US3926003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bouyancy and attitude correction method and apparatus
Assignee: J Ray McDermott and Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-25
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1993-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An underwater self-propelled buoyant trenching apparatus for burying a pipeline or cable on the bottom of a body of water having cutting means on a frame to cut the trench. The apparatus is self-propelled along the pipeline. Buoyant outrigger compartments on each side of the pipeline to adjust the attitude of the apparatus over the pipeline. Each compartment is open at the bottom to the water and is provided also at the bottom with a gaseous inlet and at the top with a gaseous outlet to control the level of the water in each compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:38
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F5/00; E02F5/02; E02F5/10; E02F5/104; E02F5/105; E02F5/107; E02F5/14; E02F5/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An underwater trenching apparatus for burying pipeline and the like comprising: a frame for positioning about the pipeline to be buried, means secured to said frame for digging a trench to receive the pipeline, means positioned on said frame to propel the apparatus along the pipeline, independent buoyancy means supported upon said frame on each side of the pipeline, each said buoyancy means having a plurality of separate individual compartments, opening means in each compartment to provide communication with the water, and means selectively operable upon the water level of each compartment to control the buoyant effect of each compartment including a gaseous inlet means and a gaseous outlet means for each compartment whereby the fore to aft and port to starboard attitude of the apparatus is controllable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An underwater trenching apparatus for burying pipeline and the like comprising: a frame for positioning about the pipeline to be buried, means secured to said frame for digging a trench to receive the pipeline, means positioned on said frame to propel the apparatus along the pipeline, independent buoyancy means supported upon said frame on each side of the pipeline, each said buoyancy means having a plurality of separate individual compartments, opening means in each compartment to provide communication with the water, and means selectively operable upon the water level of each compartment to control the buoyant effect of each compartment including a gaseous inlet means and a gaseous outlet means for each compartment whereby the fore to aft and port to starboard attitude of the apparatus is controllable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gaseous inlet is positioned towards the bottom of said compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including said gaseous outlet being positioned towards the top of each compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said opening means is located towards the bottom of said compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least three separate compartments are present in each bouyant means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said bouyancy means is displaced laterally from and positioned above the frame of said apparatus.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of correcting the fore to aft and port to starboard attitude of an underwater trenching apparatus for burying pipeline comprising: positioning said apparatus in contact with the pipeline, providing a plurality of enclosed compartments above and on each side of said pipeline, filling each of said compartments with water to preselected levels while submerging said apparatus to the desired water depth, selectively injecting a gaseous medium into a selected compartment on one side of said pipeline to control the level of water in said compartment and to correct the port to starboard attitude of said apparatus by varying the buoyant effect of said compartment.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of correcting the fore to aft and port to starboard attitude of an underwater trenching apparatus for burying pipeline comprising: positioning said apparatus in contact with the pipeline, providing a plurality of enclosed compartments above and on each side of said pipeline, filling each of said compartments with water to preselected levels while submerging said apparatus to the desired water depth, selectively injecting a gaseous medium into a selected compartment on one side of said pipeline to control the level of water in said compartment and to correct the port to starboard attitude of said apparatus by varying the buoyant effect of said compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 including said compartments comprising fore, aft and center compartments on each side of said pipeline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 including filling to a selected level at least one of said compartments from the bottom of the compartment while releasing entrapped air from the top of said compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 including injecting said gaseous mechanism into the bottom of a selected compartment while lowering the level of water in said compartment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |