WO2001081168A1

WO2001081168A1 - A remotely operated underwater vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2001081168A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000470
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Standon Colley
Original assignee: Total Marine Technology Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-26
Filing date: 2001-04-26
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Also published as: AUPQ707500A0

Abstract

A remotely operated underwater vehicle (10) having a body portion composed of a plurality of modules (12, 14, 16, 18). Each module is connectable to at least one other module, and has a predetermined function.

Description

TITLE

"A REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER VEHICLE"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a remotely operated underwater vehicle of the type used for site preparation, maintenance and repair of sea bed oil drilling rigs and such like.

Remotely operated vehicles (RONs) are highly complex devices. Commonly they include mechanisms for controlling the buoyancy of the vehicle and thereby the height of the vehicle relative to the sea bed, thrusters for manoeuvering the vehicle in use, manipulator and/or grabber arms arranged to perform certain tasks, motors and hydraulic systems. Some RONS also include devices which assist in anchoring the RON relative to the sea bed, and mechanisms to provide the RON with greater rotational stability. RONS can be extremely difficult to repair particularly when being deployed from an oil drilling rig. In order for many maintenance functions to be performed in an RON it must be shipped to a port. RONS are generally too heavy for helicopter transportation, which is often the preferred means of transportation for equipment to oil drilling rigs. The present invention seeks, among other things, to provide a remotely operated vehicle which improves on the remote operated vehicles known hitherto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a remotely operated underwater vehicle characterised by having a plurality of modules, each module being connectable to at least one other module and each module including means for carrying out a particular function, the arrangement being such that by selecting and connecting together appropriate modules a remotely operated submersible vehicle equipped to perform predetermined functions is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagramatic perspective view of an RON in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagramatic exploded perspective view of modules of an RON in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a diagramatic perspective view of a thruster module of the RON shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a diagramatic perspective view of a tool module of the RON shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a diagramatic perspective view of a track module of the ROV shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an ROV 10 in accordance with the present invention. The ROV 10 includes' four modules, a buoyancy module 12 arranged to control the height of the ROV in use relative to the sea bed, a thruster module 14 for manoeuvering the ROV in use, a power module 16 adapted to provide power to the ROV 10 in use, and a tool module 18 provided with appropriate tools for carrying out a given task in use. Referring to Figure 2, there is shown an exploded view of the ROV 10 including the buoyancy module 12, the thruster module 14, the power module 16, and the tool module 18. Also shown is a further optional module, in this example a track module 20 arranged to effect movement of the ROV 10 relative to the sea bed in use. Each module includes hydraulic connecting means for facilitating hydraulic connection between adjacent modules, and mechanical connecting means for facilitating mechanical connection between adjacent modules.

In this embodiment, the mechanical connecting means are in the form of standard bolted connectants. It will be appreciated, however, that any suitable mechanical connecting means are envisaged, the important aspect being that a strong releasable connection is made between adjacent modules. For instance, adjacent modules may be provided with complementary projections and apertures.

Similarly, it will be appreciated that the hydraulic connecting means may be of any suitable form to allow the supply of hydraulic fluid from one module to another. In the present embodiment the hydraulic connecting means is in the form of simple hose connections.

In Figure 3, the thruster module 14 is shown in more detail. The thruster module 24 includes rear 24 and side 26 propulsion means such as propellers. In Figure 4, the tool module 18 is shown in more detail. The tool module 18 includes a grabber arm 30 and manipulators 32 remotely controllable by a user.

In Figure 5, the track module 20 is shown in more detail. The track module 20 includes tracks 34 remotely controllable by a user for moving the ROV relative to the sea bed in use. It will be appreciated that other modules including features for other specific purposes are envisaged, the important aspect being that the modules are connectable with other modules of the ROV so as to thereby provide an ROV wth the desired combination of features.

It will also be appreciated that the buoyancy module 12, the thruster module 14 and the power module 16 would be present in each ROV constructed in accordance with the present invention and that other modules may be added to and/or removed from the ROV as and when necessary according to the circumstances.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A remotely operated underwater vehicle characterised by having a plurality of modules, each module being connectable to at least one other module and each module including means for carrying out a particular function, the arrangement being such that by selecting and connecting together appropriate modules a remotely operated submersible vehicle equipped to perform predetermined functions is obtained.

2. A remotely operated vehicle according to Claim 1, characterised in that hydraulic connection means is provided to allow the supply of hydraulic fluid from one module to another.

3. A remotely operated vehicle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the vehicle includes a buoyancy module having a positive buoyancy.

4. A remotely operated vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vehicle includes a thrust module including propulsion means in at least one direction.

5. A remotely operated vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vehicle includes a power module including at least one motor.

6. A remotely operated vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vehicle includes a tool module including remotely operated tools which can perform particular tasks.

7. A remotely operated vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vehicle includes a track module including means for effecting movement of the vehicle along the sea bed.