Rapid butt joint device for large subsea pipeline expansion bent flanges

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of sea pipe expansion bend installation, in particular to a large-scale sea pipe expansion bend flange rapid butt joint device which comprises a bolt bearing body, a positioning component and a traction jack. The bolt bearing body is connected to the outer side wall of the end of a subsea pipeline expansion bend in a matched and sleeved mode, one end of the positioning component is fixed to the bolt bearing body, and the other end of the positioning component penetrates through a subsea pipeline expansion bend flange to be connected with a traction cable and then continues to penetrate through a fixed end flange of a fixed end subsea pipeline in butt joint with the subsea pipeline expansion bend. And then connecting with a traction jack. The underwater operation efficiency can be greatly improved, the labor intensity of divers is reduced, and 90% of large flange fixing bolts can be rapidly threaded at a time through cooperation of the bolt bearing body and the traction jack. Compared with a traditional process that a diver needs to manually thread a single bolt with the weight exceeding 50 kg, the method liberates the diver from high-intensity physical labor, and the underwater operation time is shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of offshore pipe expansion bend installation, in particular to a rapid docking device for large-scale offshore pipe expansion bend flanges. Background Art

[0002] During offshore expansion bend docking operations, the standard procedure involves using a floating crane to lift the expansion bend and relying on an underwater positioning system to initially position the bend flange and the fixed end flange where it docks. Divers then take command, using auxiliary equipment such as lever hoists to facilitate the flange docking. The key to this process is ensuring precise alignment of the axes of the expansion bend flange and the fixed end flange, ensuring concentricity of the flange through-holes. Finally, the divers thread the bolts to complete the connection.

[0003] Current technology for underwater docking of small submarine expansion bends is quite mature. Such operations require relatively low underwater effort, allowing divers to maintain high efficiency. However, the situation is quite different when it comes to large submarine expansion bends. Bolts used in these bends often weigh over 50kg each. This results in extremely labor-intensive bolt threading for divers, and the sheer number of bolts significantly reduces the efficiency of the entire underwater operation. Furthermore, complex sea conditions, including interference from factors such as seawater velocity, temperature, depth, and visibility, coupled with the heaving and rolling of the vessel, further complicate flange docking. Furthermore, safety regulations restricting only one diver to work underwater at a time further complicate the operation.

[0004] To improve the efficiency of submarine expansion bend docking and reduce the intensity of underwater work for divers, the industry has been researching effective solutions. For example, patent application number CN202223036146.0 discloses an assembly device for expansion bends in oil and gas submarine pipelines. The device includes two assembly components, one connected to each end of a prefabricated expansion bend. The assembly components consist of a fixed base plate, a center support, and a tooling flange. The top surface of the fixed base plate vertically fixes the center support, and the side wall of the center support fixes the tooling flange. The tooling flange is used to connect to the riser flange or flat pipe flange at the end of the prefabricated expansion bend.

[0005] During the prefabrication and installation of the expansion bend, this device can bear a large weight and effectively prevent the pipe end from shaking, which to a certain extent improves the speed and assembly of the prefabrication and installation of the expansion bend.

[0006] However, the device mainly focuses on assembly simulation in the prefabrication stage, and fails to provide an effective response strategy for the docking operation of expansion bend flanges of large underwater sea pipelines, especially for solving the key problem of divers threading heavy bolts.

[0007] In summary, in order to effectively solve the many problems faced in the process of large-scale submarine pipeline expansion bend flange docking, it is urgent to design a highly targeted large-scale submarine pipeline expansion bend flange docking tooling to improve offshore operation efficiency and ensure operation safety. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To address the current difficulty faced by divers in threading heavy bolts during docking operations involving expansion bend flanges of large underwater pipelines, the present invention provides a rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large underwater pipelines, comprising a bolt-bearing body, a positioning component, and a traction jack. The bolt-bearing body is fitted and sleeved onto the outer side wall of the end portion of the expansion bend of the pipeline, one end of the positioning component is fixed to the bolt-bearing body, and the other end of the positioning component passes through the flange of the expansion bend of the pipeline, is connected to a traction rope, and then continues to pass through the fixed end flange of the fixed end pipeline docked with the expansion bend of the pipeline, and is then connected to the traction jack. The bolt-bearing body comprises two symmetrically arranged semi-arc bodies, which are fitted and sleeved onto the outer side wall of the end portion of the expansion bend of the pipeline.

[0009] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the semi-arc body includes a semi-circular sleeve, which is fitted and clamped on the outer side wall of the end of the submarine expansion bend, a bolt bearing plate is welded on the front outer side wall of the semi-circular sleeve, and bolt bearing holes equal in number to the flange bolt holes on the fixed end flange are arranged at intervals on the end face of the bolt bearing plate, an arc-shaped structural plate is welded on the rear end outer side wall of the semi-circular sleeve, wing plates are symmetrically welded on the outer side walls on both sides of the semi-circular sleeve, and a number of sliding modules are fixed and installed at intervals on the outer side wall of the semi-arc body, and the two semi-circular sleeves are fixed by the butted wing plates and the matching fixing bolts.

[0010] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the semicircular sleeve serves as the main load-bearing structure, which is made by longitudinally cutting a circular tube larger than the diameter of the sea pipe along the axis, and a plurality of through holes are opened on the outer wall of the semicircular sleeve, and the sliding modules are fixedly assembled in the corresponding through holes.

[0011] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the sliding module is composed of a ball, a constraint sleeve, a threaded cover plate, and a top bolt; the constraint sleeve is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the through hole corresponding to the semicircular sleeve; the ball is movably installed inside the inner cavity of the constraint sleeve; an annular ring is fixedly assembled at the bottom of the inner cavity of the constraint sleeve; a cover plate is fixedly assembled on the top of the constraint sleeve; the annular ring and the cover plate fix the ball inside the constraint sleeve; the inner end of the ball extends out of the center of the annular ring and extends to the outside; a threaded hole is opened in the center of the cover plate, and a top bolt is assembled in the threaded hole.

[0012] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is: a hinged double-ear eye plate with a mounting hole is welded at the center of the top of the bolt bearing plate, and a limiting component is assembled in the hinged double-ear eye plate on the top of the bolt bearing plate at the front end of the bolt bearing body.

[0013] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the limiting component includes a limiting rod, one end of the limiting rod is welded with a hinge pin and is assembled in the hinged double-ear eye plate through the hinge pin, the other end of the limiting rod passes through a limiting clamp, and a positioning ring abutting against it is fixed on the outer side wall of the limiting rod on the rear side of the limiting clamp, and a limiting nut is screwed on the external threaded section of the outer side wall of the limiting rod on the front side of the limiting clamp, and the limiting nut cooperates with the positioning ring to realize axial positioning of the limiting clamp, and the distance from the positioning ring to the hinge pin matches the length of the smooth section of the flange bolt.

[0014] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the limit clamp includes an arc plate, and front and rear clamping plates are fixedly welded to the front and rear ends of the arc plate respectively, and a sleeve is fixed between the two front and rear clamping plates, and the sleeve is movably sleeved on the outer side wall of the limit rod, and neodymium magnets are respectively installed in the slots on both sides of the arc plate, and each of the neodymium magnets is bolted to the arc plate through the assembly plate on its top, and through holes are opened on the front and rear clamping plates, and the aperture of the through holes is consistent with the aperture of the sleeve.

[0015] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the positioning component includes two symmetrical and spaced positioning pins, the positioning pins have the same structure but different lengths; the two positioning pins are symmetrically assembled on the left and right sides of the bolt bearing plate of the bolt bearing body and are clamped and fixed by two nuts arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the bolt bearing plate at their corresponding positions.

[0016] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the positioning pin includes a screw rod section, a straight rod section, an end tractor, and a connecting ring which are fixedly connected in sequence from back to front; the straight rod sections of the two positioning pins pass through the expansion bend flange of the submarine pipeline, and an inner thread hole is provided at the end of the reducing section of the positioning pin, the inner thread hole is connected to the end tractor by thread, and a connecting ring is welded to the front end of the end tractor; the connecting ring is composed of two nested chain links, one of which is welded to the end tractor, and the other chain link is welded to the traction wire rope at the corresponding position.

[0017] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the traction jack adopts a through-hole jack, a bearing frame is provided at the bottom of the traction jack, a strong magnet is installed at the bottom of the bearing frame, and the traction jack is fixed to the bearing frame by bolts; the traction jack is fixed to the opposite side of the fixed end flange connected to the expansion bend of the submarine pipeline by adsorption of the strong magnet, the through-hole jack is equipped with the traction wire rope that is engaged with it, the traction wire rope passes through the bolt hole of the fixed end flange connected to the expansion bend of the submarine pipeline and is connected to the end tractor of the positioning pin.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention significantly improves underwater operation efficiency and reduces diver labor intensity: By combining the bolt-carrying body with the traction jack, 90% of the bolts required to secure large flanges can be quickly threaded simultaneously. Compared to traditional processes where divers must manually thread individual bolts weighing over 50 kg, this invention relieves divers of the arduous physical labor and reduces underwater operation time. For example, when docking large submarine expansion bends, this method avoids the inefficiencies associated with the large number and weight of bolts, significantly improving operational efficiency.

[0019] 2. This invention improves docking accuracy through a hydraulic traction system: The traction jack utilizes a through-hole jack coupled with a strong magnet to attach to the back of the fixed-end flange. Connected to the locating pins via a traction wire rope, it precisely controls the movement trajectory of the expansion flange of the submarine pipeline. During docking, the hydraulic traction jack provides stable traction. Combined with the design of long and short locating pins (the long locating pin is inserted first for initial positioning, and the short locating pin is inserted later for precise positioning), this ensures precise alignment of the flange axis with the fixed-end flange, preventing docking deviation caused by ship movement or currents, and minimizing concentricity errors in the flange through-holes. 3. The locating pin design of this invention optimizes the docking process: two symmetrically arranged locating pins of different lengths are inserted first into the bolt holes of the fixed flange for initial alignment, followed by the shorter locating pin for precise docking. This design eliminates the need for divers to repeatedly adjust the flange position, reducing underwater alignment time. For example, in complex sea conditions, a flange docking reference can be quickly established, avoiding delays caused by repeated alignment attempts and improving docking efficiency.

[0020] 4. This invention utilizes a two-piece structure to achieve device reusability: the bolt-bearing body consists of two symmetrical semi-arcs, secured by wing plates and bolts, allowing for quick disassembly after installation. The semi-arcs are constructed by splitting a circular tube larger than the diameter of the subsea pipeline, resulting in a high-strength and reusable structure. Compared to disposable tooling, this device can be used multiple times for docking different subsea pipeline expansion bends, reducing construction costs. The same device can be reused multiple times, significantly saving tooling procurement costs.

[0021] 5. The sliding module design of this invention reduces frictional resistance during docking: The sliding module, mounted on the outer wall of the semi-arc, consists of a ball bearing and a restraining sleeve. The inner end of the ball bearing extends to contact the expansion bend of the submarine pipeline, replacing traditional sliding friction with rolling friction during docking. This design significantly reduces friction during the movement of the submarine expansion bend, especially in high-pressure deep-sea environments. It effectively reduces flange misalignment caused by friction, reduces the load on the traction jack, and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0022] Based on the above reasons, the present invention can be widely promoted in fields such as offshore pipe expansion bend butt joint technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly describes the drawings required for the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Similar elements or components are generally identified by similar reference numerals throughout the drawings. Elements or components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the use of the present invention in an assembled state.

[0025] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the bolt bearing body of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the sliding module of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the sliding module of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the position-limiting clamp on the bolt-bearing body of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention in the installation and docking state.

[0031] In the figure: 1. Semicircular sleeve; 2. Bolt bearing plate; 201. Bolt bearing hole; 3. Sliding module; 301. Constraint sleeve; 302. Ball bearing; 303. Annular ring; 304. Cover plate; 305. Top bolt; 4. Structural plate; 5. Wing plate; 6. Fixing bolt; 7. Articulated double-ear eye plate; 8. Limiting component; 801. Articulated pin; 802. Limiting nut; 803. Limiting rod; 9. Limiting clamp; 901. Front and rear clamping plates; 902. Sleeve; 903. Arc plate; 904. Neodymium magnet; 905. Assembly plate; 10. Positioning pin; 1001. End puller; 1002. Connecting ring; 11. Traction wire rope; 12. Through-hole jack; 13. Load-bearing frame; 20. Subsea pipeline expansion bend; 21. Subsea pipeline expansion bend flange; 22. Subsea pipeline expansion bend fixing bolt; 23. Fixed end flange; 24. Fixed end subsea pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention and are therefore only used as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Figure 1-Figure 7 As shown in .

[0033] Example 1: A rapid docking device for large-scale submarine expansion bend flanges, comprising a bolt-bearing body, a positioning component, and a traction jack; the bolt-bearing body is fitted and sleeved on the outer side wall of the end of the submarine expansion bend 20, one end of the positioning component is fixed to the bolt-bearing body, and the other end thereof passes through the submarine expansion bend flange 21 and is connected to the traction rope, which passes through the fixed end flange 23 of the fixed end submarine pipe 24 and is then connected to the traction jack; the bolt-bearing body comprises two symmetrically arranged semi-arc bodies, which are fitted and sleeved on the outer side wall of the end of the submarine expansion bend 20.

[0034] The bolt-carrying body is sleeved onto the end of the pipeline expansion bend 20. A positioning component connects the bolt-carrying body to the traction jack. The traction force of the traction jack drives the expansion bend flange 21 toward the fixed end flange 23, achieving docking. The semi-arc design facilitates installation and removal, allowing it to be clipped onto the outer wall of the pipeline expansion bend 20. The symmetrical arrangement of the semi-arcs facilitates installation and removal of the device from the pipeline expansion bend 20, improving its practicality and operability.

[0035] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the semi-arc body includes a semi-circular sleeve 1, which is fitted on the outer side wall of the end of the submarine expansion bend 20, and a bolt bearing plate 2 is welded on the outer side wall of the front end of the semi-circular sleeve 1. Bolt bearing holes 201 equal in number to the flange bolt holes on the fixed end flange 23 are arranged at intervals on the end face of the bolt bearing plate 2, and an arc-shaped structural plate 4 is welded on the outer side wall of the rear end of the semi-circular sleeve 1. Wing plates 5 are symmetrically welded on the outer sides of the semi-circular sleeve 1, and a number of sliding modules 3 are fixed and installed at intervals on the outer side wall of the semi-arc body. The two semi-circular sleeves 1 are bolted and fixed by the butted wing plates 5 and the matching fixing bolts 6.

[0036] The semicircular sleeve 1 is clamped onto the end of the expansion bend 20 of the subsea pipe. The bolt-bearing plate 2 is used to install the expansion bend's fixing bolts 22. The number of bolt-bearing holes 201 matches the number of bolt holes in the fixed end flange 23, ensuring proper bolt installation. The curved structural plate 4 reinforces the structural strength of the rear end of the semicircular sleeve 1. The wing plate 5 connects the two semicircular sleeves 1 via fixing bolts 6, forming a complete cylindrical structure for the bolt-bearing body. The sliding module 3 is mounted on the outer wall of the semicircular body and serves as a sliding guide during the docking process.

[0037] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the semicircular sleeve 1 serves as the main load-bearing structure, which is made by longitudinally splitting a circular tube larger than the diameter of the sea pipe along the axis, and a plurality of through holes are opened on the outer wall of the semicircular sleeve 1, and the sliding modules 3 are fixedly assembled in the corresponding through holes.

[0038] The semicircular sleeve 1, made by splitting a circular tube larger than the diameter of the submarine pipeline, serves as the primary load-bearing structure, bearing the primary load during docking. The through-holes in the outer wall are used to mount the sliding module 3, allowing it to be fixed to the semicircular sleeve 1 and perform its sliding guide function.

[0039] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the sliding module 3 is composed of a ball 302, a constraint sleeve 301, a threaded cover plate 304 and a top bolt 305, the constraint sleeve 301 is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the through hole corresponding to the semicircular sleeve 1, the ball 302 is movably installed inside the inner cavity of the constraint sleeve 301, an annular ring 303 is fixedly assembled at the bottom of the inner cavity of the constraint sleeve 301, and a cover plate 304 is fixedly assembled on the top of the constraint sleeve 301, the annular ring 303 and the cover plate 304 fix the ball 302 inside the constraint sleeve 301, and the inner end of the ball 302 extends out of the center of the annular ring 303 and extends to the outside thereof; a threaded hole is opened in the center of the cover plate 304, and a top bolt 305 is assembled in the threaded hole.

[0040] A restraining sleeve 301 is fixed to the through-hole of the semicircular sleeve 1. A ball 302 is mounted within the inner cavity of the restraining sleeve 301. An annular ring 303 and a cover plate 304 secure the ball 302, restricting its movement to within the restraining sleeve 301. The inner end of the ball 302 extends to contact the expansion bend 20 or other components of the submarine pipeline. A top bolt 305, installed in the center threaded hole of the cover plate 304, adjusts the extension of the ball 302 or secures it. During the docking process, the ball 302 rolls, reducing friction.

[0041] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is as follows: a hinged double-ear eye plate 7 with a mounting hole is welded at the top center of the bolt bearing plate 2, and a limiting component 8 is assembled in the hinged double-ear eye plate 7 at the top of the bolt bearing plate 2 at the front end of the bolt bearing body.

[0042] The hinged double-ear eye plate 7 is welded to the top center of the bolt bearing plate 2 for mounting a limiting component 8. The limiting component 8 is connected to the hinged double-ear eye plate 7 via a hinge pin 801 to limit and fix the position of the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline.

[0043] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the limiting component 8 includes a limiting rod 803, one end of the limiting rod 803 is welded with a hinge pin 801 and is assembled in the hinged double-ear eye plate 7 through the hinge pin 801, the other end of the limiting rod 803 passes through a limiting clamp 9, and a positioning ring abutting against it is fixed on the outer wall of the limiting rod 803 on the rear side of the limiting clamp 9, and the external threaded section of the outer wall of the limiting rod 803 on the front side of the limiting clamp 9 is screwed with a limiting nut 802, and the limiting nut 802 cooperates with the positioning ring to realize axial positioning of the limiting clamp 9, and the distance from the positioning ring to the hinge pin 801 matches the length of the smooth section of the flange bolt.

[0044] Limit rod 803 is mounted within hinged eye plate 7 via hinge pin 801 and can rotate about hinge pin 801. Limit clamp 9 passes through limit rod 803, and a locating ring is secured to limit rod 803. Limit nut 802 is screwed onto the externally threaded section of limit rod 803 and, in conjunction with the locating ring, axially positions limit clamp 9. By adjusting the position of limit nut 802 and locating ring to match the distance from the locating ring to hinge pin 801 with the length of the smooth section of the flange bolt, the position of expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline is restricted.

[0045] The structural design of the stopper 8 precisely limits the position of the expansion bend flange 21 of the submarine pipeline, ensuring accurate flange positioning during docking and improving docking accuracy. The stopper nut 802 and the positioning ring can be adjusted to accommodate different situations, increasing the versatility and adaptability of the device.

[0046] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the limit clamp 9 includes an arc plate 903, and front and rear clamping plates 901 are fixedly welded to the front and rear ends of the arc plate 903 respectively, and a sleeve 902 is fixed between the two front and rear clamping plates 901, and the sleeve 902 is movably sleeved on the outer wall of the limit rod 803, and neodymium magnets 904 are respectively installed in the slots on both sides of the arc plate 903, and each neodymium magnet 904 is bolted to the arc plate 903 through the assembly plate 905 on its top, and a through hole is opened on the front and rear clamping plates 901, and the aperture of the through hole is consistent with the aperture of the sleeve 902.

[0047] Neodymium magnets 904 on either side of the curved plate 903 are fixed to the curved plate 903 via an assembly plate 905. The magnetic force of the neodymium magnets 904 attracts the stopper 9 to the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline. The sleeve 902 between the front and rear clamping plates 901 is flexibly mounted on the stopper rod 803, allowing the stopper 9 to move on the stopper rod 803. The attraction of the neodymium magnets 904 and the positional restraint of the stopper rod 803 secure the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline.

[0048] The provision of the neodymium magnet 904 enables the limiting clamp 9 to be firmly adsorbed on the expansion bend flange 21 of the submarine pipeline, thereby enhancing the limiting effect and ensuring the stable position of the flange during lifting and transportation.

[0049] The movable connection between the sleeve 902 and the limiting rod 803 enables the limiting clamp 9 to move flexibly, facilitating operation and adjustment during the docking process.

[0050] Based on any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the positioning component includes two symmetrical and spaced positioning pins 10, the positioning pins 10 have the same structure but different lengths; the two positioning pins 10 are symmetrically assembled on the left and right sides of the bolt bearing plate 2 of the bolt bearing body and are clamped and fixed by two nuts arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the bolt bearing plate 2 at their corresponding positions.

[0051] Two symmetrical locating pins 10 of different lengths are mounted on the left and right sides of the bolt carrier plate 2 and secured with nuts. During docking, the longer locating pin 10 is inserted first into the bolt holes of the fixed end flange 23 for initial positioning, followed by the shorter locating pin 10 for precise docking, thus achieving accurate docking of the expansion bend flange 21 of the submarine pipeline.

[0052] The design of the locating pins 10, each of varying lengths, is ingenious. The longer pins 10 are inserted first for initial alignment, while the shorter pins 10 are inserted later for precise positioning. This improves docking efficiency and precision, reducing the difficulty and workload of divers. The symmetrical arrangement of the pins 10 stabilizes the docking process and ensures the balance of the expansion flange 21 during docking.

[0053] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the positioning pin 10 includes a screw rod section, a straight rod section, an end tractor 1001 and a connecting ring 1002 which are fixedly connected in sequence from back to front; the straight rod sections of the two positioning pins 10 both pass through the expansion bend flange 21 of the submarine pipe, and an inner thread hole is provided at the end of the reducing section of the positioning pin 10, and the inner thread hole is threadedly connected to the end tractor 1001, and a connecting ring 1002 is welded to the front end of the end tractor 1001; the connecting ring 1002 is composed of two nested chain links, one of which is welded to the end tractor 1001, and the other chain link is welded to the traction wire rope 11 at the corresponding position.

[0054] The threaded rod section of the locating pin 10 is connected to the bolt bearing plate 2, while the straight rod section passes through the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline. The end tractor 1001 is connected to the locating pin 10 through the internal threaded hole, and the connecting ring 1002 is used to connect the traction wire rope 11. The traction wire rope 11 is connected to the locating pin 10 through the connecting ring 1002. When the traction jack is working, the traction force is transmitted to the locating pin 10 through the traction wire rope 11, driving the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline to move.

[0055] The rational design of the positioning pin 10, with each component clearly defined, ensures effective transmission of traction force, enabling accurate movement of the submarine expansion flange 21 under the action of the traction jack. The nested design of the connecting ring 1002 facilitates the connection and removal of the traction wire rope 11, improving operational efficiency.

[0056] On the basis of any of the above technical solutions, further optimization is that: the traction jack adopts a through-hole jack 12, a bearing frame 13 is provided at the bottom of the traction jack, a strong magnet is installed at the bottom of the bearing frame 13, and the traction jack is fixed to the bearing frame 13 by bolts; the traction jack is fixed to the opposite side of the fixed end flange 23 by strong magnet adsorption, and the through-hole jack 12 is equipped with the traction wire rope 11 that is engaged with it, and the traction wire rope 11 passes through the bolt hole of the fixed end flange 23 and is connected to the end traction device 1001 of the positioning pin 10.

[0057] The through-hole jack 12 is mounted on the load-bearing frame 13. A strong magnet at the bottom of the load-bearing frame 13 attracts and secures the traction jack to the back of the fixed end flange 23. The traction wire rope 11 passes through the bolt holes of the fixed end flange 23 and the through-hole jack 12, connecting to the end traction device 1001 of the positioning pin 10. When the through-hole jack 12 is in operation, it engages the traction wire rope 11, and the traction force drives the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline toward the fixed end flange 23, achieving docking. The strong magnet allows the traction jack to be installed quickly and easily on the fixed end flange 23, eliminating the need for complex fixing devices and improving operational efficiency.

[0058] The engagement connection between the through-core jack 12 and the traction wire rope 11 can provide stable and reliable traction force, ensuring the smooth movement and accurate docking of the submarine pipe expansion bend flange 21.

[0059] Example 2: Compared with Example 1, this example is different in that it also includes the following technical features: The present invention also provides a construction method for a large-scale submarine expansion bend flange quick docking device, which specifically comprises the following steps: Step 1: The two bolt-bearing bodies are fixedly connected at the wing plate 5 using fixing bolts 6 to assemble into a complete cylindrical shape. Before assembly, a curved liner needs to be installed near the submarine expansion bend flange 21. The length of the curved liner is twice the length of the bolt-bearing body of the submarine expansion bend flange 21. The inner diameter of the curved liner is the outer diameter of the submarine pipeline, and its coverage range is the sliding range of the sliding module 3, which protects the coating of the submarine expansion bend 20. The curved liner does not fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0060] Step 2: Install the pipe expansion bend fixing bolt 22 in the bolt bearing hole 201 of the bolt bearing plate 2. Note that: one end of the pipe expansion bend fixing bolt 22 is arranged in the flange bolt hole and slightly extends out of the pipe expansion bend flange 21. The other end of the pipe expansion bend fixing bolt 22 is assembled with a nut, and the screw section at this end is arranged in the bolt bearing hole 201 of the bolt bearing plate 2. The nut is between the bolt bearing plate 2 and the pipe expansion bend flange 21 and fits in front of the bolt bearing plate 2.

[0061] Step 3: The two locating pins 10 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the assembled bolt bearing plate 2. The thread segments of the locating pins 10 are arranged in the same way as the fixing bolts 22 of the submarine expansion bend. However, it should be noted that the locating pins 10 require nuts to fix them on the bolt bearing plate 2. The front end of the locating pins 10 passes through the bolt holes of the submarine expansion bend flange 21 and extends half the length of the flange.

[0062] After the positioning pin 10 is assembled and fixed, the end tractor 1001 is installed at its front end. At this time, a connecting ring 1002 is welded on the end tractor 1001. The connecting ring 1002 is composed of two nested rings, wherein the second ring is fixedly connected to the traction wire rope 11.

[0063] The two positioning pins 10 are connected in the same manner.

[0064] Step 4: After the bolt carrier body is assembled, the limiting rod 803 is connected to the limiting clamp 9, and the position of the limiting clamp 9 is adjusted so that the distance between the rear end of the limiting clamp 9 and the bolt carrier plate 2 is equal to the length of the threadless section of the pipeline expansion bend fixing bolt 22. After the position is adjusted, the limiting clamp 9 is clamped on the top of the pipeline expansion bend flange 21, and the neodymium magnet 904 on the limiting clamp 9 attracts and fixes the limiting clamp 9 to the pipeline expansion bend flange 21. At this point, the relative position of the bolt carrier body and the pipeline expansion bend flange 21 is fixed. Before the pipeline expansion bend 20 is lifted, put into the water, and installed, the pipeline expansion bend fixing bolt 22 remains in the assembled state.

[0065] Step 5: Diving During diving operations, install the traction jack equipped with the load-bearing frame 13 on the fixed end flange 23, and ensure that the axis of the traction jack is consistent with the axis of the positioning pin 10 when the submarine expansion bend 20 is installed.

[0066] Step 6: Lift the expansion bend 20 of the submarine pipeline and lower it to the flange docking position according to the underwater positioning beacon. A diver then passes the traction wire rope 11 through the bolt holes of the fixed-end flange 23 at the location of the traction jack, and then through the hollow core of the traction jack. The traction jack is activated and the traction wire rope 11 is engaged. The locating pin 10 on the other side is also connected to the traction jack at the corresponding position via the traction wire rope 11.

[0067] Step 7: Start the traction jacks and drag the traction wire rope 11 to bring the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline close to the fixed end flange 23. During this process, the speed of the two traction jacks must be controlled to ensure that the expansion flange 21 of the submarine pipeline approaches the fixed end flange 23 in parallel. Because the two locating pins 10 are of different lengths, the longer locating pin 10 is inserted into the bolt hole of the fixed end flange 23 first, and the shorter locating pin 10 is inserted into the other bolt hole of the fixed end flange 23 later. This operation improves underwater docking efficiency.

[0068] Step 8: The traction jack drags the traction wire rope 11 until the expansion flange 21 of the pipeline is docked with the fixed end flange 23. At this point, the two positioning pins 10 are completely within the bolt holes. Even if affected by water flow, the expansion flange 20 of the pipeline will not deviate from the docking position. The diver forcefully lifts the front end of the limit rod 803 upward to disengage the limit clamp 9 from the expansion flange 21 of the pipeline. The limit rod 803 and the limit clamp 9 are then rotated 180 degrees to the other side of the bolt support plate 2.

[0069] Step 9: Continue to operate the traction jack, drag the bolt-carrying body to move, and push all the submarine expansion bend fixing bolts 22 through the bolt holes of the submarine expansion bend flange 21 and the fixed end flange 23. It should be noted that due to manufacturing tolerances and reserved tolerances, individual bolts may become stuck, requiring local adjustment by the diver.

[0070] Step 10: After all the expansion bend bolts 22 are in place, install the flange bolt nuts behind the fixed end flange 23 to secure the expansion bend flange 21 to the fixed end flange 23. After this is complete, remove the locating pins 10, the traction jack, and the load-bearing frame 13 and recover them. Remove the bolt support body fixing bolts 6, recover the bolt support body, and recover it. At this point, the two flange fixing bolts 6 at the location of the locating pins 10 need to be manually installed by a diver.

[0071] Compared with the traditional large-scale submarine pipe expansion bend flange docking device process, the present invention can ensure the rapid docking of the submarine pipe expansion bend 20 and the rapid installation of the flange fixing bolts 6 through the large-scale submarine pipe expansion bend flange rapid docking device, thereby greatly improving the operation efficiency of the construction operation.

[0072] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the above embodiments can still be modified, or some or all of the technical features therein can be replaced by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, any replacement improvements or changes made to the implementation methods of the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0073] Any matters not described in detail in the present invention are well-known technologies to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A fast docking device for large-scale sea pipe expansion bend flanges, comprising a bolt bearing body, a positioning component and a traction jack; the bolt bearing body is fitted and sleeved on the outer side wall of the end of the sea pipe expansion bend (20), characterized in that: One end of the positioning component is fixed to the bolt bearing body, and the other end of the positioning component passes through the flange (21) of the sea pipe expansion bend to connect with the traction rope, and then continues to pass through the fixed end flange (23) of the fixed end sea pipe (24) connected to the sea pipe expansion bend (20), and then is connected to the traction jack; the bolt bearing body includes two symmetrically arranged half-arc bodies, and the two half-arc bodies are fitted and clamped on the outer side wall of the end of the sea pipe expansion bend (20).

2. The rapid docking device for large-scale submarine expansion bend flanges according to claim 1, characterized in that: The semi-arc body comprises a semi-circular sleeve (1), the semi-circular sleeve (1) being fitted and clamped on the outer side wall of the end portion of the sea pipe expansion bend (20), a bolt bearing plate (2) being welded on the outer side wall of the front end of the semi-circular sleeve (1), bolt bearing holes (201) being arranged at intervals on the end surface of the bolt bearing plate (2) and having the same number as the flange bolt holes on the flange (21) of the sea pipe expansion bend, an arc-shaped structural plate (4) being welded on the outer side wall of the rear end of the semi-circular sleeve (1), wing plates (5) being symmetrically welded on the outer side walls of both sides of the semi-circular sleeve (1), a plurality of sliding modules (3) being fixed and installed at intervals on the outer side wall of the semi-arc body, and the two semi-circular sleeves (1) being bolted and fixed by the wing plates (5) and the respective matching fixing bolts (6) arranged in a butt connection.

3. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 2, characterized in that: The semicircular sleeve (1) serves as the main load-bearing structure and is made by longitudinally splitting a circular tube having a diameter larger than that of the sea pipe along the axis. A plurality of through holes are opened on the outer wall of the semicircular sleeve (1), and the sliding modules (3) are fixedly mounted in the corresponding through holes.

4. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sliding module (3) is composed of a ball (302), a restraining sleeve (301), a threaded cover plate (304), and a top bolt (305). The restraining sleeve (301) is fixedly mounted on the outer wall of the through hole corresponding to the semicircular sleeve (1). The ball (302) is movably mounted inside the inner cavity of the restraining sleeve (301). An annular ring (303) is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the inner cavity of the restraining sleeve (301). A cover plate (304) is fixedly mounted on the top of the restraining sleeve (301). The annular ring (303) and the cover plate (304) fix the ball (302) inside the restraining sleeve (301). The inner end of the ball (302) extends out of the center of the annular ring (303) and extends to the outside thereof. A threaded hole is opened in the center of the cover plate (304), and a top bolt (305) is mounted in the threaded hole.

5. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 4, characterized in that: A hinged double-ear eye plate (7) with a mounting hole is welded at the center of the top of the bolt bearing plate (2), and a limiting component (8) is assembled in the hinged double-ear eye plate (7) at the top of the bolt bearing plate (2) at the front end of the bolt bearing body.

6. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 5, characterized in that: The limiting component (8) includes a limiting rod (803), one end of which is welded with a hinge pin (801) and is assembled in the hinged double-ear eye plate (7) through the hinge pin (801), and the other end of the limiting rod (803) passes through a limiting clamp (9), and a positioning ring abutting against the limiting rod (803) is fixed on the outer wall of the limiting rod (803) on the rear side of the limiting clamp (9), and a limiting nut (802) is screwed on the external thread section of the outer wall of the limiting rod (803) on the front side of the limiting clamp (9), and the limiting nut (802) cooperates with the positioning ring to realize axial positioning of the limiting clamp (9), and the distance from the positioning ring to the hinge pin (801) matches the length of the smooth section of the flange bolt.

7. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 6, characterized in that: The limiting clamp (9) comprises an arc plate (903), and front and rear clamping plates (901) are fixedly welded to the front and rear ends of the arc plate (903), a sleeve (902) is fixed between the two front and rear clamping plates (901), and the sleeve (902) is movably sleeved on the outer wall of the limiting rod (803). Neodymium magnets (904) are respectively installed in the slots on both sides of the arc plate (903), and each neodymium magnet (904) is bolted to the arc plate (903) through an assembly plate (905) on its top for positioning. A through hole is opened on the front and rear clamping plates (901), and the aperture of the through hole is consistent with the aperture of the sleeve (902).

8. The rapid docking device for large-scale submarine expansion bend flanges according to claim 7, characterized in that: The positioning component comprises two symmetrical and spaced positioning pins (10), the positioning pins (10) having the same structure but different lengths; the two positioning pins (10) are symmetrically assembled on the left and right sides of the bolt bearing plate (2) of the bolt bearing body and are clamped and fixed by two nuts arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the bolt bearing plate (2) at corresponding positions.

9. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 8, characterized in that: The positioning pin (10) comprises a screw rod section, a straight rod section, an end tractor (1001) and a connecting ring (1002) which are fixedly connected in sequence from back to front; the straight rod sections of the two positioning pins (10) both pass through the expansion flange (21) of the sea pipe; an inner thread hole is provided at the end of the diameter-reducing section of the positioning pin (10); the inner thread hole is threadedly connected to the end tractor (1001); a connecting ring (1002) is welded to the front end of the end tractor (1001); the connecting ring (1002) is composed of two nested chain links, one of which is welded to the end tractor (1001), and the other chain link is welded to the traction wire rope (11) at the corresponding position.

10. The rapid docking device for expansion bend flanges of large submarine pipelines according to claim 9, characterized in that: The traction jack adopts a through-hole jack (12), a bearing frame (13) is provided at the bottom of the traction jack, a strong magnet is installed at the bottom of the bearing frame (13), and the traction jack and the bearing frame (13) are fixedly connected by bolts; the traction jack is fixed to the reverse side of the fixed end flange (23) docked with the expansion bend (20) of the sea pipe by adsorption of the strong magnet, the traction wire rope (11) is installed in the through-hole jack (12), and the traction wire rope (11) passes through the bolt hole of the fixed end flange (23) and is connected to the end tractor (1001) of the positioning pin (10).

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