TW202407189A - A template - Google Patents

Abstract

A template for use in installing a plurality of foundation elements, in particular anchor piles, relative to one another in an underwater ground formation, comprises a frame and a plurality of guides for guiding respective foundation elements during driving them into a seabed. The guides are connected to the frame at an angular distance from each other about a centreline of the frame and translatable with respect to the frame such that the distances between the respective guides and the centreline are adjustable between a first operational condition and a second operational condition, wherein the distances between the respective guides and the centreline of the frame are larger in the second operational condition than in the first operational condition.

Description

template

The invention relates to a formwork for use in the installation of a plurality of foundation elements relative to each other in the formation of underwater formations, in particular anchor piles, comprising a frame and a plurality of guides for driving the foundation elements. Each foundation element is guided during entry into a seabed, wherein the guide members are connected to the frame at an angular distance from each other about a central axis of the frame.

Such templates are known from European patent application EP 2 402 511. The known formwork is suitable for installing anchor piles in an established formation where the formwork remains fixed on the seabed. The formwork can be reused to install further foundation elements at other locations because, after the anchor piles have been installed, the formwork is lifted above the installed ends of the piles protruding upward from the seabed and moved to the next Installation location.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved template.

This object is achieved with a formwork according to the invention, in which the guides are shiftable relative to the frame, so that the distance between each guide and the center line can be varied between a first operating state and an alternative second operating state. adjustment, wherein the distance between each guide and the center line of the frame is greater in the second operating state than in the first operating state.

An advantage of the formwork according to the invention is that the footprint of the guides can be adjusted without having to perform time-consuming operations to modify the structure of the formwork. Since the formwork is transferable relative to the frame, it is possible to create a strong coupling between the guide and the frame, such as a slidable connection.

In the first operating state and in the second operating state, the guides may be located at equiangular distances relative to each other.

In a particular embodiment, the guide is configured rotationally symmetrically about the centerline of the frame in the first operating state and in the second operating state. This means that the footprint in the first and second operating states has a similar shape, but the footprint of the guide in the second operating state covers a larger area.

Each guide is translatable relative to the frame by an angular displacement about the central axis of the frame along a path that is offset from a circle about the centerline of the frame. This means that each guide can be displaced along a path, which is radially displaced relative to the centerline.

The path can be linear.

In a specific embodiment, each guide is transferable along a mating guide track mounted to the frame.

The guide rails may be configured such that they form at least a portion of each generally linear side of a regular polygon, for example an equilateral triangle, a square or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide rails are part of each side of the frame, because the sides of the frame can form strong support for the guide rails.

Each guide track may extend only between the corners and the middle of the corresponding side. Applying guide rails to the remaining sides has the same effect of changing the footprint of the guide. It is even possible to apply guide rails at some distance in the middle from the corresponding sides, since the distance between the center line of the frame and the guide around the middle is relatively small.

When viewed from above, the frame forms an equilateral triangle. However, the frame may have alternative shapes, for example, a rectangular, square, or other polygonal shape when viewed from above.

The frame may extend in a principal plane, and its centerline may extend perpendicularly to said principal plane.

The guides may have respective center lines, parallel to the center line of the frame.

The formwork may be provided with at least one actuator for moving at least one guide relative to the frame, such as a hydraulic cylinder, a rack-and-pinion, or the like.

In one embodiment, each guide member includes a casing and a foot, wherein in the operative state the foot rests on the seabed and supports the casing, and wherein the foot and casing are at least parallel to the center line. Move in one direction relative to each other to adjust the level of the frame relative to the seabed when the feet rest on the seabed. Casings are suitable for guiding foundation elements. The feet of each guide and the corresponding sleeve can be moved relative to each other so that if the seabed is uneven, the frame can be leveled relative to the seabed to create a vertical centerline in the operating condition, for example. The foot and cannula can be moved relative to each other by a linear actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder. The feet may include plates to provide appropriate stability when placed on the seabed.

In a particular embodiment, the feet and casing can be tilted relative to each other so that the feet of each guide can accurately match uneven seabed. This embodiment may have at least two actuators movably coupled to each other via the sleeve and foot, for example at least two hydraulic actuators that can be controlled independently of each other.

Each guide and frame can be locked relative to each other by a locking element.

In one embodiment, each guide member is provided with a slider to slide along the corresponding guide track, and the locking element is provided on the slider and the guide track. It is also conceivable that the locking element is located on the guide rail and on the guide piece at a distance from the slide piece.

The locking system may include a movable pin that engages at least one guide and a hole in the frame to easily lock the frame and guide together.

Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the template 1 according to the invention. The formwork 1 is suitable for use in the installation of a plurality of foundation elements (not shown) relative to each other in an underwater ground formation, the formwork 1 remaining fixed on the seabed. The foundation elements may be anchor piles for receiving sleeves, such as tripod sleeves, which serve as the foundation for the wind turbine. The formwork 1 can be reused for the installation of further foundation elements at other locations because, after the anchor piles have been installed, the formwork 1 can be raised above the ends of the installed anchor piles that protrude upward from the seabed and can be moved to Next installation location.

The formwork 1 includes a frame 2 which in this case is a three-dimensional truss, but the formwork 1 can have alternative mechanical structures. When viewed from above, the frame 2 has an equilateral triangle with three generally straight sides 3 . A lifting element 4 is fixed to the upper side of the frame 2 and is used to lift the formwork 1 by means of a crane (not shown). The lifting element 4 is located on the center line CL of the frame 2 . The frame 2 extends in a principal plane, which is generally horizontal in the operating state, and a center line CL extends perpendicularly to the principal plane.

The formwork 1 also includes three guides 5 to guide the foundation elements respectively during their driving into the seabed. Each guide 5 includes a sleeve 6 having a flared upper portion 7 which facilitates the insertion of foundation elements into the sleeve 6 . The foot 8 is mounted to the lower end of the casing 6 and is movable relative to the casing 6 by a hydraulic cylinder 9 . The movable feet 8 at each casing 6 provide the opportunity to level the frame 2 including the casings 6 relative to the seabed when the frame 2 is placed on the seabed. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the sleeves 6 have parallel center lines extending parallel to the center line CL of the frame 2 and are positioned at an angular distance from each other about the center line CL of the frame 2. Each sleeve 6 is movably mounted to one of the corresponding sides 3 of the frame 2 by a pair of guide rails 10 extending parallel to each other along the corresponding sides 3 at different levels.

Figure 2 shows a first operating state, in which the guide members 5 are in respective first positions along a corresponding pair of guide rails 10. Figure 3 shows a second operating state, in which the guide members 5 are in respective second positions along a corresponding pair of guide rails 10. Figures 2 and 3 show that in the second operating state, the guide 5 is located closer to the corner of the frame 2 than in the second operating state. Therefore, the distance between the center line CL of the frame 2 and each center line of each bushing 6 will be smaller in the first operating state than in the second operating state, while in the first and second operating states, the bushings 6 The center lines of 6 are all located at equiangular positions relative to each other around the center line CL of the frame 2 . In addition, in the first and second operating states, the guide 5 is configured rotationally symmetrically about the center line CL of the frame 2 .

The guide 5 is movable along each pair of guide rails 10 by means of an actuator element (not shown), such as a hydraulic cylinder or the like.

Figure 5 shows the mechanical connection between the guide 5 and a guide rail 10. It can be seen that the guide 5 is provided with a slide or claw 11 which engages the guide rail 11 and is slidable along the guide rail 10 . Figure 5 also shows a locking pin 12 for locking the guide 5 and the frame 2 relative to each other. In an alternative embodiment, the guide 5 and the frame 2 may be locked to each other by clamps or the like.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the guide 5 is movable relative to the frame 2 along a path that is linear and parallel to the respective guide rails 10 . More generally, each guide 5 is translatable relative to the frame 2 by an angular displacement about the central axis CL of the frame 2 along a path offset from a circle about the center line CL of the frame 2 . In order to enable the distance between the center line CL of the frame 2 and the guide 5 to be adjusted, the aforementioned path must be offset from a circle around the center line CL of the frame 2 .

The length of each guide rail 10 along the corresponding side 3 is smaller than the corresponding side between adjacent corners of an equilateral triangle. Each guide rail 10 extends from a corner of the triangle and is located away from the middle of the corresponding side 3 , so that its length is less than half the length of the side 3 .

The frame 2 forms an equilateral triangle in the principal planes, but it is conceivable that alternative embodiments form regular polygons in the principal planes. For example, a square frame including four linear sides along each guide track may be provided, which may provide a similar effect of varying the distance between the centerline of the frame and the guide.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above, but may be modified in various ways within the scope of the patent application and the scope of its technical equivalents. For example, it is also conceivable that the guide can be shifted in a radial direction of the centerline.

1: Template 2:Frame 3: Side 4: Lifting element 5: Guide parts 6: Casing 7: Trumpet-shaped upper part 8: Feet 9:Hydraulic cylinder 10:Guide track 11: Slider/Claw 12: Locking pin/locking element CL: center line V: area

The invention will be elucidated below with reference to various schematic drawings, which show embodiments of the invention by way of example. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a template according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view on a smaller scale of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 . Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2, but shows different states of the template. Figure 4 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 on a smaller scale. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, indicated by V in Figure 4.

1: Template

2:Frame

3: Side

4: Lifting element

5: Guide parts

6: Casing

7: Trumpet-shaped upper part

8: Feet

9:Hydraulic cylinder

10:Guide track

CL: center line

Claims (17)

A formwork (1) for use in the installation of a plurality of foundation elements relative to each other in the formation of underwater strata, in particular anchor piles, comprising a frame (2) and a plurality of guides (5), the guides being (5) is used to guide the foundation elements during driving the foundation elements into a seabed, wherein the guides (5) are connected to the frame (2) and formed with each other about a central axis (CL) of the frame (2). an angular distance, and can be shifted relative to the frame (2), so that the distance between each guide (5) and the center line (CL) can be adjusted between a first operating state and a second operating state, where The distance between each guide (5) and the center line (CL) of the frame (2) is greater in the second operating state than in the first operating state. Template (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the first operating state and in the second operating state, the guides (5) are located at equiangular distances relative to each other. The template (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide (5) is configured rotationally symmetrically about the center line (CL) of the frame (2) in the first operating state and in the second operating state. A template (1) as in any of the preceding items, wherein each guide member (5) can be transferred along a path relative to the frame (2) by an angular displacement about the central axis (CL) of the frame (2), as described above The path is offset from a circle around the center line (CL) of the frame (2). Such as the template (1) of request item 4, wherein the aforementioned path is linear. A template (1) as in any of the preceding items, wherein each guide member (5) can be transferred along a matching guide track (10), which is mounted to the frame (2). The template (1) of claims 5 and 6, wherein the guide rails (10) are configured such that they form at least part of each side (3) of a regular polygon. The template (1) of claim 7, wherein the guide track (10) is part of each substantially linear side of the frame (2). Such as the template (1) of claim 8, wherein each guide track (10) only extends between the corners and the middle of the corresponding side (3). A template (1) as in any of the preceding items, wherein the frame (2) forms an equilateral triangle when viewed from above. The formwork (1) of any of the preceding items, wherein the frame (2) extends in a main plane, and its center line (CL) extends perpendicularly to the aforementioned main plane. Such as the template (1) of claim 11, wherein the guide members (5) have respective center lines parallel to the center line (CL) of the frame (2). A formwork (1) as in any of the preceding items, wherein the formwork (1) is provided with at least one actuator for moving at least one guide (5) relative to the frame (2). A template (1) as in any one of the preceding items, wherein each guide member (5) includes a sleeve (6) and a foot (8), wherein in the operating state, the foot (8) rests on the seabed and supporting the casing (6), wherein the foot (8) and the casing (6) are movable relative to each other in at least one direction parallel to the center line (CL) to adjust when the foot (8) rests on the seabed The level of the frame (2) relative to the seabed. The formwork (1) of claim 14, wherein the feet (8) and the sleeve (6) are tiltable relative to each other. A formwork (1) as in any one of the preceding items, wherein each guide (5) and frame (2) are lockable relative to each other by a locking element (12). The template (1) of claims 16 and 6, wherein each guide member (5) is provided with a slider (11) to slide along the guide rail (10), and the locking element (12) is provided on the slider (11) 11) and on the guide track (10).