SUBMARINE ELEMENT DRIVING MEANS

Abstract: Submarin element driving means (1) comprising a frame (2) capable of being anchored to a bottom (5) and means (3) for the production of holes (4) in the bottom (5) and for the driving of elements (6) intended for piling or other purposes into said holes (4) once they have been produced. A simple and effective means enabling piling elements (6) to be driven into the surface of a bottom (5) in any desired direction irrespective of the nature of the bottom is achieved by means of the invention. The means (3) is mounted in bearings in such a way as to be capable of being rotated about a bearing shaft (12A) extending along the bottom (5), thereby enabling holes to be produced in the bottom and the elements in question to be driven into the bottom simultaneously in a single operation by driving spiral piling elements (6) into the bottom (5) at the desired angle in relation to a plumb-line, with anchoring means being formed by spiral anchoring means (19) capable of being screwed down into the bottom (5).

Description: Submarine element driving means I The present invention relates to a submarine element driving means comprising a frame capable of being anchored to a bottom and means both for the production of holes in the bottom and for the driving of elements intended for piling or other purposes into said holes. Previously disclosed in US A 4,181,455 is a submarine means intended for the driving of a pile—shaped element designed for mooring purposes, for instance, into a bottom beneath the surface of the water. The means described is, however, complicated with regard both to its construction and its application, and it is not possible to produce, for instance, inclined holes for piles or other elements intended for other purposes which it is wished to secure to the bottom. The principal object of the present invention is thus to make available a means of the kind indicated above which, amongst other things, will overcome said disadvantages. Said purpose is achieved by a means in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that said means is attached to the frame in such a way as to be capable of being rotated relative to it and about a bearing shaft running along the bottom, thereby enabling holes to be produced in the bottom and the elements in question to be driven into the bottom simultaneously in a single operation by driving spiral pile elements into the bottom at a desired angle in relation to a plumb—line after rotating the means and after adjusting the spiral pile element to the desired angle, and in that the anchoring means is formed by spiral anchoring means capable of being screwed down into the bottom and which can be caused by driving units located on the frame to be screwed down into the bottom at a desired angle. The invention is described below as a preferred embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the means viewed from the side; Fig. 2 shows the means viewed from above; Fig. 2A is a section along the line A—A shown in Fig- 2; Fig. 2B is a section along the line B-B shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 3 shows an application for the invention in conjunction with the anchoring of a movable platform; Fig. 3A shows a view from above of the piling pattern for this anchorage system; Fig. 4 shows the invention applied for the purpose of anchoring a pipe to the bottom, and Fig. 5 shows the invention applied for the purpose of anchoring a bottom plate. A so—called submarine element driving means 1 arranged in accordance with the invention comprises not only a frame 2, but also means 3 so arranged both for the production of holes 4 in the bottom 5, preferably a bottom into which it is wished to drive the pile—like elements 6 in question, intended for piling for the purpose of, for example, reinforcing the sea bed in conjunction with the underwater casting of bridge foundations 7 and wharf pillars, etc., and/or for the anchoring of conceivable objects such as movable platforms 8, landing—stages and buoys and beacons, or for pipes 9 which it is wished to anchor to the bottom, beneath the surface 10 of the water and immersed in water 11, and for the driving of the elements 6 in question into the bottom 5 simultaneously in a single operation. Said means 3 may suitably consist of an upper unit attached to the frame 2 by, for example, a double—articulated mounting 12 preferably of the gimbal suspension type, or by some other suitable means of attachment which will permit the means 3 to be rotated to the desired angle in relation to a plumb—line 13 and in relation to a desired compass bearing about an at least imaginary bearing shaft 12A extending along the bottom 5 in question. • Those elements 6 which it is proposed to drive by the means 1 consist of spiral pile elements which, for at least part of their length, exhibit a screw—like flange 6A or some other component projecting sideways from a core 6B by means of which it is possible to produce suitable holes 4 in the bottom 5. A number of pile elements may suitably be so arranged as to be capable of being connected to one another in their longitudinal direction beneath the surface 10 of the water by remote control via, for example, a camera and/or by divers who are present in said water 11. The other functions of the means can also be controlled in said fashion. A magazine 14, preferably in the form of a ring, is intended to hold a number of pile elements 6 around its periphery and suitably a part of said upper unit. The upper unit may suitably consist of a pile screwing means 15 moving vertically up and down the height of the unit, said means preferably being capable of being driven hydraulically, said screwing means 15 also suitably being supported by an arm 16 or by some other supporting means projecting sideways from the central axis 17 of the means and capable of being rotated about said axis 17, which can serve as a plumb—line and can also serve as an axis of oscillation, along a storage space 14A in the magazine 14 . It is thus possible for the screwing means 15 to be rotated about the axis 17, and for the desired element 6 to be driven into the bottom 5 at the desired angle. The frame 2 consists of a number of frame legs 18 extending in a direction away from the pile screwing means 3 , said frame legs preferably being evenly distributed around the periphery of the means so as to extend outwards at identical distances from said upper unit 3. Preferably arranged at the ends 18A of said legs 18 are controllable driving units by means of which the spiral anchoring means 19 can be screwed down into the bottom 5 at the desired angle X in relation to the bottom 5 so as to permit the subsequent precise installation of the pile elements 6 at the desired angle in relation to a compass bearing and to a plumb—line 13. Said anchoring is intended to take place automatically of its own accord. The anchoring means 19 situated furthest to the front in the direction of travel of the means, i.e. that shown in Fig. 2A, may suitably be screwed down first. Said anchoring means 19 may suitably be so arranged as to be capable of being moved along the bottom 5 in relation to the frame 2, preferably in the direction of travel indicated by the arrows (see Fig. 2A), whereby, once said first means 19 has been screwed down into the bottom 5, said first driven means 19 will, in conjunction with the subsequent screwing down of the remaining anchoring means 19, which are so arranged as to be screwed down for each- of the remaining frame legs, be allowed to flex, as it were, i.e. to move in relation to the frame 2, so as to permit the driving of said other.driven means 10 to be achieved at the desired angle X. The frame 2 also exhibits driving means 20, for example crawler tracks or similar, capable of interacting with a bottom 5 so as to enable the means 1 to be moved to a desired point on the bottom. A line 21 or a similar lifting means, which is capable of being attached to a vessel situated at the surface 10 of the water, is capable of being attached to said means 1 for the purpose of enabling it to be raised and lowered from and to a proposed piling .position on a bottom 5. The means and its various functions should suitably be capable of being driven hydraulically, with the driving means intended for same, such as the hydraulic power unit and the control valve, being situated in the upper part 3 of the means. The means 1 can be driven by, for example, electric current supplied either via a cable from the vessel or from its own batteries, etc. The function of the means should be apparent from the foregoing, and the means 1 is thus capable, irrespective of the nature of the bottom, of driving so-called spiral piling elements 6 down into the bottom 5 at a desired angle. The driving of the elements 6 in such a way that they are inclined in relation to a plumb—line 13 offers advantages in conjunction with anchoring applications, for example, since the capacity of the pile to absorb high forces is increased in the case of an inclined pile. The invention is not restricted to what is described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may be modified within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. Submarine element driving means (1) comprising a frame (2) capable of being anchored to a bottom (5) and means (3) both for the production of holes (4) in the bottom (5) and for the driving of elements (6) intended for piling or other purposes into said holes (4), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said means (3) are mounted on the frame (2) in bearings in such a way as to be capable of being rotated relative to the frame and about a bearing shaft (12A) extending along the bottom (5), thereby enabling holes to be produced in the bottom and the elements in question to be driven into the bottom simultaneously in a single operation by driving spiral elements (6) into the bottom at a desired angle in relation to a plumb-line (13) after rotating the means (3) and after adjusting the spiral piling element (6) to the desired angle, and in that the anchoring means is formed by spiral anchoring means (19) capable of being screwed down into the bottom (5) and which can be caused by driving units located on the frame (2) to be screwed down into the bottom (5) at a desired angle (X). 2. Means in accordance with Patent Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the piling element (6) in question is driven down into the bottom (5) at a desired angle and also in relation to a desired compass bearing. 3. Means in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the piling element driving means (3) consists of an upper unit mounted on the frame (2) via a double—articulated mounting (12) of the gimbal suspension type. 4. Means in accordance with Patent Claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said upper unit forms a magazine (14) designed to hold a number of spiral piling element units (6) capable of being connected to one another and of making their own holes in the bottom (5), said magazine preferably being in the form of a ring. 5. Means in accordance with Patent Claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said upper unit contains a pile screwing means (15) moving vertically up and down the height of the unit, said means preferably being capable of being driven hydraulically. 6. Means in accordance with Patent Claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pile screwing means (15) is supported by an arm (16), etc., capable of being rotated about a central axis (17) along a ring—shaped space (14A) in the magazine (14), inside which space (14A) piling units (6) are capable of being held. 7. Means in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame (2) contains a number of frame legs (18) extending in a direction away from the pile screwing means (3), on which are arranged a number of said spiral anchoring means (19) capable of being actuated by driving units. 8. Means in accordance with Patent Claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame -legs (18) are evenly distributed around the periphery of the means and extend at essentially identical distances outwards in a sideways direction from the upper unit (3). 9. Means in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame (2) exhibits driving means (20) for the means (1) capable of interacting with a bottom (5), preferably in the form of crawler tracks or similar. 10. Means in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means (1) is capable of being attached by a line (21) or some other lifting device to a vessel situated at the surface (10) of the water. 11. Means in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means (1) and its various functions are capable of being driven hydraulically, with the driving means intended for same being housed in a watertight space in the upper part (3) of the means.

Inventors: KAHLMAN STURE, KAHLMAN, STURE
Applicants: KAHLMAN INNOVATION AB
Application year: 1985
Main classification: E02D29
IPC codes: E02D7, E02D27, E02D29