JPS5858546B2 - Inner cap for underwater pipeline - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an insert cap used when installing an underwater pipeline for transporting gas, liquid, or the like.

Conventionally, as shown in Fig. 1, a method for laying a pipeline for transporting gas or liquid on the seabed at great depths is to construct a pipeline 9 by sequentially connecting steel pipes 8 on a laying ship 7, and While moving the ship 7 forward, the tension device 10
A method is adopted in which the pipeline 9 is guided by a stayer 11 and lowered to the bottom of the water while applying a tension T to the pipeline 9.

When installing a pipeline using this method,
When sea weather conditions worsen, the construction work is temporarily halted and the entire pipeline is lowered to the bottom of the water, and once the weather improves, it is
As shown in FIG. 2, the cap 13 attached to the wire rope 12 is connected to the end of the pipeline at the bottom of the water, and then the end of the pipeline 9 is towed by the wire rope 12 to the laying ship. It was raised above γ and the work was returned to regular installation work.

As mentioned above, when lowering or raising the bow of the pipeline, a detachment winch installed on the laying vessel is used as a device corresponding to the tension device 10 during regular laying work, and the existing pipe is It is necessary to apply tension to the end of the line.

For this reason, it is necessary to attach a rope connection cap to the end of the pipeline that has the strength to withstand the tension during pulling up.

In addition, when laying a pipeline with the inside of the pipeline hollow, attach a sealing cap to the end of the pipeline that will not allow water to enter even if the pipeline is at the bottom of the water. The line needs to be lowered to the bottom.

On the other hand, as a rope connection cap with sealing properties, a hydraulic cap has been proposed that utilizes hydraulic pressure to tighten and secure the pipeline to the pipeline, and also allows hydraulic oil to overflow to confirm the tightening and fixation. In the case of a type cap, the mechanism is complex, and the operating device for applying hydraulic pressure must be operated at the bottom of the water, making operation cumbersome, and the overflowing hydraulic oil is emitted into the seawater. However, it has the disadvantage of causing environmental pollution problems.

The object of the present invention is to provide an inner cap for an underwater pipeline that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, and includes a plurality of annular partition plates 3,
3' is fixed, and between adjacent partition plates 3, 3' are annular grippers 4, 4' whose diameters can be expanded and deformed, and tubes 5, which are inflatable in contact with the inner surfaces of the annular grippers 4, 4'. 5′
A fluid supply port 6 is provided in the tubes 5 and 5'.
, 6''' is provided for an underwater pipeline.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail using illustrated examples.

3 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to the installation of relatively small diameter pipelines of, for example, 10 inches or less, and FIGS. 7 to 9 show the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a second embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to large-diameter pipeline installation.

The first embodiment will be described below.

A plurality of annular partition plates 3 are held at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of the shaft pipe 2, and a sleeve 14 is fitted to the shaft pipe 2 between adjacent partition plates 3. A rubber annular gripper 4 that can be deformed so as to expand in diameter and an inflatable rubber annular tube 5 that is in contact with the inner surface of the gripper 4 are provided in the annular recess located therebetween. A rope locking fitting 16 having a rope connecting portion 15 made of a through hole is screwed to the base end of the rope.

The holding member 19 equipped with the insertion amount regulating ring 18 is fitted across the base end side of the shaft pipe 2 and the boss of the rope locking fitting 16, and the holding member 19 includes the locking ring 2 in the holding member 19.
0 is engaged with the flange 21 of the rope locking fitting 16, and a cylindrical spacer 22 is interposed between the holding member 19 and the adjacent partition plate 3, and the tip of the shaft pipe 2 and its portion A locking screw 23 is screwed into the threaded portion with the partition plate 3 located at.

The same number of one-touch joints 24 and valves 34 as the annular tube 5 are attached to the holding member 19, and each one-touch joint 24 and each valve 34 are connected to the thin tube 3.
Further, each valve 34 and the fluid supply port 6 of each annular tube 5 are connected via a thin tube 25, respectively.

Each thin tube 25 is accommodated in a groove 26 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft pipe 2, and the one-touch joint 27 fixed to the holding member 19 and the nokuru 33 are connected by a tube 36, and the valve 33 and the hollow hole 1 of the shaft pipe 2 are connected via a communicating pipe 28.

Each one-touch joint 24, 27 is intercepted so that an air supply socket can be inserted and connected thereto, and when the pressurizing socket is removed from the one-touch joint 24, 27, fluid flow is automatically shut off. It is equipped with a check valve.

In addition, the partition plates other than the partition plate at the tip of the shaft pipe 2 are provided with through holes 29 that penetrate in the radial direction, and the shaft pipe 2 is provided with through holes 29 that communicate with the hollow holes 1. When the annular gripper 4 is brought into pressure contact with the inner surface of the pipeline 9, water or air between each annular gripper 4 and the partition plate 3 and the inner surface of the pipeline 9 is It is discharged into the hollow hole 1 through 29 and the communication hole 30.

The fluid may be air or seawater as a pressurized medium.

Oil or other fluids are used.

Next, a second embodiment will be explained.

A plurality of annular partition plates are held at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of the shaft pipe 7, and a sleeve 14' is fitted onto the shaft pipe 2' with a button between adjacent partition plates 3'. A rubber annular gripper 4 that can be deformed to increase its diameter and a rubber annular tube 5 that can expand in contact with the inner surface of the gripper 4 are provided in the annular recess between the mating partition plates. Furthermore, at the base end of the shaft pipe 2, there is a rope locking fitting 1 having a rope connecting part 15 made of a through hole.
6 are screwed together.

The holding member 19', which is provided with the insertion amount regulating ring 18', is fitted across the proximal end of the shaft pipe 7 and the boss of the rope locking fitting 16', and the holding member 19' is provided with a ring body 18' for regulating the insertion amount. The ring body 20' is a flange 21' of the rope locking fitting 16'.
A cylindrical spacer 22' is interposed between the holding member 19' and the adjacent partition plate 3', and a cylindrical spacer 22' is interposed between the holding member 19' and the partition plate 3' adjacent thereto. A locking screw 23' is screwed into the threaded portion.

The same number of push-in joints 24' and valves 34' as the annular tube 5' are attached to the holding member 19'.
' is connected to each valve 34 by a capillary tube 35'.
' and the fluid supply port 6' of each annular tube 5' are connected through capillary tubes 25'.

The one-touch joint 27' fixed to the holding member 19' and the valve 33' are connected by a pipe 36', and the valve 33' and the hollow hole 1' of the shaft pipe 2' are connected via a communicating pipe 28'. A plurality of valves 32' are connected to each other, and a plurality of valves 32' are attached to the holding member 19'.
are in communication with the through hole 29' via the communication hole 30' via the thin tube 31'.

Each of the one-touch joints 24', 27' is constructed so that a pressurizing socket can be inserted and connected thereto, and when the one-touch joints 24', 27' are removed, fluid flows in and out 75. It is equipped with a check valve that can be shut off automatically.

Further, the partition plates other than the partition plate at the tip of the shaft pipe 2' are provided with through holes 29' penetrating in the radial direction, and the shaft pipe 7 is provided with through holes 29' and hollow holes 29'. A communication hole 30' is provided to communicate with the annular gripper 4'.
When the pipe is brought into pressure contact with the inner surface of the pipeline γ, water or air between each annular gripper 4' and the partition plate 3' and the inner surface of the pipeline flows through the through hole 29' and the communication hole 3.
0', a thin tube 31', and a valve 32' to be discharged to the outside.

When inserting and locking the inner cap of each of the above embodiments into the end of a pipeline, first, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, each partition plate 3, 3' and the annular gripper of the inner cap are 4, 4' are inserted into the pipelines 9, 9', and the insertion amount regulating rings 18, 18' in the holding members 19, 19' are brought into contact with or close to the end surfaces of the pipelines 9, 9', Then high pressure e.g. about r 20 kg/c
A plurality of pressurizing sockets attached to the air cylinder of
4' respectively.

Next, open the valve of the air cylinder and each tube 5, 5'
Air is pressurized into the partition plate 3 until it reaches a predetermined pressure, for example, 30 kg/CTL2, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, each tube 5, 5' is expanded by air pressure, and the partition plate 3
, 3', and the expansion of the tubes 5, 5' in the direction of the partition plate is restrained by the partition plate at an angle of 3°.
. The inner cap is strongly locked to the end of the pipeline 9, 9' by the frictional force caused by the inner cap, and a tensioning wire rope is connected to the rope locking fittings 16, 16' on the inner cap.

The valves 34, 34' allow water to flow from the outside through the one-touch joints 24, 24' to the elastic tubes 7''5,
The valves 33 and 33' are used to prevent water from entering the pipelines 9 and 9' from the outside through the one-touch joints 27 and 27' and the hollow holes 1 and 1'. This is to prevent intrusion into the interior.

If a pipeline breakage accident occurs during installation work and water flows into the pipeline, cut and remove the unnecessary part of the pipeline that remains at the bottom of the water, and replace the remaining healthy end of the pipeline with water. Insert and lock the inner cap as described above, and then connect the one-touch joints 2γ, 2γ, and communication pipes 28, 28' from the compressor, etc. on the laying ship.
By sending a large amount of air into the pipeline through the hollow hole 1.1', the water in the pipeline can be expelled.

When removing the inner cap from the pipeline 9, 9', the air inside the tubes 5, 5' can be discharged by operating the one-touch joints 24, 24' to open them.

When carrying out this invention, the number of annular grippers 4゜4' may be one, and as the tube 5゜5', a plurality of arcuate tubes may be formed into an annular shape without using an annular gripper. May be used side by side.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where air is used as the gas for expanding the tubes 5, 5' has been described, but other gases may be used instead of air, and when used on the seabed. It is also possible to directly inject the surrounding seawater using a convenient water pressure pump.

According to this invention, a plurality of annular partition plates 3, 3' are fixed to the outer periphery of the shaft pipes 2, 2', and adjacent partition plates 3,
3' are provided with annular grippers 4, 4/ that can be expanded in diameter and expandable tubes 5, 5' that are in contact with the inner surfaces of the annular grippers 4, 4'. Since the fluid supply ports 6, 6' are provided, the inner cap is simply connected to each partition plate 3, 3' and the annular gripper.
After inserting the portions 4 and 4' into the ends of the pipelines 9 and 9', gas and other fluids are injected into the tubes 5 and 5', and the gas pressure causes the tubes 5 and 5 to
′ can be expanded and the annular grids ζ-4, 4′ can be brought into pressure contact with the inner surfaces of the end portions of the tube lines 9, 9′, and the adjacent partition plates can prevent the tubes 5, 5′ from expanding in the direction of the partition plates. The annular grippers 4, 4 are restrained and only allow expansion of the tubes 5, 5' in the annular grip direction.
' can be forcefully expanded in diameter and brought into strong pressure contact with the inner surface of the ends of the pipe lines 9, 9'. Therefore, the inner cap for connecting the rope can be easily attached to the ends of the pipe lines 9, 9'. The tube 5 can be quickly and firmly inserted and fixed, and the tube 5 can be inserted and fixed quickly and firmly.
, 5' and the annular grippers 4, 4' against the inner circumferential surfaces of the ends of the pipelines 9, 9', the insertion cap is inserted in a completely sealed state. In addition, even if there is a slight difference in the inner diameter of the ζ Eveline 9゜γ, the inner cap can be easily inserted and firmly fixed, which makes it possible to limit the scope of application to the inner diameter of the pipeline. In addition, in the case of the present invention, it is only necessary to use a gas cylinder or a small water pressure pump as the operation source, so that it is easy to operate and there is no problem of environmental pollution.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a pipeline is laid on the seabed by a conventional method, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the end of the pipeline is pulled up from the seabed. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing the insert cap according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A, and Fig. 5 shows the end of the eve line where the insert cap is inserted. FIG. 6 is a vertical side view showing the inserted state, and FIG. 6 is a vertical side view showing the state in which the insertion cap is press-locked to the end of the pipeline. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an inner cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the inner cap is inserted into the end of a pipeline. FIG. 10 is a vertical side view showing a state in which the inner cap is press-fitted to the end of the pipeline. In the figure, 2 o and 2' are axis/ζ eve, 3 and 3'
is a partition plate, 4 and 4' are annular grids, 5 and 5' are tubes, 6 and 6' are gas supply ports, 7 and 9 are pipelines, 12 is a rope, and 15 and 15' are rope connections. , 16 and 16' are rope locking fittings, 2
4 and 24' are one-touch joints, 25 and 2
5' is a thin tube, and 27 and 27' are one-touch joints.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of annular partition plates 3,
3' is fixed, and between the adjacent partition plates 3, 3' are annular grippers 4, 4' that can be expanded in diameter, and tubes 5, which are inflatable in contact with the inner surfaces of the annular grippers 4, 4'. 5′
A fluid supply port 6 is provided in the tube 5゜5'.
, 6' is provided with an inner cap for an underwater pipeline.