US3470633A

US3470633A - Amphibious dredge

Info

Publication number: US3470633A
Application number: US647494A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Soehnlen
Original assignee: Beloit Pipe and Dredge Inc
Current assignee: Beloit Pipe and Dredge Inc
Priority date: 1967-06-20
Filing date: 1967-06-20
Publication date: 1969-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-07

Description

Oct. 7, 1969 R. M. soEHNLEN AMPHIBIOUS DREDGE Filed June 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l lill( l Oct. 7, 1969 R. M. soEHNLEN AMPHIBIOUS 'DREDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet t Filed June 20, 1967 /2 Il? /lg 7 97 United States Patent O 3,470,633 AMPHIBIOUS DREDGE Robert M. Soehnlen, Beloit, Wis., assigner to Beloit Pipe and Dredge, Inc., Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 20, 1967, Ser. No. 647,494 Int. Cl. E02t 3/88, 3/62 U.S. Cl. 37-67 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Background The present invention pertains to dredges and more particularly to dredges of the type having7 bottom spud anchors.

Dredges, as presently known, are machines for scooping or removing earth, as in excavating or deepening streams or channels. Among the chief kinds of dredging machines are dipper dredges, dragline dredges, and hydraulic dredges. A hydraulic dredge generally utilizes a centrifugal pump and a suction tube to draw mud or saturated sand from a channel, or the like, and to discharge it on the shore or elsewhere.

Generally, the excavating apparatus is carried on a barge, large raft, or the like, to provide adequate support in the water. Some means is provided for moving the dredge through the water, for example, walking spuds. Since the dredge is bulky, many are permanently located on a body of water. Some others are arranged for transportation from one point of use to another, as by a truck. This may require a partial disassembly of the dredge.

Summary The present invention relates generally to dredges and more particularly to an improved dredge having bottom spud anchors. The dredge has new and useful means for moving the spuds from a storage position to an upright position for anchoring the dredge. The dredge is capable of self-propulsion both over land and through water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dredge which is easily moved from one point of use to another.

Another object is to provide a dredge in accordance with the above object and which is amphibious, being capable of self-propulsion both over land and through water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dredge wherein the spuds are tiltable between an upright position and a storage position.

Still another object is to provide a dredge in accordance with the foregoing object wherein the spuds are easily moved from the storage position to the upright position.

These, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent as the same becomes better understood from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings:

Drawings FIGURE l is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention floating on a body of water, with the spud and ladder positioned for the dredging operation,

ICC

and with moved positions shown in the broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with some parts broken away for better illustration;

FIG. 3 is a view, partly sectional and partly elevational, taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2 and on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system utilized in the present invention.

Description Referring more specifically to the drawings, the dredge shown therein includes a hull 11 having a central bottom plate 12, a sloping bow bottom plate 13, a sloping stern bottom plate 14, side walls 15, a small forward deck 16, and a rear deck 17.

Built integrally with each of the side walls 15 is a pontoon 20 (see FIG. l). Mounted about each pontoon 20 is a track mechanism, generally designated 21, which includes a series of bogie wheels 22 provided along the lower edge of the pontoon, a pair of idler members 23 mounted on top of the pontoon, an idler sprocket 24 mounted on the front upper corner of the pontoon, a drive sprocket 25 at the rear of the pontoon, and a track belt 26 which is entrained about the sprockets 24 and 25, members 23 and bogie wheels 22. The belt 26 has a series of grousers 27 for engaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land and for engaging the water when the dredge is aoat. Thus, the dredge is propelled both over land and through water when the tracks 26 are actuated.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an engine 30 is mounted on the hull and operates to selectively drive the track mechanism 21 through a clutch 31, drive shaft 32, auxiliary drive 33, transmission 34, differential 35, and shafts 36 and 37 at the ends of which are mounted the drive sprockets 25. Shafts 36 and 37 are provided with brakes 38 and 39, respectively, which are mechanically operated in the usual manner by controls (not shown) adjacent an operators seat 41 at the bow of the dredge. Brakes 38 and 39 are selectively operable to retard the rotation of shaft 36 or 37 and reduce or stop the operation of the respective track driven thereby. In this manner, the dredge is steered when driven over land or through the water. Obviously, both brakes may be simultaneously operated to stop the dredge, when desired. The clutch 31 is provided with a control lever 31a located adjacent the operators seat 41.

As illustrated in FIG. 2., a radiator 42 is provided for cooling the engine 30 in the usual manner. At the opposite end of the motor 30 is a centrifugal pump 44 for use in the dredging operation hereafter described. The pump 44 is driven by drive shaft 32 and a mechanism 45 is provided to conveniently disconnect this driving connection when desired. Auxiliary drive 33 includes a chain take-off 33a from shaft 32, a longitudinal extending shaft 33b, and a second chair take-off 33e which extends from shaft 33b to shaft 33d at the transmission 34.

For the dredging operation, the hull 11 is movably anchored by spuds, indicated at 50 and 50". The spuds 50, 50' are respectively mounted in spud carriers, generally designated 52, 52 and hereafter described in detail. As will be understood by those familiar with this art, the spuds are alternately raised when it is desired to advance the dredge, the anchored spud then serving as a pivot around which the dredge swings during the dredging operation.

At the bow of the dredge is pivotally mounted a ladder, generally designated 55. In the embodiment illustrated, the ladder is of the A-frame type and includes

side members

56 and 57 and a cross member 58. 'Ihe

side members

56 and 57 are pivotally mounted on the hull 11 as at 61 and 62, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, a ram 64 is connected to the hull and the ladder for lowering the ladder for the dredging operation yand for raising the ladder at least to a level below the lower run of the track mechanism 21 for driving the dredge over land. A typical moved position of the ladder 55 is shown in phantom in FIG. 1. The ladder 55 is arranged to carry mechanism for excavating material. In the embodiment illustrated, a cutter 66 is rotatably Imounted at the outer end of the ladder 55. A reversible hydraulic motor 68 is mounted on cross member 58 and rotates the cutter 66 through shaft 69. A suction tube 72 (see FIG. 2) is carried by the ladder and extends from a point adjacent the cutter 66 to a flexible coupling 74 which joins with inlet pipe 76 of centrifugal pump 44. The pump 44 has an outlet pipe 78 which extends to the stern of the dredge and to which other pipes or the like may be connected to discharge the material on the bank, in a barge, or elsewhere as desired.

A pair of pulleys 81 and 82 are mounted on

side members

56 and 57, respectively, adjacent the outer end of the ladder. A cable 83 having a sand anchor 84 at its outer end, extends around pulley 81 to a winch 85 mounted on forward deck 16. Similarly, a second sand anchor (not shown) is secured to cable 86 which extends around pulley 82 and is secured to another winch 87 mounted adjacent the other side of forward deck 16. During the dredging operation, the Winches 85 and 87 are selectively operated to pull their respective cables and to swing the dredge from one side to the other about the anchoring

spud

50 or 50. In this manner, the cutter 66 is swung in an arc about the anchoring spud to perform the excavation of material.

For driving the dredge over land, the spuds 50 are moved from their upright or anchoring position illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, to a storage position overlying the hull as shown in phantom lines. For this purpose, the

spud carriers

52 and 52 are pivotally mounted on the hull for movement between an upright position and a storage position. A pair of

saddles

89, 89 are mounted on the sidewalls to provide additional support for the spuds in their storage position.

It is deemed obvious that with the spuds in the storage position and the ladder raised above the lower run of the track mechanism 21, that the dredge can then be -driven over land. It has been found that a dredge built in accordance with the present invention is quite mobile even over rough land and can climb very steep inclines, if necessary. In this manner, then, the dredge can be easily moved over land to a body of water to perform a dredging operation or from one site of use to another site. It is also deemed obvious that the dredge is ready for the dredging operation simply by moving the spuds to the upright position, lowering one spud to anchoring position, and lowering the ladder.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is illustrated a particularly vadvantageous mechanism for moving the spuds and spud carriers from the storage position to the upright position. As previously described, the spud 50 is supported by spud carrier 52. The spud carrier includes a body portion 92, and upper sleeve 93 surrounding the spud 50, and a similarly arranged lower sleeve 94. The body 92 has a pair of

plates

95 and 96 pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal shaft 97 which is supported on the rear deck 17.

As seen in FIG. 5, sleeve 93 has a plurality of inwardly extending members 98 spaced along the inner periphery thereof. These members 98 provide bearing surfaces along which the spud 50 can slide as the spud is raised and lowered. In a similar fashion, sleeve 94 is provided with spaced bearing surfaces for the same purpose. In this manner, friction is reduced when the spud is raised or lowered.

A bracket 101 is secured to stern bottom plate 14 to engage the spud carrier 52 in its upright position. Bracket 101 is provided with spaced

fingers

102 and 103 at 0pposite sides of the body 92. The lingers 102 and 103 are provided with aligned openings, as is the body 92, for the passage of a pin 104 to lock the spud carrier in the upright position. A drum is rotatably mounted on the rear deck 17 adjacent the spud 50 and spud carrier 52. A pulley 111 is rotatably mounted on shaft 97 adjacent plate 96 (see FIG. 3). A second pulley 112 is rotatably mounted on the body 92 and aligned with pulley 111. The axis of pulley 112 is advantageously at the level of shaft 97 when the spud carrier is in its upright position. A cable 113 is secured adjacent the bottom of spud 50 as at 114 and extends therefrom over pulley 112 and under pulley 111 to drum 110. A third pulley 115 iS conveniently mounted on shaft 97 adjacent plate 95. A second cable 116 is secured adjacent the top of the spud, as at 117, and extends around pulley to drum 110. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the

cables

113 and 116 are arranged for one to be unwound as the other is wound when the drum 110 is rotated. A reversible hydraulic motor 118 is provided for selectively reversibly rotating drum 110 to either raise or lower the spud. Thus, when drum 110 is rotated to pull cable 113, spud 50 is raised. As used herein, raising of the spud 50 is meant to be generic t0 movement of the spud relative to the spud carrier 52 and includes movement of the spud 50 in the direction described even when the spud 50 is in its storage position.

When the spud is in storage position, drum 110 may be rotated to pull cable 116 and extend spud 50 rearwardly. When the weight of the spud passes the balance point, the spud and spud carrier will rotate about shaft 97. If the dredge is in fairly shallow water, the spud 50 will hit bottom before the spud carrier is engaged by bracket 101. Under such circumstance, pin 104 cannot be inserted, and the spud will not operate to anchor the hull. By reversing the motor 118, the spud 50 can be raised as heretofore described. At this point, raising the spud creates a force at pulley 112 to urge the spud carrier 52 toward its upright position. This is due to the particular arrangement of pulleys 111 and 112 and the manner in which the cable 113 extends therearound. Thus, raising of the spud 50 urges the spud carrier 52 toward its upright position so that pin 104 can be inserted to lock the spud carrier at the upright position for proper operation of the spud.

FIG. 6 illustrates the hydraulic system utilized in the present invention. As shown, a reservoir R is provided for holding a quantity of hydraulic fluid. A pump P, conveniently driven from motor 30, withdraws uid from the reservoir through conduit 120 and supplies fluid through supply conduit 121. A bypass valve V is provided in bypass line 122 to return fluid to the reservoir. A return conduit 123 also leads to the reservoir. Reversible hydraulic motor 68 for driving cutter 66 is connected to

lines

124 and 125. These lines are selectively and reversibly connected to supply conduit 121 and return conduit 123 through a three-position Valve 126. In a similar fashion, reversible motor 118 on rear deck 17 is connected to

lines

127 and 128. Another three-position valve 129 selectively and reversibly supplies

lines

127 and 128 to reversibly rotate the motor. A third reversible hydraulic motor 118' operates to raise and lower spud 50. Similar parts are designated by the same number followed by the postscript prime and additional description is deemed unnecessary. Ram 64 for raising and lowering the ladder 55, is connected to hydraulic lines 131 yand 132. A three-Way Valve 133 supplies fluid to one side of the ram or the other to perform this operation.

It is now deemed obvious that the present invention provides an amphibious dredge which is capable of selfpropulsion both over land and through the water. The

dredge is provided with bottom anchoring spuds and an advantageous apparatus for moving the spuds to upright position.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has herein been illustrated and described, this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation, and it is to be understood that various modifications in structure will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An amphibious dredge capable of self-propulsion both over land and through water, and comprising: a ffoatable hull; a motor mounted on the hull; rst and second tracks respectively located on either side of the hull and each having a lower run at a level below the bottom of the hull; means selectively connecting the motor to the tracks for driving the tracks; grousers on the tracks for propelling the dredge through the water and for engaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land; a ladder swingably mounted at one end of the hull; means connected to the ladder and to the hull for raising the ladder to a level above the lower run of the tracks when the dredge is driven over land and for lowering the outer end of the ladder below the water line for the dredging operation; excavating means carried by the ladder for removing material from below the water line; means selectively connected to the motor for operating the excavating means whereby the same motor serves as prime mover for both the tracks and the excavating means; at least one spud at the end of the hull opposite the end at which the ladder is mounted; a spud carrier having an upright position foi supporting the spud for generally vertical movement relative to the hull to anchor the hull on the bottom of a body of Water; and means for pivotally mounting the spud carrier on the hull for movement between said upright position and another position for storage of the spud generally overlying the hull when the dredge is driven over land.

2. An amphibious dredge as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last-mentioned means defines a generally horizontal axis; and including first Wheel means rotatably mounted at the axis, a second wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier and at a level no lower than the first wheel means when the spud carrier is in the raised position, and means attached adjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over the second wheel means and under the first wheel means, and means for pulling said last-mentioned means for raising the spud and simultaneously applying a force at the second wheel means to urge the spud carrier toward the upright position.

3. An amphibious dredge capable of self-propulsion both over land and through water, and comprising: a hull; a motor carried by the hull; first and second tracks respectively located on either side of the hull; means selectively connecting the motor to the tracks for driving the same; means on the tracks for engaging the water as the tracks are driven to propel the dredge through the water and for engaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land; a ladder having one end swingably connected to the hull for movement through a vertical arc, the ladder having an outer end submergible for dredging7 means connected to the ladder for raising the outer end to a level above the bottom of the tracks when the dredge is driven over land; a cutter mounted at the outer end of the ladder; a suction tube carried by the ladder and having an inlet adjacent the cutter; a suction pump carried by the hull and connected to the suction tube, said suction pump selectively driven by the motor for operation when the cutter is operated, whereby the same motor serves as the prime mover for both the tracks and the suction pump; spud means in an upright position adapted to be vertically raised and lowered relative to the hull for selectively anchoring the hull on the bottom of a body of water, the spud means movable from said upright position to a storage position overlying the hull when the dredge is driven over land; and spud carrier means on the hull for supporting the spud means in both positions.

4. An amphibious dredge as set forth in claim 3 including a generally horizontal shaft supported on the hull and pivotally mounting the spud carrier means, first wheel means rotatably mounted on the hull, second wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier, means operatively connected to said wheel means and secured to the spud means for raising the spud means and simultaneously applying force at the second wheel means to urge the spud carrier means toward the upright position, and means for holding the spud carrier means in the upright position.

5. An amphibious dredge as set forth in claim 3 wherein the spud carrier means includes a body pivotally mounted on the hull, first and second spaced sleeves on the body at opposite ends thereof, said sleeves being generally aligned and encompassing the spud means, and means on the inside of each sleeve providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing surfaces adjacent the periphery of the spud means.

y6. In a dredging apparatus including a hull and a spud for anchoring the hull on the bottom of a body of water, the improvement comprising: a spud carrier operative in an upright position to support the spud for generally vertical movement relative to the hull, means defining an axis for pivotally mounting the spud carrier on the hull for movement between the upright position and a storage position with the spud overlying the hull, first wheel means rotatably mounted on the hull, second Wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier and spaced from said axis, means operatively connected to the wheel means and secured to the spud for raising the spud and simultaneously applying a torque to the spud carrier at the second wheel means to urge the spud carrier toward the upright position, and means for holding the spud carrier in the upright position.

7. The combination of claim 9 wherein the first wheel means comprises a first pulley mounted for rotation about the same axis as the spud carrier; the second wheel means comprises a second pulley; and the means operatively connected to the wheel means includes cable means secured adjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over the second pulley and under the first pulley for raising the spud as the cable means is pulled, whereby when the cable means is pulled the first pulley rotates in the same direction as the spud carrier rotates when moving from the storage position to the upright position.

8. In a dredging apparatus including a hull and a spud for anchoring the hull on the bottom of a body of water, the improvement comprising: a spud carrier operative in an upright position to support the spud for generally vertical movement relative to the hull; a generally hori zontal shaft on the hull for pivotally mounting the spud carrier for movement between said upright position and a storage position with the spud overlying the hull; means for holding the spud carrier in the upright position; first Wheel means rotatably mounted on said shaft, second wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier; and means operatively connected to the Wheel means and secured to the spud for raising the spud and simultaneously applying force at the second wheel means to urge the spud carrier toward the upright position and including: a cable having one end secured adjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over the second Wheel means and under the first wheel means, a drum rotatably mounted on the hull adjacent the spud carrier and secured to the other end of the cable, and means for rotating said drum to pull the cable and raise the spud.

9. In a dredging apparatus including a hull and a spud for anchoring the hull on the bottom of a body of water, the improvement comprising: a spud carrier pivotally mounted on the hull about a generally horizontal axis for movement between an upright position to support the spud for generally vertical movement relative to the hull and a storage position with the spud overlying the hull; rst wheel means rotatably mounted at said axis; second wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier; a cable having one end secured adjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over the second wheel means and under the rst wheel means; and means for pulling the cable to raise the spud and simultaneously apply force at the second wheel means to move the spud carrier toward the upright position.

10. An amphibious dredge capable of self-propulsion both over land and through water, and comprising: a oatable hull; a motor mounted on the hull; first and second tracks respectively located on either side of the hull and each having a lower run at a level below the bottom of the hull; means selectively connecting the motor to the tracks for driving the tracks; grousers on the tracks for propelling the dredge through the water and for engaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land; a ladder swingably mounted at one end of the hull; means connected to the ladder and to the hull for raising the ladder to a level above the lower run of the tracks when the dredge is driven over land and for lowering the outer end of the ladder below the water line for the dredging operation; excavating means carried by the ladder for removing material from below the water line; means selectively connected to the motor for operating the excavating means; at least one spud at the end of the hull opposite the end at which the ladder is mounted; a spud carrier having an upright position for supporting the spud for generally vertical movement relative to the hull to anchor the hull on the bottom of a body of water; a spud carrier shaft for pivotally mounting the spud carrier on the hull for movement between said upright position and another position for storage of the spud generally overlying the hull when the dredge is driven over land; a drum rotatably mounted on the hull adjacent the spud; a pulley rotatably mounted on the spud carrier shaft; a second pulley rotatably mounted on the spud carrier about an Cil axis generally parallel to spud carrier shaft, the second pulley axis being generally at a level with the spud carrier shaft when the spud carrier is in upright position; cable means secured adjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over the second pulley, under the pulley on said spud carrier shaft, and secured to the drum for raising the spud when the drum is rotated in one direction; said second pulley and said cable means operative to apply a torque to the spud carrier to urge the same toward its upright position when the drum is rotated in said one direction; and means for holding the spud carrier in its upright position.

11. The combination of claim 10 including a third pulley rotatably mounted on the spud carrier shaft; second cable means carried by the third pulley and secured to the drum and adjacent the top of the spud for moving the spud downwardly as the drum is rotated opposite said one direction; and means selectively operated by the motor for reversibly rotating the drum to raise and lower the spud.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,798 lO/l899 Muehle 37-73 927,680 7/ 1909 Roberts.

939,878 ll/l909 Urie, 1,822,965 9/1931 Gaskins 11S-1 2,271,344 1/ 1942 Rauch 3'7-73 2,917,851 l2/l959 Ellicott 37-73 3,005,273 10/1961 Milne 37-73 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 23,582 2/1931 Netherlands.

d ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examiner fggg@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3.L70 533 Dated October 7, 1969 Inventodwuw Robert I4. Soehnlen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 39, claim 7, reference to claim "9" should be changed to 6 because the claims were renumbered in the issued patent.

haH-U ANI- SEALED JAN 6 -4970 S`m. .I

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Ir. WILLIAM E SCHUYLER JR. Gomissioner ot Pat- Attestmg Offlcer en