CA1220925A - Ice probe and ice anchor incorporating one or more ice probes - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A self-deploying ice probe and ice anchor which can be used to anchor instruments or objects to an iceberg, or to attach a hawer which can be used to tow the iceberg. In its simplest form, the invention is an ice probe comprising a structure having a heat retaining elongated body, an ice penetrating end of which is heat exuding. Preferably the body is smooth walled, the body retaining heat by having a high thermal conductivity core which is insulated around its walls and one end. The heat exuding end touches the ice, and melts a hole, the elongated body slipping into the hole as it melts. Once all of the heat energy retained in the core has been dissipated, the body freezes into position. A cable attached to the insulated end can be used to attach a load.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an ice anchor is comprised of an ice probe, the probe comprising a structure having a heat retaining elongated body, one end of which is heat exuding, the anchor further comprising a frame for supporting the ice probe in a position with the heat exuding end in contact with the ice, whereby a hole can be melted into the ice. The anchor includes apparatus for facilitating passage of the probe into the hole as the hole is melted. A cable for applying load is fastened to the frame whereby tension can be applied to the frame along an axis different from the axis of the probe. The probe passes into the melted hole in the ice only to a position whereby it is still retained by the frame. Therefore the force applied to the frame is transmitted to the probe, and then to the ice.
Preferably the frame retains a plurality of such probes which pass into the ice in different directions. The anchor has been found to have an extremely high load bearing capacity.

Description

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01 This invention relates to iceberg 02 management apparatus and in particular to an ice probe 03 and an ice anchor which are self-deploying.
04 Icebergs and other moving ice masses often 05 pass along dangerous trajectories. They can scrape 06 the ocean bottom, dislodging oil and gas wellheads, 07 threaten or crash into ocean based drilling rigs, 08 etc. It is therefore important to be able to mark the 09 icebergs or ice masses whereby they can be tracked, and to change their trajectories if necessary.
11 The invention described herein can be 12 automatically deployed on ice masses, icebergs, etc.
13 The disclosure below will generically refer to these 14 objects as icebergs.
In order to change the trajectory of an 16 iceberg, it is usually towed by a heavv floating rope 17 looped around the iceberg, the rope being payed out 18 from the rear of a ship. However sometimes the tow 19 rope slips over the top of the iceberg, causing it to snap back toward the ship, badly snarling it. Other 21 icebergs sometimes roll, either spontaneously or under 22 pressure from ~he tow rope, which also results in 23 snar7ing of -the rope. Unsnarling of the rope is a 24 long and tedious job. Since a major cost of towing an iceberg is the ship cost, clearly the expense of 26 towing an iceberg increases greatly should the 27 above-described mishaps occur.
28 It had been proposed that the rope 29 slippage and rolling problems could be overcome by sinking an anchor into an iceberg, attaching a tow 31 rope to the anchor, and then towing it by means of a 32 rope.
33 In one such previous proposal, an anchor 3~ is taken to the iceberg by means of a remote controlled submersible vehicle. In another previous 36 proposal, an anchor is carried to the iceberg by means 37 of a pulley and line system from a ship, in which the ~,I$

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01 pulley was first staked to the iceberg.
02 These deployment techniques are very 03 difficult to implement since submersible remote 04 controlled vehicles are very expensive, and the line 05 and pulley technique requires expensive ship-board 06 deployment apparatus.
07 The present invention is an ice probe and 08 anchor which is self-deploying. It need merely be 09 placed on an iceberg by means of a helicopter or boom located on ship-board. Once located on -the iceberg, 11 the ice probe or ice anchor neatly sinks itself into 12 the ice. Indeed, it deploys itself in a manner by 13 which no racturing of ice occurs, thereby resulting 14 in such a firmly deployed anchor, that many iceberg sizes can be towed from a single anchor. For example, 16 in one embodiment, a 50 tonne pulling force can be 17 supported without pulling loose.
18 In addition, use of the submersible remote 19 controlled vehicle or the line and pulley technique requires many hours for deployment, which is very 21 costly. The present invention can be deployed as 22 quickly as a helicopter can hover over the iceberg and 23 place the anchor on the surface of the ice, the anchor 24 penetrating to full depth in only approximately 15 minutes thereafter.
26 The present invention can thus be used as 27 a towing anchor, for suitable sized icebergs, or can 28 be used to attach a transponder buoy or radar 29 reflector to an iceberg. It can also be used, for example, to anchor shelter or other structures to the 31 ice, can be used as an anchoring point in ice blocks 32 that are to be raised, or any other application which 33 requires an ice anchor.
34 In its simplest form, the invention is an ice probe comprising a structure having a heat 36 retaining elongated body, only an ice penetrating end 37 of which is heat exuding.

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01 PreEerably the body is smooth walled, the 02 body retaining heat by having a high thermal 03 conductivity core which is insulated around its walls 04 and one end. ~he hea-t exuding end touches the ice, 05 and melts a hole, the elongated body slipping into the 06 hole as it melts. Once all of the heat energy 07 retained in the core has been dissipated, the body 08 freezes into position. A cable attached to the 09 insulated end can be used to attach a load.
According to another embodiment of the 11 invention, an ice anchor is comprised of an ice probe, 12 the probe comprising a structure having a heat 13 retaining elongated body, one end of which is heat 14 exuding, the anchor further comprising a frame for supporting the ice probe in a position with the heat 16 exuding end in contact with the ice, whereby a hole 17 can be melted into the ice. The anchor includes 18 apparatus for facilitating passage of the probe into 19 the hole as tne hole is melted. A cable for applying load is fastened to the frame whereby tension can be 21 applied to the frame along an axis different from the 22 axis of the probe. The probe passes into the melted 23 hole in the ice only to a position whereby it is still 24 retained by the frame. Therefore the force applied to the frame is transmitted to the probe, and then to the 26 ice.
27 Pre~erably the frame retains a plurality 28 of such probes which pass into the ice in different 29 directions. The anchor has been found to have an extremely high load bearing capacity.
31 A better understanding of the invention 32 will be obtained by reference to the detailed 33 description below, in conjunction with the following 34 drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the 36 preferred embodiment of the basic ice probe, 37 Figure lA is a partial cross-sectional :, :

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01 view of another embodiment of the basic ice probe, 02 Figure 2 is a cross-section of ice showing 03 the basic ice probe in position, 04 Figure 3 is a perspective view of an ice 05 anchor according to a preferred embodiment of the 06 invention, Figure 3A relating to a ice gripper, 07 Figure 4 is a si~e view of a preferred 08 embodiment of the anchor showing the ice probes in 09 retracted position, Figure 5 is a side view of the preferred 11 embodiment of the anchor showing the ice probes 12 imbedding themselves into the ice, 13 Figure 6 illustrates one method of 14 deployment of the invention, Figure 7 illustrates another method of 16 deployment of the invention, 17 Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the 18 ice anchor, 19 Figure 9 shows a third embodiment of the ice anchor, 21 Figure 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the 22 ice anchor, and 23 Figure 11 illustrates an apparatus which 24 can be used to heat the ice probe bodies.
Turning first to Figure 1, a 26 cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of 27 the basic ice probe is shown. The ice probe is 28 comprised of a heat retaining elongated body 1, an ice 29 penetrating end 2 of which exudes heat. The ~ody is comprised of a high thermal conductivity core 3, which 31 is surrounded around its sides by a heat insulator 4.
3~ In basic operation, -the high thermal 33 conductivity core is preheated thus retaining thermal 34 energy, after which the ice penetrating end 2 is placed in contact with the ice. The thermal energy 36 which is stored in the core 3 is e~uded through end 2, 37 melting the ice. As it melts, the body slides into I ~L22~9æS
01 the mel-ted hole, causing the heat exuding end to 02 maintain contact with the ice at the bot-tom of the 03 hole, thus continuously melting it. The probe will 04 continue extending and dropping into the hole as long 05 as thermal energy retained i5 sufficient to continue 06 melting the ice. Once the energy has been expended, 07 the surrounding ice gradually cools the melting water, 08 freezing the probe into the hole.
09 Figure 2 illustrates a long version of the ice probe 1 which has buried itself in the ice 5. A
11 cable 6 is fastened to a ring 7 or other cable 12 fastening member attached to the end of the ice 13 probe. A buoy, radar reflector or o~her load can be 14 fastened to the cable ~. It should also be noted that a short version of an ice probe could also be used, 16 e.g. a one or two foot probe melting a 15 or 20 foot 17 hole and freezing at that depth.
18 While the above has described the basic 19 structural concept of the probe, the preferred embodiment will now be described with reference again 21 to Figure 1.
22 Preferably the heat exuding end of the 23 core 3 is wider than the remainder of the body, and is 24 slightly pointed, e.g. forming a very wide arrow head. Preferably, the core is round in cross section, 26 and solid. The heat insulator 4 surrounds the sides 27 of the core up to the rear of the arrow head portion 28 of the end 2. A high structural streng-th pipe 8 29 surrounds the heat insulator 4. The outside diameter of the pipe should be approximately the same as the 31 outside diameter of the end 2 of the core 3.
32 A heat insulating washer 9 caps the other 33 end of the core 3, opposite the heat exuding end.
34 This washer retards or inhibits waste of thermal energy stored in core 3. A rod 10, with a shelf ll 36 -fixed part way to one end is fastened axially to the 37 core 3, extending outwardly from the insulating end.

-~Z~0~5 01 The purpose of -the rod and shelf will be described 02 later. However it should be noted that in the case in 03 which the probe is to be used alone, as described 0~ earlier with reference to Figure 2, the rod and shelf 05 can be replaced by a cable anchor such as a ring or 06 the like.
07 The probe, when used as described earlier 08 with respect to Figure 2, will slide smoothly into the 09 melted hole so long as the width of the body, i.e. the pipe, does not increase from the heat exuding end.
11 The preferred material for the core 3 is 12 copper, although silver or some other high thermal 13 conductivity material could be used if available. The 14 preferred material for the insulator is asbestos, which can be sheet or ribbon wrapped around the core.
16 The pipe can be stainless steel, titanium, MONEL metal 17 or any other strong, hard alloy which has high 18 flexural strength.
19 For use in an ice anchor to be described below, a successful probe was fabricated 11 inches 21 long, having a solid copper core of .721 inches, and a 22 heat exuding end diameter of 1 inch. The abestos 23 insulator was 1/16 inches in wall thickness, and the 24 pipe was formed of stainless s-teel with a .065 inch wall thickness.
26 The core was heated in a jig placed on an 27 electric hot plate to an extimated approximately 28 200 D _300 DC . When placed with its heat exuding end in 29 an ice block it embedded i-tself almost entirely in approximately 15 minutes at which time the stored heat 31 energy had been expended.
32 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the 33 invention in the form of an ice anchor. The anchor is 34 comprised of a frame 12 which retains several ice probes. In the preferred embodiment, the frame is 36 formed of three arms of rectangular pipe or bar welded 37 together in the form of a triangle. Each of the .:

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01 bodies 1 of the probes is passed through a hole in an 02 associated arm of the frame. The axes of the holes, 03 and thus the axes of the bodies, are located such that 04 when retracted the probes do not interfere with each 05 other, yet when slid into the holes, splay out below 06 the frame.
07 Ice grippers 13 are fastened to the bottom 08 of the frame. Consequently when the frame is placed 09 on the surface of the ice, which is at an angle or horizontal, the grippers cause the frame to retain its 11 position. A three-arm frame can have, for example, 12 three ice grippers, each one adjacent one corner.
13 However in another embodiment, e.g. where the frame is 14 round, rectangular, etc., more ice grippers could be used, substantial stability will be obtained when at 16 least three grippers grip the surface of the ice.
17 Figure 3A illustrates in cross-section one 18 form of ice gripper. The ice gripper is comprised of lg a pointed element such as a sharpened screw 14 having a point 15. A washer 16 is located above the point 15 21 by means of a stand-off 17. The entire assembly can 22 be screwed into or otherwise fastened to the bottom of 23 the frame.
24 Returning now to Figure 3, it will be recalled that a rod 10 and shelf 11 extended axially 26 from the insulating end of the elongated body 1. A
27 cross rod 18, having a central hole (not shown) is 28 placed with the extended end of rod 10 through its 29 hole, whereby rod 18 forms a T-shape with rod 10, retained in position by shelf 11. A pair of springs 31 19 are connected from opposite ends of rod 18, along 32 side body 1, to hooks 20 or o-ther spring fastening 33 means fixed to the frame 12.
34 Clearly the effect of the above is to provide spring pressure against the end of the body of 36 the probe, to cause it to slide through its hole in 37 the frame 12.

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01 Each of the bodies 1 has similar pressure 02 exerting mechanisms, which thereby cause all three o~
03 the bodies l to slide outward]y through their 04 associated holes in frame 12.
05 In order to retain the probes in retracted 06 position, the top ends of the bodies are linked 07 together by means of chains 21, as shown in Figure 4.
08 The chains are linked to a deployment cable 22. It 09 may be seen that as long as there is upward tension by the deployment cable, the bodies 1 will remain in 11 retracted position and will not pull out, since the 12 weight of the frame and bodies is greater than the 13 combined tension of the springs, and due to the 14 direction of force of the chains translating the force of the deployment cable. However as soon as the 16 deployment cable is relaxed, the spring 19 tension 17 will cause the bodies to pass through the holes in the 18 frame.
19 While the chains 21 are not shown in Figure 3 for the purpose of clarity of illustration, a 21 chain retaining loop 23 is shown attached to the top 22 end of each of the bodies. Each loop 23 can fit into 23 holes in the pipe, or can be otherwise fastened as by 24 welding, etc. Each loop extends around the top of the associated body, slightly to the side of the rod 10.
26 The chain retaining loops 23 perform a 27 further function in addition to retaining the chain 28 21. It also acts as a stopper, which limits the 29 passage o the body through the hole in the frame 12.
This action is important, since the anchoring load is 31 applied and distributed via the frame 12 to all three 32 of the probe bodies, and the force could not be 33 translated through the frame to the bodies if they had 34 passed through the holes. However an annular ring or other form of stopper could be used.
36 It should be noted that while a spring 37 loading mechanism has been described in a particular -~;~2~

01 form in Figure 3, other mechanisms Eor urging the 02 bodies through the holes could be used. For example 03 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, coaxial springs 04 are used. It is intended that the invention should 05 not be limited to the particular kind of body urging 06 mechanism described herein. The important aspect of 07 the invention is that the bodies are urged through the 08 holes and are inhibited from passing completely 09 through.
Figure 3 also illustrates the attachment 11 of a cable 24, by means of which load is applied to 12 the frame through a hole in the frame. of course any 13 other means for attaching the cable could be used.
14 Turning to Figures 4 and 5, the method of operation of this embodiment of the invention is 16 illustrated.
17 In Figure 4, the entire anchor apparatus 18 is suspended, hanging by the deployment cable. The 19 deployment cable is connected by means of chains 21 to the ends of the three ice probe bodies 1 ~e.g. chain 21 retaining loops 23). The bodies 1 extend through 22 holes in the frame 12. The axes of the bodies l 23 should not be parallel to ~ach o~her, and preferably

2~ splay outwardly below the frame 12. The heat exuding ends of the body l are shown in an exaggerated 26 extended position for clarity; in normal operation 27 they would extend to a position short of the bottoms 28 of the ice grippers 13.
29 ~eerring to Figure 5, now ~he deployment cable has been lowered, placing the frame 12 on the 31 ice. Ice grippers 13 retain the frame in position on 32 the ice, keeping it from slipping. The deployment 33 cable is relaxed, releasing upward tension which had 34 been exerted against the insulated ends of the bodies as well as tension toward a central axis of the 36 frame which had kept the bodies and frame positioned 37 relative to each other. Once the tension is relaxed, 38 _ 9 _ g~2~9~

01 this allows the springs to urge the probe bodies 02 through the holes, into contact with the ice.
03 With the high thermal conductivity cores 04 having been previously heated, the stored heat energy 05 is exuded through the end~ 2. This causes the ice to 06 melt below the ends 2. As the heat energy 07 continuously passes out of the cores of the bodies, 08 holes are formed into which the probe bodies extend 09 due to the urging of the springs. Finally all of the heat energy is dissipated, and the bodies will be in 11 their fully extended position within the holes with 12 their ends retained within the holes of the frame, 13 having been stopped from further extension due to the 14 loops 23, which act as stoppers. The melted water within the holes then freezes around the bodies.
16 Tension can now be placed on the anchor by 17 means of the tow cable 24 which is attached to the 18 frame 12. Due to the non-aligned axes of the probe 19 bodies, it has been found that the anchor and surrounding ice will support a great amount of 21 tension.
22 In a prototype ice anchor of the kind just 23 described, in which each of the arms of the triangular 2~ frame was about 10 inches long, and each of the bodies was 11 inches long and 1 inch thick, the apparatus was 26 able to lift a block of ice weighing 800 pounds, and 27 is calculated as being able to lift up to about a 28 ton. The elements into the ice required only about 15 29 minutes to sink into the ice. In the case of a frame of 30 inches to a side, with 40 inch long probe 31 elements each about 3 inches in diameter, it is 32 believed that up to 20 ton force can be exerted on the 33 anchor. This is sufficient to tow or change the 34 trajectory of many icebergs, depending on the power of the tow boat and the ease of which the load is 36 exerted. Of course several such anchors can be used 37 connected to a single or multiple tow lines to 01 faciliate towing of icebergs requiring a longer tow 02 force.
03 It has been determined that the 04 above-described anchor can register and remain stable 05 on a moving ice surface and on ice surfaces sloping at 06 angles of up to 45 from the horizontal. It is 07 preferred that the frame should have signiEicant 08 weight in order to allow the springs to react against 09 it to faciliate penetration of the probe bodies into the ice.
11 It should be noted that since the load is 12 applied to the probe bodies via the frame which 13 contacts them near their top ends, the major load 1~ stresses are exerted agains-t the tops of the probe bodies. For that reason it is preferred that the 16 strength of the pipes should be greatest adjacent 17 their top ends. This can be provided by utilizing 18 thicker pipe walls adjacent the top ends of the probe 19 bodies. Figure lA illustrates one structure by which this can be obtained.
21 Figure lA shows a mid-section portion of 22 the probe body. The core 3 is surrounded by an 23 insulator 4, which is further surrounded by the pipe.
2~ However in this case the pipe is formed of a thick pipe portion 26, which partly overlaps a thinner pipe 26 portion 27 adjacent its mid-section. The overlap 27 portion 28 should be sufficiently long whereby bending 28 forces can be transmitted from the thick pipe portion 29 26 to the thin pipe portion 27. However it will be noted that the major bending stresses are exerted by 31 the external load cable to the thick pipe portion 26, 32 which has the greatest capacity to withstand such 33 stresses due to its increased strength because of its 34 increased thickness. The thickness of the heat insulator is made to compensate for the different pipe 36 wall thicknesses although the thickness of the core 37 could alternately be variable to effect the 01 compension. However it should be pointed out -that the 02 outside diameter of both pipe por-tions should be 03 similar in order that the sides of the hole should not 04 be be snagged and impede its progression into the 05 hole.
06 Figure ~ illustrates one technique for 07 deploying an ice anchor. A helicopter 29 lowers the 08 ice anchor 30 to the surface of an iceberg 31 which is 09 floating in the sea 32. It should be noted that the deployment surface of the iceberg 31 can be sloped, 11 and indeed the iceberg can be heaving or otherwise 12 moving, which is virtually impossible to tow using 13 prior ar-t techniques. The ice grippers retain the ice 14 anchor on the surface, once it has been lowered.
The deployment cable 22 supports the ice 16 anchor 30 as described earlier with respect to Figure 17 4. At the same time it retains the ice probe bodies 18 in re-tracted position. Once the deployment has 19 occurred, the cable is relaxed and can be cut or released from the helicopter. The ice probes then 21 immediately begin penetration of the ice, and within 22 approximately 15-20 minutes the anchor will be 23 automatically completely anchored in the ice.
24 The ice probe bodies could be heated within the helicopter, or on board ship prior to 26 loading on the helicopter. The load cable 24 can hang 27 loosely from the anchor, and the far end floated in 28 the sea. The ship then secures the load cable 24, 29 which begins the towing operation. Alternatively, a buoy, radar reflector, or other marker can be attached 31 to cable 24 either prior to or following deployment of 32 the anchor. Clearly deployment and application of the 33 load is both simple and speedy, and thus substantially 34 less costly than prior art methods.
Figure 7 illustrates an alternative way of 36 deploying the anchor. The anchor in this case is hung 37 via deplo~men-t cable 22 ~rom a boom 33 which extends 01 from the deck of a ship 33A over an iceberg. The 02 anchor is lowered to the surEace of the iceberg, and 03 is from that time operated similar to that described 04 earlier.
05 It should be noted that the ice anchor 06 described above can take a great many forms, within 07 the scope of the invention. Several will be described 08 below. The number of ice probes used with the anchor 09 is not limited to 3, for example there could be 1, 2 or more than 3 probes used. The important aspect of 11 using more than one ice probe in the frame is that 12 their axes should not be parallel to each other.
13 However one ice probe with or without an associated 14 frame as described above can have use in which a high load bearing capaci~y is not vital, which can be the 16 case in some applications. In the case of the use of 17 one ice probe body, a frame can be used as described 18 above to control the direction of penetration, and the 19 ice probe can pass completely through the frame to a substantial depth. In one example, a 3 foct long ice 2:L probe could penetrate 10 feet or more into the ice 22 before becoming frozen in place.
23 It is believed that the load bearing 24 strength of the ice anchor is linearly proportional to the number of ice probes which are used. Consequently 26 this provides a means for increasing the load bearing 27 capacity for towing purposes.
28 Means could be used for gripping the ice 29 other than the ice grippers described, for example bumps, knobs, serrations, or the like, at the bottom 31 of the frame. In addition the frame could be frozen 32 to the ice.
33 Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate several 34 other embodiments of the invention. In the case of Figure 8, the frame is in the form of a ball 34, 36 containing holes or tunnels through which several ice 37 probe bodies pass without interference. A towing line ~Z~

01 24 is attached to a ring 35 fixed to the ball. The 02 spring mechanism, position limiting structure, etc.
03 for causing the ice probe body to pass through the 04 ball 34 has not been shown, as its structure would now 05 be evident to a person skilled in the art having read 06 the aforenoted description.
07 It should be noted that the direction of 08 penetration of the ice probe bodies through the ball 09 34 can be various. In this case the ball 34 can be thrown Erom the deck of a ship to the ice sur~ace, and 11 will automatically deploy, allowing at least some ice 12 probe bodies to penetrate the ice along non-parallel 13 axes.
14 Figure 9 shows an ice anchor in which the frame is in the form of a rod 36. A pair of ice probe 16 bodies 1 having axes which cross each other pass 17 through holes in the rod. When the rod is lowered to 18 the surface of the ice, the ice probe bodies deploy as 19 described earlier. Another pair of ice probe bodies can be located adjacent the opposite end of the rod 36 21 (not shown), pointed in the opposite directions. In 22 this case no matter which way the rod 36 lies on the 23 ice, at least two ice probes will penetrate the ice, 24 anchoring the frame.
Figure 10 illustrates a ring-shaped frame 26 37. In this case the ice probe bodies pass through 27 holes in the ring, preferably having their axes 28 splaying outwardly from a central axis of the ring.
29 However it should be noted that it is not necessary that all of the ice probe bodies should splay 31 outwardly; some can splay inwardly. It is desirable 32 that the axes of the ice probe bodies should not be 33 parallel to each other. In this embodiment, as in the 34 previous ice anchor embodiments, the load cable is attached to the frame. As an alternative structure, 36 the ice probe bodies could pass through paddles or 37 similar structures attached to the periphery of the ~Z2(~;Z5i 01 ring. The s-tructures for retaining the ice probe 02 bodies in retracted position prlor to deployment can 03 be as described earlier, and have been omitted in 04 Figures 8, 9 and 10 for clarity.
05 It should be noted that there are several 06 ways by which the ice probe bodies can be heated.
07 Figure 11 illustrates an apparatus for heating the ice 08 probe bodies. The apparatus is comprised of a core 38 09 formed of high heat conductivity material, which is surrounded by an insulator 39. The height of the core 11 38 is approximately the same as the length of the ice 12 probe bodies. Several holes 40 each having width 13 slightly greater than the width of the probe bodies 14 are located parallel to the axis of the core.
Preferably the holes do not penetrate the bottom of 16 the core.
17 In operation, the core is placed on a 18 heating element 141 and is heated up, e.g. to 200 -19 300C. The ice probe bodies are then placed in the holes 40. The heating element 41, can be electrical, 21 gas, etc. The ice probes are thus quickly heated up 22 to the temperature of the core 38, storing thermal 23 energy in the cores of the probe bodies.
24 Alternatively, each ice probe body core can contain an internal cavity which is coupled by 26 means of an internal tunnel or tube to a combustible 27 source such as propane or the like. The combustible 28 gas can be lit by means of a spark, a catalyst, etc., 29 thus heating the probe core. The gas can be shut off prior to deployment, or, if desired and if provided 31 with the anchor itself, can continue to heat the ice 32 probe body until the ice probe body has penetrated to 33 the desired depth, whereupon it can be shut off or 34 allowed to run out of fuel. The ice probe body can alternatively be heated by chemical means. Chemicals 36 which react and exude heat can be packed into a cavity 37 in the core of the ice probe, which will generate heat ~2~

01 energy until the reaction has been completedr Another 02 embodiment can use resistive heating, with a 03 resistance element contained within the core, similar 04 to a soldering iron. Heat is generated by applying an 05 electric current to the resistance element.
06 Other embodiments using the principles 07 described herein are for example a frame which is 08 formed of two sections which swivel toward each 09 other. The ice probes can be located adjacent the ends of the ~rame arms and which have their ends 11 directed toward each other. Upon deployment the ice 12 probe bodies move into the ice toward each other, as 13 in a pincer. Load is applied at the ]unction of the 14 arms of the frame.
While the ice probe bodies are preferred 16 to have round cross-sections, they can have other 17 cross-sectional shapes if desired (e.g. I-beam), or 18 can have ribs or barbs along their sides to grip the 19 hole. The frame should also have sufficient weight to faciliate registration on the ice and to allow 21 reaction against the ice probe bodies as they 22 penetrate the ice.
23 In summary, the purposes of the frame are 24 to keep the ice probe bodies from aligning parallel to each other, for achieving mechanical registration on 26 the surface of the ice while the ice probe bodies are 27 penetrating, to bear the load, and to distribute the 28 load to the ice probe bodies.
29 The ice probe body is designed to conserve energy, and to apply heat energy at a particular 31 point. Surplus melting of the ice weakens the ice 32 grip. For that reason the temperature to which the 33 ice probe bodies are heated sh~uld be predetermined, 34 depending on the size of the ice probe body core and the temperature of the ice. There should be high 36 thermal conductivity to the melting surface via the 37 heat exuding end.

~Z2C~925 01 While springs have been described as the 02 preferred technique for causing the ice probe bodies 03 to react against the frame, other structures could be 04 used, such as rack and pinion, pneumatic pressure, 05 etc.
06 In addi-tion, other means for sinking the 07 probe into the ice can be used, such as percussion, 08 chemical heating, abrasion, etc., although melting by 09 means of stored thermaL energy is preferred.
The invention described above is believed 11 to be a significant advance in the field of iceberg 12 control, since it is self-anchoring, and can be 13 deployed in an extremely short period of time. It can 14 be used -to secure instrument packages, transponders for locating or tracking icebergs, etc. J and for 16 towing icebergs, bergy bits, growlers, pan ice, etc.
17 away from trajectories which would cause danger to 1~ installations or persons.
19 A person understanding the present invention may now conceive of alternative embodiments 21 or other structures using the principles described 22 herein. All are considered to be within the sphere 23 and scope of the invention as defined in the claims 24 appended hereto,

Claims (42)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An ice probe comprising a structure having a thermally insulated heat retaining elongated body, an ice penetrating end of which is uninsulated and heat exuding.

2. An ice probe as defined in claim 1 in which the body is smooth walled and has a cross-sectional shape which is similar to said ice penetrating end along a substantial portion thereof.

3. An ice probe as defined in claim 1 in which the cross-sectional dimensions along a substantial portion of said body are equal to or smaller than the cross-section dimensions of said body immediately adjacent said penetrating end.

4. An ice probe as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said body is comprised of a heat conducting core having high heat conductivity, and a heat insulator surrounding the walls of said core.

5. An ice probe as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said body is comprised of a heat conducting core having high heat conductivity, a heat insulator surrounding the walls and covering the other end of the core, and a structurally strong tube surrounding the heat insulator, the core extending outwardly slightly past the insulator and tube at said penetrating end.

6. An ice probe as defined in claim 1 in which the body is comprised of a copper rod core having an arrow-head shaped end portion with an obtuse angled point, the width of the end portion being greater than the remainder of the core, an asbestos jacket surrounding the core along its entire length and covering the other end of the core but not covering said penetrating end portion, a pipe formed of metal having high bending resistance surrounding the jacket, the cross-sectional size of the pipe being no greater than the cross-sectional size of the penetrating end portion.

7. An ice probe as defined in claim 6 including means for fastening a cable or chain to the other end of said body.

8. An ice probe as defined in claim 6 or 7 in which the pipe is formed of stainless steel.

9. An ice probe as defined in claim 6 or 7 in which the pipe is formed of titanium.

10. An ice probe as defined in claim 6 or 7 in which the pipe is formed of MONEL metal.

11. An ice probe as defined in claim 6 or 7 in which the pipe is formed of material having higher bending resistance along a portion of the body adjacent the other end, and lower bending resistance along the remaining portion of the body adjacent the penetrating end.

12. An ice probe as defined in claim 6 or 7 in which the pipe has a thicker wall along the body adjacent the other end, and a thinner wall along the remaining portion of the body adjacent the penetrating end.

13. An ice anchor comprising an ice probe, the probe comprising a structure having a heat retaining elongated body, one end of which is heat exuding, the anchor further comprising a frame for supporting the ice probe in a position with said one end in contact with the ice whereby a hole can be melted into the ice, means for facilitating passage of the probe into the hole as the hole is melted to a position whereby it is still retained by the frame, and means for fastening a cable to the frame whereby tension can be applied to the frame along an axis different from the axis of said probe which is transmitted to the probe and the surrounding ice.

14. An ice anchor as defined in claim 13, further comprising a plurality of said probes including means associated with said frame for supporting said probes in positions having non-parallel axes, with said one end of at least two of said probes in contact with the ice whereby holes can be melted into the ice, and means for facilitating passage of said at least two probes into said holes as the holes are melted to positions whereby they are still retained by the frame.

15. An ice anchor as defined in claim 14 in which each of the probes has similar diameter along substantially their entire lengths, the frame containing probe holes for retaining the probes whereby each probe can slide through an associated probe hole over a major portion of its length as it penetrates the ice.

16. An ice anchor as defined in claim 15 in which the frame is comprised of three arms forming a triangular shape, having a hole in each of its arms for retaining a probe therein, with the axes of the probes splaying outwardly below the frame.

17. An ice anchor as defined in claim 16 in which each of the arms is square or rectangular in cross-section, each of the holes passing through opposite sides of an arm at a location adjacent an end of the arm.

18. An ice anchor as defined in claim 17 including means for retaining the probes in withdrawn positions within the holes while the ice anchor is lifted, and means for releasing the probes from the withdrawn position when the frame is disposed on a surface.

19. An ice anchor as defined in claim 15, 16 or 18 including ice gripper means extending from the bottom or the frame.

20. An ice anchor as defined in claim 15, 16 or 18 including springs fixed between the other end of each of the probes and the frame for urging the probes through the holes from a withdrawn position after disposition of the frame on the ice.

21. An ice anchor as defined in claim 13, 14 or 18, in which the body of each probe is comprised of a heat conducting core having high thermal conductivity, a heat insulator surrounding the walls and covering the other end of the core, and a structurally strong tube surrounding the heat insulator, the core extending outwardly slightly past the insulator and tube at said penetrating end.

22. An ice anchor as defined in claim 13, 14 or 18, in which the body of each probe is comprised of a copper rod core having an arrow-head shaped end portion with an obtuse angled point, the width of the end portion being greater than the remainder of the core, an asbestos jacket surrounding the core along its entire length and covering the other end but not covering said penetrating end portion, a pipe formed of metal having high bending resistance surrounding the jacket, the cross-sectional size of the pipe being not substantially greater than the cross-sectional size of the end portion.

23. An ice anchor as defined in claim 15 in which the frame is in the form of a circle, having holes therearound for retaining said probes therein, with the axes of the probes at angles which are not parallel to each other.

24. An ice anchor as defined in claim 14 in which the frame is comprised of at least one rod having probe holes therein whereby the axes of the probes within the holes are splayed relative to each other.

25. An ice probe as defined in claim 1, 4 or 6, including a cavity within the body for retaining heat generating chemicals.

26. An ice probe as defined in claim 1, 4 or 6 including a cavity within the core and a hole extending through the core for receiving a combustible gas, whereby combustion of said gas can occur within the cavity, heating the heat retaining body.

27. A method of attaching an object to an ice mass comprising deploying a frame carrying an ice probe to the surface of the ice mass, causing the ice probe to automatically sink into the ice, and fixing the object to the probe.

28. A method as defined in claim 27 including guiding the ice probe as it sinks into the ice by means of the frame, and fixing the object to the probe via the frame.

29. A method as defined in claim 27 including causing the ice probe to remain in registration with the frame, and fixing a cable to the frame, whereby upon application of tension to the cable, force is exerted to the ice in a direction at an angle to the axis of the probe by the frame exerting force on the probe.

30. A method of attaching an object to an ice mass comprising lifting an assembly of a frame and group of ice probes which contain stored heat energy to the surface of an ice mass, whereby the ice probes are retained in a retracted position, deploying the frame on the surface of the ice mass whereby the ends of at least two probes are in contact with the surface of the ice mass, allowing the stored heat energy to exude from the ends of the probes, whereby holes are melted into the ice, automatically applying pressure to the probes to facilitate them passing axially into the holes, allowing all of the stored heat energy to dissipate, whereby an object can be attached to the frame and thereby be firmly anchored to the ice mass.

31. A method as defined in claim 30 including lifting the assembly by means of a helicopter.

32. A method as defined in claim 30 including lifting the assembly by means of a boom extending over the side of a ship.

33. A method as defined in claim 30, 31 or 32 including the further step of towing the ice mass by means of a hawser attached between a ship and said frame.

34. A method of attaching an anchor to an ice mass comprising lifting an ice probe to which a cable or chain is attached to the surface of the ice mass, allowing the probe to automatically sink into the ice, and using the cable or chain to fix an object to the ice or to tow the ice mass.

35. A method as defined in claim 34 including lifting an assembly which includes a plurality of ice probes held by a frame to the surface of the ice mass, allowing the probes to automatically sink into the ice in different directions, and fixing the cable or chain to the probes via the frame.

36. A method as defined in claim 34 or 35 including storing heat energy in the probes prior to lifting, and allowing the probes to melt their way along their axes into the ice.

37. A method as defined in claim 34 or 35 including applying percussion to the ends of the probes to cause them to penetrate axially into the ice.

38. An ice anchor as defined in claim 13 or 15 in which the frame is in the form of a rectangle or square, having holes contained within and around the frame for retaining probes therein, with the axes of the probes not parallel to each other.

39. An ice anchor as defined in claim 13 or 14 in which the frame is in the form of a ball, having holes contained therein for retaining probes therein, with the axes of the probes not parallel to each other.

40. An ice anchor comprising an ice probe, the probe comprising a structure having a heat retaining elongated body one end of which is heat exuding, the anchor further comprising a frame for supporting the ice probe in a position with said one end in contact with the ice whereby a hole can be melted into the ice, means for facilitating passage of the probe into the hole as the hole is melted, and means for fastening a cable to the probe whereby tension can be applied to the probe.

41. An ice probe as defined in claim 1, 4 or 6 including electrical heating means within the core for heating the heat retaining body.

42. A method as defined in claim 27, 29 or 34 including electrically heating the probe as it sinks into the ice.