Method and device for cutting underwater structures
OwnerFrancesco Matteucciinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of cutting underwater structures which comprises the following steps: a local underwater step including: the anchorage of cutting means in the cutting area, exactly positioned to effect the desired cut, to the structure to be cut; a remotely-controlled step including: the automatic activation and de-activation, from a spot at the surface, of the cutting means and the automatic feed thereof in the cutting direction from a non-interference position through the structure, the cutting means being provided with cutting tools for cutting metallic and non-metallic materials; a local underwater step for recovering the cutting means (T).
Claims14
A cutting device for cutting underwater structures comprising:
- an underwater cutting frame including releasable means for providing anchorage of the device to the structure to be cut and for positioning the device with respect to a predetermined cutting plane;
- a powered cutting unit, including a cutting tool and a variable buoyancy means for displacing the cutting tool in a cutting direction parallel to the cutting plane of said cutting frame, so as to move the cutting tool from an initial position of non-interference with the structure to be cut to a final position wherein said cutting tool has moved through the structure by passing therethrough along the predetermined cutting plane, said cutting tool comprising a cutting cable;
- an underwater adjustable unit, supported by the underwater cutting frame, for displacing said cutting unit in the cutting direction;
- and
- an above water remote actuation and control means for controlling operation of the cutting unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.