Patent ID: 7073868

Claim:
A method for excavating underwater rock by shattering the rock comprising the steps of: (a) providing a machine including a rotatable cutter; the cutter comprising: a forward rim; a back ring; a plurality of blades, each blade attached at one end to the rim and at the other end to the ring; and a plurality of cutting teeth mounted on each blade, each of the teeth mounted at approximately the same distance from the rotational axis of the cutter; (b) determining the kinetic energy required to shatter the underwater rock with the cutting teeth; (c) using said required kinetic energy, and said distance to determine the minimum rotational speed required to shatter the underwater rock; (d) rotating the cutter at a speed at least as fast as said minimum rotational speed; (e) contacting the cutting teeth with the underwater rock; and (f) shattering the underwater rock.