Patent US3669052A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3669052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for preventing ice damage to marine structures
Assignee: Air Logistics Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-15
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A marine well drilling platform or the like having legs extending to the sea floor is protected from ice floes by comminuting devices at the water line for breaking the ice and thereby preventing crushing or overturning of the platform. The comminuting devices employ high velocity impacts against the ice to cause its fracture into chips as distinguished from cutting action. Rapidly rotating or reciprocating mechanisms with large ''''teeth'''' for making impact engagement with the ice are employed in separate embodiments. Comminuting devices mounted for sweeping adjacent a mooring buoy in one embodiment open a path through an ice floe for protecting the buoy and a ship moored at the buoy.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph F Schirtzinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:39
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/027; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/08; B63B35/12; E02B17/0017; E02B17/0021; E02B2017/0056; E02B2017/0073; E02B2017/0086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for preventing ice damage comprising: a structure fixedly positioned in water subject to moving ice floes; means connected to the structure adjacent the water line for comminuting ice floe in a region between the advancing ice floe and the balance of the structure, said means for comminuting comprising means for applying high velocity impacts on local areas of the ice; and means for traversing the means for comminuting about at least a portion of the structure adjacent the water line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for preventing ice damage comprising: a structure fixedly positioned in water subject to moving ice floes; means connected to the structure adjacent the water line for comminuting ice floe in a region between the advancing ice floe and the balance of the structure, said means for comminuting comprising means for applying high velocity impacts on local areas of the ice; and means for traversing the means for comminuting about at least a portion of the structure adjacent the water line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: means for raising and lowering the means for comminuting relative to the structure for engaging the means for comminuting with the entire vertical extent of an ice floe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for traversing comprises a track extending around the periphery of the structure; and a carriage mounted on the track for supporting the means for comminuting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a plurality of vertically extending legs passing through the water surface and the means for traversing comprises means mounted on each of the legs for traversing a means for comminuting about that leg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for comminuting compriseS: a rotatable mandrel; means for rotating the mandrel at high velocity; and a plurality of teeth on the mandrel for impacting against an ice floe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for comminuting comprises: a vertically reciprocatable mandrel; means for reciprocating the mandrel at high velocity; and a plurality of teeth on the mandrel for impacting on ice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for comminuting comprises: a vertically movable member; and a plurality of reciprocatable teeth projecting from the movable member for applying high velocity impacts to ice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A combination comprising: a mooring buoy positioned in water subject to moving ice floes; a track on the periphery of the mooring buoy; a carriage on the track; a substantially horizontal beam extending from the carriage; a buoyant member connected to the beam; and means mounted on the buoyant member for oscillation along an arc about the center of the buoy adjacent the water line for comminuting ice floe in a region between an advancing ice floe and the balance of the structure, said means for comminuting comprising means for applying high velocity impacts on local areas of the ice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A combination comprising: a mooring buoy positioned in water subject to moving ice floes; a track on the periphery of the mooring buoy; a carriage on the track; a substantially horizontal beam extending from the carriage; a buoyant member connected to the beam; and means mounted on the buoyant member for oscillation along an arc about the center of the buoy adjacent the water line for comminuting ice floe in a region between an advancing ice floe and the balance of the structure, said means for comminuting comprising means for applying high velocity impacts on local areas of the ice.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
A well drilling platform comprising: a work platform positioned above a water surface subject to moving ice floes; means on the platform for drilling and completing oil wells and the like; a plurality of vertically extending legs from the work platform to the sea bed; ice comminuter means adjacent the water surface and circumscribing all of the legs for comminuting ice, said means for comminuting ice comprising means for applying high velocity impacts on the ice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A well drilling platform comprising: a work platform positioned above a water surface subject to moving ice floes; means on the platform for drilling and completing oil wells and the like; a plurality of vertically extending legs from the work platform to the sea bed; ice comminuter means adjacent the water surface and circumscribing all of the legs for comminuting ice, said means for comminuting ice comprising means for applying high velocity impacts on the ice.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A platform as defined in claim 9 wherein the means for comminuting comprises: an ice comminuter mounted on each of the legs; and means for traversing the ice comminuter on each leg around the leg.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A platform as defined in claim 9 further comprising: a track extending around the platform and outside of all of the legs; a carriage mounted on the track for traversing around the entire platform; and wherein the means for comminuting is mounted on the carriage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A mooring buoy for positioning in waters subject to moving ice floes comprising: a floating buoy; a track around the buoy; a carriage mounted on the track for motion around the buoy periphery; and means connected to the carriage for comminuting an advancing ice floe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A mooring buoy for positioning in waters subject to moving ice floes comprising: a floating buoy; a track around the buoy; a carriage mounted on the track for motion around the buoy periphery; and means connected to the carriage for comminuting an advancing ice floe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
A mooring buoy as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for connecting the means for comminuting to the carriage comprises: a beam extending laterally from the carriage; and a buoyant structure on the beam and supporting the means for comminuting, whereby as the carriage moves about the track the means for comminuting ice oscillates along an arc about the center of the buoy for comminuting ice in a path substantially larger than the width of the buoy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |