US 6,922,922 B2 · Amphibious dredging vehicle and method for restoring wetlands using same

Abstract

An amphibious dredging vehicle includes a base including a pair of floatable pontoons linked together in essentially parallel relation; a cutterhead dredge system that is mounted on the base and that includes a cutterhead mounted on the front end portion of the base, a first directable discharge mounted to the rear end portion of the base, and a dredge pump in operative connection with the cutterhead and the directable discharge so as to develop suction at the cutterhead and to propel material from the cutterhead to the directable discharge. The directable discharge is configured so that the operator can aim the directable discharge in order to use the dredge pump to propel the amphibious dredging vehicle through water. The amphibious dredging vehicle may be used as part of a system and may be used with a method for building up land in a water-covered or water-surrounded area.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An amphibious dredging vehicle, comprising:

(A) a floatable base having front and rear end portions and comprising:
(i) a first floatable pontoon having a first drive track mounted thereon;
(ii) a second floatable pontoon having a second drive track mounted thereon;
(iii) a link disposed between the first floatable pontoon and the second floatable pontoon and holding the first pontoon and the second pontoon in essentially parallel relation;
(B) a cutterhead dredge system attached to the base, the cutterhead dredge system comprising:
(i) a cutterhead mounted to the front end portion of the base;
(ii) a first directable discharge mounted to the rear end portion of the base;
(iii) a dredge pump in operative connection with the cutterhead and the first directable discharge so as to develop suction at the cutterhead and to propel material from the cutterhead to the first directable discharge;
(C) a first track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the first drive track;
(D) a second track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the second drive track;
(E) a dredge-pump-driving means disposed to transmit power to the dredge pump;
(F) a first directable-discharge-control means for aiming the first directable discharge.

9 more elements

A system for building up land in a water-covered or water-surrounded area, comprising:

(A) a plurality of boom segments connected end-to-end in an essentially closed shape, each boom segment comprising:
(i) a floatable body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lower side portion;
(ii) a first body-connecting means, being attached to the first end portion of the body, for connecting together adjacent boom segments;
(iii) a second body-connecting means, being attached to the second end portion of the body, for connecting together adjacent boom segments;
(iv) a sieve panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, and first and second side portions, the sieve panel being attached along its upper portion to the body with the first and second end portions of the sieve panel being respectively aligned with the first and second end portions of the body and the sieve panel having a first sieve-panel connecting means, disposed upon the first side portion, for connecting together adjacent sieve panels, and a second sieve-panel connecting means, disposed upon the second side portion, for connecting together adjacent sieve panels, the sieve panel having a height greater than or approximately equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area and the sieve panel being made from water-permeable, fine-meshed material;
wherein the first body-connecting means of each segment is connected to the second body-connecting means of an adjacent segment, and the first sieve-panel connecting means of each sieve panel is connected to the second sieve-panel connecting means of an adjacent sieve panel;
and
(B) a sediment source depositing sediment inside the area substantially enclosed by the essentially closed shape formed by the boom segments, wherein the sediment source is an amphibious dredging vehicle, comprising:
(i) a floatable base having front and rear end portions and comprising:
(a) a first floatable pontoon having a first drive track mounted thereon;
(b) a second floatable pontoon having a second drive track mounted thereon;
(c) a link disposed between the first floatable pontoon and the second floatable pontoon and holding the first pontoon and the second pontoon in essentially parallel relation;
(ii) a cutterhead dredge system attached to the base, the cutterhead dredge system comprising:
(a) a cutterhead mounted to the front end portion of the base;
(b) a first directable discharge mounted to the rear end portion of the base;
(c) a dredge pump in operative connection with the cutterhead and the first directable discharge so as to develop suction at the cutterhead and to propel material from the cutterhead to the first directable discharge;
(iii) a first track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the first drive track;
(iv) a second track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the second drive track;
(v) a dredge-pump-driving means disposed to transmit power to the dredge pump;
(vi) a first directable-discharge-control means for aiming the first directable discharge.

17 more elements

A system for building up sediment in a water-covered area, comprising:

(A) a plurality of boom segments connected end-to-end in an essentially closed shape, each boom segment comprising:
(i) a floatable body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lower side portion;
(ii) a first body-connecting means attached to the first end portion of the body;
(iii) a second body-connecting means attached to the second end portion of the body;
(iv) a sieve panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, and first and second side portions, the sieve panel being attached along its upper portion to the body with the first and second end portions of the sieve panel being respectively aligned with the first and second end portions of the body and the sieve panel having a first sieve-panel connecting means disposed upon the first side portion and a second sieve-panel connecting means disposed upon the second side portion, the sieve panel having a height greater than or approximately equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area and the sieve being made from water-permeable, fine-meshed material;
wherein the first body-connecting means of each segment is connected to the second body-connecting means of an adjacent segment, and the first sieve-panel means for connecting each sieve panel is connected to the second sieve-panel connecting means of an adjacent sieve panel;
(B) a sediment source depositing sediment inside the area substantially enclosed by the essentially closed shape formed by the boom segments, wherein the sediment source is an amphibious dredging vehicle, comprising:
(i) a floatable base having front and rear end portions and comprising:
(a) a first floatable pontoon having a first drive track mounted thereon;
(b) a second floatable pontoon having a second drive track mounted thereon;
(c) a link disposed between the first floatable pontoon and the second floatable pontoon and holding the first pontoon and the second pontoon in essentially parallel relation;
(ii) a cutterhead dredge system attached to the base, the cutterhead dredge system comprising:
(a) a cutterhead mounted to the front end portion of the base;
(b) a first directable discharge mounted to the rear end portion of the base;
(c) a dredge pump in operative connection with the cutterhead and the first directable discharge so as to develop suction at the cutterhead and to propel material from the cutterhead to the first directable discharge;
(iii) a first track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the first drive track;
(iv) a second track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the second drive track;
(v) a dredge-pump-driving means disposed to transmit power to the dredge pump;
(vi) a first directable-discharge-control means for aiming the first directable discharge;
and
(C) a wasteweir segment disposed so as to close the substantially closed shape formed by the floating boom segments, the wasteweir segment comprising:
(i) an essentially orthogonal frame, the height of the frame being at least about equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area, the frame having a first side portion, a second side portion, and a base having first and second end portions, the first side portion having a lower end portion attached to the first end portion of the base and a second side portion having a lower end portion attached to the second end portion of the base, the frame having disposed upon the top portion of its first side portion a first wasteweir-body connecting means and having disposed upon the top portion of its second side portion a second wasteweir-body connecting means, the first side portion having disposed thereon a first wasteweir-sieve connecting means, and the second side portion having disposed thereon a second wasteweir-sieve connecting means, and a barrier receiving means;
the wasteweir segment being connected by the first wasteweir-body connecting means to the second body-connecting means of a first boom segment and being connected by the second wasteweir-body connecting means to the first body-connecting means of a second boom segment, the wasteweir segment being disposed so that it closes the substantially closed shape formed by the floating boom segments;
and
(ii) a barrier element adapted to be engaged by the barrier receiving means of the wasteweir segment.

22 more elements

A method for building up land in a water-covered or water-surrounded area, comprising:

(1) erecting a sediment-containment structure comprising
(A) a plurality of boom segments connected end-to-end in an essentially closed shape, each boom segment comprising:
(i) a floatable body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lower side portion;
(ii) a first body-connecting means, being attached to the first end portion of the body, for connecting together adjacent boom segments;
(iii) a second body-connecting means, being attached to the second end portion of the body, for connecting together adjacent boom segments;
(iv) a sieve panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, and first and second side portions, the sieve panel being attached along its upper portion to the body with the first and second end portions of the sieve panel being respectively aligned with the first and second end portions of the body and the sieve panel having a first sieve-panel connecting means, disposed upon the first side portion, for connecting together adjacent sieve panels, and a second sieve-panel connecting means, disposed upon the second side portion, for connecting together adjacent sieve panels, the sieve panel having a height greater than or approximately equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area and the sieve panel being made from water-permeable, fine-meshed material;
wherein the first body-connecting means of each segment is connected to the second body-connecting means of an adjacent segment, and the first sieve-panel connecting means of each sieve panel is connected to the second sieve-panel connecting means of an adjacent sieve panel;
and
(B) a sediment source depositing sediment inside the area substantially enclosed by the essentially closed shape formed by the boom segments, wherein the sediment source is an amphibious dredging vehicle, comprising:
(i) a floatable base having front and rear end portions and comprising:
(a) a first floatable pontoon having a first drive track mounted thereon;
(b) a second floatable pontoon having a second drive track mounted thereon;
(c) a link disposed between the first floatable pontoon and the second floatable pontoon and holding the first pontoon and the second pontoon in essentially parallel relation;
(ii) a cutterhead dredge system attached to the base, the cutterhead dredge system comprising:
(a) a cutterhead mounted to the front end portion of the base;
(b) a first directable discharge mounted to the rear end portion of the base;
(c) a dredge pump in operative connection with the cutterhead and the first directable discharge so as to develop suction at the cutterhead and to propel material from the cutterhead to the first directable discharge;
(iii) a first track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the first drive track;
(iv) a second track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the second drive track;
(v) a dredge-pump-driving means disposed to transmit power to the dredge pump;
(vi) a first directable-discharge-control means for aiming the first directable discharge;
and
(2) introducing sediment into the substantially closed shape formed by the sediment-containment structure.

20 more elements

A method for building up land in a water-covered or water-surrounded area, comprising:

(1) erecting a sediment-containment structure comprising
(A) a plurality of boom segments connected end-to-end in an essentially closed shape, each boom segment comprising:
(i) a floatable body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lower side portion;
(ii) a first body-connecting means attached to the first end portion of the body;
(iii) a second body-connecting means attached to the second end portion of the body;
(iv) a sieve panel having an upper portion, a lower portion, and first and second side portions, the sieve panel being attached along its upper portion to the body with the first and second end portions of the sieve panel being respectively aligned with the first and second end portions of the body and the sieve panel having a first sieve-panel connecting means disposed upon the first side portion and a second sieve-panel connecting means disposed upon the second side portion, the sieve panel having a height greater than or approximately equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area and the sieve being made from water-permeable, fine-meshed material;
wherein the first body-connecting means of each segment is connected to the second body-connecting means of an adjacent segment, and the first sieve-panel means for connecting each sieve panel is connected to the second sieve-panel connecting means of an adjacent sieve panel;
(B) a sediment source depositing sediment inside the area substantially enclosed by the essentially closed shape formed by the boom segments, wherein the sediment source is an amphibious dredging vehicle, comprising:
(i) a floatable base having front and rear end portions and comprising:
(a) a first floatable pontoon having a first drive track mounted thereon;
(b) a second floatable pontoon having a second drive track mounted thereon;
(c) a link disposed between the first floatable pontoon and the second floatable pontoon and holding the first pontoon and the second pontoon in essentially parallel relation;
(ii) a cutterhead dredge system attached to the base, the cutterhead dredge system comprising:
(a) a cutterhead mounted to the front end portion of the base;
(b) a first directable discharge mounted to the rear end portion of the base;
(c) a dredge pump in operative connection with the cutterhead and the first directable discharge so as to develop suction at the cutterhead and to propel material from the cutterhead to the first directable discharge;
(iii) a first track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the first drive track;
(iv) a second track-driving means disposed to transmit power to the second drive track;
(v) a dredge-pump-driving means disposed to transmit power to the dredge pump;
(vi) a first directable-discharge-control means for aiming the first directable discharge;
and
(C) a wasteweir segment disposed so as to close the substantially closed shape formed by the floating boom segments, the wasteweir segment comprising:
(i) an essentially orthogonal frame, the height of the frame being at least about equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area, the frame having a first side portion, a second side portion, and a base having first and second end portions, the first side portion having a lower end portion attached to the first end portion of the base and a second side portion having a lower end portion attached to the second end portion of the base, the frame having disposed upon the top portion of its first side portion a first wasteweir-body connecting means and having disposed upon the top portion of its second side portion a second wasteweir-body connecting means, the first side portion having disposed thereon a first wasteweir-sieve connecting means, and the second side portion having disposed thereon a second wasteweir-sieve connecting means, and a barrier receiving means;
the wasteweir segment being connected by the first wasteweir-body connecting means to the second body-connecting means of a first boom segment and being connected by the second wasteweir-body connecting means to the first body-connecting means of a second boom segment, the wasteweir segment being disposed so that it closes the substantially closed shape formed by the floating boom segments;
and
(ii) a barrier element adapted to be engaged by the barrier receiving means of the wasteweir segment;
and
(2) introducing sediment into the substantially closed shape formed by the sediment-containment structure.

25 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Amphibious dredging vehicle and method for restoring wetlands using same

Life of this patent

Amphibious dredging vehicle and method for restoring wetlands using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26