Underwater casing sealing device with self-centering function

Abstract

The present invention relates to an underwater casing watertight device for forming a watertight space between a casing and a main body by being mounted on the outer circumference of a casing installed underwater, and more specifically, to an underwater casing watertight device capable of forming a sealing structure on the outer circumference of the casing and simultaneously performing a self-centering function that automatically corrects eccentricity between the casing and the main body. The underwater casing watertight device according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical body with open top and bottom ends, a mounting means, a sealing means, and a plurality of operating means. The cylindrical body surrounds one end of the casing by inserting it so as to form a certain gap with the outer surface of the casing installed underwater. When the casing is inserted into the body, the mounting means supports one end of the casing to mount the body on the outer surface of the casing, and is coupled to the upper part of the body so that the upper part of the body is open. The sealing means is mounted on the lower part of the body and comprises a plurality of dividing plates arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction so as to be able to seal the space between the outer surface of the casing and the body by sliding radially from the lower part of the body to come into close contact with the outer surface of the casing. The operating means slides the dividing plates radially.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater casing watertight device for forming a watertight space between a casing and a main body by being mounted on the outer circumference of a casing installed underwater, and more specifically, to an underwater casing watertight device capable of forming a sealing structure on the outer circumference of the casing and simultaneously performing a self-centering function that automatically corrects eccentricity between the casing and the main body. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater steel pipes (casings) are widely used in the construction of various underwater civil engineering structures, such as bridge foundations, offshore structures, and harbor structures, and work is performed to install reinforcing or auxiliary structures around the outer perimeter of the casing. However, since the outer surface of the casing is submerged when installed underwater, workers must perform tasks directly underwater; this presents a problem in that workability is reduced and the risk of safety accidents increases due to the influence of currents, water pressure, and limited visibility.

[0003] To solve such problems, watertight devices are used to secure a dry working space by forming a watertight space on the outer circumference of the casing and removing the water inside. Conventional underwater watertight devices generally consist of a structure that adheres tightly to the outer surface of the casing using cylindrical or ring-shaped structures and packing or sealing members. However, these conventional devices have structural limitations that make it difficult to actively respond to situations where the center of the casing and the center of the watertight device frequently do not align due to errors in the casing's installation position, deviations in outer diameter, poor verticality, or construction tolerances.

[0004] In particular, when using an integrated packing or a single sealing structure, if eccentricity exists between the casing and the device, excessive compression occurs in some sections while the sealing force is insufficient in others, leading to leakage. To address this, methods to adjust the seal using adjustment bolts or manual adjustment mechanisms have been proposed; however, such manual adjustment is difficult in underwater environments, the adjustment process is complex, and watertight performance varies significantly depending on the operator's skill level.

[0005] In addition, in conventional structures, positional alignment was not easy during the mounting process of the device to the casing, which resulted in a long installation time, and the underwater mounting and alignment work itself placed a significant burden on the operator. Prior art literature

[0006] Registered Patent No. 10-0368604 (Registration Date: January 7, 2003) Registered Patent No. 10-0366252 (Registration Date: December 13, 2002) Registered Patent No. 10-0218175 (Registration Date: June 9, 1999) Registered Patent No. 10-0731611 (Registration Date: June 18, 2007) The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art as described above by providing a watertight device for an underwater casing that is mounted on the outer circumference of a casing installed underwater to form a workspace, wherein a plurality of dividing plates slide individually in the radial direction to come into close contact with the outer circumference of the casing even if there is a positional error or outer diameter deviation of the casing, thereby providing a watertight device for an underwater casing that has a self-centering function capable of automatically correcting the eccentricity between the casing and the device body.

[0008] In addition, the present invention aims to provide an underwater casing watertight device that can improve the operational reliability of the dividing plates and stably secure watertight performance by stably shifting a plurality of dividing plates radially arranged on the lower part of a cylindrical body in a radial direction through a hydraulic cylinder and link structure, and accurately guiding the sliding movement by a guide part including protrusions and grooves.

[0009] In addition, the present invention aims to provide an underwater casing watertight device that simplifies the installation of the device and improves operational safety even in an underwater environment by enabling the main body to be easily inserted and mounted on the top of the casing through a mounting means including a beam, a support piece, and an inclined projection. means of solving the problem

[0010] The underwater casing watertight device according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical body with open top and bottom ends, a mounting means, a sealing means, and a plurality of operating means. The cylindrical body surrounds one end of the casing by inserting it so as to form a certain gap with the outer surface of the casing installed underwater. When the casing is inserted into the body, the mounting means supports one end of the casing to mount the body on the outer surface of the casing, and is coupled to the upper part of the body so that the upper part of the body is open. The sealing means is mounted on the lower part of the body and comprises a plurality of dividing plates arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction so as to be able to seal the space between the outer surface of the casing and the body by sliding radially from the lower part of the body to come into close contact with the outer surface of the casing. The operating means slides the dividing plates radially.

[0011] In addition, regarding the above-described underwater casing watertight device, it is preferable that the operating means comprises an extendable hydraulic cylinder and a link. The hydraulic cylinder is mounted on the outer surface of the main body. One end of the link is connected to the dividing plate, and the other end is connected to the hydraulic cylinder. Thus, the operating means slides the dividing plate by operating the hydraulic cylinder.

[0012] In addition, in the above-described underwater casing watertight device, it is preferable that the sealing means further comprises a guide portion that guides the sliding of the dividing plate by having a protrusion and a guide that forms a groove into which the protrusion is inserted to slide and which guides the protrusion to slide radially.

[0013] In addition, in the above-described underwater casing watertight device, the mounting means preferably comprises a plurality of beams, a support piece, and an inclined projection. The beams are coupled to the upper part of the main body at a certain angle along the circumferential direction of the main body so that one end surrounds the outer surface of the upper part of the casing. The support piece is coupled to one end of the beam, which is spaced at a certain angle along the circumferential direction, so that it can be placed on and supported on the upper part of the casing. The inclined projection is coupled to the lower part of one end of the plurality of beams so that an inclined surface capable of colliding with the upper part of the casing is formed, and so that the casing is inserted so that it can be surrounded by one end of the plurality of beams through the inclined surface. Effects of the invention

[0014] The underwater casing watertight device according to the present invention has a plurality of divided plates arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction at the lower part of a cylindrical body, and adopts a structure in which the divided plates are slid radially by a hydraulic driving means to adhere to the outer surface of the casing, thereby having the effect of forming a stable watertight space even in an underwater environment.

[0015] In particular, since multiple split plates are configured to move radially and individually adhere to the outer surface of the casing, each plate independently corrects its position and adheres even if there is a deviation in the outer diameter of the casing or installation eccentricity; thus, a self-centering effect can be obtained in which the eccentricity between the device body and the casing is automatically corrected. Accordingly, a uniform sealing state can be achieved across the entire circumference of the casing.

[0016] In addition, according to the present invention, the sliding movement of the dividing plate is configured to be guided by a guide structure, thereby stably maintaining the movement path of the plate and preventing twisting or jamming during operation, which has the effect of improving operational reliability.

[0017] In addition, according to the present invention, by including a mounting structure that allows the device to be easily seated on the top of the casing, the position is automatically guided and stably supported during the process of inserting the casing into the main body, thereby facilitating the installation of the device even in an underwater environment and reducing construction time.

[0018] In addition, according to the present invention, since the lower part of the main body is configured to be sealed by a dividing plate, water in the formed internal space can be discharged to secure a dry working space. Accordingly, a worker can install a structure on the outer perimeter of the casing in a dry environment rather than underwater, thereby significantly improving work safety and work efficiency.

[0019] In addition, according to the present invention, sufficient driving force can be stably secured by a hydraulic drive method, so it can flexibly respond to casings having various diameters and installation states, and multiple split plates can be operated simultaneously or selectively, thereby having the effect of a wide range of applications. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an underwater casing watertight device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main body in the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sealing means in the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the sealing means of FIG. 4 in close contact with the casing. Figures 6 and 7 are drawings of the guide section in the embodiment of Figure 1. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0021] An embodiment of an underwater casing watertight device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0022] The underwater casing watertight device of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical body (10) that encloses one end of the casing (1) by inserting it so as to form a certain gap with the outer surface of the casing (1) installed underwater. The casing (1) is inserted and installed underwater, and the upper end of the casing (1) may be exposed near the water surface (5) or above the water surface (5). A structure (2) for work may be installed on the outer surface of the casing (1), and the device secures a workspace (3) outside the casing (1) so that a worker can perform work such as installing the structure (2) in a relatively safe environment.

[0023] A mounting means (20) is attached to the upper part of the main body (10), a sealing means (30) is mounted on the lower part of the main body (10), and an operating means (40) for driving the sealing means (30) is provided. When the casing (1) is inserted into the main body (10), the mounting means (20) is supported at one end (e.g., the top) of the casing (1) to mount the main body (10) on the outer circumference of the casing (1) and to allow a worker to enter and exit the workspace (3) by opening the upper part of the main body (10). The sealing means (30) moves radially (R) from the lower part of the main body (10) toward the outer surface of the casing (1) and comes into close contact with the outer surface of the casing (1), thereby sealing the space between the outer surface of the casing (1) and the main body (10) to block water from entering the workspace (3). The operating means (40) is configured to slide the dividing plate (31) in the radial direction (R) to drive the sealing means (30). Each component is described in more detail below.

[0024] The main body (10) is formed as a cylindrical structure with open upper and lower ends so that a casing (1) can be inserted inside. The internal space of the main body (10) is spaced apart from the outer surface of the casing (1) to form a workspace (3), and this workspace (3) is configured so that a worker can enter and exit from the outside while the upper part of the main body (10) is open.

[0025] An installation portion is formed at the lower part of the main body (10) so that a sealing means (30) can be mounted, and a bracket or coupling structure may be provided on the outer surface (or near the lower part) of the main body (10) so that a hydraulic cylinder (41) among the operating means (40) can be mounted. In addition, a layout structure with minimized interference may be applied to the main body (10) so that the link (43), etc. of the operating means (40) can operate smoothly.

[0026] The mounting means (20) is configured to stably mount the main body (10) onto the casing (1) when the casing (1) is inserted into the main body (10), and to keep the upper part of the main body (10) open so that a worker can enter and exit.

[0027] The mounting means (20) may include a plurality of beams (21), a support piece (23) coupled to the beams (21), and an inclined projection (25) coupled to the lower end of one beam (21).

[0028] Multiple beams (21) can be joined so as to be spaced apart at a certain angle in the circumferential direction along the upper circumference of the main body (10), so that the upper part of the main body (10) is not completely closed and remains in an open shape.

[0029] The support piece (23) is connected to one end of the beam (21) and can be placed on top of the casing (1) to be supported, and after the casing (1) is inserted into the main body (10), the main body (10) is stably supported against the top of the casing (1).

[0030] The inclined projection (25) forms an inclined surface that can collide with the top of the casing (1), guiding the casing (1) to be enclosed within one end of the beam (21) when the casing (1) is inserted into the main body (10). That is, as the top of the casing (1) comes into contact with the inclined surface of the inclined projection (25), its position is naturally guided, helping the casing (1) to enter the target position between the beams (21). With such a mounting means (20), the process of inserting and mounting the casing (1) into the main body (10) is simplified, and the relative position alignment between the casing (1) and the main body (10) becomes easier.

[0031] The sealing means (30) is configured to be mounted on the lower part of the main body (10) to seal the outer surface of the casing (1) and the main body (10), and may include a plurality of dividing plates (31) arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction and guide parts (33, 36) that guide the movement of the dividing plates (31).

[0032] The dividing plate (31) is mounted so as to be slidable in the radial direction (R) at the bottom of the main body (10), and moves inward in the radial direction (R) (in the direction of the casing (1)) by the driving of the operating means (40) to come into close contact with the outer surface of the casing (1). Conversely, the dividing plate (31) can move outward in the radial direction (R) to be separated from the outer surface of the casing (1). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of dividing plates (31) have a shape divided in the circumferential direction, and by moving so as to converge toward the outer surface of the casing (1), they block the annular gap at the bottom of the main body (10). At this time, the inner end (casing contact side) of the dividing plate (31) comes into close contact with the outer surface of the casing (1) and becomes a sealing boundary that performs a watertight function.

[0033] Since the sliding of the dividing plate (31) is a simple radius movement, if twisting or eccentric tilting occurs during operation, the sliding may not be smooth or the reliability of the contact may be reduced. To prevent this, the present embodiment is provided with guide members (33, 36) that stably guide the sliding of the dividing plate (31).

[0034] The guide portion may include a projection (34) and a guide (36), and a groove (37) is formed in the guide (36) so that the projection (34) can be inserted and slide. The projection (34) may be coupled to the dividing plate (31) and the guide (36) may be coupled to the main body (10). The groove (37) is formed to extend along the radial direction (R) and guides the projection (34) to move along the groove (37) so that the dividing plate (31) slides accurately in the radial direction (R). In this way, the coupling of the projection (34) and the groove (37) substantially limits the degree of freedom of movement of the dividing plate (31) to movement in the radial direction (R), thereby ensuring that the driving force applied by the operating means (40) is stably transmitted as a sliding movement.

[0035] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, a configuration in which the projection (34) is coupled to the dividing plate (31) and the guide (36) is coupled to the main body (10) is described as an example; however, conversely, a configuration in which the projection (34) is coupled to the main body (10) and the guide (36) is coupled to the dividing plate (31) is also possible. That is, the relative arrangement of the projection (34) and the guide (36) having the groove (37) can be changed in design, and in any case, they share the same technical concept in that they guide the radial (R) sliding of the dividing plate (31).

[0036] The operating means (40) is a driving system that slides the dividing plate (31) in the radial direction (R), and may include a hydraulic cylinder (41) that is extendable and mounted on the outer surface of the main body (10), and a link (43) that converts the extension force of the hydraulic cylinder (41) into a sliding motion of the dividing plate (31).

[0037] The hydraulic cylinder (41) may have a structure in which the cylinder body and the rod extend and retract, and the rod advances or retracts by hydraulic supply. One end of the link (43) is connected to the dividing plate (31), and the other end is connected to the rod or connecting part of the hydraulic cylinder (41), so that the dividing plate (31) moves in the radial direction (R) according to the extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder (41).

[0038] For example, when the hydraulic cylinder (41) moves forward, the dividing plate (31) is pulled or pushed inward in the radial direction (R) through the link (43) and comes into close contact with the outer surface of the casing (1), and conversely, when the hydraulic cylinder (41) moves backward, the dividing plate (31) moves outward in the radial direction (R) and can be separated from the casing (1). At this time, the movement of the dividing plate (31) is guided by the projection (34) and groove (37) of the guide parts (33, 36), ensuring smooth sliding.

[0039] Additionally, a plurality of operating means (40) may be arranged corresponding to a plurality of dividing plates (31), and each hydraulic cylinder (41) may be designed to enable individual driving or multiple simultaneous driving. Accordingly, even with deviations in the outer diameter of the casing (1) or eccentric installation, the dividing plates (31) are in close contact along the outer surface of the casing (1), and the gap between the main body (10) and the casing (1) is minimized to form a watertight state.

[0040] The installation and watertight formation process of the underwater casing watertight device of the present embodiment is described below.

[0041] First, the main body (10) is moved downward from the top relative to the casing (1) installed underwater, and one end of the casing (1) is inserted into the main body (10). At this time, when the top of the casing (1) comes into contact with the inclined surface of the inclined projection (25), the casing (1) is naturally guided along the inclined surface and enters between the beams (21), and the top of the casing (1) is seated on the support piece (23), thereby stably mounting the main body (10) on the top of the casing (1). At the same time, the top of the main body (10) is kept open due to the arrangement structure of the beams (21), allowing the worker to enter and exit the workspace (3) from the outside.

[0042] Next, when the hydraulic cylinder (41) of the operating means (40) is operated, the dividing plate (31) moves in the radial direction (R) by the link (43). When the dividing plate (31) moves inward in the radial direction (R) and comes into contact with the outer surface of the casing (1), the annular gap between the outer surface of the casing (1) and the lower part of the main body (10) is blocked, and the lower part of the main body (10) is sealed. In this process, the movement of the dividing plate (31) is stably guided by radial (R) sliding through the coupling of the projection (34) of the guide part (33, 36) and the groove (37) of the guide (36).

[0043] When the lower part of the main body (10) is sealed, the workspace (3) becomes a sealed space separated from the water, and the water inside the workspace (3) can be discharged using a submersible pump, etc. Once the internal water is removed, the worker can enter the workspace (3) and perform the work of installing the structure (2) on the outer surface of the casing (1) more safely. After the work is completed, the hydraulic cylinder (41) is reversed to move the dividing plate (31) outward in the radial direction (R), and the main body (10) can be separated from the casing (1) and removed. Explanation of the symbols

[0044] 1 : Casing 2 : Structure 3 : Workspace 5 : Sleep 10 : Main body 20 : Mounting means 21 : Beam 23 : Support piece 25 : Inclined projection 30 : Sealing means 31 : Dividing plate 33 : Guide section 34: Protrusion 36: Guide 37 : Home 40 : Operating means 41 : Hydraulic cylinder 43 : Link

Claims

Claim 1 A cylindrical body with open top and bottom ends to surround one end of a casing installed underwater, so as to form a constant gap with the outer surface of the casing; a mounting means coupled to the upper part of the body such that when the casing is inserted into the body, the body is supported at one end of the casing to mount the body on the outer surface of the casing and the upper part of the body is open; a sealing means mounted on the lower part of the body having a plurality of dividing plates arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction so as to seal the space between the outer surface of the casing and the body when sliding radially from the lower part of the body to come into contact with the outer surface of the casing; and a plurality of operating means arranged corresponding to the plurality of dividing plates to slide each of the plurality of dividing plates in the radial direction, wherein the sealing means further includes a guide portion that limits the degree of freedom of movement of the dividing plates to radial movement by having a projection coupled to the dividing plate and a guide coupled to the body having a groove formed therein that allows the projection to slide and extends along the radial direction. Each of the operating means is A hydraulic cylinder that is expandable and retractable and mounted on the outer surface of a main body, and a link having one end connected to the dividing plate and the other end connected to the rod or connecting part of the hydraulic cylinder so as to cause the dividing plate to move radially according to the expansion and contraction of the hydraulic cylinder; the plurality of operating means are configured to drive the plurality of dividing plates individually or simultaneously, so that the plurality of dividing plates are in close contact along the outer surface of the casing even in a state of deviation in the outer diameter of the casing or eccentric installation, thereby minimizing the gap between the main body and the casing; and the mounting means comprises a plurality of beams that are spaced apart at a certain angle along the circumferential direction of the main body and are coupled to the upper part of the main body so as to surround the outer surface of the upper part of the casing, and a support piece coupled to one end of the beam that is spaced apart at a certain angle along the circumferential direction so as to be placed on and supported on the upper part of the casing.An underwater casing watertight device characterized by having an inclined projection coupled to the lower end of one of the plurality of beams to guide the casing to be inserted so as to be surrounded by one end of the plurality of beams through the inclined surface formed to collide with the upper end of the casing. Claim 2 A watertight seal for an underwater casing according to claim 1, wherein the dividing plate moves radially inward from the lower part of the main body to be in close contact with the outer surface of the casing, and moves radially outward to be spaced apart from the outer surface of the casing, and the plurality of dividing plates move to converge toward the outer surface of the casing, thereby blocking the annular gap at the lower part of the main body. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete

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