Patent Publication Number: US-2023163580-A1

Title: Cable Laying Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This patent application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/185,170, filed on Feb. 25, 2021, which is based on and claims the benefit of priority to Chinese Patent Application Nos. 202110042389.6 and 202120094159.X filed on Jan. 13, 2021. These prior patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELDS 
     The present application relates to a power supply cable laying techniques in the application of large electrical equipment, specifically to a cable laying device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In oil field drilling, when the electrical equipment needs to be powered, it is often necessary to manually drag the power supply cables towards the electrical equipment. During wellsite operation, many types of electrical equipment should be simultaneously operated. Under these circumstances, a lot of time should be spent on preparing and providing the power supply cables to the electrical equipment. When the operation is finished, the power supply cables also need to be collected. This process would incur much time and labor cost. Meanwhile, frequent drag of the power supply cables on the ground surface would cause certain wear to the power supply cables. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present application is to provide a cable laying device, to solve or at least alleviate problems existing in the prior art. 
     According to the first aspect of the present application, there is provided a cable laying device for laying cables, characterized in that the device comprises: 
     a cable laying part comprising a base section and an extension section; a turnover mechanism and a positioning adjustment mechanism, wherein,
 
the base section and the extension section are connected rotatably relative to each other at their longitudinal ends;
 
the positioning adjustment mechanism is connected to the base section and comprises a rotating assembly, wherein the rotating assembly drives the cable laying part to rotate; and
 
the turnover mechanism connects the extension section and the base section, and drives the extension section to turn over relative to the base section.
 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the positioning adjustment mechanism further comprises a lifting unit that drives the cable laying part to perform lifting movement, wherein the rotating assembly is arranged at the lifting unit carrying out lifting movement together with the lifting unit. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the rotating assembly is configured to comprise a gear transmission assembly, wherein an output portion of the gear transmission assembly is connected with the base section and drives the base section to rotate. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the turnover mechanism comprises a turnover driving part and a bar transmission assembly driven by the turnover driving part, the bar transmission assembly comprising a first bar element and a second bar element, wherein, 
     the first bar element and the second bar element are respectively connected with the base section and the extension section, the first bar element and the second bar element are pivotally connected with each other, and the extension section and the base section are also pivotally connected with each other, so that the first bar element, the second bar element, the base section as well as the extension section form a four-bar linkage mechanism. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the turnover driving part is connected with the pivot shaft between the first bar element and the second bar element to drive the pivot shaft for performing linear reciprocating movement. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the turnover driving part is connected with the first bar element, which is connected to the base section, to drive the first bar element for performing rotating movement. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the turnover driving part is configured to comprise a turnover driving hydraulic cylinder, wherein the piston of the turnover driving hydraulic cylinder drives the bar transmission assembly. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the turnover mechanisms are respectively arranged in pairs at both longitudinal ends along the pivot shaft between the base section and the extension section. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the cable laying device further comprises a height-holding mechanism for supporting and holding the height of the cable laying part, the height-holding mechanism being connected to the positioning adjustment mechanism at one end and connected to the base section at the other end. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the positioning adjustment mechanism is arranged at one longitudinal end of the base section. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the height-holding mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connected at one end to the base section and configured to support the base section through telescopic movement. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the cable laying device further comprises a carrying mechanism comprising a semi-trailer, a vehicle-mounted structure or a skid-mounted structure, wherein the positioning adjustment mechanism is fixed on the chassis of the semi-trailer, the vehicle-mounted structure or the skid-mounted structure. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the cable laying device further comprises a lifting leg assembly for stabilizing the carrying mechanism, which comprises at least one lifting leg for supporting and stabilizing the carrying mechanism through lifting motion or telescopic movement, wherein the lifting leg is connected at each of the lateral sides of the chassis of the semi-trailer, the vehicle-mounted structure or the skid-mounted structure, and configured to be rotatable relative to the chassis. 
     Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the extension section includes an extension section disposed at a longitudinally extending surface of the base section relative to longitudinal ends of the base section and/or an extension section disposed at a lateral side surface of the base section relative to longitudinal ends of the base section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference may be made to preferred embodiments shown in the figures to enable better understanding of the above and other objects, features, advantages and functions of the present application. The same reference numerals in the figures denote the same parts. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the figures are intended to schematically illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present application, and not intended to impose any limitations to the scope of the present application. Wherein, 
         FIG.  1    exemplarily shows the cable laying device in use according to the present application; 
         FIG.  2    exemplarily shows a longitudinal front view of the cable laying device according to the present application; and 
         FIG.  3    exemplarily shows structural details of the turnover mechanism; 
     
    
    
     LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               100  Cable laying device 
               10  Cable laying part 
               11  Base section 
               12  Extension section 
               13  Pivot shaft 
               20  Turnover mechanism 
               21  Turnover driving part 
               22  Bar transmission assembly 
               211  Piston of turnover driving hydraulic cylinder 
               221  First bar element 
               222  Second bar element 
               30  Positioning adjustment mechanism 
               31  Rotating component 
               32  Lifting unit 
               40  Height-holding mechanism 
               41  Height-holding hydraulic cylinder 
               50  Carrying mechanism 
               51  Chassis 
               60  Lifting leg assembly 
               61  Lifting leg 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Specific embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the figures. The embodiments described herein are only preferred embodiments according to the present application. Those skilled in the art can envision other modes capable of implementing the present application on the basis of the preferred embodiments, and said other modes also fall within the scope of the present application. 
     The cable laying device  100  as disclosed in the present application can reach the technical effects of applying mechanical devices to transport and lay cables as shown in  FIG.  1   , thereby reducing labor cost during oil field operations as well as avoiding severe cable damage during manual cable hauling. Besides, the cable laying device  100  disclosed in the present application can be adapted to different laying conditions defined by different electrical equipment, thereby improving the efficiency during cable laying. Specifically, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the cable laying device can lay the cables, in the way of mechanical driving, to a certain height, at a certain angle as well as in a certain length to a position which is most convenient for electrical equipment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , it can be seen that the cable laying device  100  comprises: a cable laying part having a base section  11  and a length adjustable extension section  12 ; a turnover mechanism  20  and a positioning adjustment mechanism  30 . Specifically, the base section  11  and the extension section  12  are such connected with each other at their longitudinal ends that they are moveable relative to each other, and can accommodate, transport and lay cables. Specifically, depending on the application, the extension section can be provided at one or both longitudinal ends of the base section. In this case, the extension section  12  can be extended from the base section  11  according to the working environment of the electrical equipment. In order to further achieve the flexibility in use, the cable laying device  100  further comprises a positioning adjustment mechanism  30  including a rotating assembly  31  which can be connected to the base section  11 , i.e. at a position such as one longitudinal end or a certain longitudinal position of the base section  11 , so that the base section  11  or the cable laying part can rotate driven by the rotating assembly, thus the cable laying device can be applied at different installation positions of electrical equipment. The cable laying device  100  comprises a turnover mechanism  20 , wherein the turnover mechanism  20  connects the base section  11  with the extension section  12 , so that the extension section  12  can be driven to turn over in different angles from the base section  11  depending on the requirements, thereby realizing different heights and lengths of the whole cable laying part and hence different cable laying solutions. 
     It needs to be explained here that in the present application, the “longitudinal position” of the base section  11  refers to the position along the length direction of the base section  11  or the extension section  12 . 
     Optionally, in order to enable the cable laying device  100  to be better applicable to electrical equipment of different heights, the positioning adjustment mechanism  30  may also have a lifting unit  32  for adjusting the height of the cable laying part. Here, in order to avoid the interference with the rotating movement of the cable laying part, the rotating assembly  31  can be arranged at the lifting unit  32  and the lifting unit  32  is connected to the cable laying part or the base section  11  via the rotating assembly  31 . The rotating assembly  31  can drive the base section or the cable laying part to rotate around the lifting unit  32 . 
     To be specific, optionally, the rotating assembly  31  may be configured as a gear transmission assembly known in the prior art, wherein the gear transmission assembly may be driven by an external motor or other driving mechanism, and its output part may be configured to connect with and drive the base section  11  into rotating. 
     Optionally, as shown in  FIG.  3   , the turnover mechanism  20  that drives the extension section  12  to perform turnover movement may comprise a turnover driving part  21  and a bar transmission assembly  22  driven by the turnover driving part  21 . Specifically, the bar transmission assembly  22  includes a first bar element  221  and a second bar element  222 , wherein one end of the first bar element  221  is connected to the base section  11 , and the other end is pivotally connected to the second bar element  222 , meanwhile, the other end of the second bar element  222  is connected to the extension section  12 , and the base section and the extension section are connected with each other via a pivot shaft  13 , so that the first bar element  221 , the second bar element  222 , the base section  11  and the extension section  12  can form a four-bar linkage mechanism. In this case, the turnover driving part  21  connects and drives the pivot shaft between the first bar element  221  and the second bar element  222  to perform linear reciprocating movement, so that the second bar element  222  drives the extension section  12  to perform turnover movement. 
     Alternatively, the turnover driving part  21  may also be connected to and drive the first bar element  221  which is connected with the base section  11  to reciprocatingly rotate, so as to enable the second bar element  222  to drive the extension section  12  for performing turnover movement. 
     Within the scope of the present application, optionally, the turnover driving part  21  may be configured to comprise a turnover driving hydraulic cylinder, wherein the piston 211 of which may be connected with the bar transmission assembly i.e. the pivot shaft between the first bar element  221  and the second bar element  222  or the first bar element  221 , so as to drive the bar transmission assembly  22 . 
     Within the scope of the present application, optionally, in order to achieve a more stable and balanced turnover movement, the turnover mechanism  20  may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the pivot shaft  13  between the base section  11  and the extension section  12 , for example, may be arranged in pairs at longitudinal ends of the pivot shaft  13 . 
     Since that, during operation of the cable laying device  100 , the cable laying part is often held in a certain height in the form of an elongated load-bearing part, in order to stabilize the height of the elongated cable laying part, the cable laying device  100  disclosed in the present application may optionally further include a height-holding mechanism  40 , which may be arranged together with the lifting unit  32  of the positioning adjustment mechanism  30  and maintain the desired height of the cable laying part. Specifically, the height-holding mechanism  40  may be configured to connect to the positioning adjustment mechanism  30  at one end while connect to the base section  11  at the other end, specifically connect at a longitudinal position other than the installation position of the positioning adjustment mechanism  30  or the rotating assembly  31  of the base section  11 , and hold the height of the cable laying part. That is, the height-holding mechanism  40  may be arranged along the longitudinal tilted direction relative to the cable laying part. 
     In this case, optionally, the positioning adjustment mechanism  30  may be provided at one longitudinal end of the cable laying part or the base section  11 , while the height-holding mechanism  40  can support the cable laying part at another longitudinal position of the base section  11 , thereby improving the stability of the cable laying part. For example, it can be considered that the height-holding mechanism  40  may comprise a hydraulic cylinder, wherein a piston is connected with the base section  11  and supports the cable laying part through telescopic movement. 
     In order to more conveniently transport the cable laying device  100 , the cable laying device  100  can also comprise a carrying mechanism  50 . It can be considered that the carrying mechanism  50  includes a semi-trailer, a vehicle-mounted structure or a skid-mounted structure, on the chassis  51  of which the positioning adjustment mechanism  30  can be fixedly arranged. 
     In the case where there exists a carrying mechanism  50  or a semi-trailer, a vehicle-mounted structure or a skid-mounted structure, when the cable laying part is rotated 90 degrees or more relative to the carrying mechanism  50 , it is possible that the center of gravity of the entire cable laying device  100  deviates from the carrying mechanism  50  and moves toward the cable laying part. Therefore, in order to maintain the stability of the carrying mechanism  50  in the above operating conditions, the cable laying device  100  may optionally include a lifting leg assembly  60 , which comprises at least one lifting leg  61  that supports and stabilizes the carrying mechanism  50  via lifting motion or telescopic movement. The lifting legs may be connected at both lateral sides of the chassis  51  of the semi-trailer, vehicle-mounted structure or skid-mounted structure (as shown in  FIG.  1  or  2   ). Depending on the degree the cable laying part have rotated relative to the chassis  51 , the lifting leg is configured to be able to rotate into different angles relative to the chassis  51 , thereby achieving optimal supporting for the carrying mechanism  50 . 
     Furthermore, within the scope of the present application, the connection direction between the extension section  12  and the base section  11  is not limited. That is, at the longitudinal ends of the extension section  12  and the base section  11 , the extension section  12  may include an extension section connected to the longitudinal extension surface of the base section  11  or an extension section connected to the lateral side surface of the base section  11 . In other words, when the extension section  12  is connected at the longitudinal extension surface of the base section  11 , the extension section  12  can lie on the longitudinal extension surface of the base section  11  when it is not “extended” or “turned over”, while when the extension section  12  is connected at both lateral sides of the base section  11 , the extension section  12  can abut against the lateral sides of the base section  11  when it is not “extended” or “turned over”. 
     The cable laying device disclosed by the present application can conveniently and efficiently realize electricity supply to a plurality of electrical equipment. As shown in  FIG.  1   , depending on the location of the electrical equipment and site restrictions, the cable laying device can enable the cable laying part or the base section as well as the extension section to rotate by a certain angle (e.g., 90 degrees in  FIG.  1   ) by means of the rotating assembly, and adjust the height of the cable laying part by using the lifting unit, so that the rotating position and height of the cable laying part can be more suitable for connecting the electrical equipment. In addition, according to the number of electrical equipment and the height of their connectors, the extension section of the cable laying part can correspondingly turn over a certain angle relative to the base section to form a certain inclination, so as to supply the electrical equipment with electricity. Therefore, the cable laying device disclosed by the present application can not only reach a high cable laying efficiency, but also reduce the abrasion of the cables through the cable carrying and protecting effects accomplished by the cable laying part. 
     The above depictions of various embodiments of the present application are provided to those having ordinary skill in the art for depiction purpose, and are not intended to exclude other embodiments from the present application or limit the present application to a single disclosed embodiment. As described above, various alternatives and modifications of the present application will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, although some alternative embodiments have been described in detail, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand or readily develop other embodiments. The application is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present application described herein, as well as other embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the present application described herein.