Eccentric Suction Pile Pump with Hinged Lift Appliance

Abstract

Assembly of a suction pile and a pump system temporary connected by convenient means to the suction space of the suction pile, wherein the pump system bears onto the top of the upward extending suction pile. Between suction pile and pump system a quick connector is operative comprising a pin operated by actuator means of the pump system to move between a releasing retracted and locking extended position. It has one or more of: a pump interface remote from the protective frame; an auxiliary support frame; a hinged lift appliance; a level indicator; a docking cone designed to penetrate the suction pile interface means.

Claims

1. Assembly of a suction pile, a rigid supporting frame or platform, and a pump system, the pump system being connected to the rigid support frame or platform and comprising a pump, the pump system further configured to be temporarily connected by convenient means to a suction space of the suction pile, the assembly further comprising a lifting appliance configured to be hingedly or pivotably connected to the rigid supporting frame or platform.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lifting appliance is designed to pivot, relative to the rigid supporting frame or platform from an upright position, perpendicular to a top bulkhead of the suction pile, into a downward position making an angle of at least 45 or 60 degrees, with the upright position.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the lifting appliance has, in sideview, an upside-down U-shape.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lifting appliance has a lifting grip designed to be engaged by a hoisting means.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a selectively operated means to temporarily disable, if engaged by selective operation, the pivoting movement of the lifting appliance such that it keeps a fixed orientation or angular attitude relative to the parts of the pump system relative to which the lifting appliance is designed to pivot if the means is disengaged by selective operation.

6. (canceled)

7. AR-assembly according to claim 1, wherein between suction pile and pump system a quick connector is operative comprising a pin operated by actuator means of the pump system to move between a releasing retracted and locking extended position.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, the pump system comprising a docking cone designed to penetrate suction pile interface means of the suction pile when the suction pile interface means are interlocked with pile interface means, of the pump system.

9. A assembly according to claim 8, wherein distal ends of lift plates of the lifting appliance are located at diametrically opposite sides of the docking cone.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform comprises one or two openings penetrated from below by a plate means upward projecting from and rigid with the top bulkhead of the suction pile.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump of the pump system and the lifting appliance are located side by side on top of the rigid supporting frame or platform.

19. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump system comprises pump interface means permanently mounted to the rigid supporting frame or platform and located aside from the pump.

20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pump interface means are located at at least one of a distance of at least 25 cm or 50 cm from the pump, or at the lower side or bottom of the pump of the pump system.

21. An assembly according to claim 1, the pump system comprising a protective rigid frame enveloping the pump, a pump drive, piping and additional components of the pump system.

22. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform is configured to project sideways from the protective frame, and wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform is at least one of integrated with, integral with, or rigid with the protective frame.

23. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform is at least one of integrated with, integral with, or rigid with the protective frame with the bottom or lower part of the protective frame.

24. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform and the pump system bear onto a top bulkhead of the suction pile when the suction pile is extending upwardly.

25. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, the rigid supporting frame or platform comprising a first area carrying the pump and a second area, different from the first area, carrying one or more of the lifting appliance and a pump interface means, the pump interface means being configured to interlock with suction pile interface means of the suction pile.

26. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein lifting plates of the lifting appliance have at their distal ends a pivoting connection provided by a pin of a quick coupling active between the suction pile and the pump system.

27. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lifting grip being provided at a bridging part of the U-shape of the lifting appliance uniting the lifting plates.

28. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lifting grip and/or bridging part are configured to project above all other components of the pump system.

29. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selectively operated means comprise a retractable locking pin.

30. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the quick connector comprises a pipe projecting upward from a top bulkhead of a suction pile and providing a fluid connection to an internal suction space of the suction pile.

31. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the quick connector comprises one or more one plates provided with a hole and permanently fixed to a bulkhead of the suction pile, the lifting appliance comprises a hinged lifting bracket comprising lift plates each comprising a hole, the at least one plate of the suction pile being configured to be inserted through an opening in the rigid supporting frame or platform to a position between lift plates of the hinged lifting bracket and to allow pin to penetrate the registered holes of the at least one plate and the lift plates.

32. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lifting appliance in its upward pivoted position is located vertically above the docking cone.

33. An assembly according to claim 32, wherein the docking cone is at least one of: located sideways remote from a protective frame of the pump system; or supported by the rigid supporting frame.

Description

[0030] The invention is further illustrated by way of non-limiting, presently preferred embodiments providing the best way of carrying out the invention and shown in the drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 a top view of a suction pile;

[0032] FIG. 2 a sectional side view according to the FIG. 1 line A-A of the suction pile and a pump system on top of it;

[0033] FIG. 3 a pump system in perspective view;

[0034] FIG. 4 (was 6) a side view of the FIG. 3 system;

[0035] FIG. 5 (was 14) an exploded side view of a pin locked flange coupling;

[0036] FIG. 6 (was 19) a perspective view of an alternative to the FIG. 5 (was 14) embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 7 (was 21) a perspective of the inventive pump system;

[0038] FIG. 8 (was 22) an end view of the system of FIG. 7;

[0039] FIG. 9-11 (was 23-25) pictures of the system of FIG. 7;

[0040] FIG. 12-14 perspectives of the system of FIG. 7;

[0041] FIG. 15 a perspective of a detail of FIG. 7;

[0042] FIG. 16 a front view of a part of FIG. 7; and

[0043] FIG. 17 a schematic perspective view of an alternative inventive pump system.

[0044] FIG. 1-6 show known as such components of the pump system.

[0045] Except for FIG. 13-15, the pump system is shown in its operative position of the bucket is vertically upright positioned.

[0046] FIG. 1-2 show the suction pile interface means 5, the cylindrical wall 7, the pump system 1, the pump system interface means 9, the seafloor 11, the soil plug 12 within the suction space, the top bulkhead 6, the longitudinal axis 14, the open lower side 8.

[0047] FIG. 3-5 show particulars of the pump system, particularly the above discussed features: a quick connector to mutually lock the pump system and suction pile interface means releasably; measurement probe design; docking cone design; piping for changing the water flow direction without reversing the pump; pin override system on latching pins; vent valve arrangement in pump system; compact pump system size dimensions.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates the protective external space frame 24 and the four supporting feet 25. At the top, the frame 24 is provided with attachments 28 (e.g. eyes) for a hoisting device to hoist the pump system 1 and also the suction pile suspending from the pump system when the interface means 5, 9 are mutually coupled. The pump 3 and its drive at opposite sides of the interface means 5, 9 are visible.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows the protective element at a distance above the pump system interface means, as part of the vent valve arrangement. The cone 27 is the lower part (FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0050] FIG. 5 shows to the right hand side the locked state. This embodiment can be designed such that the complete suction pile can suspend from the mutually locked interface means 5, 9, in different words the suction pile can suspend from the protective frame. The arrow illustrates the displacement of the pump system interface means 9 towards the suction pile interface means 5.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows of the padlock eye system the two parallel plates 16 associated with the pump system interface means, and the pin 17 to mutually lock the registered holes of the three plates 15, 16. The plate 15 being part of the padlock eye system and sandwiched between the plates of the pump system interface means if the interface means are mutually locked. Also shown is the hydraulic jack 18 as the actuator to retract and extend the pin 17.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment for rigid coupling of the pump system 1 to the top bulkhead 6 while simultaneously it is allowed that the pipes 5 and 9 are selectively mutually spaced (e.g. for purposes of venting fluid from inside the suction pile to the environment) or mutually connected. A connector frame 23 is provided with the plates 16 of the padlock eye system. The connector frame 23 is attached to the protective frame 24 by four hydraulic jacks 22 (three visible in FIG. 6) regularly spaced around the interface means 9. At the time the plates 15 and 16 are mutually fixed by the pins 17, the distance between the pipes 5 and 9 can be adapted by operating the hydraulic jacks to extend or retract.

[0053] The FIG. 6 embodiment allows to suspend the suction pile from the protective frame 24.

[0054] FIG. 7-15 show how the hinge of the hinged lift appliance is located aside from the protective frame enveloping the pump system.

[0055] FIG. 8 illustrates the location of the level indicator 30, exposed since the hinged lift appliance 31 is in the upright position. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the control panel (in FIG. 8 shown at the right hand side of the lift appliance 31 and in front of the protective frame 24).

[0056] FIG. 11 shows the cone 27 of the pump system in register closely above the suction pile interface means 5, the hinged lift appliance 31 suspended from a crane hook 10.

[0057] FIGS. 15 and 16 show of the padlock eye system the plates 16 permanently fixed to the pump system. The plate 15 permanently fixed to the top bulkhead 6 of the bucket is inserted from below between the lift plates 35 of the hinged lifting bracket 31. Pin 17 (i.e. the pivot shaft of the lift appliance 31) penetrates the registered holes of the plates 15 and 35. Also shown is a retractable lock pin 33 to temporary lock the hinged lifting bracket 31 in a fixed angular position relative to the frame 24. If extended (as shown in FIG. 15) the lock pin 33 penetrates a lock hole in bracket 36 that is rigid with auxiliary support frame 32.

[0058] FIG. 15 shows an opening 37 in auxiliary support frame 32. The plate 15 (imaginary shown) at the top bulkhead 6 is inserted from below through this opening 37 to project between the lift plates 35, to unite the bucket with the pump system 1.

[0059] If completely extended, the pin 17 penetrates holes in the plate 16, the two plates 35, the bracket 36 and possibly the plate 15 (only if the pump system is fastened to a bucket). If completely retracted, the pin 17 penetrates holed is the plate 16 and the plate 35 closest to plate 16, only.

[0060] FIG. 9-11 show pin 17 retracted such that plate 15 can freely move in and out the space between the lift plates 35. FIG. 15-16 show pin 17 extended and thus penetrates the hole in plate 15 and bracket 36, if the pump system 1 is properly located on top of the top bulkhead 6.

[0061] FIG. 31 shows the pump interface means 9 aside from the protective frame 24 of the pump 3, the pump interface means 9 carried by an auxiliary support frame 32 projecting sideways from and integral with the bottom or lower part of protective frame 24, and the location of the level indicator 30 and of a liquid line 34 between pump 3 and pump interface means 9.

[0062] The invention is not limited to the above described and in the drawings illustrated embodiments. E.g. the marine structure can have a different number of suction buckets. The drawing, the specification and claims contain many features in combination. The skilled person will consider these also individually and combine them to further embodiments. Features of different in here disclosed embodiments can in different manners be combined and different aspects of some features are regarded mutually exchangeable. All described or in the drawing disclosed features provide as such or in arbitrary combination the subject matter of the invention, also independent from their arrangement in the claims or their referral.