WO2003085791A1

WO2003085791A1 - Method and device for laying restiform wound material

Info

Publication number: WO2003085791A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/003658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Giebel; Jörg ENGICHT; Martin Kaufmann
Original assignee: Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2002-04-11
Filing date: 2003-04-09
Publication date: 2003-10-16
Also published as: AU2003219130A1; DE10216059A1

Abstract

A device and a method for laying marine cables (11) are disclosed, comprising storage means (13) for storing the marine cable (11), a guide for guiding the marine cable (11) on exiting the container (13) and a suspension device (12) for suspension from an airship (10) in particular, whereby said device is used for said method.

Description

Method and device for laying strand-like winding material

description

The invention relates to a method for laying strand-shaped winding material, in particular cables, and preferably sea cables. The invention further relates to a device for laying such strand-like winding material according to the preamble of claim 3. It also relates to a method for laying strand-like winding material in which such a device is used. Finally, the invention relates to the use of such a device.

Various installation methods are known for laying strand-shaped winding material on land and at sea, e.g. Land cable laying methods, pipe laying methods, sea table methods, flowline installation in the offshore oil business, overhead line cable installations, OPGW installations and much more.

A disadvantage of the known installation methods, however, is that certain regions, in order to lay or install stranded winding material such as, in particular, cables or the like there, cannot be reached or can only be reached with difficulty and then often only at considerable cost.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying methods and devices which, even under difficult conditions, permit strand-shaped winding material to be laid, with as little effort as possible.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. For this purpose, it is provided to lay the strand-like winding material, in particular cable, from the air. This means that it can also be laid along routes that are difficult to access. Difficult topographical conditions lose their influence on the laying from the air. The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for laying submarine cables because laying from the air makes navigating the sea superfluous and disadvantages caused by rough seas can be eliminated. With regard to the device, this object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 3. For this purpose, a suspension device for hanging on an aircraft is provided in a device for laying strand-shaped winding material which has means for storing the winding material - storage means - and a guide for guiding the winding material when it is discharged or when it is withdrawn from the storage means. The strand-like material to be wound is, in particular, cables, but also hoses, ropes, cords, light guides, etc. The term cable is used to summarize cables of any type, in particular sea cables, and also those sea cables that contain, for example, light guides or the like. The storage medium is, for example, a container, in particular in the form of a pot or tub, preferably with a circular base, a drum or a cop. The guide is, for example, an opening or recess in the storage means, an inlet or outlet circular ring or an inlet elbow. The discharge or withdrawal of the winding material from the storage means is achieved by the weight of winding material that has already run out or has been drawn off, and the movement of the aircraft along an installation line.

With regard to the method in which such a device is used, the object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 14. For this purpose, a method for laying stranded winding material of the above-mentioned type with a device of the above-mentioned type or of the type described below is provided that the device is attached to an aircraft, preferably an airship.

The invention is based on the knowledge that, with aircraft, in particular airships, aircraft are now available which have the necessary properties, namely suitable load-carrying capacity, range, positioning accuracy and weather independence, relatively low laying speed, etc., for laying strand-like Have winding goods from the air.

The advantage of the invention consists essentially in a reduction in the cost of laying stranded winding material by simplifying the installation method, in particular when laying submarine cables in the sea. The invention also offers advantages in remote installation locations, such as mountains, deserts, mangroves, Wetlands, or the like, as well as independence from road transport, and especially independence from swell.

Further subclaims are directed to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

A braking and tensile force measuring system is preferably provided in the direction of the course of the winding material running out or being pulled off following the guide. This is used to check and control the speed at which the winding material is discharged or withdrawn from the storage means.

An emergency trimming device is advantageously provided before or after the braking and tensile force measuring system, in particular after the braking and tensile force measuring system, in the direction of the winding material which runs out or is pulled off. Furthermore, the emergency cutting device is advantageously provided for manually or automatically triggered cutting of the winding material in emergency situations. Then the aircraft can quickly shed the load of the winding material that has already run out or has been pulled off and can be unhindered, for example in the event of sudden gusts, e.g. climb up or otherwise take a safe position.

If the emergency cutting device has means for attaching a marking such as a buoy, a transmitter or a floatable leader line in particular to the cut or cut end of the winding material, the continuation of the laying of the winding material is facilitated because the marking is easily located and the end of the winding material is easily picked up can. The marking is done e.g. by pressing.

An outlet funnel is preferably provided in the direction of the course of the winding material running out or being pulled off after the braking and tensile force measuring system or after the emergency cutting device. This ensures compliance with a minimum bending radius and the smooth winding of the material to be wound. It also makes it easier to align the aircraft to the prevailing wind direction and enables the aircraft to rotate freely over the installation road. According to an advantageous embodiment, the braking and tensile force measuring system is designed in the form of a disc trigger or a linear machine with mutually pressing caterpillar belts or pairs of rollers. A comparatively large section is formed between the crawler belts or pairs of rolls, in which the winding material is held securely.

A cooler or a resistor, or for its consumption, a feedback, in particular in an air conditioning system, a heater, a lighting system or a battery charging device of the aircraft, is preferably provided for deriving a braking energy generated in the braking and traction force measuring system. The derivation of the braking energy ensures the continuous operability of the braking and traction measurement system. The feedback of the braking energy in the aircraft's consumers makes optimal use of the energy.

Individual embodiments of a device for laying strand-shaped winding material, also referred to briefly as an installation device, differ essentially in relation to the storage means used in each case for receiving the winding material.

An installation device with an in particular trough-shaped or pot-shaped winding material container with a preferably circular base area as storage means is characterized in that the winding material container - or container for short - is designed to be stationary and with a core around which the winding material is stowed, with an inlet circular ring as a guide is placed on the core and the braking and tensile force measuring system, possibly an emergency cutting device and possibly a discharge funnel are arranged in the direction of the course of the winding material that is running out or drawn off, following the inlet circular ring, essentially inside the core.

An installation device with a likewise trough-shaped or pot-shaped winding material container with a preferably circular base as storage means is characterized in that the container is designed to be rotatable and with a core, in particular forming an axis of rotation, around which the winding material is stowed, with an inlet arch as a guide engages over an outer wall of the container and braking and tensile force measuring system, possibly emergency cutting device and possibly Outlet funnels are arranged in the direction of the course of the winding material that is running out or drawn off following the inlet bend outside the container.

An installation device with a drum is characterized in that the storage means is designed to be rotatable as a drum and with a core forming an axis of rotation around which the material to be wound is wound, with winding material that runs out or is drawn off perpendicularly to the axis of rotation in the direction of the course at a distance from the drum an inlet bend and subsequently brake and tensile force measuring system, possibly emergency cutting device and possibly outlet funnel are arranged as guides.

In a first embodiment of an externally wound cop, an installation device with a cop as storage means is distinguished by the fact that the cop is fixed and is designed with a core around which the winding material is jammed or wound, with an outlet circular ring as a guide concentrically below the cop and at least substantially concentrically to this, an inlet funnel and braking and tensile force measuring system, possibly emergency cutting device and optionally outlet funnel are arranged in the direction of the course of the winding material running out or pulled off following the outlet circular ring.

An alternative installation device with a cop as storage means is characterized in a second embodiment of an internally wound cop in that the cop is fixed and without a core, the winding material being stowed in the cop and arranged as a guide underneath the cop concentrically therewith Inlet funnel is provided and the braking and tensile force measuring system, possibly emergency capping device and possibly outlet funnel are arranged in the direction of the course of the winding material that is running out or drawn off following the inlet funnel and essentially concentrically to the latter. The advantage of an installation device with an internally wound bobbin is the almost unlimited discharge or take-off speed. This enables relatively high laying speeds with the aircraft.

All installation devices are suitable for handling the respective winding material in accordance with certain winding material parameters. Such winding parameters are, for example: tensile strength, bending radius, mass, diameter, density and bending stiffness To lay the winding material, the aircraft, and in particular the airship, moves along the respective installation road. Due to the movement of the aircraft in connection with friction, in particular the retention force, of the winding material that has already been laid and the weight of the winding material, the winding material runs out of the storage means of the installation device or is withdrawn therefrom. The installation route can be optimized with regard to parameters such as route length or the like, without having to take account of accessibility, for example with surface-based vehicles, especially if the submarine cables are laid on ships, or at least for the most part can be dispensed with.

In order to ensure a trouble-free discharge or withdrawal of the winding material, its discharge or withdrawal speed is determined and in particular regulated in relation to a speed, such as a surface speed or surface water speed. The control influences the behavior of the braking and traction measurement system.

It is advantageous in connection with the cutting of the winding material by the emergency cutting device, i.e. e.g. Immediately before or after the cut, mark the cut end. In this way, in order to resume laying, the marking can be located and the cut end of the winding material can be resumed more easily and connected in a suitable manner to winding material which has not yet been laid in the storage means. Then the laying process continues at the point of interruption and without any winding material that has already been laid being lost.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

Show in it

1 shows an aircraft with a device for laying strand-like winding material (installation device), 2 shows a first embodiment of such an installation device,

Fig. 3 is a representation of the embodiment of the installation device of FIG. 2 in partial section

4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an installation device,

5 shows a detailed illustration of the exemplary embodiment of the installation device according to FIG. 4,

6 shows a third embodiment of an installation device,

Fig. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of an installation device, and

Fig. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention.

1 shows, as an example of an aircraft, an airship 10 which is particularly suitable according to the invention with a device for laying stranded winding material, which is a submarine cable 11 of any type. The device is suspended under the airship 10. The airship 10 moves to lay the submarine cable 11 along an installation road, not shown. The submarine cable 11 runs out of the device or is pulled out of it.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed representation of an embodiment of the device mentioned. This is suspended by means of a suspension device 12 under the airship 10, for example by means of a cable system. The suspension device 12 is preferably compatible with ISO container dimensions, so that aircraft which are suitable and intended for the transport of such standardized containers can accommodate the device for laying stranded submarine cables 11 without further adaptation. The device comprises means for storing the submarine cable 11 - hereinafter referred to as storage means 13 for short. The storage means 13 has a container in the form of a tub or a pot in relation to the airship 10, in which the submarine cable 11 is stowed in screws of a plurality of layers lying one above the other. The Storage means 13 is connected to the suspension device 12 by means of a linkage 15 which engages on an outer wall 14 of the storage means 13.

A single strand of the submarine cable 11 runs through a core 16 of the storage means 13. In order to maintain the bending characteristic and to ensure a smooth outlet of the submarine cable 11, an inlet circular ring 17 is placed on the core 16 as a guide.

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of the exemplary embodiment of the device according to FIG. 2 in partial section. The interior of the core 16 is visible due to the partial section through which a quarter of the storage means 13 and the inlet circular ring 17 are cut out. In the interior of the core 16, a braking and tensile force measuring system 18, an emergency cutting device 19 and an outlet funnel 20 are arranged one below the other - and thus in the direction of the run-off or withdrawn submarine cable 11. The braking and tensile force measuring system 18 is designed with mutually pressing caterpillar belts 21 and prevents the submarine cable 11 from uncontrolled leakage.

The braking energy generated in the braking and tensile force measuring system 18 can be destroyed in a manner known per se via coolers or resistors, not shown, or by means of a feedback, also not shown, but known per se, e.g. using the braking and traction measurement system 18 as an electrical generator, as useful energy, e.g. for an air conditioner, heater, lighting, or battery charging device, etc., of the aircraft (all not shown).

The submarine cable 11 is, on the one hand, in the form of a single strand which runs out through an opening of the inlet circular ring 17 and the core 16 of the storage means 13 with braking and tensile force measuring system 18, emergency cutting device 19 and outlet funnel 20, and on the other hand as a compact mass, insofar as it is in the storage means 13 on its bottom and is jammed around its central core 16. The dimension of the core 16 is matched to the bending behavior of the submarine cable 11. The dimension of the storage means 13 is matched to the submarine cable 11 and the load capacity of the aircraft in order to be able to transport and install lengths of the submarine cable 11 that are as long as possible. 4 shows a representation of a further exemplary embodiment of the device for laying strand-shaped submarine cables 11. This is in turn suspended by means of a suspension device 12, which is preferably compatible with ISO container dimensions, under the airship 10. The device comprises, as storage means 13, a container rotatably mounted with respect to the airship 10, in which the submarine cable 11 is stowed in layers ring by ring.

A single strand of the submarine cable 11 runs through a take-off device arranged outside the storage means 13 with an inlet bend 22 and braking and tensile force measuring system 18, emergency cutting device 19 and outlet funnel 20.

5 shows a detailed illustration of the exemplary embodiment of the device according to FIG. 4. The storage means 13 is circular and has a central core 16 which is dimensionally matched to the bending radius of the submarine cable 11. The storage means 13 is rotatably supported by the core 16 under the suspension device 12. The individual components of the draw-off device are arranged on a vertical shaft 23, independently of the storage means 13, which in turn is connected to the suspension device 12.

The submarine cable 11 is guided over the inlet bend 22 by the braking and tensile force measuring system 18, emergency cutting device 19 and outlet funnel 20. The braking energy generated in the braking and tensile force measuring system 18 can - as already described above - either be destroyed or consumed. The speed at which the submarine cable 11 is pulled off is equal to the laying speed of the submarine cable 11 above the ground, as is known, for example, from underwater cable installations (so-called slack calculation). The calculation of a rotational speed of the storage means 13 is based on the speed of the aircraft over the ground, the position of the trigger device in relation to a center of the storage means 13 (radius) and the position of the submarine cable 11 in the storage means 13. The position of the submarine cable 11 in the storage means 13 cannot be determined by Optical (e.g. light barrier, video evaluation), acoustic (e.g. ultrasonic sensor) or mechanical-electrical sensing devices (e.g. proximity switches) are shown. To further guide the submarine cable 11, a discharge device, not shown, such as a slide or a roller bend, can be provided. The submarine cable 11 then leaves the take-off device against the general direction of travel of the aircraft above ground by means of a correspondingly downwardly shaped outlet device.

The system is essentially limited by the inertia of the storage means 13, since the reaction forces from acceleration and deceleration of the mass of the storage means 13 influence the aircraft, namely the airship 10.

FIG. 6 shows a representation of a further exemplary embodiment of the device for laying strand-shaped submarine cables 11. This is in turn suspended from the airship 10 by means of a suspension device 12 which is preferably compatible with ISO container dimensions. As storage means 13, the device comprises a rotatably mounted drum. The drum has a core which is not visible due to the surrounding submarine cable 11 and which is matched to the minimum bending radius of the submarine cable, and flanges 24 which are radially attached on both sides of the core and delimit a winding space. The drum axis can - as shown - run horizontally or in the vertical axis (not shown).

The submarine cable 11 is wound up in layers, as is generally customary, around the core. A braking device with tensile force measurement acts in the center of the drum or on one or both sides of the flange 24. The drum is braked, for example, by means of regulated electric motors 25 via a bundle computer control as is known from winding machines, a drum speed being calculated from a comparison of the advance of the aircraft and the take-off speed of the submarine cable 11. Braking can also take the form of electrical or electromagnetic braking, e.g. by means of an eddy current brake, as motor / generator braking or as mechanical braking. The braking energy generated can - as described above - either be destroyed or consumed.

As in the previous exemplary embodiment, a single strand of the submarine cable 11 runs through a take-off device arranged at a distance from the drum Inlet bend 22 and brake and tensile force measuring system 18, emergency capping device 19 and outlet funnel 20. To further guide the submarine cable 11, a discharge device, not shown, of the type already described above can again be provided. The drum and take-off device are each connected in a suitable manner to the suspension device 12. The components of the trigger device are arranged on a shaft 23 connected to the suspension device 12. The drum is held in an at least one-sided holder 26 connected to the suspension device 12.

As in the previous exemplary embodiment, the system is essentially limited by the inertia of the drum, since the reaction forces from acceleration and deceleration of the drum mass exert an influence on the aircraft.

7 and 8 show representations of further exemplary embodiments of the device for laying strand-shaped submarine cables 11. These are in turn each suspended by means of a suspension device 12 which is preferably compatible with ISO container dimensions, under the airship 10. As storage means 13, the device comprises a so-called cop. A cop is comparable to a drum stored in the vertical axis. It can be designed with only one lower flange 24 and is not rotatably mounted.

7 shows an embodiment with a cop wound on the outside. Arranged below the cop is an outlet circular ring 27 and underneath the extraction device with an inlet funnel 28 as well as braking and tensile force measuring system 18, emergency cutting device 19 and outlet funnel 20. The inlet funnel 28 is introduced into a support plate 29 connected to the suspension device 12 via a linkage 15. The cop hangs on the suspension device 12, so that a sufficient distance to the inlet of the submarine cable 11 into the inlet funnel 28 remains between an underside of the outlet circular ring 27 and the support plate 29. The submarine cable 11 runs off or is pulled off the cop and thereby passes through all components of the pull-off device. Fig. 8 shows an embodiment with an internally wound cop in partial section. In the case of a cop wound on the inside, the submarine cable 11 is first wound around a pull-out core (not shown). After removing the core, the submarine cable 11 is withdrawn from the inside of the cop. The partial section makes the inside of the cop visible with the trigger device with inlet funnel 28 and braking and tensile force measuring system 18, emergency cutting device 19 and outlet funnel 20. The inlet funnel 28 is introduced into a support plate 29 connected to the suspension device 12 via a linkage 15. The Kops either hangs on the suspension device 12 and / or lies on the support plate 29 or the inlet funnel 28. The submarine cable 11 runs out of the cop or is withdrawn from it and in turn passes through all the components of the withdrawal device.

The method for laying strand-like submarine cables 11 is carried out from the air, an airship 10 preferably being used. The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for laying submarine cables 11 with an airship 10, because submarine cables 11 often have to be laid over a long distance without interruption. This requires a correspondingly long range of the aircraft, for which an airship 10 offers good conditions because it has a relatively large range. In addition, an airship has a fairly large load-bearing capacity, so that a large supply of the submarine cable 11 can be transported, which allows uninterrupted laying over a distance of several hundred kilometers, up to 500 kilometers. Above all, an airship 10 also enables a slow laying speed, which is necessary for the reliable laying of submarine cables 11. Although the method according to the invention is particularly suitable for the laying of submarine cables 11, it can also be used for laying other cables over in particular rough areas on land, for example through the mountains. When carrying out the method, the installation device is also used in one of the configurations described above. The installation device is attached to the airship 10. Before the submarine cable 11 is laid, the storage means 13 of the installation device, ie the container, the drum, the cop, etc., are filled with submarine cable 11. The storage means 13 can be filled at a material storage location. The installation device with the storage means 13 is not yet necessarily attached to the airship 10. A plurality of installation devices can even be provided, one after the other on the airship 10 are attached and with which each submarine cable 11 is laid until the contents of the storage means 13 are exhausted. Alternatively, a plurality of storage means 13 can also be provided, which are in turn attached to the installation device one after the other and with which submarine cables 11 are then laid in each case until the contents of the storage means 13 are again exhausted.

To lay the submarine cable 11, the airship receives an installation device with a storage means 13 filled with submarine cable 11 and takes a position above a starting point of the installation road which is usually located on land. One end of the submarine cable 11 either already hangs out of the installation device or is output from it, e.g. by means of the braking and tensile force measuring system 18, so that the end of the sea kabble at the starting point on the ground or, if appropriate, also on the water surface can be received and suitably fixed.

Thereupon the airship 10 begins its movement along the installation road, that is to say hovering over the sea. Leaking or unplugging the submarine cable

11 from the storage means 13 is initially carried out under the influence of the fixing of the end of the submarine cable at the starting point and then under the influence of the weight of the submarine cable that has already run out or has been pulled off. The outlet or withdrawal of the submarine cable 11 can be controlled by suitable regulation or control of the braking and tensile force measuring system 18 are supported by not only preventing too much submarine cable 11 from leaking or being pulled too quickly, but also actively promoting a suitable quantity of submarine cable 11. The suitable quantity of submarine cable 11 is determined in connection with a determination of the distance traveled by the airship 10 along the installation road. The amount of submarine cable 11 to be conveyed is proportional to the (sea) route traveled along the installation road. An exit speed of the submarine cable 11 can thus be determined and in particular regulated in relation to the speed of the airship 10 along the installation route.

When the submarine cable 11 contained in the storage means 13 runs out, the end of the submarine cable 11 is marked appropriately for easier retrieval. The end of the submarine cable is marked by means of the emergency cutting device 19, which is the Sea cable 11 happens when it runs out of the storage means 13. The emergency cutting device 19 is designed in such a way that a marking, such as a buoy, a transmitter, or possibly only a conspicuous colored marking or the like, can be attached to the end of the submarine cable 11. The end of the submarine cable 11 is then thrown off. The airship 10 now receives a new installation device or a new storage means 13 so that the laying can be continued. The laying is continued from the region in which the end of the already laid submarine cable 11 was previously thrown off. For this purpose, the end of the submarine cable 11 that has already been laid must always be located. If the end of the submarine cable 11 is provided with a transmitter by the emergency cutting device or a buoy is provided with a transmitter, locating the transmitter and thus the end of the submarine cable 11 is facilitated by receiving a signal emitted by the transmitter. Additionally or alternatively, finding the end of the submarine cable 11 can also be supported by recording the position of the airship 10 at the time the submarine cable 11 is dropped. This is now possible with sufficient accuracy using the data from the GP system (Global Positioning System). To continue laying, one end of the new submarine cable 11 is connected to the end of the submarine cable 11 that has already been laid. The airship 10 then moves further along the installation road and the laying is continued.

In emergency situations, for example when the airship 10 is caught by a sudden gust, the submarine cable 11 that has escaped from the storage means 13 is a hindrance because it limits the maneuverability of the airship 10. The already expired or withdrawn submarine cable 11 acts for the airship 10 in a manner similar to an anchor including anchor anchor for a watercraft. In order to be able to carry out the necessary maneuvers quickly and unhindered in emergency or exceptional situations, it may be necessary to cut the submarine cable 11 that has already run out. As soon as the submarine cable 11 is cut, the airship 10 can maneuver like any other aircraft and, for example, assume a safe position. The submarine cable 11 is cut by means of the emergency cutting device 19. In order that the laying of the submarine cable 11 can be continued at a later point in time, the emergency capping device 19 provides the end of the submarine cable 11 to be thrown off with a mark such as a transmitter in connection with the cutting off of the submarine cable. a buoy or the like. In order to continue laying later, the airship 10 takes a position above the thrown end of the submarine cable 11. The previously thrown end of the already laid submarine cable 11 is picked up on the ground. Likewise, an end of the undocked cable 11 that has not yet been laid out of the storage means 13 is received on the floor and suitably fixed. This means that the laying can be continued without the submarine cable 11 laid until the emergency or exceptional situation arises being lost. To fix the end of the undersea cable 11 that has not yet been laid, it can already be provided that this is connected to the end of the already laid undersea cable 11. Otherwise, the two ends of the submarine cable 11 are connected at a later point in time as soon as no or a tolerable tensile load acts on the connection point.

An example of the laying of a submarine cable 11 with an airship 10 is to be explained in more detail below:

In order to overcome long sea routes without interruption of the submarine cable 11, for example between islands or between the mainland and an island, it is common to lay a submarine cable 11 with a length of up to 400 km without interruption, that is to say endlessly. Such a long submarine cable 11 weighs about 160,000 kg with a diameter of 13 mm. It takes an average of 120 hours to lay a cable of around 400 km. The permissible height above the water level is about 10 m to 100 m.

Under the above-mentioned conditions, an airship 10 is particularly suitable for laying the submarine cable 11 because the airship 10 has a high payload, namely can carry 160,000 kg. Above all, however, an airship 10 can lay the cable at slow speed and remain in the air during the entire laying period, that is to say an average of 120 hours, but also significantly longer. A further special feature of the airship 10 is that it can move relatively low above the water surface without the airship or the crew being endangered thereby, even in an emergency. The airship 10 is therefore particularly suitable for laying cables of great length, as is the case with submarine cables 11. The airship has 10 properties that other aircraft do not have. For this reason, the airship 10 is particularly suitable for laying submarine cables 11. If other cables are to be laid, for example along shorter distances over land, other aircraft, for example helicopters, can optionally be used for this purpose.

04/08/2003 / 2626 17th

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 airship

11 submarine cables

12 suspension device

13 storage means

14 outer wall

15 rods

16 core

17 inlet ring

18 tensile force measuring system

19 emergency cutting device

20 discharge funnels

21 caterpillar belt

22 inlet bend

23 shaft

24 flange

25 electric motor

26 bracket

27 outlet circular ring

28 inlet funnels

29 support plate

Claims

08.04.2003 / 2626Patentansprüche

1. A method for laying stranded winding material, in particular submarine cable (11) or other cables, characterized in that the laying is carried out with an aircraft from the air.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laying in particular of the submarine cable (11) with an airship (10).

3. Device for laying stranded winding material, in particular a submarine cable 11 or another cable, with means for storing the winding material (storage means 13) and a guide for guiding the winding material as it leaves the storage means (13), characterized by a suspension device (12) for attaching, in particular hanging, the storage means (13) to an aircraft.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that a braking and tensile force measuring system (18) is provided in the direction of the course of the outgoing winding material following a guide.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that in the direction of the course of the winding material before or after the braking and tensile force measuring system (18), in particular after the braking and tensile force measuring system (18), an emergency cutting device (19) is provided , which is preferably designed for manually or automatically triggered cutting of the winding material (11) in emergency situations.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency capping device (19) has means for attaching a marking such as a buoy, a transmitter or a floatable leader line at the cut or cut end of the winding material.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an outlet funnel (20) is provided in the direction of the winding material running out after the braking and tensile force measuring system (18) or after the emergency cutting device (19).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking and tensile force measuring system (18) is designed in the form of a disc trigger or a linear machine with mutually pressing caterpillar tracks (21) or pairs of rollers.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage means (13) is fixed and is designed with a core (16), an inlet circular ring (17) being placed on the core (16) as a guide and braking and tensile force measuring system (18), possibly emergency cutting device (19) and possibly outlet funnel (20) in the direction of the course of the winding material running out following the inlet circular ring (17) are arranged essentially inside the core (16).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage means (13) is rotatable and is designed with a core (16), in particular forming an axis of rotation, an inlet arch (22) guiding an outer wall (14) of the storage means ( 13) overlaps and the braking and tensile force measuring system (18), possibly emergency cutting device (19) and possibly outlet funnel (20) are arranged in the direction of the course of the winding material running out following the inlet bend (22) outside the storage means (13).

11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage means (13) is rotatable as a drum and with a core forming an axis of rotation (16), perpendicular to the axis of rotation in the direction of the course winding material spaced from the drum as a guide an inlet bend (22) as well as braking and tensile force measuring system (18), possibly emergency cutting device (19) and possibly outlet funnel (20) are arranged.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage means (13) is fixed and is designed with a core (16), an outlet circular ring (27) as a guide concentrically below the storage means (13) and an inlet funnel (28) as well as braking and tensile force measuring system (18), possibly emergency cut-off device (19) and optionally outlet funnel (20) in at least essentially concentrically therewith Direction of the winding material to be discharged are arranged in connection with the outlet circular ring (27).

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage means (13) is designed to be stationary and without a core, wherein an inlet funnel (28) is provided as a guide underneath the storage means (13) and is arranged concentrically therewith and braking and Tensile force measuring system (18), possibly emergency capping device (19) and optionally outlet funnel (20) in the direction of the course of the winding material running out following the inlet funnel (28) and are arranged essentially concentrically to the latter.

14. A method for laying stranded winding material, in particular a submarine cable (11) or another cable, with a device according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that the device is carried by an aircraft, in particular an airship (10).

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aircraft, in particular airship (10), moves to lay the winding material (11) along an installation road and the winding material runs out or is withdrawn from the storage means (13) of the device , wherein the outlet speed of the winding material is preferably regulated in relation to a speed of the aircraft or airship (10).

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- in time with the cutting of the winding material by the

Emergency cutting device (19) the cut end is provided with the marking, to resume laying, the marker is located, the cut end of the winding material is picked up and connected in a suitable manner to the winding material in the storage means (13) that has not yet been laid, and

then the laying is continued.

17. Airship (10), characterized by a device according to one of claims 3 to 13.

18. Use of a device according to one of claims 3 to 13 for laying submarine cables (11) with an airship (10).