Underwater plow having an improved plow assembly
US8333535B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE02F5/106
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An underwater plow includes a plow assembly that is attached to a frame. The plow assembly includes a blade portion, which defines a blade trough, and a sensor chute portion. The blade portion extends downwardly below a plane that is coincident with a longitudinal axis defined by the frame, while the chute portion extends upwardly above the same plane. A depressor arm is pivotably attached to the blade portion and biased to be in contact with the trough. The depressor arm has a groove that is sized to allow the cable, but not the sensors, to pass through the groove while the depressor arm is in contact with the trough. With this configuration, an array cable passes downward through the blade portion of the plow assembly and becomes buried in the ocean floor. Array sensors, however, are routed upward and pass through the chute portion of the plow assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.