NL2018965B1 - Deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel having a deck and a waterline, as well as to a cable deployment system for a vessel. The deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel having a deck and a waterline according to the invention comprises: providing a cable holder having an arc-shaped cable accommodation, the arcshape defining a cable accommodation plane; accommodating a cable in the cable accommodation; displacing the cable holder along a downward oriented deployment path that extends downward from the deck towards the waterline; and during displacement of the cable holder along the 10 deployment path keeping the cable accommodation plane aligned with a portion of the cable extending from the cable holder.

Description

Netherlands Patent Office © 2018965 © Application number: 2018965 © Application filed: May 22, 2017 © BI PATENT © Int. CL:

B63B 35/04 (2018.01) H02G 1/10 (2018.01)

© Application registered: © Patent holder (s): December 4, 2018 ECE Offshore B.V. in Wateringen. © Request published: - © Inventor (s): Sam Verdel in Delft. © Patent granted: Reinier Leon Nagtegaal in The Hague. December 4, 2018 © Patent issued: © Authorized representative: April 10, 2019 ir. P.J. Hylarides et al. In The Hague.

54) Deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel © The present invention relates to a deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel having a deck and a waterline, as well as a cable deployment system for a vessel. The deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel having a deck and a waterline according to the invention comprises: providing a cable holder having an arc-shaped cable accommodation, the arc-shape defining a cable accommodation plane; accommodating a cable in the cable accommodation; displacing the cable holder along a downward oriented deployment path that extends downward from the deck towards the waterline; and during displacement of the cable holder along the deployment path keeping the cable accommodation plane aligned with a portion of the cable extending from the cable holder.

NL Bl 2018965

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

Deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel

The present invention relates to a deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel having a deck and a waterline, as well as a cable deployment system for a vessel.

Methods to deploy a cable from a vessel are known. The present invention has as one of its objectives to provide an improved method to deploy a cable from a vessel.

Thereto the present invention provides a deployment method to deploy a cable from a vessel and a waterline as defined in claim 1. The deployment method according to the invention comprises: providing a cable holder having an arc-shaped cable accommodation, the arc -shape defining a cable accommodation plane; accommodating a cable in the cable accommodation; displacing the cable holder along a downward oriented deployment path that extends downward from the deck towards the waterline; and during displacement of the cable holder along the deployment path keeping the cable accommodation plane aligned with a portion of the cable extending from the cable holder.

The deployment method according to the invention prevents excessive bending or the portion of the cable extending from the cable holder during deployment of the cable. The latter in particular by keeping the cable accommodation aligned with the portion of the cable extending from the cable holder during displacement of the cable holder along a deployment path from the deck towards the water line.

Embodiments of the deployment method according to the present invention that have advantageous features, are defined in dependent claims 2 to 14.

Claims 15 and 16a define a cable deployment system for a vessel according to the invention. The cable deployment system for a vessel according to the invention is in particular configured for performing the method according to the invention for deploying a cable from a vessel.

Brief description of the figures

The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate a non-limitative preferred example of the present invention. The above stated and other advantages, features and objectives of the invention will become more apparent, and the invention better understood, from the following detailed description when read in combination with the accompanying drawings,

- figures 1A and IB show an embodiment of a cable deployment system for a vessel according to the invention in a schematic sectional view and in a schematic top view, respectively;

- figures 2 to 8 show in a schematic sectional view respective steps in an embodiment of the deployment method according to the invention executed by means of the cable deployment system or figures 1A and IB.

Detailed description of the figures

Figures 1 to 6 are illustrative of an exemplary embodiment of the deployment method according to the present invention. Each of the figures 1 to 6 show the star 1 of a vessel. The vessel has a hull 3, a deck 5, and a waterline wl.

Figures 1A and IB show that on the deck 5 of the vessel a cable holder 7 is provided. The cable holder 7 has an arc-shaped cable accommodation 9 embodied by a cable channel 11 that extends along a semi-circular arc. Such a cable holder is known as a quadrant. In figures 1A and IB a cable 13 is accommodated in the cable accommodation 9, ie in the cable channel 11. As shown in figure IB, the cable 13 exits the cable channel 11 at two cable exit locations embodied by two ends 11a, lib of the cable channel 11. From both ends 11a, 1 lb or the cable channel 11, the cable 13 extends from the cable holder 7 over a respective cable chute 15a, 15b towards the waterline and into the water 17. Each cable chute 15a, 15b provides cable support surface 19a, 19b that extends downward from the deck 5 towards the waterline wl. In figures 1A and IB thus are illustrative of the steps of the method according to the present invention of providing a cable holder 7 having an arc-shaped cable accommodation 9 and accommodating a cable 13 in the cable accommodation 9.

