DREDGING VESSEL

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a dredging vessel.

[0002] FR 1 359 325 A (Lecesne, Robert Claude (FR)) 24 April 1964 (1964-04-24) describes a known dredging vessel.

[0003] According to the present invention there is provided a dredging vessel comprising:

a) a floating member to float in ambient water, said floating member having a front end and a rear end, and propulsion means adjacent the rear end,

b) a head connected to the floating member forward of the propulsion means and to move along the water bed upon movement of the floating vessel relative to the water bed, said head supporting at least one water outlet, and

c) a water pump having an inlet connected to ambient water and an outlet connected to the or each head water outlet,

in use said water pump delivering water under pressure to the or each head water outlet to disturb particulate material on a water bed whereby it mixes with ambient water, characterised in that said propulsion means is drawing disturbed particulate material mixed with ambient water up towards the floating member, and said propulsion means is ejecting disturbed particulate material mixed with ambient water to the rear of the vessel.

[0004] Preferably the head is connected between one first end of a pair of arms, the other second end of the pair of arms being connected to the floating vessel, said pair of arms keeping the head in a fixed position relative to the floating vessel. Preferably the pair of arms is pivoted to the vessel. Preferably the pair of arms extends forward from the rear end of the vessel.

[0005] Preferably the head comprises a first bar having along its length water outlets in the form of a plurality of nozzles. Preferably the nozzles are each connected to the water pump through hoses. Preferably the first bar can rotate relative to the pair of arms whereby to adjust the angle or the nozzles relative to the pair of arms. The first bar may be rotated using a hydraulic ram.

[0006] Preferably the head further comprises a second bar having along its length water outlets in the form of a plurality of nozzles. Preferably the nozzles are each connected to the water pump through hoses. Preferably the second bar can rotate relative to the pair of arms whereby to adjust the angle or the nozzles relative to the pair of arms. The second bar may be rotated using a hydraulic ram.

[0007] The first and second bars may be rotated independently.

[0008] Preferably jets of water from nozzles from both first and second bars form a "V" to disturb the particulate material with maximum effect.

[0009] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a dredging vessel,

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of part of Figure 1 with a head with first and second bars on a pair of arms.

[0010] Referring to the drawings there is shown a dredging vessel 1.

[0011] Vessel 1 has a floating member in the form of a barge 2 adapted to float in ambient water. Barge 2 has a bow 2A and stem 2B. Barge 2 has adjacent its stem 2B propulsion means in the form of a propeller 3 to drive and manoeuvre the barge 2. In addition one or more bow thrusters 4 may be provided.

[0012] A pair of arms 10A,10B is pivoted at one second end to the stern 2A of barge 2. Arms 10A,10B extend forward from the stern 2B, and can be raised or lowered using a wire 11.

[0013] A head in the form of first and second of rotating bars 12,13 are provided between first ends of arms 10A,10B forward of the propeller 3. Bar 12 has a lever 12A at one end connected to a hydraulic ram 12B. Bar 13 has a lever 13A at end connected to a hydraulic ram 13B. Operation of hydraulic rams 12B13B rotate bars 12,13.

[0014] Bars 12,13 are kept in a fixed position relative to barge 2 by means of wire 11. Bars 12,13 can be raised or lowered so they are adjacent the water bed by lengthening or shortening a wire 11. Bars 12 and 13 each support a plurality of nozzles 14 each connected by a hydraulic pipe 15 to outlet of high pressure water pump 16. Pump 16 has an inlet 16A connected to ambient water. Bars 12,13 move along the water bed upon movement of the barge 2 relative to the water bed.

[0015] In use, the water pump 16 delivers water under pressure to the nozzles. Jets of water emerge from the nozzles to disturb particulate material on a water bed whereby it mixes with ambient water. As barge 2 moves and as shown by the arrows in Figure 2, propeller 3 draws disturbed particulate material mixed with ambient water up towards the barge 2, and the propeller 3 ejects disturbed particulate material mixed with ambient water to the rear of the vessel where it can move out of the area as the water flows (e.g. as a river or with the tide).

[0016] In use bars 12,13 are rotated so that the jets of water from nozzles 14 from both bars 12 and 13 form a "V" to disturb the particulate material with maximum effect. Bars 12 and 13 are rotated into different positions to accommodate different angles of pair of arms 10A,10B relative to barge 2. In this respect it will be seen that the nozzles from bar 13 may direct jets of water backwards and the nozzles from bar 12 may direct jets of water forwards.

[0017] A single hydraulic motor 17 (or other mechanical or electrical or electronic power source) may be used to power pump 16 and propeller 3.

[0018] It has been found that keeping the head around ½ metre above the waterbed disturbs the particulate material with maximum effect.

[0019] The force of water from the twin spray-bar action (bars 12 and 13) undercuts and dislodges particulate material from the waterbed. This is particularly effective when used on hard-packed mud or silt where a single spray-bar or bar with low pressure water jets may have limited impact. The twin spray bars break up chunks of mud or silt into small particles through the pulverising action of the two interlocking spray streams.

[0020] The forward bar 13, which angles spray towards the rear of the barge, acts additionally to accelerate the stream of water containing particulate material towards the rear of the barge where the action of the barge propeller moves the particulate material into the ambient current or outgoing tidal stream.

[0021] The pressure of water fed to each bar 12,13 from the water pump 16 can be varied to accentuate the undercutting effect, the pulverising effect or to flush water containing particulate material in suspension towards the rear of the barge, according to the operational requirement.

[0022] It is evident that the arms connected to the spray bars, and which pivot at the stem of the barge, must be raised and lowered according to the depth of water the barge is operating in. It follows that, in order to maintain the optimal angle of the V-spray to the waterbed, the spray-bars must be capable of being rotated independently as the arms are raised or lowered, and this may be a key part of the design.

[0023] The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the head could comprise just a single bar 13. The nozzles 14 could be adjusted or selected for controlling flow rates of water.

[0024] Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dredging vessel comprising:

a) a floating member to float in ambient water, said floating member having a front end and a rear end, and propulsion means adjacent the rear end,

b) a head connected to the floating member forward of the propulsion means and to move along the water bed upon movement of the floating vessel relative to the water bed, said head supporting at least one water outlet, and

c) a water pump having an inlet connected to ambient water and an outlet connected to the or each head water outlet,

in use said water pump delivering water under pressure to the or each head water outlet to disturb particulate material on a water bed whereby it mixes with ambient water, characterised in that said propulsion means is drawing disturbed particulate material mixed with ambient water up towards the floating member, and said propulsion means is ejecting disturbed particulate material mixed with ambient water to the rear of the vessel.

2. A dredging vessel according to claim 1, wherein the head is connected between one first end of a pair of arms, the other second end of the pair of arms being connected to the floating vessel, said pair of arms keeping the head in a fixed position relative to the floating vessel.

3. A dredging vessel according to claim 2, wherein the pair of arms is pivoted to the vessel.

4. A dredging vessel according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pair of arms extends forward from the rear end of the vessel.

5. A dredging vessel according to any preceding claim, wherein the head comprises a first bar having along its length water outlets in the form of a plurality of nozzles.

6. A dredging vessel according to claim 5, wherein the nozzles are each connected to the water pump through hoses.

7. A dredging vessel according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first bar can rotate relative to the pair of arms whereby to adjust the angle or the nozzles relative to the pair of arms.

8. A dredging vessel according to claim 7, wherein the first bar is rotated using a hydraulic ram.

9. A dredging vessel according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the head further comprises a second bar having along its length water outlets in the form of a plurality of nozzles.

10. A dredging vessel according to claim 9 wherein the nozzles are each connected to the water pump through hoses.

11. A dredging vessel according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the second bar can rotate relative to the pair of arms whereby to adjust the angle or the nozzles relative to the pair of arms.

12. A dredging vessel according to claim 11, wherein the second bar is rotated using a hydraulic ram.

13. A dredging vessel according to any of claims 5 to 12, wherein the first and second bars can be rotated independently.

14. A dredging vessel according to any of claims 5 to 13, wherein the jets of water from nozzles from both first and second bars form a "V" to disturb the particulate material with maximum effect.

Ansprüche

1. Schwimmbagger, umfassend:

a) ein Schwimmelement zum Schwimmern in Umgebungswasser, wobei das genannte Schwimmelement ein vorderes Ende und ein hinteres Ende und eine an das hintere Ende angrenzende Antriebseinrichtung hat,

b) einen Kopf, der vor der Antriebseinrichtung und zum Bewegen entlang dem Gewässerbett bei Bewegung des schwimmenden Fahrzeugs relativ zu dem Gewässerbett mit dem Schwimmelement verbunden ist, wobei der genannte Kopf wenigstens einen Wasserauslass trägt, und

c) eine Wasserpumpe, die einen mit dem Umgebungswasser verbundenen Einlass und einen mit dem oder jedem Wasserauslass am Kopf verbundenen Auslass hat,

wobei die genannte Wasserpumpe im Gebrauch Wasser unter Druck zu dem oder jedem Wasserauslass am Kopf fördert, um partikelförmiges Material auf einem Gewässerbett aufzuwirbeln, so dass es sich mit Umgebungswasser vermischt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte Antriebseinrichtung mit Umgebungswasser vermischtes aufgewirbeltes partikelförmiges Material nach oben zum Schwimmelement saugt und die genannte Antriebseinrichtung mit Umgebungswasser vermischtes aufgewirbeltes partikelförmiges Material zur Rückseite des Wasserfahrzeugs ausstößt.

2. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Kopf wischen einem ersten Ende von einem Armpaar befestigt ist, wobei das andere, zweite Ende des Armpaares mit dem schwimmenden Wasserfahrzeug verbunden ist, wobei das genannte Armpaar den Kopf in einer festen Position relativ zu dem Wasserfahrzeug hält.

3. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Armpaar an das Fahrzeug angelenkt ist.

4. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, wobei das Armpaar sich von dem hinteren Ende des Fahrzeugs nach vorn erstreckt.

5. Schwimmbagger nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Kopf einen ersten Stab aufweist, der entlang seiner Länge Wasserauslässe in der Form einer Vielzahl von Düsen hat.

6. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Düsen jeweils durch Schläuche mit der Wasserpumpe verbunden sind.

7. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei der erste Stab sich relativ zu dem Armpaar drehen kann, um dadurch den Winkel oder die Düsen relativ zu dem Armpaar einzustellen.

8. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 7, wobei der erste Stab mithilfe eines hydraulischen Druckzylinders gedreht wird.

9. Schwimmbagger nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, wobei der Kopf ferner einen zweiten Stab aufweist, der entlang seiner Länge Wasserauslässe in der Form einer Vielzahl von Düsen hat.

10. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Düsen jeweils durch Schläuche mit der Wasserpumpe verbunden sind.

11. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, wobei der zweite Stab sich relativ zu dem Armpaar drehen kann, um dadurch den Winkel oder die Düsen relativ zu dem Armpaar einzustellen.

12. Schwimmbagger nach Anspruch 11, wobei der zweite Stab mithilfe eines hydraulischen Druckzylinders gedreht wird.

13. Schwimmbagger nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 12, wobei der erste und der zweite Stab unabhängig voneinander gedreht werden können.

14. Schwimmbagger nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 13, wobei die Wasserstrahlen aus Düsen von dem ersten und dem zweiten Stab ein "V" bilden, um das partikelförmige Material mit maximaler Wirkung aufzuwirbeln.

Revendications

1. Navire de dragage comportant :

a) un élément flottant destiné à flotter dans l'eau environnante, ledit élément flottant ayant une extrémité avant et une extrémité arrière, et un moyen de propulsion adjacent à l'extrémité arrière,

b) une tête raccordée à l'élément flottant à l'avant du moyen de propulsion et à des fins de déplacement le long du fond de l'eau lors du déplacement du navire flottant par rapport au fond de l'eau, ladite tête supportant au moins une sortie d'eau, et

c) une pompe à eau ayant une entrée raccordée à l'eau environnante et une sortie raccordée à la ou à chaque sortie d'eau de la tête,

lors de l'utilisation, ladite pompe à eau envoie de l'eau sous pression à la ou à chaque sortie d'eau de la tête afin de remuer des matériaux particulaires se trouvant sur un fond de l'eau ce par quoi ils se mélangent à l'eau environnante, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de propulsion aspire les matériaux particulaires remués mélangés à l'eau environnante vers le haut en direction de l'élément flottant, et ledit moyen de propulsion éjecte les matériaux particulaires remués mélangés à l'eau environnante vers l'arrière du navire.

2. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la tête est raccordée entre une première extrémité d'une paire de bras, l'autre seconde extrémité de la paire de bras étant raccordée au navire flottant, ladite paire de bras permettant de maintenir la tête dans une position fixe par rapport au navire flottant.

3. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la paire de bras est pivotée par rapport au navire.

4. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans lequel la paire de bras s'étend à l'avant de l'extrémité arrière du navire.

5. Navire de dragage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la tête comporte une première barre ayant sur toute sa longueur des sorties d'eau sous la forme d'une pluralité de buses.

6. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 5, dans lequel les buses sont chacune raccordées à la pompe à eau par le biais de tuyaux flexibles.

7. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 5 ou la revendication 6, dans lequel la première barre peut tourner par rapport à la paire de bras pour ainsi ajuster l'angle ou les buses par rapport à la paire de bras.

8. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la première barre est tournée par l'utilisation d'un vérin hydraulique.

9. Navire de dragage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, dans lequel la tête comporte par ailleurs une seconde barre ayant sur toute sa longueur des sorties d'eau sous la forme d'une pluralité de buses.

10. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 9, dans lequel les buses sont chacune raccordées à la pompe à eau par le biais de tuyaux flexibles.

11. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 9 ou la revendication 10, dans lequel la seconde barre peut tourner par rapport à la paire de bras pour ainsi ajuster l'angle ou les buses par rapport à la paire de bras.

12. Navire de dragage selon la revendication 11, dans lequel la seconde barre est tournée par l'utilisation d'un vérin hydraulique.

13. Navire de dragage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 12, dans lequel la première barre et la seconde barre peuvent être tournées indépendamment.

14. Navire de dragage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 13, dans lequel les jets d'eau en provenance des buses à la fois de la première barre et de la seconde barre forment un « V » permettant de remuer les matériaux particulaires avec un effet maximum.

Drawing