US947624A - Dredging apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

J. USTERVQLD. DREDGING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATIN FILED JAN. 8, 1909.

Patented Jan.25,1910.

I? UUR/JE VS WIT/VESSEL? lllldlflllltll@ liteit @ffllfllm JOHN OSTERVOLD, OF WESTPORT, OREGON, ASSIGNR F ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH R. BURKE, OF CATHLAli/IET, WASHNGTN.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 8, 1909. Serial No. 471,293.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that l, Jol-1N (ls'rnnvonn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of llestport, in the county of Clatsop and State of Greg-on, have invented a new and .improved Dredging Apparatus, of which the following a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to dredging apparatus, and particularly lto apparatus of this kind in which an endless flexible band or cable is arranged with one of its runs in contact with the shoal, and having means for its continuous operation, so that all points of the band are successively drawn along the shoal to loosen the sand or other material forming the same, and to permit it to be washed away by the tides or currents.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient dredging apparatus for removing sand-bars, shoals and the like in rivers, harbors and water-ways, which requires little power for its operation, and which can be adjusted for use with shoals or other obstructions of' different sizes.

A further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the class described which can be easily moved from place to place, which is continuous in its operation, and in which the normal currents, tides or other water movements are utilized to distribute and carry away the material loosened from thesand-banks, shoals or other obstructions.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to bc more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of refer ence indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which-- Figure 1 shows my dredging apparatus in operation to remove a sand-bank at the bottom of a river or harbor; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section showing one of the floats which control the movement of the endless flexible band or cable; and l? ig. 3 is a side view of a detail of modified form.

Before proceeding to a more detailed eX- planation of my invention, it should be understood that the same is particularly use ful in water-ways which have tidal or other currents. The apparatus does not actually remove the sand or other material. forming the obstructions, but merely loosens the same so that the, currents themselves, dissipate or carry away theloosened material.

The endless flexible member which l employ consists preferably, of a steel cable of suitable, uniform cross-section. However,

if desired, the cable may be replaced by any other band or member adapted for the pur pose. l have shown, for example, a prime mover for operating the cable, which consists of an internal combustion motor, but l wish to emphasize that l have illustrated this form for convenience merely, and that any type of prime mover adapted to the purpose can be used. Furthermore, the form of the floats, the method of connecting them, and the vessels or barges used to hold them in position, do not form essential elements of my invention but can be varied to suit individnal preference or special conditions. This is likewise true of the means for anchoring or mooring the vessels.

Refi-firing more particularly to the drawings, I provide a vessel consisting of a barge, pontoon, or of any other suitable form, and having at one end a projecting platform 11 carrying a substantially hori- Zontal shaft 12.- The latter has a peripherally grooved wheel or sheave 13 rigid therewith, and a sprocket or pulley 14'. The 'vessel 10 carries the prime mover 15 opw eratively connected by means of a belt 16 or in any other convenient manner, with the pulley lll. The vessel 10 is secured in position by means of an anchor chain 17, or is moored in any other manner adapted to the purpose. A second and similar vessel 18 is moored by means of an anchor chain 19 or is otherwise held in position, at a point remote from the vessel 10 and at the side of the sand bank A, which is to be removed, remote from the vessel 10. The vessel 18 has a projecting platform 2O carrying a shaft 2l having a periph erally grooved wheel or sheave 22.

Between the vessels 10 and 18 are arranged in alinement, a number of floats 23, the adjacent ones of which are joined by chains 24: or connected in any other manner adapted to the purpose. The end floats 23 are similarly secured to the vessels 10 and 18 respectively. Each of the floats has a U- shaped bracket 25 mounted thereon with the legs depending at the sides of the float. Be-

tween the legs of the brackets are pins 26 which have rotatable grooved rollers or sheaves 27.

An endless flexible band 28, consisting of a cable or the like, has the lower run 29 arranged in contact with the sand-bank A and the upper run 30 guidingly carried by the sheaves 27. The band passes over the shafts 21 and l2 and is driven or caused continuously to advance by the latter, which is in turn driven by the prime mover 15. ln this way,the flexible member is dragged along the surface of the sand-bank and all points of it come successively into contact therewith. As the band is drawn along the bottom it loosens the material of the same and allows this material to be gradually washed away or distributed by the currents in the water.

The length of the endless cable depends upon the depth of the water in which the 0peration is carried on, and also upon the distance between the vessels l0 and 18, which is determined by the length of the shoal or sand bank undergoing removal. The direction of travel of the lower run of the endless cable should be the same as the tidal or current direction, to facilitate the carrying away of the material. The cable should preferably be operated at a fairly high rate of speed.

By the provision of two vessels l0 and 18 securely moored in place, the series of floats is maintained vin alinement and the operation of the cable is thereby rendered positive and efcient. The vessels, if so desired, may be power-driven to facilitate theirv movement from one place to another.

It may be found convenient to attach the bracket-s and sheaves to the chains 24 instead of the floats 23. This arrangement which is shown in Fig. 3, can be advantageously employed in rough water, where the pitching of the floats would tend to interfere with the operation of the cable.

It should be understood that the movement of the cable will itself set up a current in the water to remove the loosened material., and that by arranging the cable suitably, the material can be transferred to and deposited at any predetermined point.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. ln dredging apparatus, spaced supports, a series of floats arranged between said supports, an endless. flexible band arranged between said supports. means for operating said band, pulleys for guiding the upper run of said band, and connections between the pulleys and said floats, the lower run of said band being arranged to move iu Contact with the obstruction to be removed.

Q. In dredging` apparatus. vessels adapted to be held stationary, a series of spaced tloats arranged between said vessels and t'lexibly secured successively together. said t'toats being secured to said vessels, an endless` tlexi- 'ble band arranged between said vessels. pulleys for `guiding a run of said band along` the line of said floats, said band having the lower run thereof in Contact with the bottom, and a motor for continuously propelling said band.

3. In dredging apparatus, vessels adapted to be held stationary, a series ot tioats allned between said vessels and secured thereto, said vessels having sheaves.l and said tloats having sheaves, an endless flexible band arranged t'o travel over said sheaves and having the lower run thereof in contact with the bottom, and means for driving the sheaves of one of said vessels, continuously to propel i said band.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing` witnesses.

JOHN OS'lEll-VOLI).

YVitnesses J. BRUCE PoLwAR'rI-r, E. S. SNELLING.

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