GB1591977A

GB1591977A - Apparatus for laying and filling fabric sleeves

Info

Publication number: GB1591977A
Application number: GB2398178A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Colcrete Bau Co KG GmbH
Current assignee: Colcrete Bau Co KG GmbH
Priority date: 1977-06-07
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: DE2725552C2; DE2725552A1

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR LAYING AND FILLING FABRIC SLEEVES (71) We, COLCRETE-BAU GmbH & Co.

KG, of Oldenburger Strasse 295,2902 Rastede, Germany, a German Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described, in and by the following state ment :- The invention relates to apparatus for laying and simultaneously filling fabric sleeves, used in hydraulic engineering, with heavy flowable substances.

It is known to fill fabric sleeves under water downstream of a roller around which the fabric sleeve is coiled. One or more filling hoses are inserted into hose sockets which are installed in the surface thereof distributed along the longitudinal extent of the fabric sleeve. The fabric sleeves are thus filled in portions and the operation of removing the filling hose from one hose socket and mounting it on another under water must be performed by a diver.

During the filling operation the fabric sleeve is also paid off from the roller. The resultant release of unfilled fabric sleeve corresponds to the progress of filling so that a continuous filling and installation procedure can be achieved if the operations of pay-off and filling are precisely matched.

The known method is comparatively complex owing to the diving operations for which it calls. Furthermore, divers cannot readily operate at great depths so that the use of the known systems is confined to shallower coastal waters.

The known system also does not always operate reliably, more particularly if the fabric sleeve is to be filled with sand. To this end a sand-water mixture is injected into the sleeve through the filling hose. Demixing takes place instantly within the sleeve. The sand settles while the water is expelled from the sleeve.

This demixing procedure, which is intrinsically desirable, however also detrimentally causes irregular settlement of the sand. More particularly, in the region directly adjacent the roller the sand is often not deposited with adequate thickness, i.e. the fabric sleeve is not tightly filled at that place; this means that the intended cross-sectional shape is not obtained. It is therefore again necessary to employ a diver who observes the filling operation and once again attaches filling hoses in the regions of incomplete filling.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for laying and simultaneously filling fabric sleeves, used in hydraulic engineering, with heavy flowable substances, the apparatus comprising a magazine for storing a folded fabric sleeve, a filling hose which extends, in use, into part of the fabric sleeve already withdrawn from the magazine, and two axially parallel rollers, which can be pressed against each other, and are disposed downstream of the folding magazine as seen in the laying direction of the fabric sleeve, and between which, in use, the drawn-off fabric sleeve passes, at least one of the rollers having a circumferential groove whose cross-sectional shape is such that the filling hose can extend into the fabric sleeve through the groove, between the rollers.

The axially parallel roller squeeze the fabric sleeve sealingly so that filling is restricted only to that sleeve portion which has been released.

The desired cross-sectional shape of the sleeve can thus be more readily attained.

The advance of the rollers in the laying direction also keeps the filling hose taut, thus obviating resetting operations which must be performed by divers. The apparatus can therefore also fill fabric sleeves at great depths under water. For example pipelines installed on the sea bed can be continuously covered in a simple manner by means of a mattress which is filled with sand on site with the system according to the invention.

The system according to the invention can of course also fill in all other suitable substances such as mortar or concrete.

The system can also be used above the water level, for example for establishing flushing flume boundaries.

The fabric sleeve is also reliably and uniformly filled with the apparatus because a socalled dead space exists in the fabric sleeve downstream of the bottom roller of the two axially parallel rollers and is deposited in this space immediately after being pumped in.

Depending on the diameter of the bottom roller at least half the fabric sleeve can be filled by this effect alone. If the apparatus is raised slightly above the ground the cross-section of the fabric sleeve disposed directly downstream of the rollers can also be enlarged in an advantageous manner.

A very long fabric sleeve can be stored in the folding magazine before the apparatus is lowered. When the stored sleeve is filled and installed the apparatus is raised from the water and the magazine is provided with a fresh sleeve.

Both rollers can be provided with a circumferential groove so that the grooves, situated one above the other, when the rollers bear upon each other, form a circular or other shape opening through which the filler hose is inserted. The filler hose must of course also have already passed through the sleeve which is stored on the magazine. The apparatus can be set up relatively simply above the water and before it is used.

The rollers can alternatively have several grooves situated adjacently so that is is possible to operate simultaneously with a pluratily of filling hoses, for example in the case of very wide rollers for installing broad and flat mattress-like fabric sleeves.

The centre spacing between the axes of the axially parallel rollers can be made adjustable for adaptation to different materials for the fabric sleeves, more particularly for adaptation to the fabric thickness. To this end at least one of the rollers, preferably the top roller, is guided in adjustable bearings which are supported in a suitable frame which can support the rollers as well as the folding magazine.

In order to operate the apparatus according to the invention it is necessary for the apparatus to move in the laying direction. Advantageously, the apparatus is combined with a known stepping mechanism to perform such movements. A walking mechanism is particularly suitable for performing operations under water because it can be very stable and of uncomplicated construction, by virtue of the movements which can be very simply generated, and operates relatively reliably. A suitable walking mechanism has a large support surface area, and skids which are well suited for equalizing the bridging irregularities which always occur on the sea bed. The walking mechanism can be driven by hydraulic elements. Control can take the form of remote control.

It is however also possible to use a remotely controlled track-laying travelling gear for the advance motion of the apparatus according to the invention. Any other device for the advance motion suitable for the purpose can of course also be used.

The invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the apparatus according to Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus according to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus according to the invention in diagrammatic form. Two rollers 1 and 2, which can rotate in the direction indicated by arrows are supported in a frame, not shown, with the lower roller 2 raised off the sea bed 3. The entire support frame, not shown, moves parallel to the sea bed 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow 14.

The numeral 4 refers to an empty concertinaed fabric sleeve placed in a folding magazine comprising parallel bars 5. A filling hose 6 extends through the folded sleeve. The end 8 of the filling hose extends between the rollers 1 and 2. Rotation of the rollers and the pull applied by the previously filled portion 7 of the fabric sleeve 4 causes further draw-off of the sleeve from the folding magazine so that continuous filling of the sleeve takes place via the end 8.

The sand-water mixture, entering the filled part of the fabric sleeve, demixes so that the water is able to flow through a flushing duct 9 which terminates in an exit socket 10 disposed at one end of the fabric sleeve and can thus be discharged in the direction of arrow 15.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the rollers. The drawing shows that the rollers 1 and 2 are provided in the middle with circumferential, semi-circular grooves 11 and 12 through which an insection duct for the filling hose 6 is formed when the two rollers bear upon each other.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus according to Figures 1 and 2 in diagrammatic form.

The numeral 13 in Figure 1 refers to an orifice which is associated with the folding magazine and prevents more fabric sleeve from the folding magazine being drawn off than is absolutely necessary. This orifice can be a plate with a slit through which the fabric sleeve passes. The component is not shown in Figures 2 and 3.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for laying and simultaneously filling fabric sleeves, used in hydraulic engineering, with heavy flowable substances, the apparatus comprising a magazine for storing a folded fabric sleeve, a filling hose which extends, in use, into part of the fabric sleeve already withdrawn from the magazine, and two axially parallel rollers, which can be pressed against each other, and are disposed downstream of the folding magazine, as seen in the laying direction of the fabric sleeve, and between which, in use, the drawn-off fabric sleeve passes, at least one of the rollers having a circumferential groove whose cross-sectional

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. space immediately after being pumped in. Depending on the diameter of the bottom roller at least half the fabric sleeve can be filled by this effect alone. If the apparatus is raised slightly above the ground the cross-section of the fabric sleeve disposed directly downstream of the rollers can also be enlarged in an advantageous manner. A very long fabric sleeve can be stored in the folding magazine before the apparatus is lowered. When the stored sleeve is filled and installed the apparatus is raised from the water and the magazine is provided with a fresh sleeve. Both rollers can be provided with a circumferential groove so that the grooves, situated one above the other, when the rollers bear upon each other, form a circular or other shape opening through which the filler hose is inserted. The filler hose must of course also have already passed through the sleeve which is stored on the magazine. The apparatus can be set up relatively simply above the water and before it is used. The rollers can alternatively have several grooves situated adjacently so that is is possible to operate simultaneously with a pluratily of filling hoses, for example in the case of very wide rollers for installing broad and flat mattress-like fabric sleeves. The centre spacing between the axes of the axially parallel rollers can be made adjustable for adaptation to different materials for the fabric sleeves, more particularly for adaptation to the fabric thickness. To this end at least one of the rollers, preferably the top roller, is guided in adjustable bearings which are supported in a suitable frame which can support the rollers as well as the folding magazine. In order to operate the apparatus according to the invention it is necessary for the apparatus to move in the laying direction. Advantageously, the apparatus is combined with a known stepping mechanism to perform such movements. A walking mechanism is particularly suitable for performing operations under water because it can be very stable and of uncomplicated construction, by virtue of the movements which can be very simply generated, and operates relatively reliably. A suitable walking mechanism has a large support surface area, and skids which are well suited for equalizing the bridging irregularities which always occur on the sea bed. The walking mechanism can be driven by hydraulic elements. Control can take the form of remote control. It is however also possible to use a remotely controlled track-laying travelling gear for the advance motion of the apparatus according to the invention. Any other device for the advance motion suitable for the purpose can of course also be used. The invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the apparatus according to Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus according to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the apparatus according to the invention in diagrammatic form. Two rollers 1 and 2, which can rotate in the direction indicated by arrows are supported in a frame, not shown, with the lower roller 2 raised off the sea bed 3. The entire support frame, not shown, moves parallel to the sea bed 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow 14. The numeral 4 refers to an empty concertinaed fabric sleeve placed in a folding magazine comprising parallel bars 5. A filling hose 6 extends through the folded sleeve. The end 8 of the filling hose extends between the rollers 1 and 2. Rotation of the rollers and the pull applied by the previously filled portion 7 of the fabric sleeve 4 causes further draw-off of the sleeve from the folding magazine so that continuous filling of the sleeve takes place via the end 8. The sand-water mixture, entering the filled part of the fabric sleeve, demixes so that the water is able to flow through a flushing duct 9 which terminates in an exit socket 10 disposed at one end of the fabric sleeve and can thus be discharged in the direction of arrow 15. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the rollers. The drawing shows that the rollers 1 and 2 are provided in the middle with circumferential, semi-circular grooves 11 and 12 through which an insection duct for the filling hose 6 is formed when the two rollers bear upon each other. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus according to Figures 1 and 2 in diagrammatic form. The numeral 13 in Figure 1 refers to an orifice which is associated with the folding magazine and prevents more fabric sleeve from the folding magazine being drawn off than is absolutely necessary. This orifice can be a plate with a slit through which the fabric sleeve passes. The component is not shown in Figures 2 and 3. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for laying and simultaneously filling fabric sleeves, used in hydraulic engineering, with heavy flowable substances, the apparatus comprising a magazine for storing a folded fabric sleeve, a filling hose which extends, in use, into part of the fabric sleeve already withdrawn from the magazine, and two axially parallel rollers, which can be pressed against each other, and are disposed downstream of the folding magazine, as seen in the laying direction of the fabric sleeve, and between which, in use, the drawn-off fabric sleeve passes, at least one of the rollers having a circumferential groove whose cross-sectional

shape is such that the filling hose can extend into the fabric sleeve through the groove, between the rollers.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the axes of the rollers is adjustable.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a frame supporting the rollers and the magazine, the frame being driven in the laying direction of the fabric sleeve by a walking mechanism.

4. Apparatus for laying and filling fabric sleeves, substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.