US3921560A - Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters - Google Patents

Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters Download PDF

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Publication number
US3921560A
US3921560A US459028A US45902874A US3921560A US 3921560 A US3921560 A US 3921560A US 459028 A US459028 A US 459028A US 45902874 A US45902874 A US 45902874A US 3921560 A US3921560 A US 3921560A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ice
cutter
sleeve
cutter arms
shaft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US459028A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joseph F Schirtzinger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sea Log Corp
Original Assignee
Sea Log Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sea Log Corp filed Critical Sea Log Corp
Priority to US459028A priority Critical patent/US3921560A/en
Priority to JP50040449A priority patent/JPS50141103A/ja
Priority to DE19752514974 priority patent/DE2514974A1/de
Priority to SE7503957A priority patent/SE7503957L/xx
Priority to SU752122477A priority patent/SU942582A3/ru
Priority to CA224,149A priority patent/CA1021581A/en
Priority to GB14112/75A priority patent/GB1490877A/en
Priority to NO751192A priority patent/NO141982C/no
Priority to DK148375A priority patent/DK148375A/da
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3921560A publication Critical patent/US3921560A/en
Priority to SE8106168A priority patent/SE8106168L/sv
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B17/0017—Means for protecting offshore constructions
    • E02B17/0021—Means for protecting offshore constructions against ice-loads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/08—Ice-breakers or other vessels or floating structures for operation in ice-infested waters; Ice-breakers, or other vessels or floating structures having equipment specially adapted therefor
    • B63B35/12—Ice-breakers or other vessels or floating structures for operation in ice-infested waters; Ice-breakers, or other vessels or floating structures having equipment specially adapted therefor having ice-cutters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413—Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B17/02—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto
    • E02B17/027—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor placed by lowering the supporting construction to the bottom, e.g. with subsequent fixing thereto steel structures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2211/00—Applications
    • B63B2211/06—Operation in ice-infested waters
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
    • E02B2017/0073—Details of sea bottom engaging footing
    • E02B2017/0086—Large footings connecting several legs or serving as a reservoir for the storage of oil or gas

