# US 2014/0190044 A1 · Drag head and trailing suction hopper dredger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190044 A1 - Document ID: US20140190044A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/131,500 - Filed: 2012-07-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-08 - Assignees: IHC Holland IE B.V. - Inventors: Serge Wezemer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190044A1 ## CPC - E02F 3/9243: {Passive suction heads with no mechanical cutting means (E02F5/108 takes precedence)} - E02F 3/8875: {pulled or pushed} - E02F 3/9206: {Digging devices using blowing effect only, like jets or propellers (E02F5/107 takes precedence; passive suction heads with jets E02F3/925; active suction heads with jets E02F3/9262; drilling by jets E21B7/18; slitting by jets E21C25/60)} - E02F 3/9262: {with jets} - E02F 3/9293: {Component parts of suction heads, e.g. edges, strainers for preventing the entry of stones or the like} - E02F 5/006: {adapted for working ground under water not otherwise provided for (E02F3/081, E02F3/4131, E02F3/8833, E02F5/104, E02F5/125, E02F7/005, E02F7/023, E02F7/065, E02F9/026, E02F9/045, E02F9/06 take precedence)} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A drag head (100) for dredging material (2) from the bed (3) of a body of water and transporting the material (2) to a suction tube (120). The drag head (100) is arranged to be dragged over the bed (3) in a dragging direction (D). The drag head (100) includes a suction section (110) in which an under pressure can be created to suck up the material (2) from the bed (3) through a suction opening (113) into a suction chamber (112). A heel section (111) guides the drag head (100) along the bed (3). The suction section (110) is preferably rotatably connected to the heel section (111). The suction section (110) also includes an outlet (114) for transporting the material (2) towards the suction tube (120). ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 Drag head (100) for dredging material (2) from a bed (3) of a body of water and transporting the material (2) to a suction tube (120), the drag head (100) being arranged to be dragged over the bed (3) in a dragging direction (D) by a drag member, wherein the drag head (100) comprises: a heel section being (111) connectable to the drag member and having a bed engaging surface (122) arranged to follow the bed (3); and a suction section (110) comprising: a suction opening (113); a suction chamber (112); and an outlet (114) for connection to the suction tube (120) such that an underpressure can be created in the suction chamber (112) to suck up the material from the bed through the suction opening (113) and the suction chamber (112) to the outlet (114), wherein the suction section (110) is adjustably mounted to the heel section (111) such that an orientation of the suction opening (113) can be adjusted relative to the heel section (111), wherein the suction section (113) comprises a lower edge (115) forming a trailing edge of the suction opening, wherein the lower edge is lower than the bed engaging surface of the heel section (111). ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22, wherein the suction section (110) is rotatable with respect to the heel section (111) about an axis of rotation which is in use substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the dragging direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Drag head (100) according to claim 23, wherein the axis lies behind the heel section (111) and ahead of the suction section (110) with respect to the direction of movement of the drag head (100). ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) Drag head according to claim 22, wherein the suction section (110) comprises a cutting edge (115) forming a trailing edge of the suction opening (113), and wherein the cutting edge (115) is in use lower than the bed engaging surface (122) of the heel section (111). ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) Drag head (100) according to claim 25, wherein a width of the bed engaging surface (122) of the heel section (111) corresponds substantially to a width of the cutting edge (115). ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) Drag head (100) according to claim 25, wherein the suction section (110) has a bottom plate (117) which is at least partially inclined in an upward direction from the cutting edge (115) to the outlet (114). ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22 further comprising a flexible connection between the outlet (114) and the suction tube (120). ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22 wherein the suction opening (113) is at least partially bounded by the heel section (111). ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22, wherein the suction section (110) and heel section (111) engage together to form the suction chamber (112). ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22 further comprising a plurality of conduits having outlet openings for forming water jets in the suction chamber (112) in or near the outlet (114) and/or beneath the bed engaging surface (122) of the heel section (111). ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22, wherein the outlet (114) from the suction chamber (112) is at least partially directed in a direction opposite the dragging direction. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22, further comprising an actuator arrangement for displacing the suction section (110) with respect to the heel section (111). ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22, wherein the suction section (110) is weighted or biased with respect to the heel section (111) to achieve a desired orientation. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) Drag head (100) according to claim 22, further comprising a suction pump (150) mounted on or adjacent to the heel section (111). ### Claim 36 (depends on 22) Vessel (4), such as a trailing suction hopper dredger, comprising a drag member and a drag head according to claim 22 wherein the heel section (111) is operatively connected to be dragged along the bed by the drag member. ### Claim 37 A method of suction dredging a mixture of solids and water from the bed of a body of water using a drag head comprising a heel section (111) and a suction section (110), the suction section (110) comprising: a suction opening (113); a suction chamber (112); and an outlet (114) for connection to the suction tube (120), wherein the suction section (110) is adjustably mounted to the heel section (111), wherein the suction section (110) comprises a lower edge forming a trailing edge (115) of the suction opening (113), wherein the lower edge is lower than the bed engaging surface (122) of the heel section (111), the method comprising: dragging the heel section (111) across the bed (3) in a first direction; positioning the suction section (110) at a desired depth and angle with respect to the heel section (111) such that the suction section (110) at least partially engages and enters the bed; applying suction to the suction section (110) to cause the bed material to be sucked up in a direction at least partially opposed to the first direction and be mixed with water; and transporting the mixture to a surface of the body of water. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37 wherein the mixture comprises sand and water having a density of more than 1650 kg/m3. ### Claim 39 (depends on 26) Drag head (100) according to claim 26, wherein the suction section (110) has a bottom plate (117) which is at least partially inclined in an upward direction from the cutting edge (115) to the outlet (114).