Underwater mud tapping device suitable for salvage of shallow water sunken ship in inland river
By designing an underwater mud-tapping device with a 'joint + graded steel pipe' structure, and utilizing high-pressure water flow and compressed air, divers can perform drilling operations by hand, thus solving the problems of high construction safety risks and high equipment dependence in the salvage of sunken ships in shallow inland waters, and achieving efficient and low-cost shipwreck salvage.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WUHAN YANGTZE RIVER CHANNEL RESCUE & SALVAGE BUREAU CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing underwater drilling rigs pose significant challenges in shallow inland water salvage operations involving sunken ships, including high safety risks, heavy equipment dependence, high costs, and difficulty adapting to complex construction environments.
An underwater mud-tapping device was designed, which adopts a 'joint + graded steel pipe' structure. By combining high-pressure water flow and compressed air, divers can perform drilling operations by hand, reducing operational risks, improving drilling efficiency, and reducing equipment deployment issues.
It achieves high safety for divers operating underwater, high drilling efficiency, low cost, and is suitable for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters without altering the state of the sunken ship.
Smart Images

Figure CN224256911U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to shipwreck salvage technology, and in particular to an underwater mud-tapping device suitable for salvaging shipwrecks in shallow inland waters. Background Technology
[0002] In recent years, with the continuous development of my country's economic construction, waterway freight transportation has become an inevitable choice. While waterways are becoming increasingly busy, the risk of ship collisions and sinkings is also rising. How to quickly, safely, and effectively salvage sunken ships to minimize losses has become a top priority. The "bottom-penetrating jack method" is a commonly used method in current shipwreck salvage, which involves passing a jack (steel cable) through the bottom of the ship to be salvaged to lift it. However, existing underwater drilling rigs require a mother ship and a floating platform, which limits the deployment of the equipment and also poses significant risks to construction and navigation safety. Especially when the sunken ship is deeply buried, the drilling angle is large, or construction is carried out during the dry season when the water depth does not meet the site layout requirements, the bottom-penetrating jack method is difficult to handle in such complex construction environments. Furthermore, the high equipment investment cost limits its applicability. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned background technology and provide an underwater mud-tapping tool suitable for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters. This tool is characterized by its advantages of facilitating construction by divers in shallow inland water areas, reducing operational risks, having low dependence on ship and machinery deployment, ensuring drilling efficiency, and having low cost.
[0004] This utility model provides an underwater mud-tapping device suitable for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters, including a mud-tapping device connector for connecting to an external water source, a front-end spray pipe at the outlet end of the mud-tapping device connector, and a nozzle at the outlet of the front-end spray pipe.
[0005] In the above technical solution, the mud-tapping device joint is provided with a water inlet connected to an external water source.
[0006] In the above technical solution, an inlet switch is provided on the inlet pipe.
[0007] In the above technical solution, the mud tapping device joint is provided with a pressurization port that is connected to the fire hose, and the outlet of the pressurization port is connected to the output end of the inlet and the inlet of the front spray pipe, respectively.
[0008] In the above technical solution, the mud-tapping device joint is provided with an air inlet that is connected to an external air source, and the outlet of the air inlet is connected to the water inlet output end and the inlet of the front spray pipe, respectively.
[0009] In the above technical solution, an air inlet switch is provided on the air inlet pipe.
[0010] In the above technical solution, the outlet of the front-end injection pipe is provided with a terminal injection pipe that connects the front-end injection pipe and the nozzle.
[0011] In the above technical solution, the front end of the terminal injection pipe has multiple pipe holes that serve as compressed air outlets.
[0012] In the above technical solution, multiple intermediate injection pipes are provided between the front injection pipe and the end injection pipe.
[0013] In the above technical solution, the pressurization port and the air inlet are located on both sides of the water inlet, and the mud tapping device joint is shaped like a mountain.
[0014] This utility model is applicable to underwater mud-digging tools for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters, and has the following beneficial effects:
[0015] (1) Underwater operations by divers have low risks and guaranteed safety;
[0016] (2) Divers can operate with a handheld mud-tapping tool, which will not change the state of the sunken ship and there is no problem with equipment deployment;
[0017] (3) The buried sand is easily dispersed by high-pressure water flow, ensuring the perforation efficiency;
[0018] (4) The design of “joint + graded steel pipe” is simple in structure, easy to process and low in investment cost;
[0019] (5) The “joint + graded steel pipe” design enables the mud-tapping device to be penetrated in stages at the bottom of the sunken ship. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the underwater mud-tapping device of this utility model applicable to the salvage of sunken ships in shallow inland waters;
[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of the underwater mud-tapping device of this utility model in the salvage of sunken ships in shallow inland waters. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, but these embodiments should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
[0023] See Figure 1This utility model is applicable to underwater mud-tapping devices for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters. It includes a mud-tapping device connector for connecting to an external water source. The outlet end of the mud-tapping device connector is provided with a front-end injection pipe 1, and the outlet of the front-end injection pipe 1 is provided with a nozzle 2. In this embodiment, the outlet of the front-end injection pipe 1 is provided with a terminal injection pipe 8 that connects the front-end injection pipe 1 and the nozzle 2. In one or more embodiments, the front end wall of the terminal injection pipe 8 is evenly distributed with multiple pipe holes 9 serving as compressed air outlets. Multiple intermediate injection pipes are provided between the front-end injection pipe 1 and the terminal injection pipe 8.
[0024] The mud-tapping device connector is provided with a water inlet 3 connected to an external water source, and an inlet switch 4 is provided on the water inlet 3 pipeline; the mud-tapping device connector is provided with a pressurization port 5 connected to a fire hose, and the outlet of the pressurization port 5 is connected to the output end of the water inlet 3 and the inlet of the front spray pipe 1 respectively; the mud-tapping device connector is provided with an air inlet 6 connected to an external air source, and the outlet of the air inlet 6 is connected to the output end of the water inlet 3 and the inlet of the front spray pipe 1 respectively, and an air inlet switch 7 is provided on the air inlet 6 pipeline; in one or more embodiments, the pressurization port 5 and the air inlet 6 are located on both sides of the water inlet 3, and the mud-tapping device connector is generally shaped like a mountain.
[0025] The technical principle of this utility model is as follows:
[0026] Pressure port 5: Can be connected to an external fire hose 10, which can increase water pressure and enhance the water flow penetration effect.
[0027] Inlet 3: The injected water flow disperses the sand pile, allowing the diver 11 to feed the underwater mud-attacking device 12 and extend the pipeline.
[0028] Inlet switch 4: Controls the water flow into the underwater mud-tapping device 12.
[0029] Air inlet 6: Compressed air is introduced, and bubbles 13 emerge from the pipe hole 9 on the last jet pipe 8, which makes it convenient for the diver 11 and the diver 11 on the opposite working well, as well as the shore personnel, to grasp the actual penetration situation, so as to control the penetration direction and realize the threading of the steel cable.
[0030] Air inlet switch 7: controls the intake of compressed air into the underwater mud-tapping device 12.
[0031] Front jet pipe 1: One end is connected to the mud-tapping device connector, and the other end is connected to the intermediate jet pipe (the number of intermediate jet pipe sections can be increased according to the actual width of the bottom of the sunken ship 14). Compressed air or high-pressure water jets are delivered to the next jet pipe section through the front jet pipe 1.
[0032] Terminal injection pipe 8: The final injection pipe with pipe holes 9. Compressed air or high-pressure water jet is delivered along this pipe to the end nozzle 2.
[0033] Pipe hole 9: Located on the end jet pipe 8, it allows compressed air bubbles 13 to emerge from here, making it easier for divers, divers 11 on the opposite working well, and shore personnel to monitor the actual penetration situation, so as to control the penetration direction and realize the threading of the steel cable.
[0034] Nozzle 2: Located at the front port of the end spray pipe 8, from which high-pressure water jets and compressed air flow out.
[0035] See Figure 2 This utility model is applicable to the underwater mud-tapping tool for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters. Detailed underwater operation steps are as follows:
[0036] 1. Positioning Measurement
[0037] According to the predetermined locations of the bottom jack holes in the construction plan, the air supply pipe 15 of the diver on the workboat 16 is connected to the diving suit of the diver 11. The diver 11 moves along the bow and stern of the sunken ship 14, accurately measures the location of each jack hole, and marks it.
[0038] 2. Excavation of the working well
[0039] ① Divers used high-pressure water guns to spray the 14th side of the sunken ship.
[0040] ② The excavation depth must be lower than the bottom reference surface of the sunken ship 14, and the length and width dimensions must meet the operational needs of diver 11;
[0041] ③ Simultaneously excavate working wells of the same specifications at symmetrical positions on the sunken ship 14 to ensure symmetrical working surfaces on both sides.
[0042] 3. Mud removal operation
[0043] (1) Connect the fire hose 10 and the mud-tapping device supply pipe 17 on the workboat 16 to the underwater mud-tapping device 12;
[0044] (2) Diver 11 uses underwater mud-tapping tool 12 to perform directional drilling operations in the working well;
[0045] (3) Use the high-pressure water jet ejected from the nozzle at the end of the underwater mud-attacking device 12 to impact the mud and sand at the bottom of the ship to form a channel;
[0046] (4) The end jet pipe 8 reflects water holes to continuously discharge the dispersed mud and sand, keeping the channel unobstructed;
[0047] (5) After each intermediate jet pipe section is completed, the direction is immediately checked, and any deviation is adjusted in time to ensure the accuracy of the perforation path.
[0048] 4. Cable threading operation
[0049] (a) Air tightness test
[0050] After advancing the predetermined number of intermediate injection pipe sections, connect the compressed air system. By observing the bubbles 13 emerging from the end pipe, the overflow of bubbles 13 from the opposite working well confirms that the channel is connected.
[0051] (II) Traction Construction
[0052] The diver on the opposite side positions the front end of the underwater mud-tapping tool 12, and the connecting guide wire adopts a staged traction process:
[0053] a) The first stage involves traction of the thin steel wire across the bottom;
[0054] b) The second stage involves pulling the thick steel wire cable with a thin steel wire;
[0055] c) Repeat the operation until the steel cable that meets the load-bearing capacity requirements is in place.
[0056] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this utility model and their equivalents, this utility model also intends to include these modifications and variations.
[0057] The contents not described in detail in this specification are existing technologies known to those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. An underwater mud-tapping device suitable for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters, characterized in that: The mud-tapping device includes an external water source connector, and the outlet end of the mud-tapping device connector is provided with a front-end injection pipe (1), and the outlet of the front-end injection pipe (1) is provided with a nozzle (2).
2. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mud-tapping device joint is equipped with an inlet (3) that is connected to an external water source.
3. The underwater mud-digging tool for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inlet (3) pipe is equipped with an inlet switch (4).
4. The underwater mud-digging tool for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mud-tapping device connector is provided with a pressurization port (5) that is connected to the fire hose. The outlet of the pressurization port (5) is connected to the output end of the inlet (3) and the inlet of the front spray pipe (1), respectively.
5. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 4, characterized in that: The mud-tapping device connector is provided with an air inlet (6) that is connected to an external air source. The outlet of the air inlet (6) is connected to the output end of the water inlet (3) and the inlet of the front jet pipe (1), respectively.
6. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 5, characterized in that: An air inlet switch (7) is provided on the air inlet (6) pipeline.
7. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outlet of the front jet pipe (1) is provided with a terminal jet pipe (8) that connects the front jet pipe (1) and the nozzle (2).
8. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 7, characterized in that: The end injection pipe (8) has multiple pipe holes (9) evenly distributed on the front end pipe wall as compressed air outlets.
9. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 8, characterized in that: Multiple intermediate injection pipes are provided between the front injection pipe (1) and the end injection pipe (8).
10. The underwater mud-scouring device for salvaging sunken ships in shallow inland waters according to claim 9, characterized in that: The pressurization port (5) and the air inlet (6) are located on both sides of the water inlet (3), and the mud-tapping device joint is shaped like a mountain.