US 4,095,545 AGranted

Self-propelled dredging apparatus

AssigneeVmi

InventorsRobert H. Vaughn, C. Eugene Maitlen, Glen H. Davis, Randall E. Maitlen

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Abstract

An improved self-propelled floating dredging apparatus including a buoyant hull structure carrying a pilot house and engine compartment. The buoyant hull comprises a pair of longitudinally aligned parallel pontoons to provide flotation. A rigid boom structure extends forwardly from the medial portion of the hull structure and is adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis, from a horizontal position to a submerged position, in response to the action of a pair of power cylinders and an interconnecting linkage. A diesel engine in the engine compartment drives a centrifugal dredging pump and a hydraulic fluid pump. A hydraulically driven, steerable water jet propulsion assembly is mounted on a transom at the aft end portion of the hull structure. A hydraulically driven cable winch mechanism is also mounted on the hull structure. An improved hydraulically driven dredging head is mounted on the forward end of the boom structure and employs enlarged cylindrical surfaces carrying radially outwardly extending cutter blades journaled thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis. A notched cutter bar is mounted intermediate a rigid plate and the enlarged cylinders through which the cutter blades closely pass to shred weeds and other fibrous materials encountered by the dredging head.

Claims30

Dependent claims

In an apparatus for dredging the bed of a body of water of the type which includes a buoyant hull structure having a forward end portion and an aft end portion;

an engine having a power output shaft and mounted on said hull structure intermediate the forward and aft end portions thereof;
a pump having an inlet port and an outlet port and mounted on said hull structure intermediate the forward and aft end portions thereof;
means drivingly interconnecting said pump and the power output shaft of said engine for transmitting power to said pump from said engine to pump liquid through said pump from the inlet port to the outlet port thereof;
and a rigid boom structure having a forward end portion and a rear end portion, said boom structure being pivotally secured at the rear end portion thereof to said hull structure along a substantially horizontal transverse axis of rotation with the forward end portion of said boom structure extending from the rear end portion thereof toward the forward end portion of said hull structure, the improvement comprising:
a dredging head assembly including:
a dredging head frame structure having a forward end portion and a rear end portion with means connected to the rear end portion thereof for rigidly securing the rear end portion thereof to the forward end portion of the rigid boom structure;
shaft means having first and second end portions and horizontally transversely journaled across the forward end portion of said dredging head frame structure, for rotating thereon;
a cylinder disposed about and fixedly secured to said shaft means in coaxial alignment therewith;
a plate fixedly secured to the forward end portion of said dredging head frame structure parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft means and spaced a radial distance therefrom;
a plurality of radially outwardly extending cutter blades fixedly secured to the outer surface of said cylinder in spaced relation therealong;
means drivingly engaging said shaft means for rotating said shaft means about its axis of rotation;
a cutter bar fixedly secured to said plate along a line substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft means and extending from said plate toward the outer surface of said cylinder, said cutter bar including a plurality of notches formed therein and spaced therealong, each notch being constructed and arranged to receive a cutter blade therethrough as said shaft means is rotated about its axis of rotation;
an opening formed in said plate and extending therealong for at least a portion of the entire length of said cylinder;
and
conduit means for interconnecting said opening and the inlet port of said pump.

12 more elements

Apparatus for dredging the bed of a body of water comprising, in combination:

a buoyant hull structure having a forward end portion and an aft end portion;
an engine having a power output shaft and mounted on said hull structure intermediate the forward and aft end portions thereof;
a pump having an inlet port and an outlet port and mounted on said hull structure intermediate the forward and aft end portions thereof;
means drivingly interconnecting said pump and the power output shaft of said engine for transmitting power to said pump from said engine to pump liquid through said pump from the inlet port to the outlet port thereof;
a rigid boom structure having a forward end portion and a rear end portion, said boom structure being pivotally secured at the rear end portion thereof to said hull structure along a substantially horizontal axis of rotation with the forward end portion of said boom structure extending from the rear end portion thereof toward the forward end portion of said hull structure;
shaft means having first and second end portions and horizontally transversely journaled across the forward end portion of said boom structure for rotating thereon;
an enlarged cylinder, having an outer surface, disposed about and fixedly secured to said shaft means in coaxial alignment therewith;
a plate fixedly secured to the forward end portion of said boom structure parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft means and spaced a radial distance therefrom;
a plurality of radially outwardly extending cutter blades fixedly secured to the outer surface of said cylinder in circumferentially and longitudinally spaced relation therealong;
means drivingly engaging said shaft means for rotating said shaft means and said enlarged cylinder secured thereto, about their common axis of rotation;
a cutter bar fixedly secured to said plate along a line substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft means and extending from said plate toward the outer surface of said cylinder, said cutter bar including a plurality of notches formed therein and spaced longitudinally therealong, each notch being constructed and arranged to receive a cutter blade therethrough as said shaft means and said enlarged cylinder are rotated about their common axis of rotation;
an opening formed in said plate and extending transversely therealong for substantially the entire length of said enlarged cylinder;
conduit means for interconnecting said opening and the inlet port of said pump;
water jet propulsion pump means mounted on the aft end portion of said hull structure for pumping water therethrough to move said hull structure over the surface of the body of water;
means drivingly interconnecting said water jet propulsion pump means and the power output shaft of said engine for transmitting power to said water jet propulsion pump means from said engine to drive said water jet propulsion pump means;
winch means mounted on said hull structure for engaging a cable secured at at least one end thereof to the ground;
and
means drivingly interconnecting said winch means and the power output shaft of said engine for transmitting power to said winch means from said engine to cause said winch means to propel said hull structure over the surface of the body of water by moving along the cable engaged thereby.

15 more elements

An improved dredging head for use with pumping apparatus for dredging the bed of the body of water, comprising:

a rigid frame structure having a forward end portion and a rear end portion;
shaft means having first and second end portions and transversely journaled across the forward end portion of said frame structure for rotating thereon;
an enlarged cylindrical surface carried by said shaft means in coaxial alignment therewith and adapted to rotate with said shaft means;
a plate fixedly secured to the forward end portion of said rigid frame structure parallel to the axis of rotation of said enlarged cylindrical surface and spaced a radial distance therefrom;
a plurality of radially outwardly extending cutter blades secured to said enlarged cylindrical surface in spaced relation therealong;
drive means drivingly engaging said enlarged cylindrical surface for rotating said cylindrical surface about the axis of rotation of said shaft means;
a cutter bar fixedly secured to said plate along a line substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical surface and extending toward said cylindrical surface, said cutter bar having a plurality of notches formed therein and spaced therealong, each notch being constructed and arranged to receive a cutter blade therethrough as said cylindrical surface is rotated about its axis of rotation;
an opening formed in said plate and extending therealong adjacent to said cutter bar;
and
conduit means for communicating said opening with the pumping apparatus.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/773,501Filed 2 Mar 1977
Granted: 20 Jun 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

E02F 9/065
Advancing equipment, e.g. spuds for floating dredgers: characterised by the use of lines with anchors and winches
B63B 35/00
Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not
E02F 3/905
Component parts , e.g. arrangement or adaptation of pumps: manipulating or supporting suction pipes or ladders; Mechanical supports or floaters…
E02F 3/907
Component parts , e.g. arrangement or adaptation of pumps: measuring or control devices, e.g. control units, detection means or sensors