Patent US4073078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4073078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable dredging and trenching apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-03
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Granted: 1978-02-14
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Expires: 1995-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A stowable agitation trenching apparatus for use on a vessel such as a dredge or barge includes an adjustable, vertically extendable and retractable elongate leg slidably disposed within a mounting bracket pivotally secured to the vessel for selectively disposing a distal end of the leg at a plurality of positions underneath the vessel. An agitation producing propeller is disposed adjacent to the distal end and is movable therewith for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water to be trenched or dug. The vertically extendable and retractable elongate leg is arranged to be raised and pivoted in the mounting for substantially horizontal stowage on the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Julius H. Leitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:46
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F9/00; E02F9/06; E02F9/062; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/905; E02F5/00; E02F5/28; E02F5/287; E02F9/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A stowable agitation dredging and trenching apparatus for use on a vessel comprising: elongate leg means; a housing adapted to be pivotally mounted on the vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing adapted to be swung between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended or retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; and impeding means mounted on said leg means including a spud foot and means selectively operable for shifting said spud foot relative to said leg means for penetration into the bottom surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A stowable agitation dredging and trenching apparatus for use on a vessel comprising: elongate leg means; a housing adapted to be pivotally mounted on the vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing adapted to be swung between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended or retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; and impeding means mounted on said leg means including a spud foot and means selectively operable for shifting said spud foot relative to said leg means for penetration into the bottom surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein fluid actuated means are provided for selectively operating said spud foot alongside said leg means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said agitation means is pivotally connected adjacent the distal end of said leg means for selective positioning about a substantially horizontal plane relative to said leg means when it is vertically extended for permitting digging of a trench of a predetermined breadth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein additional agitation means are arranged to cooperate with said first mentioned agitation means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spud foot is mounted with its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said leg means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said agitation means includes propeller means mounted with its axis substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of said leg means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg means includes track means extending along a portion of its length, said track means being slidably received within guide means mounted on said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein means are provided on said leg means operable for selectively extending and retracting said leg means relative to said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination, a vessel and a stowable dredging and trenching apparatus comprising: elongate leg means; a housing pivotally mounted on said vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing being swingable between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended and retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; and impeding means mounted on said leg means including a spud foot and means selectively operable for shifting said spud foot relative to said leg means for penetration into the bottom surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination, a vessel and a stowable dredging and trenching apparatus comprising: elongate leg means; a housing pivotally mounted on said vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing being swingable between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended and retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; and impeding means mounted on said leg means including a spud foot and means selectively operable for shifting said spud foot relative to said leg means for penetration into the bottom surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said spud foot is mounted with its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said leg means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein fluid actuated means are provided for selectively operating said spud foot alongside said leg means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said agitation means is pivotally connected adjacent the distal end of said leg means for selective positioning about a substantially horizontal plane relative to said leg means when it is vertically extended for permitting digging of a trench of a predetermined breadth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein additional agitation means are arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned agitation means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said agitation means includes propeller means mounted with its axis substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of said leg means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said leg means includes track means extending along a portion of its length, said track means being slidably received within guide means mounted on said housing, means being provided on said leg means operable for selectively extending and retracting said leg means relative to said housing, and wherein means mounted on said vessel operatively connected to said leg means are provided for moving said leg means between vertical and horizontal positions relative to said vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
133 words
A stowable agitation dredging and trenching apparatus for use on a vessel comprising: elongate leg means; a housing adapted to be pivotally mounted on the vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing adapted to be swung between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended or retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power-driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; fairleads mounted on said leg means; impeding means mounted adjacent said leg means including chain means inserted through said fairleads; and means operable for selectively paying out lengths of said chain means to be dragged behind said agitation means in the bottom surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
A stowable agitation dredging and trenching apparatus for use on a vessel comprising: elongate leg means; a housing adapted to be pivotally mounted on the vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing adapted to be swung between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended or retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power-driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; fairleads mounted on said leg means; impeding means mounted adjacent said leg means including chain means inserted through said fairleads; and means operable for selectively paying out lengths of said chain means to be dragged behind said agitation means in the bottom surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said leg means includes track means extending along a portion of its length, said track means being slidably received within guide means mounted on said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein means are provided on said leg means operable for selectively extending and retracting said leg means relative to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said agitation means is pivotally connected adjacent the distal end of said leg means for selective positioning about a substantially horizontal plane, when said leg means is vertically disposed, for permitting digging of a trench of a predetermined breadth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein additional agitation means are arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned agitation means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
127 words
In combination, a vessel and a stowable dredging and trenching apparatus comprising: elongate leg means; a housing pivotally mounted on said vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing being swingable between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended and retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power-driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; fairleads mounted on said leg means; impeding means mounted adjacent said leg means including chain means inserted through said fairleads; and means operable for selectively paying out lengths of said chain means to be dragged behind said agitation means in the bottom surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
127 words
In combination, a vessel and a stowable dredging and trenching apparatus comprising: elongate leg means; a housing pivotally mounted on said vessel for slidably receiving said leg means, said housing being swingable between a position permitting said leg means to be vertically extended and retracted and a position for substantially horizontally stowing said leg means; power-driven agitation means disposed adjacent to a distal end of said leg means for producing an eroding current of water against the bottom surface of a body of water; fairleads mounted on said leg means; impeding means mounted adjacent said leg means including chain means inserted through said fairleads; and means operable for selectively paying out lengths of said chain means to be dragged behind said agitation means in the bottom surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination as defined in claim 21 wherein said agitation means is pivotally connected adjacent the distal end of said leg means for selective positioning about a substantially horizontal plane relative to said leg means when it is vertically extended for permitting digging of a trench of a predetermined breadth.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as defined in claim 22 wherein additional agitation means are arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned agitation means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination as defined in claim 21 wherein said leg means includes track means extending along a portion of its length, said track means being slidably received within guide means mounted on said housing, means being provided on said leg means operable for selectively extending and retracting said leg means relative to said housing, and wherein means mounted on said vessel operatively connected to said leg means are provided for moving said leg means between vertical and horizontal positions relative to said vessel.
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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) | 1981-02-13 | 1981-08-15 | 1982-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-08-15 | 1986-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-13 | 1989-08-15 | 1990-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |