US3908290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic dredging system and method for collecting and removing material from deep sea beds
Assignee: Cegelec SA
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Filing: 1973-06-22
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-06-22
Abstract
Abstract Hydraulic dredging system and method, more particularly for great depths, constituted by a first ship carrying the vertical material removing tube, by connection devices giving possibilities for inclining the tube about its fixing point on the ship, a collecting unit which collects the materials from the bottom of the sea and inserts them in the vertical material removing tube and a second ship providing the towing of the collecting device by use of a cable fitted with a device for lifting that device.
Inventors
- 👤 Elie Condolios
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:26
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/8833; E21; E21C; E21C50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A hyraulic dredging installation for collecting and vertically removing materials at a high solid flow rate, particularly at great depth, from the floor of the sea, comprising a first ship for receiving said materials, a material removing tube pivotally connected to said first ship and extending substantially vertically therefrom to the floor of the sea, material collecting means disposed on the floor of the sea and connected to said material removing tube for gathering materials from the sea bed and inserting them into said tube, a second ship for towing said material collecting means, a tow cable extending from said second ship and being directly connected to said material collecting means on said floor of the sea and means for increasing the distance between said first and second ships such that said second ship effects at least partial raising of said material collecting means by the direct connection thereby during movement of said second ship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A hyraulic dredging installation for collecting and vertically removing materials at a high solid flow rate, particularly at great depth, from the floor of the sea, comprising a first ship for receiving said materials, a material removing tube pivotally connected to said first ship and extending substantially vertically therefrom to the floor of the sea, material collecting means disposed on the floor of the sea and connected to said material removing tube for gathering materials from the sea bed and inserting them into said tube, a second ship for towing said material collecting means, a tow cable extending from said second ship and being directly connected to said material collecting means on said floor of the sea and means for increasing the distance between said first and second ships such that said second ship effects at least partial raising of said material collecting means by the direct connection thereby during movement of said second ship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said material collecting tube is substantially rigid over its length and has a first portion connected to said material collecting means which is flexible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An installation as defined in claim 2 wherein said material collecting tube has a second portion between said first portion and the much larger remainder of the tube which is heavier than other parts of the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An installation as defined in claim 3 wherein an auxiliary towing cable is connected between the portion of said towing cable adjacent said material collecting means and a rigid portion of said material collecting tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An installation as defined in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary towing cable is connected to said second portion of said material collecting tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An installation as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for raising further includes winch means on said second ship and connected to said tow cable.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for collecting and vertically removing materials at a high solid flow rate, particularly at great depth, from the floor of the sea, using a towing ship, a material receiving ship, a material collecting device at the floor of the sea and a material collecting tube extending from the material collecting device to the material receiving ship, comprising the steps of towing the material collecting device from the towing ship by directly connecting said material collecting device to said towing ship, and at least partially raising the material collecting device in the case of an obstruction of said material collecting tube by moving the towing ship to effect an increase of the distance between said towing ship and the material receiving ship such that the direct connection of said towing ship to said material collecting devices effects at least partial raising of said material collecting device during moving of said towing ship.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for collecting and vertically removing materials at a high solid flow rate, particularly at great depth, from the floor of the sea, using a towing ship, a material receiving ship, a material collecting device at the floor of the sea and a material collecting tube extending from the material collecting device to the material receiving ship, comprising the steps of towing the material collecting device from the towing ship by directly connecting said material collecting device to said towing ship, and at least partially raising the material collecting device in the case of an obstruction of said material collecting tube by moving the towing ship to effect an increase of the distance between said towing ship and the material receiving ship such that the direct connection of said towing ship to said material collecting devices effects at least partial raising of said material collecting device during moving of said towing ship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 7, further including the step of maintaining said material collecting tube at proper disposition for conveying material by maintaining a prescribed distance between said towing ship and said material receiving ship.
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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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |