Underwater trenching apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Underwater trenching apparatus comprising:
- a soil cutting arrangement having a forwardly disposed cutting portion and a rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion;
a soil removal device configured to remove soil from a location forward of the soil cutting arrangement; and
a barrier device located in front of the soil cutting arrangement; and
a crumber unit;
wherein the barrier device extends in a travel direction beyond an outer periphery of the forwardly disposed cutting portion, and is configured substantially to prevent passage of soil to the non-cutting portion of the soil cutting arrangement;
wherein the soil removal device comprises an inlet and an outlet, the outlet is provided substantially tangential to the direction of rotation of the soil cutting arrangement or of the travel direction; and
wherein the crumber unit is located at the lower part of the rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion to assist preventing re-circulation of the soil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An underwater trenching apparatus comprising a soil cutting arrangement having a forwardly disposed cutting portion and a rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion, a soil removal device configured to remove soil from a location forward of the soil cutting arrangement and barrier device located and configured substantially to prevent passage of soil to the non-cutting portion of the soil cutting arrangement. The soil cutting arrangement is typically a rockwheel or chain cutter. The soil removal device is typically a dredge pump or eductor.
12 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Underwater trenching apparatus comprising:
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a soil cutting arrangement having a forwardly disposed cutting portion and a rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion; a soil removal device configured to remove soil from a location forward of the soil cutting arrangement; and a barrier device located in front of the soil cutting arrangement; and a crumber unit; wherein the barrier device extends in a travel direction beyond an outer periphery of the forwardly disposed cutting portion, and is configured substantially to prevent passage of soil to the non-cutting portion of the soil cutting arrangement; wherein the soil removal device comprises an inlet and an outlet, the outlet is provided substantially tangential to the direction of rotation of the soil cutting arrangement or of the travel direction; and wherein the crumber unit is located at the lower part of the rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion to assist preventing re-circulation of the soil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Underwater trenching apparatus comprising:
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a soil cutting arrangement having a forwardly disposed cutting portion and a rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion; a soil removal device configured to remove soil from a location forward of the soil cutting arrangement; a barrier device located in front of the soil cutting arrangement, extending in a travel direction beyond an outer periphery of the forwardly disposed cutting portion, and configured substantially to prevent passage of soil to the non-cutting portion of the soil cutting arrangement; means for propelling the apparatus in a desired direction for trench forming, wherein the soil removal device comprises an inlet and an outlet, the outlet is provided substantially tangential to the direction of rotation of the soil cutting arrangement or of the travel direction; and a crumber unit located at the lower part of the rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion to assist preventing re-circulation of the soil. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification