Dredging apparatus

An improvement in a dredging apparatus for cooperating in removing a mixture of liquids and solids from a selected site comprising a frame with means for moving the frame in a forward direction and a rearward direction, and an arm assembly having a first end and a second end with the first end of the arm assembly being movably connected to the frame, the improvement comprising:

• auger housing means connected to the arm assembly, and having an auger opening formed through a portion thereof, the auger housing means comprising:
• a first auger housing having a first end, a second end, a front and a back, an auger opening being formed through the front of the first auger housing and the auger opening intersecting the second end of the first auger housing, the first auger housing being connected to the auger frame;
• and
• a second auger housing having a first end, a second end, a front and a back, an auger opening being formed through the front of the second auger housing and the auger opening extending through the second auger housing intersecting the second end thereof, the second auger housing being connected to the auger frame, and the second end of the second auger housing being disposed near and spaced a distance from the second end of the first auger housing forming a flow passageway therebetween the first auger housing is disposed at an angle with respect to the second auger housing with the first and the second auger housings each being angled inwardly toward the flow passageway at an angle less than about 180 degrees;
• and
• auger means rotatingly supported on the auger housing means and at least a portion of the auger means being disposed in the auger opening in the auger housing means;
• a first auger rotatingly supported in the first auger housing with at least a portion of the first auger being disposed in the first auger opening in the first auger housing, the first auger being adapted to move the mixture in the auger opening in the first auger housing in a direction generally from the first end toward the second end of the first auger housing when drivingly rotated;
• a second auger rotatingly supported in the second auger housing with at least a portion of the second auger being disposed in the auger opening in the second auger housing, the second auger being adapted to move the mixture in the auger opening in the second auger housing in a direction generally from the first end toward the second end of the second auger housing, the auger opening in the second auger housing intersecting the second end of the second auger housing;
• and
• means for rotatingly driving the auger means, comprising:
• means for rotatingly driving the first auger, the first auger moving the mixture through the second end of the first auger housing and into the flow passageway when rotatingly driven;
• and
• means for rotatingly driving the second auger, the second auger moving the mixture through the second end of the second auger housing and into the flow passageway when rotatingly driven;
• and
• pump means having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening being in fluidic communication with the auger opening in the auger housing means, the mixture entering the auger opening and the auger means moving the mixture toward the pump means when the pump is drivingly rotated and the pump means receiving the mixture passed from the auger housing means via the inlet opening of the pump means and the pump means pumping the mixture through the discharge opening of the pump means;
• an auger frame connected to the second end of the arm assembly, the auger housing means, auger means, means for rotatingly driving the auger means, and the pump means being mounted on the auger frame.