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US 12,760,490 B1Granted
Chain driven excavation wheel
OwnerTimothy L. Stalpinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dredging unit includes a chain-driven excavator wheel and a suction pipe. The excavator wheel defines one or more openings. The suction pipe suctions loose materials through the openings defined by the excavator wheel. The dredging unit also includes a drive with a sprocket that drives the chain and subsequently the excavator wheel. The suction pipe also suctions loose materials through the interface between the chain and the excavator wheels. A dredge pump is utilized for transport of the material.
Claims20
A dredging unit comprising:
- a pair of beams;
- a drive coupled to a first end of the pair of beams, the drive comprising a motor and a first sprocket, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the first sprocket;
- an excavation wheel rotatably coupled to a second end of the pair of beams, the excavation wheel comprising:
- a pair of side plates, wherein the pair of side plates each define a plurality of openings;
- and
- a second sprocket disposed between and coupled to the pair of side plates;
- a chain coupled to the first sprocket and the second sprocket, wherein rotation of the first sprocket causes the chain to rotate causing the second sprocket to rotate the excavation wheel;
- and
- a suction pipe comprising a suction inlet, wherein the suction inlet is disposed between the pair of beams at the second end of the pair of beams, wherein the suction inlet is configured to suction a slurry through the plurality of openings defined by each of the pair of side plates and suction the slurry through an interface between the chain and the excavation wheel.
6 more elements
A dredging system, comprising:
- a barge;
- a ladder pivotably mounted to the barge;
- a dredge pump;
- and
- a dredging unit coupled to the ladder, the dredging unit comprising:
- a pair of beams;
- a drive coupled to a first end of the pair of beams, the drive comprising a motor and a first sprocket, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the first sprocket;
- an excavation wheel rotatably coupled to a second end of the pair of beams, the excavation wheel comprising:
- a pair of side plates, wherein the pair of side plates each define a plurality of openings;
- and
- a second sprocket disposed between and coupled to the pair of side plates;
- a chain coupled to the first sprocket and the second sprocket, wherein rotation of the first sprocket causes the chain to rotate causing the second sprocket to rotate the excavation wheel;
- and
- a suction pipe comprising a suction inlet, wherein the suction inlet is disposed between the pair of beams at the second end of the pair of beams, wherein the dredge pump is fluidically coupled to the suction pipe, wherein the suction inlet is configured to suction a slurry through the plurality of openings defined by each of the pair of side plates and suction the slurry through an interface between the chain and the excavation wheel.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.