MOBILE APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT WORK BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW WATER

Abstract: Mobile dredging apparatus movable on caterpillar tracks (2) or the like and provided with an energy unit (8, 10), energy consuming motors (11) for moving and dredging and exten­ dable line connections (9) between unit (8,10) and motors (11). The unit is removable and can be placed at a higher level (15) of the frame or on a vessel (16) so that the dredging area can reach from the beach through the coastal area up to the water depths corresponding to the length of the line connection (9).

Description: The invention relates to a mobile apparatus for carrying out work both above and below water, such as earth-moving work, comprising a frame with means for moving the frame, such as driven caterpillar tracks,, means for carrying out the work, such as a dredge pump with suction line and delivery line, and with an energy source comprising a combustion engine and an energy conversion unit, such as a generator or pump driven by the engine and further comprising connections to motors for driving the means for moving the frame and for driving the equipment such as the dredge pump, said frame having an upward directed part carrying the energy source at a level above the said frame. Such an apparatus is known from NL-A-7 205 310, in particular Figure 5. This known apparatus has a frame with an upward directed part which at the top carries a platform upon which a combustion engine and pump are placed. The depth at which said apparatus can operate is limited by the vertical extent of the upward directed part. This limits the area of operation, in particular in case the upward directed part is formed by a rigid structure as disclosed in figure 2 of NL-A-7 205 310. The embodiment disclosed in figure 5 of said publication has a little bit more flexibility with respect to the possible water depth due to the fact that the platform carrying the energy source is provided with a buoyant part and connected with the frame by means of a flexible tubular portion of the upward directed part. This flexible portion allows, however, only for a small increase of the water depth as compared to a rigid structure. The object of the invention is to produce a apparatus which can operate much further away from the coast, while retaining the possibilities for working in shallow water, the breakers area, or on the coast. The object of the invention is also to produce an apparatus which is of simple construction. This object is achieved according to the invention in that the energy source is removable from the said level or platform, that the upward directed part has at least one further level or platform above the first mentioned level, which further level or levels respectively are adapted to receive and hold the energy source, and that the connections between the energy conversion unit and the motors in the frame are cables or hoses adapted to unreel a length sufficient to bridge the distance between the motors and the highest level or platform of the upward directed part. The use of a removable energy source which is driven by a combustion engine and is thus independent of remotely situated facilities gives the advantage that the energy source need not be sealed off in watertight fashion. By making the energy source removable, one can lift it, after disconnection, and place it on a higher level or platform to allow the apparatus to go into deeper water during the carrying out of work. To allow said raising of the energy source the cables or hoses should have sufficient length. Said length can be such that in case the frame would not be high enough to keep the energy source above water level, said source after disconnection can be placed on a floating body as well e.g. on a ship. The invention makes it possible to extend the working range from a known range of several hundred meters to a range of many tens of kilometers. It is pointed out that it is also known to provide apparatus which can move over the sea bed with energy from a vessel in which the connection is made again by cables or hoses. Here the mobile apparatus is lowered or raised and controlled from the vessel. Such apparatuses can work in deep water and approach a coast up to a certain depth of water, but they can not sufficiently approach the shore and if the work has to be done in the shallower water a different apparatus has to be used. The invention achieves that one can continue to work without restriction from the dry land to very far out to sea and vice versa using one and the same apparatus. It is further observed that from US-A-3,759,932 a dredging apparatus is known having a buoyant platform which in vertical direction is movable along vertical legs which extend upwardly from a frame having means for moving the frame over the bottom of the water such as wheels. The buoyant platform carries the energy source with the pump. During transportation towards the location this known device floats. At the location the platform is moved above water level. This device is complicated and expensive. The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing. It shows schematically in side view an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a frame 1 with caterpillar tracks 2 and placed thereon an upward-directed frame part 3. Placed in the frame is a dredge pump 4 with suction line 5 and delivery line 6. The frame has a platform 7 on which is disposed the energy source, consisting of a combustion engine with pump, in its entirety indicated by 8. The outlet of the pump, such as a high-pressure oil pump, is connected to a hose 9 by means of a hose drum 10 which is known per se. In the drawing this hose 9 is connected to a hydraulic motor 11 of the dredge pump 4. The apparatus is shown mobile over a pipeline 12 which is, for example, to be entrenched by means of this apparatus. In the position of the energy source 8 indicated by solid lines it is above the water level 13. When the apparatus drops further down in the water, resulting for example in a water level indicated by 14, the energy unit is moved upwards beforehand to the position indicated by dashed lines at 15, this being done by moving the platform 7 upwards or by lifting the energy source 8 from the platform 7 and placing it on a platform higher up. If the frame part 3 is not high enough, the energy source 8 can also be placed on a ship 16. The vertical distance between the energy source 8 on the ship 16 and the motors to be driven, such as the motor 11, is then determined only by the length of the hose 9, which thus determines the depth at which the apparatus can still be used. Although only one hose 9 or cable is shown, it will be clear that several hoses are possible here, for example a second hose for the drive motors of the caterpillar tracks and further hoses for control. The control position can be located at the energy source and thus goes along with it to a position which is always above water. Energy source 8 and control are then always in the most suitable place.

Claims: Mobile apparatus for carrying out work both above and below water, such as earth-moving work, comprising a frame (1) with means for moving the frame, such as driven caterpillar tracks (2), means for carrying out the work, such as a dredge pump (4) with suction line (5) and delivery line (6), and with an energy source comprising a combustion engine (8) and an energy conversion unit, such as a generator or pump (10) driven by the engine (8) and further comprising connections (9) to motors (11) for driving the means (2) for moving the frame and for driving the equipment such as the dredge pump (4), said frame having an upward directed part (3) carrying the energy source (8,10) at a level (7) above the said frame (1), characterized in that the energy source (8,10) is removable from the said level or platform (7), that the upward directed part (3) has at least one further level or platform above the first mentioned level (7), which further level or levels respectively are adapted to receive and hold the energy source (8,10), and that the connections (9) between the energy conversion unit (10) and the motors (11) in the frame are cables or hoses (9) adapted to unreel a length sufficient to bridge the distance between the motors (11) and the highest level or platform of the upward directed part (3). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connections (9) have a length sufficient to bridge the distance between the motors (11) and a body (16) floating above the apparatus.

Inventors: HOFLAND, JACOBUS MARIA JOSEF
Applicants: HOFLAND, JACOBUS MARIA JOSEF
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E02F3
IPC codes: E02F3