Method and apparatus for producing a slurry for underwater placement

Apparatus for producing a slurry comprising:

• supplying means for supplying hydraulic setting material and water in a predetermined ratio;
• mixing means connected to the supplying means to receive the setting material and the water therefrom, and to mix the setting material with the water to produce the slurry;
• underwater placement means to conduct the slurry to, and to deposit the slurry in, an underwater site;
• and
• conducting means connected to the mixing means and to underwater placement means, to conduct the slurry from the mixing means to the underwater means, the conducting means including
• (i) agitating means to mix and agitate the slurry, said mixing and agitating producing bubbles in the slurry, and
• (ii) deaerating means located in series between the agitating means and the underwater placement means, to reduce the number of bubbles in the slurry prior to the slurry being conducted to the underwater site;
• wherein the deareating means comprises
• (i) a funnel-shaped tank for receiving the slurry from the agitating means, the tank defining a generally vertical central axis, and including (1) an inlet to conduct the slurry into the tank, (2) an outlet to discharge the slurry from the tank, and (3) a downwardly inwardly tapering funnel portion extending between the inlet and outlet of the tank to conduct the slurry from said inlet to said outlet,
• (ii) a plurality of vibrating means mounted on the tank at equal angular intervals about the central axis thereof, to vibrate the slurry in the tank, the vibrating means including (1) a plurality of vibrating rods extending downwardly inwardly into the tank, at equal angular intervals about the central axis thereof, (2) a plurality of branches connected to and extending upward and downward from the vibrating rods, and (3) a plurality of vibrators, each vibrator being connected to a respective one of the vibrating rods to vibrate said one rod,
• (iii) a plurality of support legs supporting the vibrating rods for reciprocating sliding movement in the tank, and
• (iv) a plurality of vibrating rings mounted on the vibrating rods concentric with the axis of the tank, each of the vibrating rods being connected to each of the vibrating rings, the plurality of vibrating rings including (1) an upper set of rings connected to said branches, above the vibrating rods, and (2) a lower set of rings connected to said branches, below the vibrating rods.

Apparatus for producing a slurry comprising:

• supplying means for supplying hydraulic setting material and water in a predetermined ratio;
• mixing means connected to the supplying means to receive the setting material and the water therefrom, and to mix the setting material with the water to produce the slurry;
• underwater placement means to conduct the slurry to, and to deposit the slurry in, an underwater site;
• and
• conducting means connected to the mixing means and to the underwater placement means, to conduct the slurry from the mixing means to the underwater placement means, the conducting means including
• (i) agitating means to mix and agitate the slurry, said mixing and agitating producing bubbles in the slurry, and
• (ii) deareating means located in series between the agitating means and the underwater placement means, to reduce the number of bubbles in the slurry prior to the slurry being conducted to the underwater site;
• wherein the underwater placement means includes:
• (i) a floating platform adjacent the placement site;
• (ii) a placement pipe extending through the floating platform, to conduct the slurry through said platform and to the underwater placement site, the placement pipe including a portion located underwater;
• (iii) a fence connected to the platform, extending around the underwater portion of the placement pipe, and bounding an area under the platform;
• (iv) a pump supported by the platform and located underwater, within the area bounded by the fence, to collect water and suspended solid particles from the slurry, from within said area;
• and
• (v) conducting means connected to the pump and to the supplying means to conduct the collected water and suspended solid particles to the supplying means from the pump, to recirculate the suspended solid particles back into the slurry.