WO2012163865A2

WO2012163865A2 - Improved heads for dredging

Info

Publication number: WO2012163865A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/059923
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Simon Blight
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-28
Filing date: 2012-05-26
Publication date: 2012-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-28
Also published as: WO2012163865A3

Abstract

In a first aspect the invention relates to a head for dredging comprising: a) a container having an open face at one end and closed end, b) an aperture at the closed end for connection to an extractor, c) at least one first water outlet connectable to a supply of water under pressure and to direct water below the container, in use water from the or each first water outlet being directed onto a water bed to disturb particulate material of the water bed whereby it mixes with ambient water and is drawn into the container and out through the aperture by said extractor.

Description

Improved heads for dredging

The present invention relates to improved heads for dredging.

UK patent application GB2454729A describes a dredging vessel which supports a head which delivers water under pressure from outlets to disturb particulate material on a water bed. The disturbed particulate material is mixed with ambient water and ejected from the rear of the vessel where it can be taken to a remote location by the tide or a flowing river.

This method is very efficient in rivers or tidal waters, but is not always ideal for use in still water locations such as in lakes or canals where there is no appreciable natural flow of water.

GB2454729A describes a dredging vessel in which the head is supported at one the end of a pair of arms hinged to the vessel. The head has a pair of bars supporting nozzles which are connected to a pressurized supply of water through hoses leading from the vessel.

In some circumstances these hoses can get caught on objects adjacent the water bed being dredged causing damage to the hoses which can lead to the dredging vessel being inoperable.

The invention seeks to provide improved dredging heads which overcome one or both of these problems.

In a first aspect the invention relates to a head for dredging comprising: a) a container having an open face at one end and closed end, b) an aperture at the closed end for connection to an extractor,

c) at least one first water outlet connectable to a supply of water under pressure and to direct water below the container,

in use water from the or each first water outlet being directed onto a water bed to disturb particulate material of the water bed whereby it mixes with ambient water and is drawn into the container and out through the aperture by said extractor.

Preferably the or each first water outlet directs water below the container below and forward of the container away from said closed end.

Preferably a control valve is provided to control flow of water to the or each first water outlet.

Preferably pairs of first water outlets are provided to provide jets of water in the form "V".

Preferably the head further comprises at least one second water outlet connectable to a supply of water under pressure and to direct water towards the container open end to disturb particular material in the ambient water prior to being drawn into the container.

Preferably the or each second water outlet is provided by a bar with an array of nozzles thereon. Preferably a control valve is provided to control flow of water to the or each second water outlet.

Preferably the or each second water outlet is provided by a bar with an array of nozzles thereon.

The bar may be spaced from the open face.

Preferably the first and second water outlets are supplied with water under pressure from a common source.

Preferably a control valve is provided to control flow of water to the first water outlet.

Preferably container has a rectangular open face, upper and lower triangular- shaped walls and trapezium-shaped side walls, the apex of the upper and lower wall and side walls leading to said aperture. Preferably the side walls are angled towards the aperture at an angle of between 25 to 40 degrees, e.g. 33.3 degrees.

In a second aspect the invention relates to a head for dredging comprising: a) a pair of arms each for connection at one first end to a vessel, at least one arm having an internal water channel, and

b) a frame connected to a second end of the pair of arms, said frame having at least one bar supporting a water outlet, said frame having an internal water channel connected to the or each bar and to the or each arm water channel, in use water can he passed through the or each arm and frame water channel from the first end of an arm to deliver water to the or each bar water outlet.

Preferably the or each bar has a water outlet in the form of a plurality of spray nozzles.

Preferably a pair of bars are provided and the spray nozzles direct water jets in a V-shape.

Preferably the frame and arms are formed from hollow tubing forming said water channels.

Preferably the frame is supported at a fixed angle relative to the arms.

Preferably the frame is formed from four sections in a rectangle with two parallel sections forming said bars and two parallel sides connected to said arms.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description Referring to figure 1 , which shows a head 1 for dredging. Head 1 has a container 10 having a rectangular open face 11 at one end and a closed end 12.

An aperture 13 is provided at the closed end for connection to an extractor 14 such as a high powered water extractor pump.

At least one first water outlet is provided in the form of a bar 20 with an array of pairs of water jet nozzles 21A,21B, 22A,22B, 23A,23B and

24A,24B. Bar 20 is connectable to a supply of water under pressure through pipe 25 and control valve 26 connected to master water pipe 27.

Control valve 26 controls the amount of water delivered to the nozzles 21 A,21B,22A,22B,23A,23B, and 24A,24B. Water under pressure may be provided from a water pump (not shown). Pairs of water jet nozzles direct water in the form of a "V" forward and below the container away from the closed end.

