JPH08260507A - Compressed air supply method to underwater working machine and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve workability and safety by supplying compressed air pressure of which is the same as or slightly higher than underwater pressure to a part requiring supply of the compressed air of a working machine from above the water surface through an umbilical cable. CONSTITUTION: An umbilical cable 11 gathering lines of electric, communication and electrical control signals, etc., which are power sources of a working machine and a supply line of compressed air into one is connected to a distributor 12 of the working machine 1. Thereafter, compressed air sent from a compressor on the water surface is supplied to cavities in an arm 14 and a boom 15 by pressure the same as or slightly higher than hydraulic power pressure in the circumference through the umbilical cable 11, the distributor 12, an air supply line 3 and a pressure regulator 13. Additionally, in the case when the working machine 1 likely overturns underwater or overturns, compressed air is supplied to a balance regulating member 17. Additionally, while the working machine 1 is operated underwater, compressed air is supplied to a diver through the umbilical cable 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supplying compressed air to an underwater working machine, which supplies compressed air to a working machine such as a hydraulic excavator used on land so that work can be performed underwater. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, hydraulic excavators and the like used as land-based working machines have hollow insides of booms and arms, and it is not originally thought to work underwater. However, there is a problem that the cavity is deformed by the underwater pressure outside the cavity.

Further, the supply of air to a diver who operates such an underwater working machine is performed in a line different from the supply of air to the portion of the working machine that operates underwater as described above, which requires compressed air. ing. There are two conventional methods of supplying air to the diver, the scuba method and the fuka method. In the case of the scuba method, the diver does not supply air until he dives to work underwater and then resurfaces to the sea surface. , Is performed by the air tank carried by the diver himself, and is carried out by the air tank installed in the underwater working machine while the work is carried out by boarding the underwater working machine. Further, in the case of the fuka system, it is performed from a diving ship on the water through an hose by an air compressor.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional air supply by the scuba method, since a fixed amount of air can be enclosed in the air tank, the diving time, that is, the working time in water is restricted, and the fuuka method is also used. In the case of, the air supply to the diver and the power supply to the underwater work equipment are performed by separate air hoses, and depending on the movement of the work equipment, these air hoses may get entangled or work Sometimes there is the problem that the air hose gets in the way, which is also dangerous.

Further, in the underwater working machine such as the hydraulic excavator as described above, it is more difficult to balance the machine body underwater as compared with the case where it is landed, and there is a problem in safety because it tends to fall down. In addition, since there are various electric parts in a work machine that works underwater, an electric system control box containing them is required. Naturally, there should be no water in the electric system control box, and compressed air It is necessary to prevent ingress of water by supplying water.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a working machine for working in water can work in the same manner as land work even in water. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for supplying compressed air to an underwater work machine which can ensure the safety of a diver who operates the work machine underwater.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a method of supplying compressed air to an underwater working machine according to the present invention is designed so that a portion of the working machine working underwater that requires compressed air to be supplied to an external underwater working machine. It is characterized by supplying compressed air of a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the pressure from the surface of the water to the work equipment by one umbilical cable, and air to the diver who operates the work equipment working underwater. Supplying compressed air to the air supply line from the tank at a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the submersible pressure in the surroundings supplied through the connector as described above will cause the air hose to become entangled when the diver's work machine is operated. No worries and preferable in terms of safety or workability.

Further, in the same manner as described above, supplying compressed air having a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the surrounding underwater pressure to the buoyancy adjusting member or the underwater buoyancy body of the working machine also prevents the working machine from falling down in water. Or, it is desirable to adjust the buoyancy according to the water depth. Further, the compressed air supply device for the underwater working machine is provided with a valve element that moves due to a pressure difference between a surrounding underwater pressure and a portion requiring supply of compressed air in a space provided inside, and the valve thereof. It is composed of a compressed air supply line provided with a pressure regulator that appropriately supplies compressed air to a portion requiring compressed air and discharges compressed air from the portion depending on the position of the body.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of an underwater working machine to which the compressed air supply method of the present invention is applied. Yes,
The compressed air is supplied to the main body of the working machine 1 by an umbilical cable 11 in which lines for electric power, communication and electric control signals, which are power sources of the working machine 1, and a compressed air supply line are integrated. Be seen.

The umbilical cable 11 is once connected to the distributor 12, and the distributor 12 supplies compressed air to the working machine 1 for working underwater, and piping and wiring for each part that requires electric, communication and electric control signals. Are connected respectively. Therefore, in the present invention, when the compressed air is supplied to the portion requiring the compressed air, the compressed air sent from the compressor on the water surface by the umbilical cable 11 is equal to or slightly higher than the underwater pressure around the compressed air. To supply the working machine 1 normally used on land so that it can be used satisfactorily underwater.

Therefore, in the working machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the arm 14 and the boom 15 which are conventionally used on land are hollow, and the pressure is equal to the surrounding underwater pressure via a pressure regulator 13 inside them, or By supplying compressed air at a slightly higher pressure, the external pressure and the internal pressure can be adjusted according to the water depth. Next, as a device for supplying compressed air to the umbilical cable 11 and each portion of the work machine 1 that requires the supply of compressed air, a pressure regulator 13 is provided in the air supply line 3 including the umbilical cable 11 and each pipe. The principle of this pressure regulator 13 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

That is, a space is provided inside the pressure regulator 13, and a valve element 131 that moves due to a pressure difference between the surrounding underwater pressure and the internal pressure inside the arm 14 and the boom 15 shown in FIG. It is provided and this valve body 1
The room 31 is divided into a room W in which surrounding water pressure is applied and a room A in which compressed air is applied. Therefore, FIG. 2 shows a state in which each room pressure is balanced between the room W under the surrounding water pressure and the room A of the compressed air communicating with the inside of the arm 14 and the boom 15 requiring the supply of the compressed air. The compressed air supply port 132 between the compressed air supply line 15 and the compressed air supply line and the compressed air exhaust port 133 from the arm 14 and the boom 15 are both closed.

It should be noted that the balance between the surrounding underwater pressure and the internal air pressure of the arm 14 and the boom 15 can be set appropriately by adjusting the pressure adjusting knob 135 against the spring attached to the pressure difference adjuster 134. As a result, the compressed air can be supplied to the portion such as the arm 14 that needs to be supplied with the compressed air at a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the pressure in the surrounding water.

That is, in FIG. 2, when the internal air pressure P ₁ of the arm 14 and the surrounding water pressure P ₀ are balanced, if the adjustment value in the pressure difference adjuster 134 is α, then P ₁ = P ₀ + α. Next, FIG. 3 shows a case where the internal air pressure P ₁ of the arm 14 or the like is smaller than the surrounding underwater pressure P ₀ , and the surrounding seawater enters the room W, so that the valve body 131 moves to the room. Since it is pushed to the A side and the hole of the compressed air supply port 132 is conducted, compressed air is supplied into the arm 14 and the boom 15. This state is when the pressure in the arm 14 or the boom 15 is lower than the set value, and can be represented by P ₁ <P ₀ + α.

Further, FIG. 4 shows a case where the internal air pressure P ₁ of the arm 15 or the like is larger than the surrounding water pressure P _{0. In} this case, since the pressure on the room A side is strong, the valve body 131 has the room W The compressed air exhaust port 133 is pushed to the side, and the compressed air corresponding to the excessive pressure is exhausted to the outside.
This state is the case where the pressure inside the arm 14 or the boom 15 is higher than the set value, and can be indicated by P ₁ > P ₀ + α.

As described above, the inside of the cavity of the arm 14 and the boom 15 is filled with compressed air at an appropriate pressure to prevent them from being deformed by the external pressure of the surrounding underwater pressure, and thereby to obtain the buoyancy. Therefore, it is possible to add to the force in the pulling direction when carrying heavy objects or excavating. Next, the work machine 1 working underwater is to be submerged and levitated between the work surface 1 and the surface of the diver 2 operating underwater by the above-mentioned scuba system. In this case,
The air tank 21 via the regulator 23 shown in FIG.
The air from is received from the octopus 24 via the air supply line 3. On the other hand, while the working machine 1 is operated in water, the compressed air supplied by the umbilical cable 11 to the main body of the working machine 1 is used for breathing, that is, the so-called Fuka system.

Therefore, the diver has a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the pressure in the surrounding water as described above through the connector 22 whose principle is explained in FIGS. 6 and 7 in the middle of the air supply line 3 of the scuba system. Supply compressed air. The connector 22 should be attached to the front of the body so that the diver 2 wearing a suit with poor workability can easily attach it to the air supply line 3 such as the air hose extending from the work implement 1. .

Here, the principle of the connector 22 in which the air pressure supplied from the air tank 21 of the scuba is P ₃ and the air pressure of the compressed air supplied from the main body of the working machine 1 is P ₄ will be described. A valve 221 operated by air pressure is provided inside, and this valve 221 is used for the air tank 21.
The air pressure P ₃ supplied from the work machine 1 and the air pressure P ₄ supplied from the working machine 1 side, whichever is larger, are supplied to the diver 2.

Therefore, since there is no air supply from the working machine 1 side when the diver 2 submerges and floats, the relationship of P ₃ > P ₄ is established, and the valve 221 becomes the position shown in FIG. 21 through the supply port 222 to the diver 2 through the supply port 22
Air is supplied from 4. On the other hand, when the working machine 1 is operated in water, air is supplied from the working machine 1 side, and at this time, the air pressure P ₄ supplied from the working machine 1 side is always P ₃ <P ₄
By setting so that the relationship of
The second valve 221 is at the position shown in FIG. 7, and air is supplied from the working machine 1 side to the diver 2 from the supply port 224 via the supply port 223.

Further shown above the rear of the diver 2 in FIG. 1 is a balance adjusting member 17 using compressed air, which is when the working machine 1 is about to fall in water or has fallen down. At this time, as described above, compressed air having a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the underwater pressure is applied to the balance adjusting member 1.
By supplying it to 7, the buoyancy is exerted and the posture of the working machine 1 is restored.

Further, FIG. 8 shows an underwater buoyancy body 4 for carrying heavy objects, which is attached to a hanging piece 45 provided in a bucket of the working machine 1 through a hanging tool 44. Can supply buoyancy by supplying compressed air having a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the underwater pressure from the supply port 43 in the same manner as described above, but further, the exhaust valve 41 and the air regulating valve 4
By attaching 2 to the underwater buoyancy body 4, the buoyancy can be adjusted according to the water depth.

Further, in the working machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 for working in water, since there are various electric parts, the electric control box 16 accommodating them is necessary, and the electric control box 16 accommodating them is required. No submersion is allowed, compressed air must be supplied to the inside, and the present invention can be effectively applied. In addition to the above, attachments such as air rock drills used on land are also applicable when the working machine 1 is used underwater, but for those parts of the attachments that require supply of compressed air. When the present invention is applied, compressed air can also be supplied from the distributor 12 in FIG. 1 via the air supply line 3 or the like.

If the compressed air supply line to the diver and the compressed air supply line to the working machine are separately arranged in one umbilical cable, the air supply to the diver will be
You can do it more safely.

[0024]

According to the present invention described above, the supply of compressed air to the arm of the working machine which requires the supply of compressed air,
It can be applied to the inside of cavities such as booms and underwater balance adjustment members and underwater buoyancy bodies, as well as electrical control boxes and their airtight parts, various attachments, etc. Since it is supplied, it is possible to improve the safety and workability of the working machine for diving and work, and also improve the reliability.

Further, by supplying the compressed air according to the present invention to a diver who operates the working machine underwater,
There is no restriction on underwater work time, and work efficiency similar to that of the conventional Huka method can be obtained. In addition, at that time, only one line is needed to connect the compressor on the water surface to the underwater working machine, so there is no concern about the air hose getting entangled and safety is improved.
Moreover, unlike the conventional fuka system, the air hose does not interfere with the work, and since the scuba air tank is not used during the work, the air tank can serve as a spare tank in an emergency, Safety is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of an underwater working machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing a balanced state between an arm internal air pressure and an underwater pressure of the pressure regulator of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a main part of the pressure regulator showing a state in which the arm internal air pressure has become smaller than the underwater pressure from the state of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a main part of the pressure regulator showing a state in which the arm internal air pressure has become higher than the underwater pressure from the state of FIG.

5 is an explanatory view of the air supply device for the diver of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a main part showing a state in which air is supplied from the air tank side to the diver in the connector of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a main part showing a state in which air is supplied from the working machine side to the diver in the connector of FIG. 5;

8 is a side view of essential parts showing a state in which an underwater balloon for carrying heavy objects is attached to the working machine of FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Working machine 2 Diver 4 Underwater buoyancy body 13 Pressure regulator 17 Balance adjustment member 22 Connector 131 Valve body

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An umbilical cable for supplying compressed air to a portion of a working machine operating in water, which has a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the underwater pressure of the surroundings, from the surface of the water to the working machine. A method of supplying compressed air to an underwater working machine. 2. A pressure equal to or slightly higher than the ambient underwater pressure supplied in claim 1 through a connector to an air supply line from an air tank to a diver operating a work machine working in water. Compressed air supply method for underwater working machine that supplies compressed air. 3. A method for supplying compressed air to an underwater working machine, wherein compressed air having a pressure equal to or slightly higher than the surrounding underwater pressure supplied in claim 1 is supplied to a buoyancy adjusting member or an underwater buoyant body of the working machine. . 4. A valve body that moves due to a pressure difference between the underwater pressure of the surroundings and a portion that requires the supply of compressed air is provided in a space provided inside, and the portion that requires compressed air depends on the position of the valve body. A compressed air supply device for a submersible work machine, comprising a compressed air supply line provided with a pressure regulator that appropriately supplies compressed air to and discharges compressed air from the part.