Articulated jet sled
First Claim
1. Apparatus for entrenching a submerged elongated structure such as a pipeline or cable in the subsoil beneath a body of water, comprising:
- a frame for disposition above the elongate structure;
first and second jet leg apparatus extending downwardly on opposite sides of said elongate structure;
said first and second jet leg apparatus each being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the elongate structure, with the center of gravity of each apparatus being inboard of the pivot axis; and
positioning means for pivoting said first and second jet leg apparatus about said pivot axes to move said jet leg apparatus from a substantially vertical attitude to an attitude wherein the lower end of each jet leg is below and beneath the elongate structure to form a trench within the subsoil to accommodate the elongate structure;
said positioning means serving to apply a restraining force to said jet legs to maintain the lower ends thereof below and beneath the elongate structure, with the lower ends of said jet legs being free to swing outwardly upon the release of the restraining force.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for entrenching submerged elongate structures, such as a pipeline, within the bed of a body of water. A spreader frame straddles the pipeline to be entrenched. Port and starboard sled frame members having pontoons are pivoted in the spreader frame on each side of the pipeline for pivotal movement. Each sled frame member carries a fluid jetting leg which includes jetting nozzles. Hydraulically operated linkage moves the sled frame members causing the jetting legs to substantially enclose the pipeline bringing the ends of the fluid jetting legs into close proximity beneath the pipeline. Jetting action by the nozzles forms a trench in the bed for receiving the pipeline. The fluid jetting legs are adjustable for various depths and for various sizes of pipeline. The combined structure formed by a sled frame member and fluid jetting leg has a center of gravity that is inboard of its pivot point causing the jetting legs to move apart upon the apparatus being urged off the submerged floor such that the jetting sled does not engage or tangle the pipeline.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for entrenching a submerged elongated structure such as a pipeline or cable in the subsoil beneath a body of water, comprising:
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a frame for disposition above the elongate structure; first and second jet leg apparatus extending downwardly on opposite sides of said elongate structure; said first and second jet leg apparatus each being mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the elongate structure, with the center of gravity of each apparatus being inboard of the pivot axis; and positioning means for pivoting said first and second jet leg apparatus about said pivot axes to move said jet leg apparatus from a substantially vertical attitude to an attitude wherein the lower end of each jet leg is below and beneath the elongate structure to form a trench within the subsoil to accommodate the elongate structure; said positioning means serving to apply a restraining force to said jet legs to maintain the lower ends thereof below and beneath the elongate structure, with the lower ends of said jet legs being free to swing outwardly upon the release of the restraining force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for entrenching a submerged elongate structure such as a pipeline or cable in the subsoil beneath a body of water, comprising:
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a frame for disposition above the elongate structure;
first and second guide tracks fixed relative to said frame on opposing sides of the elongate structure;first and second jetting legs extending below the elongate structure on opposite sides thereof for forming a trench within the subsoil to accommodate the elongate structure; said first and second jetting legs being pivotally mounted on the frame, and said jetting legs having means operably engaging guide tracks to render said jetting legs vertically movable with respect to the elongate structure; and adjustment means for fixing the position of said jetting legs on said guide tracks to position the jetting legs to form a trench of selected depth in the subsoil beneath said elongate structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for entrenching a submerged elongate structure such as a pipeline or cable in the subsoil beneath a body of water, comprising:
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a frame for straddling disposition above the elongate structure; first and second jet leg apparatus extending below and beneath the elongate structure on opposite sides thereof, said first and second jet leg apparatus each being pivotally mounted on the frame with the center of gravity of each apparatus being inboard of the pivot point, and wherein each of said jet leg apparatus includes a jetting leg having fluid jet apertures; positioning means for pivoting said first and second jet leg apparatus about the pivot points to place the fluid jet apertures on the jetting legs below and beneath the elongate structure; said positioning means comprising in combination a linkage between each of said first and second jet leg apparatus and said frame, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between said frame and said linkage; first and second guide tracks fixed relative to said frame on opposing sides of the elongate structure; first and second guide members on each of said jetting legs operably engaging said guide tracks to render said jetting legs vertically movable with respect to the elongate structure; and adjustment means for fixing the position of said guide members on said guide tracks to position the jetting legs to form a trench of selected depth in the subsoil beneath the elongate structure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification