Device for laying an elongate element in a stretch of water, associated installation and associated method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153584-A1
Application number	US-201414895787-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This device comprises a drum ( 42 ) to be driven in rotation about a central axis (B-B′), wherein the drum ( 42 ) defines a circumferential casing ( 50 ) for winding the elongate element around the central axis (B-B′), wherein the elongate element is intended to form at least one turn around the central axis (B-B′) on the circumferential casing ( 50 ). It comprises a mechanism ( 44 ) for driving the turn(s) of the elongate element along the circumferential casing ( 50 ). The drive mechanism ( 44 ) comprises at least one assembly ( 80 ) following movement of the turn in a direction of movement (D) forming a non-zero angle with the local axis of the turn, taken at a contact region of the turn on the movement assembly ( 80 ).

First claim

1 . A device for laying an elongate element in a stretch of water, comprising:
a drum configured to be driven in rotation about a central axis (B-B′), the drum defining a circumferential casing for winding the elongate element on the casing around the central axis(B-B′), the elongate element and the casing being configured to form at least one turn about the central axis (B-B′) on the circumferential casing; a drive mechanism configured for driving the or each turn(s) of the elongate element on the circumferential casing; and the drive mechanism comprises at least one movement assembly configured to move the turn along a direction of movement (D) forming a non-zero angle with a local axis of the turn, taken at a contact region of the turn on the movement assembly.

2 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of movement (D) forms an angle of at least 10°, with the local axis of the turn, taken at a contact region of the turn on the movement assembly.

3 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of movement (D) forms an angle of less than 80°, with an axis parallel to the central axis of rotation (B-B′) of the drum, wherein the direction of movement (D) is preferably parallel to the central axis of rotation (B-B′) of the drum.

4 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement assembly extends angularly around the central axis (B-B′) over an angular extent of less than 360°.

5 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of the movement assemblies of the or each turn(s) in a direction of movement (D), the direction of movement (D) forming a non-zero angle with the local axis of the turn, taken at a contact area of the turn on the movement assemblies, the movement assemblies being spaced angularly around the central axis (B-B′).

6 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement assembly comprises an endless organ configured to be moved along the direction of movement (D), and a second assembly to set in motion the endless organ, the endless organ and the setting in motion second assembly being carried by the drum in order for the second assembly to be moved in joint rotation with the drum about the central axis (B-B′).

7 . A device according to claim 6 , wherein the endless organ comprises a chain and a plurality of pads mounted on the chain, each pad defining a channel for receiving a turn of the elongate element.

8 . A device according to claim 6 , wherein the setting in motion second assembly is configured to move the endless organ along the direction of movement (D) under the effect of the driving in rotation of the drum about the central axis (B-B′).

9 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the drum comprises two laterally spaced apart flanges and a linkage assembly connecting the two laterally spaced apart flanges, the linkage assembly defining the circumferential casing and delimiting, for the or each movement assembly(ies), at least one external channel to receive the movement assembly opening radially away from the central axis (B-B′).

10 . A device according to claim 9 , wherein the linkage assembly includes a plurality of axial beams connecting the flanges to each other, the outer receiving channel being defined by two adjacent axial beams.

11 . A device according to claim 10 , wherein the movement assembly comprises an endless organ configured to be moved along the direction of movement (D), and a second assembly to set in motion the endless organ, the endless organ and the setting in motion second assembly being carried by the drum in order for the second assembly to be moved in joint rotation with the drum about the central axis (B-B′) and further comprising an outer section of the endless organ is received in the outer channel, the linkage assembly delimiting an inner channel to receive an inner section of the endless organ, and the inner channel opening radially towards the central axis (B-B′), opposite the outer channel.

12 . A device according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of the movement assemblies, an outer section of the endless organ of each of the movement assemblies being received in an outer channel, an inner section of the endless organ of each of the movement assembles being received in an inner channel, at least a first group of the inner channels is offset radially away from the central axis (B-B′) relative to a second group of the inner channels.

13 . A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a radial movement mechanism of a region of the movement assembly away from the central axis (B-B′), or towards the central axis (B-B′).

14 . An installation for laying an elongate element in a stretch of water, comprising:
a surface assembly extending on a surface of the stretch of water; a device according to claim 1 , carried by the surface assembly, the drum being mounted on the surface assembly to rotate about the central axis (B-B′); and an elongate element having at least one turn wound around the drum, a contact region of the turn being supported on the movement assembly, the direction of movement (D) defined by the movement assembly forming a non-zero angle with the local axis of the turn taken at the contact region.

15 . A method of laying an elongate element in a stretch of water, comprising the steps of:
providing an installation according to claim 14 , the elongate element having at least one turn wound around the drum; driving the drum to rotate about the central axis (B-B′) in order to raise or lower the elongate element in the stretch of water; and simultaneously moving by the movement assembly of at least one turn of the elongate element in a direction of movement (D) forming a non-zero angle with the local axis of the turn at a contact region of the turn on the movement assembly.

16 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of movement (D) forms an angle of at least 45° with the local axis of the turn, taken at a contact region of the turn on the movement assembly.

17 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of movement (D) forms an angle of less than 45° with an axis parallel to the central axis of rotation (B-B′) of the drum, wherein the direction of movement (D) is parallel to the central axis of rotation (B-B′) of the drum.

18 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement assembly extends angularly around the central axis (B-B′) over an angular extent of less than 45°.

Assignees

• Technip France

Inventors

• Maloberti René

Classifications

• B66D1/7489

  having a particular use, e.g. rope ascenders · CPC title

• F16L1/19

  the pipes being J-shaped · CPC title

• F16L1/203

  the pipes being wound spirally prior to laying · CPC title

• F16L1/207 Primary

  Pipe handling apparatus · CPC title

• F16L1/205

  Pipe-laying ships (F16L1/225, F16L1/23 and F16L1/235 take precedence) · CPC title