EP0747540A1 - Underwater suction dredging unit and method therefor - Google Patents

Underwater suction dredging unit and method therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0747540A1
EP0747540A1 EP96201510A EP96201510A EP0747540A1 EP 0747540 A1 EP0747540 A1 EP 0747540A1 EP 96201510 A EP96201510 A EP 96201510A EP 96201510 A EP96201510 A EP 96201510A EP 0747540 A1 EP0747540 A1 EP 0747540A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
dredging
dredging unit
discharge pipe
frame
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
EP96201510A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0747540B1 (en
Inventor
Dirk Heijboer
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.)
VAN OORD ACZ BV
Original Assignee
VAN OORD ACZ BV
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by VAN OORD ACZ BV filed Critical VAN OORD ACZ BV
Publication of EP0747540A1 publication Critical patent/EP0747540A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0747540B1 publication Critical patent/EP0747540B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/88—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with arrangements acting by a sucking or forcing effect, e.g. suction dredgers
    • E02F3/8858—Submerged units
    • E02F3/8875—Submerged units pulled or pushed
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/88—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with arrangements acting by a sucking or forcing effect, e.g. suction dredgers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method to be used in dredging, wherein material present on the seabed is dredged by means of a dredging unit, which is suspended from a vessel.
  • the working depth is thereby limited to ⁇ 100 m below the water surface.
  • a jet pump suspended from a vessel is sometimes used for dredging at great depth. Also when such a jet pump is used the material can only be transported over a comparatively small distance from the place where the material is dredged, whilst it is hardly possible to check the direction in which the dredged material is transported.
  • An example of this is the laying of a pipeline, where the pipeline must frequently be laid on an underwater bed of rubble or the like.
  • the bottom layer is soft, it is necessary to remove said soft bottom layer first before depositing the rubble layer, in order to ensure a stable position of the rubble layer.
  • an effective transport of material can be achieved also at great depth in that material dredged by means of the dredging unit is supplied to a discharge pipe suspended under water from a vessel and coupled to said dredging unit, via which discharge pipe the material is deposited on the bottom of the sea at some distance from the dredging place.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a device provided with a dredging unit, said device comprising a frame which is provided with propulsion means, by which the device can be moved in any desired direction.
  • a dredging unit of this type may be suspended from the vessel, and by using the frame provided with propulsion means it is possible to effect an accurate positioning of the dredging unit during operation and thus an accurate execution of the intended dredging work.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vessel from which a dredging unit as well as a discharge pipe are suspended.
  • Figure 2 is a larger-scale schematic view of a dredging unit and a frame supporting said dredging unit, which frame is provided with propulsion means.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a vessel or ship 1, which is provided with at least one screw 2 for the normal propulsion of the vehicle, as well as bow and stern screws 3 and 4 respectively, by means of which a propulsion force transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vessel can be exerted on the vessel.
  • the vessel is preferably provided with a positioning system, by means of which the propulsion means in the shape of screws 2 - 4 in the illustrated embodiment, which are computer-controlled or the like, are controlled in such a manner that the vessel will remain at a desired location or is moved along a desired path and at a desired speed.
  • a dredging unit comprising a frame 6 is suspended from the vessel by means of cables 5 during operation.
  • Propulsion means for example in the shape of screws 7 to be driven by driving means (not shown), are provided in the frame of the dredging unit.
  • the axes of rotation of the screws 7 schematically shown in Figure 2 extend perpendicularly to the plane of drawing.
  • two further screws will be provided in the frame, which will be arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertically extending central axis of the frame and whose axes of rotation will extend perpendicularly to the axes of rotation of screws 7, so that the frame 6 can be propelled in any desired direction by the propulsion means in the form of the various screws by suitably driving said screws.
  • propulsion means other than screws, for example jet nozzles or the like.
  • Frames of this type provided with propulsion means are known per se, as appears for example from EP-A-0 570 034.
  • a suction pump 8 to be driven by a motor 19 is mounted within frame 6, said suction pump being connected, via a suction pipe 9, to a suction means 10 or the like supported by frame 6. Furthermore a jet nozzle 11 is connected to said suction means 10, which jet nozzle is in communication with a jet pump 12 mounted within frame 6.
  • a pressure pipe 13 of suction pump 8 is connected, via a ball joint 14, to the end of a substantially horizontally extending discharge pipe 15, which is suspended from vessel 1 by means of cables 16 and 17, which are unwound from winches present on the ship.
  • a pipe having a comparatively great length can be supported by a few spaced-apart cables by disposing pipe 15 in the longitudinal direction of the ship 1. It will be conceivable to use another vessel or a flexible pipe suspended in the water, which is for example coupled to a vessel and/or anchored in the seabed at one end, to support pipe 15.
  • suction means 10 When frame 6 has arrived at a position located ⁇ 3 metres above the bottom surface, suction means 10 may be placed on the bottom by means of a cable 18 connected to suction pipe 9, which cable co-operates for example with a setting cylinder (not shown) or the like hoisting device mounted within frame 6. Water may be squirted into suction means 10 by means of one or more jet pumps 12 and jet nozzle(s) 11, if necessary, whilst the material to be dredged can be sucked in by means of suction pump 8 via suction pipe 9, and be forced out via pressure pipe 13 and pipe 15.
  • Signals for controlling the various means provided in frame 6 can be sent to the respective means from the ship and be received in return via a cable 20.
  • Cable 20 may also be utilized for the power supply of driving means.
  • the ship 1 may be moved along a desired path, transversely to its longitudinal direction during the dredging of the material, so that suction means 10 or the like is moved in the desired manner across the area to be worked.
  • the dredging unit supporting suction means 10 can be moved in any desired direction and, within certain limits, over any desired distance across the bottom surface, by its own propulsion means 7, the dredging unit comprising suction means 10 can be moved in a very accurate manner with respect to the bottom surface, so that the intended area can be worked in a very accurate manner by means of the dredging unit.
  • the dredged material is at the same time moved over a large distance from the area to be dredged via discharge pipe 15 and accurately deposited at the desired location, at a sufficiently large distance from the area to be dredged.

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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)
  • Treatment Of Sludge (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)
  • Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
  • Underground Or Underwater Handling Of Building Materials (AREA)
  • Mechanical Means For Catching Fish (AREA)
  • Separation Of Suspended Particles By Flocculating Agents (AREA)
  • Placing Or Removing Of Piles Or Sheet Piles, Or Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Hooks, Suction Cups, And Attachment By Adhesive Means (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device to be used in dredging. Material present on the seabed is dredged by means of a dredging unit, which is suspended from a vessel (1). Material dredged by means of the dredging unit is supplied to a discharge pipe suspended (5) under water from a vessel (1) and coupled to the dredging unit, via which discharge pipe the material is deposited on the bottom of the sea at some distance from the dredging place. The device is provided with a dredging unit comprising a frame (6) which is provided with propulsion means, by which the device can be moved in any desired direction.

Description

  • The invention relates to a method to be used in dredging, wherein material present on the seabed is dredged by means of a dredging unit, which is suspended from a vessel.
  • When waterways are dredged to their desired depth, use is frequently made of draghead suction installations suspended from vessels, whereby a dredging unit suspended from the vessel is moved across the bottom by means of the vessel and material present on the bottom is sucked up and deposited into the vessel in question or into a vessel which is present nearby.
  • The working depth is thereby limited to ± 100 m below the water surface.
  • Special water craft capable of moving across underwater surfaces have been developed for operating at great depths. Such craft can only be used, however, if the underwater surface extends in a regular, more or less horizontal manner and the underwater surface possesses sufficient bearing capacity to support the craft. Another drawback of using said craft is the fact that the material can only be transported over a relatively small distance from the craft.
  • Furthermore a jet pump suspended from a vessel is sometimes used for dredging at great depth. Also when such a jet pump is used the material can only be transported over a comparatively small distance from the place where the material is dredged, whilst it is hardly possible to check the direction in which the dredged material is transported.
  • Exploiters of offshore gas and crude oil wells feel an increasing need to be able to place installations on a solid foundation, also at great depth. An example of this is the laying of a pipeline, where the pipeline must frequently be laid on an underwater bed of rubble or the like. When the bottom layer is soft, it is necessary to remove said soft bottom layer first before depositing the rubble layer, in order to ensure a stable position of the rubble layer.
  • According to the invention an effective transport of material can be achieved also at great depth in that material dredged by means of the dredging unit is supplied to a discharge pipe suspended under water from a vessel and coupled to said dredging unit, via which discharge pipe the material is deposited on the bottom of the sea at some distance from the dredging place.
  • By using the method according to the invention it is possible to dredge material at a desired location, also at great depth, and then deposit said material at a further desired location.
  • In practice it has been established that it is also possible thereby to carry out dredging work in an accurate manner at great depths of more than 350 metres.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a device provided with a dredging unit, said device comprising a frame which is provided with propulsion means, by which the device can be moved in any desired direction.
  • A dredging unit of this type may be suspended from the vessel, and by using the frame provided with propulsion means it is possible to effect an accurate positioning of the dredging unit during operation and thus an accurate execution of the intended dredging work.
  • The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying Figures.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vessel from which a dredging unit as well as a discharge pipe are suspended.
  • Figure 2 is a larger-scale schematic view of a dredging unit and a frame supporting said dredging unit, which frame is provided with propulsion means.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a vessel or ship 1, which is provided with at least one screw 2 for the normal propulsion of the vehicle, as well as bow and stern screws 3 and 4 respectively, by means of which a propulsion force transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vessel can be exerted on the vessel. Furthermore the vessel is preferably provided with a positioning system, by means of which the propulsion means in the shape of screws 2 - 4 in the illustrated embodiment, which are computer-controlled or the like, are controlled in such a manner that the vessel will remain at a desired location or is moved along a desired path and at a desired speed.
  • A dredging unit comprising a frame 6 is suspended from the vessel by means of cables 5 during operation. Propulsion means, for example in the shape of screws 7 to be driven by driving means (not shown), are provided in the frame of the dredging unit. The axes of rotation of the screws 7 schematically shown in Figure 2 extend perpendicularly to the plane of drawing.
  • Besides the two screws 7 shown in the Figure two further screws will be provided in the frame, which will be arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertically extending central axis of the frame and whose axes of rotation will extend perpendicularly to the axes of rotation of screws 7, so that the frame 6 can be propelled in any desired direction by the propulsion means in the form of the various screws by suitably driving said screws. Of course it will also be conceivable to provide propulsion means other than screws, for example jet nozzles or the like. Frames of this type provided with propulsion means are known per se, as appears for example from EP-A-0 570 034.
  • Furthermore a suction pump 8 to be driven by a motor 19 is mounted within frame 6, said suction pump being connected, via a suction pipe 9, to a suction means 10 or the like supported by frame 6. Furthermore a jet nozzle 11 is connected to said suction means 10, which jet nozzle is in communication with a jet pump 12 mounted within frame 6.
  • A pressure pipe 13 of suction pump 8 is connected, via a ball joint 14, to the end of a substantially horizontally extending discharge pipe 15, which is suspended from vessel 1 by means of cables 16 and 17, which are unwound from winches present on the ship. A pipe having a comparatively great length can be supported by a few spaced-apart cables by disposing pipe 15 in the longitudinal direction of the ship 1. It will be conceivable to use another vessel or a flexible pipe suspended in the water, which is for example coupled to a vessel and/or anchored in the seabed at one end, to support pipe 15.
  • After ship 1 has arrived at the desired location frame 6 and suction means 10 supported by frame 6, as well as pipe 15 connected to pump 8, may be lowered by paying out cables 5, 16 and 17 by means of the winches present on ship 1.
  • When frame 6 has arrived at a position located ± 3 metres above the bottom surface, suction means 10 may be placed on the bottom by means of a cable 18 connected to suction pipe 9, which cable co-operates for example with a setting cylinder (not shown) or the like hoisting device mounted within frame 6. Water may be squirted into suction means 10 by means of one or more jet pumps 12 and jet nozzle(s) 11, if necessary, whilst the material to be dredged can be sucked in by means of suction pump 8 via suction pipe 9, and be forced out via pressure pipe 13 and pipe 15.
  • Signals for controlling the various means provided in frame 6 can be sent to the respective means from the ship and be received in return via a cable 20. Cable 20 may also be utilized for the power supply of driving means.
  • The ship 1 may be moved along a desired path, transversely to its longitudinal direction during the dredging of the material, so that suction means 10 or the like is moved in the desired manner across the area to be worked.
  • Because not only the ship can be moved in an accurate manner along a desired path by its propulsion means, but because also the frame 6 of the dredging unit supporting suction means 10 can be moved in any desired direction and, within certain limits, over any desired distance across the bottom surface, by its own propulsion means 7, the dredging unit comprising suction means 10 can be moved in a very accurate manner with respect to the bottom surface, so that the intended area can be worked in a very accurate manner by means of the dredging unit. The dredged material is at the same time moved over a large distance from the area to be dredged via discharge pipe 15 and accurately deposited at the desired location, at a sufficiently large distance from the area to be dredged.
  • The above-described method makes it possible to carry out dredging work with great accuracy at depths of up to 500 metres or more. Of course it is also possible to use the method in shallow water.

Claims (8)

  1. A method to be used in dredging, wherein material present on the seabed is dredged by means of a dredging unit, which is suspended from a vessel, characterized in that material dredged by means of the dredging unit is supplied to a discharge pipe suspended under water from a vessel and coupled to said dredging unit, via which discharge pipe the material is deposited on the bottom of the sea at some distance from the dredging place.
  2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said dredging unit and the discharge pipe connected to said dredging unit are suspended from a vessel, which is provided with propulsion means, by which the vessel can be moved both in its longitudinal direction and in a direction transversely to its longitudinal direction.
  3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said discharge pipe is suspended from said vessel in such manner as to extend at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vessel.
  4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dredging unit and said discharge pipe are lowered and/or raised by means of cables or the like, which are provided between said dredging unit and said discharge pipe and winches provided on said vessel.
  5. A device for carrying out the method according to any one of the claims 1 - 4, characterized in that said device is provided with a dredging unit comprising a frame which is provided with propulsion means, by which the device can be moved in any desired direction.
  6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that a pump is provided in said frame, which pump is connected to a suction means or the like via a suction pipe and which is connected to said discharge pipe via a pressure pipe.
  7. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said pressure pipe of said pump and said discharge pipe are coupled via a ball joint.
  8. A device according to any one of the claims 5 - 7, characterized in that said suction means or the like is coupled to said frame in such manner as to be vertically adjustable.
EP96201510A 1995-06-08 1996-05-29 Underwater suction dredging unit and method therefor Expired - Lifetime EP0747540B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1000518A NL1000518C1 (en) 1995-06-08 1995-06-08 Method of dredging.
NL1000518 1995-06-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0747540A1 true EP0747540A1 (en) 1996-12-11
EP0747540B1 EP0747540B1 (en) 2001-08-01

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ID=19761133

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96201510A Expired - Lifetime EP0747540B1 (en) 1995-06-08 1996-05-29 Underwater suction dredging unit and method therefor

Country Status (6)

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EP (1) EP0747540B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE203790T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69614196T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0747540T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2161326T3 (en)
NL (1) NL1000518C1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2684359B1 (en) 2017-03-31 2019-07-09 Nodosa S L SUBMERGED AUTONOMOUS DRAGING EQUIPMENT

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456371A (en) * 1965-05-06 1969-07-22 Kennecott Copper Corp Process and apparatus for mining deposits on the sea floor
NL6906639A (en) * 1968-05-02 1969-11-04
US3659712A (en) * 1970-10-16 1972-05-02 Merle P Chaplin Removing deep silt and muck deposits
NL8302679A (en) * 1983-07-27 1985-02-18 Hydrowega Holland B V Amphibious dredging vehicle for shallow water-ways - has rectangular pontoon with four corner columns on tracked vehicle base
AU590125B2 (en) * 1986-09-25 1989-10-26 Johann Franz KAISER Improvements to dredges
EP0570034A1 (en) 1992-05-14 1993-11-18 Van Oord Acz B.V. A device for depositing material under water

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456371A (en) * 1965-05-06 1969-07-22 Kennecott Copper Corp Process and apparatus for mining deposits on the sea floor
NL6906639A (en) * 1968-05-02 1969-11-04
US3659712A (en) * 1970-10-16 1972-05-02 Merle P Chaplin Removing deep silt and muck deposits
NL8302679A (en) * 1983-07-27 1985-02-18 Hydrowega Holland B V Amphibious dredging vehicle for shallow water-ways - has rectangular pontoon with four corner columns on tracked vehicle base
AU590125B2 (en) * 1986-09-25 1989-10-26 Johann Franz KAISER Improvements to dredges
EP0570034A1 (en) 1992-05-14 1993-11-18 Van Oord Acz B.V. A device for depositing material under water

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
J.L. MERO: "Economics of Deep-Sea Mining", MINING CONGRESS JOURNAL, September 1961 (1961-09-01), WASHINGTON, pages 52 - 68, XP002013646 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2161326T3 (en) 2001-12-01
DE69614196T2 (en) 2002-04-18
DE69614196D1 (en) 2001-09-06
DK0747540T3 (en) 2001-10-22
EP0747540B1 (en) 2001-08-01
ATE203790T1 (en) 2001-08-15
NL1000518C1 (en) 1996-12-10

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