WO2023002448A1 - Ensemble et procédé pour excaver des tranchées sous-marines - Google Patents

Ensemble et procédé pour excaver des tranchées sous-marines Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023002448A1
WO2023002448A1 PCT/IB2022/056794 IB2022056794W WO2023002448A1 WO 2023002448 A1 WO2023002448 A1 WO 2023002448A1 IB 2022056794 W IB2022056794 W IB 2022056794W WO 2023002448 A1 WO2023002448 A1 WO 2023002448A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seabed
trench
clod
assembly
excavated material
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2022/056794
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alberto Serena
Diego Lazzarin
Original Assignee
Saipem S.P.A.
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 Saipem S.P.A. filed Critical Saipem S.P.A.
Priority to EP22750734.0A priority Critical patent/EP4374015A1/fr
Publication of WO2023002448A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023002448A1/fr

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/10—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables
    • E02F5/104—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water
    • E02F5/106—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water using ploughs, coulters, rippers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/06—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with digging elements mounted on an endless chain
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/10—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables
    • E02F5/104—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water
    • E02F5/105—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water self-propulsed units moving on the underwater bottom
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/10—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables
    • E02F5/104—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water
    • E02F5/108—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water using suction-effect devices
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/10—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables
    • E02F5/104—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water
    • E02F5/109—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water using rotating digging elements
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
    • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/12—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
    • E02F5/125—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches underwater

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an assembly for trenching underwater cables, and to a method for trenching underwater cables. [0003].
  • the present invention relates to an assembly for trenching underwater cables with low environmental impact.
  • the invention relates to an assembly for excavating a trench preserving the soil surface, avoiding marine sedimentation, in particular, but not exclusively, for application on Posidonia-rich seabeds, but with further general applications in fields in which the environmental impact is to be reduced.
  • Posidonia and generally aquatic plants to which Posidonia pertains, are autotrophic plants having a stem, roots, leaves, fruits, and flowers which synthesize the organic substances extracted from the soil by photosynthesis. For this reason, they proliferate on seabeds between 1 and 30 meters where light is still present.
  • the active part of the plant in the soil comes from horizontal and vertical rhizomes, which adapt the height of the plant to the gradual sedimentation process of the seabed, i.e., the bottom of the water body or bed of the water body.
  • the result is a formation referred to as "matte" consisting of intertwined layers of rhizomes and roots of old plants.
  • the trench section can be narrow. In the specific case of a low environmental impact excavation, the interactions of the excavation machine with the soil surface need to be reduced. [0011].
  • excavation tools such as plows with a vibrating vertical bulkhead, or chains or wheels having milling elements.
  • the milling wheel or chain can have an upwards rotation (known as "up- milling") which tends to pull the chain under tension, pushing the cutting side of the chain into the soil. Since the chain is forced into the soil during the work, the excavation machine tends to rotate.
  • Excavation machines with an upwards rotation thus have a configuration with excavation tools placed on the rear side.
  • the support surface extends on the front part of the machine, and since the shear force tends to make the machine "strike", the shear force tends to make the excavation chain "collapse". The machine must provide an additional pull in order to overcome such a downwards force in addition to the action for moving the cutting front.
  • the excavation is affected by the direction of the material removed which, in an upwards rotation, is pushed out of the trench, and vice versa in a downwards rotation is pushed into the trench.
  • the down-milling excavation solution is almost never used because it implies a higher machine weight, weighing on the interface with the soil. Moreover, the material removal takes place more easily as it is brought to the surface by the chain itself, without needing to suck it up from the trench bottom (which happens in down-milling).
  • - figure 1 shows an axonometric view of an assembly for trenching underwater cables in order to excavate a trench in a seabed, in which a first layer has aquatic plants or algae to be preserved; in particular, part of the seabed is depicted in phantom in order to show the details of the components and devices present in the assembly;
  • - figure 2 shows a side view of the assembly in figure 1, in particular it shows a view of the trench excavated by the assembly and how it is directly filled with the excavated material from the excavation by the diffusion device of the assembly;
  • - figure 3 shows an axonometric view of the assembly in figure 1 in which the components of the assembly placed in the foreground are depicted in phantom to show the details in the background; furthermore, the seabed is also depicted in phantom; [0029].
  • - figure 4 shows an axonometric view of a detail of the assembly in figure 1 and in particular of the rotary excavation device and the plow for lifting seabed clods; [0030].
  • FIG. 5 shows an axonometric view of the front or advancement part of the assembly in figure 1 in which the components of the assembly placed in the foreground are depicted in phantom to show the details placed in the background; in this case, it is highlighted how the plow lifts and guides two seabed clods, although cut vertically without separating them from the adjacent seabed clods and without overturning them and how they close up again upon the passage of the assembly;
  • FIG. 6 shows an axonometric view of the rear part of the assembly in figure 1 in which the components of the assembly placed in the foreground are depicted in phantom to show the details placed in the background; in this case, it is highlighted how the two seabed clods close up again upon the passage of the assembly;
  • FIG. 7 shows an axonometric view of the rear side of an assembly according to a further embodiment, similar to that in figure 1, in which in addition there is a restoration element comprising a seeding wheel and tanks for the seeding mixture;
  • FIG. 8 shows an axonometric view of an enlarged detail of the assembly in figure 7, highlighting the restoration element;
  • - figure 9 shows an axonometric view from the rear side of an assembly according to yet another embodiment, similar to that in figure 1, in which in addition a restoration element is provided, comprising a carriage which supports a seed mat-holder drum of the geotube type;
  • FIG. 10 shows an axonometric view of an enlarged detail of the assembly in figure 9, highlighting the restoration element. [0036]. Description of some preferred embodiments
  • an assembly 1 for trenching underwater cables comprises a cutting and lifting device 7 for cutting and lifting at least one seabed clod 11 from the seabed 4, avoiding this seabed clod 11 from separating from the remaining part of the seabed 4 but freeing up an excavation path P adapted to create a trench 6.
  • Said assembly further comprises an excavation device 5 for excavating the seabed 4 where the at least one seabed clod 11 has been cut and lifted to form said trench 6 producing excavated material. [0039]. Said assembly further comprises a depression device 19, adapted to guide a cable 13 which is to be trenched in said trench 6 for laying it in said trench 4.
  • Said assembly further comprises a suction device 18 for sucking up said excavated material.
  • Said assembly further comprises a diffusion device 20 for distributing said excavated material and filling said trench 6 once it has been laid on the bottom of said trench 13 so as to isolate said excavated material below the bed of the water body without contaminating the sea environment.
  • Said assembly further comprises a recirculation device 39 which collects the excavated material from said suction device 18 and sends it to said diffusion device 20 so as to isolate said excavated material inside said trench 6 forming a path for the excavated material which, having been collected in the formation of the trench 6, returns to the trench 6.
  • said assembly further comprises a device for restoring the at least one seabed clod 11 in the site thereof by closing said trench 6 at the top and preserving the area above said seabed clod 11 avoiding the dispersion of said excavated material outside said trench 6.
  • an assembly 1 for trenching underwater cables comprises a support structure 2.
  • Said assembly 1 further comprises at least one rolling device 3 connected to the support structure 2 for the movement by motorized or idle rolling of the assembly 1 on a seabed 4 along an excavation path P locally having an advancement direction F, keeping said support structure 2 raised from said seabed 4.
  • Said assembly 1 further comprises at least one rotary excavation device 5 adapted to mill said seabed 4 creating a trench 6, when said assembly 1 travels in an advancement direction F.
  • Said at least one rotary excavation device 5 is supported at said support structure 2.
  • Said assembly 1 further comprises at least one plow 7.
  • said at least one plow 7 is arranged at the front, or at the front and contiguous, or at the front and operatively connected to, with respect to, i.e., it precedes in the advancement direction F, said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • Said at least one plow 7 is shaped so as to cut and lift at least on one side, at least one seabed clod 11 by a predefined depth and width without separating it completely from the seabed 4, freeing up an underlying seabed layer which can be attacked and milled by said at least one rotary excavation device 5 for creating said trench 6 avoiding said at least one seabed clod 11 from being milled.
  • said at least one plow 7 comprises at least one coulter 8, at least one plowshare 9, and at least one moldboard 10.
  • Said coulter 8 is adapted to cut, in the vertical direction, said at least one seabed clod 11 from the seabed 4.
  • Said at least one plowshare 9 is adapted to cut in the horizontal direction said at least one seabed clod 11 at a predefined depth from the seabed 4.
  • Said at least one moldboard 10 is adapted to lift said at least one seabed clod 11 without separating it from the seabed 4.
  • said at least one plow 7 comprises a coulter 8, two plowshares 9, and two moldboards 10.
  • Said coulter 8 is adapted to cut, in the vertical direction, said at least one seabed clod 11 from the seabed 4.
  • Said two plowshares 9 are adapted to cut in the horizontal direction two seabed clods 11 at a predefined depth from the seabed
  • Said two moldboards 10 are adapted to lift said at least two seabed clods 11 without separating them from the seabed 4 for sliding them in their entirety at the sides of said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one plow 7 is shaped so as to cut the at least one seabed clod 11 avoiding it from being completely separated from the seabed 4 and avoiding it from being overturned.
  • said at least one plow 7 is placed at least partially straddling said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one plow 7 comprises a coulter 8, two plowshares 9, and two moldboards 10.
  • Said two moldboards 10 extend as a continuation at the sides of said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said assembly 1 further comprises at least one suction device 18, adapted to suck up said excavated material milled by said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said assembly 1 comprises at least one depression device 19, adapted to guide a cable 13 which is to be trenched in said trench 6 on the bottom of said trench 6.
  • said assembly 1 further comprises at least one diffusion device 20, operatively connected to said at least one suction device 18 and adapted to distribute said excavated material for filling said trench 6 once said cable 13 has been laid on the bottom, so as to isolate said excavated material below the bed of the water body without contaminating the sea environment.
  • said assembly 1 further comprises at least one suction device 18 associated with said at least one rotary excavation device 5, at least one depression device 19 supported at said at least one rotary excavation device 5, at least one diffusion device 20 supported at said at least one depression device 19.
  • Said at least one plow 7 is supported at said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one rotary excavation device 5 is supported rotatably, from a raised position to a maximum excavation position, at said at least one support structure
  • At least one suction device 18 is associated with said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • At least one depression device 19 is rotatably supported at said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • At least one diffusion device 20 is supported rotatably at said at least one depression device 19.
  • Said at least one plow 7 is supported rotatably from a raised position from said seabed 4 at a maximum depth, to said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said assembly 1 comprises at least one excavation actuator 21 interposed between said at least one support structure 2 and said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one excavation actuator 21 is commanded in a controlled manner to define the relative position between said at least one rotary excavation device 5 and said at least one support structure 2.
  • said assembly 1 comprises at least one clod cutting actuator 22 interposed between said at least one plow 7 and said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • At least one clod cutting actuator 22 is commanded in a controlled manner to define the relative position between said at least one plow 7 and said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said assembly 1 further comprises underwater ballast elements 24.
  • said at least one moldboard 10 comprises at least one clod sliding surface 12 which continues along an entire flank of said assembly 1 for supporting and guiding said seabed clod 11 beyond said assembly 1 and allowing the seabed clod 11 to rest again in its place upon the passage of said assembly 1.
  • said at least one moldboard 10 comprises at least one clod sliding surface 12 which continues along an entire flank of said assembly 1 for supporting and guiding said seabed clod 11 beyond said assembly 1 and allowing the seabed clod 11 to rest again in its place once a cable 13 has been laid in said trench 6 and said trench 6 has been filled again.
  • said at least one moldboard 10 comprises at least one clod sliding surface 12 which continues along an entire flank of said assembly 1 and comprises surfaces of the outer fairing(s) of said at least one rotary excavation device 5, said at least one depression device 19, and said at least one diffusion device 20.
  • said at least one moldboard 10 comprises at least one clod sliding surface 12 inclined at least towards said at least one rotary excavation device 5 so as to avoid said seabed clod 11 from being completely separated from the seabed 4 and avoid it from being completely overturned.
  • said at least one clod sliding surface 12 is a set of surfaces 12, 15, 16, 17 adjacent to one another which form one or more fairings 14 supported at said support structure 2 and extending along the entire extension of said assembly 1, passing by the side of said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one clod sliding surface 12 is a set of surfaces 12, 15, 16, 17 adjacent to one another which form at least one fairing 14 supported at said support structure 2 and extending along the entire extension of said assembly 1, passing between said at least one rotary excavation device 5 and said at least one rolling device 3.
  • said at least one clod sliding surface 12 is a set of surfaces 12, 15, 16, 17 adjacent to one another which form at least one fairing 14 supported at said support structure
  • said set of surfaces 12, 15, are identical to each other.
  • said at least one support structure 2 is a structure placed straddling said at least one rotary excavation device 5 bringing said at least one rolling device 3 alongside said at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one rolling device 3 consists of at least two rolling devices 3 adjacent to each other.
  • Said at least one support structure 2 is a structure placed straddling said at least one rotary excavation device 5 bringing said at least two rolling devices 3 on opposite sides of said at least one rotary excavation device 5. [0088]. According to an embodiment, said at least one rolling device
  • 3 is at least one track.
  • said at least one rolling device 3 is at least one track comprising track shoes 23 of a suitable size for minimizing the impact on the seabed 4 with plants or algae. [0090]. According to an embodiment, said at least one rolling device 3 is at least one wheel.
  • said at least one rolling device 3 is at least one steering wheel.
  • said at least one rolling device 3 is at least one wheel of a suitable size for minimizing the impact on the seabed 4 with plants or algae.
  • said at least one rolling device 3 is at least one driving rolling device.
  • said at least one rolling device 3 is at least one idle rolling device; and wherein said at least one support structure 2 is a structure adapted to be towed.
  • said rotary excavation device 5 is a chain which supports milling elements.
  • said rotary excavation device 5 is a disc mill or a wheel which supports milling elements.
  • said rotary excavation device 5 rotates and creates a cutting movement directed downwards, i.e., towards the bottom of the trench 6.
  • said rotary excavation device 5 is commanded in a controlled manner, controlling at least the cutting parameters such as, for example, the rotation speed.
  • said assembly 1 is commanded in a controlled manner, controlling at least the excavation path P.
  • said assembly 1 further comprises at least one restoration element 25 adapted for planting the area of seabed 4 affected by the passage of the at least one plow 7 and the at least one rotary excavation device 5.
  • said at least one restoration element 25 is a seeder 26.
  • said at least one restoration element 25 is a mat planting device 27.
  • said at least one restoration element 25 is supported at said support structure 2 and arranged downstream of the at least one rotary excavation device 5, on the opposite side to the at least one plow 7 as the last device of the assembly 1.
  • said seeder 26 comprises a seeding wheel 28 adapted to rest on the seabed 4, in particular at least partially above said seabed clod 11 repositioned above said filled trench 11, and freely rotating when dragged by said assembly
  • said seeding wheel 28 supports injectors 29 arranged radially, adapted to be gradually inserted into the seabed 4 by an appropriate depth, for example 10 - 20 cm according to the rotation of the wheel.
  • Said injectors 29 are connected to the delivery of a seeding pump 30 which sucks up a solution of seeds and water or other suitable liquid solution from a tank 31.
  • the gradual injection takes place by rotation of the seeding wheel 29 which opens the delivery duct through a slot made circumferentially or a control system through a slip ring; or an automatic distribution system is provided for managing the injection of the seeding mixture synchronously with the advancement speed of the assembly 1 along the excavation path P, or synchronously with the rotation speed of the seeding wheel 29.
  • the mat planting device 27 comprises a seeding carriage 32 connected to the support structure 2 which rotatably supports a seed mat-holder drum 33 onto which a seed mat 37 is rolled.
  • said seeding carriage 32 rotatably supports a rocker arm 34 which in turn supports a return roller 35, placed so as to remain raised from the seabed 4, and a laying roller 36 adapted to lay said seed mat 37.
  • said rocker arm 34 supports a further soil preparation roller 37 arranged upstream of said laying roller 36.
  • said assembly 1 further comprises a turbidity sampling and measurement device 38, adapted to collect samples of sea water close to the assembly and measure the turbidity.
  • Said turbidity sampling and measurement device 38 comprises sensors for measuring the pollution produced in terms of water turbidity.
  • said turbidity sampling and measurement device 38 is operatively connected to a control device for controlling the excavation parameters.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for trenching underwater cables, comprising the steps of
  • the present invention also relates to a method for trenching underwater cables 13, comprising the steps of:
  • the further step in which the milled excavated material obtained with said rotary excavation device 5 is sucked up and diffused into the trench, once the cable 13 has been laid, in order to fill the trench 6.
  • the further step before that of milling a trench, in which with said at least one plow 7 the seabed 4 is cut into two continuous seabed clods 11 and said seabed clods 11 are lifted without breaking them and without overturning them, uncovering an excavation path P free from these seabed clods 11 and ready to be milled in a trench 7.
  • a restoration element 25 is provided, placed downstream of said assembly 1 and the seabed 4 is seeded in the area affected by the plow 7 and the rotary excavation device 5.
  • the rolling device 3 can comprise a towed carriage or a tractor device or briefly a tractor.
  • the assembly 1 is towed and the traction can be provided, for example, by a winch which pulls the assembly towards a distant stake. The origin of the force is on the winch and the reaction is far from the soil. Otherwise, the towing action can take place by a tugboat and then transferred to the desired point by ropes. In these cases, the reaction is not transmitted by the drive wheels or tracks, and the rotary excavation device 5 is thus housed on a towed carriage.
  • the wheels or tracks are only used to better direct the trajectory of the vehicle. Thereby, the wheels/tracks only transmit the vertical force (i.e., the weight of the vehicle and any excavation forces) to the soil and not the horizontal component due to traction: the result is a less stressful action on the soil to be preserved.
  • the assembly is a tractor, the rotary excavation device 5 is pushed forward due to a reaction close to the device itself, e.g., by means of pulling belts or drive wheels.
  • the force is the result of the vertical reaction (vertical weight force) and the pulling force
  • the impact on the soil also depends on the magnitude of the pulling force.
  • the specific pressure of the assembly determined by its weight divided by the support surface, and the pulling force (horizontal shear force that the wheels or tracks develop on the soil) determine possible damage to the soil, which can only be minimized by a large support surface of the tracks, and by a uniform distribution (balancing).
  • the tractor requires steering control.
  • the weight of the machine which weighs on the rotary excavation device 5 but also on the wheels or tracks, requires a low specific weight, therefore a remarkable length.
  • the depression device 19 As for the depression device 19, it allows the cable 13 to be pressed on the bottom of the excavated trench 11. In an extended sense, the depression device is the shaped component that guides the cable 13 from the bottom surface of the trench 6 through the surface itself of the component and/or through rollers that maintain the desired curvilinear line thereof.
  • the suction device 18 even if the excavated trench may be narrow and thus able to "close up again” upon the passage of the machine, and although the layback of the cable is very small (the depression device 19 accompanies the cable on the bottom of the trench 6, thus the walls of the trench itself remain easily stable upon the passage of the depression device), and even if the excavated material amount is relatively small, the material is sucked up avoiding the generation of turbidity in water and then sent directly to the diffusion device to be put back in the trench 6 for filling it. [00144].
  • the working conditions of the assembly 1 are those of a not excessively hard soil, which lends itself to not particularly aggressive cutting actions.
  • the assembly 1 for excavating trenches 6 while laying a cable 13 on the bottom of such a trench 6 comprises:
  • a traction element 3 which comprises a traction member
  • a carriage connected to the excavation element and which comprises a plow 7, a cable guiding depression element 19 and a diffusion element 20 of the system for recirculating the material removed by the excavation element 5 and underwater ballast elements 24.
  • the plow 7 makes a temporary cut on the soil surface, or seabed 4, upstream of the cutting tools; such a plow collaborating with the cable guiding depression element 19 and the diffusion element 20 of the recirculation system, so that such a temporary cut remains open and the soil continuous, and facilitating the closure of such a cut downstream of the last element which is the diffusion element 20 of the system for recirculating the material removed by the excavation tools 5.
  • the traction element is included in the carriage, for example in the case of highly wide tracks for minimizing the vertical pressure on the soil and provided with plastic or rubbery shoes so as not to have a negative effect on the layer of plants or algae.
  • the sliding blocks can be replaced by rubbery mats to further reduce the impact on the soil of the interaction forces between the machine and the soil itself.
  • drive wheels possibly steering wheels, or a front winch towing the carriage, or the support structure 2, e.g., by a cable connected to a fixed point, anchors or stakes placed in front along the excavation corridor at an appropriate distance, can be used to reduce the horizontal traction force of the assembly, or machine, which would otherwise be detached from the soil.
  • anchors or stakes placed in front along the excavation corridor at an appropriate distance
  • the traction element is not included in the carriage, or support structure; for example, a tugboat connected to a pulling rope which tows the carriage or a winch placed outside the carriage itself or, alternatively, thereon.
  • the material is sucked up directly onto the bottom of the trench 6 straight downstream of the excavation chain 5, through a suction duct 18 incorporated into the depression device 19; the suction pump can be positioned on board the assembly, or vehicle (above the seabed) or, alternatively, integrated into the suction duct 18 inside the trench 6, depending on the size of the pump(s) and the section of the trench 6.
  • the diffusion device 20 consists of an increasing passage section in order to reduce the speed of the fluid (milled excavated material) at the outlet and minimize the generation of turbidity and particles in suspension; the diffusion device 20 can further be provided with appropriate partitions which channel the flows therein to reduce this polluting phenomenon.
  • the disintegrating action of the excavation chain 5 on the excavation front itself is cancelled by the plow 7 placed immediately in front of the excavation chain 5 itself.
  • the shape of the plow 7 is such as to cut the soil into two continuous clods 11 containing the roots of the plants/algae before they are cut and lifting and moving them without breaking them.
  • the soil is cut by a vertical blade according to a longitudinal line and then cut horizontally at a desired depth depending on the type of algae, to detach it from the underlying soil; then, the clod 11 is lifted and slid resting on two inclined surfaces 12 of the plow 7, surfaces 16 of the depression device 19, and surfaces 17 of the diffusion device 20 which run along the entire length of the assembly 1.
  • the plow 7 can have a single plowshare 9 and moldboard 10; in this case, a clod 11 is generated which slides on only one side of the assembly, or can be double (two plowshares 9 and two moldboards 10) and in this case two clods 11 are generated which slide on both sides of the assembly 1 without changing the meaning of the present invention.
  • the rotary excavation device 5 is of the down-milling type, hence a device that excavates, for example mills, the soil with a cutting movement towards the bottom of the trench 6.
  • the suction device 18 will be arranged so as to suck up the excavated material at the base (bottom) or close to the base of the trench, isolating the excavated material below the bed of the water body by collecting the excavated material and recirculating it in the trench 6 downstream of the cable laying devices, i.e., the depression device 19, so as to isolate said excavated material below the bed of the water body without contaminating the sea environment.
  • the rotary excavation device 5 it is possible for the rotary excavation device 5 to be of the up-milling type, hence a device which excavates, for example mills, the soil with a cutting movement towards the exterior of the trench 6.
  • the suction device 18 will be arranged so as to suck up the excavated material at the top or close to the top of the trench, but still isolating the excavated material by collecting the excavated material and recirculating it in the trench 6 downstream of the cable laying devices, i.e., the depression device 19, so as to isolate said excavated material below the bed of the water body without contaminating the sea environment.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un ensemble (1) pour excaver des tranchées sous-marines, comprenant un dispositif de coupe et de levage (7) pour couper et soulever au moins une motte de fond marin (11) à partir du fond marin (4) ce qui permet d'éviter que cette motte de fond marin (11) ne se sépare de la partie restante du fond marin (4) tout en libérant un chemin d'excavation (P) conçu pour créer une tranchée (6) ; un dispositif d'excavation (5) pour excaver le fond marin (4), ladite au moins une motte de fond marin (11) ayant été coupée et soulevée pour former ladite tranchée (6) produisant un matériau excavé ; un dispositif de dépression (19), apte à guider un câble (13) qui doit être posé dans ladite tranchée (6) pour le déposer dans ladite tranchée (4) ; un dispositif d'aspiration (18) pour aspirer ledit matériau excavé ; un dispositif de diffusion (20) pour la distribution dudit matériau excavé et le remplissage de ladite tranchée (6) une fois ledit câble (13) posé sur le fond ; un dispositif de recirculation (39) pour collecter le matériau excavé à partir dudit dispositif d'aspiration (18) et l'envoyer audit dispositif de diffusion (20) de manière à isoler ledit matériau excavé à l'intérieur de ladite tranchée (6) formant un circuit fermé pour le matériau excavé qui a été collecté pendant la formation de la tranchée (6), et qui retourne à la tranchée (6) ; un dispositif de restauration d'au moins une motte de fond marin (11) dans son site en fermant ladite tranchée (6) au sommet et en préservant la zone au-dessus de ladite motte de fond marin (11) évitant la dispersion dudit matériau excavé à l'extérieur de ladite tranchée (6).
PCT/IB2022/056794 2021-07-23 2022-07-22 Ensemble et procédé pour excaver des tranchées sous-marines WO2023002448A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22750734.0A EP4374015A1 (fr) 2021-07-23 2022-07-22 Ensemble et procédé pour excaver des tranchées sous-marines

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102021000019700 2021-07-23
IT102021000019700A IT202100019700A1 (it) 2021-07-23 2021-07-23 Assieme e metodo per l’interro di cavi subacquei

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WO2023002448A1 true WO2023002448A1 (fr) 2023-01-26

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Country Link
EP (1) EP4374015A1 (fr)
IT (1) IT202100019700A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2023002448A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN116815852A (zh) * 2023-07-03 2023-09-29 甘肃省水利水电工程局有限责任公司 一种用于水利水电工程施工用自动埋线装置

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JPS58113432A (ja) * 1981-12-26 1983-07-06 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 海底掘削装置
JPH08189058A (ja) * 1995-01-06 1996-07-23 Kansai Electric Power Co Inc:The ケーブル埋設方法及びケーブル埋設機
EP1167636B1 (fr) * 2000-06-21 2004-07-28 Georg Föckersperger GmbH Dispositif pour former des tranchées dans le sol

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IT951208B (it) 1972-04-07 1973-06-30 Tecnomare Spa Veicolo sottomarino per interrare cavi e condotte
FR2497915B1 (fr) 1981-01-14 1985-11-22 Travocean Dispositif pour mettre en place un cable dans une tranchee pratiquee au fond de la mer
AU557934B2 (en) 1981-12-19 1987-01-15 British Petroleum Company Limited, The Underwater plough and conduit layer
GB8301514D0 (en) 1983-01-20 1983-02-23 British Petroleum Co Plc Plough assembly
FR2660494B1 (fr) 1990-03-29 1992-10-16 Eca Systeme pour la pose sur un fond sous-marin d'un cable au moyen d'un navire cablier.
US9422690B2 (en) 2012-11-30 2016-08-23 Michael W. N. Wilson Method and apparatus for performing burial assessment surveys

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58113432A (ja) * 1981-12-26 1983-07-06 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 海底掘削装置
JPH08189058A (ja) * 1995-01-06 1996-07-23 Kansai Electric Power Co Inc:The ケーブル埋設方法及びケーブル埋設機
EP1167636B1 (fr) * 2000-06-21 2004-07-28 Georg Föckersperger GmbH Dispositif pour former des tranchées dans le sol

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN116815852A (zh) * 2023-07-03 2023-09-29 甘肃省水利水电工程局有限责任公司 一种用于水利水电工程施工用自动埋线装置
CN116815852B (zh) * 2023-07-03 2024-02-23 甘肃省水利水电工程局有限责任公司 一种用于水利水电工程施工用自动埋线装置

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EP4374015A1 (fr) 2024-05-29
IT202100019700A1 (it) 2023-01-23

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