Eccentric suction pile pump with hinged lift appliance
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.
1 . An assembly comprising:
a suction pile;
a rigid supporting frame or platform removably connectable to the suction pile;
a pump system, wherein:
the pump system is connected to the rigid supporting frame or platform and comprises a pump,
the pump system is configured to be temporarily connected to a suction space of the suction pile, and
the suction pile comprises a top bulkhead and one or more plates extending upward from and rigid with the top bulkhead or permanently fixed at the top bulkhead; and
a lifting appliance, wherein:
the lifting appliance is configured to be hingedly or pivotably connected to the rigid supporting frame or platform and to lift or move the pump system and the rigid supporting frame or platform away from the suction pile,
the lifting appliance is further configured to be hingedly or pivotably connected to both the one or more plates of the suction pile and structural elements of the rigid supporting frame or platform and to lift or move the pump system and the rigid supporting frame or platform with the suction pile,
the rigid supporting frame or platform comprises one or more openings configured to be penetrated from below by at least one of the one or more plates extending upward from and permanently fixed at the top bulkhead,
the structural elements comprise plates formed with the rigid supporting frame or platform,
the plates of the structural elements comprise first holes,
the one or more plates of the suction pile comprise second holes, and
the lifting appliance is further configured to penetrate the first and second holes to hingedly or pivotably connect both the suction pile and the rigid supporting frame or platform with the pump system to the lifting appliance.
2 . The 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 the 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 . The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the lifting appliance has, in sideview, an upside-down U-shape.
4 . The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the lifting appliance comprises a lifting grip configured to engage a hoist.
5 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a retractable locking pin to temporarily disable, if engaged by selective operation, a pivoting movement of the lifting appliance such that the lifting appliance keeps a fixed orientation or angular attitude relative to parts of the pump system relative to which the lifting appliance is designed to pivot if the retractable locking pin is disengaged by selective operation.
6 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pump system comprises a docking cone arranged to penetrate a suction pile interface comprising an upward directed pipe at the suction pile when the suction pile interface is interlocked with a pump interface of the pump system.
7 . The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein distal ends of lift plates of the lifting appliance are located at diametrically opposite sides of the docking cone.
8 . The 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.
9 . The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pump system comprises a pump interface permanently mounted to the rigid supporting frame or platform and located aside from the pump.
10 . The assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the pump interface is located at at least one of a distance of at least 25 cm or 50 cm from the pump, or at a lower side or bottom of the pump of the pump system.
11 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pump system comprises a protective rigid frame enveloping at least the pump, a pump drive, and piping.
12 . The assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the rigid supporting frame or platform is configured to project sideways from the protective rigid frame, and
the rigid supporting frame or platform is at least one of integrated with, integral with, or rigid with the protective rigid frame.
13 . The assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform is at least one of integrated with, integral with, or rigid with the protective rigid frame with a bottom or lower part of the protective rigid frame.
14 . The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform and the pump system bear onto the top bulkhead of the suction pile when the suction pile is extending upwardly.
15 . The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rigid supporting frame or platform comprises 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 configured to interlock with a suction pile interface comprising an upward directed pipe at the suction pile.
16 . The assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein lifting plates of the lifting appliance have at their distal ends a pivoting connection provided by a pin between the suction pile and the pump system.
17 . The assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the lifting grip is provided at a bridging part of the U-shape of the lifting appliance.
18 . The assembly according to claim 17 , wherein at least one of the lifting grip or the bridging part is configured to project above the pump system.
19 . The assembly as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder to axially retract and extend the retractable locking pin.
20 . The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the lifting appliance comprises a hinged lifting bracket comprising lift plates each comprising a hole, and
the one or more plates are configured to be inserted through an opening in the rigid supporting frame or platform to a position between the lift plates of the hinged lifting bracket and to allow a pin to penetrate the respective hole of the one or more plates and the holes of the lift plates.
21 . The assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the lifting appliance in its upward pivoted position is located vertically above the docking cone.
22 . The assembly according to claim 21 , 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.
23 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a pin further forms a pivot shaft of the lifting appliance.
24 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pump system further comprises a level indicator.
25 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pump system further comprises a control panel, and
the control panel comprises one or more of the following: a mechanical switch, a mechanical lever, a gauge, or an electronic display screen.
26 . The assembly according to claim 25 , wherein:
one or more of the mechanical switch or the mechanical lever is operable by a robotic arm on a remotely operated submersed vehicle, and
one or more of the gauge or the electronic display screen is configured to be monitored by a camera of the remotely operated submersed vehicle.