Underwater excavation apparatus
AssigneeRotech Limited
InventorsHector Filippus Alexander Van Drentham Susman, Kenneth Roderick Stewart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An underwater excavation apparatus having various mechanisms for moving the underwater excavation apparatus that are provided on or adjacent to the apparatus is described. The mechanisms for moving the underwater excavation apparatus provide for orienting, positioning, rotating, counteracting reactive torque and/or steering the apparatus.
Claims102
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and with a second axis which extends between the first and second inlets and which perpendicularly intersects the first axis.
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted in the hollow body, means for driving the impellers, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the first and second moving means are arranged on a common plane, the common plane being coincident with the first axis and with a second axis, the second axis extending between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersecting the first axis.
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises a nozzle and valve arrangement, wherein the first and second moving means are arranged on a common plane, the common plane being coincident with the first axis and with a second axis, the second axis extending between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersecting the first axis.
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet, and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and with a second axis, the second axis extending between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersecting the first axis, wherein the at least one first and second moving means are capable of counteracting reactive torque by exerting thrust on the apparatus from one or more jets of fluid generated by at least one of the at least one first and second moving means during excavation.
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet, and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and with a second axis, the second axis extending between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersecting the first axis, and wherein the at least one first and second moving means are capable of moving the apparatus forward and/or backward;
- to one side and/or to another side;
- up and/or down;
- rotationally around a vertically extending axis in one and/or another direction rotatably around at least one/two perpendicular horizontally extending axis/axes in one and/or another direction.
An underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and a second axis which extends between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersects the first axis, and wherein the underwater excavation apparatus is suspended from a surface vessel at a distance from an underwater area during excavation.
A method of underwater excavation comprising:
- providing an underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation, comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and a second axis which extends between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersects the first axis;
- suspending the underwater excavation apparatus from a vessel at a distance from an underwater area;
- roughly positioning the underwater excavation apparatus by movement of a vessel;
- excavating an underwater area using the underwater excavation apparatus;
- precisely positioning the underwater excavation apparatus using the at least one moving means during excavation of an underwater area.
A method of underwater excavation comprising:
- providing an excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet, and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and with a second axis which extends between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersects the first axis;
- suspending the underwater excavation apparatus from a vessel at a distance from an underwater area;
- positioning the underwater excavation apparatus by movement of a vessel;
- excavating an underwater area using the underwater excavation apparatus;
- counteracting reactive torque by exerting thrust on the underwater excavation apparatus from one or more jets of fluid generated by the at least one of the first and second moving means during excavation of an underwater area.
In combination a surface vessel and an underwater excavation apparatus, the underwater excavation apparatus being suspended from the surface vessel by a tether at a distance from an underwater area during excavation, for roughly positioning the underwater excavation apparatus;
- the underwater excavation apparatus comprising means for providing a flow of underwater fluid comprising a hollow body having at least one first inlet portion comprising at least one respective first inlet, at least one second inlet portion comprising at least one respective second inlet and at least one outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlet portions being substantially symmetrically disposed around a first axis extending from the outlet portion, the at least one first and second inlets being opposed to one another, at least one pair of impellers rotatably mounted coaxially in the hollow body and means for driving the impellers, wherein, in use, the driving means cause the impellers to be driven in contrary rotating directions, and at least one means for moving the underwater excavation apparatus during excavation, comprising at least one first and at least one second moving means, the at least one first and second moving means being provided above the respective at least one first and second inlet portions for counteracting reactive torque of the underwater excavation apparatus, wherein the at least one first and second moving means each comprises at least one further impeller mounted for rotation in a common plane of rotation, the common plane of rotation being coincident with the first axis and a second axis which extends between the first and second inlets and perpendicularly intersects the first axis, and wherein the apparatus is precisely positioned by using the at least one moving means during excavation of an underwater area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.