METHOD OF MAKING CHANNELS IN ICE FIELDS AND ICE BREAKING APPLIANCE TO THIS END Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC B63B35/08 E02B15/02 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to ice-breaker fleet. Proposed method comprises extending two bars with electrodes along ice breaker sides to be heated by electric current generated aboard the ice breaker, displacing ice breaker to distance equal to bar length, melting two cutouts in ice bulk by aforesaid electrodes, breaking ice loosened by said cutouts and repeating aforesaid cycle. Note here that plate-like sharpened-front electrodes penetrate into ice through part of its thickness. Cutters are fitted into cutouts made by electrodes made up of cutting head focused by nozzle through which hydroabrasive jet if forced by ship superhigh-pressure pump. Ice breaker add-on device comprises extending bars with electrodes and cutters. Extending bars are arranged on rotary device to displace in 0-90 degree-sector on every side of ice breaker. Cutters are made up of cutting head focused by nozzle.

EFFECT: faster channel cutting at larger ice thickness.

22 cl