EP0112877A1 - Machine de creusement de tranchees sous-marines. - Google Patents

Machine de creusement de tranchees sous-marines.

Info

Publication number
EP0112877A1
EP0112877A1 EP19830902110 EP83902110A EP0112877A1 EP 0112877 A1 EP0112877 A1 EP 0112877A1 EP 19830902110 EP19830902110 EP 19830902110 EP 83902110 A EP83902110 A EP 83902110A EP 0112877 A1 EP0112877 A1 EP 0112877A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sled
trench
pipeline
loops
discharge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP19830902110
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0112877B1 (fr
Inventor
Daniel Kai Carstens
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CARSTENS, DANIEL KAI
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0112877A1 publication Critical patent/EP0112877A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0112877B1 publication Critical patent/EP0112877B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • E02F5/108—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
    • E02F5/105—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
    • E02F5/107—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 blowing-effect devices, e.g. jets
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
    • E02F9/02—Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears
    • E02F9/026—Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears for moving on the underwater bottom

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an underwater trenching machine which will cut a trench under a pipeline and also remove the spoil from the trench to allow the pipeline to fall into the trench under its own weight.
  • Some underwater trenching machines comprise a sled which is tethered by a cable to a barge which, as it moves forwards on the surface of the sea, pulls the sled along the seabed. With such machines problems arise due to an increase or decrease in the cable tension as the barge rides on the sea. It is therefore desirable to produce the forward propulsion from the sled itself and independent of barge motion.
  • tractor type machines having hydraulic or electric drive, which are propelled by wheels or endless tracks in engagement with the pipeline itself or the seabed.
  • a problem is to get enough friction between the wheels and the pipe without damaging the latter or its anti-corrosive coating, or, where the tractor drives on the seabed, for the soil to be firm enough to prevent the track sinking into the mud.
  • Another known machine comprises a sled which uses high pressure water jets aimed in the direction opposite to that in which the sled is to move. These jets propel the sled forward. Some jets are aimed forward to cut the trench and others generally upwards to help push the spoil out of the trench, which is assisted by discharging air at the bottom of the sled.
  • the main disadvantage of this system is that in order to get a net forward thrust on the sled more water must be discharged to the rear of the sled than to the front.
  • an object of this invention is to provide an underwater trenching machine which overcomes the above disadvantages.
  • the invention consists in an underwater trenching machine comprising a sled having means for supporting it on and for guiding it for movement along a pipeline, means, e.g.
  • nozzles directing water jets at the face of the trench to break up soil in the forward path of the sled, and at least one water jet pump of which the water stream discharges into an eductor tube having its inlet adjacent the bottom of the sled and facing in the forward direction of sled movement and its discharge outlet aimed in a sideways outward and mainly rearward direction of the sled.
  • the high pressure pump jet produces suction in the eductor that lifts the mud out of the trench being cut and discharges it to the side and rear of the trench, the water jet and spoil discharge producing a reaction on the sled in the forward direction which is used to propel the sled forwards.
  • the sled is equipped with two water jet pumps of which the eductor tubes discharge to opposite sides respectively of the sled, and mainly rearwardly.
  • Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a sled according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.
  • the sled 1 comprises a frame formed of two loops of pipe 2,2' spaced apart in parallel upright planes by interconnecting pipes 3 to form a kind of saddle which straddles a pipeline 4 to be laid in a trench 5 cut by the sled.
  • the sled rests on the pipeline 4 by transverse rollers 6,7, faced with rubber or other resilient material, mounted between the pairs of front and rear vertical runs of the two pipe loops respectively.
  • the sled is further transversely guided on the pipeline 4 by pairs of rollers 8,8', 9,9', also resiliently faced, mounted for rotation about vertical axes at the front and rear of the sled respectively on the pipe loops at opposite sides of the pipeline 4.
  • the sled also comprises two eductor tubes 10,10' carried from the respective pipe loops 2 and 2'.
  • Each inlet connects with a vertical section 12 which leads to an elbow 13 connecting with a horizontal discharge section 14,14' which is directed outwardly sideways and mainly rearwardly of the sled, the discharge sections 14,14' extending symmetrically to opposite sides of the sled.
  • each elbow 13 In each elbow 13 is a nozzle 15 aimed along the respective discharge section. Water is fed to the nozzles 15 by feed pipes 1 6, 1 6 ' which may be interconnected so that only a single hose connection 17 is required. Between each elbow 13 and its discharge section there is preferably a venturi pipe reducer 24, for example from 30 cms diameter to 25 cms diameter, corresponding to the diameters of the tube sections 12 and 1 4 respectively.
  • Each front vertical run of a pipe loop 2,2' is provided with nozzles 18 to provide small jets of water aimed at the front of the trench 5. These break up the soil in front of the trenching machine. Further nozzles 19 may be provided along the bottom run of each pipe loop. High pressure water from a pump unit on a barge is supplied to the pipe loops through a hose connection 20 at the top rear end or front end of one of the pipe loops.
  • the soil loosened by the nozzles 18,19 is removed from the trench through the eductor tubes.
  • the high pressure water streams of the water jet pumps aimed rearwardly along the discharge sections 14,14', create suction in the eductors which lifts the spoil out of the trench 5 via their inlet ends 11 and discharges it to the side and rear of the sled through the discharge sections 14,14'.
  • the reaction of the water jet pump and the spoil propels the sled forwards and keeps it in contact with the trench face, being guided along the pipeline 4.
  • buoyancy tanks 21 At the top of the pipe loops. They also provide an uprighting force to keep the sled upright as it rides along the pipeline 4. Transverse rubber faced rollers 22,23 may also be fitted to the machine, after it has been positioned on the pipeline, to prevent it from lifting.
  • Bach tank 21 is provided with a valve in its upper part to allow air to escape, and an open pipe 21' to allow a diver to fill the tank with air after the sled is positioned on the pipeline 4 and the rollers 22,23 locked under the pipeline.
  • the pipes 21' being open prevent the buoyancy tanks from becoming pressurised vessels.
  • the machine according to the invention has the advantage that the same power that is used for soil removal is also used for propulsion, only one power source being necessary.
  • the spoil removal pressure source does not have to be as high as that needed to cut the trench. This lowers the cost of the pumps required on the barge. Further, the water jet pump efficiency does not decrease noticeably, if at all, with increasing depth of operation. The spoil is also discharged well to the side of the trench being cut.
  • the machine may be equipped with more than one pair of eductors. If desired the spoil removal, propulsion and jetting water can be supplied through a common hose from a single pump source.
  • the hose or hoses may be connected to the front end of one or both of the pipe loops.
  • the soil at the face of the trench may be broken up by a mechanical cutter, or, by a combination of mechanical cutting means and water jets, the loosened soil being removed by the eductors and discharged outwardly and rearwardly to propel the machine forwardly and against the face of the trench being cut.
  • the rollers may be moved into or out of their operative positions by hydraulic or other power means and may be replaced by other means which permit the sled to be advanced.
  • the machine may also be used for laying cables.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
  • Sewage (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)

Abstract

Machine de creusement de tranchées sous-marines pour des pipelines, dans laquelle un traîneau (1), comprenant deux boucles de conduite (2) disposées dans des plans verticaux sur les côtés opposés du pipeline (4) et reliées par des conduites transversales (3), est maintenu et guidé de manière à pouvoir se déplacer le long du pipeline par des rouleaux revêtus de caoutchouc (6, 7, 8, 9). De l'eau à haute pression est envoyée aux boucles au travers du raccord (20). Des ajutages (18) dans la partie verticale antérieure des boucles (2) désagrègent le sol sur le front de la tranchée (5). Des ajutages (15) de pompes à jet d'eau aspirent la terre du fond de la tranchée au travers des orifices d'admission orientés vers l'avant (11), à proximité du fond du traîneau, de deux tuyaux d'extraction (10) portés par les boucles (2) sur les côtés opposés du pipeline, et la déchargent au travers d'orifices de sortie de décharge (14) dirigés respectivement latéralement vers l'extérieur et principalement vers l'arrière du traîneau. La décharge d'eau et de terre produit une réaction qui propulse le traîneau vers l'avant.
EP19830902110 1982-06-29 1983-06-28 Machine de creusement de tranchees sous-marines Expired EP0112877B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8218816 1982-06-29
GB8218816 1982-06-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0112877A1 true EP0112877A1 (fr) 1984-07-11
EP0112877B1 EP0112877B1 (fr) 1986-10-01

Family

ID=10531365

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19830902110 Expired EP0112877B1 (fr) 1982-06-29 1983-06-28 Machine de creusement de tranchees sous-marines

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0112877B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3366582D1 (fr)
DK (1) DK152549C (fr)
NO (1) NO840667L (fr)
WO (1) WO1984000183A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5047083A (en) * 1989-06-15 1991-09-10 Nalco Chemical Company Process for de-oiling mill scale
US5125966A (en) * 1990-12-20 1992-06-30 Nalco Chemical Company Process for de-oiling mill sludge
NL9400605A (nl) * 1994-04-15 1995-11-01 Oord Acz B V Van Werkwijze en inrichting voor het onder water ingraven van een langwerpig voorwerp.
US9745716B1 (en) * 2015-12-21 2017-08-29 Michael W. N. Wilson Jet trenching system

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3576111A (en) * 1968-07-03 1971-04-27 Urban A Henry Jr Underwater pipeline-burying apparatus
US4087981A (en) * 1971-08-27 1978-05-09 Norman Offshore Services Inc. Buoyant self-propelled underwater trenching apparatus
GB1479459A (en) * 1974-11-05 1977-07-13 Mobell Ltd Underwater trenching machines and methods of excavating trenches on the sea bed
US4114390A (en) * 1976-06-28 1978-09-19 Shell Oil Company Burying a conduit in the bottom of a body of water

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8400183A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0112877B1 (fr) 1986-10-01
DE3366582D1 (en) 1986-11-06
DK113084D0 (da) 1984-02-28
WO1984000183A1 (fr) 1984-01-19
DK152549B (da) 1988-03-14
NO840667L (no) 1984-02-22
DK152549C (da) 1988-08-15
DK113084A (da) 1984-02-28

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