An underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe pile

Abstract

The application discloses an underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles, which comprises a base, a lifting mechanism, a pile cutting mechanism, a stable support mechanism, a real-time monitoring mechanism and a remote control system. The base comprises an upper platform, a lower platform, a gear seat and a bearing seat fixed in the center of the bottom surface of the upper platform in sequence; the lifting mechanism comprises two winches fixed on the top surface of the upper platform; the pile cutting mechanism comprises a cutting platform, a platform rotating mechanism, a plurality of cutting oil cylinders and a plurality of plasma cutting torches; the stable support mechanism comprises four support oil cylinders fixed on the top surface of the lower platform; the real-time monitoring mechanism comprises an ultrasonic thickness gauge and an underwater high-definition camera arranged beside the plasma cutting torch; and the remote control system is respectively connected with the winches, the rotating speed sensors, the servo motors in the pile cutting mechanism, the controllers of the cutting oil cylinders, the ultrasonic thickness gauge and the underwater high-definition camera and the controllers of the support oil cylinders. The application can improve the safety of pile cutting operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles. Background Technology

[0002] Offshore wind power, as a clean and renewable energy source, has developed rapidly in my country in recent years. With continuous experience accumulation, the industry has achieved mature technology. Monopile foundations, as a type of offshore wind turbine foundation, are simple in structure, highly efficient in offshore construction, and economically viable. Therefore, monopile foundation structures are widely used in the construction of existing offshore wind farms. However, with continuous technological development and progress, the capacity of single offshore wind turbines is becoming increasingly larger, and small-capacity models will eventually be phased out. Furthermore, due to future development plans around the wind farm, completed turbine sites may affect subsequent related plans, necessitating the removal of steel pipe piles already submerged on the seabed. Since steel pipe piles are generally long, complete removal is difficult and costly. Therefore, the industry uses a method of cutting the steel pipe pile at a certain elevation below the mud surface, and then lifting out the upper part of the pile. This method of removing steel pipe piles is more feasible and economical than complete removal.

[0003] The traditional method of manually diving underwater to cut steel pipe piles is difficult, dangerous, and inefficient. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles, which greatly improves the safety of pile cutting operations, reduces the related workload, and also improves construction efficiency.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved as follows: an underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles, comprising a base, a lifting mechanism, a pile cutting mechanism, a stabilizing support mechanism, a real-time monitoring mechanism, and a remote control system; wherein,

[0006] The base includes an upper platform and a lower platform coaxially arranged, several columns connected between the center of the upper platform and the center of the lower platform, a gear seat fixed to the center of the bottom surface of the upper platform and sleeved on the several columns, and a bearing seat coaxially connected to the bottom surface of the gear seat and sleeved on the several columns.

[0007] The lifting mechanism includes at least two winches fixed on the top surface of the upper platform of the base, and speed sensors are provided on the shafts of the two winches; two steel wire ropes wound one-to-one on the two winches are connected to the pile top flange fixed on the top of the steel pipe pile.

[0008] The pile cutting mechanism includes a circular cutting platform, a platform rotation mechanism, several cutting cylinders, and several plasma cutting torches. The inner hole of the cutting platform is mounted on a bearing seat of the machine base via bearings. The platform rotation mechanism includes a servo motor mounted on the bottom surface of the cutting platform and rotating upward through the cutting platform, a moving gear mounted on the rotating shaft of the servo motor, and a fixed gear fitted on a gear seat of the machine base and meshing with the moving gear. Several cutting cylinders are each radially fixed to the top surface of the cutting platform by cylinder supports evenly distributed around the circumference. Several plasma cutting torches are mounted one-to-one on the piston rod ends of several cutting cylinders, with the nozzle of each plasma cutting torch facing outward.

[0009] The stabilizing support mechanism includes four support cylinders, each radially fixed to the top surface of the lower platform along a circumference via a cylinder seat. The piston rod of each support cylinder points radially outward, and a roller is installed at the end of the piston rod of each support cylinder.

[0010] The real-time monitoring mechanism includes several ultrasonic thickness gauges and several underwater high-definition cameras; the ultrasonic thickness gauges and several underwater high-definition cameras are all installed on the cutting platform and are arranged one-to-one with each of the several plasma cutting torches.

[0011] The remote control system is connected to the two winches in the lifting mechanism and the speed sensors on the two winches, the servo motor in the pile cutting mechanism, the controllers of several cutting cylinders, several ultrasonic thickness gauges and several underwater high-definition cameras, and the controllers of the four support cylinders in the stabilizing support mechanism.

[0012] The aforementioned underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles includes a base that further comprises a device flange fixed to the center of the top surface of the upper platform and four lifting lugs fixed to the top surface of the upper platform and evenly distributed around the device flange.

[0013] The aforementioned underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles includes a lower platform for the base comprising a cross-shaped strut and an outer ring connected to the outer end of the cross-shaped strut; four support cylinders are each fixed to the top surface of the cross-shaped strut of the lower platform via cylinder supports.

[0014] The aforementioned underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles includes a cutting platform comprising an inner ring plate, an outer ring plate, and several connecting rods radially fixed between the inner and outer ring plates, evenly distributed around the circumference; and several cutting cylinders, each fixed to the top surface of the connecting rods via cylinder supports.

[0015] In the aforementioned underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles, several plasma cutting torches are each fixed to the end of the piston rod of several cutting cylinders via torch supports.

[0016] The underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention has the following characteristics:

[0017] (1) The underwater cutting device of the present invention adopts a remote control mode, which can better realize the underwater cutting operation of abandoned steel pipe piles for offshore wind power, and avoid the safety risks of underwater operation using traditional manual cutting methods.

[0018] (2) The underwater cutting device of the present invention is equipped with a speed sensor in the winch. The elevation of the underwater cutting device can be calculated in real time through a certain algorithm. Compared with the traditional cutting method, the cutting accuracy of steel pipe piles is improved and secondary construction is avoided.

[0019] (3) The underwater cutting device of the present invention is equipped with a real-time monitoring mechanism, which can remotely monitor the cutting status of the steel pipe pile. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a front view of the underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a side view of the underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a top view of the underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention includes a base 1, a lifting mechanism 2, a pile cutting mechanism 3, a stabilizing support mechanism 4, a real-time monitoring mechanism, and a remote control system.

[0026] The base 1 includes an upper platform 11, a lower platform 12, four columns 13, a gear seat 14, a bearing seat 15, a device flange 16, and four lifting lugs 17. The upper platform 11 and the lower platform 12 are coaxially arranged, one above the other. The upper platform 11 is a circular flat plate. The lower platform 12 has a hollow structure consisting of cross-shaped struts and an outer ring connected to the outer end of the cross-shaped struts. The diameter of the upper platform 11 is the same as the outer diameter of the lower platform 12 and smaller than the inner diameter of the annular inner platform inside the steel pipe pile. The four columns 13 are connected at the center of the upper platform 11 and the lower platform. Between the centers of 12; the gear seat 14 is fixed to the center of the bottom surface of the upper platform 11 and sleeved on the outside of the four columns 13; the bearing seat 15 is coaxially connected to the bottom surface of the gear seat 14 and also sleeved on the outside of the four columns 13; the device flange 16 is fixed to the center of the top surface of the upper platform 11, and the device flange 16 is used to lift the entire underwater cutting device away from the steel pipe pile in a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane; four lifting lugs 17 are fixed to the center of the top surface of the upper platform 11 and are evenly distributed around the device flange 16, and these four lifting lugs 17 are used for lifting and moving the entire underwater cutting device.

[0027] The lifting mechanism 2 includes at least two winches 20 fixed on the top surface of the upper platform 11 of the base 1. The shafts of the two winches 20 are equipped with speed sensors (not shown in the figure); two steel wire ropes 21 wound one-to-one on the two winches 20 are connected to the pile top flange fixed on the top of the steel pipe pile.

[0028] The pile cutting mechanism 3 includes a circular cutting platform 30, a platform rotation mechanism, four cutting cylinders 34, and four plasma cutting torches 36. The cutting platform 30 consists of an inner ring plate, an outer ring plate, and four connecting rods radially fixed between the inner and outer ring plates, evenly distributed around the circumference. It also has a hollow structure. The outer diameter of the cutting platform 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of the annular inner platform within the steel pipe pile, and preferably the same as the diameter of the upper platform 11. The inner hole of the inner ring plate of the cutting platform 30 is mounted on the bearing seat 15 of the base 1 via a bearing (not shown in the figure). The platform rotation mechanism includes a servo motor mounted on the bottom surface of the cutting platform 30 and rotating axially upward through the cutting platform 30. The servo motor 31, the moving gear 32 mounted on the shaft of the servo motor 31, and the fixed gear 33 fitted on the gear seat 14 of the base 1 and meshing with the moving gear 32; four cutting cylinders 34 are each radially fixed to the top surface of the cutting platform 30 along the circumference through cylinder supports 35; since the cutting platform 30 has a hollow structure, the four cutting cylinders 34 are each fixed to the top surface of the four connecting rods of the cutting platform 30 one-to-one through cylinder supports 35; four plasma torches 36 are each mounted on the end of the piston rod of the four cutting cylinders 34 one-to-one through torch supports 37, and the nozzle of each plasma torch 36 faces outward.

[0029] The stabilizing support mechanism 4 includes four support cylinders 40, each radially fixed to the top surface of the lower platform 12 of the base 1 along the circumference via a cylinder support 35. Since the lower platform 12 is a hollow structure, the four support cylinders 40 are fixed one-to-one to the top surface of the cross-shaped support rod of the lower platform 12 via the cylinder support 35. The piston rod of each support cylinder 40 is radially outward, and a roller 41 is installed at the end of the piston rod of each support cylinder 40.

[0030] The real-time monitoring system includes four ultrasonic thickness gauges and four underwater high-definition cameras; all four ultrasonic thickness gauges and four underwater high-definition cameras are installed on the cutting platform 30 and are positioned one next to each of the four plasma torches 36 (not shown in the figure).

[0031] The remote control system is connected to the controllers of the two winches 20 in the lifting mechanism 2 and the speed sensors on the two winches 20, the servo motor 31 and the four cutting cylinders 34 in the pile cutting mechanism 3, the four ultrasonic thickness gauges and four underwater high-definition cameras in the real-time monitoring mechanism, and the controllers of the four support cylinders 40 in the stabilizing support mechanism 4.

[0032] The underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles of the present invention is first hoisted onto the inner platform of the steel pipe pile to be cut by a crane vessel via four lifting lugs 17 on the upper platform 11 of the base 1. Operators then fix the ends of the two steel wire ropes 21 of the lifting mechanism 2 to the pile top flange, which provides force for the lifting and lowering of the entire underwater cutting device. Next, the two winches 20 are controlled by a remote control system to lower the underwater cutting device to a designated elevation below the mud surface. Once the designated elevation is reached, the four support cylinders 40 of the stabilizing support mechanism 4 are operated by the remote control system. The piston rods of the four support cylinders 40 extend until the rollers 41 installed at the ends of the piston rods of the four support cylinders 40 press against the inner wall of the steel pipe pile, reliably fixing the entire underwater cutting device to the steel pipe pile and providing strong support for subsequent pile cutting operations. Then, the remote control system controls the four cutting cylinders 34 of the pile cutting mechanism 3 to bring the nozzles of the four plasma cutting torches 36 close to the pile wall. The remote control system then starts the four plasma cutting torches 36 to perform the pile cutting operation. The ultrasonic thickness gauge of the real-time monitoring mechanism observes the cutting status of the steel pipe pile in real time to determine if the pile has been cut through. The underwater high-definition camera of the real-time monitoring mechanism also monitors the working status of the plasma cutting torches 36 in real time to prevent abnormalities. The remote control system controls the servo motor 31 to drive the cutting platform 30 to rotate around the axis of the base 1, which in turn moves the four plasma cutting torches 36 along the pile wall, thus achieving a complete circumferential cutting operation.

[0033] This invention relates to an underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles, enabling remote control operation of underwater steel pipe pile cutting without the need for manual diving, thus avoiding the risks associated with manual underwater work. By installing speed sensors on the two winches of the lifting system, the length of the wire rope 21 can be calculated in real time using a specific algorithm, thereby determining the elevation position of the underwater cutting device and ensuring that the pile cutting position meets the construction technical requirements, achieving high-precision pile cutting location determination. A real-time monitoring system ensures safe and reliable operation of the cutting operation. This frees construction units from highly dangerous construction processes, greatly improving the safety of construction operations and reducing related workload. It also improves construction efficiency and has certain economic advantages.

[0034] The above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should also fall within the scope of the invention and should be defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An underwater cutting device for offshore wind power steel pipe piles, comprising a base, a lifting mechanism, a pile cutting mechanism, a stabilizing support mechanism, a real-time monitoring mechanism, and a remote control system; characterized in that, The base includes an upper platform and a lower platform coaxially arranged, several columns connected between the center of the upper platform and the center of the lower platform, a gear seat fixed to the center of the bottom surface of the upper platform and fitted around the columns, and a bearing seat coaxially connected to the bottom surface of the gear seat and fitted around the columns. The base also includes a device flange fixed to the center of the top surface of the upper platform and four lifting lugs fixed to the top surface of the upper platform and evenly distributed around the periphery of the device flange. The lower platform has a hollow structure and includes a cross-shaped support rod and an outer ring connected to the outer end of the cross-shaped support rod. The lifting mechanism includes at least two winches fixed on the top surface of the upper platform of the base, and speed sensors are provided on the shafts of the two winches; two steel wire ropes wound one-to-one on the two winches are connected to the pile top flange fixed on the top of the steel pipe pile. The pile cutting mechanism includes a circular cutting platform, a platform rotation mechanism, several cutting cylinders, and several plasma cutting torches. The cutting platform includes an inner ring plate, an outer ring plate, and several connecting rods radially fixed between the inner and outer ring plates, evenly distributed around the circumference. The inner hole of the inner ring plate is mounted on a bearing seat of the machine base via bearings. The platform rotation mechanism includes a servo motor mounted on the bottom surface of the cutting platform and rotating upward through the platform, a moving gear mounted on the shaft of the servo motor, and a fixed gear fitted on a gear seat of the machine base and meshing with the moving gear. Several cutting cylinders are each radially fixed to several points on the cutting platform, evenly distributed around the circumference, via cylinder supports. On the top surface of the connecting rod; several plasma cutting torches are each mounted on the piston rod ends of several cutting cylinders via torch supports, with the nozzle of each plasma cutting torch facing outwards; the stabilizing support mechanism includes four support cylinders, each radially fixed to the top surface of a cross-shaped support rod of the lower platform via a cylinder seat, with the piston rod of each support cylinder facing outwards and a roller installed at the end of the piston rod of each support cylinder; the real-time monitoring mechanism includes several ultrasonic thickness gauges and several underwater high-definition cameras; the ultrasonic thickness gauges and several underwater high-definition cameras are all mounted on the cutting platform and are positioned one-to-one beside several plasma cutting torches; The remote control system is connected to the two winches in the lifting mechanism and the speed sensors on the two winches, the servo motor in the pile cutting mechanism, the controllers of several cutting cylinders, several ultrasonic thickness gauges and several underwater high-definition cameras, and the controllers of the four support cylinders in the stabilizing support mechanism.

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