US 12,074,414 B2
Method and apparatus for inserting an elongate object into a trench in a sea floor
John Graeme Walker, Wallsend (GB); and Roger Paul White, Wallsend (GB)
Assigned to Soil Machine Dynamics Limited, Wallsend (GB)
Appl. No. 17/766,057
Filed by Soil Machine Dynamics Limited, Wallsend (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 16, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/075803
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 1, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/063675, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19201094 (EP), filed on Oct. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0352699 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. H02G 1/10 (2006.01); B63B 35/04 (2006.01); F16L 1/16 (2006.01); F16L 1/18 (2006.01); F16L 1/235 (2006.01); H02G 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC H02G 1/10 (2013.01) [B63B 35/04 (2013.01); F16L 1/16 (2013.01); F16L 1/18 (2013.01); F16L 1/235 (2013.01); H02G 9/02 (2013.01); B63B 2207/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for deploying an elongate object into a trench in a floor of a body of water, the apparatus comprising a body adapted to move relative to a trench in a floor of a body of water, and an engaging device for engaging an elongate object and mounted to the body, wherein the engaging device is adapted to define an open channel in a direction facing the trench for engaging the elongate object, wherein the engaging device comprises at least one first position detector device located forward of the body and adapted to detect a forward position of a first part of the elongate object forward of the body prior to insertion of said first part into the trench, the apparatus further comprising at least one second position detector device located rearward of the body and adapted to detect a rearward position of a second part of the elongate object rearward of the body subsequent to insertion of the second part into the trench, wherein the forward position and the rearward position enable determination of a curved path of the elongate object being deployed.