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US 4,223,627 AGranted
Propulsion device for embedding in an iceberg
AssigneeITI Limited
InventorGeorges L. Mougin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The device comprises an assembly of three principal components, a member for embedding in the rear wall of a tabular iceberg at some depth below the water line, a support structure projecting therefrom and a propulsion unit. It preferably includes a shield to transmit the thrust to a sufficiently large surface of the iceberg wall to avoid creep problems. The propulsion unit may be an electric motor.
Claims9
A propulsion device for an iceberg comprising
- a propulsion mechanism;
- means for submerging the propulsion mechanism to a prescribed depth in the vicinity of the iceberg, and
- means for attaching the submerged propulsion mechanism to the iceberg at a prescribed position below the water line thereof,
- said propulsion mechanism having a support structure which includes sealed tubes which can be progressively and independently filled with ballast.
1 more element
A method of installing a device for propelling an iceberg comprising the steps of
- (a) submerging a propulsion unit to a predetermined depth,
- (b) orienting said propulsion unit with respect to a submerged wall of the iceberg,
- (c) heating an end of said propulsion unit while applying a thrust thereto to embed said end in the iceberg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.