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US 8,127,474 B2Granted
Dredging apparatus
AssigneesRichard John Phillips, Cheryl F. Phillips
InventorRichard John Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In embodiments of the invention, a dredging head assembly uses vacuum only, or a combination of vacuum and flexible PVC tines, rather than the harsh digging and/or scraping features of conventional dredging equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide a dredging head assembly that may be used in very shallow water. An embodiment of the invention includes a hose and wand to enable vacuuming around obstacles.
Claims16
A dredging apparatus comprising:
- a hull;
- a boom coupled to the hull adjacent to an aft end of the boom;
- a winch coupled to the hull;
- a mast movably coupled to the boom and movably coupled to the hull, the mast having a pulley;
- a cable coupled to the winch, movably coupled to the pulley, and further coupled adjacent to a fore end of the boom;
- and
- a ram coupled to the hull and the boom, the dredging apparatus thus configured to raise and lower the boom using at least one of the winch and the ram.
4 more elements
A dredging head assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a suction pump coupled to the frame;
- an intake wall coupled to the suction pump;
- a vacuum port disposed in the intake wall;
- a vacuum hose configured to couple to the vacuum port;
- a pressure relief valve (PRV) disposed in the intake wall, the PRV configured to open at a predetermined negative pressure;
- and
- a removable pan configured to connect directly to the intake wall, an enclosed intake chamber being formed when the removable an is connected directly to the intake wall, the dredging head assembly configured to operate in a first mode when the removable pan is connected directly to the intake wall and the vacuum hose is coupled to the vacuum port, the dredging head assembly configured to operate in a second mode when the removable pan is not connected directly to the intake wall and the vacuum hose is not coupled to the vacuum port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.