US3902448A

US3902448A - Dredge having improved propelling means

Info

Publication number: US3902448A
Application number: US409759A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl E Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-25
Filing date: 1973-10-25
Publication date: 1975-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-02

Abstract

A dredge in which the barge thereof carries a pair of forwardly located spuds each positioned on opposite sides of the dredge and a rearwardly located spud which is carried by an extendible portion of the barge at its aft end. The pair of spuds at the fore end portion of the barge are shiftable longitudinally of the barge along its sides. With all three spuds embedded in the underlying water bottom, the barge through cylinder means is pushed ahead relative to the rear spud between the forward two pairs of spuds as the dredging operation progresses.

Description

United States Patent 119,

Davis Sept. 2. 1975 l l DREDGE HAVING IMPROVED PROPELLISG MEANS [76] Inventor; Carl E. Davis. Rt. 3 Box 3 l-D.

Edwardsbul'g- Mich. -19] l2 2: Filed: 0m. 25. 1973 21 Appl NCL. 409.759

[52] L15. Cl 1159:37 3 Int. Cl 1363b 2| 56 [58] Field of SearCh. l, llS/J; 3 73. 74; ll-l lb [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 515379 I'IXQJ Tilcomb. l Y i 37173 254F385! [211959 Ellicott. Jr. V l 15/9 3003.454 IO l96| Shaloska cl 3]. l ll59 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 54R 649 N23 France l v v i l v i v .7 37/73 Prmzar E.\ummzrTr g\e M. Blix Auismm ExammcrSherman D. Basinger AllurHE). AgenL 0r FirmOlLsch 8: Knoblock ABSTRACT A dredge in which the barge thereof carries a pair of forwardly located spuds each positioned on opposite sides of the dredge and a rearwardly located spud which is carried b an extendible portion of the barge at its aft end. The pair of spuds at the fore end portion of the barge are shiftable longitudinally of the barge along its sides. With all three spuds embedded in the underlying water bottom the barge through cylinder means is pushed ahead relative to the rear spud between the forward two pairs of spuds as the dredging operation progresses 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DREDGE HAVING IMPROVED PROPELLING MEANS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dredge having improved propelling means.

The dredge of this invention includes a barge part having a hull which is adapted for flotation. A ladder is pivotally connected to the extendible at its forward end. A pair of spuds is mounted at the fore end portion of the hull with each spud being located at one side of the hull and being associated with means permitting the spuds to shift longitudinally relative to the barge part along the hull sides. At least one other spud is located at the aft end of the barge part and is supported by an extendiable section of the barge part. The pair of forwardly located spuds and the rearwardly located spud are lowered into the water and embedded in the under lying water bottom. Means are provided for shifting the hull forwardly relative to the anchored rear spud and between the pair of anchored spuds located at the fore end portion of the hull. In this manner the hull and ladder are urged selectively forwardly during the dredging operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dredge having improved means of propulsion during the dredging operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dredge having a pair of forwardly located laterally spaced spuds between which the hull of the dredge is urged by at least one rearwardly positioned spud during the dredging operation.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the inventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of one embodiment of a dredge which includes the propelling means of my invention.

FIG. 2 is aside elevational view of the dredge of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of FIg. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the spuds of the dredge embedded in the underlying water bottom with the dredge located in a first operative position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the spuds embedded in the underlying water bottom with the dredge having been urged into another operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Dredge I shown in the drawings includes a barge part 12 which includes a hull 13 supporting a cabin IS. A ladder part I4 is pivotally connected to hall 13. Ladder I4 is of a float-type construction which pivotally supports a cutter l6. Cutter I6 is drive connected to a hull supported motor 18 by a drive shaft 20. An overhead pulley support system 22 connected between barge part I2 and cutter 16 serves to raise and lower and to laterally shift the cutter relative to the barge part. The dredge thus far described is of a standard commerical application.

The means for propelling dredge 10 during a dredging operation includes a pair of forwardly mounted spuds 24 and a rearwardly mounted spud 26.

Spuds

24 and 26 are each housed in a suitable sleeve 28 and are connected by a cable 30 which extends from the upper end to the lower end of the spud. Each cable 30 is wound around a pulley 32 which in turn is drive connected to a motor 34 secured to each sleeve 28. Rotation ofa pulley 32 will cause the cable 30 wound therearound to be pulled upwardly or downwardly with the connected spud being raised or lowered. depending upon the direction of rotation of the associated motor 34. The means for individually raising and lowering

spuds

24 and 26 may vary from construction to construction of the dredge.

Forward spuds 24 are located at opposite sides of bull I3 and are each supported for longitudinal shiftable movement relative to the hull by means of upper and lower spaced pairs of rollers 36. The rollers 36 supporting each spud 24 are rotatably secured to the spud's sleeve 28 and fit within spaced parallel guides 38 which allow the spud to be shifted fore and aft along the guides relative to the hull as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Spud 26 at the aft end of barge part 12 has its sleeve 28 secured to a support 40. Support 40 is connected to hull 13 of the barge part by means ofa pair of hydraulic power cylinder members 42. Each cylinder member 42 includes a cylinder part 44 and an extendible retractable rod part 46. Cylinder parts 44 are carried by hull 13 while the free ends of rod parts 46 are secured to opposite transverse portions of support 40. The simultaneous actuation of cylinder members 42 causes the bull to be shifted relative to support 40.

In operation. dredge II) will be floating upon a body of water 48 having a bottom 50. Spuds 24 which are raised will be pushed toward the fore end of the barge part into the forward position shown in FIGS. I and 2. The

spuds

24 and 26 are then lowered into water 48 and embedded in water bottom 50 by actuation of motors 34. The dredging operation starts with cutter l6 lowered and located in cutting position along bottom 50 or the bank of water 48 and with cylinder members 42 being actuated. causing hull 13 to be pushed away from support 40 and urged forwardly between spuds 24. Hull I3 is so urged forwardly at a selected rate of speed until the spuds 24 are located at the rear ends of the guides 38 as illustrated in FIG. 5. At this time cylinder members 42 are deactivated and rear spud 26 raised through the actuation of its motor 34. Once the lower end of spud 26 is free from water bottom 50, cylinder members 42 will again be actuated to cause support 40 to be drawn forwardly toward hull I3. When support 40 is positioned in its forwardmost position adjacent the hull 13, the cylinder members 42 are deactivated again and aft spud 26 again lowered and embedded into water bottom 50. Once spud 26 has been reembedded into the water bottom. the spuds 24 will be raised and freed from bottom 50 and slid forwardly along guides 38. After both spuds 24 have been shifted into their forwardmost position along guides 38. the spuds will be lowered into and re-embedded in water bottom 50, at which time cylinder members 42 are FSUZ.

again actuated to cause hull 13 to be urged foruardl; relative to support 40 and htfhkccl. spuds 24. This abo\e described sequential operation of mo\ ing spuds 24 and 26 and actuating Uitl1df members 42 is repeated until a particular run of a dredging operation has been completed. it is to be understood that in 5011. constructions of this imention it ma be preferable to have t\\ o spuds 26 carried b support 40.

it is to be understood that the imention is not to be limited to the details abo\e gi\ en. but ma be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is;

In a dredge having a barge part vthich includes a hull adapted for flotation and having fore and aft ends and port and starboard sides extending betvt een said ends. a ladder pi\'otall connected to said hull at its fore end. the improvement comprising a first spud located rearwardl of said hull aft end. means for raising and lowering said first spud into and out of embedded contact viith the bottom of a water bod upon which said huil then floats. a pair of verticalh oriented second spuds. one of said second spuds located on the port side of said hull forward! of said first spud. the other of said second sputi located on the tar oard side f aid hull tor ardl; of said tirst spud. means for raising and lowering said second spuds in their \ertica] orientation into and ut of embedded contact with the bottom of said \xater bod \Kith said hull floating thereon. means securing said one second spud to the port side of said hull for guided shiftable mmement of said one second spud along said port side independentl of said raising and iovtering of said one second spud. means securing said other second spud to the starboard side of said hull for guided shiftable mmement of said other second spud along said starboard side independentl of said raising and loviering of said other second spud. means connecting said first spud to said hull for shifting said hull forvt'ardix relative to said spud and between said second spuds vihen in embedded contact with said bottom and for shifting said first spud rearwardly rclatne to said hull hen said first spud is raised out of embedded contact viith said bottom.

2. The dredge of claim 1 herein said second spuds are directl oppositel located across said hull.

* )r i t

Claims

2. The dredge of claim 1 wherein said second spuds are directly oppositely located across said hull.