JPH04145818A - Submarine cable laying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a marine cable laying apparatus possible to lay marine cable smooth without damaging a connecting box by moving one brake device in the lateral direction nearly perpendicular to the direction of feeding the marine cable to be laid and by installing the other brake device on the traveling route of the cable. CONSTITUTION:Making the upper stream brake device 6 run away in the lateral direction from the traveling route of cable 2 while the cable is clamped by the catapillar ring of the lower stream brake device 5. Next, the motor of the lower stream brake device 6 is driven to circulate the catapillar ring to feed the cable 2 in the direction of arrow head A, thereby continuously laying the marine cable. Further, when a connecting box 9 approaches the upper stream brake device 6 and further approaches the lower stream brake device 6 passing along the side of the catapillar ring of the upper stream brake device 6, the upper stream brake device 6 is moved in the direction of arrow head B, laid on the traveling route, and the cable 2 is clamped by the catapillar ring. Next, the lower stream brake device 6 is moved in the direction of arrow head C to let the connecting box 9 passing along the side of the catapillar ring of the device 6.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to submarine cable installation equipment.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]-g,
Cable laying equipment suspends submarine cables from a ship into the sea, and sequentially pays out the cables as the ship advances.The cable tension is adjusted by applying a braking force to the cables as they are fed out under their own weight. Ta. In other words, in conventional installation equipment, a pair of endless tracks are provided that sandwich the cable from above and below, and the cable is held between the upper and lower tracks with an appropriate clamping force to apply braking force to the cable. Laying work was being carried out.

By the way, for example, in a long submarine cable of 10 km or more, a connection part, an optical repeater, or a junction box with a repeater (hereinafter referred to as a junction box) is installed due to cable manufacturing or transmission characteristics reasons. . This junction box has a larger diameter than the normal part of the cable, and when the junction box passes between the track rings, a sudden increase in braking force occurs, which may damage the junction box or prevent smooth passage. The drawback was that it could not be done.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a submarine cable installation device that can smoothly install a submarine cable without damaging the junction box even if the cable has a junction box in the middle. do.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the submarine cable installation device according to the present invention comprises: a track brake device consisting of a pair of upper and lower endless track rings that apply braking force to the submarine cable; A guide roller device consisting of a large number of guide roller groups whose height is approximately equal to the submarine cable holding height of the ring and whose total length is approximately the same as the above-mentioned endless track brake device is moved in a lateral direction perpendicular to the submarine cable feeding direction. At least two sets of the endless track brake device and the guide roller device are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval along the submarine cable feeding direction.

[For production]

One brake device is moved along the lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the cable feeding direction to avoid passing between the track rings of the junction box, and the other brake device is moved along the cable running direction. If one brake device is installed on the cable, the cable can be laid on the seabed while being braked by the other brake device, and conversely, one brake device can be installed on the cable running path. At the same time, if the other brake device is set to avoid passing between the track rings of the connection box, the cable can be laid on the seabed while applying a braking force with the one brake device. That is, while one device is performing installation work, the other device can be moved laterally away from the cable running path, and the junction box passes beside the upper and lower track rings of the other device. In addition, while the other device is performing installation work, one device can be moved laterally away from the cable running path, and the side of the lower track ring of one device can be connected. A box passes.
・、、１． - [Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on drawings showing examples.

FIG. 2 shows a laying space 1, in which a submarine cable laying device according to the present invention is installed.

That is, in FIG. 2, 2 is a cable that is let out from the rear of the laying machine 1 along the arrow, and the cable 2 is wound into a coil in the cable storage chamber 3 in the laying machine 1. It is paid out from the cable storage chamber 3. and,
On the running path of the cable 2, a measuring device 4, an auxiliary brake 5, a track brake system W6.6, a tension meter 7, etc. are arranged in this order from the upstream side. Here, the cable 2, as shown in FIG. 1, consists of a cable main body 8... and a connection box 9... that connects the cable main body 8... In addition, the measuring device 4 is a rotatable measuring device that is in pressure contact with the cable 2.
The number of rotations of the measuring wheels is converted into an electrical signal to determine the length of the cable 2 (cable installation length).
It is used to measure. In addition, the auxiliary brake 5 is a brake mechanism for the backup amplifier that prevents the cable 2 from running out of control and wasting the expensive cable 2 when the track brake device 6.6 breaks down. A brake force is applied to the cable 2 by pressing a plurality of movable shoes against a fixed shoe using a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure cylinder. Moreover, the tension meter 7 has a function of measuring the tension acting on the cable 2 fed out into the sea from the rear end of the installation gap 1 and converting it into an electrical signal.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the track brake device 6 includes a pair of upper and lower track rings 10.11 that sandwich the submarine cable 2, and
1 along a direction substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction of the cable 2.

