Pumps – Motor driven – Fluid motor
Patent
1993-10-13
1996-01-02
Bertsch, Richard A.
Pumps
Motor driven
Fluid motor
415 80, 173DIG1, F04B 3502
Patent
active
054802911
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to underwater excavation apparatus and is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to underwater excavation apparatus as described and illustrated in our European Patent Publication No. 0289520.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
European Patent Publication No. 0289520 describes and illustrates an underwater excavation apparatus comprising a tube in which a propeller is mounted which, when energised, produces an unrestricted flow of water of sufficient volume and velocity to carry away sea-bed material. The propeller is driven by a motor mounted in the steel tube and connected via an umbilical to a power supply at the surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides underwater excavation apparatus comprising a hollow body having an inlet to receive water, an outlet for discharge of water, a propeller mounted for rotation in the hollow body to draw water through the inlet and deliver a stream of water through the outlet, water jet means on the propeller for rotating the propeller and means to supply water under pressure to the jet means to cause the propeller to rotate and thereby draw water into the body through the inlet and deliver a flow of water through the outlet for displacing material on the seabed.
The excavation apparatus may be traversed independently over the seabed or may be used in combination with a drill string extending to the seabed with the hollow body mounted at the lower end of the drill string to displace material below the drill string.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical section through an underwater excavation apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 on FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a vertical section through a preferred form of the excavation apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section through a still further form of underwater excavation apparatus;
FIG. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 illustrates the application of the excavation apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5 to the lower end of a drill string extending downwardly from a drilling rig.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The drawings illustrate an underwater excavation apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical tube 10 disposed with its axis extending vertically and having an upper, inlet end 11 through which water may be drawn into the tube and a lower outlet end 12 from which water may discharged from the tube.
Two bearing housings 13,14 are mounted at spaced locations along the axis of the tube on sets of vanes 15,16 which extend radially between the housings and the inner periphery of the tube. By way of example, each set of vanes may comprise four vanes. The vanes 15,16 lie in planes extending lengthwise of the tube for a further purpose to be described later.
A shaft 17 extends between and is mounted for rotation in the bearing housings 13,14 to carry a propeller indicated at 18 disposed on the shaft between the housings. The propeller comprises a hub 19 secured to the shaft and four (or more) outwardly extending blades 20. A sleeve 21 encircles and is secured to the tips 22 of the blades, the sleeve forming a narrow annular gap 23 with the inner side of the tube 10.
The shaft 17 has an upper end 24 which projects through a bearing housing 13 and an umbilical 25 carrying a high pressure water supply is connected to the upper end of the shaft by means of a high pressure water slip ring 26 to allow the shaft to rotate with respect to the umbilical. The shaft 17 is formed with a throughway 27 extending from its upper end 24 to the region located within the propeller hub 19. The throughway 27 opens into a manifold 28 formed in the shaft connected to radial passages extending through the wall of the hub 19 to passages 29 extending outwardly through the propeller blades 20. Towards the blade tips, the passages 29 are angled forwardly in a clockwise direction
REFERENCES:
patent: 69294 (1867-09-01), Wynkoop
patent: 191668 (1977-06-01), Good
patent: 290039 (1883-12-01), Griffith
patent: 2225412 (1940-12-01), Ferling
patent: 2705051 (1955-03-01), Hauser
patent: 2920813 (1960-01-01), Goldschmeid
patent: 3286984 (1966-11-01), Bachl
patent: 3398694 (1968-08-01), Lerch
patent: 3786875 (1974-01-01), Merle
patent: 3910728 (1975-10-01), Sloan
patent: 3926534 (1975-12-01), Erickson
patent: 4138202 (1979-02-01), Eller
patent: 4756671 (1988-07-01), Grimes
patent: 5263814 (1993-11-01), Jang
Bertsch Richard A.
Korytnyk Peter G.
Underwater Excavation Limited
LandOfFree
Underwater excavation apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Underwater excavation apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Underwater excavation apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-231541