US3352035A - Dredge - Google Patents

Description

F. J. JOYCE Nov. 14, 1967 DREDGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 15, 1961 INVEN 0R.

Nov; 14; 1967 F. J. JOYCE 3,352,035

7 DREDGE Original Filed Feb. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fla-12 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,352,035 DREDGE Francis J. Joyce, Morris Plains, NJ., assignor to National Bulk Carriers, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 89,455, Feb. 15, 1961. This application May 12, 1964, Ser. No. 369,651 2 Claims. (Cl. 37-54) This application is a continuation of application Ser No. 89,455 filed Feb. 15, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a dredge for removing material from the bottom of a watercourse in order to deepen the channel of the watercourse. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a floating dredge which is provided with an elongated boom structure and a discharge pipe supported by said boom structure for discharging dredged material from the dredge to the adjacent bank of a watercourse.

In removing silt, mud and other sediment from the bottom of a watercourse in order to deepen or clear a channel in the watercourse, it is, of course, necessary to have a suitable location for the deposition or storage of the material which is dredged from the bottom of such channel. In previously existing types of dredges, three methods of dredged material disposal have most frequently been employed. In some dredging operations, the dredged material is discharged into barges stationed alongside the dredge for later transportation to a convenient location for ultimate disposal of the material. In other dredging operations, the channel being dredged lies closely enough adjacent to the shoreline of the watercourse to permit the dredged material or spoil to be discharged through an elongated pipe to the adjacent shore. In yet other types of dredging operations, the shorelines are too far removed from the dredging site to permit discharge of the spoil to the shore and the spoil is, instead, deposited in tanks or hoppers located in the hull of the dredge and later is unloaded from the hoppers at a suitable disposal location.

In dredges of the type which are equipped to permit the dredge spoil to be discharged through a discharge pipe to the adjacent shore, it has generally been the practice in the art to support the discharge pipe in a horizontal position by means of a flexible line or cable extending diagonally downward to the end of the pipe from a vertical boom or king post located upon the deck of the dredge. As has been indicated, such construction functions well enough when the channel being dredged lies relatively close to the shoreline of the watercourse, but due to inherent limitations in the length of the discharge pipe which can be so supported, this method of disposing of the dredge spoil cannot be utilized when the channel being dredged lies at any substantial distance from either shore of the watercourse. A further disadvantage resides in this type of dredge construction in that the necessity of providing a tall, vertical member extending upwardly from the deck of the dredge limits the maneuverability of the dredge in watercourses which are frequently crossed by bridges and the like.

The present invention contemplates a dredge construction which permits the dredged material to be discharged to the shores adjacent the watercourse where the dredge is operating, even though the shorelines of the watercourse are removed from the channel being dredged by a substantial distance. In one of its broader aspects, the dredge of the present invention comprises a hull upon which is pivotally mounted a horizontally extending rigid boom, a discharge pipe supported by, and substantially coextensive in length with, said boom, and means mounted on said hull for pivoting said boom and discharge pipe about a common vertical axis. The pivotal axis of the boom is "ice adjacent one of its ends and by the employment of a suitable counterweight at said one end, the boom may be made of sufficient length to extend from the channel being dredged to a shoreline well over three hundred feet distant from the channel.

The invention also contemplates the compartmentation of the hull of the dredge into suitable hoppers so that the dredged material may be discharged either through the elongated, horizontal discharge pipe to an adjacent shore, or may be deposited in one of more of the hoppers, as desired. The arrangement of the dredge pumps and their associated pipe means is such that the discharge from a plurality of dredge pumps may be combined and directed into the elongated, horizontal discharge pipe.

A specific embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated, horizontal boom of triangular cross section through which extends a discharge pipe which is supported by and movable with the boom. The discharge pipe and boom are supported upon a rotating ring structure which is, in turn, carried by heavy rollers. The rollers are supported upon a fixed supporting structure mounted upon the main deck of the dredge and extending downwardly into the hull thereof. The discharge pipe is provided with a suitable joint which permits it to rotate with the supporting boom about the same rotational axis. The rotation of the boom and discharge pipe is effected by an electrically driven Windlass and a large chain con nected between the rotating ring and the Windlass. A plurality of hydraulically operated brakes restrain the movement of the boom and its associated structure when the boom is not being rotated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dredge from which dredged material may be discharged to a shore which is remotely located with respect to the channel being dredged.

An additional object of the present invention is to permit material being removed from the bottom of a watercourse by a dredge to be discharged into hoppers located on the dredge, or, alternately, to be discharged to the adjacent shore.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dredging vessel with a horizontally extending discharge pipe and a rigid boom supporting said discharge pipe, which boom and discharge pipe may be freely rotated through degrees to permit discharge of dredged material to the port or starboard bank of the watercourse where the dredge is operating, and to facilitate the fore and aft alignment of the boom and dis-charge pipe when it is desired to permit other vessels to pass to port or starboard of the dredge.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an elongated, horizontally extending discharge pipe through which the combined discharge from a plurality of simultaneously operated dredge pumps may be discharged to the shore adjacent the dredge.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a dredge for discharging dredged material to the shore adjacent the watercourse in which the dredging operation is being conducted, which dredge is of relatively inexpensive construction, durable and trouble-free in operation, and more versatile than previously existing types of dredges.

A still further object is to provide a method for continuously dredging a Watercourse in spite of currents, winds, traflic, and the presence or absence of an on-shore location for depositing the spoil.

These objects and advantages will be better understood, and additional objects and advantages will become apparent, uponreading the following disclosure in conjunction with a perusal of the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a dredge carrying the elongated boom and discharge pipe of the present invention. The dredge is provided with two outboard and two inboard dredge pipes, and the starboard, outboard dredge pipe and the port, inboard dredge pipe are shown in their lowered, dredging positions. Midship hoppers for receiving dredged material are illustrated in dashed lines.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the midships portion of the dredge with the boom removed to more clearly illustrate the boom supporting structure on the main deck of the dredge. Portions of the conduits for carrying dredged material are illustrated in dashed lines.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the second deck of the dredge showing the location of hoppers and dredge pumps.

FIGURE 4 is a lower plan view of the boom and discharge pipe as they appear When viewed from below.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is an upper plan view of the boom end.

FIGURE 7 is a detail view showing the manner in which the driving chain is secured to the rotating ring structure.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 2 and showing the rotating ring structure, and also the stationary supporting structure secured to the main deck of the dredge. Portions of the boom and discharge pipe are illustrated in dashed lines.

FIGURE 9 is an upper plan view of a quadrant on the rotating ring structure as the ring structure appears when viewed from above. Protective cover plates have been removed to better illustrate the skeletal structure of the ring.

FIGURE 10 is a lower plan view of a quadrant of the rotating ring structure showing the ring structure as it appears when viewed from below.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10. A roller and a section through the stationary supporting structure have been added to illustrate the manner in which the rotating ring structure is supported upon the stationary supporting structure by means of rollers.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 10. A roller and a section through the stationary supporting structure have been added.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally the hull of a floating dredge. The dredge carries a pair of outboard dredge suction pipes 12 and a pair of inboard dredge suction pipes 14. Davits 16 of a suitable type are provided on the main deck of the hull 10 to facilitate the lowering and raising of the dredge pipes 12 and 14 to and from their operative positions.

Approximately midships of the dredge, a stationary supporting structure 18 is secured to the main deck of the dredge and constitutes a raised circular platform extending upwardly from the main deck. A rotating ring structure 20 is rotatably supported upon the stationary supporting structure 18 by a plurality of large rollers described in greater detail hereinafter. An elongated, horizontally extending boom 22 is secured near one of its ends 24 to four pedestals 26a, 26b and 28a and 28b which are in turn firmly attached to the upper surface of the rotating ring structure 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). A counterweight 30 is secured to the boom 22 at its end 24 adjacent the rotating ring structure 20. The elongated boom 22 supports a large discharge pipe 32 which extends from the rotating ring structure 20 to and beyond the outboard end 33 of the boom 22. As will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the discharge pipe 32 includes a gooseneck 33 which passes downwardly through the rotating ring structure 20 and the stationary supporting structure 18, and emerges from the forward side of the stationary supporting structure 18 from which point it extends forward on the main deck along the center line of the dredge. In addition, the outboard end of the pipe 32 has another upturned gooseneck 35.

For the purpose of turning the rotating ring structure 20 relative to the stationary supporting structure 18, a suitable Windlass 34 having a chain-engaging wildcat 36 at its upper end is utilized to drive an anchor-type chain 38 which passes around the periphery of the rotating ring structure 20 and is stopped ofi at its ends by means of suitable chain stoppers 40 (see FIG. 7) located on the forward side of the rotating ring structure 20 when the boom is positioned in its fore and aft position as illustrated in FIG. 1. It will further be noted in referring to FIG. 8 that the periphery of the rotating ring structure 20 is provided with spaced pairs of chain-engaging studs 42 which function to support and guide the chain during movement of the rotating ring structure 20.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in addition to FIG. 3, it will be perceived that the present invention contemplates the disposal of dredged material by discharging it through the elongated discharge pipe 32 or by directing it to a plurality of hoppers 44 located approximately midships of the dredge. It should also be noted that the discharge from any or all of the dredge pipes 12 and 14 may be combined for unitary discharge through the discharge pipe 32 or into the hoppers 44. Thus, suction through the inboard dredge pipes 14 is developed by means of the two dredge pumps 46 which are driven by a common prime mover 48 and which discharge through individual conduits 58 into a common discharge conduit 52. The common discharge conduit 52 is connected at its downstream end to the discharge pipe 32 and to port and starboard hopper conduits 54. The port and starboard hopper conduits 54, as well as the discharge pipe 32, are provided with suitable valves 56 so that the dredged material in the common discharge conduit 52 may be directed into the dis-charge pipe 32 for ultimate discharge to a bank of the stream adjacent the dredge, or alternately, may be directed into one or more of the hoppers 44 located in the hull 10 of the dredge. At the forward end of the common discharge conduit 52, individual discharge conduits 58 branch from the common discharge conduit and pass downwardly through the main deck to the two dredge pumps 60 used for developing suction through the outboard dredge pipes 12 and driven by a common prime mover 62.

The structure of the elongated horizontally extending boom 22 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the boom comprises a hollow framework which is generally triangular in cross section, and which is formed by a pair of parallel longitudinal structural members 64 extending along the lower side of the boom, a third structural member 66 forming the apex of the boom, and a series of transverse members 68 interconnecting the lower members 64 with the upper member 66. The discharge pipe 32 extends through the boom and is supported upon cradles 72 secured to the cross brace members 70 which interconnect the parallel longitudinal members. Suitable diagonal structural members 74 interconnect the transversely and longitudinally extending structural members and are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. At its inboard end 24, the boom 22. is secured to and supports a large counterweight 30.

The details of construction of the rotating ring structure 20 and the stationary supporting structure 18 are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 9 and 10. The stationary supporting structure 18 comprises an annular wall portion 76 which is interconnected to a central hub 78 by a series of radial girders 80. The girders 80 are in turn braced and supported by a plurality of annular stanchions 82 spaced radially along the girders 80 from the hub 78. On the forward side of the stanchions 82 along the center line of the ship, apertures are provided in the stanchions to permit the discharge pipe 32 to pass therethrough. The discharge pipe 32 passes into the hub 78 through an apert'ure in its forward side and thencurves upwardly to pass out through the top of the hub in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. The discharge pipe 32 is provided with a swivel joint 83 in the gooseneck 33 adjacent to the top of the hub '78 to permit the portion of the discharge pipe carried by the boom 22 to pivot freely relative to the hub 78 when the boom is pivoted.

The rotating ring structure 20 is rotatably journaled on the hub 78 of the stationary supporting structure 18 by means of suitable bearings 84. The ring structure 20 comprises an annular hollow wall member 86, a central nave portion 88 journaled on the hub 78, a series of girders 90 (see FIGS. 9 and radiating from the nave portion 88 and interconnecting the nave portion with the hollow wall member 86, and radially spaced series of braces 91 interconnecting the girders 90. In order to enhance the structural strength of the ring structure at the points Where it directly supports the boom 22, four pairs of large girders 92 in back-to-back relation extend radially from the nave portion 88 to the wall member 86, intersecting the latter member at its four points of support of the longitudinal members 64 of boom 22. This arrangement is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10. As these figures of the drawing further illustrate, radially extending shoulders 94 are built up on the outer periphery of the annular wall member 86 to provide 'a large base platform for supporting the forward pedestals 28a and 28b and the after pedestals 26a and 26b, which pedestals in turn support the boom 22.

An annular track 98 is bolted to the lower side 99 of the annular, hollow wall member 86 of ring structure 20, and an oppositely facing track 100 of substantially the same dimensions as track 98 is bolted to the upper surface 101 of the annular wall portion 76 of stationary supporting structure 18 so that a series of rollers 102. may be interposed between the rotating ring structure 20 and the stationary supporting structure 18. As shown in FIG. 11, each of the rollers 102 carries a pair of terminal circumferential flanges 104 to enable it to be guided by the tracks 98 and 100 as the rotating ring structure 20 is pivoted.

In order to permit the rollers 102 to be removed from between the rotating ring structure 20 and the stationary supporting structure 18 for replacement or repairs, the lower side 99 of the annular, hollow wall member 86 is provided at one or more points with an aperture 106 (see FIGS. 10 and 12), and a removable section 98a of the upper track 98 is bolted to the upper surface of the lower side 99 of hollow wall member 86 as shown in FIG. 12. The vertical sides 108 of the hollow wall member 86 are also apertured (not seen) at locations adjacent the apertures 106 in the lower side so that the rollers 102 may be removed therethrough when desired. Suitable removable cover plates 110 are placed over the apertures in the vertical sides 108.

Operation When the dredge arrives at the side of the dredging operation, one or more of the dredge pipes 12 and 14 are lowered by means of d-avits 16 to the operative position shown in FIG. 1. The corresponding dredge pumps 46 and 60 are then actuated by their respective prime movers to apply a suction through the dredge pipes to the bottom of the channel being dredged. The material which is dredged from the bottom of the channel then passes upward throug from the bottom of the channel then passes upward through the dredge pipes which are in use and is directed through the individual conduits associated with each of the dredge pumps into the common discharge conduit 52. The combined dredged material passes through the common discharge conduit 52 into either the discharge pipe 32 or the hopper discharge conduits 54, dependent upon the setting of the valves 56 located in these conduits.

The boom 22 of the present invention is a horizontally extending, rigid structure of great length which may be directed toward a shoreline on either beam or quarter of the vessel. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the boom 22 is well over three hundred feet in length so that shorelines lying at some distance from the dredging operation become available for the deposition thereon of dredged material. The discharge pipe 32 is enabled by the swivel joint 83 to pivot with the boom in any direction, and through the discharge pipe 32 is relatively flexible compared to the boom structure, the pipe is well supported by the cross members 70 of the boom and is protected by the enclosing boom against collision with objects which might inadverently become located in the path of the boom.

If it is desirable to discharge the dredged material to a point on an adjacent shore, the discharge pipe 32 must first be filled while it extends directly astern. The load thus placed in the pipe is calculated in determining the weight of the counter-Weight 30, and without the load, the vessel would list as soon as the boom swung out to the side. After loading the pipe 32, the wind-lass 34 is energized and the wildcat 36 is then rotated by the windlass to apply a rotative force to the rotating ring structure 20 through the chain 38. It will be noted that the stopping off of the chain ends at the forward side of the rotating ring structure (when the boom is aligned in fore and aft position) permits the longitudinal axis of the boom to be rotated through an arc of degrees, that is, from beam to beam of the dredge. When it is necessary to permit other water traific to pass the dredge, the boom 22 may be rotated as necessary and, of course, may be positioned in its fore and aft position when the dredge is under way. The goosenecks 33 and 35 hold the charge, or load in the pipe 32 at all times to prevent inadvertent emptying thereof, and to facilitate pivoting of the boom 22. Suitable braking means (not shown), such as a plurality of hydraulic brakes, are provided to prevent inadvertent rotation of the boom 22 when such movement is not desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a dredge which may dispose of the dredged material by passing it through an elongated, horizontally extending discharge pipe to an adjacent shore, or if more desirable, may deposit the dredged material in a plurality of hopper compartments located in the hull of the dredge. In either event, the combined discharge from all of the dredge pumps may be so deposited if desired. Alternately, a portion of the combined discharge may be directed through the discharge pipe to the adjacent shoreline and the remainder of the dredged material passed into one or more of the hoppers. The construction of the elongated, rigid boom and the discharge pipe carried thereby is such that the center of gravity of the boom and discharge pipe is located in the midships area of the vessel. The clearance between the boom structure and the main deck of the ship is sufliciently great that the boom does not interfere with normal operations on board the dredge.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts or elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-propelled boom dredge for dredging while under way, said dredge comprising:

(a) a hull;

(b) propulsion means for driving said hull;

(c) an elongated, substantially horizontal boom;

((1) a support mounted amidships on said hull, said boom being attached near one end to said support to be pivotally supported to swing about a vertical axis with respect to said hull;

(e) a discharge pipe extending substantially the length of said boom and supported thereby, said pipe comprising an inverted U-pipe at the end thereof adjacent said support, one leg of said U-pipe being substantially coaxial with said vertical axis and comprising a swivel joint to permit said discharge pipe to swing with said boom, the other end of said discharge pipe being higher than the portion of said discharge pipe between said other end and said U- pipe to retain material in said discharge pipe;

(f) a dredge pump in said hull connected to said swivel joint to force liquid into said discharge pipe; and

(g) a counterbalance attached to said one end of said boom to balance the weight of said boom and discharge pipe with material therein, whereby said boom and discharge pipe with material therein may be swung abeam of the dredge without causing the dredge to list.

2. A self-propelled boom and hopper dredge for dredging while under way, said dredge comprising:

(a) a hull;

(b) propulsion means for driving said hul-l;

(c) dredge suction pipe and pumping means;

(d) hopper means in said hull to receive material from said suction pipe means;

(e) a pivotally mounted, substantially horizontal boom;

(f) a pivotal support for said boom amidships of said hull and having a substantially vertically pivot axis, said boom being mounted near one of its ends on said support;

(g) a substantially horizontal discharge pipe extending along said boom;

(h) an inverted U-pipe having one leg connected to one end of said discharge pipe and a second leg comprising a swivel joint substantially coaxial with said pivot axis, the other end of said discharge pipe being slightly higher than the remainder of said discharge pipe between saidother end and said U-pipe;

(i) valve and piping means to direct said material selectively into said hopper means or through said U-pipe into said discharge pipe; and

(j) counterbalance means at said one end of said boom to balance said boom and said discharge pipe filled with material whereby said boom may be swung back and forth without causing said dredge to list.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 391,551 10/1888 Moxham 104-34 413,091 10/1889 Riker 3759 461,193 10/1891 Murphy 37-69 799,256 9/1905 Parker 37-58 883,635 3/1908 Francis 37-71 X 1,047,233 12/1912 Jackson 37-71 X 2,963,801 12/1960 Ellicott 3767 3,003,611 10/1961 Pelzer 19'888 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,551 8/ 1900 Great Britain. 206,607 11/1923 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

J. R. OAKS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SELF-PROPELLED BOOM DREDGE FOR DREDGING WHILE UNDER WAY SAID DREDGE COMPRISING: (A) A HULL; (B) PROPULSION MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID HULL; (C) AN ELONGATED, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BOOM; (D) A SUPPORT MOUNTED AMIDSHIPS ON SAID HULL, SAID BOOM BEING ATTACHED NEAR ONE END TO SAID SUPPORT TO BE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED TO SWING ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS WITH RESPECT TO SAID HULL; (E) A DISCHARGE PIPE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF SAID BOOM AND SUPPORTED THEREBY, SAID PIPE COMPRISING AN INVERTED U-PIPE AT THE END THEREOF ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT, ONE LEG OF SAID U-PIPE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH SAID VERTICAL AXIS AND COMPRISING A SWIVEL JOINT TO PERMIT SAID DISCHARGE PIPE TO SWING WITH SAID BOOM, THE OTHER END OF SAID DISCHARGE PIPE BEING HIGHER THAN THE PORTION OF SAID DISCHARGE PIPE BETWEEN SAID OTHER END AND SAID UPIPE TO RETAIN MATERIAL IN SAID DISCHARGE PIPE; (F) A DREDGE PUMP IN SAID HULL CONNECTED TO SAID SWIVEL JOINT TO FORCE LIQUID INTO SAID DISCHARGE PIPE; AND (G) A COUNTERBALANCE ATTACHED TO SAID ONE END OF SAID BOOM TO BALANCE THE WEIGHT OF SAID BOOM AND DISCHARGE PIPE WITH MATERIAL THEREIN, WHEREBY SAID BOOM AND DISCHARGE PIPE WITH MATERIAL THEREIN MAY BE SWUNG ABEAM OF THE DREDGE WITHOUT CAUSING THE DREDGE TO LIST.

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