US 12,139,882 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for underwater dredging

AssigneeSubsea Tooling Services UK Ltd.

InventorCameron Edward Anderson

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Abstract

An apparatus (1) for underwater dredging includes a pipe (10) and a dredging head (2). The pipe (10) has a first aperture (11) and a second aperture (12) each disposed at opposing ends of the pipe (10). The pipe (10) also has at least one first sidewall aperture (13). The dredging head (2) is circumferentially arranged on a sidewall of the pipe (10) and has at least one input (20), at least one output (21) and a plenum chamber (22). The at least one output (21) is in fluid communication with the at least one first sidewall aperture (13). A first obstruction mechanism (23) is configured to selectively deter reverse fluid flow into the dredging head (2). The first obstruction mechanism (23) is configured to be selectively transformable between: a first, obstructing, configuration in which at least reverse fluid flow through the dredging head (2) is deterred; and a second, open, configuration in which fluid flow through the dredging head (2) is permitted. A method of underwater dredging is also described.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for underwater dredging comprising:

a pipe;
and
a dredging head;
wherein the pipe comprises a first aperture and a second aperture each disposed at opposing ends of the pipe, and the pipe further comprises a sidewall, at least one first sidewall aperture and at least one second sidewall aperture;
wherein the dredging head is circumferentially arranged on the sidewall of the pipe and comprises at least one input, at least one output and a plenum chamber;
wherein the at least one output is in fluid communication with the at least one first sidewall aperture;
and
further comprising a first obstruction mechanism configured to selectively deter reverse fluid flow into the dredging head,
wherein the first obstruction mechanism is configured to be selectively transformable between:—
i) a first, obstructing, configuration in which at least reverse fluid flow through the dredging head is deterred;
and
ii) a second, open, configuration in which fluid flow through the dredging head is permitted;
and
further comprising at least one thruster tube,
wherein the at least one thruster tube comprises a first thruster aperture, and a second thruster aperture, and further comprises a thruster disposed between the first thruster aperture and the second thruster aperture, wherein the at least one thruster tube is in fluid communication with the at least one second sidewall aperture.

12 more elements

A method of underwater dredging, the method comprising the steps of:

a) submerging an apparatus for underwater dredging in a body of water, and in any order;
b) performing a dredging operation, wherein a dredging head issues a first fluid flow into a pipe via an at least one first sidewall aperture, wherein the fluid flow is entering the pipe directed toward a second aperture, such that fluid flow in the pipe from a first aperture to the second aperture is promoted;
c) placing the first aperture of the pipe proximal to the seabed, wherein fluid flow into the first aperture extracts material from the seabed, and transporting said material through the pipe and ejecting it from the second aperture;
d) selectively operating an obstruction mechanism to selectively transform between:—
i) a first, obstructing, configuration in which at least reverse fluid flow through the dredging head is deterred;
and
ii) a second, open, configuration in which fluid flow through the dredging head is permitted;
and
e) performing a mass-flow excavation operation, wherein a thruster tube issues a second flow into the pipe via at least one second sidewall aperture, wherein the fluid flow is entering the pipe directed toward the first aperture, promoting fluid flow from the second aperture to the first aperture.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.