JP4983003B2

JP4983003B2 - Flexible buoy

Info

Publication number: JP4983003B2
Application number: JP2005321694A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 繁樹榊原
Original assignee: Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-07
Filing date: 2005-11-07
Publication date: 2012-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-07
Also published as: JP2007126060A

Description

本発明は、可撓性ブイに関し、さらに詳しくは、優れた衝撃緩和性能を有し、可撓性外殻体の肉厚を大きくすることなく、安定した余剰浮力を得ることができる可撓性ブイに関するものである。 The present invention relates to a flexible buoy. More specifically, the flexible buoy has excellent impact mitigating performance and can obtain a stable surplus buoyancy without increasing the thickness of the flexible outer shell. It is about buoys.

海上に設置される石油掘削リグ等の海上構造物を、一端部を海底に固定した複数の係留索により、中途にブイを介在させて海上の所定の位置に係留する方法が、種々提案されている（例えば、特許文献１参照）。 Various methods have been proposed for mooring offshore structures such as oil drilling rigs installed on the sea to a predetermined position on the sea with buoys in the middle using a plurality of mooring lines with one end fixed to the seabed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

代表的な係留方法を図５（ａ）、図５（ｂ）で示す。石油掘削リグ１２は、中途に剛性ブイ１１を介した係留索８、即ち、剛性ブイ１１で接続された上部係留索８ａと下部係留索８ｂとからなる係留索８によって、海上に係留される。係留索８は、一端部を海底に固定したアンカー１０に接続し、他端部を石油掘削リグ１２に接続して剛性ブイ１１の浮力によって所定形状で海中に保持される。 A typical mooring method is shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The oil drilling rig 12 is moored on the sea by a mooring line 8 via a rigid buoy 11 in the middle, that is, a mooring line 8 composed of an upper mooring line 8 a and a lower mooring line 8 b connected by the rigid buoy 11. The mooring line 8 is connected to an anchor 10 having one end fixed to the seabed and the other end connected to an oil drilling rig 12 and held in the sea in a predetermined shape by the buoyancy of the rigid buoy 11.

この石油掘削リグ１２を点検や改修、移動等する際には、剛性ブイ１１と上部係留索８ａとが切り離されるが、この際に下部係留索８ｂは、海上に浮上する剛性ブイ１１によって、海底に沈むことなく海中に保持される。したがって、上部係留索８ａと下部係留索８ｂとを再度、接続して係留する際には、作業が容易になる。 When this oil drilling rig 12 is inspected, repaired, moved, etc., the rigid buoy 11 and the upper mooring line 8a are separated. At this time, the lower mooring line 8b is separated from the seabed by the rigid buoy 11 that floats on the sea. Kept in the sea without sinking. Therefore, when the upper mooring line 8a and the lower mooring line 8b are connected again and moored, the work becomes easy.

従来、剛性ブイ１１は、水深が大きくなるに連れて長くなる係留索８の自重による張力を軽減するためにも使用されていたが、海中での外水圧に耐えるようにするため、剛性の高い金属や樹脂等から形成されていた。しかし、剛性が大きいため、石油掘削リグ１２の移動とともに、作業船上に引き揚げる際等に、作業船等に衝突して、作業船等を損傷するという問題があった。また、剛性ブイ１１自体も損傷や塑性変形して内容積が減少し、十分な余剰浮力が得られなくなって使用ができなくなるということがあった。 Conventionally, the rigid buoy 11 has been used to reduce the tension due to the weight of the mooring line 8 that becomes longer as the water depth increases. However, the rigid buoy 11 has a high rigidity so as to withstand external water pressure in the sea. It was made of metal or resin. However, since the rigidity is large, there is a problem that, when the oil drilling rig 12 is moved, when the oil drilling rig 12 is lifted onto the work ship, the work ship or the like collides with the work ship. In addition, the rigid buoy 11 itself may be damaged or plastically deformed to reduce the internal volume, and a sufficient surplus buoyancy cannot be obtained, making it impossible to use.

樹脂発泡体を浮力部材として、その外側をゴム等で被覆するブイも提案されているが（例えば、特許文献２、３参照）、単にゴム等で被覆する構造では、一度衝撃を受けると樹脂発泡体が損傷、変形して使用できなくなるという問題があった。 A buoy has also been proposed in which a resin foam is used as a buoyancy member and the outside is covered with rubber or the like (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). There was a problem that the body was damaged and deformed and could not be used.

ゴム等の弾性材からなる可撓性外殻体の内部に気体を密封した構造にすることもできるが、気体密封型であると使用水深の高い外水圧に耐える肉厚の大きな重厚な構造にする必要があり、軽量化が図れないという問題があった。
特開平１１−２６８６８４号公報特開昭６１−１２９３９２号公報特開昭６１−２９１２８９号公報 Gas can be sealed inside a flexible outer shell made of an elastic material such as rubber, but the gas-sealed type has a thick and heavy structure that can withstand high external water pressure. There was a problem that it was not possible to reduce the weight.
JP 11-268684 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-129392 JP 61-291289 A

本発明の目的は、優れた衝撃緩和性能を有し、可撓性外殻体の肉厚を大きくすることなく、安定した余剰浮力を保つことができる可撓性ブイを提供することにある。 An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible buoy having excellent impact relaxation performance and capable of maintaining a stable surplus buoyancy without increasing the thickness of the flexible outer shell.

上記目的を達成するため本発明の可撓性ブイは、内部と外部とを連通して開口する口金部を有し、弾性材から形成される可撓性外殻体と、該可撓性外殻体の内部に遊動可能に収容された見掛け比重が０．７以下の浮力体とを備え、前記可撓性外殻体の上下端部にそれぞれ係留索が接続され、水中に沈めた状態でも前記口金部を開口していて、全体を水中に沈めた状態で使用されることを特徴とするものである。 In order to achieve the above object, a flexible buoy according to the present invention includes a flexible outer shell body that is formed of an elastic material and has a base portion that communicates and opens the inside and the outside. A buoyant body with an apparent specific gravity of 0.7 or less that is movably accommodated inside the shell, and mooring lines connected to the upper and lower ends of the flexible outer shell, respectively , The base is opened, and is used in a state where the whole is submerged in water .

本発明の可撓性ブイによれば、外部と連通する口金部を有する可撓性外殻体で構成しているので、口金部を介して可撓性外殻体の内部に海水が自由に出入りし、水深の如何によらず内部と外部とが同じ水圧になることにより、可撓性外殻体の肉厚を過剰に大きくする必要がなくなる。これにより、可撓性ブイの軽量化、コスト低減が可能になる。 According to the flexible buoy of the present invention, the flexible buoy is constituted by the flexible outer shell body having the base portion communicating with the outside, so that seawater can freely enter the flexible outer shell body via the base portion. By entering and exiting and having the same water pressure inside and outside regardless of the water depth, there is no need to excessively increase the thickness of the flexible outer shell. This makes it possible to reduce the weight and cost of the flexible buoy.

また、可撓性外殻体は弾性材からなるので、船舶等に衝突しても塑性変形したり、船舶等を損傷させることがなく、内部の浮力体との共働により、優れた衝撃緩和性能を発揮する。 In addition, since the flexible outer shell is made of an elastic material, it does not deform plastically even if it collides with a ship, etc., or damages the ship, etc. Demonstrate performance.

以下、本発明の可撓性ブイを図に示した実施形態に基づいて説明する。図１に示すように可撓性ブイ１は、円筒状の可撓性外殻体２の内部に多数の球状の浮力体７を収容している。可撓性外殻体２は、内層ゴムと外層ゴムとの間に有機繊維や金属ワイヤ等からなる補強層３を積層して構成されている。 Hereinafter, the flexible buoy of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible buoy 1 accommodates a large number of spherical buoyancy bodies 7 inside a cylindrical flexible outer shell 2. The flexible outer shell 2 is configured by laminating a reinforcing layer 3 made of an organic fiber, a metal wire or the like between an inner layer rubber and an outer layer rubber.

可撓性外殻体２の上下端部には、口金部４が設けられ、それぞれに上方接続部６ａ、下方接続部６ｂが設置されている。上方接続部６ａ、下方接続部６ｂには、それぞれ上部係留索８ａ、下部係留索８ｂが接続されている。可撓性外殻体２は、チェーン、チェーンを被覆するゴムスリーブ等からなるネットで被覆され、係留索８との連結はネットにより行なわれてもよい。 At the upper and lower end portions of the flexible outer shell body 2, a base portion 4 is provided, and an upper connection portion 6 a and a lower connection portion 6 b are respectively installed. An upper mooring line 8a and a lower mooring line 8b are connected to the upper connection part 6a and the lower connection part 6b, respectively. The flexible outer shell 2 may be covered with a net made of a chain, a rubber sleeve or the like covering the chain, and the mooring line 8 may be connected with the net.

口金部４は、図３に示すように開口部４ａを有するとともに、開口部４ａには、貫通孔５ａを有する開閉蓋５が図示しないボルト等で取り付けられている。貫通孔５ａを通じて、可撓性外殻体２の内部と外部とが連通する。 As shown in FIG. 3, the base part 4 has an opening 4a, and an opening / closing lid 5 having a through hole 5a is attached to the opening 4a with a bolt or the like (not shown). The inside and outside of the flexible outer shell body 2 communicate with each other through the through hole 5a.

開口部４ａは浮力体７が出し入れ可能な大きさを有し、貫通孔５ａは浮力体７が通過できない大きさとなっている。これにより、開閉蓋５を開口部４ａに取り付ける前に、開口部４ａを通じて浮力体７を可撓性外殻体２の内部に投入することができ、開閉蓋５を取り付けることで、投入した浮力体７を可撓性外殻体２の内部に留め、遊動可能に収容することができる。口金部４は、上下端部のいずれか一方のみに設けるようにしてもよい。 The opening 4a has a size that allows the buoyancy body 7 to be taken in and out, and the through hole 5a has a size that the buoyancy body 7 cannot pass through. Thereby, before attaching the opening / closing lid 5 to the opening 4a, the buoyancy body 7 can be introduced into the flexible outer shell 2 through the opening 4a. The body 7 can be fastened inside the flexible outer shell 2 and can be accommodated freely. You may make it provide the nozzle | cap | die part 4 only in any one of an upper-lower-end part.

浮力体７は、好ましくは樹脂製の球状の中空体であり、その見掛け比重は０．７以下となっているので、大きな余剰浮力を得ることができるとともに、軽量化を図ることができる。ここで、見掛け比重とは、浮力体７の重量をその浮力体７の外郭形状で画される体積と同じ容積の水の重量で除した比で表わされるものをいう。中空体にすることで見掛け比重を小さくしているが、見掛け比重を０．７以下にできれば、中実体にしてもよい。 The buoyancy body 7 is preferably a spherical hollow body made of resin, and its apparent specific gravity is 0.7 or less, so that a large surplus buoyancy can be obtained and weight reduction can be achieved. Here, the apparent specific gravity is expressed by a ratio obtained by dividing the weight of the buoyancy body 7 by the weight of water having the same volume as the volume defined by the outer shape of the buoyancy body 7. Although the apparent specific gravity is reduced by using a hollow body, it may be solid if the apparent specific gravity can be reduced to 0.7 or less.

樹脂としては、硬質ポリエチレン、硬質ポリプロピレン、シンタクティクフォーム等用いることが好ましく、浮力体７が容易に変形しない強度を有する材質を用いる。硬質樹脂を射出成形等で加工することにより、安価で大量の浮力体７を製造することができる。浮力体７には、必要な耐圧強度を有し、見掛け比重を０．７以下にできれば、他の材質を使用してもよい。 As the resin, it is preferable to use hard polyethylene, hard polypropylene, syntactic foam, or the like, and a material having strength that the buoyancy body 7 is not easily deformed is used. By processing the hard resin by injection molding or the like, a large amount of buoyancy body 7 can be manufactured at low cost. Other materials may be used for the buoyancy body 7 as long as the buoyancy body 7 has a required pressure resistance and an apparent specific gravity of 0.7 or less.

浮力体７の形状は、最大の耐圧性を得るには実施形態に例示した球形が好ましいが、可撓性外殻体２の内部を傷つけるような尖った部分がなければ、球形以外の形状を採用することができる。 The shape of the buoyancy body 7 is preferably the spherical shape exemplified in the embodiment in order to obtain the maximum pressure resistance. However, if there is no pointed part that damages the inside of the flexible outer shell 2, a shape other than the spherical shape may be used. Can be adopted.

球状の中空体の場合、樹脂厚さは容易に変形しないように、外径や可撓性ブイ１の使用条件等によって決定されるが、例えば、上記の硬質樹脂を使用した場合、外径０．１ｍ程度であれば、４ｍｍ〜６ｍｍ程度にして、見掛け比重は０．２〜０．４程度となる。 In the case of a spherical hollow body, the resin thickness is determined by the outer diameter and the use conditions of the flexible buoy 1 so as not to be easily deformed. For example, when the hard resin is used, the outer diameter is 0. If it is about 1 m, the apparent specific gravity is about 0.2 to 0.4.

可撓性ブイ１の使用に際しては、必要な余剰浮力に応じて必要量の浮力体７を投入するが、大きさや形状の異なる浮力体７を混合して収容してもよい。 When the flexible buoy 1 is used, a necessary amount of the buoyancy body 7 is introduced according to the necessary surplus buoyancy, but buoyancy bodies 7 having different sizes and shapes may be mixed and accommodated.

可撓性外殻体２に収容する浮力体７の量は、中立状態での可撓性外殻体２の内容積に対する全容積比率が４０％以上にすることが好ましい。浮力体７の全容積比率が４０％未満であると、可撓性外殻体２の形状が保ちにくくなる。この全容積比率を可能な限り高くして、浮力体７を可撓性外殻体２に収容してもよい。 The amount of the buoyancy body 7 accommodated in the flexible outer shell 2 is preferably such that the total volume ratio to the inner volume of the flexible outer shell 2 in the neutral state is 40% or more. When the total volume ratio of the buoyancy body 7 is less than 40%, the shape of the flexible outer shell body 2 is difficult to maintain. The buoyancy body 7 may be accommodated in the flexible outer shell 2 by increasing the total volume ratio as much as possible.

例えば、可撓性外殻体２が内径２．５ｍ、長さ５．５ｍ、内容積が２５ｍ^３の円筒状の場合、外径０．１ｍの中空球体の浮力体７を３万個程度収容すると、浮力体７の全容積比率は約６８％になる。 For example, when the flexible outer shell 2 has a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter of 2.5 m, a length of 5.5 m, and an inner volume of 25 m ³ , about 30,000 buoyant bodies 7 of hollow spheres with an outer diameter of 0.1 m are accommodated. Then, the total volume ratio of the buoyancy body 7 is about 68%.

可撓性ブイ１を海中に沈めると、図２に示すように、貫通孔５ａを通じて海水Ｗが可撓性外殻体２内部に自由に出入りし、浮力体７の相互間のすき間が海水Ｗで充填される。これにより、水深の如何によらず可撓性外殻体２の内部と外部とは水圧が同じになり、水圧が相殺されて可撓性外殻体２の負担する水圧がほとんど無くなり、可撓性外殻体２の水圧負担を軽減できる。したがって、気体密封型の可撓性外殻体のように、使用水深の外水圧に耐えるような肉厚の大きな重厚な耐圧構造にする必要がなく、可撓性外殻体２の軽量化、コスト低減が可能になる。 When the flexible buoy 1 is submerged in the sea, as shown in FIG. 2, the seawater W freely enters and exits the flexible outer shell 2 through the through hole 5 a, and the gap between the buoyancy bodies 7 is the seawater W Filled with. As a result, the water pressure is the same between the inside and outside of the flexible outer shell body 2 regardless of the water depth, the water pressure is canceled and the water pressure borne by the flexible outer shell body 2 is almost eliminated, and the flexible outer shell body 2 is flexible. The water pressure burden of the outer shell 2 can be reduced. Therefore, unlike the gas-sealed flexible outer shell body, it is not necessary to provide a large pressure-resistant structure having a large thickness that can withstand the external water pressure at the working water depth, and the flexible outer shell body 2 can be reduced in weight. Cost reduction is possible.

また、可撓性ブイ１を上部係留索８ａと切り離して移動させる際に、可撓性ブイ１が急激に海上に浮上し、船舶等と衝突することがあっても、可撓性外殻体２の弾性により衝撃が緩和される。更に、この際に圧縮された可撓性外殻体２の内部から外部へ口金部４の開口部４ａおよび貫通孔５ａを通じて海水Ｗが排出されるので、この排水により衝撃エネルギーの一部が失われ、優れた衝撃緩和性能を発揮する。 In addition, when the flexible buoy 1 is moved away from the upper mooring line 8a, the flexible outer shell body can be used even if the flexible buoy 1 suddenly floats on the sea and collides with a ship or the like. The impact is reduced by the elasticity of 2. Further, since the seawater W is discharged from the inside of the flexible outer shell 2 compressed at this time to the outside through the opening 4a and the through hole 5a of the base part 4, a part of the impact energy is lost by this drainage. It exhibits excellent impact mitigation performance.

可撓性外殻体２の内部に収容した浮力体７は、衝突時に可撓性外殻体２の変形とともに、内部を自由に移動するので可撓性外殻体２の変形が大きく規制されることがなく、可撓性ブイ１の優れた衝撃緩和性能は損なわれにくく、高い安全性を保つことができる。これにより、衝突時の船舶や可撓性ブイ１の損傷を最小限に抑えることができる。
衝突時に浮力体７は、可撓性外殻体２によって保護されるとともに、可撓性外殻体２の内部を遊動して衝撃の直撃を逃れることができるので破損が防止され、可撓性ブイ１は安定した余剰浮力を保って使用し続けることができる。 The buoyancy body 7 accommodated inside the flexible outer shell body 2 moves freely along with the deformation of the flexible outer shell body 2 at the time of collision, so that the deformation of the flexible outer shell body 2 is greatly restricted. Therefore, the excellent impact relaxation performance of the flexible buoy 1 is not easily lost, and high safety can be maintained. Thereby, damage to the ship and the flexible buoy 1 at the time of a collision can be suppressed to the minimum.
In the event of a collision, the buoyancy body 7 is protected by the flexible outer shell body 2 and can move inside the outer flexible shell body 2 so as to escape the direct impact of the impact. The buoy 1 can continue to be used while maintaining a stable surplus buoyancy.

浮力体７の見掛け比重が小さく、可撓性外殻体２も軽量化できるので、可撓性ブイ１は大幅に軽量化され、発生する衝撃力も小さく、また、可撓性ブイ１の移動等も容易になり、取り扱い性が向上する。 Since the apparent specific gravity of the buoyancy body 7 is small and the flexible outer shell body 2 can be reduced in weight, the flexible buoy 1 is significantly reduced in weight, the impact force generated is small, the movement of the flexible buoy 1, etc. It becomes easy and the handleability is improved.

図４に第２実施形態を示す。この可撓性ブイ１は、第１実施形態の可撓性ブイ１の可撓性外殻体２に内袋９を内装したものである。内袋９は、メッシュ状で通水性を有し、その網目の大きさは浮力体７よりも小さく、内部に浮力体７が収容されている。 FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment. In this flexible buoy 1, an inner bag 9 is housed in a flexible outer shell 2 of the flexible buoy 1 of the first embodiment. The inner bag 9 is mesh-like and has water permeability, the mesh size is smaller than that of the buoyancy body 7, and the buoyancy body 7 is accommodated therein.

これにより、可撓性外殻体２が破損した場合にも、浮力体７が海に散乱することがない。内袋９は通水性を有しているので、可撓性外殻体２の内部での海水の流通を妨げることがない。 Thereby, even when the flexible outer shell 2 is damaged, the buoyancy body 7 is not scattered into the sea. Since the inner bag 9 has water permeability, it does not hinder the circulation of seawater inside the flexible outer shell 2.

本発明の可撓性ブイ１は、単独で係留索８に接続して使用するだけでなく、複数を連結索で連結して用いることもできる。また、水中の重量物の保持、移動等にも用いることができる。 The flexible buoy 1 of the present invention can be used not only by being connected to the mooring line 8 alone but also by being connected by a plurality of connecting lines. It can also be used for holding and moving heavy objects in water.

本発明の可撓性ブイの第１実施形態を例示する内部透視側面図である。It is an internal perspective side view which illustrates 1st Embodiment of the flexible buoy of this invention. 図１の可撓性ブイを水中に沈めた状態を例示する内部透視側面図である。FIG. 2 is an internal perspective side view illustrating a state where the flexible buoy of FIG. 1 is submerged in water. 図１の可撓性ブイの下端部の口金部周辺を例示する断面図である。FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the periphery of a base portion at a lower end portion of the flexible buoy of FIG. 1. 本発明の可撓性ブイの第２実施形態を例示する内部透視側面図である。It is an internal perspective side view which illustrates 2nd Embodiment of the flexible buoy of this invention. ブイの使用状態を示し、図５（ａ）は平面図、図５（ｂ）は正面図である。FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view and FIG. 5 (b) is a front view.

Explanation of symbols

１可撓性ブイ
２可撓性外殻体
３補強層
４口金部４ａ開口部
５開閉蓋５ａ連通口
６ａ上方接続部
６ｂ下方接続部
７浮力体
８係留索
８ａ上部係留索
８ｂ下部係留索
９内袋
１０アンカー
１１剛性ブイ
１２石油掘削リグ DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible buoy 2 Flexible outer shell 3 Reinforcement layer 4 Base part 4a Opening part 5 Opening / closing lid 5a Communication port 6a Upper connection part 6b Lower connection part 7 Buoyant body 8 Mooring line 8a Upper mooring line 8b Lower mooring line 9 Inner bag 10 Anchor 11 Rigid buoy 12 Oil drilling rig

Claims

A flexible outer shell formed of an elastic material and having an apparent specific gravity of 0 that is movably accommodated inside the flexible outer shell. .7 or less buoyancy body, and mooring lines are connected to the upper and lower ends of the flexible outer shell body, respectively, and the base portion is opened even in a submerged state, and the whole is submerged in water. Flexible buoy used in the state .

The flexible buoy according to claim 1, wherein the total volume ratio of the buoyancy body to the internal volume of the flexible outer shell is 40% or more.

The flexible buoy according to claim 1, wherein the buoyancy body is made of a resin.

The flexible buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the buoyancy body is a spherical hollow body, and a large number of the buoyancy bodies are accommodated inside the flexible outer shell body.

The flexible buoy according to claim 4, wherein an inner bag having water permeability is provided in the flexible outer shell body, and the buoyancy body is accommodated in the inner bag.