Submarine Drilling Assembly with Retractable Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater drilling arrangements for installing tubular foundation elements in water bodies are not versatile, reliable, or cost-effective, as they often require large masses to be deposited on the seabed and do not efficiently manage reaction forces during drilling.
Innovation Solution
A retractable working platform is used to temporarily fix the tubular foundation element, allowing it to guide the drill rod and transmit reaction forces, with a clamping device to secure the rotary drilling drive and a dual-function foundation element that supports the structure and transmits forces, reducing the need for massive seabed deposits and enabling cost-effective and versatile operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the foundation element is guided through the load-bearing structure during drilling, then the structure can be anchored to the ground, but large masses must be deposited on the seabed and the process is not cost-effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the guiding function from the load-bearing function. A dedicated guiding structure (guide shoe or guide pipe) is introduced to guide the foundation element during drilling, while the load-bearing frame structure remains separate and is anchored independently. This segmentation eliminates the need to deposit large masses on the seabed while maintaining anchoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary guiding structure (guide shoe or guide pipe) is introduced between the drilling system and the foundation element. This intermediary component performs the guiding function during drilling, allowing the foundation element to be installed without requiring the load-bearing structure to bear the drilling loads or require large seabed masses for stability.
2Device complexity
If the foundation element serves as both supporting structure and drilling unit, then device complexity is reduced, but reaction forces during drilling must be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functions by introducing a separate guiding structure that handles the drilling and reaction force management, while the foundation element serves solely as the supporting structure. The guiding structure (guide shoe or guide pipe) is designed to manage the reaction forces generated during drilling, preventing them from being transmitted to the foundation element.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding structure acts as an intermediary that manages the reaction forces during drilling. It provides a dedicated path for the drill rod and handles the mechanical loads, preventing force transmission to the foundation element. This allows the foundation element to be a simple supporting structure without complex force management capabilities.
3Force
If the rotary drilling drive is fixed to the foundation element, then the foundation element can transmit reaction forces, but the foundation element cannot rotate during drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rotational function from the force transmission function. The guiding structure (guide shoe or guide pipe) is designed to rotate with the drill rod, providing rotational freedom for drilling operations. Simultaneously, the foundation element is fixed non-rotatably to transmit reaction forces to the guiding structure, which then dissipates them without rotating the foundation element itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding structure serves as an intermediary that decouples rotational motion from force transmission. It rotates with the drill rod during drilling operations, allowing easy rotational drilling, while simultaneously transmitting the reaction forces to the fixed foundation element. This intermediary function resolves the contradiction between rotation and force transmission.
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
This approach minimizes seabed loads, enhances operational reliability, and allows for a wide range of uses by efficiently managing reaction forces and energy consumption, enabling deeper drilling with reduced wall friction and energy use.
Implementation Method 1
the attachment has a clamping device for fixing the attachment on the foundation element
Implementation Method 2
at least one holding device for non-rotatably fixing the foundation element on the working platform being arranged on the working platform
Implementation Method 3
a rotary drilling drive, which is arranged on the attachment, for rotating a drill rod
Implementation Method 4
the reaction forces occurring during rotary drilling are transmitted to the work platform via the foundation element
Implementation Method 5
the tubular foundation element, which can also be referred to as a drill pipe, is sunk into the bore cleared by the drill rod by its own weight
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The underwater drilling assembly has a rotary drive (35), where a drill rod (5) is portable in rotation by the rotary drive. The drill rod is proceeded in the inner side of a foundation element (3). A retractable service platform (2) is provided for the attachment on the water base. An independent claim is also included for a method for inserting a tubular foundation element in the water base.