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A comminuting type rotary ice cutter that includes a vertical shaft which is rotatably supported so as to extend above and below the ice. A plurality of radial cutter arms are supported by and project from the shaft over a substantial portion of the length of the shaft, the cutter arms terminating at the outer ends in cutting edges adapted to engage and chip the surrounding ice.
  • At least some of the cutter arms have a top surface inclined at an angle to the plane of movement of the cutter arms, the angle of incline being such that the water and chips of ice, on contacting the cutter arms, are deflected upwardly toward the top end of the shaft.
  • This invention relates to comminuting type ice cutters for vessels operating in arctic waters, and more particularly, is concerned with such a cutter having a pumping action for removing pieces of ice as they are dislodged.
  • ice cutter arrangement for a monopod type drilling platform.
  • the cutter is of a comminuting type in which a plurality of radially extending cutter arms are mounted on a rotating sleeve concentrically supported on the single supporting column of the monopod structure. As the sleeve is rotated above the vertical column, the ends of the projecting arms engage the surrounding ice, cutting or chipping away ice particles from the surrounding ice sheet and permitting a path to be cut in the ice through which the supporting column of the monopod structure is able to move.
  • the present invenion is directed to an improved cutter assembly of the comminuting type which gives greatly improved operating efficiency under all'types of operating conditions.
  • This is achieved, in brief, by providing a comminuting type rotary ice cutter in which a plurality of radial cutting arms project from a vertically supported rotating shaft and in which at least some of the cutter arms have their upper surfaces inclined at an angle to the plane of rotation of the respective arms at an angle such that water and ice impinging on the rotating arms is deflected upwardly.
  • the rotating arms produce a pumping action in which the water and ice chips produced by the cutters flow upwardly along the supporting shaft.
  • the upward movement of the ice par ticles by the pumping action of the cutter arms acts to clear the ice particles out of the path of the cutter arms as they are formed. They are either deposited out onto the top of the surrounding ice or rapidly moved to the already cleared region of open water formed by the cutters. Efficiency is further improved by coating the cutter surfaces with an elastomeric material to reduce friction between the water and ice particles and the moving surfaces of the cutter assembly. Also, heated fluids are passed through the annular space between the rotating shaft of the cutter assembly and the vertical supporting column on which the cutter assembly is journaled for rotation to prevent freezing on the cutter surfaces.
  • the downward thrust produced by the cutter arms on the supporting structure further acts to coun- 2 teract or oppose the lateral bending force of the support structure by the ice as it engages the cutters.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a monopod drilling platform having a cutter assembly rotatably mounted on the supporting column;
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the individual cutter arms.
  • the base is in the form of a hull constructed of bulkheads and outer plates, providing a substantially watertight structure which may be ballasted to rest on the sea bottom at the drilling location or which may be sufficiently buoyant to float beneath the surface as a semisubmersible.
  • a superstructure 12 providing an upper drilling deck 14 is supported above the water surface from the base 10 by a single vertical column indicated generally at 16. Drilling is accomplished from the drilling deck 4 down through the column and base into the sea floor by means of conventional drilling equipment including a drilling derrick 18 mounted on the drilling deck 14.
  • the column consists of an outer stationary cylindrical shell 20 which is rigidly attached at its lower end to the bottom of the base 10.
  • a cylindrical casing 22 Inside the column 16 is a cylindrical casing 22 through which access to the ocean floor from the drilling deck is provided.
  • the opening through the casing is referred to as the moon pool.
  • the casing 22 is preferably offset from the outer stationary cylinder20 to provide a larger working space for men and equipment between the drilling deck and the subsurface base.
  • a cylindrical sleeve 24 Surrounding the outside of the cylinder 20 and concentric therewith is a cylindrical sleeve 24.
  • the sleeve 24 is rotatably supported and driven from the upper superstructure 12 to permit continuous rotation of the sleeve 24 around the outside of the cylinder 20.
  • Individual cutter arms 26 are secured to the outer surface of the sleeve 24.
  • the cutter arms are positioned around the complete circumference of the sleeve 24 and are positioned over substantially the full length of the column 16.
  • the sleeve operates as a cutter drive shaft for driving the cutters in a circular path through the water.
  • roller assembly Details of the roller assembly are described in copending application Ser. No. 459,029, filed Apr. 8, 1974, entitled Ice Cutter for Monopod Drilling Platform" and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.
  • the cutter arms 26 are shown in more detail.
  • the cutter arms are forged or otherwise shaped of high-tensile strength material with a base portion 28 which rests against the outer surface 'of the sleeve 24.
  • the sleeve 24 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced ribs 30.
  • the base 28 of the arm 26 extends diagonally between two adjacent ribs. Opposite ends of the base 28 terminate in flanges 32 and 34 which are bolted or otherwise anchored to two adjacent ribs 30 of the sleeve 24.
  • Each arm extends radially outwardly from the base 28, the arm 26 curving in an arc so that the outer end 36 is almost tangential to the circular path of movement of the cutter tip.
  • the end 36 is formed with a sharp cutting edge 38.
  • the wedgeshaped cutting edge 38 is formed by a flat surface 39 machined on the outer periphery of the tip 36 of the arm 26.
  • the leading edge 40 of the cutter arm is substantially below the level of the trailing edge 42.
  • the arm In cross-section, as indicated by the dotted lines, the arm is curved upwardly between the leading edge 40 and the trailing edge 42.
  • the cutter arm produces a scooping action which thrusts the water upwardly as the arm-moves through the water. The effect of this is to produce a strong downward thrust on the cutter sleeve 24 which in turn transmits a strong downward thrust through the roller bearing support of the sleeve 24 on the monopod structure to hold the monopod structure more firmly in place where the structure rests on the ocean bottom.
  • cutters at a lower depth which are less apt to be involved in the cutting of ice except in the very thickest of ice flows, may be made with the leading and trailing edges of the arm lying in a substantial horizontal plane so as to reduce the resistance to the movement of the cutter through the water.
  • cutter arms at an intermediate depth may have a lesser pitch than cutter arms near the top to reduce resistance but still provide some upward flow.
  • the clogging and refreezing of ice particles either to each other or to the surfaces of the cutter arms or the supporting sleeve, can further be reduced by circulating hot fluid in the annular space between the inside of the sleeve 24 and the outside of the cylinder 20. As shown in FIG. 3, this may be accomplished by discharging engine exhaust, for example, into the annular space inside the cutter sleeve.
  • a pipe 60 directs hot exhaust gases through an annular seal 62 into the inside of the sleeve 24.
  • the gases are preferably directed from the annular space inside the sleeve through a pipe 64 extending up inside the cylinder 20.
  • the pipe 64 extends through the cylinder at a point above the water level to reduce back pressure on the exhaust system.
  • the engine exhaust may be passed through a heat exchanger (not shown) for heating water that is pumped through the heat exchanger and the annular 4 space inside the cutter sleeve. Through conduction, the cutter arms are warmed sufficiently to prevent ice buildup on the cutter surfaces.
  • An ice cutter for cutting a path for a vessel through surface ice comprising:
  • an elongated cutter shaft means rotatably supporting the shaft from the vessel, the shaft extending above and below the surface ice, a plurality of radial ice cutter arms supported by and projecting from the shaft, and means carried by the vessel for rotating the shaft and associated ice cutter arms about an axis of rotation, the cutter arms terminating at the outer ends thereof in cutting edges adapted to engage and chip thesurrounding ice, the radial cutter arms having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the top surface of each cutter arm being inclined between the leading edge in a tangential direction, the trailing edge being higher than the leading edge as measured in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation so that the water is deflected upwardly in a direction parallelto the axis of rotation by the inclined surface.
  • the cutter arms are coated with an elastomeric material to reduce surface friction with the ice and water.
  • Apparatus of claim 1 further including means for heating the cutter armsto prevent icing of the cutters and shaft.
  • An ice cutter assembly for a monopod type drilling platform in which a single cylindrical column supports an elevated deck from a fully submerged hull, comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve concentrically surrounding the column, means for rotatably supporting the sleeve on the column, drive'means for imparting rotation to the sleeve about the axis of the column, a plurality of ice cutter arms mounted on the sleeve and projecting outwardly from the sleeve, the outer ends of the cutter arms having cutting edges adapted to cut chips of ice from any ice mass moving toward the column, and means rotated by the sleeve through the surrounding water for thrusting the water upwardly around the sleeve, the water thrusting means comprising intermediate portions of the ice cutter arms radially positioned between the sleeve and the outer ends, the intermediate portions of each cutter arm having a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to the direction of movement of the associated cutter arm as it moves through the water with rotation of the s
  • Apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cutter arms are coated with an elastomeric material to reduce friction between the ice and cutter arms.
  • Apparatus of claim 5 further including means circulating a heated fluid between the inside of the sleeve and supporting column to heat the cutter arms.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
  • Placing Or Removing Of Piles Or Sheet Piles, Or Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
  • Aerodynamic Tests, Hydrodynamic Tests, Wind Tunnels, And Water Tanks (AREA)
US459028A 1974-04-08 1974-04-08 Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters Expired - Lifetime US3921560A (en)

Priority Applications (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US459028A US3921560A (en) 1974-04-08 1974-04-08 Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters
JP50040449A JPS50141103A (is") 1974-04-08 1975-04-04
DE19752514974 DE2514974A1 (de) 1974-04-08 1975-04-05 Eisschneidvorrichtung fuer in eisbedeckten gewaessern arbeitende einrichtungen
SU752122477A SU942582A3 (ru) 1974-04-08 1975-04-07 Устройство дл разрушени льда дл эксплуатируемых во льдах судов
SE7503957A SE7503957L (sv) 1974-04-08 1975-04-07 Isfresningsanordning for fartyg som opererar i isbelagda vatten.
CA224,149A CA1021581A (en) 1974-04-08 1975-04-07 Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters
GB14112/75A GB1490877A (en) 1974-04-08 1975-04-07 Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters
NO751192A NO141982C (no) 1974-04-08 1975-04-07 Isskjaerer for skjaering av en raak for et fartoey gjennom overflateis
DK148375A DK148375A (is") 1974-04-08 1975-04-08
SE8106168A SE8106168L (sv) 1974-04-08 1981-10-19 Isfresningsanordning for fartyg som opererar i isbelagda vatten

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US459028A US3921560A (en) 1974-04-08 1974-04-08 Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3921560A true US3921560A (en) 1975-11-25

Family

ID=23823097

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US459028A Expired - Lifetime US3921560A (en) 1974-04-08 1974-04-08 Ice cutting apparatus for vessels operating in ice covered waters

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3921560A (is")
JP (1) JPS50141103A (is")
CA (1) CA1021581A (is")
DE (1) DE2514974A1 (is")
DK (1) DK148375A (is")
GB (1) GB1490877A (is")
NO (1) NO141982C (is")
SE (2) SE7503957L (is")
SU (1) SU942582A3 (is")

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4102288A (en) * 1977-02-28 1978-07-25 Sun Oil Company Limited Operations vessel for ice covered seas

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5364901A (en) * 1976-11-24 1978-06-09 Mitsui Shipbuilding Eng Ice crusher for structure used in icy waters
JPS5486188A (en) * 1977-12-19 1979-07-09 Exxon Production Research Co Ice breaking device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3148917A (en) * 1961-05-10 1964-09-15 Western Gear Corp Ice grader having vertical rotary cutters
US3521592A (en) * 1968-05-13 1970-07-21 Michael W Rosner Ice channel cutter
US3630037A (en) * 1970-07-15 1971-12-28 Amoco Prod Co Arctic piles
US3717115A (en) * 1971-02-08 1973-02-20 J Abendroth Ice-channel cutting attachment for ships
US3759046A (en) * 1972-03-23 1973-09-18 Global Marine Inc Movement of marine structures in saline ice
US3768428A (en) * 1971-11-24 1973-10-30 Air Logistics Corp Sweep ice cutter

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3148917A (en) * 1961-05-10 1964-09-15 Western Gear Corp Ice grader having vertical rotary cutters
US3521592A (en) * 1968-05-13 1970-07-21 Michael W Rosner Ice channel cutter
US3630037A (en) * 1970-07-15 1971-12-28 Amoco Prod Co Arctic piles
US3717115A (en) * 1971-02-08 1973-02-20 J Abendroth Ice-channel cutting attachment for ships
US3768428A (en) * 1971-11-24 1973-10-30 Air Logistics Corp Sweep ice cutter
US3759046A (en) * 1972-03-23 1973-09-18 Global Marine Inc Movement of marine structures in saline ice

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4102288A (en) * 1977-02-28 1978-07-25 Sun Oil Company Limited Operations vessel for ice covered seas

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE8106168L (sv) 1981-10-19
SE7503957L (sv) 1975-10-09
NO751192L (is") 1975-10-09
NO141982C (no) 1980-06-11
GB1490877A (en) 1977-11-02
CA1021581A (en) 1977-11-29
SU942582A3 (ru) 1982-07-07
DK148375A (is") 1975-10-09
DE2514974A1 (de) 1976-02-26
JPS50141103A (is") 1975-11-13
NO141982B (no) 1980-03-03

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