Gripper for continuous elongated members, vehicle movable along a continuous elongated member, and method of advancing the vehicle

摘要

A gripper for selectively gripping continuous elongated members can include a tubular supporting structure extending along a given axis and designed to surround a continuous elongated member. The gripper can also include at least two inflatable bags within the tubular structure and in the shape of complementary cylindrical sectors.

主权项

1. A vehicle movable along a continuous elongated member to bury the continuous elongated member in the bed of a body of water, the continuous elongated member extending along a given path on the bed, the vehicle comprising:
a frame; at least one gripper for selectively gripping the continuous elongated member, the gripper comprising:
a tubular supporting structure extending along a given axis and designed to surround the continuous elongated member,at least two inflatable bags fixed inside and to the tubular structure, wherein the at least two inflatable bags have a shape of complementary cylindrical sectors, are elongated, and extend predominantly parallel to the axis, andtwo attachments for hoses for selectively inflating the inflatable bags,wherein each inflatable bag is made from a flexible, elastic sheet; at least one drive for selectively clamping the gripper onto the continuous elongated member; a further drive for moving the gripper back and forth with respect to the frame in two opposite directions substantially parallel to the given axis; and a control unit for controlling the at least one drive and the further drive, so as to coordinate clamping, release, and movement of the gripper, to move the vehicle forward in steps.