Trench cutter and method for producing a cut trench in the soil

A trench cutter for producing a cut trench in the soil, the trench cutter comprising:

• a cutter frame,
• at least one pair of cutting wheels which are supported and driven in a rotatable manner on a lower end of the cutter frame, wherein each cutting wheel has a plurality of cutting teeth along its external circumference,
• a discharge means with at least one discharge pump for discharging a cutting fluid from the cut trench in the region of the cutting wheels,
• a switchover means, and
• a suction opening located above the at least one discharge pump and the cutting wheels in an upper region of the cutter frame that is spaced apart from the cutting wheels,
• wherein
• the switchover means is configured to switch the discharge means over to a flushing operation, in which a fluid flow generated by the at least one discharge pump of the discharge means is generated onto at least one cutting wheel for flushing out the cutting wheel, and
• during the flushing operation, the fluid is suctioned through the suction opening.