Patent US4117689A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4117689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Submarine pipe trenching apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-05-09
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Granted: 1978-10-03
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Expires: 1997-05-09
Abstract
Abstract Submarine pipe trenching apparatus for digging a trench below submarine pipelines, wherein jet supports having nozzles for digging into the ground are supported for oscillatory movement on a frame, and wherein a crawler assembly is mounted on the pipe for moving the jets supports along and below the pipe when the liquid is propelled through the nozzles for digging out the soil below the pipe. The nozzles may include orifice plate means defining their outlets and inclined so that liquid emanating therefrom strikes the earth formation at a small acute angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Francis Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:52
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/92; E02F3/9206; E02F3/9212; E02F3/9218; E02F3/9243; E02F5/00; E02F5/02; E02F5/10; E02F5/104; E02F5/105; E02F5/107; E02F5/108; E02F5/109; E02F9/00; E02F9/02; E02F9/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An underwater trenching apparatus for burying a pipeline or the like beneath the bottom of a body of water comprising: a frame for positioning over the pipeline to be buried; jet support means supported on said frame for oscillatory movement with respect to said frame about a first axis generally transverse to said pipeline; a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means for digging a trench in said bottom for burying said pipeline; oscillating means operatively connected to said jet support means for oscillating said jet support means with respect to said frame; a plurality of rollers secured to said apparatus and contacting said pipeline to direct said apparatus along said pipeline; drive means to drive at least a first of said rollers for movement of said apparatus along said pipeline; and biasing means operative between at least one of said rollers and said frame to permit movement of said roller toward and away from the axis of said pipeline while following variations in the circumference in said pipeline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An underwater trenching apparatus for burying a pipeline or the like beneath the bottom of a body of water comprising: a frame for positioning over the pipeline to be buried; jet support means supported on said frame for oscillatory movement with respect to said frame about a first axis generally transverse to said pipeline; a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means for digging a trench in said bottom for burying said pipeline; oscillating means operatively connected to said jet support means for oscillating said jet support means with respect to said frame; a plurality of rollers secured to said apparatus and contacting said pipeline to direct said apparatus along said pipeline; drive means to drive at least a first of said rollers for movement of said apparatus along said pipeline; and biasing means operative between at least one of said rollers and said frame to permit movement of said roller toward and away from the axis of said pipeline while following variations in the circumference in said pipeline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having an operative position in which said jet support means is disposed in said trench for movement therealong and wherein said nozzles are directed generally away from said frame and have outlet portions, at least said outlet portions being inclined generally upwardly with respect to horizontal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said nozzles in said operative position are generally vertically spaced along said jet support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said jet support means is inclined with respect to vertical in said operative position, the lower end of said jet support means trailing the upper end with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus along said pipeline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including two such jet support means disposed on opposite sides of said pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said oscillating means includes a rotary drive member mounted on said frame for rotation about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, mounting means pivotally securing said jet support means to said frame for oscillating movement about said first axis, and a crank arm having opposite ends pivotally connected to said rotary drive member and said jet support means, respectively for movement about respective pivot points, the pivot point on said rotary drive member being radially spaced from said second axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising eductor means attached to said frame for removing spoil from said trench.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said nozzles includes orifice plate means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for excavating an underwater earth formation, comprising: a frame for positioning adjacent said earth formation; jet support means carried by said frame; and a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means each of said nozzles including orifice plate means configured to inhibit divergence of liquid emanating therefrom to project a concentrated stream of such liquid toward said earth formation for excavation thereof.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for excavating an underwater earth formation, comprising: a frame for positioning adjacent said earth formation; jet support means carried by said frame; and a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means each of said nozzles including orifice plate means configured to inhibit divergence of liquid emanating therefrom to project a concentrated stream of such liquid toward said earth formation for excavation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 9 being a trenching apparatus for burying a pipeline beneath the bottom of a body of water, and wherein said frame is adapted for positioning adjacent the pipeline to be buried, and said nozzles are adapted for digging a trench in said bottom for burying said pipeline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said jet support means is supported on said frame for oscillatory movement with respect to said frame about an axis generally transverse to said pipeline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 10 having an operative position in which said jet support means is disposed in said trench for movement therealong and wherein said nozzles are directed generally away from said frame and have outlet portions, at least said outlet portions being inclined generally upwardly with respect to horizontal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said nozzles in said operative position are generally vertically spaced along said jet support means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising eductor means attached to said frame for removing soil from said trench.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said outlet portions are inclined at an angle such that liquid emanating from said nozzles will strike said earth formation at a small acute angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising pipe crawler means connected to said frame and engageable with the pipeline for imparting longitudinal movement to said frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A trenching apparatus for excavating an underwater earth formation to bury a pipeline beneath the bottom of a body of water, comprising: a frame adapted for positioning over the pipeline to be buried adjacent said earth formation; jet support means carried by said frame; a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means, each of said nozzles including orifice plate means and being adapted for digging a trench in said bottom for burying said pipeline; a plurality of rollers secured to said apparatus and contacting said pipeline to direct said apparatus along said pipeline; drive means to drive at least a first of said rollers for movement of said apparatus along said pipeline; and biasing means operative between at least one of said rollers and said frame to permit movement of said roller toward and away from the axis of said pipeline while following variations in the circumference in said pipeline.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
A trenching apparatus for excavating an underwater earth formation to bury a pipeline beneath the bottom of a body of water, comprising: a frame adapted for positioning over the pipeline to be buried adjacent said earth formation; jet support means carried by said frame; a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means, each of said nozzles including orifice plate means and being adapted for digging a trench in said bottom for burying said pipeline; a plurality of rollers secured to said apparatus and contacting said pipeline to direct said apparatus along said pipeline; drive means to drive at least a first of said rollers for movement of said apparatus along said pipeline; and biasing means operative between at least one of said rollers and said frame to permit movement of said roller toward and away from the axis of said pipeline while following variations in the circumference in said pipeline.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
Submarine pipeline trenching apparatus, comprising: a trench cutter assembly including a plurality of jet nozzles disposed at different elevations from the upper end to the lower end of said cutter assembly, and with at least one jet nozzle at each of said elevations; a frame adapted to be positioned above a pipeline to be buried; pipe crawler means connected to said frame and engageable with the pipeline for imparting longitudinal movement to said frame and said cutter assembly; and cutter positioning means operably connected with said cutter assembly for moving said cutter assembly from a raised substantially horizontal position to an upright position at least partially below the pipeline after said crawler means is positioned on the pipeline.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
Submarine pipeline trenching apparatus, comprising: a trench cutter assembly including a plurality of jet nozzles disposed at different elevations from the upper end to the lower end of said cutter assembly, and with at least one jet nozzle at each of said elevations; a frame adapted to be positioned above a pipeline to be buried; pipe crawler means connected to said frame and engageable with the pipeline for imparting longitudinal movement to said frame and said cutter assembly; and cutter positioning means operably connected with said cutter assembly for moving said cutter assembly from a raised substantially horizontal position to an upright position at least partially below the pipeline after said crawler means is positioned on the pipeline.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for excavating an underwater earth formation, having a generally vertical face, comprising: a frame for positioning adjacent said earth formation; jet support means carried by said frame; and a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means, each of said nozzles having an outlet portion inclined upwardly form horizontal at an angle such that liquid emanating from said nozzle will strike said face of said earth formation at a small acute angle.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for excavating an underwater earth formation, having a generally vertical face, comprising: a frame for positioning adjacent said earth formation; jet support means carried by said frame; and a plurality of nozzles on said jet support means, each of said nozzles having an outlet portion inclined upwardly form horizontal at an angle such that liquid emanating from said nozzle will strike said face of said earth formation at a small acute angle.
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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) | 1981-10-02 | 1982-04-03 | 1982-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-02 | 1986-04-03 | 1986-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-02 | 1990-04-03 | 1990-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |