WO2015079288A1

WO2015079288A1 - Diving system

Info

Publication number: WO2015079288A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/060451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio CAPPELLETTI; Marco BELLOMO
Original assignee: Cappelletti Sergio; Bellomo Marco
Priority date: 2013-11-27
Filing date: 2013-11-27
Publication date: 2015-06-04
Also published as: GB201609649D0; GB2534532A; GB2534532B

Abstract

Diving system (1), including a diving chamber (2), two cables (4, 22), each of which is connected to the diving chamber (2) by means of a respective couple of pulleys (7, 8/ 23, 24) installed on diving chamber (2), and two moving units (29), each of which is designed to move a relevant cable (4, 22) so as to allow the raising and lowering of the diving chamber (2); the system (1) allows to manage the movement of the diving chamber (2) with high simplicity, precision and reduction of costs.

Description

"DIVING SYSTEM"

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a diving system and a diving chamber.

BACKGROUND

In the diving/submersion equipment field, systems usually comprise of a submersible chamber (bell) and three actuator devices, each of which is provided with a motor and is designed to move a respective connecting wire . These actuator devices are installed on a vessel. During operation, every wire is directly connected to the top of the submersible chamber, allowing its vertical movement.

It is important to point out that these types of systems have some disadvantages. As an example, the motors must operate in perfect unison to prevent the chamber inclination during its vertical movement. Therefore, it is necessary to use electric motors, which are accurate but expensive and not very reliable (their failures are quite frequent)

In the diving/submersion equipment field, there are also systems with an anchor weight which plunges in the water by means of cables and a submersible diving bell with a ballast which descends along these cables. The submersible diving bell surfaces without ballast.

Despite the presence- of the ballast, the diving bell is quite light, therefore relatively instable during the descent phase. In fact, it can happen that the submersible chamber is moved- by water wave motion in an unwanted and dangerous way.

It is an object of the present invention is to provide a diving system and a diving chamber, which allow to overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages of the state of the art and at the same time are simple and cheap to produce.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention, there is provided a diving system and a diving chamber as recited in the following independent claims and, preferably, in any one of the claims, directly or indirectly dependent on the independent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention is hereinafter disclosed with reference to attached drawings, which show non limiting embodiments, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a side view, schematic, partially in section and with some details removed for clarity, of a system in accordance with this invention;

- Figure 2 is a part in magnified scale of the system of figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a top view of a part of the system of figure 1;.

- Figure 4 shows a part of figure 3 in a magnified scale and partially in section;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a diving system including a diving chamber 2 (diving bell) ; an actuator device 3 for moving the diving chamber 2 (vertically); and a connection cable 4, which is designed to transfer the movement from the actuator device 3 to the diving chamber 2. In particular, the actuator device 3 is able to move the connection cable 4 and to allow (in this way) the (vertical) movement of diving chamber 2.

Furthermore, the system 1 comprise a coupling assembly 5; which is designed to prevent an. end 6 of cable .4 from being brought in the area of (more precisely, from being moved with respect to) the actuator device 3. In particular, the coupling assembly 5 locks the end 6. In other words, the cable 4 includes a end 6 connected to the coupling assembly 5 and another head (not shown) tied up to the actuator device 3 .

The actuator device 3 and the coupling assembly 5 are mounted on a base element B (e.g. a ship or a platform), which is a part of system 1 and it is designed to remain at least partially out of water, in particular to be at least partially disposed over the water. The actuator device .3 and, if possible, the coupling assembly 5 are, in use, placed above the water level.

The diving chamber 2 comprises two pulleys 7 and 8 (both idler), with the cable 4 partially extending around them. In particular, the cable 4 extends from the actuator device 3 to the pulley 7, from the pulley 7 to the pulley 8 and from the pulley 8. to the coupling assembly 5.

More precisely (in particular see figures 3 and 5), the pulleys 7 and 8 are placed above the diving chamber 2. They have a rotation axis 9 and 10, respectively, and have respective peripheral races 11 which house the cable 4.

Advantageously, the two axes 9 and 10 are substantially parallel.

The pulleys 7 and 8 are aligned (facing) . In particular, the races 11 of pulleys 7 and 8 are aligned (facing) .

According to some embodiments, each pulley 7 and 8 is mounted to a relevant support having two lateral bulkheads 13 (in particular see figures 2 and 4), which are disposed from opposite sides of respective pulley 7 and 8 and of a relevant pin 14, which supports the relevant pulley 7 and 8 and around which the relative pulley 7 and 8 rotates. Every pin 14 is supported (in the area of its ends) by means of the two relevant lateral bulkheads 13.

Every support 12 comprises a lubrication device 15 to facilitate the rotation of pulleys 7 and 8 around their, respective rotation axes 9 and 10 (in particular, around pins 14) . Advantageously, the lubrication device 15 comprende (in particular, is) a lubrication device with bladder compensator

The bladder compensator (or sac compensator) , comprises a rubber bag. filled with oil and connected to lubrication duct of pin. The bag is subjected to the external pressure and therefore it "pushes" the lubricant inside the pin with the Same pressure as that present outside the mechanism. This causes that the lubricated chamber with bearings has the same external pressure and prevent the water inlet.

Usually, every lubrication device 15 is fitted (at least partially) inside with a relevant pin 14.

Each support 12 (in particular, every bulkhead 13) is connected.to chamber 2 by means of relevant flange 16.

On bulkheads 13 there are also some tubular elements 17 to protect the upper part of diving chamber 2 and pulleys 7 and 8.

In use, when the cable 4 is pulled by the actuator device 3, the length of cable 4 between actuator device 3 and the coupling assembly 5 is reduced and the cable 4 slides between, the pulleys 7 and 8 causing the raising movement of the diving chamber 2.

When the cable 4 is released by the actuator device 3 , the length of. cable 4 between actuator device 3 and the coupling assembly 5 increases and the cable 4 slides between the pulleys 7 and 8 causing, the lowering movement (also because of gravity acting on chamber 2) of the diving chamber 2.

It can be noted that the cable 4 and pulleys 7 and 8 define a compound pulley system which is comparable to a lever system of second type and allows to amplify the force applied by the actuator device 3 compared to the force caused by the weight of the diving chamber 2. In this way, it is possible to force in a limited way the actuator device 3 and/or use less powerful and, therefore, less expensive actuation devices 3.

It can be also noted that the-, diving chamber 2 has a specific weight greater than that of the water. In this way, if it is not subjected to external forces (as the force applied by the actuator device 3 through the cable 4), the chamber 2 plunged into the water, tends to move down.

According to some embodiments, the diving chamber 2 has a total weight greater than 15 tons (in particular, greater than 17 tons; more precisely, approximately 20 tons) .

With a particular reference to figure 1, the actuator device 3 includes a winch 18 and. a motor (per se known and not shown) designed to permit the rotation of winch 18 around its axis 19. Advantageously, the mentioned motor is a hydraulic motor.

Typically, every winch 18 is associated to two motors

(where one is for back up of the first in case of failure).

According to some specific embodiments, the system 1 comprises also a gear pulley 20, which is mounted on vertical supports 21 and around which a cable 4, in use, partially slips. The vertical supports 21 allow to lift the chamber 2 above the work plan P of base element B so that chamber 2 is easily reachable and accessible by operators who are on the base element B.

According to some embodiments not shown, the coupling assembly 5 comprises another actuation device similar to the actuator device 3.

In particular, in these cases, the. coupling assembly 5

(also) pulls and loosens (releases) the connection cable 4 in order to lift and lower, respectively, the diving chamber 2.

Even if the system 1 described above allows a good stability to the chamber 2 in the water, it has been experimentally observed that chamber 2 stability is further improved if the chamber 2 has other two pulleys.

Therefore, advantageously, system 1 includes an additional connection cable 22. The. diving chamber 2 comprises two pulleys 23 and 24 (both idler) , with the cable 22 positioned partially around each of them. In particular, the cable 22 extends from the actuator device 3 to the pulley 23, from the pulley 23 to the pulley 24 and from the pulley 24 to coupling assembly 5.

More precisely (in particular referring to figure 3) , the pulleys 23 and 24 are placed in the area of an upper part . of the diving chamber 2, they both have a rotation axis 25 and 26, respectively, and both have peripheral races 27, which are designed to house the cable 22.

Advantageously, the two axes 25 and 26 are substantially parallel .

It can be noted that the rotation axes 9 and 10 extend in a transversal direction compared to the direction of axes 2.5 and 26. In particular, the rotation axes 9 and 10 extend in a substantially perpendicular direction compared to the direction of axes 25 and 26.

The pulleys 23 and 24 are aligned (facing) . Inparticular, the races 27 of pulleys 23 and 24 are aligned

(facing.).

According to some embodiments, each pulley 23 and 24 is mounted to a relevant, support 12 (of the same type described above with reference to pulleys 7 and 8) .

The connection cable 22 (figure 1) has a end .28. The coupling assembly 5 prevents that the end 28 of cable 22 is brought in the area of (more precisely, is moved with respect to) actuator device 3. In particular, the coupling assembly 5 is designed to lock the end 28. In other words, the cable 22 comprises an end 28 connected to the coupling assembly 5 and another -end (not shown) tied up to actuator device 3.

Advantageously, the actuator device 3 comprises a moving unit 29 to move the cable 4. and another handling unit (basically similar to the moving unit 29 and not shown) to move the cable 22. In this way, it is possible to distribute the diving chamber 2 total weight between two handling units 29 (with relevant motors) , so as to reduce the weight acting on every moving unit 29.

The moving unit 29 comprise the winch 18 and the respective motor (known per se and not shown) to permit the rotation of winch 18 around its axis 19. Advantageously, the mentioned motor is a hydraulic motor.

Similarly, the further moving unit includes another winch (similar to winch 18) and a relevant motor (of a not known and not shown type) to permit the rotation of winch around its axis (similar to axis 19) .

This axis extends in a transversal direction compared to the direction of axis 19. In particular, this axis extends in a substantially perpendicular direction to the direction of axis 19. Advantageously, the mentioned motor is a hydraulic motor. Advantageously, for cable 22, a gear pulley and relevant supports (not shown) are provided. They are similar to pulley 20 and vertical supports 21.

The moving unit 29 also comprise a tension control system (of a not known and not shown type) to keep the cable 4 in tension.

The further moving unit also comprises a tension control system (known per se and not shown) to keep the cable 22 in tension.

Typically, where the mentioned winch motors are hydraulic motors, an adjustable pressure reducer on their feeding line is provided,, functioning as tension control system.

In use, the motors of the two moving units 29 are regulated so that the total force applied to chamber 2 is strong enough to move the chamber 2 up. Advantageously, one of two handling units 29 exerts a force on chamber 2 greater than the force exerted by the other moving unit 29.

According to some embodiments, the motor of one moving unit 29 is regulated so as to exercise a force able to withstand the half of chamber 2 weight; the motor of other moving unit is regulated so as to exercise a (slightly) greater force. In this way, the actuator device 3 has the take-off necessary to lift the chamber 2. Typically, after each use, the motor regulation is inverted so that the motor which previously exerted the greater force, is the one that withstands the half of chamber 2 weight and vice versa. In this way it is possible to proportionally distribute the wear on both motors.

Typically for . hydraulic motors, the regulations described above are carried out by operating on . the adjustable pressure reducers.

Advantageously, the coupling assembly 5 includes a locking device 30 to maintain the end 6 substantially fixed compared to the moving unit 29 and a locking device 31 (substantially similar to the locking device 30) to prevent that the end 28 is taken in the area of the actuator device 3 (in particular, to maintain the end 28 substantially fixed compared to the already mentioned further moving unit) .

As per specific actuation types, the system 1 also includes some vertical supports 32, which substantially have the same height of supports 21 and where the locking devices 30 and 31 are fitted.

In particular (therefore) , the. connection cable 4 extends from the moving unit 29 (in particular from winch 18) to locking device 30. More precisely, the connection cable 4 extends from the moving unit 29 (in particular from winch 18) to pulley 7, partially around pulley 7, from pulley 7 to pulley 8, partially around pulley 8 and from pulley 8 to locking device 30.

Furthermore, the connection cable 22 extends from actuator device 3 to locking device 31. More exactly, the connection cable 22 extends from actuator device 3 to pulley 23, partially positioned around the pulley .23, from pulley 23 to pulley 24, partially positioned around the pulley 24 and from pulley 24 to the locking device 31.

Advantageously, the connection cable 4 extends between the actuator device 3 (in particular, the moving unit 29 ) and the pulley 7 at least partially above the diving chamber 2 (in particular, above the pulleys 7 and 8) . The connection cable 4 extends between the pulley 8 and the coupling assembly 5 (in particular, the locking device 30) at least partially above the diving, chamber 2 (in particular, above the pulleys 7 and 8).

Advantageously, the connection cable 22 extends between the actuator device 3 (in particular, the further moving unit) and the pulley 23 at least partially above the diving chamber 2 (in particular, above the pulleys 23 and 24) . The connection cable 22 extends between the pulley 24 and the coupling assembly 5 (in particular, the locking device 31) at least partially above the diving chamber 2 (in particular, above the pulleys 23 and 24) .

It can be noted that the system 1 structure described above allows cheap and easy use of diving chamber 2 with a total weight greater than 15 tons (in particular, greater than 17 tons; more exactly, approximately 20 tons) .

The relatively high weight of diving chamber 2 allows the chamber 2 to.be stable in water and unlikely to be moved by the wave motion.

Claims

1.- A diving system comprising a diving chamber (2) ; at least one actuator device (3) to move the diving chamber

(2) ; at least one first connection cable (4) , which is designed to transmit the movement from the actuator device

(3) to the diving chamber (2) and has a first end (6) opposite to the actuator device (3); and at least, one coupling assembly (5), which is designed to prevent said first end (6) from being brought in the area of the actuator device (3) ;

the system being characterised in that the diving chamber (2) comprises a first and at least a second pulley (7, 8), which have a first and a second rotation axis (9, 10) , respectively; the first connection cable (4) extending from the actuator device (3) to the first, pulley (7) , partially around the first pulley (7), from the first pulley (7) to the second pulley (8) , partially around the second pulley (8) , and from the second pulley (8) to the coupling assembly (5) .

2.- A system according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second axes (9, 10) are substantially parallel.

3.- A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diving chamber (2) comprises a third and at least a fourth pulley (23, 24), which have a third and a fourth rotation axis (25, 26) , respectively; the system comprising a second connection cable (22) , which is designed to transmit the movement from the actuator device (3) to the diving chamber (2) and has a second end (28) opposite to the actuator device (3); the coupling assembly (5) is designed to prevent said second end (28) from being brought in the area of the actuator device (3) ; the second connection cable (22) extending from the actuator device (3) to the third pulley (23), partially, around the third pulley (23), from the third pulley (23) to the fourth pulley (24) , partially around the fourth pulley (24) , and from the fourth pulley (24) to the coupling assembly (5) .

4.- A system according to claim 3, wherein the third and the fourth rotation axes (25, 26) are parallel to one another and extend in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the first and the second rotation axes (9, 10) extend.

5.- A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator device (3) comprises at least one winch (18) and a respective hydraulic motor to move the winch (18) .

6.- A system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the actuator device (3) comprises a first moving unit (29) to move the first connection cable (4) and a second moving unit to move the second connection cable (22) ; the coupling assembly (5) comprises a first locking device (30) to keep said first end (6) substantially fixed relative to the first moving unit (29) and a second locking device (31) to keep said second end (28) substantially fixed relative to the second moving unit.

7.- A system according to claim 6, wherein each moving unit (29) comprises at least one respective winch (18) and a respective hydraulic motor to move the winch (18) ; in particular, each moving- unit comprises at least two respective hydraulic motors.

8.- A system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each moving unit (29) comprises a control system to. control the tautness of the relative connection cable (4; 22) so as to keep the connection cable (4; 22) itself taut.

9.- A diving chamber, in particular of the type defined in any of the preceding claims, comprising a first and at least a second pulley (7, 8) , which have a first and a second rotation axis (9, 10) , respectively; the first and the second pulleys (7, 8) being designed to cooperate with a first connection cable (4) so as to permit the longitudinal movement of the first connection cable (4) by rotating around the first and the second axis (9, 10), respectively; in particular, the. first and the second rotation axes (9, 10) are substantially parallel to one another.

10.- A diving chamber according to claim 9 and comprising a third and at least a forth pulley (23, 24), which have a third and a fourth rotation axis (25, 26), respectively; the third and the fourth pulleys (23, 24) being designed to cooperate with a second connection cable (22) so as to permit the longitudinal movement of the second connection cable (22) by rotating around the third and the fourth axis (25, 26), respectively; in particular; the third and the fourth rotation axes (25, 26) are parallel and extend in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the first and the second rotation axes (9, 10) extend.

11.- A diving chamber according to claim 9 or 10 and comprising a lubricating device (15) with a bladder compensator associated with each one of said pulleys (7, 8, 23, 24) .

12.- A diving chamber according to any of the claims from 9 to 11, wherein the first and the second pulleys (7, 8) and, possibly, the third and the fourth pulleys (23, 24) are arranged in the area of an upper part (wall) of the diving chamber (2) .