A mobile fairlead for laying a submarine cable

Abstract

A kind of mobile fairlead for submarine cable laying, comprising guide rail assembly, guide rail assembly includes guide rail and rack fixed on guide rail;Support frame, support frame is rolled with guide rail by roller;Driving mechanism, driving mechanism is arranged on support frame, and driving mechanism includes motor and output gear driven by motor, and output gear is engaged with rack;Wire conveying mechanism, wire conveying mechanism is arranged on support frame, and wire conveying mechanism is used to support and guide submarine cable;By the rotation of output gear driven by motor and the meshing effect of output gear and rack, support frame can be driven to carry wire conveying mechanism reciprocating motion along the direction of guide rail.It is intended to reduce the generation of additional stress in the process of submarine cable laying, improve the stress release effect of rotary untwisting device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of submarine cable laying equipment, specifically a mobile cable guide frame for submarine cable laying. Background Technology

[0002] In submarine cable laying projects, the submarine cable is tightly coiled in the cable reel of the cable-laying vessel before laying. This process generates significant rotational stress within the armored submarine cable. If this stress is not effectively released during the laying process, it may cause the submarine cable to twist, knot, or break upon entry into the water. A rotary unwinding device is currently a key piece of equipment for releasing rotational stress in submarine cables. This device uses a power-driven rotating cable storage unit to rotate during the release of the submarine cable, thereby relieving most of the internal stress generated by coiling.

[0003] However, in actual operations, after the submarine cable exits from the rotary untwisting device, it still needs to pass through a cable guide frame before being guided to the water entry point. Currently, fixed cable guide frames are commonly used. Because their position is static and cannot be adjusted, they form a rigid constraint point with the untwisting device. This causes the free section of the cable between the cable guide frame and the untwisting device to continuously bear additional stress from bending, friction, and vibration. This additional interference stress not only hinders the release of rotational stress within the submarine cable but also causes new damage to the submarine cable. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables, so as to reduce the generation of additional stress during the laying of submarine cables and improve the stress release effect of the rotating un-torsion device.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the specific solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: It includes a guide rail assembly, which includes a guide rail and a rack fixed on the guide rail; a support frame, which is in rolling engagement with the guide rail via rollers; a drive mechanism, which is mounted on the support frame and includes a motor and an output gear driven by the motor, the output gear meshing with the rack; and a cable conveying mechanism, which is mounted on the support frame and is used to support and guide the submarine cable. Through the motor driving the output gear to rotate and the meshing action of the output gear with the rack, the support frame can be driven to carry the cable conveying mechanism in reciprocating motion along the guide rail direction.

[0006] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide frame for laying submarine cables: the cable transmission mechanism includes four arc-shaped rods and straight rods connected to the four arc-shaped rods. The arc-shaped rods are used to form a channel for transmitting submarine cables, and the straight rods are used to stabilize and support the frame formed by the arc-shaped rods.

[0007] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide frame for laying submarine cables: multiple idlers are provided along the submarine cable conveying path inside the cable conveying mechanism, and the idlers are mounted on the cable conveying mechanism via idler bases.

[0008] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide for laying submarine cables: the idlers include lateral idlers distributed on both sides of the submarine cable transport path and vertical idlers distributed above and below the submarine cable transport path.

[0009] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide for laying submarine cables: the motor is connected to the output gear via a reducer.

[0010] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide for laying submarine cables: the motor adopts an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, and the reducer adopts a planetary reducer or a reducer with a small tooth difference.

[0011] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide frame for laying submarine cables: a guide rail base is connected to the bottom of the guide rail, and the guide rail base is used to connect the cable laying vessel.

[0012] As a further optimization of a mobile cable guide frame for laying submarine cables: the support frame is in rolling engagement with the guide rail via at least one roller, and the roller is mounted on the support frame via a roller support.

[0013] Beneficial effects: The mobile cable guide frame of this utility model drives the cable conveying mechanism to reciprocate on the guide rail through the drive mechanism, realizing synchronous following of the movement of the submarine cable during the rotation operation of the rotary untwisting device. This eliminates the rigid constraint point between the cable guide frame and the rotary untwisting device, avoiding severe bending deformation of the submarine cable between the rotary untwisting device and the cable guide frame. It significantly reduces the additional stress such as bending, friction and vibration borne by the submarine cable during the laying process. It not only effectively improves the stress release effect of the rotary untwisting device on the submarine cable, but also avoids new damage to the submarine cable caused by fixed constraints, thus improving the safety and reliability of submarine cable laying. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the mobile cable guide frame structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a side view of the mobile cable guide frame of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a top view of the mobile cable guide frame of this utility model; Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the laying of submarine cables using the mobile cable guide frame of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the mobile cable guide frame of this utility model with a submarine cable loaded. The markings in the diagram are: 1. Guide rail assembly, 101. Rack, 102. Guide rail, 2. Cable conveying mechanism, 201. Arc rod, 202. Straight rod, 3. Idler roller, 301. Side idler roller, 302. Vertical idler roller, 4. Drive mechanism, 401. Motor, 402. Output gear, 5. Idler roller base, 6. Support frame, 7. Guide rail seat, 8. Reducer, 9. Roller support, 10. Roller, 11. Rotary un-torsion device, 12. Submarine cable. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Example 1

[0016] like Figure 1 As shown, a mobile cable guide frame for laying submarine cables includes a guide rail assembly 1, a support frame 6, a drive mechanism 4, and a cable conveying mechanism 2. The guide rail assembly 1 provides a stable installation foundation and accurate movement path for the support frame 6, drive mechanism 4, and cable conveying mechanism 2; the support frame 6 is the core structural frame, simultaneously supporting the drive mechanism 4 and the cable conveying mechanism 2, and achieving rolling cooperation with the guide rail 102 through rollers 10; the drive mechanism 4 provides the power to move the entire support frame 6, cable conveying mechanism 2, and part of the submarine cable 12 along the guide rail 102; the cable conveying mechanism 2 directly supports, constrains, and guides the submarine cable 12.

[0017] The guide rail assembly 1 includes a guide rail 102 and a rack 101 fixed on the guide rail 102. The guide rail 102 guides the support frame 6 to move along a fixed path, and the rack 101 converts the rotational motion of the drive mechanism 4 into the linear motion of the support frame 6. The guide rail 102 and the rack 101 are connected by welding or bolts; in this embodiment, welding is used. A guide rail seat 7 is connected to the bottom of the guide rail 102. The guide rail seat 7 is fixedly installed on the cable-laying vessel. The guide rail seat 7 can better adapt to various complex installation points on the cable-laying vessel, providing a stable working environment for the guide rail assembly 1.

[0018] like Figure 3 As shown, the support frame 6 rolls with the guide rail 102 via at least one roller 10 (in this embodiment, there are 4 moving wheels). The roller 10 is mounted on the support frame 6 via roller supports 9. The roller 10 transforms the sliding friction between the support frame 6 and the guide rail 102 into rolling friction, which greatly reduces the movement resistance and makes the support frame 6 move more easily and efficiently. The design of multiple rollers 10 can enhance the stability and safety of the movement of the support frame 6.

[0019] like Figure 2As shown, the drive mechanism 4 is mounted on the support frame 6. The drive mechanism 4 includes a motor 401 and an output gear 402 driven by the motor 401. The motor 401 is the power source of the drive mechanism 4. The output gear 402 meshes with the rack 101. The motor 401 drives the output gear 402 to rotate. Through the meshing action of the output gear 402 and the rack 101, the rotational motion output by the motor 401 is converted into the linear motion of the support frame 6. The motor 401 is connected to the output gear 402 through a reducer 8. The reducer 8 reduces the output speed of the motor 401 while increasing the output torque, so that the moving speed of the support frame 6 is synchronized with the rotation of the rotary torque-reducing device 11. The motor 401 is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, and the reducer 8 is a planetary reducer or a low-tooth-difference reducer. In this embodiment, the motor 401 is a hydraulic motor, and the reducer 8 is a planetary reducer.

[0020] The transmission mechanism 2 is mounted on the support frame 6. The transmission mechanism 2 includes four arc-shaped rods 201 and straight rods 202 connected to the four arc-shaped rods 201. The arc-shaped rods 201 are used to form a channel for transmitting the submarine cable 12. The straight rods 202 are used to stabilize and support the frame formed by the arc-shaped rods 201. The arc-shaped rods 201 provide a continuously changing contact surface for the submarine cable 12, so that the submarine cable 12 can smoothly change direction. The straight rods 202 maintain the stability of the frame of the transmission mechanism 2.

[0021] Multiple idlers 3 are provided along the conveying path of the submarine cable 12 in the conveying mechanism 2. The idlers 3 are mounted on the conveying mechanism 2 via idler bases 5. The idlers 3 include lateral idlers 301 distributed on both sides of the conveying path of the submarine cable 12 and vertical idlers 302 distributed above and below the conveying path of the submarine cable 12. The lateral idlers 301 and vertical idlers 302 constrain the submarine cable 12 from all sides to prevent it from swinging violently during the conveying process. In addition, the idlers 3 reduce the friction between the submarine cable 12 and the conveying mechanism 2, which not only facilitates the conveying of the submarine cable 12, but also prevents the submarine cable 12 from being damaged by friction.

[0022] The method of using the movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to this utility model is as follows: During the laying of the submarine cable 12, the submarine cable 12 is introduced into the cable conveying mechanism 2 of the cable guide frame. The drive mechanism 4 will drive the support frame 6 to carry the cable conveying mechanism 2 to move back and forth synchronously along the guide rail 102 according to the rotation speed of the rotary un-torsion device 11. Figure 4As shown, when the rotating untwisting device 11 rotates in the direction illustrated, the submarine cable 12 exits from the rotating untwisting device 11 through the synchronously moving cable guide. The submarine cable 12 starts from the outermost layer of the rotating untwisting device 11 and exits inwards circle by circle. After the release of this layer is completed, it switches to the second layer below, but changes to exiting outwards circle by circle starting from the innermost layer of this layer, and so on, forming an S-shaped release path. The synchronous movement of the moving cable guide ensures that the submarine cable 12 is not rigidly constrained throughout the untwisting and release path, thereby efficiently releasing internal stress and smoothly laying it in the water.

[0023] Example 2

[0024] Example 1 describes how the mobile cable guide frame of this utility model can eliminate the rigid constraint points between the cable guide frame and the rotating un-twisting device 11 during the laying of submarine cable 12, thereby improving the stress release effect of the rotating un-twisting device 11.

[0025] like Figure 5 As shown, this embodiment is an optimization based on Embodiment 1. The movable cable guide frame of this utility model can also be applied to the loading process of submarine cable 12. When loading submarine cable 12, as the rotating un-twisting device 11 rotates in the direction shown in the figure, the submarine cable 12 falls into the rotating un-twisting device 11 through the synchronously operating movable cable guide frame. The submarine cable 12 is loaded from the innermost layer at the bottom, one loop at a time outwards. After this layer is completed, it rises to the second layer above and is loaded from the outermost layer at the top, one loop at a time inwards. This process is repeated until the loading of submarine cable 12 is completed. During the loading process, the synchronous operation and flexible guidance of the movable cable guide frame ensure that the submarine cable 12 is tightly and smoothly wound along the designed path, avoiding the introduction of new torque stress due to improper operation during the loading stage, which could cause extrusion and wear of the submarine cable 12 sheath.

Claims

1. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables, characterized in that: include: The guide rail assembly (1) includes a guide rail (102) and a rack (101) fixed on the guide rail (102). The support frame (6) is in rolling contact with the guide rail (102) via rollers (10); The drive mechanism (4) is mounted on the support frame (6). The drive mechanism (4) includes a motor (401) and an output gear (402) driven by the motor (401). The output gear (402) meshes with the rack (101). The transmission mechanism (2) is mounted on the support frame (6) and is used to support and guide the submarine cable (12). The output gear (402) is driven to rotate by the motor (401), and the meshing action between the output gear (402) and the rack (101) can drive the support frame (6) to carry the wire conveying mechanism (2) to reciprocate along the guide rail (102).

2. The movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism (2) includes four arc-shaped rods (201) and straight rods (202) connected to the four arc-shaped rods (201). The arc-shaped rods (201) are used to form a channel for transmitting the submarine cable (12), and the straight rods (202) are used to stabilize and support the frame formed by the arc-shaped rods (201).

3. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple idlers (3) are provided at the conveying path of the submarine cable (12) inside the conveying mechanism (2). The idlers (3) are installed on the conveying mechanism (2) through the idler base (5).

4. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 3, characterized in that: The idler (3) includes lateral idlers (301) distributed on both sides of the conveying path of the submarine cable (12) and vertical idlers (302) distributed above and below the conveying path of the submarine cable (12).

5. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The motor (401) is connected to the output gear (402) via the reducer (8).

6. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 5, characterized in that: The motor (401) is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, and the reducer (8) is a planetary reducer or a reducer with a small tooth difference.

7. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the guide rail (102) is connected to the guide rail seat (7), which is used to connect the cable-laying vessel.

8. A movable cable guide frame for laying submarine cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support frame (6) is in rolling contact with the guide rail (102) via at least one roller (10), and the roller (10) is mounted on the support frame (6) via a roller support (9).

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