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US 12,110,653 B2Granted
Underwater excavation apparatus
AssigneeRotech Group Limited
InventorsKenneth Roderick Stewart, Donald Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
“There is disclosed an excavation apparatus (5), such as an underwater excavation apparatus, having means for producing, in use, at least one vortex, spiral or turbulent flow in a laminar flow of fluid, e.g. water. The excavation apparatus (5) comprises a rotor (10) having a rotor rotation axis (A), wherein, in use, flow of fluid past or across the rotor (10) is at a first angle (α) from the axis of rotation (A). The excavation apparatus (5) comprises the rotor (5) and means or an arrangement for dampening reactive torque on the apparatus (5) caused by rotation of the rotor (10), in use. The turbulent flow is provided within, such as within a (transverse) cross-section, of the laminar flow.”
Claims22
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet;
- a rotor wholly provided within the housing and having a rotor rotation axis,
- wherein the rotor comprises a first body and a plurality of blades, the rotor configured such that, in use, flow of fluid past or across the rotor is at a first angle from the rotor rotation axis, the first angle diverging away from the rotor rotation axis in a direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet;
- and
- a stator provided within the housing between the rotor and the outlet,
- wherein the stator comprises a second body and a plurality of blades, the stator configured such that, in use, flow of fluid past or across the stator is at a second angle from the rotor rotation axis, the second angle converging towards the rotor rotation axis in said direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet,
- and wherein a portion of the inside of the housing in which the plurality of blades of the stator are provided converges towards the rotor rotation axis in said direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet,
- wherein:
- in a first mode of operation, comprising an excavation mode, the apparatus is configured so that the outlet faces an area to be excavated and the inlet is provided above the outlet;
- and
- in a second mode of operation, comprising a suction mode, the apparatus is configured so that the inlet faces an area which has been excavated and/or requires to be cleared, and the inlet is provided lower than or below the outlet.
8 more elements
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet;
- a rotor wholly provided within the housing and having a rotor rotation axis,
- wherein the rotor comprises a first body and a plurality of blades, the rotor configured such that, in use, flow of fluid past or across the rotor is at a first angle from the rotor rotation axis, the first angle diverging away from the rotor rotation axis in a direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet;
- and
- a stator provided within the housing between the rotor and the outlet,
- wherein the stator comprises a second body and a plurality of blades, the stator configured such that, in use, flow of fluid past or across the stator is at a second angle from the rotor rotation axis, the second angle converging towards the rotor rotation axis in said direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet,
- and wherein a portion of the inside of the housing in which the plurality of blades of the stator are provided converges towards the rotor rotation axis in said direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet, and
- a vortex producing arrangement for producing a plurality of vortices in a flow of fluid flowing out of the underwater excavation apparatus.
5 more elements
A method of underwater excavation, the method comprising:
- providing at least one underwater excavation apparatus, the at least one underwater excavation apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet;
- a rotor wholly provided within the housing and having a rotor rotation axis,
- wherein the rotor comprises a first body and a plurality of blades, the rotor configured such that, in use, flow of fluid past or across the rotor is at a first angle from the rotor rotation axis, the first angle diverging away from the rotor rotation axis in a direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet;
- and
- a stator provided within the housing between the rotor and the outlet,
- wherein the stator comprises a second body and a plurality of blades, the stator configured such that, in use, flow of fluid past or across the stator is at a second angle from the rotor rotation axis, the second angle converging towards the rotor rotation axis in said direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet,
- and wherein a portion of the inside of the housing in which the plurality of blades of the stator are provided converges towards the rotor rotation axis in said direction away from the inlet and towards the outlet;
- and
- excavating an underwater location using said underwater excavation apparatus.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.