RU2336196C1 - Facility for submarine cable trunks of connection repair - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transportation.

SUBSTANCE: facility for submarine cable trunks of connection repair contains submersible platform outfitted by driver, search engine and ballast-drainage system, accessory power system by means of cable from supplying vessel. At that submersible platform includes shipping compartment for maintenance staff, hermetic working chamber and not less then two manipulative devices. Working chamber is outfitted by located on its side surface input with gasket for insertion inwards of working chamber being repaired equipment.

EFFECT: ability of submarine cable repair at any weather or ice conditions.

2 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the field of transport equipment and can be used in the repair of underwater cable communication lines.

An analogue of the claimed device for repair of an underwater cable (PC) is a complex of cable repair tools used in the repair of an underwater cable and placed on a cable vessel (CS). (G.A. Arkhangelsky et al. Undersea cable communication lines. M: Communication, 1971, pp. 235-239.)

This complex includes:

- a certain section of the main deck of the compressor station, allotted for the time of repair of the underwater cable;

- grapnel to capture the repaired PC;

- a cable machine for lifting the repaired cable and for laying the cable insert in the repaired cable;

- buoy to detect the first found end of the cable being repaired;

- devices and tools for cable splicing.

The disadvantages of the analogue are:

- the timeliness of repair of the underwater cable is not ensured if the cable damage occurred during a stormy sea or severe underwater conditions;

- due to the fact that repairs are carried out from the sea surface:

a) it is difficult to find a damaged cable;

b) it is necessary to have a powerful cable machine for lifting the cable to the surface;

c) it is necessary to install a buoy to detect the first found end of the cable;

d) the need to make a cable insert;

e) after repair, the discarded cable loop is located at the bottom with a large slack over a considerable length of the cable and may cause new damage when the anchor or trawl of a fishing vessel is caught in it.

Closest to the claimed device on the technical nature of the solution is the "Submersible platform for the work of the seas and rivers." (French Patent No. 2183428, CL B63C 11/00.) This is a deep-sea apparatus in the form of a cylinder, open on both sides and with the necessary life support equipment for personnel who work on the bottom of the seas or rivers.

Various underwater operations inside the cylinder using special remotely controlled and controlled equipment and tools.

The device has a certain autonomy due to external movers. The apparatus descends to the seabed from a surface vessel.

The disadvantage of the prototype is the impossibility of carrying out cable repair work, since the splicing of the underwater cable can only be carried out in air and at normal atmospheric pressure, here all work is carried out in sea water.

The aim of the invention is the provision of repair of the underwater cable in all weather conditions.

This goal is achieved due to the fact that the device for repair of underwater cable communication lines, containing equipped with propulsion and ballast-drainage system and a power supply system by cable from the vessel providing the ship with a submersible platform, the latter includes a transport chamber for staff and a sealed working chamber equipped with an inlet with a seal to enter the equipment to be repaired inside the working chamber, the device is additionally equipped with at least two manipulators, with this entrance to the working chamber is located on the side surface of the working chamber, and the manipulators are located inside the working chamber.

The drawing shows a structural diagram of the inventive device.

It contains:

1 - self-propelled underwater platform;

2 - power and communication cable;

3 - platform wheels;

4 - viewing tools (video camera);

5 - habitable compartment of the platform;

6 - ends of a tattered underwater cable;

7, 10 - manipulators;

8 - working compartment, in which the splice of the underwater cable;

9 - an epiploon;

11 - semi-lock;

12 - external tight door;

13 - internal sealed door.

The inventive device is an inhabited self-propelled underwater platform 1, transported by a cable vessel, and during repair work, launched from it and the power supply and communication cable 2 connected with it.

Platform 1 using an electric motor moves along the bottom of the sea on wheels or on tracks 3.

Using the survey means 4 of the situation at the bottom of the sea, the platform operators, located in the inhabited compartment 5, detect one of the ends of the damaged submarine cable, capture it using the manipulator 7, located in the compartment 8 filled with water. The platform then moves toward the other end of the damaged cable, pulling the trapped end of the cable.

Approaching the second end of the cable, the device 1, with the help of the second manipulator 10, grabs the second end of the cable and, through the semicluse 11, pulls both ends of the cable end into the working compartment 8. The outer sealed door of the working compartment 12 closes, the tightened ends of the cable are sealed in the semiclusion 11 using oil seal 9.

Water is pumped out of the working compartment, it is drained and filled with air at normal atmospheric pressure, the internal airtight door 13 is opened, and the operators of the inhabited compartment 5 splice the cable using existing devices that are transferred to compartment 8.

After splicing, the working compartment is released, the internal airtight door is closed, compartment 8 is filled with water, the external airtight door is opened, and the cable loop is brought out to sea using one of the manipulators.

Thus, in the event of damage to the undersea cable communication lines during the seasons of the stormy sea or ice conditions, their downtime is significantly reduced. The expense of repair submarine cable is also reduced.

Claims (2)

1. A device for repair of underwater cable communication lines, containing equipped with propulsion, search and ballast-drainage system, power supply system via cable from the submersible platform providing the vessel, the latter including a transport chamber for staff and a sealed working chamber equipped with an inlet a seal for introducing the equipment under repair into the working chamber, characterized in that, in order to ensure the repair of the damaged submarine cable at atmospheric pressure d water, it is provided with at least two manipulators, wherein the entrance to the working chamber is located on the side surface of the processing chamber. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the manipulators are located inside the working chamber.