RU2692829C2 - Method of positioning underwater equipment relative to surveyed underwater pipeline - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods of positioning underwater inspection apparatus. Object of proposed invention is creating a method of positioning underwater equipment relative to a surveyed underwater pipeline, quickly and accurately lower underwater inspection device to a given point of surveyed underwater pipeline (other object) without using navigation equipment and additional power costs. Said target is achieved by using: - compressed gas cylinder actuated by external control signal; - inflatable rubber buoy; - float with damping landing gear hinged on surveyed underwater pipeline; - a cord connecting an inflatable rubber buoy with a damping float setting device; - an underwater examination device with a remote-opened lock-guide. Proposed method is applicable for positioning of any type of underwater equipment relative to any underwater facility requiring regular inspection. Locations of surveys and their number are determined by the designer as agreed with the customer based on the topography of the bottom (to control the sagging of the pipeline), availability of pipeline branches (for monitoring the condition of tees), and so forth.

EFFECT: invention can be used for positioning of any underwater equipment intended for regular survey of underwater pipelines and other objects.

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Description

 The invention relates to methods for positioning underwater inspection vehicles and can be used for positioning any underwater equipment intended for regular inspection of underwater pipelines and other objects.

Known sonar positioning system (GSP) underwater equipment (http://www.tetis-pro.ru/catalog/329/1002/), designed to determine their exact coordinates, parameters and trajectory relative to the carrier vessel in real time.

The principle of operation of the sonar positioning system is to determine the position of the respondent beacon installed on the underwater equipment relative to the carrier vessel. For this, the vessel is equipped with one or several hydroacoustic antennas (GA) transmitting and receiving signals from beacons-responders. According to the parameters of these signals, the surface processing unit, built on the basis of a personal computer, determines the bearing and distance to the respondent beacon. In the future, special software displays the parameters and trajectory of the underwater equipment on the operator’s monitor. When connected to the global positioning system GPS or GLONASS, it is possible to display all data in absolute geographic coordinates.

The disadvantages of this system are:

- the need to equip each descendable underwater equipment with a beacon-responder and the impact on the accuracy of indications of possible electromagnetic interference;

- significant time spent on the search for the underwater pipeline (of another object), even with its exact coordinates, since in the presence of strong underwater currents the displacement of the underwater pipeline, as well as its silting, is possible.

The aim of the invention is to create a method of positioning the underwater equipment relative to the inspected undersea pipeline, allowing guaranteed, quickly and accurately carry out the descent of the underwater inspection apparatus to a given point of the inspected underwater pipeline (other object) without the use of navigation equipment and additional energy costs.

This goal is achieved through the use of:

- cans with compressed gas, triggered by an external control signal;

- inflatable rubber buoy;

- a float with a damping landing device hinged on the surveyed underwater pipeline;

- a cord connecting the inflatable rubber buoy with the damping landing gear of the float;

- underwater inspection apparatus with a remotely opened lock-guide.

The essence of the present invention is that the proposed method of positioning the underwater equipment relative to the inspected underwater pipeline, which includes the presence of the carrier vessel, underwater inspection apparatus, cable, cable, according to the invention, involves the use of a can of compressed gas, triggered by an external control signal and an inflator rubber buoy that floats to the surface of the water, with a cord connecting the rubber buoy to the damper landing device of the float, I It wishes to set up a guide for which disclosed remotely lock rail clings osmotrovyh underwater apparatus, and he goes down to the damping of the float landing gear and pivotally mounted on the float inspected underwater pipeline provides vertical landing osmotrovyh underwater apparatus.

FIG. 1, 2 shows a diagram of the implementation of the method of positioning the underwater equipment relative to the inspected undersea pipeline, where:

1 - carrier ship;

2 - a can of compressed gas;

3 - rubber buoy;

4 - cord;

5 - damping landing gear;

6 - float

7 - remotely open locking guide;

8 - underwater inspection apparatus;

9 - underwater pipeline;

10 - cable cable.

The method is as follows.

Arriving at a predetermined point for underwater inspection, an external control signal (sonar) is fed from carrier 1 to a can of compressed gas 2, which is triggered by the received signal and inflates a rubber buoy 3 connected to it, which floats on the surface of the water a cord fastened on it. 4. A method for detecting an emerged rubber buoy 3 — any, including visual (with shallow depths of the subsea pipeline 9). The other end of the cord 4 is fixed on the damping landing device 5 of the float 6. Thus, the cord 4 serves as a guide for which the underwater inspection device 8 clings with a remotely opened lock guide 7 and for descending to the damping landing device 5 (for convenience, a rubber buoy 3 can be disconnected, and the cord 4 is further tensioned).

The float 6 is hinged on the surveyed underwater pipeline 9 to ensure the vertical landing of the underwater inspection apparatus 8.

After descending the underwater inspection apparatus 8 and landing it on the damping landing device 5, the operator opens the remote-opening locking guide 7, orients the underwater inspection apparatus 8 along the subsea pipeline 9 in the right direction and proceeds to its inspection. Management of underwater inspection apparatus 8 is carried out by cable-cable 10 or cable-free version.

Upon completion of the inspection works, a new balloon with compressed gas 2 is connected to the cord 4, instead of the old one, connected to the rubber buoy 3 (in the folded state), which is flooded before the next inspection works (see Fig. 2).

Rubber buoy 3, it is advisable to close the protective cover, discharged during operation of the cartridge with compressed gas 2.

The proposed method is applicable for positioning of underwater equipment of any type relative to any underwater object that requires regular surveys. The locations of the surveys and their number are determined by the designer in consultation with the customer based on the bottom topography (to control pipeline sags), the presence of pipelines-bends (to monitor the status of tees), etc.

Claims (1)

The method of positioning the underwater equipment relative to the surveyed underwater pipeline, which includes the presence of a carrier vessel, underwater inspection apparatus, cable, cable, characterized in that it involves the use of a can of compressed gas, triggered by an external control signal and an inflating rubber buoy that floats on the surface water, while the cord connecting the rubber buoy to the damping landing device of the float, is a guide for which the remotely open m-guide clings underwater inspection apparatus and by which he descends on the damping landing device float, and pivotally fixed float on the surveyed underwater pipeline provides a vertical landing of the underwater inspection apparatus.

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