US3901038A

US3901038A - Method for joining submerged structures

Info

Publication number: US3901038A
Application number: US482514A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kaare Ritter Olsen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-12
Filing date: 1974-06-24
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

The disclosure teaches a novel method for coupling submerged structural elements, and apparatus for carrying out the method. In accordance with the invention, the ends of the elements to be coupled carry a camming arrangement for locating and engaging the elements relative to each other in position. The camming arrangement preferably comprises a cam and horn arrangement, and the horn is projectingly carried by one of the elements while the pan is mounted on the other element. Both cam and horn have thrust-receiving walls, and a jack is located in the horn to impart thrust to both thrust-receiving walls. In accordance with the invention, one element, which is already in place, carries the pan. The other element is lowered and positioned under water by means of a sinking complex. When the second element is close to the fixed element, divers can place the pan in engagement with the horn. Because of the camming action, the pan will fall into register with the horn. The jack is then actuated and acts to bring the elements together.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Olsen [451 Aug. 26, 1975 1 1 METHOD FOR JOINING SUBMERGED STRUCTURES Kaare Ritter Olsen, 80 Selkirk Crescent, Hudson, Quebec, Canada June 24, 1974 [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.1 482,514

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Scr. No. 261,654, June 12, 1972,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 61/43; 61/465; 285/18;

[51] Int. Cl. v. E02d 25/00; E0lg 3/00; Fl6b 3/00 [58] Field of Search 61/43, 72.4, 46.5, 72.3; 403/263, 288, 321, 322; 285/18, 137 R Maunscll.... 61/43 Hccr ct a1. 14/27 Primary ExaminerJacob Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alan Swabey; Robert E.

Mitchell 5 7 ABSTRACT The disclosure teaches a novel method for coupling submerged structural elements, and apparatus for carrying out the method. In accordance with the invention, the ends of the elements to be coupled carry a camming arrangement for locating and engaging the elements relative to each other in position. The camming arrangement preferably comprises a cam and horn arrangement, and the horn is projectingly carried by one of the elements while the pan is mounted on the other element. Both cam and horn have thrustreceiving walls, and a jack is located in the horn to impart thrust to both thrust-receiving walls.

In accordance with the invention, one element, which is already irrplace, carries the pan. The other element is lowered and positioned under water by means of a sinking complex. When the second element is close to the fixed element, divers can place the pan in engagement with the horn. Because of the camming action, the pan will fall into register with the horn. The jack is then actuated and acts to bring the elements together.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB2SIBTS 1 038 sum 2 BF 4 FIG. 3

METHOD FOR JOINING SUBMERGED STRUCTURES CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of application Ser. No. 261,654, filed June 12, 1972 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to placing tunnel elements by the float-and-sink method.

2. Description of the Prior Art In building submerged tunnels by the float-and-sink method, it has been normal practice to use an elementplacing complex made up of barges floating on the surface above the placement site. The elements are lowered by mechanical means. A problem has been to get the inboard end of the element being placed into register with the outward end of the placed element with which it is to be coupled. This was especially difficult in the poor visibility of murky waters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved method and mechanism for sinking and coupling tunnel elements.

The present invention is based on a complete hydraulic system by which an element is lowered and moved accurately into position for final coupling. The present system lends itself to central control from a tower on one of the barges. Forces in the placing lines are readily ascertained by hydraulic pressure readings so that compensation can be made for currents, wind velocity and other factors which affect the placement of the elements.

In accordance with the invention, the tunnel element to be coupled to a tunnel element already placed is suspended from cables extending from its corners upwards to a floating complex which is usually made up of four barges and bridging trusses. The complex is connected by cables extending diagonally from corner locations of the complex to buoys or to dry land and axially extending cables from each end. The cables are connected from the complex to an appropriate hydraulic mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tunnel element to be placed is moved appropriately by moving the sinking complex so that the end of the element to be connected is brought into close proximity with the end of the placed element. Then the end of the element being placed is cammed into substantial register under its own weight through the action of cooperating camming members on the element being placed and the placed element.

These camming members may take the form of horns projecting from the end of the element being placed on the element being placed forces the elements to still more intimate contact.

In another arrangement, the pans project from the ends of the element being placed to mate with comple mentary horns at the end of the placed element. The thrust-taking member is appropriately placed to accommodate this type of arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the invention, it will now be referred to in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a sinking complex according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view looking down on the end of a pair of tunnel elements connected according to the invention, showing particularly the connecting mechanism in which the horn of one element is engaged in the pan of the other element;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the pan of the female connecting member according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom fragmentary plan view showing the construction of the mating part of one of the horns of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-section through two elements, at the ends thereof, as they are about to be abutted together; and

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged cross-section through the area ringed in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The element-sinking complex is made up as follows. There are four barges A, B, C and D connected together with cables 14 and 16. Sinking trusses E and F are carried between the barges A, B and C, D. A control tower 15 is mounted on the barge B. The movement of the complex on the surface is controlled by diagonal lines 18 at one end of the complex, lines 20 at the other end of the complex, and lines 22 extending axially from each end of the complex. These lines are connected at one end to hydraulic mechanism on the trusses E and F at the other end to buoys anchored in the water or connected to the shore. By appropriate hydraulic manipulation, the complex can be moved in any direction.

The sinking complex is shown in the process of placing an outboard tunnel element G about to be connected to an already placed inboard tunnel element H.

The elements G and H are of composite steel and concrete construction well known in the art. Pairs of lifting cables 17 and 19 and 21 and 23 ex tend from

hydraulic lifting mechanisms

25 and 27, 29 and 31 exdirection and can be tilted in any desired inclination. it is usual to mount flags on poles extending upwards from the corners of the element which can be sighted by surveying methods from the shore. in this way,the exact position and inclination of the element can be quite accurately ascertained and this information fed to the operators of the hydraulic mechanism on the complex.

101 represents a cluster of hydraulic service equipment including electrical generators, hydraulic pumps and reservoirs, and other mechanisms. This equipment provides all the hydraulic energy necessary for operating the entire complex. The cluster 101 is connected by hydraulic hoses to the numerous hydraulic control points as will be well understood by one familiar with this type of equipment, these control points being connected to the anchor lines, the lifting lines and lateral control lines and to the coupling and levelling jacks. All the controls are connected to the central control bridge 15. There is a control console in the bridge which gives a continuous reading of the pressures in all lines. The control bridge is at the top of the tower l5, and the operating console is at the bottom. There is intercommunication between the command post and the top of the tower 15 to the operator at the console who manipulates the controls.

The outboard element G is provided at its inboard end with a pair of horns K and L, and the inboard element H is provided with pans M and N at its outboard end, the pans being adapted to receive the horns K and L. Travelling jacks 39 and 41 are provided at the outboard end of element G for supporting this end of the element in a predetermined position above the bed.

The horns K and L are shaped first to engage, then to seat in the pans M and N through the shape of the parts, and when the horns are seated in the pans, a special coupling operation ensues with jacks bringing the elements completely together. The horns meet with the pans in such a way as to force the horns by a camming action to bed down in the pans both in the lateral and longitudinal direction of the element.

The structure of the horns and pans will be understood by the reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 showing the horns and pans in place.

Depending on the size of the elements being handled, there can be a single horn or a number of horns, and the mechanism can also be designed with the horns removable so that they can be reused.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6, a pan, M for example, has a thrust-receiving front beam 36, sloping side walls 37, and a pair of sloping front walls 39 separated by a passage 40 leading to the beam 36. The parts of the pan are of appropriate strength steel. The pan is embedded in the concrete or steel of the elementH.

The horn K in turn has a contact structure which complements that of the pan M. This includes side walls 41 and a sloping forward wall 42 and longitudinally extending beams 43 on which these walls are mounted. A jack 45 is carried on the floor of the horn, and the cradle is adapted to thrust between the end wall 47 of the horn and the beam 36 of the pan as the rod 48 extends through the opening 46 of the horn.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, a pair of tubes T protrude from the end of the element G. Each tube tenninates in a collar 201 on which is mounted a plate 203 comprising a pair of gaskets W and X. The ring 201 can be reinforced concrete or steel, but must be water-tight.

The gasket W is an elongated member of rubber with a main body portion 205 of circular cross-section provided with a central cavity 207 and a protruding foot 209 having a flat outside face 211 which is juxtaposed to the plate 203 and bolted to it by bolts 204, as can be seen in FIG. 8. Gasket X has a similar construction, up to a point, and similar numbers have been given to its parts except that they have been raised by 100. The difference in gasket X is that it has a protruding tongue 311.

In operation, the element G is lowered by the cable mechanism controlled from the control tower 15. The entire complex is moved hydraulically on the surface so that the inboard end of the element G is gradually brought into position near the outboard end of the element H and the horns K and L engaged in the pans M and N ready for final centering and alignment. At this point, the outboard end of the element G is supported by hydraulic jacks (not shown) which are extended into contact with previously placed concrete pads on the bed of the body of water, and appropriate adjustment in elevation of the outboard end of the element G is made.

The inboard end of the element G can be brought quite accurately into proximity to the outboard end of the element H by manipulation of the hydraulic mechanism on the complex from the information given from surveyors on shore. When the inboard end of the element G is indicated by the surveyors to be within 2 or 3 feet of the outboard end of the element H, the exact position is usually checked by a diver and the elements moved closer, for example, within a foot and a half. At this point, contact can be made between the horns K and L and the pans M and N. From then on, the bringing into register of the ends of the respective elements is automatic by the camming action of the horns and pans and by the action of the jacks 45.

The camming action operates as follows. When any surface of the horn makes contact with

walls

37 or 39 *of the pan, that surface will be forced downward and inward into the pan because of the downward and inward shape of the walls of the pan. This action will continue until the walls 41 of the horn abut with the walls 37 of the pan and the wall 42 of the horn abuts with the wall 39 of the pan. The weight of the element G is transferred, through its horns K and L, to the element H, through its pans M and N. As the horns K and L cam into place in the pans M and N, the jacks 45 pull the ends of the elements G and H together.

The gaskets W and X work as follows: At the moment the element G is brought into contact with the plate 303 on the element H, the jacking pressure compresses the tongue 31 1 so that an initial seal is achieved. There is a compartment between the bulkheads which is shut off from outside pressure. When valve 316 is opened in the bulkhead 315, it brings into play the full hydraulic thrust to act on the element G to force it into closer proximity with the element H and to compress the gaskets to about one-fifth of their original size. For example, a gasket X having a maximum dimension of 5% inches will be compressed under the tremendous hy draulic pressure to about 1 inch.

Once the elements G and H have been joined, and the temporary bulkheads removed, a plate 317 is welded across between the

plates

203 and 303 working from the inside in the dry. Then reinforced concrete is placed from the inside to fill the space over the joint so that from the inside the joint is not evident at all.

There is generally a certain amount of cracking and leakage as the tunnel is bound to expand and crack to some extent. However, pumping means, provided to evacuate the tunnel of water due to seepage into the tunnel, can also eliminate the water due to leakage.

The description has been keyed to elements employing a pair of coupling horns and a complementary pair of pans. Depending on the size of the elements, a single horn could, in some instances, be employed in conjunction with a complementary pan, or more than two horns and complementary pans could be employed. As has been mentioned above, it is also within the scope of the invention to have the pans on the inboard side of the element being placed to mate with horns on the outboard side of the placed element.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described above, this was for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifica tions which will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of sinking an element under water and connecting the element to another element which is already placed under water, said elements comprising;

at least one locating and engaging means projecting from one end of one of said elements;

at least one mating locating and engaging means mounted on one end of the other of said elements; the elements being adapted to be coupled at the one end thereof;

one of said locating and engaging means comprises a pair of inwardly sloping side walls and an inwardly sloping inward wall;

the other one of said locating and engaging means comprising a trough arrangement having a pair of inwardly sloping side walls and an inwardly sloping outward wall;

said walls of said one locating and engaging means forming a horn means actable within said trough arrangement to cam the one locating and engaging means into register in said trough means in both lateral and axial directions;

said mechanism further comprising a horn supporting structure for projectingly supporting said horn means at one end of said second element;

said horn means extending from said supporting structure in the direction of said trough arrangement;

and a cavity in the top surface of the other element for mounting said trough arrangement at one end of said first element;

lowering the element to be placed from a floatingsinking complex;

moving the complex with the elements suspended therefrom so that the element to be placed is brought into proximity with the already placed elements;

disposing the elements relative to one another such that the horn of the one element extends into the trough of the other element; releasing the element to be coupled from support from the complex whereby the camming means is automatically brought into register by the action of gravity upon the element to be coupled;

subsequently applying pressure between the camming means of the respective elements to draw their ends together; and

making an opening in the bulkhead of the already placed elements to allow hydraulic pressure to squeeze the elements together.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the horn is projectingly supported at the end of the element to be placed; and the pan is mounted on the coupling end of the already placed element.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the outward wall of said horn means comprises a thrustreceiving surface;

and where the inward wall of said trough arrangement comprises a thrust-receiving surface;

and further comprising thrust-imparting means carried by the supporting structure of said wedge means and adapted to impart thrust on both said receiving surfaces simultaneously;

wherein the step of applying pressure between the camming means is performed by said thrustimparting means.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said thrust-imparting means comprises a jack.

Claims

1. A method of sinking an element under water and connecting the element to another element which is already placed under water, said elements comprising; at least one locating and engaging means projecting from one end of one of said elements; at least one mating locating and engaging means mounted on one end of the other of said elements; the elements being adapted to be coupled at the one end thereof; one of said locating and engaging means comprises a pair of inwardly sloping side walls and an inwardly sloping inward wall; the other one of said locating and engaging means comprising a trough arrangement having a pair of inwardly sloping side walls and an inwardly sloping outward wall; said walls of said one locating and engaging means forming a horn means actable within said trough arrangement to cam the one locating and engaging means into register in said trough means in both lateral and axial directions; said mechanism further comprising a horn supporting structure for projectingly supporting said horn means at one end of said second element; said horn means extending from said supporting structure in the direction of said trough arrangement; and a cavity in the top surface of the other element for mounting said trough arrangement at one end of said first element; lowering the element to be placed from a floating-sinking complex; moving the complex with the elements suspended therefrom so that the element to be placed is brought into proximity with the already placed elements; disposing the elements relative to one another such that the horn of the one element extends into the trough of the other element; releasing the element to be coupled from support from the complex whereby the camming means is automatically brought into register by the action of gravity upon the element to be coupled; subsequently applying pressure between the camming means of the respective elements to draw their ends together; and making an opening in the bulkhead of the already placed elements to allow hydraulic pressure to squeeze the elements together.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the outward wall of said horn means comprises a thrust-receiving surface; and where the inward wall of said trough arrangement comprises a thrust-receiving surface; and further comprising thrust-imparting means carried by the supporting structure of said wedge means and adapted to impart thrust on both said receiving surfaces simultaneously; wherein the step of applying pressure between the camming means is performed by said thrust-imparting means.