US3632172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-17
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Granted: 1972-01-04
•
Expires: 1989-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A self-powered vehicle is disclosed for moving across the ice ahead of an icebreaker and carrying trench-cutting means for cutting a trench along the path of travel of the icebreaker and carrying means for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice. An air cushion vehicle carries a rotary saw and means for removing ice cuttings from the trench made by the saw with means for melting part of the ice cuttings for backfilling along the trench after inserting an explosive cord therein. Drill means are carried by the air cushion vehicle for drilling spaced holes along the ice for additional explosive charges. An elongate pipe has at least one opening in the wall or bottom end thereof for insertion into spaced drilling holes adjacent the trench with seal means normally covering the openings and an air supply means carried by the vehicle and connected to the pipe for building up pressure therein for rupturing the seal means and creating an airblast adjacent the trench. A buoyant fish is adapted to float under the ice and tow a length of buoyant explosive cord connected thereto with control and/or motivation means carried by the vehicle for controlling the direction of movement of the fish thereby towing the explosive cord beneath the ice in the desired direction. Additional floating explosive charges are connected along the explosive cord.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles L Robinson
- 👤 Frank Clynch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and means carried by the vehicle for at least partially backfilling the trench after placement of the explosive cord, wherein said means for backfilling includes, means carried by the vehicle for the melting of the ice for use as backfill.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and means carried by the vehicle for at least partially backfilling the trench after placement of the explosive cord, wherein said means for backfilling includes, means carried by the vehicle for the melting of the ice for use as backfill.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and drilling means carried by the vehicle for drilling spaced holes near the trench for additional explosive charges.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and drilling means carried by the vehicle for drilling spaced holes near the trench for additional explosive charges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including, an elongate pipe having at least one opening in the wall thereof for insertion into said spaced drilling holes, and air supply means carried by the vehicle connected to said pipe for building up pressure therein for creating an airblast therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including, sealing means normally closing said openings, but rupturing upon a predetermined pressure.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and an extendable arm carried by the vehicle for extension in front of the vehicle, and a drill carried by the drill for drilling holes for clearing barriers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and an extendable arm carried by the vehicle for extension in front of the vehicle, and a drill carried by the drill for drilling holes for clearing barriers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the drill is rotatable relative to the extendable arm.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by The vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and a buoyant fish adapted to float under the ice, a length of explosive cord connected to the fish, and control means carried by the vehicle for controlling the direction of movement of the fish thereby towing the cord beneath the ice in the desired direction.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered vehicle for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, trench-cutting means carried by the vehicle for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by The vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and a buoyant fish adapted to float under the ice, a length of explosive cord connected to the fish, and control means carried by the vehicle for controlling the direction of movement of the fish thereby towing the cord beneath the ice in the desired direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cord is buoyant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including, floating explosive dynamite charges connected along the cord.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered hovercraft for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, a rotary saw carried by the hovercraft for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and means for at least partially melting ice, and inserting the melted ice into the trench for backfill.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered hovercraft for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, a rotary saw carried by the hovercraft for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and means for at least partially melting ice, and inserting the melted ice into the trench for backfill.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered hovercraft for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, a rotary saw carried by the hovercraft for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and drilling means carried by the hovercraft for drilling holes near the trench for receiving additional explosive charges.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered hovercraft for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, a rotary saw carried by the hovercraft for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and drilling means carried by the hovercraft for drilling holes near the trench for receiving additional explosive charges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the drilling means includes an elongate pipe for insertion into the spaced drilling holes and having openings in the wall thereof adapted to be aligned with the trench, and air supply means carried by the hovercraft and connected to said pipe for building up pressure therein for creating an airblast therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12 including, sealing means normally closing said openings, but rupturing upon a predetermined pressure.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered hovercraft for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, a rotary saw carried by the hovercraft for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and a buoyant fish adapted to float under the ice, a length of explosive cord connected to the fish, control means carried by the vehicle for controlling the direction of movement of the fish thereby towing the cord beneath the ice in the desired direction.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, a self-powered hovercraft for moving across the ice ahead of the icebreaker, a rotary saw carried by the hovercraft for cutting a trench along the path of travel, means carried by the vehicle for placing an explosive cord in the trench which can be exploded for weakening the ice, and a buoyant fish adapted to float under the ice, a length of explosive cord connected to the fish, control means carried by the vehicle for controlling the direction of movement of the fish thereby towing the cord beneath the ice in the desired direction.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, cutting a trench in the ice in front of and along the proposed path of travel of the icebreaker, placing an explosive cord in the trench, exploding the cord, and backfilling the trench with partially melted ice after placing the cord in the trench and waiting until the backfill freezes before exploding the cord.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, cutting a trench in the ice in front of and along the proposed path of travel of the icebreaker, placing an explosive cord in the trench, exploding the cord, and backfilling the trench with partially melted ice after placing the cord in the trench and waiting until the backfill freezes before exploding the cord.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
57 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, cutting a trench in the ice in front of and along the proposed path of travel of the icebreaker, placing an explosive cord in the trench, exploding the cord, and drilling spaced holes along the trench, placing dynamite charges in the drilled holes, exploding the dynamite charges.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
57 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, cutting a trench in the ice in front of and along the proposed path of travel of the icebreaker, placing an explosive cord in the trench, exploding the cord, and drilling spaced holes along the trench, placing dynamite charges in the drilled holes, exploding the dynamite charges.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the charges are directional exploding charges, and positioning the charges in the drilled holes to direct the explosion longitudinally along the trench.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 including, drilling spaced holes along the trench, creating a directional airblast in the drilled holes along the longitudinal axis of the trench.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, cutting a trench in the ice in front of and along the proposed path of travel of the icebreaker, placing an explosive cord in the trench, exploding the cord, and placing a buoyant fish under the ice, attaching a length of explosive cord to the fish, moving the fish in the desired direction, and exploding the cord to weaken the ice.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, cutting a trench in the ice in front of and along the proposed path of travel of the icebreaker, placing an explosive cord in the trench, exploding the cord, and placing a buoyant fish under the ice, attaching a length of explosive cord to the fish, moving the fish in the desired direction, and exploding the cord to weaken the ice.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, placing a buoyant fish under the ice, attaching a length of explosive cord to the fish, and exploding the cord.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of weakening ice for assisting an icebreaker comprising, placing a buoyant fish under the ice, attaching a length of explosive cord to the fish, and exploding the cord.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 including, controlling the fish from an air cushion vehicle traveling over the ice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |