US4571121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater erosion prevention and backfill system with barrier bag installation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-01
•
Granted: 1986-02-18
•
Expires: 2004-03-01
Abstract
Abstract An underwater backfilling apparatus which can be used by undersea divers provides a sediment intake which is randomly movable by a diver over the ocean floor for removing sediment material from the seabed which is to be used in underwater backfilling. A handheld discharge dispenses the sediment material into a selected void space to be backfilled with the sediment which is removed by the intake from the seabed. A conduit connects the intake and the discharge with a bore so that sediment can be transmitted from the intake to the outlet. A fluid drive is positioned in the conduit between the inlet and the outlet for moving a mixture of sediment and seawater through the conduit. The fluid drive in the preferred embodiment includes a fluid conveying tubular member having an inlet and an outlet which are connectable to the conduit, a branch conduit line extending angularly from the tubular member and forming an acute angle at the point of intersection with the tubular member and a fluid pump which is connectable to the branch conduit line for injecting a moving fluid mass into the bore of the tubular member so that the moving fluid mass can produce flow through the conduit between the inlet and the outlet.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce J. Albert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:28
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/0017; E02D; E02D15/00; E02D15/10; E02D23/00; E02D23/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An underwater backfilling apparatus for use by divers comprising: a. sediment intake means randomly movable by a diver for removing sediment material from the seabed which is to be used for backfilling; b. handheld discharge means for dispensing sediment material into a selected void space to be backfilled with the sediment material by a diver; c. conduit means connecting the intake means and the discharge means with a bore so that sediment material can be transmitted from the intake means to the outlet means; and d. fluid drive means positioned in the conduit means between the inlet means and outlet means for moving a mixture of sediment and seawater through the conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An underwater backfilling apparatus for use by divers comprising: a. sediment intake means randomly movable by a diver for removing sediment material from the seabed which is to be used for backfilling; b. handheld discharge means for dispensing sediment material into a selected void space to be backfilled with the sediment material by a diver; c. conduit means connecting the intake means and the discharge means with a bore so that sediment material can be transmitted from the intake means to the outlet means; and d. fluid drive means positioned in the conduit means between the inlet means and outlet means for moving a mixture of sediment and seawater through the conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid drive means comprises: a fluid conveying tubular member having an inlet and an outlet which are connectable to the conduit means; a branch conduit line extending angularly from the tubular member and forming an acute angle at the point of intersection with the tubular member; fluid drive means connectable to the branch conduit line for injecting a moving fluid mass into the bore of the tubular member so that the moving fluid mass can produce flow through the conduit between the inlet means and outlet means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake means comprises a wheeled carriage having an intake positioned downwardly toward the seabed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake means is a carriage having an intake and scraper means for scarrifying the seabed so that sediment can be mechanically broken up adjacent the intake.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake means comprises: a carriage body having a lower surface opening; connection means on the carriage body for connecting the conduit means to the carriage body so that a suction in the conduit will create a suction at the lower surface opening; and means for supporting the carriage a small distance from or directly upon the seabed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 5 further comprising scraper means for scarrifying the seabed so that sediment can be mechanically broken up adjacent the lower surface opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 6 further comprising receptacle means connectable to the discharge means for collecting sediment material discharged therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 7, wherein the receptacle means has a flexible wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receptacle provides means for separating seawater from sediment material so that sediment material is retained within the receptacle means and seawater is allowed to escape from the receptacle means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The underwater backfilling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receptacle means has a rectangular cross-section.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for controlling erosion around offshore rig substructures comprising the steps of: a. providing underwater conduit through which backfill material can be transported to the area adjacent a rig substructure having eroded void spaces in need of control; b. scarrifying the seabed with one end portion of the conduit to mechanically break up suitable backfill material; c. creating a suction in the underwater conduit by injecting fluid into the conduit at an angle which creates a suction at the intake portion of the conduit and a discharge at the effluent end portion of the conduit; and e. using the effluent end portion of the conduit to backfill the void spaces around the rig.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for controlling erosion around offshore rig substructures comprising the steps of: a. providing underwater conduit through which backfill material can be transported to the area adjacent a rig substructure having eroded void spaces in need of control; b. scarrifying the seabed with one end portion of the conduit to mechanically break up suitable backfill material; c. creating a suction in the underwater conduit by injecting fluid into the conduit at an angle which creates a suction at the intake portion of the conduit and a discharge at the effluent end portion of the conduit; and e. using the effluent end portion of the conduit to backfill the void spaces around the rig.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the suction is created by a fluid drive pump positioned between the inlet and the outlet portions of the conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid drive comprises a fluid pump having a linear section which is placed in the conduit so that flow through the conduit proceeds through the linear portion of the fluid pump, and the fluid pump further includes a lateral branch section which forms an acute angle with the in-line section of the fluid drive pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 11 further including the step of filling one or more flexible bags with fill material which is transported from the seabed adjacent the rig through the conduit and into the bag so that the bag forms an erosion control interface where the rig substructure meets the seabed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 12 further including the step of preliminarily filling the void spaces in the seabed at the interface with the rig substructure, and secondarily filling a plurality of erosion control bags which are placed at the seabed/rig interface.
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) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |