Apparatus for dredging in deep ocean

Claim 2

Apparatus for dredging a region of a surface stratum of an ocean bottom and the like comprising: a. a floating vessel of ship-like hull form positioned over the desired region to be dredged, the vessel having a center well; b. means disposed on the vessel above the center well for rotating a vertically disposed pipe string about its axis; c. a vertically disposed pipe string coupled to the rotating means and extending pendulously from the vessel through the center well to a lower end adjacent the desired region, the pipe string being sufficiently long to manifest substantial lateral flexibility; d. a dredging tool connected to the lower end of the pipe string and operative in response to rotation of the string about its axis to dredge the surface stratum in the desired region; e. a plurality of line quiding means anchored independently of the vessel and the position thereof at selected locations spaced about the desired region; f. a plurality of tool guiding lines extending from the vessel to locations on the conduit adjacent the tool via respective ones of the line guiding means; g. means on the vessel for adjusting the effective lengths of the several guiding lines to displace the tool relative to the vessel to locate the tool at a desired position in the region; and h. means coupled to the pipe string above the dredging tool for producing a suction effect at the dredging tool and for transporting dredgings upwardly through the pipe string.

Claim 3

Apparatus for dredging a region of a surface stratum of an ocean bottom and the like comprising: a. a floating vessel positioned over the desired region to be dredged; b. a vertically oriented elongated conduit pendulously supported from the vessel and extending through the water to the desired region, the conduit being supported so that a major portion thereof extends downwardly from the point of pendulous support to a point adjacent the lower end thereof independently of attachment to the vessel so the conduit is capable of free pendulous movement relative to the vessel in fore and aft and athwartships directions and combinations thereof; c. a dredging tool supported on the lower end of the conduit and engaging the surface stratum in the desired region; d. a plurality of line guiding means anchored in the stratum independently of the vessel and the position thereof at selected locations spaced about the desired region; e. a plurality of tool guiding lines extending from the vessel to locations on the conduit adjacent the tool via respective ones of the line guiding means; and f. means on the vessel for adjusting the effective lengths of the several guiding lines to displace the tool relative to the vessel to locate the tool at a desired position in the region.

Claim 4

Apparatus for dredging a region of a surface stratum of an ocean bottom and the like comprising: a. a floating vessel positioned over the desired region to be dredged; b. a vertically oriented elongated conduit pendulously supported from the vessel and extending through the water to the desired region, the conduit being supported so that a major portion thereof extends downwardly from the point of pendulous support to a point adjacent the lower end thereof independently of attachment to the vessel so the conduit is capable of free pendulous movement relative to the vessel in fore and aft and athwartships directions and combinations thereof; c. a dredging tool supported on the lower end of the conduit and engaging the surface stratum in the desired region; d. a plurality of line guiding means anchored in the stratum independently of the vessel and the position thereof at selected locations spaced about the desired region; e. a plurality of tool guiding lines extending from the vessel to locations on the conduit adjacent the tool via respective ones of the line guiding means; and f. means on the vessel for adjusting the effective lengths of the several guiding lines to displace the tool relative to the vessel to locate the tool at a desired position in the region.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the conduit has lateral flexibility.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each tool guiding line is connected to a winch mounted on the vessel.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for rotating the conduit about its vertical axis to rotate the dredging tool with it so the tool excavates material in the desired region as the conduit is displaced relative to the vessel.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 including a collar disposed around the lower end of the conduit above the tool, means for mounting the collar to the conduit so the conduit rotates relative to the collar, and means for securing the end of each tool guiding line to the collar.

Claim 9

An air lift sub for use in lifting dredged material upwardly through the hollow interior of a pendulous rotary conduit comprising: a. an inner barrel coupled to an intermediate portion of the conduit and rotatable with the conduit; b. means forming a lateral fluid flow passage through the wall of the inner barrel; c. an outer barrel outside the inner barrel, the outer and inner barrels defining an annular chamber between them; d. means for coupling the outer barrel to the inner barrel so the inner barrel and conduit rotate relative to the outer barrel; and e. means for supplying compressed gas under pressure to the annular chamber so the gas enters the hollow interior of the conduit through the fluid flow passage to produce an upwardly flowing stream that lifts the dredged material upwardly through the conduit.

Claim 10

An air lift sub for use in lifting dredged material upwardly through the hollow interior of a pendulous rotary conduit comprising: a. an inner barrel coupled to an intermediate portion of the conduit and rotatable with the conduit; b. means forming a lateral fluid flow passage through the wall of the inner barrel; c. an outer barrel outside the inner barrel, the outer and inner barrels defining an annular chamber between them; d. means for coupling the outer barrel to the inner barrel so the inner barrel and conduit rotate relative to the outer barrel; and e. means for supplying compressed gas under pressure to the annular chamber so the gas enters the hollow interior of the conduit through the fluid flow passage to produce an upwardly flowing stream that lifts the dredged material upwardly through the conduit.

Claim 11

Apparatus for dredging a region of surface stratum of an ocean bottom and the like comprising: a. a floating vessel positioned over the desired region to be dredged; b. an elongated conduit pendulously supported from the vessel and extending through the water to the desired region; c. a dredging tool supported on the lower end of the conduit and engaging the surface stratum in the desired region, the tool being in communication with the hollow interior of the conduit; d. a plurality of guide means anchored at respective locations spaced about the desired region; e. a plurality of tool guiding lines extending from the vessel to the conduit via respective ones of the guide means; f. means on the vessel for adjusting the effective lengths of the several guiding lines to displace the tool relative to the vessel to locate the tool at a desired position in the region; and g. means for lifting dredged material from the desired region upwardly through the interior of the conduit by producing an upward flow of fluid within the conduit to force the dredged material to flow upwardly through the interior of the conduit, the lifting means further comprising an inner barrel coupled to an intermediate portion of the conduit and rotatable with the conduit, means forming a lateral fluid flow passage through the wall of the inner barrel, an outer barrel inside the inner barrel, the outer and inner barrels defining an annular chamber between them, means for coupling the outer barrel to the inner barrel so that the inner barrel and conduit rotate relative to the outer barrel, and means for supplying compressed gas under pressure to the annular chamber so the gas enters the hollow interior of the conduit through the fluid flow passage to produce an upwardly flowing stream that lifts the dredged material upwaRdly through the conduit.

Claim 12

Apparatus for dredging a region of surface stratum of an ocean bottom and the like comprising: a. a floating vessel positioned over the desired region to be dredged; b. an elongated conduit pendulously supported from the vessel and extending through the water to the desired region; c. a dredging tool supported on the lower end of the conduit and engaging the surface stratum in the desired region, the tool being in communication with the hollow interior of the conduit; d. a plurality of guide means anchored at respective locations spaced about the desired region; e. a plurality of tool guiding lines extending from the vessel to the conduit via respective ones of the guide means; f. means on the vessel for adjusting the effective lengths of the several guiding lines to displace the tool relative to the vessel to locate the tool at a desired position in the region; and g. means for lifting dredged material from the desired region upwardly through the interior of the conduit by producing an upward flow of fluid within the conduit to force the dredged material to flow upwardly through the interior of the conduit, the lifting means further comprising an inner barrel coupled to an intermediate portion of the conduit and rotatable with the conduit, means forming a lateral fluid flow passage through the wall of the inner barrel, an outer barrel inside the inner barrel, the outer and inner barrels defining an annular chamber between them, means for coupling the outer barrel to the inner barrel so that the inner barrel and conduit rotate relative to the outer barrel, and means for supplying compressed gas under pressure to the annular chamber so the gas enters the hollow interior of the conduit through the fluid flow passage to produce an upwardly flowing stream that lifts the dredged material upwaRdly through the conduit.