Underwater trenching system
First Claim
1. An underwater trenching system for forming a trench in a seabed under water, and installing a pipeline into said trench, comprising:
- a unit frame, said frame having upper and lower ends with a medial area therebetween, first and second sides, and a front and rear end, said medial area of said frame having formed longitudinally therethrough a pipeline conduit, said pipeline conduit also formed through said first side and said front and rear ends, said medial area further comprising upper and lower rollers configured to engage and roll along the pipeline to be installed;
a trenching/drive mechanism situated generally at said lower front end of said unit frame, comprising a cutter housing having a front, open area tapering to a rear area of lesser width and height of said front, open area, said front, open area having disposed therein a cutter wheel on an axle generally transversely situated relative the longitudinal axis of said unit frame, said cutter wheel further comprising a cutting blade configured to cut and scoop out said seabed, said cutter wheel configured to rotate in a forward direction, driving the front end of said unit frame forward, and rolling said unit frame along the pipeline via said upper and lower rollers, as said cutter wheel'"'"'s cutting blades cuts and scoops out said seabed and debris.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-guided system for trenching water bottoms for the installation of a pipeline. The preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches a system which is configured to be mounted about the pipeline to be buried, and which further contemplates a uniquely configured, forward mounted trenching/drive mechanism incorporating a cutter wheel generally about the width of the desired trench, the mechanism configured to propel the system as well as trench the desired area. The trenching/drive mechanism of the present invention further includes a high pressure spray array mounted about the frontal cutter wheel area, and a suction/mud pump assembly to the rear of the cutter wheel. The high pressure spray array provides the dual purpose function of loosening the area to be trenched, as well as cleaning and removing the trenched matter from the cutter wheel present invention further includes first and second buoyancy chambers which are configured to be uniformly lowered to the lower periphery of the unit frame, to provide skids for utilization of the present system in shallow water. An alternative embodiment of the present invention teaches the incorporation of a framed system similar to that as taught in the present invention, but without the trenching/drive mechanism, and with the addition of a pipe cutter mounted to the rear of the unit frame, for utilization of pipeline recovery and dismemberment operations.
18 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An underwater trenching system for forming a trench in a seabed under water, and installing a pipeline into said trench, comprising:
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a unit frame, said frame having upper and lower ends with a medial area therebetween, first and second sides, and a front and rear end, said medial area of said frame having formed longitudinally therethrough a pipeline conduit, said pipeline conduit also formed through said first side and said front and rear ends, said medial area further comprising upper and lower rollers configured to engage and roll along the pipeline to be installed; a trenching/drive mechanism situated generally at said lower front end of said unit frame, comprising a cutter housing having a front, open area tapering to a rear area of lesser width and height of said front, open area, said front, open area having disposed therein a cutter wheel on an axle generally transversely situated relative the longitudinal axis of said unit frame, said cutter wheel further comprising a cutting blade configured to cut and scoop out said seabed, said cutter wheel configured to rotate in a forward direction, driving the front end of said unit frame forward, and rolling said unit frame along the pipeline via said upper and lower rollers, as said cutter wheel'"'"'s cutting blades cuts and scoops out said seabed and debris. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification