Patent US3673716A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3673716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compressed air operated apparatus for raising underwater deposits
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-22
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1989-09-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for raising deposits, using a pressure medium, the material being raised being conveyed via a dredge pipe from the deposit to a separator in which the material raised is separated from the pressure medium and possibly from entrained portions of a liquid medium disposed above the deposit, the pressure medium being introduced at the lower end of the dredge pipe into the latter with a rotational component and in such a manner that a partial vacuum is produced under the effect of which the material to be raised enters the dredge pipe, the inlet end of the dredge pipe being held during dredging at a small distance from the deposit.
Inventors
- 👤 Alois Trondle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:49
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/92; E02F3/9243; E02F3/925; E02F3/9212; E02F3/9225; E02F3/9231
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus operated by compressed air for raising deposits of gravel or the like from beneath bodies of water comprising a dredge pipe which is open at its extreme lower end and is immersible into water, a suction head attached to the lower portion of the dredge pipe, cutting tools surrounding said suction head and being rotatably attached thereto, motor means for driving said cutting tools, and an annular nozzle located at the lower end of said suction head for directing a supply of compressed air into the interior of the dredge pipe, wherein said annular nozzle is provided with inclined air guide fins, said dredge pipe being surrounded by a supporting pipe, the annular space between the two pipes serving as a conduit for the compressed air supplied to the annular nozzle, characterized in that each of both the supporting pipe and the dredge pipe include a plurality of sections, a respective section of the dredge pipe and respective section of the supporting pipe being connected to one aNother by common flanges at each end thereof, said flanges being connectable to the respective common flange of the adjacent supporting pipe and dredge pipe section, and said common flanges being provided with apertures for passage of the compressed air from the annular space of one section to the annular space of the adjacent section.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus operated by compressed air for raising deposits of gravel or the like from beneath bodies of water comprising a dredge pipe which is open at its extreme lower end and is immersible into water, a suction head attached to the lower portion of the dredge pipe, cutting tools surrounding said suction head and being rotatably attached thereto, motor means for driving said cutting tools, and an annular nozzle located at the lower end of said suction head for directing a supply of compressed air into the interior of the dredge pipe, wherein said annular nozzle is provided with inclined air guide fins, said dredge pipe being surrounded by a supporting pipe, the annular space between the two pipes serving as a conduit for the compressed air supplied to the annular nozzle, characterized in that each of both the supporting pipe and the dredge pipe include a plurality of sections, a respective section of the dredge pipe and respective section of the supporting pipe being connected to one aNother by common flanges at each end thereof, said flanges being connectable to the respective common flange of the adjacent supporting pipe and dredge pipe section, and said common flanges being provided with apertures for passage of the compressed air from the annular space of one section to the annular space of the adjacent section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor means comprises two hydraulic motors, said motors being supplied with hydraulic fluid through conduits arranged in said annular spaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said annular nozzle includes an air guide ring attached to the end portion of the dredge pipe and an annular mouthpiece adjustably mounted for axial movement on the end portion of the supporting pipe, said air guide ring being shaped like the surface of the frustrum of a cone and widening in the downward direction to extend into said annular mouthpiece, whereby adjustment of said mouthpiece varies the opening of said annular nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said guide fins are helically wound on the inner surface of said air guide ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer surface of said air guide ring includes guide fins attached to the outer surface of said air guide ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper portion of said air guide ring has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of said dredge pipe and in that said upper portion is rigidly and sealingly attached to the bottom of said dredge pipe to form a funnel inlet for the admission of compressed air into the dredge pipe end opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said annular mouthpiece has an approximately U-shaped cross section with the open end extending upwardly for acceptance of said guide ring and the outer leg of the U being threadably attached to the supporting pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the surface of the inner leg disposed inside of and away from the U-shaped opening is arranged to provide a conically shaped opening tapering inwardly toward the dredge pipe end opening for admitting gravel of the like into the dredge pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that some of said cutting tools are arranged below the bottom most portions of said mouthpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the radially innermost cutting tools are arranged radially inwardly with respect to the circumference of the inlet formed by the mouthpiece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the minimum diameter of said conically shaped opening is less than the inner diameter of the dredge pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including means to intermittently force compressed air downwardly through the dredge pipe against the dredging direction for cleaning the lower opening.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus operated by compressed air for raising deposits of gravel or the like from beneath bodies of water comprising a dredge pipe which is open at its extreme lower end and is immersible into water, a suction head attached to the lower portion of the dredge pipe, cutting tools surrounding said suction head and being rotatably attached thereto, motor means for driving said cutting tools, and an annular nozzle located at the lower end of said suction head for directing a supply of compressed air into the interior of the dredge pipe, wherein said annular nozzle is provided with inclined air guide fins, said dredge pipe being surrounded by a supporting pipe, the annular space between the two pipes serving as a conduit for the compressed air supplied to the annular nozzle, characterized in that the motor means comprises two hydraulic motors, said motors being supplied with hydraulic fluid through conduits arranged in said annular space.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus operated by compressed air for raising deposits of gravel or the like from beneath bodies of water comprising a dredge pipe which is open at its extreme lower end and is immersible into water, a suction head attached to the lower portion of the dredge pipe, cutting tools surrounding said suction head and being rotatably attached thereto, motor means for driving said cutting tools, and an annular nozzle located at the lower end of said suction head for directing a supply of compressed air into the interior of the dredge pipe, wherein said annular nozzle is provided with inclined air guide fins, said dredge pipe being surrounded by a supporting pipe, the annular space between the two pipes serving as a conduit for the compressed air supplied to the annular nozzle, characterized in that the motor means comprises two hydraulic motors, said motors being supplied with hydraulic fluid through conduits arranged in said annular space.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprisinG a housing annularly disposed about said support pipe and said motors, and sealing means to prevent water and debris from entering said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that check valve means are included in the walls of the supporting pipe for the introduction of compressed air into said housing to assist the sealing means in precluding the entry of foreign materials into said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, including means to intermittently force compressed air downwardly through the dredge pipe against the dredging direction for cleaning the lower opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said guide fins are helically wound on the surface of said annular nozzle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |