| 摘要 |
<p>A STEERABLE OCEAN FLOOR DREDGE VEHICLE A steerable ocean floor dredge vehicle is provided which is of the towed variety, or partially self-propelled. The vehicle is towed from a surface ship via a rigid length of pipe or tubing, connected to the dredge vehicle via a pivoting joint permitting pivotal movement about two transverse axes and preferably about a third axis, and a telescoping joint for providing movement along the direction of the axis of the towing line. Pivoting means connect from the sides of the dredge vehicle to the towing pipe at a point between the telescopic joint and the surface. The pivoting means comprise two flexible cables extending about rollers on the dredge vehicle, or hydraulic piston and cylinder combinations. In operation, pulling one cable, or pushing on one piston, causes the dredge vehicle to be skewed in a first angular direction relative to the towing pipe; pulling or pushing, respectively, in the opposite direction causes the dredge vehicle to be skewed about in an opposite angular direction relative to the towing pipe, thereby permitting at least a limited movement of the dredge vehicle along the ocean floor in directions transverse to the towing pipe.</p> |
