Cable Buoyancy Aid Installation Using Separable Halves
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of buoyancy aids on cables offshore is time-consuming and poses health-and-safety risks due to manual operations on construction vessels, requiring large reels and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for mounting buoyancy aids on elongate lines using a movable frame with a support cradle, gripper, and drive system to separate and secure buoyancy aid portions, along with a tensioner to lock them in place, facilitating automated installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operations are used to install buoyancy aids on cables offshore, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but installation time increases and health-and-safety risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service installation where the buoyancy aid's own buoyant portions provide the lifting force to separate and position the halves during installation. The gripper engages with the uppermost half, and the drive system moves the frame to allow the buoyant portions to naturally lift and separate the halves, trapping the cable between them without requiring manual positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The buoyancy aid is divided into two separable halves that can be independently manipulated during installation. The first and second buoyant portions are separated during the installation process, allowing the cable to be trapped between them, and then reconnected to form the complete buoyancy aid on the cable
2Loss of time
If automated systems are used to install buoyancy aids, then installation time is reduced and safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame serves multiple functions: it supports the buoyancy aid halves during installation, provides a mounting structure for the gripper and drive system, and enables both the separation and reconnection of the buoyancy aid halves. The single frame structure integrates several operational requirements into one device
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic movement of the frame between loading and installation positions, and dynamic separation/reconnection of the buoyancy aid halves, to automate the installation process. The drive system provides controlled motion to facilitate the trapping of the cable between the buoyant portions
3Ease of manufacture
If buoyancy aids are pre-installed on cables using large reels, then deployment is simplified, but considerable space and large reels are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary preparation of the buoyancy aid by separating its halves and positioning them on the cable during the installation process, rather than requiring pre-assembly on large reels. The cable is trapped between the buoyant portions during installation, preparing it for deployment without requiring extensive pre-installation space
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (40) for mounting a bouyancy aid (10) on an elongate line (84), the buoyancy aid (10) having an upper portion (12b) and a lower portion (12a) which are separable to enable the buoyancy aid (10) to be mounted on the elongate line (84), the apparatus (40) comprising a movable frame (42) on which is mounted a support cradle (44) and a opening arrangement (46), the opening arrangement (46) having a gripper (48) which is operable to grip an upper portion (12b) of a buoyancy aid (10) placed on the support cradle (44), the apparatus (40) further comprising a drive system which is operable to move the frame (42) between a loading position in which a buoyancy aid (10) may be placed on the support cradle (44) and an installation position, and also to move the opening arrangement (46) and / or the support cradle (44) relative to the frame (42) in such a way that when the gripper (48) is gripping the upper portion (12b) of a buoyancy aid (10) placed on the support cradle (44), the upper portion (12b) separates from the lower portion (12a).