[0001] This invention refers to a system for levelling and consolidation of the sea bed
where there will be the installation on top of it of some kind of cementing or any
other type of object that may require levelled and consolidated ground.
Background of the invention
[0002] One of the most important problems when cementing in a platform or any other type
of installation on a sea bed is managing to attain a levelled and pressure-resistant
and erosion-resistent ground that will provide a good base for cementing.
[0003] To skim the sea bed, there is a well-known system which consists of a heavyweight
dragging procedure where a large weight is dragged clear by a boat whereby its movement
levels the ground. This system is useful for the construction of dykes, supports for
docks, etc, due to the terrain that it manages to clear is narrow and long. The bidding
company is not aware at the present time of the existence of a system that permits
the levelling of a circular or polygonal area of the sea bed, of any size whatsoever,
and which, at the same time, also allows it to be consolidated.
[0004] For that, this invention provides a system that would solve a prior lack of existing
techniques and would allow for the levelling and consolidation of the sea bed as a
prior stage to the placement of a cement base or any other structure.
Description of the invention
[0005] The system that is the object of this invention consists of a suction hood in a cylindrical
shape that will be driven into the area of the sea bed that needs to be levelled and
consolidated. Likewise, it consists of a series of cylindrical and tubes connected
in a telescopic form situated on the inside of the suction hood and projecting from
it. The upper part of the hood is threaded and on it there is a coiled part, with
an inner thread, to which a number of tubes in an L-shape are welded around it. The
tubes are welded to the part at different heights on the part and in a way in which
a stretch of the tubes remains in a vertical position and another stretch of the tubes
remains in a horizontal position.
[0006] From each one of the horizontal stretches of these L-shaped tubes and connected to
themde, other smaller tubes come out of them perpendicularly, arranged in a staggered
formation, at the same height as the part that has been coiled on the upper part of
the hood, and at the base or the free end of these smaller tubes there is an inclined
continuous plate that joins them together. The inclined continuous plate ends in a
curved edge.
[0007] On the upper part of the innermost concentric tube there is a pinion connected to
the tubes in an L shape which allows for these to turn at the same time as the threaded
part in the upper part of the hood. The telescopic tubes are equipped with an anti-spin
system, which renders them immobile.
[0008] The hood is driven into the sea bed that we want to level. While the L-shaped tubes
turn, the inclined continuous plate starts to scrape the ground and starts to distribute
the material dragged from the ground on the highest area to the lowest area, levelling
it. The remaining material that has been dragged up is thrown outwards thanks to the
design of the inclined continuous plate, which is curved at the furthest end of the
suction hood.
[0009] The ground to be levelled can be of whatever size we like, given that other tubes
can be connected to the horizontal stretches of the L-shaped tubes in a way that increases
the radius being flattened.
[0010] On very soft and unstable sea beds, although there are erosion protection systems
available, we can encounter problems and inconveniences at the time of cementing or
installing another object on the sea bed. To be able to improve the characteristics
of the ground, it is necessary, on these occasions, to consolidate the said ground.
Hence, the levelling system can be made up of a series of additional elements which
would allow the ground to be consolidated at the same time at which it is levelled.
These elements are a hopper which is filled with a concrete grout or gravel, etc connected
to the L-shaped tubes and some progressive cavity pumps which are located inside the
vertical part of the L-shaped tubes. The axle of said pumps is connected to some pinions
that, in turn, are connected to the pinion which is located on the upper part of the
innermost concentric tube and which propels the turning of the L-shaped tubes. Once
the pinions are connected, at the same time, the turning of the pump and the L-shaped
tubes can be activated.
[0011] Within the system, we can have two options, one where the pinions connected to the
axles of the pump are motorised and the pinion situated on the innermost telescopic
tube are not motorised, or the exact opposite.
[0012] As the pump turns, the grout falls into the L-shaped tubes until it comes out of
the smaller tubes that they are connected to. In this way, the grout is spread over
the whole surface that needs to be consolidated to the point where until the full
sweep is made by the coiled suction hood. The pump and the L-shaped tubes can turn
in reverse, once the ground has been levelled and consolidated.
Description of the figures
[0013] To complete the description and with the objective of helping better understanding
of the characteristics of the invention, there is a diagram attached where, in an
illustrative and not limitative way, the following has been represented:
Figure 1: Side view of the sea bed levelling and consolidation system.
Figure 2: View from above of the sea bed levelling and consolidation system.
[0014] The references that appear in the are the following:
- 1.- Suction hood
- 2.- Part with an inner coil
- 3.- L-shaped tubes
- 4.- Smaller tubes connected perpendicularly to the L-shaped tubes
- 5.- Inclined continuous plate
- 6.- Telescopically connected tubes
- 7.- Pinion
- 8.- Hopper
Ideal description of how it would operate
[0015] To achieve better understanding of the invention, what will now follow is a description,
with the aid of the figures, of the sea bed levelling and consolidation system.
[0016] The sea bed levelling and consolidation system, the preferred objective of this operation,
consists of a suction hood (1) which is driven into the sea bed. The upper and external
part of the hood is coiled at a length of one metre.
[0017] On the hood (1) a coil is fitted (2), with an inner coil, the outside of which has
four L-shaped tubes welded to it (3) separated from each other as much as possible
and at different heights of the part. From each one of the horizontal stretches, the
tubes (3), and connected to them, other smaller tubes emerge perpendicularly (4),
at a height of 1 metre, and on whose base there is an inclined continuous plate (5)
that joins them together and which ends in a curved end.
[0018] Inside the hood there is a multitude of tubes connnected telescopically (6), which
are equipped with an anti-spin system. On the upper part of the innermost concentric
tube there is a motorised pinion (7) connected to the tubes (3) which allows for these
to turn at the same time the part turns (2). Furthermore, the system contains a hopper
(8) full of concrete grout and connected to the tubes (3) and four progressive cavity
pumps that are located within the vertical part of the tubes (3). Said pumps move
due to some pinions that are connected to the motorised pinion (7). When moving, the
motorised pinion (7), the tubes (3) start to turn, as well as the progressive cavity
pump, in a way that the grout starts to fall through the tubes (3) until it comes
out of the tubes (4) and starts to be deposited on the sea bed at the same time as
it is being levelled.
1. A system for the levelling of the sea bed that is comprised of:
- A suction hood (1) coiled on its upper external parts, driving said hood into the
sea bed
- A part (2) coiled on the interior that is coiled on the upper and external part
of the hood (1)
- A multitude of L-shaped tubes (3) welded to the part (2) around it, with a section
of the tube being in a vertical position (3) and the other section being in a horizontal
position.
- A multitude of tubes (4), that emerge perpendicularly from each one of the horizontal
stretches of the tubes (3) and connected to said tubes (3)
- Some inclined continuous plates (5) to scrape the ground situated at the free extremes
of the tubes (4)
- A multitude of telescopically connected tubes (6) on the inside of the suction hood
and coming out of said hood.
- A pinion (7) on the upper part of the innermost telescopic tube and connected to
the tubes (3), which allows these to turn at the same time as the part turns. (2).
2. According to patent claim 1, which furthermore comprises, for the consolidaton of
the sea bed, the following elements:
- A hopper (8) connected to the tubes (3) in which grout is stored which would be
used to consolidate the ground
- Some progressive cavity pumps that are located inside the vertical part of the tubes
(3).
- Some pinions connected to the axles of the pumps (9) and which, at the same time,
said pinions are connected to the pinion (7).
3. The system under patent claim 1 or 2, claimed because the tubes (4) are equipped to
be staggered.
4. The system under patent claim 1 or 2, claimed because the inclined continuous plates
(5) end in a curved end to throw out the material dragged off the ground.
5. The system under patent claim 1 or 2, claimed because the telescopically connected
tubes are (6) equipped with an anti-spin system.
6. The system under patent claim 1 or 2, caracterizado because the tubes (3) can be lengthened
to the desired length, as many straight tubes as are desired.
7. The system under patent claim 1 or 2, claimed because the tubes (3) are welded to
the part (2) as far apart as possible from each other and at different heights of
the part.
8. The system under patent claim 2, claimed because the pinion (7) is motorised, whilst
the pinions connected to the axis of the pumps (9) are not motorised
9. The system under patent claim 2, claimed because the pinion (7) is not motorised and
the pinions connected to the axles of the pumps are motorised (9).
10. The system under patent claim 2, claimed because as much on the L-shaped tubes as
on the progressive cavity pump, they can turn in reverse once the ground is levelled
and consolidated.
11. The system under patent claim 1 or 2, claimed because the inside coiled pincer(2)
has the necessary height to allow for any type of depths to be levelled, regardless
of their topography.