Anchoring system for anchoring a base that supports a wind turbine

Abstract

Anchoring system for anchoring an object to a floor of a body of water includes a weighted portion, an explosive charge arrangement on the weighted portion, a movable pole arranged on the weighted portion, and a penetration system that moves the pole downward after initiation of the explosive charge arrangement. When the weighted portion rests on the floor of the body of water and the explosive charge arrangement is initiated, a concentrated jet of explosive product penetrates an area of the floor to create a pre-penetration area and the penetration system then moves the pole into the pre-penetration area to cause the pole to penetrate therein and be secured in the floor. The anchoring system can anchor a raft to which a wind turbine is mounted.

1 . An anchoring system for anchoring an object to a bottom floor of a body of water, comprising:
 a weighted portion;   at least one explosive charge arrangement arranged on said weighted portion and that, when initiated, causes a concentrated jet of explosive product to be directed in a direction downward from said weighted portion;   at least one pole arranged on said weighted portion, each arranged to move relative to said weighted portion;   a penetration system arranged partly on said weighted portion and to move said at least one pole in the downward direction after initiation of said at least one explosive charge arrangement at least partly into an area in which the concentrated jet is directed; and   a connecting system coupled to said weighted portion and to the object being anchored,   whereby when said weighted portion rests on the floor of the body of water and said at least one explosive charge arrangement is initiated, said concentrated jet penetrates an area of the floor of the body of water and said penetration system is then arranged to move said at least one pole into a pre-penetration area to cause said at least one pole to penetrate into the pre-penetration area and be secured in the floor of the body of water.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one explosive charge arrangement has a generally conical shape with a hollow interior such that said at least one explosive charge arrangement is a hollow charge, a bottom of said weighted portion having at least one cavity each adapted to conform to said conical shape of said at least one explosive charge arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one pole is arranged above a respective one of said at least one explosive charge arrangement, further comprising a drill head arranged at a bottom of said pole, said penetration system being arranged to rotate said at least one pole and thus said drill head to cause the downward movement of said at least one pole. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one pole is arranged in a respective elongate hole in said weighted portion, said at least one pole including an elongate portion situated at least partially in said respective elongate hole in said weighted portion and movable relative to said respective elongate hole. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said penetration system comprises a motor and a transmission that converts output of said motor into rotation of said at least one pole, said motor and said transmission being arranged on said weighted portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge element situated in an interior of said at least one pole, said connecting element being connected to said wedge element such that upon exertion of a pulling force to said connecting element, said wedge element is urged upward causing an outer circumference of a bottom edge region of said at least one pole to increase. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drill head arranged at a bottom of said at least one pole, said at least one pole being arranged above said at least one explosive charge arrangement and in a respective elongate hole in said weighted portion, said at least one pole being movable relative to said respective elongate hole and including an elongate portion situated at least partially in said respective elongate hole in said weighted portion and at least one axially extending slot,   a wedge element situated in an interior of said at least one pole, said connecting element being connected to said wedge element such that upon exertion of a pulling force to said connecting element, said wedge element is urged upward causing an outer circumference of a bottom edge region of said at least one pole to increase,   said penetration system being arranged to rotate said at least one pole and thus said drill head to cause the downward movement of said at least one pole.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one barrel fixed to said weighted portion and having an interior, each of said at least one pole being arranged in said interior of a respective one of said at least one barrel and being movable in said interior of said respective barrel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said penetration system includes at least one additional explosive charge arrangement arranged in a compartment in each of said at least one barrel that communicates with a top of said pole movable in said barrel or a space above said pole in said barrel such that when said additional explosive charge arrangement is initiated, said pole is forced outward from said interior of said barrel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one barrel has walls that taper inward at a lower end region and said pole in said barrel has a tapering surface adapted to contact said tapering walls of said barrel during the downward movement of said pole and thereby stop movement of said pole. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pole comprises first and second poles and said at least one explosive charge arrangement comprises first and second explosive charge arrangements each associated with a respective one of said first and second poles. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said first pole and said first explosive charge arrangement are directed at an angle relative to a bottom of said weighted portion different than an angle at which said second pole and said second explosive charge arrangement are directed relative to the bottom of said weighted portion such that said first and second explosive charge arrangements are arranged to create pre-penetration areas at different angles relative to the bottom of said weighted portion and said first and second poles are arranged to penetrate into the pre-penetration areas at different angles relative to the bottom of said weighted portion. 
     
     
         13 . An anchoring arrangement for anchoring an object to a floor of a body of water, comprising:
 a plurality of anchoring systems as claimed in  claim 1 ; and   a raft connected to said connecting system of each of said anchoring systems.   
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one winch associated with said connecting systems, said at least one winch being arranged to adjust a distance between said weighted portions of said anchoring systems and said raft such that said raft is submersible in the body of water. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the object is a wind turbine, said wind turbine being connected to said raft. 
     
     
         16 . A method for anchoring an object to a bottom floor of a body of water, comprising:
 fabricating a weighted portion outside of the body of water;   arranging at least one explosive charge arrangement on the weighted portion and that, when initiated, causes a concentrated jet of explosive product to be directed in a direction downward from the weighted portion;   arranging at least one movable pole on the weighted portion;   coupling the weighted portion to the object being anchored;   positioning the weighted portion at a desired placement site on the floor of the body of water; thereafter   initiating the at least one explosive charge arrangement to cause the concentrated jet of explosive product to penetrate an area of the floor of the body of water and form a pre-penetration area; and thereafter   causing the at least one pole to move into and penetrate the pre-penetration area and thereby be secured in the floor of the body of water.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising arranging a drill head at a bottom of the at least one pole, the step of causing the at least one pole to move into and penetrate the pre-penetration area comprising rotating the at least one pole and thus the drill head to cause downward movement of the at least one pole into the pre-penetration area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one pole includes a wedge element is situated in an interior of the pole, the step of coupling the weighted portion to the object being anchored comprising connecting a connecting element to the wedge element, whereby upon exertion of a pulling force to the connecting element, the wedge element is urged upward causing an outer circumference of a bottom edge region of the pole to increase and thereby increase an anchoring force. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one barrel is fixed to the weighted portion and has an interior, further comprising:
 arranging the at least one pole in the interior of a respective one of the at least one barrel such that the pole is movable in the interior of the barrel;   the step of causing the at least one pole to move into and penetrate the pre-penetration area comprising initiating an additional explosive charge arrangement in a compartment in the at least one barrel that communicates with a top of the pole in the barrel or a space above the pole in the barrel such that when the additional explosive charge arrangement is initiated, the at least one pole is forced outward from the interior of the at least one barrel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the object is a raft adapted to support a wind turbine.