US3678873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cutting ice
Assignee: Sunoco Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-02
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Removing ice encroaching an offshore platform from an ice floe or ice located in the path of a vessel, by making a pair of cuts in the ice parallel to the direction of travel of the vessel or ice floe, with each cut angled from vertical so that the crosssectional area of the bottom surface of the ice being removed is larger or smaller than the cross-sectional area of the top surface of the ice being removed. The ice section being removed is then broken from the remaining ice mass by forward movement of the vessel or pressure of the ice floe against the offshore platform. An additional cut can be made between and parallel to the pair of parallel cuts, to make two ice sections in order to facilitate forcing of the severed ice aside to a point beneath or on top of the ice mass when the ice sections are broken from the remaining ice mass. These cuts can be made with mechanical saws or high pressure nozzles utilizing high pressure fluids.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Bennett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:07
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/08; B63B35/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
Method of removing ice located in the path of a vessel, wherein the ice being removed is part of a larger ice mass, comprising the steps of: making a plurality of cuts in the ice, the cuts having parallel longitudinal axes and where at least two of the cuts are angled from vertical in opposite directions to define ice sections having unequal top and bottom surface areas; breaking the ice sections located between the cuts from the ice mass, and forcing the ice sections to the side of the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
Method of removing ice located in the path of a vessel, wherein the ice being removed is part of a larger ice mass, comprising the steps of: making a plurality of cuts in the ice, the cuts having parallel longitudinal axes and where at least two of the cuts are angled from vertical in opposite directions to define ice sections having unequal top and bottom surface areas; breaking the ice sections located between the cuts from the ice mass, and forcing the ice sections to the side of the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cuts are made with high pressure fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a method of breaking ice from an ice mass in the path of a vessel where the forward movement of the vessel breaks a path in the ice mass, the improvement comprising: directing a high velocity liquid against the ice mass for cutting the ice mass in a generally vertical plane prior to contacting the ice mass with the vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a method of breaking ice from an ice mass in the path of a vessel where the forward movement of the vessel breaks a path in the ice mass, the improvement comprising: directing a high velocity liquid against the ice mass for cutting the ice mass in a generally vertical plane prior to contacting the ice mass with the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
Method of removing ice from an ice mass comprising: directing high pressure nozzles emitting a cutting fluid agAinst the ice mass to make a plurality of generally vertical cuts in the ice mass and thereby define ice sections in the ice mass; breaking the ice sections from the ice mass; and forcing the ice sections to the side of the original position of the ice section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Method of removing ice from an ice mass comprising: directing high pressure nozzles emitting a cutting fluid agAinst the ice mass to make a plurality of generally vertical cuts in the ice mass and thereby define ice sections in the ice mass; breaking the ice sections from the ice mass; and forcing the ice sections to the side of the original position of the ice section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of cuts includes a pair of outside cuts which are angled from a vertical plane to define ice sections having unequal top and bottom surfaces and a single substantially vertical cut between the pair of outside cuts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus for removing ice from a large ice mass located in the path of a vessel comprising: nozzle means attached to the prow of the vessel and extending in front of the vessel, including a plurality of nozzles of which there is at least one pair of nozzles arranged so that an extension of the longitudinal axes of the pair of nozzles intersect above the nozzles; and means for supplying a cutting fluid under pressure to said nozzles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus for removing ice from a large ice mass located in the path of a vessel comprising: nozzle means attached to the prow of the vessel and extending in front of the vessel, including a plurality of nozzles of which there is at least one pair of nozzles arranged so that an extension of the longitudinal axes of the pair of nozzles intersect above the nozzles; and means for supplying a cutting fluid under pressure to said nozzles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the nozzles are inclined toward the vessel to aid in propulsion of the vessel and including means connected to said nozzle means for controlling the direction of travel of the vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the nozzle means includes a nozzle located between said pair of nozzles which is positioned in a substantially vertical plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for cutting an ice floe encroaching an offshore platform having at least one support member, comprising: nozzle means directed downwardly towards the ice floe and attached to the platform support member; and means for supplying a liquid under pressure to said nozzle means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for cutting an ice floe encroaching an offshore platform having at least one support member, comprising: nozzle means directed downwardly towards the ice floe and attached to the platform support member; and means for supplying a liquid under pressure to said nozzle means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the nozzle means includes a pair of nozzles arranged so that an extension of the longitudinal axis of the pair of nozzles intersect and are at right angles to the direction of movement of the ice floe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3572273A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |