Pull-type trencher

Abstract

The utility model belongs to ocean engineering equipment, and discloses a towed ditcher, which comprises a frame assembly, a ditcher body, a ditcher body, a ditcher body and a ditcher body, the injection cutter assembly is hinged to the tail of the frame assembly through a four-bar mechanism, and retraction, release and swing of an injection cutter are controlled through an oil cylinder; the hoisting assembly is hinged to the top of the frame assembly and has two degrees of freedom; the cable grabbing hand assembly is fixed to the front portion of the frame assembly through a four-connecting-rod lifting mechanism, and lifting and clamping jaw opening and closing are controlled through an oil cylinder; the sliding shoe assemblies are fixed to the two sides of the frame assembly; high-pressure water flow is directly conveyed to the injection cutter through the pipeline, so that the equipment can operate independently, a water source does not need to be provided by a mother ship, the requirements of marine equipment are reduced, the construction cost and the operation complexity are reduced, the width of the injection cutter can be changed by adjusting the oil cylinder, and the laying requirements of cables or pipelines with different diameters are met; and the universality and the flexibility of the equipment are enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to marine engineering equipment, in particular to a towed trencher. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the global economy and the continuous advancement of science and technology, energy demand is rising year by year. At the same time, to meet the growing demand for information transmission, the construction of submarine communication networks has reached an unprecedented scale worldwide. As a vital link between continents, submarine cables are not only a key channel for power transmission but also a primary carrier for data transmission. Therefore, how to efficiently and safely complete the laying of submarine cables and pipelines has become a major challenge in the field of marine engineering.

[0003] Traditional submarine cable laying techniques rely primarily on large, specialized vessels and complex machinery. These devices are often expensive to manufacture and maintain. Furthermore, their bulk and weight significantly limit their flexibility in actual operation. These limitations are particularly pronounced when operating in complex seabed topography or deep-sea environments. For example, in deep-sea areas, high water pressure and low visibility make it difficult for traditional equipment to precisely control the depth and direction of cable laying, resulting in poor laying accuracy and potentially damaging the seabed ecosystem.

[0004] In response to the above problems, "A Shallow Water Burial Plow and Its Control Method" with publication number CN113718876B provides a more advanced solution. This technology enables effective cable burial work on the seabed by using a main mounting frame with a plow. Specifically, the system includes a main mounting frame on which a rotatable plow is mounted. One end of the plow is a sharp tip for cutting the seabed soil, while the other end is connected to the main mounting frame by a hinge, so that the angle of the plow can be easily adjusted to adapt to different seabed conditions. In addition, the system is also equipped with a water pump provided by the mother ship, which can spray water to the seabed through a water pipe connected to the bottom of the plow, helping the plow to better cut into the seabed and remove the cut soil. In order to ensure the safety and accuracy of the operation, the system also integrates a pressure detection device and a controller, which can monitor the working status of the plow in real time and adjust the action of the drive device according to the feedback information, thereby achieving precise control of the plow.

[0005] However, while this technology represents a significant improvement over traditional methods, it still has some shortcomings. First, the system lacks an independent water pump and must rely on a mother ship for water supply, which limits its maneuverability and operational range. Second, the plow blade design is relatively complex, requiring the cables to be pre-loaded into specific locations before operation, increasing the difficulty and time cost of preparation. Finally, due to design limitations, the system can only handle cables within a certain diameter range and lacks the ability to adjust the cable diameter, making it unable to adapt to the laying requirements of cables of different specifications.

[0006] In summary, while existing submarine cable laying technology has made some progress, further optimization and improvement are still needed to better serve the growing needs of marine engineering. Future technological development should focus on improving system autonomy, simplifying operational processes, and enhancing its support for different cable types, in order to achieve more efficient, lower-cost, safer and more reliable submarine cable laying operations. Utility Model Content

[0007] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a towed trencher, aiming to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, such as low trenching efficiency, poor cable pressing effect, poor adaptability, insufficient stability, dependence on external equipment and complex operation.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose of the utility model, the first aspect of the utility model provides a towed trencher, comprising:

[0009] a frame assembly having towing points provided thereon;

[0010] The punching knife assembly is hinged to the tail of the frame assembly through a four-bar linkage, and the retraction, extension and swing of the punching knife are controlled by an oil cylinder;

[0011] The hoisting assembly is hinged to the top of the frame assembly and has two degrees of freedom. The locking and body balance are controlled by the cylinder and can be limited by the structure.

[0012] The cable grabber assembly is fixed to the front of the frame assembly through a four-link lifting mechanism, and the lifting and lowering, as well as the opening and closing of the clamping claws, are controlled by an oil cylinder;

[0013] The sliding shoe assemblies are fixed on both sides of the frame assembly and are used for sliding on the seabed.

[0014] Furthermore, the punching knife assembly includes:

[0015] A four-bar linkage mechanism is used to realize the retraction and extension of the punching knife;

[0016] Two punching knives are mounted on one end of the four-bar linkage by bolts;

[0017] The fixed cable press is installed at the end of the punching knife by means of bolts and moves synchronously with the punching knife to realize the cable pressing while digging the trench.

[0018] Furthermore, the fixed cable press is retracted and extended together with the punching knife to realize the cable / pipe pressing operation during the trenching process.

[0019] Furthermore, the cable grabbing hand assembly includes:

[0020] Four-link lifting mechanism, used to realize the lifting and lowering of the cable grab assembly;

[0021] The cable gripping claw is fixed on the four-link lifting mechanism and is opened and closed by a hydraulic cylinder to grasp and release the cable / pipe.

[0022] Furthermore, it also includes a sliding shoe assembly, the sliding shoe assembly including:

[0023] The bottom plate is made of wear-resistant material and is used for direct contact and sliding on the seabed surface;

[0024] Mounting column, used to install auxiliary floats to enhance buoyancy or adjust the center of gravity.

[0025] Furthermore, it also includes an integrated waterway assembly, the integrated waterway assembly including:

[0026] The water pump assembly is fixedly mounted on the frame assembly;

[0027] Water confluence, used to gather water flow;

[0028] The pipeline connects the water pump assembly with the water junction and delivers the water flow to the jet knife.

[0029] Furthermore, it also includes at least one buoy, which is a hollow sealed structure and can be installed at different positions of the frame assembly to adjust the center of gravity and center of buoyancy of the entire machine.

[0030] Furthermore, the frame assembly is made of high-strength steel by welding, and is provided with mounting side beams on its sides for mounting pontoons.

[0031] Furthermore, the punching knife assembly can independently complete the lowering, cable clamping and cable pressing operations without relying on external equipment.

[0032] Furthermore, the width of the punching knife is adjustable, and the distance between the punching knives can be changed by adjusting the oil cylinder to adapt to the laying requirements of cables / pipes of different diameters.

[0033] Beneficial effects:

[0034] The towed trencher of the present invention is deduced based on the content of the independent claim 1 to obtain beneficial effects.

[0035] 1. The utility model adopts an independent water pump assembly to directly deliver high-pressure water flow to the jet cutter through a pipeline. This structural setting enables the equipment to operate independently without relying on the mother ship to provide water, reducing the demand for marine equipment, and reducing construction costs and operational complexity. The high-pressure water flow can quickly cut the seabed soil to form a groove with controllable depth and width, thereby improving trenching efficiency. The four-bar linkage is driven by an oil cylinder to achieve precise control and flexible adjustment of the jet cutter. The swing angle and lowering depth of the jet cutter can be adjusted in real time to ensure the accuracy and stability of the trenching operation. The width of the jet cutter can also be changed by the oil cylinder to adapt to the laying requirements of cables or pipes of different diameters, thereby enhancing the versatility and flexibility of the equipment.

[0036] 2. This utility model uses a fixed cable press installed at the end of the punching knife. It moves synchronously with the punching knife, pressing the cable or pipe into the trench while the trench is being opened. This integrated structure not only simplifies the operation process, but also improves the reliability of the cable press, avoiding the risk of failure caused by additional mechanical devices.

[0037] 3. This utility model utilizes the javelin assembly to independently complete the lowering, clamping, and pressing operations without relying on external equipment. Operators simply place a small section of cable or pipe into the cable gripper on the mother vessel. Then, a hydraulic cylinder controls the four-bar linkage to lower the javelin, clamping the cable or pipe between the two javelins. The fixed cable presser then presses it into the trench bottom. This structural arrangement greatly simplifies the operation and improves construction efficiency.

[0038] 4. This utility model utilizes a sliding shoe assembly constructed of wear-resistant material that directly contacts and slides on the seabed, providing stable sliding support and reducing resistance during equipment movement. The sliding shoe assembly can also be equipped with auxiliary buoys, whose positions can be adjusted to optimize the overall balance of the equipment and adapt to varying depths and terrain conditions. The lifting assembly has two degrees of freedom and is structurally limited, ensuring stability and safety during the lifting and lowering process. This ensures that the equipment maintains excellent operational performance even in complex marine environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a towed trencher according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a loading buoy for a towed trencher according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of an integrated waterway assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 4The utility model is a schematic diagram of a towed trencher, a cable / pipe and a tow rope structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] in:

[0044] 1- Punching knife assembly; 11- Four-bar linkage; 12- Punching knife; 13- Fixed cable press; 2- Hoisting assembly; 3- Cable grabber assembly; 31- Four-bar lifting mechanism; 32- Cable gripper; 4- Slipper assembly; 41- Bottom plate; 42- Mounting column; 5- Frame assembly; 51- Towing point; 52- Mounting side beam; 61- Water pump assembly; 62- Water junction; 63- Pipeline; 7- Float; 8- Cable / Pipeline; 9- Towing rope.

[0045] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0047] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like, indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operate in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features. In the description of the present invention, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0048] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to mechanical connections, direct connections, or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they may refer to internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on specific circumstances.

[0049] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature may include the first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature may include the first feature being directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0050] Reference Figures 1-4 An embodiment of the present invention provides a towed trencher, comprising:

[0051] a frame assembly 5 having a towing point 51 provided thereon;

[0052] The punching knife assembly 1 is hinged to the tail of the frame assembly 5 through a four-bar linkage 11, and the retraction, extension and swing of the punching knife are controlled by a cylinder;

[0053] The hoisting assembly 2 is hinged to the top of the frame assembly 5 and has two degrees of freedom. The locking and body balance are controlled by the oil cylinder and can be limited by the structure.

[0054] The cable grabber assembly 3 is fixed to the front of the frame assembly 5 through a four-link lifting mechanism 31, and the lifting and closing of the gripper are controlled by a cylinder;

[0055] The sliding shoe assembly 4 is fixed to both sides of the frame assembly 5 and is used for sliding on the seabed.

[0056] It should be noted that the frame assembly 5 is welded from high-strength steel, ensuring durability and stability in harsh marine environments. Towing points 51 are provided on the frame assembly 5 to facilitate operation of the towing winch on the mother vessel. Furthermore, mounting beams 52 are installed on the sides of the frame assembly 5 to secure the buoys 7, allowing the center of gravity and center of buoyancy of the entire machine to be adjusted as needed.

[0057] The hoisting assembly 2, located on top of the frame assembly 5, has two degrees of freedom and can be locked and balanced by a hydraulic cylinder. This assembly, with its structural limits, ensures stability and reliability during the hoisting process, preventing safety hazards caused by swaying.

[0058] In one embodiment, the punching knife assembly 1 includes:

[0059] A four-bar linkage 11 is used to realize the retraction and extension of the punching knife 12;

[0060] Two punching knives 12 are mounted on one end of the four-bar linkage 11 by bolts;

[0061] The fixed cable press 13 is mounted on the end of the punching knife 12 by means of bolts and moves synchronously with the punching knife 12 to achieve trenching and cable pressing at the same time.

[0062] It should be noted that the ramming knife assembly 1 is responsible for trenching the seabed. It is hinged to the rear end of the frame assembly 5 via a four-bar linkage 11. The swing angle, lowering height, and angle can be adjusted by a cylinder, achieving precise control of the ramming knife 12. The ramming knife 12 is bolted to one end of the four-bar linkage 11, and its width can be adjusted according to different operational requirements. A fixed cable press 13 is installed at the end of the ramming knife 12 and moves synchronously with the ramming knife 12, ensuring that the cable / pipeline 8 can be effectively pressed into the trench while the trench is being opened.

[0063] The fixed cable press 13 is retracted and extended together with the punching knife 12 to realize the operation of pressing the cable / pipeline 8 in the trenching process.

[0064] In one embodiment, the cable grabbing hand assembly 3 comprises:

[0065] A four-link lifting mechanism 31 is used to realize the lifting and lowering of the cable grabbing hand assembly 3;

[0066] The cable gripping claw 32 is fixed on the four-link lifting mechanism 31 and is opened and closed by a cylinder to grasp and release the cable / pipe 8.

[0067] It should be noted that the cable grabber assembly 3 is fixed to the front of the frame assembly 5 via a four-link lifting mechanism 31. Its opening and closing movements are controlled by a hydraulic cylinder to grasp and release the cable / pipe 8. The design of the cable claw 32 ensures a firm grip on the cable / pipe 8, ensuring smooth operation even in complex submarine environments.

[0068] In one embodiment, a sliding shoe assembly 4 is further included, and the sliding shoe assembly 4 includes:

[0069] The bottom plate 41 is made of wear-resistant material and is used for directly contacting and sliding on the seabed surface;

[0070] The mounting column 42 is used to mount the auxiliary float 7 to enhance buoyancy or adjust the center of gravity.

[0071] It should be noted that the shoe assembly 4 is fixed to both sides of the frame assembly 5 and mainly consists of a base plate 41 made of wear-resistant material and mounting posts 42 for mounting auxiliary buoys 7. The function of the shoe assembly 4 is to provide stable sliding support on the seabed, reducing resistance during equipment movement, and optimizing the overall balance of the equipment by adjusting the position of the buoys 7.

[0072] The bottom plate 41 is preferably made of NM360 wear-resistant steel plate, which has excellent wear resistance and high strength.

[0073] In one embodiment, an integrated waterway assembly is further included, wherein the integrated waterway assembly includes:

[0074] The water pump assembly 61 is fixedly mounted on the frame assembly 5;

[0075] A water junction 62 is used to gather water flow;

[0076] The pipeline 63 connects the water pump assembly 61 and the water junction 62 and delivers water to the jetting blade 12 .

[0077] It should be noted that the integrated waterway assembly provides the necessary high-pressure water flow for the jet blade assembly 1. It includes a water pump assembly 61 fixedly mounted on the frame assembly 5, a water confluence 62 for collecting the water flow, and a pipeline 63 connecting the water pump assembly 61 and the water confluence 62. The integrated waterway assembly is designed to operate independently and does not rely on water from external ship equipment, ensuring operational flexibility and efficiency.

[0078] In one embodiment, at least one buoy 7 is further included. The buoy 7 is a hollow sealed structure and can be installed at different positions of the frame assembly 5 to adjust the center of gravity and center of buoyancy of the entire machine.

[0079] It should be noted that the float 7 is a hollow sealed structure and can be installed at different positions of the frame assembly 5 to adjust the center of gravity and center of buoyancy of the entire machine to ensure that the equipment maintains the best working posture in the water.

[0080] Furthermore, the frame assembly 5 is made of high-strength steel by welding, and is provided with mounting side beams 52 on its sides for mounting the pontoon 7 .

[0081] The punching knife assembly 1 can independently complete the lowering, cable clamping and cable pressing operations without relying on external equipment.

[0082] The width of the punching knife 12 is adjustable, and the distance between the punching knives 12 is changed by adjusting the oil cylinder to adapt to the laying requirements of cables / pipes 8 of different diameters.

[0083] Explanation: On the mother ship, the operator first opens the cable gripper 32 on the cable grabber assembly 3 and places the cable / pipeline 8 to be laid. Then, using the mother ship's crane and the hoisting assembly 2, the entire device is lifted from the deck and slowly lowered into the sea. After the device touches the bottom, the hoisting assembly 2 is adjusted to ensure it rests steadily on the seabed.

[0084] The jetting knife assembly 1 is started: the water pump assembly 61 in the integrated waterway assembly is started, and the seawater is transported to the water junction 62 through the pipeline 63, and then distributed to the jetting knife 12. The high-pressure water flow is ejected through the jetting knife 12, generating a strong impact force, cutting the seabed soil and forming a groove. The four-bar linkage 11 is driven by the oil cylinder to swing the jetting knife 12 downward and penetrate into the seabed. The width of the jetting knife 12 can be changed by adjusting the position or size of the four-bar linkage 11 to accommodate cables / pipes 8 of different diameters. The fixed cable press 13 is installed at the end of the jetting knife 12, and moves synchronously with the lowering of the jetting knife 12 to press the cable / pipe 8 into the groove. The design of the cable press ensures the stability of the cable / pipe 8 in the groove.

[0085] The mother ship tightens the towing rope 9 using a towing winch, applying tension to the towing point 51 on the frame assembly 5. This tension propels the equipment along the predetermined route, while the skid assembly 4 glides smoothly on the seabed, reducing movement resistance. The ramming blade assembly 1 remains lowered, continuing trenching and cable compression operations. The hoisting assembly 2 and cable grab assembly 3 work in tandem to ensure the stability of the equipment during travel and ensure the proper placement of the cables / pipes 8.

[0086] After completing a section of the laying task, the mother ship stops advancing, and the ram blade assembly 1, driven by a hydraulic cylinder, retracts the four-bar linkage 11, returning it to its initial position. The cable claws 32 on the cable grabber assembly 3 open, releasing the cable / pipeline 8. The mother ship's crane and lowering assembly 2 are used to lift the equipment from the sea and retrieve it onto the deck for the next section of the operation.

[0087] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made by using the contents of the description and drawings of the present invention, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A towed trencher, characterized in that: include: a frame assembly (5) having a towing point (51) provided thereon; The punching knife assembly (1) is hinged to the tail of the frame assembly (5) through a four-bar linkage (11); The hanging assembly (2) is hinged to the top of the frame assembly (5), has two degrees of freedom, and is locked and balanced by a cylinder; The cable grabber assembly (3) is fixed to the front of the frame assembly (5) via a four-link lifting mechanism (31), and the lifting and lowering, as well as the opening and closing of the clamping claws, are controlled by an oil cylinder; The sliding shoe assembly (4) is fixed on both sides of the frame assembly (5) and is used for sliding on the seabed.

2. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that: The punching knife assembly (1) comprises: A four-link mechanism (11) is used to realize the retraction and extension of the punching knife (12); Two punching knives (12) are mounted on one end of the four-bar linkage (11) via bolts; The fixed cable press (13) is mounted on the end of the punching knife (12) through bolts and moves synchronously with the punching knife (12).

3. The towed trencher according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixed cable press (13) is retracted and extended together with the punching knife (12) to realize the cable / pipeline pressing operation during the trenching process.

4. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that The cable grabbing hand assembly (3) comprises: A four-link lifting mechanism (31) is used to achieve the lifting and lowering of the cable grabbing hand assembly (3); The cable gripping claw (32) is fixed on the four-link lifting mechanism (31) and is opened and closed by the oil cylinder to realize the grasping and releasing of the cable / pipeline.

5. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a sliding shoe assembly (4), the sliding shoe assembly (4) including: A bottom plate (41) is made of wear-resistant material and is used for directly contacting and sliding on the seabed surface; The mounting column (42) is used for mounting the auxiliary buoy (7).

6. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is an integrated waterway assembly, the integrated waterway assembly comprising: A water pump assembly (61) is fixedly mounted on the frame assembly (5); A water confluence (62) for converging water flows; The pipeline (63) connects the water pump assembly (61) and the water junction (62) and delivers the water flow to the jetting knife (12).

7. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes at least one buoy (7), which is a hollow sealing structure and can be installed at different positions of the frame assembly (5).

8. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that The frame assembly (5) is made of high-strength steel by welding, and is provided with mounting side beams (52) on its sides for mounting the buoy (7).

9. The towed trencher according to claim 1, characterized in that: The punching knife assembly (1) can independently complete the operations of lowering, clamping and pressing the cable without relying on external equipment.

10. The towed trencher according to claim 1, wherein: The distance between the punching knives (12) is changed by adjusting the oil cylinder to meet the laying requirements of cables / pipes with different diameters.

Images