Underwater excavation apparatus
AssigneeRotech Holdings Limited
InventorDonald Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an underwater excavation apparatus. The apparatus of the invention utilizes mass flow for disturbing or excavating an underwater location and for extracting or sucking excavated material from the underwater location to another location. Restriction of spoil and/or direct spoil is provided for the apparatus and comprises a baffle provided within a cavity of a housing having an open base for the extracting or sucking of excavated material. An outlet for disturbing or excavating and an inlet for extraction or suction are located within the housing while an inlet for disturbing or excavating and an outlet for extraction or suction are located external to the housing.
Claims49
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising:
- at least one mass flow means for directing fluid at a selected location to be excavated;
- at least one suction means;
- and
- a housing, wherein an inlet of the mass flow means is located external of or is communicable with external of the housing, and an outlet of the mass flow means is located internal of or is communicable with internal of the housing, and wherein
- an inlet of the suction means is located internal of or is communicable with internal of the housing, and an outlet of the suction means is located external of or is communicable with external of the housing.
An underwater excavation system comprising:
- at least one underwater excavation apparatus comprising:
- at least one mass flow means for directing fluid at a selected location to be excavated;
- at least one suction means;
- and
- a housing, wherein an inlet of the mass flow means is located external of or is communicable with external of the housing, and an outlet of the mass flow means is located internal of or is communicable with internal of the housing, and wherein
- an inlet of the suction means is located internal of or is communicable with internal of the housing, and an outlet of the suction means is located external of or is communicable with external of the housing;
- and
- means for transporting spoil from the suction means to a remote location.
A method of excavating an underwater location, comprising:
- providing an underwater excavation system comprising:
- at least one underwater excavation apparatus comprising:
- at least one mass flow means for directing fluid at a selected location to be excavated;
- at least one suction means;
- and
- a housing, wherein an inlet of the mass flow means is located external of or is communicable with external of the housing, and an outlet of the mass flow means is located internal of or is communicable with internal of the housing, and wherein
- an inlet of the suction means is located internal of or is communicable with internal of the housing, and an outlet of the suction means is located external of or is communicable with external of the housing;
- and
- means for transporting spoil from the suction means to a remote location;
- and
- using the system to move material from the location to a remote location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.