# US 2014/0154015 A1 · Centre system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154015 A1 - Document ID: US20140154015A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/128,200 - Filed: 2012-06-22 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-22 - Assignees: IHC Holland IE B.V. - Inventors: Boudewijn Casper Jung; Johannes Louis Leonardus Hessels - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154015A1 ## CPC - F16L 55/0333: {by means of an active system} - E02D 13/00: Accessories for placing or removing piles or bulkheads {, e.g. noise attenuating chambers} - E02D 13/005: {Sound absorbing accessories in piling} - E02D 13/04: Guide devices; Guide frames {(as parts of the driver scaffold E02D7/16)} - F16L 1/20: Accessories therefor, e.g. floats or weights - F16L 3/1211: {with a substantially radial tightening or securing member} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} ## Abstract The invention relates to an assembly for centring a first elongate tubular element and a second elongate tubular element, such as an underwater pile accommodated within a noise mitigation screen, at a common central longitudinal axis along which axis both the first and second element extend, and wherein the centre system is provided with first coupling element for fixedly coupling the centre system with one of the first and second tubular elements, and second coupling element for engaging the other tubular element for centring the other tubular element at the central axis. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 Assembly of a first and second elongate tubular element (2, 5), such as an underwater pile accommodated within a noise mitigation screen, and a centre system (11) suitable for centring the first elongate tubular element (2) and the second elongate tubular element (5), and wherein the assembly has a common central longitudinal axis (13) along which axis both the first and second tubular element extend and wherein the centre system comprises; a first coupling means (30a, 30b, 30c) for fixedly coupling the centre system with one of the first and second tubular elements, and a second coupling means (31a, 31b, 31c) for engaging the other of the first and second tubular element for centring the other tubular element at the common central longitudinal axis (13), and a drive system having at least two drive means (28a, 28b, 28c) arranged around the common central longitudinal axis (13), each drive means having a line of action (32a, 32b, 32c) for applying a centring force at a circumference of one of the first and second tubular elements towards a centred position of said one of the first and second tubular elements at the common central longitudinal axis (13), wherein the at least two drive means are mutually coupled for evenly driving said one of the first and second tubular elements for maintaining said one of the first and second tubular elements in its centred position, and wherein the centre system is fixedly coupled with the one of the first and second tubular elements, and engages the other tubular element for centring the other tubular element at the common central longitudinal axis (13) such that an intermediate space (8) between the one of the first and second tubular elements and the other tubular element is optimal with respect to noise dampening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, the second coupling means being suitable for coupling the centring system and the other of the first and second tubular element (2) for allowing longitudinal movement of the other of the first and second tubular element (2) along the common central longitudinal axis (13). ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the at least two drive means are symmetrically and/or evenly distributed around the common central longitudinal axis (13). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) Assembly according to claim 17, wherein the at least two drive means are oppositely arranged around the common central longitudinal axis (13). ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the line of action of each drive means, intersects the common central longitudinal axis (13). ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the drive system comprises three drive means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the centre system comprises a hydraulic system and wherein the drive system is part of the hydraulic system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) Assembly according to claim 21, wherein a first drive means of the at least two drive means comprises a first hydraulic cylinder and a second drive means of the at least two drive means comprises a second hydraulic cylinder, the first and second hydraulic cylinder being mutually volumetrically coupled for evenly driving said one of the first and second tubular elements for maintaining said one of the first and second tubular elements in its centred position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) Assembly according to claim 22, wherein the first and second hydraulic cylinder are mutually hydraulically series coupled for evenly driving said one of the first and second tubular elements for maintaining said one of the first and second tubular elements in its centred position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Assembly according to claim 23, comprising a first source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for biasing the said one of the first and second tubular elements towards its centred position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Assembly according to claim 24, wherein the first source of pressurized fluid is directly coupled with only one of the first and second hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13). ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) Assembly according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of centre systems arranged along the central axis for mutually aligning the first and second elongate tubular element at the central axis. ### Claim 28 Method for centring a first elongate tubular element (2) and a second elongate tubular element (5), such as an underwater pile accommodated within a noise mitigation screen, at a common central longitudinal axis (13) along which axis both the first and second element extend, and wherein the method comprises; providing a drive system for applying a centring force, having at least two drive means arranged around the central axis, applying a centring force at a circumference of one of the first and second tubular elements towards a centred position of said one of the first and second tubular elements at the central axis, evenly driving the at least two drive means for maintaining said one of the first and second tubular elements in its centred position. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) Assembly according to claim 16, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13). ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) Assembly according to claim 17, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13). ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) Assembly according to claim 18, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13). ### Claim 32 (depends on 19) Assembly according to claim 19, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13). ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) Assembly according to claim 20, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13). ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) Assembly according to claim 21, wherein the second coupling means comprises at least one of the following, a levering means (34), a rolling means (35) and a sliding means, for engaging the other tubular element (2) for centring the other tubular element at the central axis (13).