In use water from each nozzle 21A.21B, 22A,22B,23A,23B, and 24A,24B is directed onto a water bed to disturb particulate material off the water bed whereby it mixes with ambient water and is drawn into the container and out through the aperture by said extractor.

Container 10 has upper and lower trapezium-shaped walls 10A,10B and trapezium-shaped side walls 10C,10D. The apex of the upper and lower wall and side walls lead to the aperture 13. Preferably the side walls are angled towards the aperture at an angle of between 25 to 40 degrees, e.g. 33.3 degrees.

At least one second water outlet is provided in the form of bars 30A,30B spaced from the container open face 11. Each bar 30A,30B has an array of water jet nozzles 31,32. Bars 30A,30B are connected to a supply of water under pressure through pipe 35 and control valve 36 connected to master water pipe 27. Control valve 36 controls the amount of water delivered to the nozzles 31,32. Water under pressure may be provided from a water pump (not shown).

In use nozzles 31 ,32 direct water towards the container open face 1 1 to disturb and break up particular material in the ambient water prior to being drawn into the container 10.

Dredging head 1 can be used to dredge the bottom of lakes and canals with no or limited moving water. Particulate material drawn into container 10 and extracted by extractor pump 14 can be directed from the pump onto adjacent land where the water can drain back into the lake or river leaving particulate material settled out of the water on the land.

Head 1 can be mounted on a vehicle (eg. a digger) arm and lowered into the water to be dredged.

Alternatively head 1 could be mounted under a vessel e.g. of the type shown in GB 245 4729A in which case the head is supported on arms ΙΟΑ,ΙΟΒ shown in GB 245 4729A. Water under pressure is delivered down one arm 10A and connected to the head 1 through valves 26,36. Extractor pump 14 is located on the vessel and water with particulate material from aperture 13 is directed up arm 10B to the extractor pump.

Referring to figure 2 there is shown an alternative head 91 for dredging according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Head 91 has a pair of arms 40,41. Arms 40,41 each have a first end 40A,41A pivotally connectable to the stern of a vessel "X". Vessel "X" may be of the type shown in GB245729A the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Arms 40,41 each have second end 40B,41B.

Arms 40,41 are each formed from "square" tubing to provide an internal water channel along their length.

A frame 80 is connected to the second end pair of arms 40,41. Frame 80 is formed from four sections 81,82,83 ,84 of hollow "square tubing". Two parallel front and rear sections 81,82 form bars each with a water outlet in the form of spray nozzles 81A,82A which direct water jets in a V-shape. Two parallel side sections are connected to arms 80,81. The hollow tubing of sections 81,82,83 ,84 form a water channel connected to water channels formed in arms 40,4 1.

In use, pressurized water can be fed from the vessel "X" down arms 40,41 through frame sections 81 ,82,83,84 and out through nozzles 81A,82A. Head 91 operates in a similar manner to that of the head with arms described in GB2454729A in order to dredge a water bed. Its construction with no hoses and no moving parts makes it very rugged and less prone to damage.

As shown in dotted lines in the drawing, the head 91 can be placed at variable heights depending on the depth of water under vessel X.

Claims

Claims:

1. A head for dredging comprising:

a) a container having an open face at one end and closed end,

b) an aperture at the closed end for connection to an extractor,

2. A head for dredging as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each first water outlet directs water below the container below and forward of the container away from said closed end.

3. A head for dredging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a control valve is provided to control flow of water to the or each first water outlet.

4. A head for dredging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein pairs of first water outlets are provided which in use emit jets of water in the form of a "V".

5. A head for dredging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head further comprises at least one second water outlet connectable to a supply of water under pressure which in use directs water towards the container open end to disturb particular material in the ambient water prior to the water being drawn into the container.

6. A head for dredging as claimed in claim 5 wherein the or each second water outlet is provided by a bar with an array of nozzles thereon, optionally and/or wherein a control valve is provided to control flow of water to the or each second water outlet.

7. A head for dredging comprising:

a) a pair of arms each for connection at one first end to a vessel, at least one arm having an internal water channel, and

b) a frame connected to a second end of the pair of arms, said frame having at least one bar supporting a water outlet, said frame having an internal water channel connected to the or each bar and to the or each arm water channel,

in use water can he passed through the or each arm and frame water channel from the first end of an arm to deliver water to the or each bar water outlet.

8. A head for dredging as claimed in claim 7 wherein the or each bar has a water outlet in the form of a plurality of spray nozzles.

9. A head for dredging as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein a pair of bars are provided and the spray nozzles direct water jets in a V-shape.

10. A head for dredging as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the frame and arms are formed from hollow tubing forming said water channels.

1 1. A head for dredging as claimed in anyone of claims 7 to 10 wherein the frame is supported at a fixed angle relative to the arms.

12. A head for dredging as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 1 1 wherein the frame is formed from four sections in a rectangle with two parallel sections forming said bars and two parallel sides connected to said arms.