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US 10,486,778 B2Granted
Sluiceway for barge
AssigneeCashman Dredging and Marine Contracting, Co., LLC
InventorsFrank Belesimo, Jay Cashman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sluiceway device for a hopper barge has an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body has a plurality of openings. The elongate main body may be configured to be disposed atop a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The sluiceway device may also have a discharge pump. The discharge pump may be in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump may be further configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge.
Claims19
A sluiceway device for a hopper barge, comprising:
- an elongate main body configured to be disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge, the main body having a plurality of openings formed therein, the elongate main body further including a plurality of doors that are disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings, a volume disposed between the doors and the inner surface of the hull defining a discharge channel;
- at least one mechanical fastener attached to the elongate main body and configured to removably secure the elongate main body to the inner surface of the hull;
- and
- a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel and configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge.
1 more element
A sluiceway device for a hopper barge, comprising:
- an elongate main body defining a discharge channel, the elongate main body configured to be disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge, the main body having a plurality of openings formed therein;
- a plurality of doors disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings;
- and
- a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel and configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge,
- wherein the elongate main body has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section, the trapezoidal shape configured to conform to the inner surface of the hull of the hopper barge.
2 more elements
A sluiceway device for a hopper barge, comprising:
- an elongate main body defining a discharge channel, the elongate main body configured to be disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge, the main body having a plurality of openings formed therein;
- a plurality of doors disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings;
- and
- a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel and configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge,
- wherein the elongate main body includes a top plate configured to rest atop the inner surface of the hull of the hopper barge, and a bottom cap configured to be placed below the top plate.
2 more elements
A hopper barge assembly, comprising:
- a hopper barge having a hull with an inner surface;
- an elongate main body disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge, the main body having a plurality of openings formed therein, the elongate main body further including a plurality of doors that are disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings, a volume disposed between the doors and the inner surface of the hull defining a discharge channel;
- at least one mechanical fastener attached to the elongate main body and configured to removably secure the elongate main body to the inner surface of the hull;
- and
- a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel and configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge.
2 more elements
A method for transporting dredging material, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a hopper barge assembly including a hopper barge and a sluiceway device, the sluiceway device having an elongate main body disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge, the main body having a plurality of openings formed therein, the elongate main body further including a plurality of doors that are disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings, a volume disposed between the doors and the inner surface of the hull defining a discharge channel, at least one mechanical fastener attached to the elongate main body and removably securing the elongate main body to the inner surface of the hull, and a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel and configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge;
- filling the hopper barge with dredging material;
- opening the at least one of the doors to permit the dredging material to fall into the discharge channel;
- pumping water into the discharge channel;
- and
- pumping the dredging material and water from the discharge channel from the hopper barge.
3 more elements
A method for transporting dredging material, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a hopper barge assembly including a hopper barge and a sluiceway device, the sluiceway device having been installed onto a hull of the hopper barge, the sluiceway device having an elongate main body defining a discharge channel, disposed atop an inner surface of the hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge, the main body having a plurality of openings formed therein, a plurality of doors disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings, and a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel and configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge;
- filling the hopper barge with the dredging material;
- opening at least two of the doors to permit the dredging material to fall into the discharge channel:
- pumping water into the discharge channel;
- and
- pumping the dredging material and water from the discharge channel from the hopper barge,
- wherein the step of opening the at least two of the doors further includes opening the doors sequentially.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.