Installation and method for unwinding, protecting and winding a pipe-type object back up again

Abstract

Disclosed is a technique for unwinding, protecting and winding an elongate object (100) such as a pipe or cable back up again, using an installation (1) comprising two reel holders (2, 3) arranged head-to-tail, on either side of an item of sheathing equipment (4).

Description

Installation and process for unwinding, protecting and rewinding a pipe-type object

[0001] The invention relates to the field of techniques for protecting elements such as buried pipelines intended for the transport or distribution of a fluid or electricity.

[0002] In general, the invention can be implemented to protect any elongated object of this type which has a flexibility allowing this object to be wound, typically on a reel. Prior art

[0003] The patents issued under numbers EP 1 781 978 and EP 2 327 833 describe techniques for protecting pipes with a geotextile material coating.

[0004] The techniques known to protect an underground pipeline are generally designed to carry out a lining operation on the construction site, so that the pipeline thus protected can be buried as the excavation and backfilling operations progress.

[0005] There is a need to reduce the handling times associated with conventional sheathing techniques.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an installation for unwinding, protecting and rewinding an elongated object such as a pipe or cable, comprising: a first reel holder including two first drums configured to cooperate with a first reel for mutual rotational drive, a second reel holder including two second drums configured to cooperate with a second reel for mutual rotational drive, an actuation mechanism configured to drive at least one of said second drums in rotation, a sheathing equipment.

[0007] The installation is configured so that, in a mode of use in which the first drums cooperate with said first reel on which said object is wound and in which the second drums cooperate with said second reel, the actuation mechanism drives at least one of said second drums into rotation so as to be able to progressively unwind said object from the first reel, wrap the object thus unwound with a sheath using the sheathing equipment and wind the sheathed object thus wound onto the second reel.

[0008] The invention thus provides a solution allowing, during the same operation, to unroll the object, protect it and re-wind it with its protection around a reel.

[0009] The installation is particularly suitable for implementation in a workshop, the object with its protective sheath wound on the reel can thus be stored and delivered to the site to be directly buried.

[0010] The invention thus makes it possible to eliminate transport and handling times for installing and removing the installation from the site, these handling times being up to three times greater than the time required to sheath the object.

[0011] By implementing the installation in the workshop, the risks of environmental pollution are further reduced.

[0012] The first drums are preferably configured to cooperate with said first reel in order to achieve a tangential drive.

[0013] Similarly, the second drums are preferably configured to cooperate with said second drum in order to achieve tangential drive.

[0014] Tangential drive simplifies installation and, in particular, the structure of the reel holders, which can be made more compact.

[0015] In particular, each of the reel holders can include a simple frame carrying the two corresponding drums, forming a relatively low-height structure on which it is sufficient to place a reel.

[0016] Of course, reel holders can include means for adjusting the position of the drums, for example in order to adapt them to reels of different dimensions.

[0017] The invention allows the installation to be used in several modes of use, which can be implemented successively.

[0018] Thus, the aforementioned method of use can be a first method of use.

[0019] Without limitation, the installation may be used in a second mode of operation, for which it is preferred that the actuation mechanism be configured to drive at least one of the first drums in rotation. In this second mode of operation, the first drums cooperate with the first reel, and the second drums cooperate with the second reel on which the object is wound.

[0020] In one embodiment, the installation is configured so that, in said second mode of use, the actuation mechanism causes at least one of said first drums to rotate in such a way as to progressively unwind said object from the second reel, wrap the unwound object with a sheath using the sheathing equipment and wind the sheathed object onto the first reel.

[0021] Thus, the installation is reversible, given the arrangement of the reel holders, which are thus placed head-to-tail.

[0022] Each of the modes of use may also include several phases, including but not limited to a first phase in which the object wound on one of the reels is unwound so as to be connected to the other reel, followed by a second phase in which the object is wound on this latter reel in the manner described above.

[0023] The first phase can be carried out by driving the reel on which the object to be protected is wound, by actuating at least one of the drums of the reel holder supporting this reel.

[0024] In one embodiment, the actuation mechanism comprises one or more motors.

[0025] Preferably, one or more of said motors is electric.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first reel carrier and the second reel carrier are arranged so that the first drums and the second drums have parallel axes of rotation respectively.

[0027] According to a first variant embodiment, the sheathing equipment includes a spiralizer.

[0028] According to a second embodiment, the sheathing equipment includes a heat-sealing device.

[0029] These variants can be combined and the sheathing equipment may include, alternatively or in addition, other devices or means of fastening.

[0030] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method of unwinding, protecting and rewinding an elongated object such as a pipe or cable, using an installation as defined above.

[0031] Preferably, the process includes: a step of supplying said object wound on a first reel and a sheath, a step of placing the first reel on the first drums of the installation, a step of placing a second reel on the second drums of the installation, a step of actuating at least one of said second drums using the actuating mechanism of the installation, so as to progressively unwind said object from the first reel, wrap the object thus unwound with the sheath using the sheathing equipment of the installation and wind the object thus sheathed onto the second reel.

[0032] In one embodiment, the method comprises, after said actuation step: a step of replacing the second reel, on which the sheathed object is wound, with a third reel on which a new object to be protected is wound, a step of actuation of at least one of said first drums using said actuation mechanism, so as to progressively unwind said new object from the third reel, wrap the new object thus unwound with the sheath using the sheathing equipment and wind the new sheathed object thus wound onto the first reel.

[0033] Without limitation, said sheath may include a geotextile.

[0034] For guidance purposes, the sheath may conform to any of the sheath variants described in patent number EP 1 781 978.

[0035] In one embodiment, the wrapping of said object with the sheath includes fixing the sheath using a spiral wrapper and / or by heat sealing and / or by self-gripping type fixing, for example using double-sided adhesive tape.

[0036] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed, non-limiting description that follows.

[0037] The detailed description that follows refers to the attached drawings on which: is a schematic view of an assembly comprising on the one hand an installation according to the invention and, on the other hand, two reels, the installation comprising two reel holders arranged head-to-tail and a sheathing equipment arranged between the reel holders, each of the reel holders comprising two drums on which is arranged one respective of the reels; is a schematic view of the whole of the, in a first configuration in which one end of a cable wound on a first of said reels, located towards the left of the figure, is moved towards a second of said reels, located towards the right of the figure, by actuation of a drum supporting the first reel;is a schematic view of the entire system, in a second configuration in which the cable is unwound from the first reel, protected by the sheathing equipment and wound onto the second reel by actuation of a drum supporting the second reel; is a schematic view of the entire system, in a third configuration which differs from that of the first in that the cable is initially wound onto the reel located towards the right of the figure; is a schematic view of the entire system, in a fourth configuration which differs from that of the first in that the cable is unwound from the reel located towards the right of the figure, protected by the sheathing equipment and wound onto the reel located towards the left of the figure by actuation of a drum supporting this last reel. Detailed description of implementation methods

[0038] An installation 1 conforming to the invention is shown in the figure.

[0039] Lacomprend un référence indicating orthogonal directions D1, D2 and D3. In this example, direction D3 is vertical.

[0040] Installation 1 includes reel holders 2 and 3 and sheathing equipment 4.

[0041] In this non-limiting example, the reel carrier 2 comprises a frame 11, four bearings 12 (two of which are not visible on the) and two drums 13 and 14.

[0042] The bearings 12 are here pillow block bearings supported by the chassis 11.

[0043] Each of the drums 13 and 14 extends along a respective longitudinal axis A1, parallel to the direction D1, forming two ends which each cooperate with one of the respective bearings 12.

[0044] As is known per se, the bearings 12 are configured to ensure rotational guidance of the drums 13 and 14 around their respective axis A1, relative to the frame 11.

[0045] In this example, the drums 13 and 14 are sized and spaced from each other along the direction D2 so as to allow a reel 21 to be placed on them as illustrated in the.

[0046] The reel 21 in this example is a conventional cable reel. As is known per se, the reel 21 comprises a central portion 22 (shown in dashed lines in Figure 1) extending around an axis A2, and two lateral walls 23 (only one wall 23 being visible in Figure 1) spaced apart along the axis A2. Each of the lateral walls 23 comprises a peripheral surface 24 extending circumferentially around the axis A2. The central portion 22 and the lateral walls 23 are each substantially cylindrical and dimensioned such that the lateral walls 23 have a diameter greater than the diameter of the central portion 22.

[0047] In the configuration of the, the side walls 23 of the reel 21 are supported on the drums 13 and 14 by their peripheral surface 24, so that the axis A2 of the reel 21 is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the axis A1 of each of the drums 13 and 14.

[0048] Thus, the drums 13 and 14 cooperate with the reel 21 in such a way as to be able to achieve a mutual tangential drive in rotation, in particular around the axes A1 for the drums 13 and 14 and around the axis A2 for the reel 21.

[0049] In this example, the installation 1 includes an actuation mechanism (not shown) equipped with a first electric motor having an output shaft coupled in rotation with the drum 13, in order to be able to drive the drum 13 in rotation around its axis A1.

[0050] In this example, drums 13 and 14 are connected to each other by a transmission belt or chain (not shown) configured to transmit to drum 14 a rotation from drum 13.

[0051] Regarding the reel holder 3, it also comprises a frame 31, four bearings 32 and two drums 33 and 34 forming an assembly similar to the reel holder 2 and being configured to receive a reel 41 similar to the reel 21. In particular, the reel 41 also comprises a central part 42 and two side walls 43 which have a peripheral surface 44 extending circumferentially around an axis A2 of this reel 41.

[0052] The preceding description, relating to reel carrier 2 and reel 21, applies by analogy to reel carrier 3 and reel 41.

[0053] In this example, the actuation mechanism includes a second electric motor (not shown) having an output shaft coupled in rotation with the drum 33, in order to drive the drum 33 in rotation around its axis A1.

[0054] Drums 33 and 34 are also connected to each other by a transmission belt or chain (not shown) configured to transmit to drum 34 a rotation from drum 33.

[0055] Installation 1 is arranged so that reel holders 2 and 3 are arranged head-to-tail, on either side of the sheathing equipment 4 in the direction D2, so that an elongated object initially wound on a reel supported by the other reel holder can be wound onto the reel supported by one of these reel holders (see further below).

[0056] In the example shown, the A1 axes of drums 13, 14, 33 and 34 are parallel, or substantially parallel.

[0057] Without limitation, the sheathing equipment 4 in this example includes a shaping device (not shown) and a device called a "spiralizer" (not shown) as described in patent issued under number EP 1 781 978. In a manner known per se, the shaping device is configured to place a sheath on an object moving relative to the shaping device, while the spiralizer is configured to fix the sheath thus placed by surrounding the sheath with one or more ribbons or with one or more wires stretched in a helix around the sheath.

[0058] The sheathing equipment 4 includes for this purpose a reel (not shown) onto which said sheath is wound.

[0059] In this example, the sheath is in the form of a strip of geotextile material.

[0060] Without limitation, this band includes a layer formed of a non-woven material layer, as defined in the aforementioned patent.

[0061] We will now describe a first mode of use of the installation 1 of the, from an initial configuration in which an object to be protected, which in this example is a cable 100, is completely wound on the reel 21.

[0062] The first mode of use in this example comprises two phases.

[0063] With reference to the, a first phase consists of unwinding the cable 100 from the reel 21 by moving one of its ends to the reel 41 in order to secure it with this reel 41, in the manner described below.

[0064] During this first phase, the first motor is activated to drive the drum 13 in rotation around its axis A1 in a direction of rotation R1. The rotation of the drum 13 drives, via the corresponding transmission belt or chain, the drum 14 in rotation in the same direction R1. The drums 13 and 14 thus drive the reel 21 in rotation around its axis A2 in a direction of rotation R2 opposite to the direction R1, by tangential drive.

[0065] Such a rotation of the reel 21 allows the cable 100 to be moved in a direction of advancement T1 according to D2, directed from the reel carrier 2 to the reel carrier 3, so that said end of the cable 100 reaches the reel 41 by passing through the sheathing equipment 4.

[0066] The sheathing equipment 4 is implemented so as to encase the parts of the cable 100 that pass through it.

[0067] When the end of the cable 100 thus reaches the level of the reel 41, with a length of unwinding of the reel 21 allowing it to be fixed to the reel 41, the rotation of the output shaft of the first motor is interrupted.

[0068] During this first phase, the guiding of the cable 100 and the fixing of its end to the reel 41 are in this example carried out manually by one or more operators.

[0069] In reference to the, a second phase is implemented in order to wind the cable 100 sheathed by the equipment 4 onto the reel 41.

[0070] To achieve this, the second motor is driven to rotate the drum 33 around its axis A1 in the direction of rotation R1. The rotation of the drum 33 drives, via the corresponding drive belt or chain, the drum 34 in rotation in the same direction R1. The drums 33 and 34 thus drive the grinder 41 around its axis A2 in the opposite direction of rotation R2, by tangential drive.

[0071] During this second phase, the drums 13 and 14 are in freewheel and are driven in rotation in the direction R1 under the action of the rotation of the reel 21 in the direction R2.

[0072] During this operation, the reel 41 can thus pull the cable 100 in the direction of advancement T1, so as to progressively unwind it from the reel 21, wrap it in the sheath as it passes through the sheathing equipment 4, and wind the sheathed cable 100 onto the reel 41.

[0073] In the first mode of use just described, the reel holder 2 provides a winding or unwinding function, while the reel holder 3 provides a winding function.

[0074] A second mode of use of the installation 1 will now be described, from a configuration in which an object to be protected, which in this example is also a 200 cable, is completely wound on a 250 reel placed on the reel holder 3.

[0075] Without limitation, the reel 250 can be placed on the reel stand 3 in place of the reel 41 following an operation as described above according to said first mode of use.

[0076] In summary, in the second mode of use, the reel holder 2 provides a winding function, while the reel holder 3 provides a winding or unwinding function.

[0077] In this example, the second mode of use comprises two phases analogous to the two phases of the first mode of use.

[0078] Thus, with reference to the, a first phase consists of unwinding the cable 200 from the reel 250 by moving one of its ends to the reel 21 in order to secure it with this reel 21.

[0079] During this first phase, the second motor is activated to drive the drum 33 in rotation around its axis A1 in direction R2. The rotation of the drum 33 drives, via the corresponding transmission belt or chain, the drum 34 in rotation in the same direction R2. The drums 33 and 34 thus drive the grinder 250 in rotation around its axis A2 in direction R1, by tangential drive.

[0080] Such a rotation of the reel 250 allows the cable 200 to be moved in a direction of advancement T2 along D2, opposite to the direction T1, going from the reel carrier 3 to the reel carrier 2, so that said end of the cable 200 passes through the sheathing equipment 4 and reaches the reel 21.

[0081] The sheathing equipment 4 is implemented so as to encase the parts of the cable 200 that pass through it.

[0082] When the end of cable 200 thus reaches the level of reel 21, with a reel unwinding length of 250 allowing cable 200 to be fixed to reel 21, the rotation of the output shaft of the second motor is interrupted.

[0083] During this first phase, the guiding of the cable 200 and the fixing of its end to the reel 21 are carried out manually by one or more operators.

[0084] With reference to the second phase, the 200 sheathed cable is wound onto the reel 21.

[0085] To achieve this, the first motor is activated to drive the drum 13 in rotation around its axis A1 in direction R2. The rotation of the drum 13 drives, via the corresponding transmission belt or chain, the drum 14 in rotation in the same direction R2. The drums 13 and 14 thus drive the grinder 21 in rotation around its axis A2 in direction R1, by tangential drive.

[0086] During this second phase, the drums 33 and 34 are in freewheel and are driven in rotation in the direction R2 under the action of the rotation of the reel 250 in the direction R1.

[0087] The cable 200 is thus pulled by the reel 21 in the direction of advancement T2, so as to progressively unwind it from the reel 250, wrap it in the sheath as it passes through the sheathing equipment 4, and wind the sheathed cable 200 onto the reel 21.

[0088] The invention thus makes it possible to sheath the 100, 200 cable by progressively winding the protected cable around a reel, which allows its storage in the form of a reel which can be delivered as such to a construction site.

[0089] Numerous variations can be made to the installation and implementation examples just described. In particular, the object to be protected can be a pipe intended to carry a fluid or, more generally, an elongated object that can be coiled.

[0090] Regarding the sheathing, the protective coating may include a different material than that indicated above and its attachment may be achieved by a device other than a spiral, for example using a heat-welding device or a fastening technique using a double-sided tape, known as "Velcro" (registered trademark).

[0091] Regarding the actuation mechanism, this may include one or more electric motors, as described above, which can be powered by mains electricity or a generator. As a non-limiting alternative, hydraulic actuators may be used.

[0092] The drive mechanism can also be configured to drive one or more drums of the installation in combinations other than those described above. For example, a drum on one reel carrier can be driven simultaneously with a drum on another reel carrier, possibly using a single motor and a suitable transmission mechanism.

Claims

Installation (1) for unwinding, protecting, and rewinding an elongated object (100) such as a pipe or cable, comprising: a first reel holder (2) comprising two first drums (13, 14) configured to cooperate with a first reel (21) for mutual rotational drive; a second reel holder (3) comprising two second drums (33, 34) configured to cooperate with a second reel (41) for mutual rotational drive; an actuation mechanism configured to drive at least one of said second drums (33, 34) in rotation; and a sheathing device (4), the installation (1) being configured such that, in a mode of use in which the first drums (13, 14) cooperate with said first reel (21) on which said object (100) is wound, and in which the second drums (33, 34) cooperate with said second reel (41), the actuation mechanism drives at least one of said second drums (33,34) rotating so as to be able to progressively unwind said object (100) from the first reel (21), wrap the unwound object (100) with a sheath using the sheathing equipment (4) and wind the sheathed object (100) onto the second reel (41). Installation (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first, respectively second, drums (13, 14; 33, 34) are configured to cooperate with said first, respectively second, reel (21; 41) so as to achieve a tangential drive. An installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to drive at least one of said first drums (13, 14) in rotation, said mode of use being a first mode of use, the installation (1) being configured such that, in a second mode of use in which the first drums (13, 14) cooperate with said first reel (21) and in which the second drums (33, 34) cooperate with said second reel (250) on which said object (200) is wound, the actuation mechanism drives at least one of said first drums (13, 14) in rotation so as to progressively unwind said object (200) from the second reel (250), wrap the unwound object (200) with a sheath using the sheathing equipment (4), and wind the sheathed object (200) onto the first reel. (21). Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises one or more motors, preferably electric. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first reel holder (2) and the second reel holder (3) are arranged so that the first drums (13, 14) and the second drums (33, 34) have respective parallel axes of rotation (A1). Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheathing equipment (4) comprises a spiral and / or a heat-sealing device. A method for unwinding, protecting, and rewinding an elongated object (100), such as a pipe or cable, using an installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: a step of supplying said object (100) wound onto a first reel (21) and a sheath; a step of arranging the first reel (21) onto the first drums (13, 14) of the installation (1); a step of arranging a second reel (41) onto the second drums (33, 34) of the installation (1); a step of actuating at least one of said second drums (33, 34) using the actuation mechanism of the installation (1) so as to progressively unwind said object (100) from the first reel (21); and wrapping the unwound object (100) with the sheath using the sheathing equipment. (4) of the installation (1) and wind the object (100) thus sheathed onto the second reel (41). A method according to claim 7, comprising, after said actuation step: a step of replacing the second reel (41), on which the sheathed object (100) is wound, with a third reel (250) on which a new object (200) to be protected is wound, a step of actuation of at least one of said first drums (13, 14) using said actuation mechanism, so as to progressively unwind said new object (200) from the third reel (250), wrap the new object (200) thus unwound with the sheath using the sheathing equipment (4) and wind the new object (200) thus sheathed onto the first reel (21). A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said sheath comprises a geotextile. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, implemented with the installation (1) having the characteristics of claim 6, wherein the wrapping of said object (100) with the sheath includes a fixing of the sheath using a spiral and / or by heat-welding and / or by self-gripping type fixing, for example using double-sided adhesive tape.

Images