That is, the endless track ring 10 is suspended between the drive sprocket 14 provided on the housing 13 and the driven sprocket 5, and the lower endless track 11 is suspended between the drive sprocket 7 provided on the housing 16 and the driven sprocket. Sprockent 18
is suspended between. And drive sprocket 1
The shafts 4.17 are respectively connected to the drive shafts of motors 19.19, and each track ring 10.11 is driven by the motors 19.19.

Accordingly, each of the housings 13 and 16 has a plurality of guides 1 and rails 20 along the longitudinal direction (the feeding direction of the cable 2). ) are disposed, and these guide rails 20 bring the bearing rings 10.11 into close contact with the cable 2 running between the bearing rings 1011.

That is, the housings 13 and 16 are respectively attached with rail holders 21 at a predetermined pitch, and the holders 21 and 16 are attached at predetermined pitches.
..., each guide rail 2 via the pivot pin 22...
0 protruding pieces 23... are pivotally supported. Therefore, each guide rail 20... is pivotally supported by the housing 13, 16 so as to be able to swing around the pin 22....

Further, the lower housing 16 is erected on a base 24 disposed on the installation gap l via air springs 25 . A pair of guide posts 26, 26 are erected on this base 24.
, the housing 13. , , 16 connected to the sliding member 2
7.27 is fitted so that it can move up and down. That is, each housing 13.16 moves up and down along this guide post 26.26.

And the upper housing 13 is 48! cylinder 2
At 8.28.36.36, it reciprocated in two downward directions.

That is, each cylinder 28 on the opposite side of the post 26, 26 with respect to the cable 2 has an upright piece 3 erected from the base 24 on a mounting piece 29 hanging down from the lower end of the main body 28a.
0 is fitted, and the mounting piece 29 and the standing piece 30 are connected via the pin 31, and the piston rod -28b
A protruding piece 33 protruding from the housing 13 is fitted into a mounting piece 32 provided at the tip of the
The mounting piece 32 and the protruding piece 33 are pivotally connected.

Further, in this case, the pin 34 is made removable, and the pin 34
When the is installed, as shown by the solid line in Figure 5,
Cylinder 2 is installed vertically, but pin 3
4 is removed, the cylinder 28 can swing as shown by the arrow D2 around the pin 31.

Further, in the cylinder 36° 36 provided between the posts 26 and 26, a protruding piece 38 protruding from the housing 13 is fitted into a mounting piece 37 provided at the tip of the piston rod 36b, and a protruding piece 38 is fitted through a pin 39. The mounting piece 37 and the protruding piece 38
are connected to each other, and the lower end of the main body 36a is connected to the base 2.
It is connected to 4.

Therefore, each cylinder 28. If each piston rod 28b, 28b, 36b, 36b of '2B, 36.36 is reciprocated, the upper housing 13 will move to the guide post 26.
26, and the vertical distance between the upper and lower endless track rings 10 and 11 expands and contracts. That is, this cylinder 2
8, 2B, 36.36 and guide boss 1-26.26
Upper and lower endless track rings 10 with sliding parts ifA'27, etc.
．． An opening/closing mechanism 12 is formed that expands/reduces the vertical interval dimension of 11.

Note that the upper ends of the guide posts 26, 26 are connected by a connecting body 40. Further, the base 24 is provided with a guide roller 41 that guides the lower end of the cable 2.

Thus, cylinder 28.28 and cylinder 36.36
Guide members 51 and 52 are respectively arranged between them. The guide member 51 has a pair of guide rods 53.53. The lower ends of the guide rods 53.53 are swingably attached to the lower housing 16 by means of a pivot member 54, and the upper ends of the guide rods 53.53 are attached to the upper housing 16. The housing 13 is slidably fitted into a holder 55 provided on the housing 13. That is, for example, the pivot body 54 includes a handle piece 57 to which the lower end of the guide rod 53. Holding piece 5
8.58, a holding piece 59.59 protruding from the upper housing 13, and a pivot shaft 60 inserted through the holding piece 58.59. As shown in the figure, a mounting piece 6 provided on the upper housing 13
1, and a swinging piece 62 pivotally attached to the mounting piece 61 via a connector 63 such as a hinge, the mounting piece 6
1 and the swinging piece 62 are overlapped with each other, the lever 61 and the swinging piece 62 are held in this state by a locking tool (not shown), and the upper end of each guy 1-" rod 53. The parts are fitted so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.Then, by releasing the locking state by the locking tool and swinging the swinging piece 62 as shown by the imaginary line, as shown in FIG. As in, Gaitoroso l"53.
53 indicates arrows E, , E centered around the pivot shaft 60 of the pivot body 54.
It oscillates like 2.

