiliary buoy is 400 mm, the pressure resistance of the auxiliary buoy is approximately five times that of the main buoy. Here, the unit strength and the structure of the reinforcing material of the main buoy and the auxiliary buoy are the same, the pressure resistance of the main buoy is 500 kPa or more, the pressure resistance of the auxiliary buoy is 2500 kPa or more, five times that of the main buoy, When air of 2500 kPa is filled, the buoyancy of the main buoy becomes the buoyancy of the flexible buoy at a water depth of about 50 m, and the buoyancy of the auxiliary buoy becomes the buoyancy of the buoy at a water depth of about 250 m. If there are a plurality of auxiliary buoys and the total volume is 80% of the main buoy, 80% of the buoyancy at 50 m can be maintained even at a water depth of about 250 m.

  In the case of the conventional buoy, there is no auxiliary buoy. Therefore, in order to obtain a buoy equivalent to the above, the pressure resistance of the buoy having an inner diameter of 2000 mm must be increased to five times 2500 kPa, but in this case, the cost of the buoy is In addition to being very high, it is an actual problem that it cannot be manufactured due to production facilities and the like, and the flexible buoy structure of the present invention has almost no such problem.

  Hereinafter, the flexible buoy of the present invention will be described in more detail.

   As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible buoy 1 according to the present invention is made of a flexible film material reinforced with fibers and the like, and has a hole at the end of the flexible buoy 1. And a sealed main buoy 2 with a base attached detachably so as to close the hole, and a flexible membrane material reinforced with fibers or the like provided in the main buoy 2 This is a flexible buoy composed of the auxiliary buoy 3.

  In the present invention, a flexible buoy is formed of a buoy having a high rigidity such as stainless steel, and hardly changes its shape by a small external force, and does not return to its original shape when deformed by a large external force, or Unlike conventional buoys that break, as described above, they are made of a flexible film material such as rubber reinforced with fibers, etc., and deformed by external force. A buoy that reverts to its original shape if is removed. In particular, it can be restored to its original shape, and even if it is deflated and folded, it will be restored to its original shape if air is added, and it will be restored immediately even if it is greatly dented. There is little damage to the ship.

  In the flexible buoy 1 according to the present invention, the base portion 10 provided in the main buoy 2 has a main buoy air supply / exhaust port 4 for supplying and exhausting air to and from the main buoy 2 and the auxiliary buoy 3 respectively. A buoy air supply / exhaust port 5 is provided. The auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port 5 and the auxiliary buoy 3 are connected by a communication pipe 6 such as a hose, and supply / exhaust to the auxiliary buoy 3 is provided in the main buoy 2. The auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port 5 in the cap 10 can be used from the outside of the main buoy 2. In addition, the air supply / exhaust to the auxiliary buoy 3 may be such that the auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port 5 is separately provided at a location other than the base portion 10 provided in the main buoy 2.

  In FIG. 1, 8 is a flexible film material constituting the main buoy 2, 9 is a flexible film material constituting the auxiliary buoy 3, and 10 is a cap portion provided on the main buoy 2. Reference numeral 11 denotes a base portion provided in the auxiliary buoy 3.

  The flexible buoy 1 of the present invention having such a structural example is housed in a chain net 7 as shown in a model diagram in FIG. 3, and a plurality of them are connected in a vertical direction, for example, from the sea surface to the sea floor. Sometimes used.

  The operation of the flexible buoy 1 according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the flexible buoy according to the present invention in which high pressure air of 600 kPa is sealed in the main buoy 2 and 2000 kPa is sealed in the auxiliary buoy 3. Even when used in the sea at a depth of about 50 m, the flexible buoy 1 can maintain the initial shape and air pressure. And this state is maintained to the position of the water depth where the pressure of seawater becomes 600 kPa. Further, if the flexible buoy 1 is used as it is without being filled with air, as it is submerged in a deeper water position, for example, at a water depth of 180 m, the air pressure of the main buoy 2 is reduced at that position. The seawater pressure around the buoy is 1800 kPa, but the auxiliary buoy 3 maintains 2000 kPa. At this time, the volume of the main buoy 2 is reduced and the buoyancy is reduced, but the volume of the auxiliary buoy 3 is not particularly changed, so that the buoyancy of the flexible buoy as a whole is not reduced so much. This state can be maintained until the seawater pressure reaches 2000 kPa.

  That is, until the seawater pressure reaches 2000 kPa, the buoyancy function as a desired buoy can be maintained and used.

  The flexible water buoy 1 of the present invention is not limited in the depth of water used, and can function the buoy more effectively in the water depth range of 30 m to 1000 m. In a water depth region of 30 m or less, even if a double structure is not used, the pressure resistance of a conventional single structure can cope with almost no buoyancy change with respect to a change in water depth. Moreover, in the water depth range of 1000 m or more, the strength and structure of the reinforcing material of the auxiliary buoy 3 must be strengthened to increase the pressure resistance of the auxiliary buoy 3 accordingly, so that it is difficult to make the auxiliary buoy 3 that is too large. Therefore, the difference in buoyancy becomes relatively large due to changes in water depth.

