Offshore Cable Guiding Means for Stress-Free Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of undersea cables or tubes on offshore structures is time-consuming and problematic due to harsh conditions and the need for cables to be pulled to high positions, which can cause damage from excessive bending stress.
Innovation Solution
The use of guiding means on offshore structures to define a guidance path for cables or tubes, ensuring a minimum bending radius and reducing stress, allowing for direct feeding along a curved path and eliminating the need for scaffolding by enabling horizontal pulling or pushing, with detachable components for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cables are pulled vertically to high positions on the platform, then connection to appliances is achieved, but bending stress damages the cable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by defining a guidance path with a minimum bending radius that prevents sharp bends. The guiding means creates a curved trajectory for the cable from the entry point to the connection point, ensuring the cable is never bent beyond its structural limits while still reaching the required height on the platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding means acts as an intermediary between the cable and the platform structure. It mediates the cable's journey by providing a predefined path that distributes bending stress along a controlled curve, preventing concentrated stress at any single point while enabling the cable to reach high connection points.
2Ease of operation
If scaffolding is built to pull cables to high positions, then cable installation is enabled, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance path and guiding means are prepared in advance as part of the platform's permanent or semi-permanent structure. This preliminary action eliminates the need for temporary scaffolding construction during cable installation, allowing cables to be pulled directly along the pre-defined path to high connection points without time-consuming setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cable routing function from temporary scaffolding structures and integrates it into the platform's permanent infrastructure through fixed guiding means. This separation eliminates the need for removable scaffolding while maintaining the ability to guide cables to high positions efficiently.
3Reliability
If guiding means are permanently mounted, then cable guidance is ensured, but structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding means is designed to serve multiple purposes: it provides cable guidance, defines a minimum bending radius path, and can be integrated with existing platform structures like walls or railings. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall structural complexity while ensuring reliable cable guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an offshore structure, especially offshore wind turbine, including a platform that is connected to the seabed, especially via a foundation that carries the platform, and an appliance, wherein it comprises guiding means for guiding at least one tube or cable along a guidance path from a respective entry point at which the tube or cable enters the platform to a respective connection point at which the tube or cable is connected or connectable to the appliance.