Back to results
US 11,613,870 B2Granted
Apparatus for locating elongate object in a trench in a floor of a body of water
AssigneeSoil Machine Dynamics Limited
InventorsJohn Graeme Walker, Roger Paul White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for locating an elongate object in the seabed is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and a pair of jetting swords arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object to form a trench in the seabed. Chain cutters arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object cut respective parts of a trench in the seabed and are moveable relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position, independently of the jetting swords.
Claims15
An apparatus for locating an elongate object in a trench in a floor of a body of water, the apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- a first trench forming device mounted to the body and comprising a respective first jetting device adapted to be arranged on each lateral side of an elongate object and to direct at least one respective jet of liquid to at least partially form a trench in a floor of a body of water;
- a second trench forming device comprising a respective mechanical cutting device adapted to be arranged on each lateral side of the elongate object and to cut a respective part of a trench in the floor of the body of water, wherein the second trench forming device is mounted to the body and is moveable relative to the body between a stowed position, rearwardly a portion of the first trench forming device, and a deployed position, independently of the first trench forming device, and at least one said mechanical cutting device is located forwardly, in a direction of travel of the apparatus, of at least one said first jetting device in the deployed position of the second trench forming device;
- and
- a guard device adapted to be located between the second trench forming device and the elongate object for preventing the elongate object from coming into contact with the second trench forming device;
- wherein the second trench forming device includes at least one second jetting device adapted to direct at least one respective jet of liquid at material of the floor of the body of water located between the respective parts of said trench formed by the second trench forming device;
- and
- wherein the guard device includes at least one aperture to enable at least one said second jetting device to direct at least one jet of liquid through said aperture at material of the floor of the body of water located between the respective parts of the trench formed by the second trench forming device.
5 more elements
An apparatus for locating an elongate object in a trench in a floor of a body of water, the apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- a first trench forming device mounted to the body and comprising a respective first jetting device adapted to be arranged on each lateral side of an elongate object and to direct at least one respective jet of liquid to at least partially form a trench in a floor of a body of water;
- a second trench forming device comprising a respective mechanical cutting device adapted to be arranged on each lateral side of the elongate object, laterally adjacent the first trench forming device, and to cut a respective part of a trench in the floor of the body of water, wherein the second trench forming device is mounted to the body and is moveable relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position, independently of the first trench forming device, and at least one said mechanical cutting device is located forwardly, in a direction of travel of the apparatus, of at least one said jetting device in the deployed position of the second trench forming device;
- and
- a guard device adapted to be located between the second trench forming device and the elongate object for preventing the elongate object from coming into contact with the second trench forming device;
- wherein the second trench forming device includes at least one second jetting device adapted to direct at least one respective jet of liquid at material of the floor of the body of water located between the respective parts of said trench formed by the second trench forming device;
- and
- wherein the guard device includes at least one aperture to enable at least one said second jetting device to direct at least one jet of liquid through said aperture at material of the floor of the body of water located between the respective parts of the trench formed by the second trench forming device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.