Water jet system for trenching of pipelines

A water jet system comprising:

• a. a vertical cylindrical housing with a closed end and a plurality of spaced openings along a longitudinal length of said housing;
• b. a hollow cylindrical member and means for rotatably mounting said member in said vertical cylindrical housing for rotation about said cylindrical axis relative to said housing, a plurality of nozzles carried on said member for rotation therein, said nozzles disposed to be exposed through an opening during at least a portion of an angular displacement of said member about said axis and said nozzle sealed from said opening during a remainder of said angular displacement;
• c. means for rotating said hollow cylindrical member about said axis;
• and,
• d. means for supplying liquid under pressure into said hollow cylindrical member for forming jet streams of water exiting said nozzles.

A water jet leg for trenching a pipeline, flexible pipeline or cable underwater comprising:

• a. a vertical cylindrical housing with a closed end and a plurality of spaced openings along a longitudinal length of said housing, each of said openings extending from first to second ends in a circumferential arc partially surrounding a cylindrical axis of said housing;
• b. a hollow cylindrical member disposed coaxially within said housing for rotation about said axis, said member having a plurality of nozzles disposed along a longitudinal length of said member and with of said openings for said nozzle to be exposed through said opening during a portion of an angular displacement of said member about said axis;
• c. said housing sealed against said member for liquid under pressure to be restrained from flowing through said nozzle except when said nozzle is exposed through said opening;
• d. means for rotating said hollow cylindrical member about said axis;
• and,
• e. means for supplying liquid under pressure into said hollow cylindrical member for forming jet streams of water exiting said nozzles.

A tracker for burying pipe, flexible pipe or a cable by water jet legs comprising:

• a. a frame including opposing sides spaced apart a distance sized for said pipe to pass between said sides;
• b. two spaced axles between said opposing sides and extending transverse to a length of a pipe between said sides, a sprocket on each of said axles;
• c. an endless chain engaged about said sprockets with a leg of said chain opposing said length of said pipe and generally parallel thereto;
• d. a traction cushion block attached to each chain link of said endless chain, said cushion having a surface opposing and abutting said length of said pipe in force transmitting relation when said link is moved to said leg;
• e. means for driving one of said sprockets;
• and,
• f. means for supporting two opposing water jet legs from opposing sides of said tracker.

A water jet system, comprising:

• a. a vertical cylindrical housing with a closed end and at least one opening, said opening having a top and a bottom, and said housing having a longitudinal axis;
• b. a hollow cylindrical member and means for rotatably mounting said member in said vertical cylindrical housing for rotation about said axis relative to said housing;
• c. at least three nozzles carried on said member for rotation therewith, said nozzle disposed to be exposed through said opening during at least a portion of an angular displacement of said member about said axis, a first of said nozzles being disposed proximate said top of said opening, said first nozzles pointing downward, a second of said nozzles being disposed proximate said bottom of said opening, said second nozzle pointing upward, and a third of said nozzles being disposed between said first and second nozzles, said third nozzle pointing proximately horizontally;
• d. said nozzle sealed from said opening during a remainder of said angular displacement;
• e. means for a rotating said hollow cylindrical member about said axis;
• and
• f. means for supplying liquid under pressure into said hollow cylindrical member for forming jet streams of water exiting said nozzles, whereby a first of said jet streams exiting said first nozzle is directed downward, a second of said jet streams exiting said second nozzle is directed upward, and a third of said jet streams exiting said third nozzle is directed proximately horizontal.