Method and device for maintaining tools at a level

Claim 1

The method of controlling an underwater tool in a body of water which is affected by waves and tides, so as to provide a specified contour of subaqueous soil, which comprises the steps of: (a) establishing a fixed reference point of known level in horizontally spaced relation to the hull; (b) positioning said tool in working engagement position with the subaqueous soil below the hull at a working position level which is fixed with respect to said fixed reference point while said hull is at one end of said path, tensioning from said hull a cable connected to said tool while maintaining said tool suspended from said hull at said working position level to compensate for wave motion acting vertically on the hull whereby said cable tends to remain relatively stationary in the vertical sense with respect to said fixed reference point, and establishing a tool level reference point on said cable at a known distance above said tool; and (c) controlling said tool, while said hull is travelled toward the opposite end of said path, to form said specified contour by directly monitoring said tool level reference point from said fixed reference point.

Claim 2

The method of controlling an underwater tool in a body of water which is affected by waves and tides, so as to provide a specified contour of subaqueous soil, which comprises the steps of: (a) establishing a fixed reference point of known level in horizontally spaced relation to the hull; (b) positioning said tool in working engagement position with the subaqueous soil below the hull at a working position level which is fixed with respect to said fixed reference point while said hull is at one end of said path, tensioning from said hull a cable connected to said tool while maintaining said tool suspended from said hull at said working position level to compensate for wave motion acting vertically on the hull whereby said cable tends to remain relatively stationary in the vertical sense with respect to said fixed reference point, and establishing a tool level reference point on said cable at a known distance above said tool; and (c) controlling said tool, while said hull is travelled toward the opposite end of said path, to form said specified contour by directly monitoring said tool level reference point from said fixed reference point.

Claim 3

A device for controlling an underwater tool in a body of water which is affected by waves and tides, to provide a specified contour of subaqueous soil which comprises in combination: (a) a buoyant hull adapted to travel along a predetermined path in the body of water; (b) tool means suspended from said hull for working the subaqueous soil below said hull as said hull is travelled along said path; (c) means for defining a fixed reference point at a known level in horizontally spaced relation to said hull; (d) tool level positioning means connected to said tool means and carried by said hull for positioning said tool in working engagement with the subaqueous soil below the hull at a working position level and including wave compensating means for maintaining said tool means at said working position level independent of wave motion acting vertically on said hull; (e) tool level reference means attached to said tool for establishing a tool level reference point visible from said fixed reference point at a known distance above said tool; (f) measuring means at said fixed reference point for directly monitoring the level of said tool level reference means with respect to said fixed reference point while said hull is travelled along said predetermined path; and (g) control means for controlling the level of said tool means in accord with the monitored level of said tool level reference means to form said specified contour; said measuring means comprising a goniometer for measuring the angle between said tool level reference means and the horizon, said tool level positioning means including a cable connected to said tool and through said wave compensating means to said hull, and said tool level reference means being positioned on said cable.

Claim 4

A device for controlling an underwater tool in a body of water which is affected by waves and tides, to provide a specified contour of subaqueous soil which comprises in combination: (a) a buoyant hull adapted to travel along a predetermined path in the body of water; (b) tool means suspended from said hull for working the subaqueous soil below said hull as said hull is travelled along said path; (c) means for defining a fixed reference point at a known level in horizontally spaced relation to said hull; (d) tool level positioning means connected to said tool means and carried by said hull for positioning said tool in working engagement with the subaqueous soil below the hull at a working position level and including wave compensating means for maintaining said tool means at said working position level independent of wave motion acting vertically on said hull; (e) tool level reference means attached to said tool for establishing a tool level reference point visible from said fixed reference point at a known distance above said tool; (f) measuring means at said fixed reference point for directly monitoring the level of said tool level reference means with respect to said fixed reference point while said hull is travelled along said predetermined path; and (g) control means for controlling the level of said tool means in accord with the monitored level of said tool level reference means to form said specified contour; said measuring means comprising a goniometer for measuring the angle between said tool level reference means and the horizon, said tool level positioning means including a cable connected to said tool and through said wave compensating means to said hull, and said tool level reference means being positioned on said cable.