Apparatus for inserting an elongate object into a trench

Abstract

A depressor (16) for inserting a cable (4) into a trench (6) is disclosed. The depressor (16) comprises a plurality of cable shoes (22) adapted to be mounted to a support (18) and to engage the cable (4). Locating pins substantially prevent movement of the cable shoes (22) relative to the support (18) in a first direction as a result of movement of the cable shoes (22) relative to the cable (4) in an axial direction of the cable (4). A load cell provides an output dependent on a force applied to the cable shoes (22) in a second direction transverse, or perpendicular, to the first direction.

1 . An object engaging apparatus for engaging an elongate object being inserted into a trench, the object engaging apparatus comprising:
 object engaging means configured to be mountable to a support and configured to be engageable to an elongate object being inserted into a trench;   restraining means for preventing movement of said object engaging means relative to a support in a first direction; and   force measuring means for measuring a force applied to the object engaging means in a second direction, perpendicular to said first direction.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the object engaging means comprises an object engaging surface, wherein the restraining means is located adjacent said object engaging surface. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the restraining means comprises at least one protrusion configured to be releasably attachable to one side of the object engaging means and is configured to be receivable by a slot of a support. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the force measuring means comprises at least one load cell. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a proximity detection means for detecting proximity of the elongate object. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the load cell is configured to be receivable in a bore hole of the object engaging means. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the load cell is configured to be receivable through two corresponding holes of a support. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the proximity detection means comprises a metal detecting sensor. 
     
     
         9 . An object inserting system for inserting an elongate object into a trench, the apparatus comprising:
 a support configured to be mounted to a vehicle body of a vehicle and to be moveable relative to the vehicle to insert an elongate object into a trench; and   at least one object engaging apparatus according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , comprising a plurality of said object engaging apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising actuator means for moving the support relative to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the support is adapted to be pivotably mounted to the vehicle body. 
     
     
         13 . A vehicle comprising a vehicle body and an object inserting apparatus according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle according to  claim 13 , further comprising trench forming means. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle according to  claim 13 , further comprising movement means for moving the vehicle relative to a trench. 
     
     
         16 . A method of measuring the force exerted on an elongated object being lowered to the seabed, comprising the step of:
 positioning an elongated object to be lowered to the seabed under an object engaging apparatus comprising:
 object engaging means configured to be mountable to a support and configured to be engageable to the elongate object being inserted into a trench; 
 restraining means for preventing movement of said object engaging means relative to a support in a first direction; and 
 force measuring means for measuring a force applied to the object engaging means in a second direction, perpendicular to said first direction. 
   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a backward or forward direction along the longitudinal axis of an elongate object when engaged to the engagement apparatus or object engager, or the direction or travel, when in use. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second direction is an upward or downward vertical direction.