Simulated testing of undersea apparatus
AssigneeDeepsea Ventures, Inc.
InventorsJohn P. Latimer, Royal M. Hagerty, George A. Zahn
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Abstract
This invention provides a means and method for testing of devices intended to operate in, or immediately beneath, the consolidated soil surface of the ocean floor. The mechanical and rheological properties of the consolidated soil surface are simulated by an electroconsolidation procedure which permits rapidly carrying out a series of tests on a surface which closely simulates the actual ocean floor surface.
Claims17
A method of testing the effectiveness of undersea operating means intended for use on, or beneath, a sea bottom surface formed of consolidated,
- soil material, the method comprising:
- (a) consolidating a bed of particulate soil material by a consolidation procedure comprising:
- (i) impressing a voltage drop vertically downwardly across a relatively unconsolidated layer of the soil material in water, wherein current flow through the water is between an upper, relatively negatively charged, electrode and a lower, relatively positively, charged electrode provided beneath the soil layer to be consolidated;
- and
- (ii) maintaining the voltage drop and current flow between the positive and negative electrodes through the water and soil layer until a layer of the soil having a desired degree of consolidation, as determined by its shear strength, is formed beneath a layer of water, whereby an underwater test bed is formed substantially simulating the mechanical properties which are desired;
- and
- (b) testing undersea operating means in operative contact with the consolidated layer of soil material, whereby undersea floor surface conditions are simulated with respect to the consolidated sea floor material.
Apparatus for determining the effectiveness of undersea operating means intended for use on, or beneath, a sea bottom surface formed of consolidated soil material, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) liquid-retaining tank means;
- (b) lower electrode means within the lower portion of the tank means having a surface extending longitudinally thereof;
- (c) upper electrode means within the tank means, having a surface in facing relationship to and vertically above the lower electrode means;
- (d) liquid flow means for flowing liquid into and out of the tank means;
- (e) a mixture of water and electro-consolidatable soil material within the tank means and in contact with the facing surfaces of both electrodes;
- (f) holding means for removably holding undersea operating means in contact with the surface of the soil material;
- the electrodes being designed to be energized by a source of direct current such that the lower electrode is relatively positively charged whereby the soil material is consolidated into a discrete layer beneath water and undersea operating means can be tested in contact with the consolidated soil layer wherein the undersea floor is simulated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.