Method for Providing a Foundation for a Mass Located at Height, and a Positioning Frame for Performing the Method

Abstract

The invention relates to an efficient method for providing a foundation for a mass located at height, such as the jacket of a wind turbine or a jetty, wherein the foundation comprises a number of piles driven into a bottom in a geometric pattern. The method comprises of providing a floating device provided with lifting means; providing a positioning frame comprising a number of mutually connected guide sleeves arranged in a geometric pattern for the purpose of receiving the piles; lowering the positioning frame to the bottom into a position of use via the lifting means; and arranging the piles in the bottom through the guide sleeves of the positioning frame in the position of use, and to a positioning frame adapted to perform the method.

1 . A method for providing a foundation for a mass located at height, such as the jacket of a wind turbine or a jetty, wherein the foundation comprises a number of piles arranged in a bottom in a geometric pattern, the method comprising of:
 providing a floating device provided with lifting means;   providing a positioning frame comprising a number of mutually connected guide sleeves arranged in a geometric pattern for the purpose of receiving the piles;   lowering the positioning frame to the bottom into a position of use via the lifting means; and   arranging the piles in the bottom through the guide sleeves of the positioning frame in the position of use.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising of positioning and/or orienting the positioning frame to the position of use by means of positioning means. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the positioning means are adapted such that they enable translations of the positioning frame relative to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the positioning frame is positioned and/or oriented by engaging the frame with a remotely operated robot vehicle (ROV). 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the positioning frame is positioned and/or oriented by engaging the frame with traction cables provided with anchors. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the positioning frame is positioned and/or oriented by providing the frame with an assembly of manoeuvrable thrusters. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising of establishing the position of at least one pile and positioning the positioning frame such that at least one of the guide sleeves of the positioning frame is aligned with the position of the pile. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the guide sleeves is provided along at least a portion of the length of the guide sleeves with support ribs for the piles, and the piles are carried through the guide sleeves until the top of the piles extends further than the underside of said portion (provided with support ribs) of the length of the guide sleeves. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the piles are carried further than said portion, for instance by the follower of a pneumatic hammer. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the arranging of the piles in the bottom is performed by driving the piles into the bottom by the action of hydraulic hammer devices, vibrating hammer devices and/or oscillators. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the arranging of the piles in the bottom is performed by drilling the foundation piles, and/or shafts in which the foundation piles are arranged, into the underwater bottom by means of drilling means. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing the positioning frame once the piles have been arranged in the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . A method for installing on a foundation a mass located at height, such as the jacket of a wind turbine or a jetty, wherein the foundation comprises a number of piles arranged in a bottom by means of the method as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising of arranging legs of the mass located at height into or around the piles and anchoring the legs to the piles by means of grouting. 
     
     
         14 . A positioning frame adapted to provide a foundation for a mass located at height, such as the jacket of a wind turbine or a jetty, wherein the foundation comprises a number of piles driven into a bottom in a geometric pattern, which positioning frame comprises a number of mutually connected guide sleeves arranged in the geometric pattern and adapted to receive and guide a pile to be arranged in the bottom, in addition to means for positioning and/or orienting the positioning frame. 
     
     
         15 . The positioning frame as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the positioning means are adapted such that they enable translations of the positioning frame relative to the bottom surface.