The guide member 52 also includes a pair of guide rods 64°6.
4, the guide rods 64, 64 have their lower ends removably attached to mounting pieces (not shown) of the lower housing 16 via bolts or other fittings, and their upper ends are attached to the upper housing 16. It is fitted into a holding piece (not shown) provided at 13 so as to be vertically movable.

And the guide rod 535 of both guide members 5L 52
Guide member bodies 66, 66 are slidably fitted into the guide rods 53, 64, 64, and the guide member bodies 66, 66 are attached to the guide rods 53, 536 by means of set screws (not shown) or the like.
It is fixed at 4,64.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the base 24, there are a large number of guide rollers 65 whose submarine cable supporting height is approximately equal to the submarine cable clamping height of the endless tracks 10 and 11. A guide roller device 71 consisting of a group is provided. That is, on the base 24, one piece of the handle 66...
are erected, and a guide roller 65 is rotatably supported between opposing mounting pieces 66, 66.

Further, in this case, the guide roller 65 is disposed along a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the feeding direction of the cable 2, and its height position is set at the height between the running cable 2 and the path.

Further, wheels 6 are provided on both end surfaces 69a and 69b of the base 24.
7... are rotatably protruded, and the wheels 67... are provided on guy 1'' rails 68a, 68b provided on the laying ship I''-.
Rolling upwards. That is, the guide rails 68a and 68b are
The base 24 is provided along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the cable 2 is fed, and the base 24 is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the cable 2 is fed. Note that the base 24 may be moved manually, but the base 24 may be moved manually.
A motor is mounted on the wheel 67 and driven by the motor.
It is also possible to move the cylinder by rotationally driving it, or to provide a cylinder near the base 24 and move it by the reciprocating movement of the piston rod of the cylinder. Therefore, the moving mechanism 70 is constituted by the guide rails 68a, (i8b, wheels 67, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 1, the track brake devices 6 configured as described above are arranged in series at predetermined intervals along the feeding direction of the submarine cable 2, but in this case, the devices 6, The distance between 6 and 6 is the length of junction box 9! When the device 6 is moved laterally,
As shown in FIG. 1 (III), the junction box 9 is set so as to pass beside the tracks 10, 11 of the device 6, but not between the upper and lower tracks 10, 11. Note that guide rollers 50 are disposed between each brake device 6, 6, and the cable 2 is sent out on the guide rollers 50 in the direction of the arrow.

Next, a method of using the submarine cable installation apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1N), the upstream brake device 6 is
The brake device 6 on the downstream side is arranged on the running path of the cable 2, and the upper and lower endless track rings 10 of the downstream device 6 are placed in a state where the cable 2 is laterally released from the running path.
．． The cable 2 is held at 11. In addition, when the cable 2 is interposed between the upper and lower track rings 10.11, as shown in FIG. 5, the cable 2 can be removed by tilting the cylinders 28. It can be interposed between the track rings 10.11 from the direction.

Then, the motor 9 of the device 6 on the downstream side holding the cable 2 is driven to circulate the upper and lower endless track rings 10 and 11, and the cable 2 is sent out in the direction of the arrow, and the cable 2 is laid on the seabed. I will do it. In this case, since the cable 2 is held between the upper and lower track rings 10.11, the cable 2 is laid while being applied with a predetermined appropriate braking force.

As the cables 2 are successively laid, the junction box 9 approaches the upstream device 6 as shown in FIG. 1 (1), and furthermore as shown in FIG. 1 (IT). In this case, as shown in FIG. The device is moved in direction B and placed on the running path, and the upper and lower endless track rings 10 of this device are
．． The cable 2 is interposed between the tracks 11 and 10.
．． The cable 2 is held between the cables 11 and 11. That is, cylinder 2
8.28 and the guide member 51 are brought down so that the cable 2 can be inserted laterally, and this device 6 is moved onto the running path.Then, the cylinder 28.28 and the guide member 51 are installed, and the upper infinity The bearing ring 10 is lowered and the cable 2 is held between the upper and lower endless bearing rings 10 and 11.

Next, the downstream track ring 10 of the device 6 is raised, the cable 2 is released from being held by the track ring 10.11 of the device 6, and the cylinder 2828 and guide member 51 are collapsed. Allow the cable 2 to escape in the lateral direction, and in this state, as shown by arrow C in Figure 1 (Ill),
The downstream device 6 is moved so that it is released laterally, and the junction box 9 is passed past the tracks 10, 11 of this device 6. In this case, the cable 2 is laid while being applied with a predetermined appropriate braking force by the device 6 on the two-liquid side. After the junction box 9 passes by the track ring 1011 of the device 6 on the downstream side, the device 6 on the downstream side is returned to the running path as shown in FIG. 1 (1) again.
At the same time, the device 6 on the two-liquid side is returned to the state in which it is released laterally, and the next connection box 9 is waited for, and when the next connection box 9 arrives, the above-mentioned installation work is carried out again. I do.

Therefore, the cable 2 is always clamped at one of the rear sides of the two brake groups N6, 6, and laid while being applied with a predetermined appropriate braking force. 1011, and is not held between the upper and lower tracks 10 and 11.

Therefore, when the junction box 9 passes beside the track ring 1011 of each device 6, the lower end of the junction box 9 is guided by the guide rollers 65 disposed on the base 24. The cable 2 is fed smoothly.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the stage weight can be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, contrary to the embodiment, first, the downstream device 6 is moved in the horizontal direction. With the upstream device 6 installed on the running path, the upstream device 6 performs the laying work, and when the connection box 9 approaches the upstream device 6, the downstream device 6 The device 6 is moved to the running path 2, and the cable 2 is held between the track rings 10 and 11 below the device 6, and then the upstream device 6 is moved laterally. The track ring 10 of the device 6 on the upstream side is in a state where it has escaped from the running path. I
The junction box 9 is made to pass next to I. Then, the track ring 10 of the upstream device 6. Junction box 9 next to II
After passing, the device 6 on the upstream side is moved onto the running path again, the cable 2 is held between the upper and lower endless tracks 10.11 of the device 6, and then the device 6 on the downstream side is moved laterally again. You are free to leave it in a free state.

Further, the number of guide rollers 65 can be freely increased or decreased, and in the embodiment, the guide rollers 65 are disposed on the base 24 and move together with the track ring 10.11. It is also possible to move it separately from the track ring 10.11.

Furthermore, in the present invention, two or more, for example, three sets of the track brake device 6 and the guide roller device 71 may be arranged in parallel along the submarine cable feeding direction at a predetermined interval. In this case, the IIJI It can be used as an emergency device in case of failure of the other two sets, and when laying a long cable without the above-mentioned cable connection part on the seabed, each track brake device 6 can be moved in the cable feeding direction to each other. If the LJ is shifted in the right angle direction, the three cables can be laid at the same time, which is more advantageous.

The cable 2 used in the installation apparatus according to the present invention may be an optical (1) η-bottom cable, a normal electric power (5) communication submarine cable, or a composite submarine cable thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it produces the following effects.

The cable 2 can be continuously and smoothly sent out without damaging the junction box 9 and without stopping, and the cable 2 can be laid on the seabed while always giving the cable 2 an appropriate breaking force. You can go there.

In particular, in the present invention, if the track brake devices 6 and the guide-roller devices 71 are arranged in parallel along the submarine cable feeding direction at a predetermined interval of 3 Mi,
One set can be used as an emergency device in case of failure of the other two sets, and the track brake devices 6 in these three sets can be used by being shifted from each other in a direction perpendicular to the cable feeding direction, that is, cable connection. This has a significant practical effect in that it is possible to simultaneously lay three long submarine cables without any sections.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a simplified overall view, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a track brake device.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. 5 is a simplified side view of the same. 2... Submarine cable, 6... Track brake device, 10, 11... Track ring, 71... Guide roller device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A track brake device consisting of a pair of upper and lower track rings that applies braking force to the submarine cable, and a large number of guide rollers whose submarine cable supporting height is approximately the same as the submarine cable clamping height of the track ring. A group of guide roller devices whose total length is approximately the same as the above-mentioned endless track brake device are arranged side by side so as to be movable in the lateral direction orthogonal to the submarine cable feeding direction. A submarine cable laying device comprising at least two sets of a track brake device and a guide roller device arranged in a row at a predetermined interval along the submarine cable feeding direction.