Underwater trenching apparatus

摘要

The apparatus, for use in pipeline or cable laying, comprises a soil cutting arrangement 12 having a forwardly disposed cutting portion and a rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion, a soil removal device 22 configured to remove soil from a location forward of the soil cutting arrangement and a barrier device 30 located and configured substantially to prevent passage of soil to the non-cutting portion of the soil cutting arrangement. The soil cutting arrangement 12 is typically a rockwheel or chain cutter. The soil removal device 22 is typically a dredge pump or eductor. The barrier device 30 is adjustably set at ground level and extends on either side of the trench to prevent soil objects over a given size from passing to the non-cutting portion.