US3389564A - Method and device for installation of steel pipe below the bottom of a body of water - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1968 R. HARMsToRF METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION OF STEEL PIPE BELOW THE BOTTOM OF A BODY OF WATER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22. 1965 A "11.1. u l 1 I l: n ,l l'

June 25, 1968 R, HARMSTQRF 3,389,554

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION OF STEEL PIPE BELOW THE BOTTOM OF A BODY OF WATER Filed Nov. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l /ILENTOR June 25. 1968 R. HARMSTORF METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION OF STEEL PIPE BELOW THE BOTTOM OF A BODY OF WATER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -F`1ed Nov. 22. 1965 INVE TOR E BY June 25,- 1968 R. HARMSTORF 3,389,564

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION OF STEEL PIPE BELOW THE BOTTOM OF A BODY OF WATER Filed Nov. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @2% )lg/Y mvlya @MMM June 25, 1968 R, HARMSTORF 3,389,564

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION 0E STEEL PIPE BELOW THE BOTTOM OF A BODY OF WATER Filed Nov. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H Il I m I H wl H m I .Il in. |il \\\W \\\m\\\. ./1 T L m. A, m x m um E s# United States Patent Office 3,389,564 Patented June 25, 1968 14 claims. (Cl. 61-72.4) lo ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE The invention pertains to the installation of steel pipe below the bottom of a body of water wherein the steel pipe is inserted into plastic pipe flush embedded in position, and the steel pipe is forwardly fed into the plastic pipe at a rate equal to the forward motion of the flushing apparatus wherein the forward terminal end Iof the steel pipe is maintained adjacent the ushing apparatus to aid in its guidance.

lt has been known in the past to water-jet cables or plastic pipes into the bottom of a watercourse, but to date 25 it has not been possible with any conventional water-jetting method to install steel pipes in suflicient depth and with adequate safety below the bottom of a watercourse. Plastic pipes are not suitable for a variety of applications, e.g. for the purpose of conveying gaseous or liquid fuels which, because of their high pressure or aggressiveness to plastics, must be handled in steel conduits now as before. In these and similar instances it has previously been necessary because of the bending characteristics of steel pipe to adopt conventional inverted siphon methods for steel pipe installation which involve substantial excavation, closed sheeting on the banks and similar work to be performed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device by means yof which steel pipes also can be water-jetted into the bottom of a watercourse in a manner as similarly employed for plastic piping.

The invention suggests a method for installing steel pipes below the bottom of a watercourse, especially of a canal or a river, wherein the problem involved is being solved substantially in that a plastic pipe is water-jetted into the watercourse bottom in a manner known per se by means of a water-jetting setup and that simultaneously therewith a steel pipe inserted into the plastic pipe from one bank of the watercourse up to the water-jetting setup r is advanced as plastic pipe installation progresses.

ln this method according to the present invention the steel pipe inserted into the plastic piping up to the waterjetting apparatus serves as a guide and solely insures that said plastic pipe, while it is being jetted, embeds in the bottom of the watercourse at bending radii as required. This method according to the invention permits the forces produced within range of curved sections between the water-jetting equipment and the steel pipe end adjoining the same to be utilized for steering or controlling the pipe-laying direction. The invention also offers the particular advantage that the water-jetting apparatus also, can be. guided by the steel pipe terminating therein, it being a further feature of the invention that the pipe-laying direction can so be controlled that the forces between said 65 water-jctting means and the steel pipe are maintained below predetermined limits.

In accordance with another feature of this invention said water-jetting method of pipe installation can be adopted also within the bank zones of the planned pipe 70 route in that the water-jetting apparatus is so guided in a positive manner within range of said bank sections of the route that the latter is perfectly and reliably obtained. The invention provides for this purpose that prior to commencement of installation work the starting end of the plastic pipes is fixed or clamped in position in a footing or base which is stationarily disposed on one bank of the watercourse and which is in alignment with the steel pipe advancing means arranged there. In this way an invariable mutual aligning and guiding action between plastic pipe and steel pipe results.

Summary 0f the invention The basic object of the invention is to provide a system wherein steel pipe may be readily located below the bottom of a body of water by the use of liushing apparatus.

ln order to carry the method according to this invention into effect, the invention proposes a device comprising a water-jetting apparatus for at least one plastic pipe which can be atta-ched to and controlled from the pipelaying vessel, said device being characterized by a stationary runway extending across lone bank zone of the watercourse in pipelaying direction for a pipelaying trolley capable of travelling substantially parallel to said direction of pipelaying and provided with fastening means for the water-jetting unit, and by an advancing means for steel pipes stationarily arranged ahead of the landward end of the runway, i.e. for steel pipes having an outer l diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the plastic pipes. The stationary arrangement of runway and advancing means ensures that the intended pipe route is also accurately obtained within bank range. It is another feature of the invention that the fastening means for the water-jetting unit can also be arranged in a vertically sliding arrangement on the pipelaying trolley and that power actuated positioners are provided for shifting said fastening means. This design offers the advantage that the runway need not be installed accurately in height since exact height control can be effected by means of said positioners or adjusting means.

The invention permits for any and all advantages of the prior-known water-jetting method for plastic pipe installation to be also utilized for installation of steel pipes and further to provide improved corrosion protection to the steel pipes as installed. Beyond this, the present invention moreover allows for steel pipe installation without any undesirable excessive straining or stressing of the steel pipe in contrast to conventional excavating-plus-laying methods. In addition, steel pipes installed in accordance with this invention ca be Withdrawn from the plastic pipe and replaced with new steel pipes whenver required without such replacement operation requiring repeat iiushing in the river bed.

Further features, objects and advantages `of the present invention will be evident from the pursuant description of one embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l shows the devices according to the invention as installed on one bank in the initial phase of the pipelaying operation,

FIG. 2 shows the pipelaying vessel and the water-jetting unit as it is being mounted upon the vessel,

FIG. 3 illustrates the pipelaying vessel including the water-jetting device while crossing the watercourse,

FIG. 4 shows how the water-jetting unit is being transferred to a runway on the opposite bank,

FIG. 5 is a side view according to FIG. 1 of the pipelaying trolley and of the trolley-connected components, drawn to somewhat enlarged scale,

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the pipelaying trolley as seen to the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the pipelaying trolley as viewed toward arrow B in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 shows details of the pressing platform for advancing the steel pipes.

The embodiment as illustrated in the drawings is for installation of several plastic pipes simultaneously with inserted steel piping. As will be seen from FIG. 1, several steel pipes 4 of a specific length determined by pipelaying speed are maintained in position on roller blocks 12 at the starting end of a pipelaying route 15 which has been carefully surveyed and accurately predetermined prior to commencement of the pipelaying operation. Steel pipes can be welded together locally on the job using a plurality of pipe lengths, and provided with protective coating. Steel pipes 4 are passed via a pressing platform 11 which is illustrated in outline only in FIG. 1, to enter the plastic pipes 5 the leading ends of which are fixed in position in a concrete base in alignment with the steel pipes capable of being advanced from the pressing platfonn. The diameter of the plastic pipes 5 is somewhat larger, for instance 5 cm., than the diameter of the steel pipes 4. Plastic pipes 5 may be up to about 70 cm. in diameter.

A runway 6 on piles 8 is provided between pressing platform 11 and the watercourse indicated on the right in FIG. 1, said runway 6 to guide and give support to a pipelaying trolley 7 on which the water-jetting unit 3 known as such is arranged to permit adjustment in vertical plane, pivotal adjustment about a horizontal axis in vertical relation to the direction of travel, and locking in position. Piles 8 which may be steel sections, for instance, and may be disposed at a distance of 4 to 5 m., are founded so deep that stability and rigidity of piles are maintained and safeguarded despite the fact that the bottom or bed would be loosened by the water-jetting unit. Plastic pipes 5 are continuously fed to the water-jetting unit from above. From a pressure water source (not shown) which preferably makes use of the water available in said watercourse, the required jetting water is supplied to the water-jetting unit 3 in a manner known per se and not in detail described herein so that plastic pipes 5 are water-jetted into the soil or ground as known and the water-jetting unit 3 can be moved or drawn toward said watercourse. As the water-jetting unit 3 is so arranged on the pipelaying trolley 7 as to allow adjustments in vertical plane, runway 6 need not be installed to accurate height: exact adaptation of the water-jetting unit 3 to the predetermined run of the pipelaying route can be obtained by control of said level adjusting gear. As can be seen there are no excavations and sheet pilings to provide bank cuts otherwise required. Steel pipes 4 are maintained advanced from the pressing platform 11 such their ends 1 are accommodated in base 2 of the water-jetting unit 3.

With reference now to FIG. 2 it can be seen how in the next phase of the pipelaying operation the water-jetting unit 3 has just been taken over by the pipelaying vessel 13 and the loading gear 16 thereof. Installation then proceeds in the manner as known for plastic pipes, though simultaneously with this operation the leading ends 1 of steel pipes 4 are always advanced by means of the pressing platform up to the base 2 of the waterjetting unit 3. This ensures that said water-jetting unit 3 will not make any route deviations of such small radii during the jetting operation as steel pipe 4 could not follow without creating excessive stress or strain. In other words: the water-jetting unit 3 is being guided by the advancing steel pipes 4. It is obvious that a conclusion can be drawn from the intensity of forces produced between the water-jetting unit 3 and the steel pipes or also from the forces between said water-jetting unit 3 and its suspension on pipelaying vessel 13 as to what the magnitude of bending stress prevailing in the steel pipe would be like. Hence it is possible to effect, by means of priorknown stress testers and controls in connection thetewith, automatic course correction also of water-jetting unit 3 in that these forces or stresses are always maintained below predetermined limit values. Of course there are stresses produced in the steel pipe due to curves which are either inevitable or even planned throughout the length of the pipelaying route, but the magnitude thereof has been predetermined and considered acceptable. The question of friction between steel pipe and surrounding plastic pipe also plays a part herein. Investigations conducted to date have shown that a clearance of appr. 3 cm. between steel pipe and plastic pipe is adequate to permit for the steel pipe to be advanced also through acceptable curved sections without any damage to the plastic pipe and without excessive frictional forces between plastic and steel piping to occur. Moreover, such friction can be reduced according to the invention in that the gap between steel pipe and plastic piping is lled with a liquid7 for instance with a mixture of glycerin and water, which simultaneously serves to reduce the floating tendency of the otherwise empty plastic pipes. Depending on whether the starting ends 1 of steel pipes 4 are open or closed, the steel pipes, too, could oe filled with said liquid or kept empty. In any case this liquid ll also produces a floating tendency of the steel pipes within the plastic pipe by which the advancing operation would be facilitated. Anticorrosion agents may be added to said liquid so that particularly etlicient protection is afforded to the steel pipe inserted in the plastic piping. Also, depending on pipelaying conditions and curves on the route, the steel pipe may be ooded and emptied again at option, in order to obtain a negative or a positive uplift-especially in the leading section 1 of the steel pipe.

After the phase of pipelaying operation as shown in FIG. 3, namely crossing proper of the watercourse, has been terminated in a manner as known from the plastic pipes, the water-jetting unit 3 is transferred, as shown in FIG. 4, from the pipelaying vessel 13 to a runway 206 which is substantially identical in design with the runway 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 and which is likewise provided with a pipelaying trolley, as at 207, which may be identical with pipelaying trolley 7 according to FIG. 1. Runway 206, as is also runway 6, is supported on piles 203 which penetrate so deep into the ground that their stability and rigidity is not affected by the water-jetting operation taking place therebetween. Installation finally terminates in a terminal shaft as shown on the right of FIG. 4. During the entire pipelaying operation the pressures and ten- ,sions required on the water-jetting unit 3 are exerted by means of winches 14 on pipelaying vessel 13 in known manner not in detail referred to herein. In order to facilitate installation, a pull rope 20 may be secured to head 1 of steel pipe 4 which would permit further pullingthrough of the steel pipes after pipelaying has been completed.

FIG. 5 shows some details of the pipelaying trolley 7 according to this invention and of the fastening means of water-jetting unit 3 pivotably arranged thereon. FIGS. 6 and 7 show said pipelaying trolley from different directions of view. As may be gathered from these figures, the pipelaying trolley 7 as such is guided by means of rollers 42 on a runway rail 43 on all sides, said runway rail 43 forming one part of said runway 6. The waterjetting unit 3 is by fastening means 2S and 26 attached to a supporting arrangement 27 which forms one part of an adjusting gear 9 capable of pivoting the water-jetting unit about a horizontal axis of rotation 24 and of shifting said unit in perpendicular relation to said axis. The actuating means to effect said shifting motion is provided in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 22 having its one end 29 firmly connected to the pipelaying trolley 7 via a girder member and its other end 28 to the water-jetting unit 3 via fastening means 26. Fastening means 26 is secured to a second girder element same as fastening means 25, said second girder element forming a sliding connection along with the rst girder which is connected to the end of positioner 22. Accordingly, the second girder with fastening means 25 connected thereto by means of bolts 36 is capable of being shifted on the first girder element upon actuation of and in response to positioner 22. The first girder means is connected with a curved-segment arresting or locking device 23 which can be locked in position on the far-end of pipelaying trolley 7 by means of a pin 30 thus that the entire adjusting gear 9 including the water-jettin g unit 3 thereto attached can be pivoted about the axis of rotation 24 and locked in any desired position to which swung by means of bolt 30. The pivoting motion is effected mechanically via cables (not shown). In the initial phase of pipelaying operations the plastic pipe 5 is fixed in position in a concrete foundation or base 10 located on the starting-side bank. This concrete footing 10 may, as shown in FIG. 8, be part of a pressing platform 11 from which steel pipes 4 can be advanced. Pressing platform 11 comprises a pressing lane 106 well in alignment with the tied-in plastic pipes 5 with an advancing bogie 1 07 positively arranged thereon. This advancing bogie is provided with gripper means suitable for seizing the steel pipes, in this instance composed of sev-` eral clamping sleeves 34 with fixing bolts 35. The lower half-shells of said clamping sleeves are integrally provided on advancing bogie 107. After steel pipes 4 have been introduced into plastic pipes 5 through the open clamping sleeves 34, said clamping sleeves are tightened up by means of the fixing bolts 35 as provided. A powered pusher means comprising two hydraulic cylinders 31 is disposed between advancing bogie 107 and a connecting member 32 firmly connected to the pressing lane or track 106: said powered pusher means act to advance bogie 107 and thus also the steel pipes 4 in rm connection therewith toward the plastic pipe. Connecting member 32 may be secured in optional locations 41 along the pressing lane or track 106 as the rate of advance may require. The distance between these locations 41 is not more than equal to the stroke of hydraulic cylinders 31. Hence it is not necessary after each advance of hydraulic cylinders 31 to loosen bolts 35 and to displace the pipe clamping sleeves 34 on steel pipes 4. Instead, only the buttstaps 32 on pressing lane or track 106 have to be shifted by a distance equal to one length between two holding or fixing locations 41 each time. Only after a total advance stroke of the steel pipes which corresponds to the sum of all distances between said holding locations 41 will it be necessary to loosen clamping sleeves 34 and retighten them in position on steel pipes 4 in a farther-back location.

One pipe guiding block 33 is attached at each end of the pressing lane or track 106. Said guide blocks are provided with guide rollers to positively guide the steel pipes with a minimum of friction. A hydraulic pump schematically outlined as at 37 in FIG. 8 is connected by means of hydraulic fluid hoses and control devices (not shown) to hydraulic cylinder 31.

The pressure water required for advance through the bank zone is supplied to the water-jetting apparatus 3 from the pipe-laying vessel 13 stationed at the water-side end of runway 6. The traction forces required to pull the water-jetting unit 3 are exerted by the Winches 14 of the pipelaying vessel 13. As the water-jetting unit 3 advances, steel pipes 4 are pushed to follow said jetting unit 3 at a rate equal to pipelaying speed. While the water-jetting unit 3 is being advanced it is continuously being kept to the depth required to obtain a predetermined route 15, by the hydraulic means installed in pipelaying trolley 6.

lt will be understood that other embodiments and modifications of the present invention are possible without leaving the scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A system for installing a steel pipe lbelow the bottom of a river, a canal or the like, comprising, in combination,

(a) stationary gripping means for fixing one end of a ttiexible plastic pipe,

(b) flushing means for embedding said flexible plastic pipe into the bottom of the river,

(c) means for feeding said plastic pipe through said flushing means Iand means for positively moving said flushing means forwardly along a predetermined path from said stationary gripping means through the bottom of the river,

(d) a supply station providing a length of steel pipe rearwardly yof the fixed end of said plastic pipe, said steel pipe being coaxially aligned with said plastic pipe and having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of said plastic pipe,

(e) feeding means -for inserting the forward terminal of said steel Apipe into said Iplastic pipe and for moving the terminal of said steel pi-pe forwardly through said plastic pipe Ifrom said stationary gripping means to said flushing means and for maintaining the terminal of said steel pipe adjacent said flushing means as said flushing means moves forwardly laying addi tional lengths of the plastic pipe.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic pipe is filled lwith liquid so as to reduce friction of the steel pipes within the plastic pipe and to apply a buoyancy force to the steel pipe.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said liquid contains an anticorrosive agent.

4. A -system according to claim 1, wherein `the steel pipe is at least partially filled with liquid to add weight thereto so as to facilitate embedding the plastic pipe in curved sections.

5. A system according t-o claim 4, wherein said liquid contains an anticorrosive agent.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said liquid contains water and glycerin.

7. A system for installing a plurality of steel pipes below the bottom of a river, a canal or the like, comprising, in combination,

(a) stationary gripping means `for fixing one end of a plurality of flexible plastic pipes, said gripping means being located on the bank zone of the river,

(b) flushing means yfor embedding said flexible plastic pipes into the bottom of the river,

(c) a `stationary guiding runway extending across the bank zone of the river in a predetermined path,

(d) a trolley traveling on said runway, said trolley including means for securing said flushing means to said trolley,

(e) means for feeding sai-d plastic pipe through said flushing means and means for positively moving said trolley forwardly on said guiding runway, the flushing means thereby traveling from a point adjacent the gripping means across the bank zone of the river `and embedding said plastic pipes linto the ground thereof,

(f) a vessel provided with means for securing said flushing means to said lvessel and carrying said flushing means across the river, thereby embedding said plastic pipes into the river bottom,

( g) a supply station providing a plurality of steel pipes rearwardly of the fixed ends of said plastic pipes, each steel pipe being aligned with one plastic pipe and having a smaller -outer ydiameter than the inner diameter of said plastic pipes,

(h) feeding means for inserting the 4forward terminal of each steel pipe into any one -of said plastic pipes and for moving the terminals of said steel pipes forwardly through said plastic pipes from said stationary gripping means to said fiushing means, wherein the forward feeding rate of the steel pipes substantially corresponds to the `forward movement of the fiushing means, such, that the forward terminal ends of the steel pipes moving through the plastic pipes terminate within the flushing means, thereby additionally guiding the flushing means by exerting a 7 guiding force thereto, said guiding force resulting from the stress exerted by curved sections of the steel pipes between the ilushing means and the gripping means, and

(i) controlling means for controlling the position of the flushing means with respect to ground along the predetermined path of travel of the flushing means (such as to maintain said guiding force `below a predetermined level).

8. A system according to claim 7, comprising a further stationary guiding runway extending across the opposite bank Zone of the river in a predetermined path.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said stationary guiding runway is supported on Ipiles extending into a depth of ground not affected by said ushing means.

10. A system according to claim 7, means mounting said controlling means on said trolley for movement of the rilushing means upwardly and downwardly `in a verti- -cal direction, `and including power means for moving said ushing means mounted on said trolley.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said trolley comprises a structure pivotally arranged on a horizontal axis extending vertically to said predetermined path, further comprising locking means to lock said structure in a predetermined position.

12. A system according to claim 7, said feeding means further comprising a pressing platform including a pressing track extending substantially in the travelling direction of said `flushing means, a yfeeding =bogie movably located on said pressing track, said bogie having a plurality of ydetachable clamping means -for clam-ping said steel pipes, and pushing means connecting said bogie to a detachable member on said pressing track.

13. A system according to claim 12, ywherein means are provided along said pressing track for connecting said detachable member at distances smaller than the maximum feeding travel of said pushing means.

14. The method of installing metallic pipe below the bottom of a body of water wherein the metallic pipe is inserted within plastic pipe ilush imbedded below the bottom of t-he body of water by ushing apparatus comprising the steps of fixing an end of plastic pipe relative to the body 0f water, simultaneously feeding and moving the plastic pipe through a `forwardly moving flushing apparatus and simultaneously yflush imbedding the plastic pipe below the bottom of the body rof water and initially locating the forward terminal end of the metallic pipe within the plastic pipe `adjacent the ilushing apparatus and then simultaneously feeding the metallic pipe into the fixed end of the plastic pipe in a forward direction at -a rate equal to the `forward movement of the i-ushing apparatus whereby the forward terminal end of the metallic pipe is maintained adjacent the flushing apparatus and the metallic pipe laids -in guiding the flushing apparatus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,136,133 6/1964 Perret `6l-72.3 3,181,802 5/11965 Lindsay 6l-72.7 3,214,921 11/1965 Goepfert et al. 61-72.3 3,222,876 12/1965 Harmstorf 61-72.4 3,273,346 9/1966 Delaruelle et al (rl-72.3

EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

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