Dredge units
OwnerDieter G. A. Klefischinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dredge unit having a buoyant support carrying a sluice box suspended beneath, a water suction system connected to an outlet end on the box and a suction hose operatively connected to an inlet end thereof. The water suction system operates to draw water and material through the suction hose and into the sluice box where material of relatively high specific gravity is contained while the remainder and the water is discharged from the system.
Claims16
A portable dredge unit comprising a frame formed by upper and lower rings interconnected by spacers, an inflatable buoyancy tube fitting between the rings and against the spacers to support the frame on a body of water, a substantially horizontal sluice box, means connected to said frame and the sluice box to suspend said box immediately below the frame, said box having an inlet end and an outlet end, a suction hose operatively connected to the inlet end of the box, a riffle and mat arrangement along the bottom of the sluice box, and a water suction system connected to the outlet end of the box and discharging into said outlet end in the direction away from the box to draw water through said suction hose and the box and to discharge the water therefrom, whereby operation of the suction system draws water and material through the suction hose and over the riffle and mat arrangement where material of relatively high specific gravity is retained in said riffle and mat system, and discharges the remainder of the material and the water.
A portable dredge unit comprising an annular and buoyant support adapted to float on a body of water, a frame within and connected to the annular support, a sluice box suspended from the frame in the water in a substantially horizontal position immediately below said frame, said box having an inlet end and an outlet end, a suction hose operatively connected to the inlet end of the box, a riffle and mat arrangement along the bottom of the sluice box, a power-driven pump supported by said frame within the annular support and above the sluice box, said pump having an inlet below the support and an outlet, a pipe connected to said pump outlet and to the outlet end of the box and extending in the direction to discharge into said outlet end away from the box, said pump during operation discharging water into the box outlet end in the direction away from the box to cause suction in the box and the suction hose, whereby said suction draws water and material through the suction hose and over the riffle and mat arrangement where material of relatively high specific gravity is retained in said riffle and mat system, and discharges the remainder of the material and the water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.