In figure 1A the cable holder 7 is in a lying orientation on the deck 5. The arc-shape of the cable accommodation 9 defines a cable accommodation plane pl. The cable accommodation plane pl is in the shown example defined by the inner surface 12a or the one of the two side walls 12, 14, or the cable channel 11 on which inner surface 12a the cable 13 rests in the shown lying orientation of the cable holder 7.

Figure 1A shows a section of the cable chute 15a along a section plane that is perpendicular to the cable accommodation plane pl. This section plane is here referred to as cable support plane p2. As shown in figure 1 A, the cable support surface 19a is arced in the cable support plane p2. In particular, the cable support surface 19a defines a circular arc in the cable support plane p2. The circular arc has a center 21. The cable support surface 19b defines a corresponding circular arc in a cable support plane p3 that is parallel to the cable support plane p2. 19a, 19b define a circular arc that extends over 90 ° or a circle. At the deck end of the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b, the cable support surfaces are parallel to the deck 5. At the waterline end of the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b, the cable support surfaces are perpendicular to the deck 5.

In figure 1A the cable holder 7 is in a lying orientation on the deck 5. In figure 1A the cable holder 7 is arranged such that the cable accommodation plane pl is tangent to the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b at the deck end thereof. The portions of the cable 13 that extend from the cable holder 7 at both ends 11a, 1 lb or the cable channel 11, contact the respective cable support surfaces 19a, 19b at the deck end thereof. Since in the lying orientation of the cable holder shown in figures 1 A, the cable accommodation plane pl defined by the cable accommodation 9 is tangent to the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b, the cable accommodation plane pl is aligned with the portions of the cable 13 extending from the cable holder 7. In particular the cable accommodation plane pl is aligned with the portions of the cable 13, such that the central longitudinal axes of the portions of the cable 13 extending from the cable holder 7 to the location where the cables contact the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b are parallel to the cable accommodation plane pl.

Figures 1A and IB show that the cable holder 7 is arranged on a deployment frame 23. The deployment frame 23 is rotatable relative to the hull 3 about an axis of rotation that coincides with the center 21 of the circular arc defined by the respective cable support surfaces 19a, 19b.

By means of figures 2 to 5 is illustrated that for deploying cable 13, the cable holder 7 is displaced along a downward oriented deployment path that extends downward from the deck 5 towards the waterline wl. The cable holder 7 is displayed along the downward oriented deployment path by rotating the deployment frame 23 having arranged thereon the cable holder 7 about the axis of rotation in the direction of arrow A. The downward oriented deployment path of the cable holder 7 includes a displacement along the arced cable support surfaces 19a, 19b, or the cable chutes 15a, 15b, as well as a rotation of the cable holder 7 about the center 21 of the circular arcs defined by the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b.

As shown in figures 2 to 5, during displacement of the cable holder 7 along the downward oriented deployment path the cable accommodation plane pl is kept aligned with the portions of the cable 13 extending from the cable holder 7. In particular, during displacement of the cable holder 7 along the downward oriented deployment path, the cable accommodation plane pl is kept tangent to the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b. As a result, the central longitudinal axes of the portions of the cable 13 extending from the cable holder 7 to the location L where the cables contact the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b are kept parallel to the cable accommodation plane pl during displacement of the cable holder 7 along the downward oriented deployment path. The cable accommodation plane pl is kept tangent to the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b, by rotating the cable holder 7 about the center 21 of the circular arcs defined by the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b, while displacing the cable holder 7 along the arced cable support surfaces 19a, 19b. In the example shown, the deployment frame 23 is configured such that rotation of the deployment frame 23 about the axis of rotation with the cable holder 7 arranged thereon results in the cable accommodation plane pl being kept tangent to the cable support surfaces 19a, 19b.

As shown in figures 2 to 5, by displacement along the downward oriented deployment path the cable holder 7 is displayed from a lying orientation on the deck 5, shown in figure 1, into an upright orientation above the waterline wl, shown in figure 5.

As shown in figures 2 to 5, a pulley 25 or a winch and rope system is arranged in the deployment frame 23. Over the pulley 25 is arranged a wire rope 27 that is at one end associated with the cable holder 27, and that is arranged on a winch of the winch and rope system.

Before displacing the cable holder 7 from the lying orientation into the upright orientation, the cable holder 7 is coupled to the deployment frame 23, such that the cable holder 7 does not slide or the deployment frame 23 during displacement without using the winch and rope system . As shown in figures 2 to 5, this allows for keeping the wire rope 27 slack during displacement of the cable holder 27 along the deployment path between the lying orientation on the deck 5 and the upright orientation above the waterline wl.

