Method of underwater trenching or dredging

Trenching or dredging has historically been done by removing sea bottom layers by using a suction pump and pumping it out on a barge and transporting it to an appropriate location. Though illegal, it is not uncommon for barges to take sand and soil out to deeper waters for disposal.

This causes marine life destruction and raises operational costs. The solution is to create a sinkhole in the current location without needing to move accumulated sand and soil.

A method of underwater trenching including providing an apparatus having a floating platform having an opening therein, a frame placed on the floating platform, a guide pipe inserted through the tower, a steel coiled high-pressure flexible hose attached to a high-pressure water pump, and a power source. Positioning the apparatus such that the opening is positioned over an area of water in which the sand under the water needs to be trenched. Lowering the guide pipe until an end of the guide pipe reaches the sand under the water. Inserting the hose through the guide pipe. Activating the water pump to induce until the sand begins to come up from around the pipe underneath a surface of the water indicating a sinkhole has been formed. Removing the guide pipe to collapse the sink hole to create the trench.

An apparatus designed for underwater trenching comprising a floating platform having an opening therein. A frame placed on the floating platform. A guide pipe inserted through the tower. A steel coiled high-pressure flexible hose attached to a high-pressure water pump. A power source, wherein the apparatus is positioned over an area of water in which the sand under the water needs to be trenched, the guide pipe is lowered until an end of the guide pipe reaches the sand under the water, the hose is inserted though the guide pipe, the pump is activated until the sand begins to come up from around the pipe underneath a surface of the water indicating a sinkhole has been formed and removing the guide pipe to collapse the sink hole to create the trench.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without all of the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well-known features may not have been described so as not to obscure the disclosure with unnecessary detail regarding known features.

As used herein, the term “and/or” is to be interpreted broadly and is to be understood to refer to all or some of the elements. For example, “at least one of (a) and/or (b)” means the teaching pertains only to element (a), or only to element (b), or to both element (a) and element (b). In another example, “at least one of (a), (b), and/or (c)”, means the teaching pertains to only element (a), or only to element (b), or only element (c), or to elements (a) and (b), elements (a) and (c), elements (b) and (c), or to all of (a), (b) and (c).

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus and method of underwater trenching or dredging.shows components of a dredging apparatus.shows apparatusincluding a floating platformand a frameplaced on the floating platform. An openingis provided in platform, such that frameis placed over such opening to gain egress to the water below. In some embodiments, openingis approximately 3.75 inches in diameter.

As shown in, frameis constructed of a plurality of galvanized steel pipesattached to a steel bracketand a mounting to the platformis bracket. Frameincludes multiple levels of pipesand steel brackets, similar to a scaffold, such that the height of framecan be adjusted to be higher or shorter.

In some embodiments, pipesmay a 3-inch zinc galvanized steel pipe with a length of 8 feet. Pipeis welded to a steel bracket, as shown in. Steel bracketmay be 2 inches wide and ½ an inch thick. In some embodiments, bracketmay be a 2 foot by 2-foot square. Mounting bracketincludes a plurality of drill holesfor attachment to platform. For example, mounting bracketincludes a ¾ inch opening for use of mounting bolts to attach with platform.

In some embodiments, mounting bracketis mounted to platforms utilizing a brass nut that is ¾ inch thick, a zinc galvanized washer placed between two ¾ inch nuts. The zinc galvanized washer goes under the second nut, a rubber gasket is ¼ inch thick and goes on top of the mounting bracket. Brass bolts, of which there are four, are ¾ inches thick wherein the length varies depending on the thickness of the floating platform. The nuts, washer and gaskets are mounted on the bottom of the platform.

As shown in, a guiding sleeve, for example, a guide pipeis inserted through the center of frame. Guide pipeis approximately 3 inches in diameter and is 8 feet long. As shown in, guide pipecan include multiple attachable sectionsThis allows for guide pipeto be increased and/or decreased depending on the depth of the sand below the water. Guide pipemay include a female threaded attachmentconfigured for engagement with a male threaded surfaceof a section of guide pipeto extend the length of guide pipe.

In some embodiments, frameincludes clampsarranged along a length of frameas shown in. Clampsare utilized to restrict movement of pipeduring use as shown inwhen the apparatus designed for underwater trenching is mounted on a catamaran, the clampswill help hold the guide pipemore securely when thegallons per minute are coursing through the guide pipe. A high-pressure water pumphaving a steel coiled high-pressure flexible hoseis configured for insertion through pipe. A power source, for example, a generator, is provided to actuate the water pump.

The high-pressure pumpcan ideally handlegallons per minute orpounds of pressure through the guide pipe. The guide pipemay also accommodate various accessories that can place or change the location of the sinkhole.

Due to the weight of the water, sand, and soil, the top of the sea bottom will stay in place. Pumping water downward at high levels of pressure creates a significant void or sinkhole. As shown in, guide pipeis inserted into the sand S at the desired depth on the ocean floor. Hoseis inserted into pipeand is actuated. The pressure from the pump expands the sand S and creates a significant void or sinkhole.

The pumpis shut off when sand S or soil starts coming up from around the pipeupwards. This indicates that the sinkhole has reached its maximum size. Once the pipeis removed, the sinkhole collapses, as shown in, and finishes the dredging process without the need to transport soil and with minimal damage to any marine life. In some embodiments, as shown in, guide pipemay have a lateral opening such that the area to be dredged can be altered to the left or right in addition to directly below the apparatus.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to teaching, examples and preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain its essential characteristics, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are encompassed by the scope of the present invention.