Excavation installation

Abstract

The invention relates to an excavation installation, comprising excavation means ( 1,2 ) in which more than one excavation means ( 1,2 ) is positioned offset next to another in a row ( 34,35 ) of excavation means ( 1,2 ). In use the excavation installation may excavate a horizontal bottom of water ( 102 ) in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the rows ( 34,35 ) of excavation means ( 1,2 ). The excavation means ( 1,2 ) are connected to a rigid construction, in which the rigid construction ( 3 ) is positioned vertically above the excavation means ( 1,2 ). The rigid construction ( 3 ) is resiliency connected to a bridge ( 5 ) that is positioned vertically above the rigid construction ( 3 ) and connected by means of actuators ( 7 ).

1 . Excavation installation, comprising excavation means in which more than one excavation means is positioned next to another in a row of excavation means, in which multiples of such rows of excavation means are positioned behind one another, and in which the excavation means of a particular row are offset with regard to the excavation means of an adjacent row, such that in use the excavation installation may excavate a horizontal bottom of water in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the rows of excavation means, in which the excavation means are connected to a rigid construction positioned vertically above the excavation means by means of a resilient connection in order to absorb the vertical impact loads on the excavation means and to transmit these impacts to the rigid construction, and in which the rigid construction is resiliently connected to a bridge that is positioned vertically above the rigid construction, in which the bridge is connected to the rigid construction by means of linear actuators, in such a way that, during use, the linear actuators exert an adjustable and vertical pressing force onto the excavation means. 
     
     
         2 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which the bridge comprises a box construction. 
     
     
         3 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which the bridge is movable along parallel framework beams that are positioned in a longitudinal direction, that together with two transverse beams form a framework. 
     
     
         4 . Excavation installation according to  claim 3 , in which the movable bridge is connected to the two transverse beams by means of winch cables, in which the winch cables permit a longitudinal movement of the movable bridge along the two parallel positioned framework beams. 
     
     
         5 . Excavation installation according to  claim 3 , in which the movable bridge at each of its extremities comprises a guiding tube, in which through the opening of each of these tubes passes one of the two parallel positioned framework beams, such that the movable bridge can move in the longitudinal direction of the framework beams. 
     
     
         6 . Excavation installation according to  claim 5 , in which the guiding tubes at their inner sides comprise resilient wheel sets and/or resilient rollers that, during use, can give the framework beams six kinematic degrees of freedom relative to the guiding tube. 
     
     
         7 . Excavation installation according to  claim 3 , in which the corners of the framework comprise means for anchoring the rectangular frame to the water bottom. 
     
     
         8 . Excavation installation according to  claim 7 , in which the corners of the rectangular frame comprise a supporting means. 
     
     
         9 . Excavation installation according to  claim 3 , comprising one or more means for moving the rectangular frame. 
     
     
         10 . Excavation installation according to  claim 3 , in which the extremities of the framework beams and the extremities of the transverse beams are resiliently and by means of a ball joint connected to a corner in each of the four corners of the rectangular frame, in which the means to anchor the rectangular frame are resiliently connected to the corners, and in which the optional supporting means are resiliently connected to the corners. 
     
     
         11 . Excavation installation according to  claim 3 , in which the excavation installation is submersible. 
     
     
         12 . Excavation installation according to  claim 11 , in which the framework beams, the transverse beams, the corners and/or the movable bridge comprise compartments that can be filled with gas and/or water in order to float or submerse the excavation installation. 
     
     
         13 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which the bridge is resiliently connected to a floating vessel by means of multiple linear actuators that extend from the floating vessel in a downward direction towards the bridge, and in which the ends of the actuators are connected to the bridge and to the floating vessel by means of ball joints. 
     
     
         14 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which the excavation means are positioned in two or three rows behind one another. 
     
     
         15 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which a row with excavation means comprises 3 to 30 excavation means. 
     
     
         16 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which the excavation means are excavation wheels, drum cutters, drag heads, cutters and/or ploughs. 
     
     
         17 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which the excavation means comprise wheels that rotate around a substantially horizontal axis, in which the excavation means are positioned in pairs in a row, and in which the rotating wheel of the first excavation means of a pair, during use, rotates in a direction that is contrary to the rotating direction of the rotating wheel of the second excavation means of the pair. 
     
     
         18 . Excavation installation according to  claim 17 , in which the rotating wheel of the first excavation means of a pair is an overcutting wheel and the rotating wheel of the second excavation means of the pair is an undercutting wheel. 
     
     
         19 . Excavation installation according to  claim 17 , in which the excavation means are connected to a rigid construction in pairs, in which the rigid construction is positioned vertically above the excavation means and is connected by means of a resilient connection to the pairs of excavation means in order to absorb the impact loads and the continuously varying and fluctuating loads on the pair of excavation means and to transmit these impact loads to the rigid construction. 
     
     
         20 . Excavation installation according to  claim 1 , in which each of the excavation means is connected to a suction tube for discharging the mixture of soil and water that has been excavated by the excavation means. 
     
     
         21 - 26 . (canceled)