US3618840A - Endless track devices for laying cables and the like - Google Patents

Endless track devices for laying cables and the like Download PDF

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Publication number
US3618840A
US3618840A US889139A US3618840DA US3618840A US 3618840 A US3618840 A US 3618840A US 889139 A US889139 A US 889139A US 3618840D A US3618840D A US 3618840DA US 3618840 A US3618840 A US 3618840A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
links
link
cable
rail
chambers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US889139A
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English (en)
Inventor
Bernard Francois Mauri Courret
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Direction General de lArmement DGA
Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise
Original Assignee
Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise filed Critical Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3618840A publication Critical patent/US3618840A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/03—Pipe-laying vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/04—Cable-laying vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
    • B66D3/00—Portable or mobile lifting or hauling appliances
    • B66D3/003—Portable or mobile lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B15/00—Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
    • F15B15/02—Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H31/00—Other gearings with freewheeling members or other intermittently driving members
    • F16H31/007—Step-by-step mechanisms for linear motion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H43/00—Other fluid gearing, e.g. with oscillating input or output
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/20—Accessories therefor, e.g. floats or weights
    • F16L1/23—Pipe tensioning apparatus

Definitions

  • PATENTEDNUVI 9mm j 3 1 40 sum 1 or 4 PATENTEUNUY 9
  • the invention relates to endless track a cable or the like.
  • Such endless track devices Navy, for hauling or restraining as pipes, towing lines, etc.
  • These devices comprise two endless tracks composed of continuous chains arranged on both sides of the site to be occupied by the object to be laid.
  • An object of this invention is to allowing uniform distribution of stresses over the whole length tact with the object to be laid.
  • rails and track links are so arranged as to form chambers in which pressure fluid is supplied to force the links into contact with the object to be laid or hauled and to advance the links and the object therewith.
  • the links are subjected, during their travel between the rails, to a force which is resolved into one component normal to the object to be laid or hauled, assuring proper grip thereon, and a second component in the direction of movement of the track.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an endless track device according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of the device on a showing the drive thereo
  • FIG. 3A is a section taken on line A-A of FIG. 2,
  • FIG. 3B is a section taken on line BB otFlG. 2,
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the body of a track link
  • FIG. 5 is a similar view of the body frame
  • the tracks I are formed by links 3 joined to each other by pins 4 to form endless chains riding on free, idler sprockets 5 mounted on axles 6 parallel to pins 4.
  • the links contact the towline, and the tracks I are guided by longitudinal blocks formed by spaced parallel rails 7 whose spacing can be adjusted by a cross coupling 8 which for example may be hydraulic cylinders or transverse screws.
  • each link engages the towline 2 by means of a flange 9 shaped to devices for advancing are used, particularly in the cables or similar objects such minimize these stresses by the holding and tractive of the sides of the tract in conthe support larger scale with one another laterally conform to the towline, and made of rubber or similar comparatively hard elastomer of a SHORE hardness greater than 60
  • Towline 2 is of the faired type, with a shell 10 surrounding a load rope II and containing a hole 12 for fittings 13 as shown in FIG. 38.
  • flange 9 is substantially J-shaped to enclasp the part of the shell adjacent the load rope.
  • Flange 9 rests on a pad 14 secured in a shell 15.
  • the pad 14 is made of rubber or a similar soft and resilient substance.
  • Pad 14 performs a threefold function, namely:
  • the pad undergoes warping to resist shear force in the lengthwise direction, and compensate for variation in length of the towline occurring between its entry and exit from the endless tracks by the fluctuation in tension to which the towline is subjected at these two points.
  • Pad 14 is embedded at its base in the shell 15 which, as shown in FIG. 4, has a U-shaped channel 16 for housing the pad.
  • the shell 15 is composed of a metal frame I7 onto which a thermosetting synthetic plastic is molded.
  • the lateral faces of the shell are engaged with slight friction in the guide rail 7 which has a lengthwise U-shaped channel for this purpose.
  • the rails include flanges towline 2 as shown in FIG. 38.
  • shell 15 For the joining of the links, shell 15 carries lugs 19 and 20 (FIG. 4) in which suitable extensions of frame 17 are moulded (FIG. 5). Successive chain links are joined by pins 4.
  • a transverse sealing arrangement consisting of a sealing member 23 seated in groove 24 of the link body is provided.
  • Groove 24 extends behind the sealing member 23 to chamber 22 through channels 25 machined in the link, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • each link there are provided grooves 26 to form decompression chambers.
  • each of the rails 7 is provided with spaced chests 27 for the inflow and outflow of a pressure fluid.
  • the spacing between two consecutive chests 27 is established such that a whole number of links equal in number to the chests extends in the space between the extreme chests 27a, 27b, so that in this way there is a smooth and steady shift from one link to the next, between each link and the chest opposite it, which provides a practically steady stress on the endless tracks 1.
  • Each chest 27 comprises two identical chambers 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) separated by a bafile 29 equal in thickness to rib 21 against which the bafile is engaged.
  • Chambers 28 are rectangular in section perpendicular to the rail 7 and they link up on the walls of the rail.
  • the chambers 28 contain rollers 30, whose thickness is equal to the width oi chambers 22, while their diameter is substantially twice the rnaximum depth of the chambers 22.
  • each chamber 28 In the bottom of each chamber 28 is an inlet channel 31 for pressure fluid.
  • a corresponding communicating channel 32 to 18 to provide protection for chamber 22 for this fluid is machined in the front wall of chest 27 at chambers 2%.
  • outflow channels 33 are formed on both sides of bafile 29.
  • the pressure fluid applies the link against the towline, and on the other hand it exerts a force on that link urging it to move in the direction shown by arrow f (FIG. 2).
  • the fluid located in chambers 22 at the back of the rollers 30 flows out through channels 33.
  • End chests 27a and 27b include only an outflow or an inflow channel as the case may be.
  • the movement of the endless track is facilitated on one side by the separation of rib 21 which no longer rubs on the bottom of the rail, and on the other by the fact that the rollers 30 roll on the back of the links and therefore do not rub thereagainst with friction.
  • the tension of the return side of the track can be zero or set to some fixed value to facilitate operation.
  • Chests 27 are supplied under balanced pressure and variable discharges to adjust the running speed of the towline in its travel.
  • the number of chests can be adjusted as required and adapted to the requirements of diflerent particular cases.
  • Apparatus for advancing a cable comprising at least one moveable endless track device for engaging a cable to advance the same lengthwise thereof, said track device comprising a plurality of links and a rail supporting said links and defining chambers therewith, and means for supplying a pressure fluid to said chambers to apply the links against the cable, said chambers being so formed that the pressure of the fluid therein produces a longitudinal force on the links to advance the links and the cable therewith.
  • transversely displaceable member is a roller having a diameter greater than the maximum depth of the hollow
  • said means for supplying pressure fluid comprising a chest with spaced walls and provided with said inlet and outlet, said roller being guidably movable between said walls.
  • each link has two of said hollows and a central rib between said hollows, said rib frictionally engaging said rail upon cessation of supply of pressure fluid, each said hollow having one said transversely displaceable member therein.
  • each link comprises a rigid body supported by said rail, a flange conforming to the shape of the cable for engaging the same, and a resilient pad supporting the flange on the body.
  • each said link has a forward end and a rearward end relative to the direction of travel of the track, and means at the forward end of each link forming a watertight seal with said rail for the associated chamber.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Arrangement Between Relatively Moving Parts (AREA)
  • Forwarding And Storing Of Filamentary Material (AREA)
  • Actuator (AREA)
US889139A 1968-12-31 1969-12-30 Endless track devices for laying cables and the like Expired - Lifetime US3618840A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR182800 1968-12-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3618840A true US3618840A (en) 1971-11-09

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ID=8659769

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US889139A Expired - Lifetime US3618840A (en) 1968-12-31 1969-12-30 Endless track devices for laying cables and the like

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3618840A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1963870A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1602079A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1234888A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6915272A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE28795E (en) * 1971-11-17 1976-05-04 Western Electric Company, Inc. Apparatus and method for continuous extrusion
US3985011A (en) * 1975-09-12 1976-10-12 Western Electric Company, Inc. Continuous extrusion
US4585061A (en) * 1983-10-18 1986-04-29 Hydra-Rig Incorporated Apparatus for inserting and withdrawing coiled tubing with respect to a well
US5309990A (en) * 1991-07-26 1994-05-10 Hydra-Rig, Incorporated Coiled tubing injector
US5346112A (en) * 1990-02-13 1994-09-13 Kabelmetal Electro Gmbh Capstan draw apparatus for periodically gripping and drawing an elongated member
US5839636A (en) * 1996-02-22 1998-11-24 Lockheed Martin Corporation Suction-operated linear traction drive for underwater handling of towed arrays
FR2769907A1 (fr) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-23 Reel Sa Dispositif de maintien sous tension d'un cable
US6173769B1 (en) 1998-04-30 2001-01-16 Hydra Rig, Inc. Universal carrier for grippers in a coiled tubing injector
USRE43410E1 (en) 1997-05-02 2012-05-29 Varco I/P, Inc. Universal carrier for grippers in a coiled tubing injector
US8544536B2 (en) 2010-09-24 2013-10-01 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Coiled tubing injector with limited slip chains
US8701754B2 (en) 2012-06-18 2014-04-22 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Coiled tubing injector with strain relief
US9399895B2 (en) 2011-09-02 2016-07-26 National Oilwell Varco L.P. Coiled tubing injector head with chain guides
WO2017109581A1 (en) * 2015-12-22 2017-06-29 Technip France Pipe tensioner pad

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2146174B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1971-07-22 1976-04-16 Inst Francais Du Petrole

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE28795E (en) * 1971-11-17 1976-05-04 Western Electric Company, Inc. Apparatus and method for continuous extrusion
US3985011A (en) * 1975-09-12 1976-10-12 Western Electric Company, Inc. Continuous extrusion
US4585061A (en) * 1983-10-18 1986-04-29 Hydra-Rig Incorporated Apparatus for inserting and withdrawing coiled tubing with respect to a well
US5346112A (en) * 1990-02-13 1994-09-13 Kabelmetal Electro Gmbh Capstan draw apparatus for periodically gripping and drawing an elongated member
US5309990A (en) * 1991-07-26 1994-05-10 Hydra-Rig, Incorporated Coiled tubing injector
US5839636A (en) * 1996-02-22 1998-11-24 Lockheed Martin Corporation Suction-operated linear traction drive for underwater handling of towed arrays
USRE46119E1 (en) 1997-05-02 2016-08-23 Varco I/P, Inc. Universal carrier for grippers in a coiled tubing injector
USRE43410E1 (en) 1997-05-02 2012-05-29 Varco I/P, Inc. Universal carrier for grippers in a coiled tubing injector
FR2769907A1 (fr) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-23 Reel Sa Dispositif de maintien sous tension d'un cable
EP0919513A1 (fr) * 1997-10-21 1999-06-02 Reel S.A. Dispositif de maintien sous tension d'un cable
US6173769B1 (en) 1998-04-30 2001-01-16 Hydra Rig, Inc. Universal carrier for grippers in a coiled tubing injector
US9151122B2 (en) 2010-09-24 2015-10-06 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Coiled tubing injector with limited slip chains
US8544536B2 (en) 2010-09-24 2013-10-01 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Coiled tubing injector with limited slip chains
US9458682B2 (en) 2010-09-24 2016-10-04 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Coiled tubing injector with limited slip chains
US9399895B2 (en) 2011-09-02 2016-07-26 National Oilwell Varco L.P. Coiled tubing injector head with chain guides
US8701754B2 (en) 2012-06-18 2014-04-22 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Coiled tubing injector with strain relief
WO2017109581A1 (en) * 2015-12-22 2017-06-29 Technip France Pipe tensioner pad
GB2545680B (en) * 2015-12-22 2018-04-11 Technip France Pipe tensioner pad

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1963870A1 (de) 1970-11-19
NL6915272A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-07-02
GB1234888A (en) 1971-06-09
FR1602079A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-10-05

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