After displacing the cable holder 27 along the deployment path between the lying orientation on the deck 5 and the upright orientation above the waterline wl, the wire rope 27 is pulled tight and the cable holder 7 is uncoupled from the deployment frame 23. Sub much, the deployment frame 23 is rotated about the axis of rotation, such as, as shown in figure 6, the lower part of the cable holder 7 comes away from the deployment frame 23 while the cable holder 7 suspends from the wire rope 27.

Subsequently, as illustrated by figures 7 and 8, the cable holder 27 is lowered into the water 17 in the direction of arrow B by paying out the wire rope 27 using the winch of the winch and rope system. The cable holder 27 is lowered from the deployment frame 23 toward a cable release location under water 17. At the cable release position, the cable 13 is released from the cable holder 7. After releasing the cable 13, the cable holder 7 is lifted in upward direction indicated by arrow C by pulling in the wire rope 27 using the winch of the winch and rope system, into the position of the cable holder 7 shown in figure 6. Subsequently, the deployment steps described under reference to figures 2 to 6 are executed in opposite order See displacing the cable holder 7 from its upright orientation above the waterline into its lying position on the deck 5 by rotating the deployment frame 23 about the axis of rotation in the opposite direction indicated by arrow D in figure 6.

In the figures, the cable holder is displaced along the downward oriented path by means of a deployment frame. Alternatively, the cable holder is displaced along the downward oriented path by means of another displacement arrangement.

Although the principles of the invention have been set forth above with reference to specific, it must be understood that this description is given solely by way of example and not as limitation to the scope of protection, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (16)

Conclusions A deployment method for deploying a cable from a vessel with a deck and a water line, comprising: - providing a cable holder with an arc-shaped cable accommodation, wherein the arc-shaped cable accommodation defines a cable accommodation surface; - accommodating a cable in the cable accommodation; - moving the cable holder along a downwardly oriented deployment path that extends downwards from the deck towards the water line; - keeping the accommodation surface aligned with a portion of the cable protruding from the cable holder during the movement along the deployment path. The deployment method according to claim 1, comprising - providing a cable support surface that extends downwards from the deck towards the water line; at which - the cable extends from the cable holder over the cable support surface towards the water line; - the cable accommodation surface is kept aligned with the cable support surface at the location where the portion of the cable protruding from the cable holder contacts the cable support surface. The deployment method according to claim 2, wherein - the cable support surface is curved and the cable accommodation is held touching the cable support surface during the displacement of the cable holder along the deployment path, wherein preferably the cable support surface is curved towards the waterline, more preferably the cable support surface defining a convex curvature. The deployment method according to claim 3, wherein - the cable support surface is bent into a cable support surface which, at least during displacement of the cable holder from the downwardly oriented deployment path, is perpendicular to the cable accommodation surface, the cable support surface preferably defining a circular arc in the cable support surface. The deployment method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein - the cable holder is moved along the cable support surface. The deployment method according to claims 4 to 5, wherein - the cable holder is moved along the cable support surface by rotating the cable holder around a rotational axis that coincides with the center of the circular arc. The deployment method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein - the cable holder is moved along the deployment path from a horizontal orientation on deck to an upright orientation. The deployment method according to claim 7, wherein - in the upstanding orientation the cable holder is above, in or below the water line. The deployment method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein - after moving the cable holder in the upright orientation, the cable holder is lowered in the upright orientation towards a cable release location under water. The deployment method according to any of claims 1 to 9, comprising - arranging the cable holder on a deployment frame; - moving the cable holder along the deployment path by moving the deployment frame with the cable holder arranged thereon. 11. Deployment method according to claims 9 and 10, comprising after moving the cable holder in the upright orientation by means of the deployment frame: - lowering the cable holder from the deployment frame towards the cable release location under water by means of a winch / winch cable system. The deployment method of claim 11, wherein - the winch / winch cable system comprises a pulley arranged on the deployment frame. A deployment method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising - coupling the cable holder to the deployment frame for moving the cable holder in the upright orientation; - disconnecting the cable holder for lowering the cable holder. The deployment method according to any of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: - releasing the cable from the cable holder at the underwater cable release location; - hoisting the cable holder with the help of the winch / winch cable system to the deployment frame; - arranging the cable holder in the upstanding orientation against the deployment frame; - moving the cable holder to its horizontal orientation on deck by moving the deployment frame with the cable holder arranged thereon, preferably moving the cable holder in the opposite direction along the deployment path. 15. Cable deployment system for a vessel, the system comprising: - a deck; - a cable holder with an arcuate cable accommodation; and - a mover which is adapted to move the cable holder along a downwardly oriented deployment path according to one of claims 1 to 14. The cable deployment system of claim 15, comprising - a cable slide channel providing the cable support surface. 1/9 FIG. 1A 2/9 FIG. 1B 3/9