US3706142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Submarine dredging apparatus
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1970-09-15
•
Granted: 1972-12-19
•
Expires: 1990-09-15
Abstract
Abstract An underwater dredging device comprising a self-propelled submersible mechanical craft having devices and equipment to carry out dredging work underwater, and means for supplying electrical energy from an external source to operate these devices and equipment, and control devices thereof, the control devices being contained in a watertight bell capable of accommodating one or more operators.
Inventors
- 👤 Guido Brunner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:48
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/92; E02F3/9212; E02F3/8858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An underwater dredging device adapted to dig trenches underwater comprising: a selectively submersible elongated watertight housing; rotatable earth crushing means carried by and centrally positioned with respect to the forward end of said housing for crushing earth material encountered by said device; said crushing means comprising a plurality of blades fixed to a shaft which is rotatably connected to the housing for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing with respect to a plan view of the device; a pair of rotatable milling means spaced laterally of said crushing means and symmetrical thereto carried by the forward end of said housing and associated with said earth crushing means for conveying earth material encountered by said device into said earth crushing means, each of said milling means being rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft; housing movement regulating means associated with said housing for moving said housing in a desired direction underwater; and pumping means including a suction pump associated with said earth crushing means and carried by said housing for pumping earth material crushed by said earth crushing means to a location remote from said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
An underwater dredging device adapted to dig trenches underwater comprising: a selectively submersible elongated watertight housing; rotatable earth crushing means carried by and centrally positioned with respect to the forward end of said housing for crushing earth material encountered by said device; said crushing means comprising a plurality of blades fixed to a shaft which is rotatably connected to the housing for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing with respect to a plan view of the device; a pair of rotatable milling means spaced laterally of said crushing means and symmetrical thereto carried by the forward end of said housing and associated with said earth crushing means for conveying earth material encountered by said device into said earth crushing means, each of said milling means being rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft; housing movement regulating means associated with said housing for moving said housing in a desired direction underwater; and pumping means including a suction pump associated with said earth crushing means and carried by said housing for pumping earth material crushed by said earth crushing means to a location remote from said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 including a pressurizable water-tight diving bell associated with said housing for housing the controls for all of said means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said housing movement regulating means includes at least a pair of winches, each of said winches including a cable would therearound having a fixed point of support external of said housing and spaced from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said housing is in the general form of a hull having a prow, the spaced external points of supports for said cables being opposite said prow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said shaft is inclined downwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing with respect to a side view thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said milling means rotate about axes which are in a plane slightly below said crushing means shaft with respect to a side view of the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said milling means comprise a miller body having a plurality of raised splines extending along the length thereof; said splines running along said body in a direcTion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said milling means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 including a plurality of floodable watertight tanks associated with said housing for selectively submerging said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein all of said means are actuated by motive means coupled to control means located at the surface of said body of water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU238420A1
Cited
US516066A
Cited
US813935A
Cited
US826868A
Cited
US885930A
Cited
FR997304A
Cited
US2762136A
Cited
US3171219A
Cited
GB994628A
Cited
US3550386A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |