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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9746104-B2
Application number	US-201414895787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

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

The invention claimed is:

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, the drum further comprising
a drive mechanism configured for driving the or each turn(s) of the elongate element on the circumferential casing; and
the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of movement assemblies configured to move the turn along a direction of movement (D), said direction of movement and the local axis of the turn forming a non-zero angle at a contact region of the turn on the movement assemblies,
the drum further comprising two laterally spaced apart flanges and a linkage assembly connecting the two laterally spaced apart flanges, and delimiting, for each movement assembly, an external channel configured to receive the movement assembly opening radially away from the central axis (B-B′),
the linkage assembly including a plurality of axial beams connecting the flanges to each other, the external channel being defined by two adjacent axial beams,
each movement assembly further comprising an endless organ configured to be moved along the direction (D), and a second assembly to set in motion the endless organ, the endless organ and the 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,
each movement assembly further comprising an outer section of the endless organ received in the external 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 external channel, at least a first group of the inner channels being offset radially away from the central axis (B-B′) relative to a second group of the inner channels.

2. The 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. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of movement (D) is parallel to the central axis of rotation (B-B′) of the drum.

4. The 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. The 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. The 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 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. The 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. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the 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. The 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′).

10. 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.

11. A method of laying an elongate element in a stretch of water, comprising the steps of:
providing an installation according to claim 10 , 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 assemblies of at least one turn of the elongate element in a direction of movement (D), said direction of movement and the local axis of the turn forming a non-zero angle at a contact region of the turn on the movement assemblies.

12. The 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.

13. The 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

• B66D1/7447

  driven by motor only · CPC title

• F16L1/207 Primary

  Pipe handling apparatus · CPC title

• F16L1/235 Primary

  Apparatus for controlling the pipe during laying · CPC title

• F16L1/203

  the pipes being wound spirally prior to laying · CPC title