GB561202A - Improvements in and relating to excavating or like methods and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

561,202. Raising or forcing gritty liquids. GWYNNES PUMPS, Ltd., and HUMPHREYS, H. May 18, 1942, No. 6684. [Class 102 (ii)] [Also in Group XXI] Earth, sand or other material is excavated, raised or removed by boring into the material by means of a series of downwardly or forwardly directed hydraulic jets, and removingthe material operated on by the jets solely by hydraulic ejection, the material passing radially inwards to the ejector above or behind the said series of hydraulic jets. In Figs. 1 and 2, a cast or built-up fitting A comprises an annular compartment 2 with radial or tangential jets 18, a peripherally-open part 3, and a part 4 comprising chamber 5 leading to an ejector nozzle 9 below the lift pipe 10 and a tapered or rounded chamber 6 with downwardly or forwardly directed boring jets 7a and, if desired, inclined jets 8. Fittings 14, 12, 13 lead water under pressure respectively to compartment 2 and through pipes 15, 16' to chambers 5, 6. A- standard may be provided parallel to and between the pipes 15, 16, to form a support and to limit the size of material passing to the pipe 10, and the compartment 2 and jets 18 may be omitted. Boring and removal of material may be carried on simultaneously or in sequence, and remote control of the operations may be effected automatically by a rotary valve, particularly when excavating near unexploded mines or torpedoes. In Fig. 7, the fitting A is suspended by discharge hose 17 and feed pipes 19 from a drum 20 carried by slides 21 movable in guides 22 under control of ropes &c. 24 and winding gear 26; curved guides 28 are provided for the hose pipes, and the fitting A may be counter-balanced. The jets may be round, or fishtailed and arranged to provide a continuous ring of water around the fitting A. For salvage work on sunken vessels, or for emptying ships, the fitting A may be carried by an extensible support 34, Fig. 12, comprising lengths of concentric piping and a header 36 connected by swing bolts and slots, the inner pipe forming the lift, pipe and the space between the pipes being longitudinally divided by radial partitions into compartments separately connected to the jet compartments 2, 5, 6. The device may also be used for excavating trenches, and may be of non- magnetic material such as aluminum, or light welded construction.