Seaeye Subsea Winch & Slip Ring TMS Systems
 

Seaeye winch and slip ring TMS during recovery to the lock latch

SUPERSEDED BY TYPE 6 TMS

Seaeye offer the choice of bale arm or subsea winch and slip ring TMS systems. This page describes the Type 5 subsea winch and slip ring TMS.

The Type 5 Seaeye TMS was developed to provide a garage system for Seaeye ROVs that is a capable of much longer ROV excursions than are possible from lower cost bale arm TMS systems like the Seaeye TMS Types 2, 3 and 4. This is achieved by incorporating a subsea winch system and slip ring assembly above a side entry garage.

BENEFITS OF A SEAEYE SUBSEA WINCH AND SLIP RING TMS

• Longer ROV excursions from the TMS to provide greater operating footprint
  
• Adjustable entry height to accommodate tooling skids when fitted
  
• Fits all Seaeye ROVs without modification (except Seaeye Surveyor Plus and Panther - requires modification)
  
• Power pack motor common spare part with Seaeye SM4/M thruster
  
• Manual latching for dead TMS recovery
  
• Auto ROV release on payout to eliminate tether damage
  
• Compensator pressure gauges to monitor hydraulic leaks
  
• TMS camera and light to assist vehicle entry
  
• Tilting drive sheave smoothes the path and reduces stress on the tether

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Construction:
The Seaeye Type 5 TMS is constructed using 6082 marine aluminium. The structure is protected from corrosion with the installation of sacrificial anodes which are bolted to the main frame, the outer sections of the frame are protected from bump damage by H.D.P.E. (High Density Polyethylene). The lifting point is a gimble design with the main pins being made from Grade 17-4 PH stainless steel and this is attached to the lifting bullet. Internal areas of the garage are protected with HDPE strips to avoid damage to the vehicle.

Deploying a Seaeye Type 5 TMS

SUPERSEDED BY TYPE 6 TMS

The motor used to drive the power pack is a standard Seaeye SM4/M Thruster Motor which drives dual gear type pumps at 1800 R.P.M. Each pump has its own suction filter and pressure relief valve.

The power pack is separately pressure compensated at 7.5 psi over ambient pressure using a 2.5 pint (1.42 litre) hydraulic pressure compensator and a gauge is provided within sight of the TMS camera to monitor this pressure.

A single solenoid valve provides the flow to drive the winch drum and sheave wheel motors during pay out of the tether. When the winch drum is reversed to heave in the tether the sheave wheel is put into constant tension to create the necessary tension on the tether. This is achieved by a pilot operated check valve incorporated in the hydraulic system. Both the drum and sheave wheel motors are Gerator units that provide high torque from a compact unit

The gearing of these two motors is via stainless steel chain. The main drum motor having a 32 tooth sprocket with the drum carrying a 262 teeth gear. The sheave motor has a 13 tooth sprocket and the sheave itself carries a 40 tooth sprocket.

An additional drive sprocket is taken from the main drum with a 1:1 ratio to operate the stainless steel diamond bar on the level wind mechanism. The diamond bar has a pitch to match the tether enabling the tether to be wound on to the drum in an even manner.

The driven sheave is hinged at the out let point to the garage and follows the level wind to ensure that the tether is always directly in line with the drum and the ROV.

Slip Ring and Junction Boxes
Incorporated on the sides of the drum are the slip rings and rotating junction box that transfer power and signals from the main lift umbilical to the TMS and ROV.

The slip ring is connected to the rotating junction box via an oil filled Tygon tube. The slip ring and junction box are oil filled and pressure compensated to 5 psi and 7.5 psi respectively. Compensation oil system bleed points are provided. Gauges are provided within sight of the TMS camera to monitor the compensator pressure.

Bolted to the main frame underneath the slip rings is located the static junction box which transfers power and signal from the main lift umbilical to the slip rings.

Both junction boxes are manufactured from Nylatron and have clear Perspex covers.

ROV Latching
A latching system is located in the rear of the garage. This ensures that the vehicle will remain locked in the garage until the latch is hydraulically released. The latch is operated via a single acting spring loaded ram assembly which automatically locks on to the vehicle when it is driven into the garage. The vehicle is automatically released when tether is paid out.

Seaeye Type 5 TMS, Lynx & LARS

SUPERSEDED BY TYPE 6 TMS