  In particular, it is important that each of the main buoy 2 and the auxiliary buoy 3 is made of a film material having sufficient pressure resistance and high strength enough to withstand the air pressure filled therein.

  According to the various findings of the present inventors, a rubber film reinforced with fibers, fiber yarns, fiber cords, fiber cloths, or the like is usually used as the outer buoy 2 and auxiliary buoy 3 outer shape forming film material. It is good.

  Further, according to various knowledge of the present inventors, the main buoy 2 and the auxiliary buoy 3 are in the state as shown in FIG. 1, that is, in the state using the buoyancy action of the main buoy 2. The volume of the auxiliary buoy 3 (including the volume of the auxiliary buoy 3): The volume of the auxiliary buoy 3 is preferably about 100: 20 to 85, but is not particularly limited to this range, and the auxiliary buoy 3 is only about 10%. Even in such a structure, if the absolute amount of the volume corresponding to 10% is large, the function as a buoy can be sufficiently exhibited.

  Further, the auxiliary buoy 3 is not limited to one, and a plurality of auxiliary buoys 3 may be provided in the main buoy 2. In that case, the auxiliary buoys 3 may have different filling pressures, and may have different shapes and sizes. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide water depth (water pressure) response capability in more stages than two stages.

  Further, an auxiliary buoy (grandchild auxiliary buoy) can be included in the auxiliary buoy 3. However, it should be noted that the structure becomes complicated.

  After all, the mechanically important point in the flexible buoy of the present invention is that the film material constituting the main buoy 2 is provided with the main buoy air supply / exhaust port 4 and the auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port 5, By connecting the air supply / exhaust port and the auxiliary buoy 3 through the communication pipe 6, the gas filling pressure in the main buoy 2 and the gas filling pressure in the auxiliary buoy 3 can be set independently. is there. Of course, each air supply / exhaust port does not need to be provided directly in the membrane material, and may be provided using a member such as an appropriate base, which is more practical.

  According to the flexible buoy of the present invention, if the pressure resistance of the main buoy 2 is equal to or higher than the seawater pressure at the shallow water depth to be used first, the main buoy 2 can be submerged by the action of the auxiliary buoy 3 even when submerged at a deeper water depth. Since a decrease in volume of the buoy 2, that is, a decrease in buoyancy can be suppressed, if the air pressure corresponding to the pressure resistance of the main buoy 2 is initially sealed in the main buoy 2, Even if the use depth (use water depth) changes greatly, the function as a buoyancy body can be sufficiently maintained although there is a slight decrease in buoyancy.

  It is convenient for maintenance of the auxiliary buoy 3 and the like that the auxiliary buoy 3 is configured so that the base of the main buoy 2 can be taken in and out through the hole from which the mouth of the main buoy 2 has been removed.

  Furthermore, in that case, the main buoy 2 and the auxiliary buoy 3 may be separately produced and then combined. From this, the high and low level of the pressure resistance capability of the auxiliary buoy 3 is appropriately reduced. By selecting different ones and using them in combination with the main buoy 2, it is possible to provide a flexible buoy that can cope with a greater change in the depth of water used.

  The flexible buoy 1 of the present invention is originally composed of a flexible film material, and the main buoy 2 and the auxiliary buoy 3 can be folded and stored by removing the air inside.・ It is easy to transport and has good impact resistance and damage resistance during storage and transport. Therefore, since it can be stored and transported in a compactly folded state, it is convenient for ship transportation and aircraft transportation.

  And the restoration from the folded state or the recessed state is easy.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional model diagram illustrating an example structure of a flexible buoy according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional model view of an essential part for explaining an example of the structure of the base portion of the flexible buoy according to the present invention whose model structure is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of how the flexible buoy according to the present invention is used, and schematically shows an example in which a plurality of flexible buoys are stored in a chain net and connected in the vertical direction. It is. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are schematic cross-sectional model explanatory views for explaining the operation of the flexible buoy according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Flexible buoy 2: Main buoy 3: Auxiliary buoy 4: Supply / exhaust port for main buoy 5: Supply / exhaust port for auxiliary buoy 6: Hose (communication pipe)
7: Chain net 8: Flexible film material constituting main buoy 9: Flexible film material constituting auxiliary buoy 10: Base part provided on main buoy 11: Base part provided on auxiliary buoy

Claims (4)

  A main buoy and an auxiliary buoy included in the main buoy, and a main buoy air supply / exhaust port and an auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port are provided on the base of the main buoy; A flexible buoy characterized in that the auxiliary buoy is communicated by a communication tube.   The flexible buoy according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary buoy is capable of being inserted and removed from an opening portion from which a base of the main buoy is removed when the air in the auxiliary buoy is exhausted.   The flexible buoy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible buoy is used in a water depth range of 30m to 1000m.   A main buoy and an auxiliary buoy included in the main buoy, and a base provided on the film material constituting the main buoy or the film material constituting the main buoy is provided with a supply / exhaust port for the main buoy and an auxiliary buoy. The auxiliary buoy air supply / exhaust port and the auxiliary buoy are connected by a communication pipe, and the gas filling pressure in the main buoy and the gas filling pressure in the auxiliary buoy are independently controlled. A flexible buoy configured to be settable.

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