GB2580079A

GB2580079A - Common docking platform for assembly and transportation of underwater base.

Info

Publication number: GB2580079A
Application number: GB1820873.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zhen Zhen-Xing; Hong Wei-Chen; wu Xiang-yi; Chen Si-En
Original assignee: Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center
Current assignee: Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center
Priority date: 2018-12-20
Filing date: 2018-12-20
Publication date: 2020-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-20
Also published as: GB201820873D0; GB2580079B

Abstract

The platform 10 having a base 11 with a plurality of sleeves 12 on its top surface, the sleeves having holes 13 suitable for receiving the legs of an underwater base 20 for an offshore wind turbine. Each sleeves may have an annular wing (14, Fig. 1) for aiding in locating legs of base 20 and support ribs (15, Fig. 1). The base may have reinforcing ribs (16, Fig. 2) on its underside. The tower like underwater base 20 may be assembled on the platform, transported to a dock, slid on tracks or rails (31,41 Fig. 4) from dock to floating dock (30, 40 Fig. 4) without requiring crane lifting. The floating dock can then be transported to an installation site, submerged and removed from beneath the base, which is then supported by winches (43) via cables (431) and fastening loops (211) on floating device (43) (See Fig. 7), before being lowered by winches under gravity to rest on underwater foundation piles 50 – see Figs. 9 and 10. The floating dock 40, floating device 42 and platform 10 can then be reused.

Description

COMMON DOCKING PLATFORM FOR ASSEMBLY AND TRANSPORTATION OF UNDERWATER BASE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier for assembly and transportation of an underwater base, and more particularly to a common docking platform for assembly and transportation of an underwater base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are various ways to generate electricity, including thermal power generation, nuclear power generation, solar power generation, and wind power generation. Wind power generation uses the wind generated by nature to generate electricity, and it has the advantages of low cost, no emission of waste gas or waste. It creates a green energy and low carbon environment effectively and aims at non-nuclear homes. Offshore wind has the advantages of longer wind period, higher wind speed, stable wind, no shelter and no impact on the environment Therefore, the offshore installation of wind turbines has gradually become the main trend of wind power generation.

[0003] In recent years, offshore wind power generation has been widely developed around the world, and it is developing towards deep water areas. The underwater base in the deep water area is mostly a sleeve structure, and the underwater base is bulky. In the past, the structure was laid on the ground for assembly. It will face the problem of overturning after assembled. In addition, it is necessary to use a multi-wheel vehicle or rail system for transportation. However, when the underwater base arrives at the dock, it must be transported by ship. At this time, it is necessary to use a crane to bit the underwater base from the multi-wheel vehicle or rail system. Because the weight of the underwater base exceeds 1,000 tons, there is a lack of effective tools for lifting, increasing the difficulty of lifting and the cost of lifting and transportation. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is to provide a common docking platform for assembly and transportation of an underwater base, which is beneficial for assembly and transportation of the underwater base to reduce the usage of lifting equipment.

[0005] In order to achieve the aforesaid object, a common docking platform for assembly and transportation of an underwater base is provided. The underwater base has a plurality of support legs.

The common docking platform is configured to carry the underwater base. The common docking platform comprises a base and a plurality of sleeves. The base is a rectangular plate. The sleeves correspond to the support legs and are disposed on a top surface of the base. Each of the sleeves is provided with an accommodating hole facing upwards. The underwater base is disposed on the base in a vertical standing manner. The support legs are inserted in the accommodating holes of the sleeves respectively to facilitate assembly and transportation of the underwater base.

[0006] For the common docking platform for assembly and transportation of the underwater base provided by the present invention, the underwater base is mounted on the base in a vertical standing manner, and the support legs of the underwater base arc inserted in the accommodating holes of the sleeves. After the underwater base is assembled, the common docking platform is directly dragged to drive the underwater base to be displaced. The underwater base and the common docking platform are moved to the floating dock, and the underwater base is transported to an installation site for installation work. Thereby, the underwater base reduces the usage of lifting equipment during assembly and transportation and serves as a fastening facility for maritime transportation. When the common docking platform is released from the underwater base, the common docking platform can be recycled for reuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0008] FIG. 2 is another perspective view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the underwater base is mounted to the common docking platform; [0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the common docking platform is disposed on the first slide rails; [0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the floating dock and the floating device of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the shore loading of the underwater base of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the underwater base fastened by the winch of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the underwater base is dragged at sea; [0015] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the common docking platform is released from the underwater base; [0016] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the underwater base is positioned and installed; and [0017] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the common docking platform is recycled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is another perspective view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing that the underwater base is mounted to the common docking platform. The present invention discloses a common docking platform 10 for assembly and transportation of an underwater base 20. The underwater base 20 has a plurality of support legs 21. The common docking platform 10 is configured to carry the underwater base 20. The common docking platform 10 comprises a base 11 and a plurality of sleeves 12.

[0019] The base 11 is a rectangular plate.

100201 The sleeves 12 corresponding to the support legs 21 are disposed on a top surface of the base 11, respectively. Each of the sleeves 12 has an accommodating hole 13 facing upwards. The underwater base 20 is disposed on the base 11 in a vertical standing manner, and the support legs 21 are inserted in the accommodating holes 13 of the sleeves 12 respectively to facilitate assembly and transportation of the underwater base 20. An annular wing panel 14 is disposed on the top outer peripheral wall of the sleeve 12. The wing panel 14 is configured to facilitate the support legs 21 to be inserted in the accommodating holes 13. The outer peripheral wall of the sleeve 12 is provided with a plurality of supporting ribs 15 to improve the supportability of the sleeve 12. In addition, the bottom of the base 11 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 16. The reinforcing ribs 16 are intersected and perpendicular to each other so that the common docking platform 10 can carry a load more than 1,000 tons.

[0021] In order to further understand the structural features of the present invention, the technical means, and the expected effects, the use of the present invention will be desciibed. It is believed that the present invention can be more deeply and specifically understood as follows: [0022] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the ground of the dock 30 is provided with a plurality of first slide rails 31 arranged in parallel to each other. When assembled, the common docking platform 10 is disposed above the first slide rails 31, and then the underwater base 20 is mounted in a vertical standing manner. The support legs 21 of the underwater base 20 are inserted in the accommodating holes 13 of the sleeves 12.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, after the underwater base 20 is installed, the common docking platform 10 is directly dragged to drive the underwater base 20 to be displaced. The underwater base 20 and the common docking platform 10 are moved to a floating dock 40. The top surface of the floating dock 40 has a plurality of second slide rails 41. The first slide rails 31 are connected to the second slide rails 41. The top surface of the floating dock 40 is provided with a floating device 42. As shown in FIG. 7, the floating device 42 has an opening 421 for the common docking platform 10 to be located in the opening 421. The opening 421 of the floating device 42 is provided with a plurality of winches 41 Cables 431 of the winches 43 are fixed to respective fastening portions 211 of the support legs 21 for fixing the underwater base 20.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the floating dock 40 is connected to a tug 46 via a rope 45. The tug 46 drags the floating dock 40 to an installation site and performs a preliminary positioning. The installation site is pre-embedded with a plurality of underwater foundation piles 50. The floating dock 40 is submerged, and then the common docking platform 10 is disengaged from the support legs 21 so that the floating device 42 floats upward. The underwater base 20 are suspended by the winches 43, so that the whole underwater base 20 is in a floating state. The floating dock 40 is then detached from the common docking platform 10 by the tug 46 to make the bottom of the underwater base 20 clear.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 10, the floating device 42 provides buoyancy and stability for the underwater base 20. The floating device 42 is positioned by a dynamic positioning propeller 44. The winches 43 control the cables 431 to be placed downward, so that the underwater base 20 sinks by its own gravity. The underwater base 20 is positioned and adjusted by the winches 43 and the dynamic positioning propeller 44 to make the connection between the underwater base 20 and the underwater foundation piles 50 more precise. The underwater base 20 is fitted and fixed to the underwater foundation piles 50. After the installation is completed, the cables 431 of the winches 43 are unhooked to retract the cables 431.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 11, the floating device 42 is driven hack to the floating dock 40 by the dynamic positioning propellers 44, and then the floating dock 40 drains water and lifts upwards to bring the floating device 42 and the common docking platform 10 to he located on the floating dock 40. After that, the floating dock 40 is brought back to the dock 30 by the tug 40 together with the common docking platform 10 and the floating device 42 for the next installation.

[0027] It is worth mentioning that the underwater base 20 is mounted in a vertical standing manner, so that the support legs 21 of the underwater base 20 are inserted in the accommodating holes 13 of the sleeves 12. The underwater base 20 is moved directly through the common docking platform 10. Thereby, the underwater base 20 reduces the usage of lifting equipment during assembly and transportation and serves as a fastening facility for maritime transportation.

[0028] The features and expected effects of the present invention are described below: [0029] For the common docking platform for assembly and transportation of an underwater base provided by the present invention, the underwater base 20 is mounted on the base 11 in a vertical standing manner, and the support legs 21 of the underwater base 20 are inserted in the accommodating holes 13 of the sleeves 12. After the underwater base 10 is assembled, the common docking platform 10 is directly dragged to drive the underwater base 20 to be displaced. The underwater base 20 and the common docking platform 10 are moved to the floating dock 40, and the underwater base 20 is transported to an installation site for installation work. Thereby, the underwater base 20 reduces the usage of lifting equipment during assembly and transportation and serves as a fastening facility for maritime transportation. When the common docking platform 10 is released from the underwater base 20, the common docking platform 10 can be recycled for reuse.

[0030] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not tube limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A common docking platform for assembly and transportation of an underwater base, the underwater base having a plurality of support legs, the common docking platform being configured to carry the underwater base, the common docking platform comprising: a base, being a rectangular plate; a plurality of sleeves, corresponding to the support legs and disposed on a top surface of the base, each of the sleeves being provided with an accommodating hole facing upwards, the underwater base being disposed on the base in a vertical standing manner, the support legs being inserted in the accommodating holes of the sleeves respectively to facilitate assembly and transportation of the underwater base.
2. The common docking platform for assembly and transportation of the underwater base as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral wall of each of the sleeves is provided with an annular wing panel.
3. The common docking platform for assembly and transportation of the underwater base as claimed in claim I. wherein an outer peripheral wall of each of the sleeves is provided with a plurality of supporting ribs.
4. The common docking platform for assembly and transportation of the underwater base as claimed in claim I, wherein a bottom of the base is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs, and the reinforcing ribs are intersected and perpendicular to each other.