VIBRATION DEVICE WITH BASE FRAME AND METHOD FOR INSERTING INTO THE GROUND OR REMOVING FROM THE GROUND A FOUNDATION ELEMENT BY PROVIDING SAID VIBRATION DEVICE

Abstract

A vibration device for inserting a foundation element into the ground includes a base frame having an inner space, and one or more vibration elements that are connected to the base frame. During use, the base frame extends at least partly around a side wall of the foundation element to at least partially enclose said foundation element in the inner space. A vibration system, a vibration assembly and a method for inserting a foundation element into the ground.

Claims

1-24. (canceled)

25. A vibration device for inserting a foundation element into the ground, the device comprising: a base frame having an inner space; and one or more vibration elements that are connected to the base frame; wherein, during use, the base frame extends at least partly around a side wall of the foundation element to at least partially encloses said foundation element in the inner space.

26. The vibration device according to claim 25, wherein the base frame has an inner wall that delineates the inner space, and wherein the inner wall, during use, extends parallel to, and contiguous with, the outer wall of the foundation element.

27. The vibration device according to claim 25, wherein the base frame has an open position in which the device is positionable around the foundation element, and has a closed position in which the foundation element is clamped in the inner space of the base frame.

28. The vibration device according to claim 25, wherein the base frame is substantially ring-shaped, and wherein the base frame has a height that extends parallel to the central axis of the ring-shaped base frame, wherein base frame comprises two or more parts that are hingeably connected to each other, or wherein the base frame comprises a number of curved elements, that are connectable to each other to form the ring-shaped base frame.

29. The vibration device according to claim 25, wherein the device comprises two or more vibration elements, and wherein the vibration elements are positioned substantially equidistant from each other on or against an outer wall of the base frame or in the base frame between the inner wall and the outer wall.

30. The vibration device according to claim 25, further comprising at least one drive that is operatively connected to the base frame and that is configured to drive the at least one vibration element.

31. The vibration device according to claim 25, wherein the at least one drive is an electric motor comprising a permanent-magnet motor.

32. The vibration device according to claim 25, further comprising a plurality of vibration elements or a number of groups of vibration elements, wherein the vibration device further comprises a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to individually control each of the vibration elements or groups of vibration elements by controlling the drive associated with the vibration element or group of vibration elements.

33. The vibration device according to claim 25, further comprising at least two hoisting elements to which hoisting equipment, such as hoisting cables, are connectable, wherein at least the two hoisting elements are positioned on opposite sides of an outer wall of the base frame.

34. The vibration device according to claim 25, wherein the device comprises clamping means that are configured to, in the closed position, clamp the foundation element in the inner space, and wherein the clamping means are positioned at or at least partially in the inner wall or adjacent the inner wall in the inner space.

35. The vibration device according to claim 34, wherein the vibration elements, the inner wall and the clamping means are directly connected to each other, and wherein the vibration elements, the inner wall, and the clamping means are at least partially integrated with other.

36. The vibration device according to claim 34, wherein the clamps are configured for clamping the foundation element, and maintaining the clamping position during upending and insertion of the foundation element into the ground.

37. A vibration assembly comprising: a vibration device comprising: a base frame having an inner space; one or more vibration elements that are connected to the base frame; wherein, during use, the base frame extends at least partly around a side wall of the foundation element to at least partially enclose said foundation element in the inner space; and at least one foundation element.

38. A method for inserting a foundation element into the ground or extracting a foundation element from the ground, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vibration device comprising: a base frame having an inner space; one or more vibration elements that are connected to the base frame; wherein, during use, the base frame extends at least partly around a side wall of the foundation element to at least partially enclose said foundation element in the inner space; and using the device or the system to drive a foundation element into the ground, or alternatively using the device or the system to extract a foundation element from the ground.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the step of using the device or system comprises: positioning the vibration device around a foundation element; securing the vibration device to the foundation element; and driving the foundation element into the ground, or alternatively extracting the foundation element from the ground.

40. The method according to claim 39, additionally comprising the step of upending the foundation element before driving the foundation element into the ground, and further comprising the step of clamping the foundation element with the clamps and maintaining the clamping position during upending and insertion of the foundation element into the ground.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein the vibration device comprises two or more parts that are hingeably connected to each other, and wherein the method additionally comprises the steps of: opening the vibration device by hinging the two or more parts apart; positioning, by sliding, the device on the foundation element; closing the two or more parts such that the device encloses the foundation element; and securing the vibration device to the foundation element by locking the two or more parts together.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein the vibration device comprises a plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors is associated with a single vibration element, or with a group of vibration elements that are associated to each other, to drive the associated vibration element or associated group of vibration elements.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein each vibration element is an excentre mass, the method further comprising one or more of the steps of controlling, with a control unit: a tangential force exerted by the groups of vibration elements on the foundation element; a horizontal force exerted by the groups of vibration elements on the foundation element; and/or an axial vibration, a torsional vibration and/or a combination of an axial and torsional vibration exerted by the groups of vibration elements on the foundation element; a heading and/or vertical inclination of the foundation element; or a combination of one or more of a tangential force, a horizontal force, an axial vibration, a torsional vibration, a combination of an axial and torsional vibration and a heading and/or vertical inclination; wherein the steps of controlling are performed by controlling, by the control unit, one or more of: a number RPM of each electric motor; a rotation of the electric phase of each electric motor between one or more electric motors of the plurality of electric motors; a number RPM of each of the excentre masses; a timing phase of the rotation of each of the excentre masses, wherein the timing comprises synchronous rotation, asynchronous rotation, or time-shifted rotation; and/or a rotational speed of the excentre masses.

44. The method according to claim 38, wherein the at least one foundation element comprises a profiled end, and wherein the step of using the device or the system comprises applying at least torsional vibrations to the at least one foundation element.

Description

[0187] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0188] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of the vibration device according to the invention;

[0189] FIG. 2 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the example of FIG. 1;

[0190] FIG. 3 shows an example of a vibration device according to the invention directly prior to connecting the device with a foundation element;

[0191] FIG. 4 shows the example of the vibration device of FIG. 3, when connected to the foundation element;

[0192] FIG. 5 shows the example of the vibration device of FIG. 3 with the foundation element in an upright, or up-ended position;

[0193] FIGS. 6A-6F show various examples of drive modes for an example of the vibration device according to the invention; and

[0194] FIG. 7A-7D show a schematic overview of upending a foundation element using a device according to the invention; and

[0195] FIG. 8 shows an example of the method according to the invention.

[0196] In an example of vibration device according the invention (see FIGS. 1, 2), vibration device 2 in this example has the form of a ring. Vibration device 2 comprises ring-shaped base frame 4 having inner space 6 that is delineated by inner wall 8 and that extends over height H. Base frame 4 further comprises outer wall 10, which is radially spaced outwards from inner wall 8, when viewed radially outwards from central axis A of vibration device 2. In this example, the distance between inner wall 8 and outer wall 10 defines width W of vibration device 2.

[0197] In this example (see FIG. 1), outer wall 10 comprises three substantially circumferential grooves 12 that are positioned above each other when viewed in first direction x that is parallel to central axis A and height direction H. Each groove 12 is provided with a number of projections 14 that extend radially outward from the groove 12 in which the projection 14 is positioned. Outer wall 10 is further provided with hoisting elements 16 that are positioned on opposite sides of outer wall 10 and that are configured for connecting hoisting equipment, such as hoisting cables (not shown).

[0198] In this particular example, base frame 4 is provided as two halves 18, 20, which are connected to each other by hinge 22. Base frame 4 is provided with connection means 24 on the opposite of hinge 22. In this example, connection means 24 comprises pen-and-hole connection 24 (of which the pen is not shown).

[0199] In this example, a number of vibration elements 28 and a number of drives 30, in this case three vibration elements 28 and three drives 30 are shown in the inner space 26 of base frame 4 (see also FIG. 2).

[0200] In an example (see FIGS. 3-5), vibration device 102 is part of vibration assembly 100, which comprises vibration device 102 and foundation element 136. Vibration device 102 is positioned adjacent foundation element 136 (see FIG. 3) before being positioned thereon. Connection means 124 are unconnected and hinge 122 is open to allow vibration device 102 to be positioned around side wall 138 of foundation element 136. Hoisting elements 116 are in this example already loosely connected to hoisting cables 132. After positioning vibration device 102, vibration device 102 is closed and secured (see FIG. 4). Connection element 124 is closed and secured and inner wall 106 is positioned against side wall 138 of foundation element 136. In FIG. 5, foundation element 136 is positioned upright and connected, in this case suspended on, hoisting cables 132 which are connected to hoisting elements 116.

[0201] In an example of vibration device 2, 102, 202, several modes of operation are schematically shown (see FIG. 6A-6F) in which four groups of vibration elements, in this case excentre masses, are used. These excentre masses are positioned equidistant around a circumference of vibration device 2, 102, 202.

[0202] In FIG. 6A, the amplitude of all vibration elements is equal and the direction of oppositely placed vibration elements is opposite to each other. This leads to a net vibration force of zero on the foundation element. In FIG. 6B, two of the vibration elements have a equal and opposite directed forces (see the two vibration elements depicted at the top) and thus produce a net vibration force of zero. The other two elements (depicted at the bottom of FIG. 6B) both provide a vertically directed vibrational force, which equals 50% of the total amplitude that can be achieved using the vibration device according to the invention. In FIG. 6C, all vibration elements provide a vertically oriented force, which results in a maximum vertically directed vibrational force to the foundation element. That is, with an amplitude of 100%. This is mainly due to the fact that the forces are all synchronous, and thus amplify each other. FIG. 6D shows a combination of a vertically directed vibrational force (by the two vibration elements depicted above) and a torsional force that is caused by the two vibration elements depicted below. These are both directed to one side and are similar in timing, thus resulting in a torsional vibration. In this specific example, 50% of the maximum vibrational force is achieved in a vertical direction and 50% of the maximum vibrational force is directed in a torsional direction. In FIG. 6E, the vibration elements are provided such that the vertical vibrational force is zero, whereas there is a torsional force. FIG. 6F shows a zero vertically oriented force and a maximum torsional force due to the simultaneous movement of all vibration elements in the same direction (and with the same timing).

[0203] This example (see FIGS. 6A-6F) therewith show that the vibration device according to the invention can be used to provide a high degree of control over the vibrational forces applied to the foundation element that is to be placed. As a result, the efficiency is increased, whereas the energy and time consumption are decreased compared to the known devices.

[0204] In an example, assembly 250 of ship 252 and assembly 200 is shown. In this example (see FIGS. 7A-7D), the process of upending foundation element 236 is shown using vibration device 202 and, in this example crane 254. Foundation element 236 is slowly put in a vertical position, which is called upending, while being suspended on hoisting cables 216 that are connected to vibration device 202. During positioning, foundation element 236 slowly moves from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position in which foundation element 236 can be inserted in seabed SB. In this example, vibration device 202 is, during operation, above the sea SW, although it is well possible that in other examples, vibration device 202 is positioned below sea level of sea SW. In this illustrated embodiment the clamps need not to be repositioned and the clamps can be maintained in their position during the initial clamping, upending and inserting of the foundation element in the seabed.

[0205] In a schematic example of method 1000 (FIG. 8), method 1000 comprises the steps of providing 1002 a vibration device or a vibration system according to the invention and using 1004 the device or the system to drive a foundation element into the ground.

[0206] Optionally, method 1000 may comprise the step of upending 1010 the foundation element before driving the foundation element into the ground.

[0207] Further optionally, each vibration element of a vibration device according to the invention, such as vibration device 2, 102, 202, may be an excentre mass, and method 1000 may comprise one or more of the steps of controlling 1016 with a control unit: [0208] a tangential force exerted by the groups of vibration elements on the foundation element; [0209] a horizontal force exerted by the groups of vibration elements on the foundation element; and/or [0210] an axial vibration, a torsional vibration and/or a combination of an axial and torsional vibration exerted by the groups of vibration elements on the foundation element; [0211] a heading and/or vertical inclination of the foundation element; or [0212] a combination of one or more of a tangential force, a horizontal force, an axial vibration, a torsional vibration, a combination of an axial and torsional vibration and a heading and/or vertical inclination;
wherein the one or more steps of controlling 1016 are preferably performed by controlling, by the control unit, one or more of: [0213] a number RPM of each electric motor; [0214] a rotation of the electric phase of each electric motor between one or more electric motors of the plurality of electric motors; [0215] a number RPM of each of the excentre masses; [0216] a timing phase of the rotation of each of the excentre masses, wherein the timing preferably comprises synchronous rotation, asynchronous rotation or time-shifted rotation; and/or [0217] a rotational speed of the excentre masses.

[0218] The step of using 1004 the device or the system to drive a foundation element into the ground may comprise the (sub)steps of positioning 1006 the vibration device around a foundation element, securing 1008 the vibration device to the foundation element, and then driving 1004 the foundation element into the ground.

[0219] The step of using 1004 the device or the system to drive a foundation element into the ground may additionally or optionally also comprise the (sub)steps of opening 1012 the vibration device by hinging the two or more parts apart, than the sub-step of positioning 1006, preferably by sliding, the device on the foundation element, followed by closing 1014 the two or more parts such that the device encloses the foundation element. After closing 1014, the steps comprise securing 1008 the vibration device to the foundation element by locking the two or more parts together and driving 1004 the foundation element into the ground.

[0220] The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments and/or experiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following clauses within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.