Open-Channel Cable Bellmouth for Faster Seafloor Trench Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inserting cables into sea floor trenches are limited by slow deployment speeds and risk of cable damage due to enclosed deployment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an open-channel engaging device and position detectors for the cable, allowing precise positioning and emergency lift-off, combined with thrusters for vertical and horizontal movement, buoyancy control, and obstacle clearing jets, enables faster and safer cable deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the apparatus encloses the cable during deployment, then the cable is protected from damage, but the deployment speed is limited and accurate positioning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the enclosing structure from the cable deployment apparatus, extracting the protective function while eliminating the speed limitation. The cable is deployed through an open channel rather than being enclosed, allowing faster deployment while position detectors provide accurate positioning to prevent damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical enclosing structure with a combination of open channel guidance and electronic position detection. Instead of relying on physical enclosure for protection, the system uses sensors to monitor cable position and control the deployment process, achieving both speed and protection.
2Strength
If the apparatus encloses the cable, then structural support is provided, but subsea intervention operations are required for emergency retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the enclosing structure that complicated emergency retrieval, allowing the apparatus to be lifted off the cable directly. The open channel design enables the apparatus to engage and disengage from the cable without enclosing it, facilitating quick emergency retrieval without subsea intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the cable being enclosed within the apparatus structure, the apparatus is designed to engage the cable from the outside through an open channel. This inverted approach allows the apparatus to be easily lifted off the cable for emergency retrieval while still providing necessary support during deployment.
3Measurement precision
If position detection is implemented, then deployment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates position detection functionality into the existing apparatus structure, making the detection system serve multiple purposes: guiding cable deployment, monitoring position for accuracy, and enabling control without adding separate complex subsystems. The detectors are incorporated into the deployment mechanism itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances deployment speed and reduces cable damage risk by ensuring accurate positioning and emergency lift-off, optimizing cable path, and enabling compact design for easy recovery.
Implementation Method 1
The engaging device may comprise first position detector means for detecting the position of a first part of the elongate object. The first position detector means may be adapted to detect the position of the first part of the elongate object prior to insertion of said first part into the trench.
Implementation Method 2
The apparatus may further comprise thrusters for enabling vertical and/or horizontal movement of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 3
The apparatus may further comprise means for increasing the buoyancy of the apparatus in water, This provides the advantage of enabling the weight of the apparatus in water to be optimally matched to the power requirements of any thrusters used for free fly of the apparatus
Implementation Method 4
The clearing means may include at least one jetting device. The obstacles may be displaced by means of water jets.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle (2) for deploying a cable (4) into a trench (8) in the sea bed (10) is disclosed. The vehicle (2) comprises a body (12) adapted to move relative to the trench (8) in the sea bed (10), and a bellmouth (18) for engaging the cable (4) and mounted to the body, wherein the bellmouth (18) is adapted to define an open channel (20) in a direction facing the trench (8) for engaging the cable (4).