Abstract:
A dredging apparatus is described for removing sediments from a bed of an expanse of water, comprising: a suction apparatus including a) a submersible pump including: a housing body provided with an inlet mouth and with a discharge opening and an impeller rotatably supported in the body between the inlet mouth and the discharge opening and rotatably driven by a respective driving device; and b) a suction head associated to the inlet mouth of the housing body of the pump and provided at the bottom with a suction opening of the sediments; wherein the suction opening of the head has a value of the cross-section area dimensioned to achieve in the working range of the pump a suction speed capable of removing the sediments by means of the fluid dynamics removal action carried out by the water sucked into the head. The invention also describes a dredging method which may be carried out by means of such an apparatus.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an excavating device, comprising a floating device which can be moved in a navigating direction and to which a drag head (1) is attached which during use is dragged over the bottom (50) and herein loosens soil, and a suction conduit (4) which connects to the drag head (1) and which discharges the loosened soil. The excavating device is provided with a steering device (10) for moving the drag head (1) out of the navigating direction. The invention also relates to a method for excavating ground (50) using the excavating device, and a computer program for performing the method.
Abstract:
An apparatus for assembling a liner from a plurality of longitudinal sections of flexible material having longitudinal edges adapted to be joined one to another to form the liner includes a path means along which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can be conveyed in a laterally reduced condition, an assembly zone at which the longitudinal edges can be joined together to form the liner, and a guide structure about which the flexible material can turn upon exiting from the path means to provide an inner section and an outer section turned back with respect to the inner section. The guide structure presents a guide, surface over which the longitudinal sections of flexible material can pass, the surface being configured to facilitate spreading of each longitudinal section from the laterally reduced condition.
Abstract:
A method for moving subsea rocks and sediments which can be at significant depths, in connection with removal of protective rocks around installations where maintenance is to be conducted. Tubing with an ejector nozzle is arranged completely externally in relation to the tubing on a standard, remote controlled submarine (ROV), so that the ejector nozzle produces a pressure gradient through the tubing. An inlet end of the tubing is located with the rocks and sediments to be moved, which are sucked into the tubing and blown out of the opposite end of the tubing.
Abstract:
A floating mobile self-contained membrane filtration treatment vessel that is suitable for use in the treatment of contaminated marine waters and shipboard wastes including, but not limited to, ballast water, graywater, and blackwater and excess dredge waters. The mobile treatment vessel preferably includes a micro or ultrafiltration membrane treatment system for micron and submicron sized particulate removal.
Abstract:
A suction, or vacuum, is created by the coupling of two sections of tubing of dissimilar size. The larger section of tubing has an open ended reservoir attached to one end thereof. The smaller section of tubing has an end plate attached at a point approximately one third of its length. The longer portion of the smaller section of tubing is inserted into the larger tube until the end plate mated to the reservoir. A fluid medium such as water or air is pumped into the reservoir under high pressure filling the reservoir and encompassing the inner section of tubing. The space between the smaller section of tubing and the larger section of tubing is fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The application of the pressurized fluid medium from the reservoir to the space between the sections of tubing creates a low pressure within the inner tubing resulting in a vacuum or suction being effected at the intake of the inner tubing.
Abstract:
A dredge head for dredging sludge by a trailing and pushing motion thereby defining a trailing and pushing direction is configured to be fitted on a ladder of a stationary dredger. The ladder is movable in the trailing and pushing direction for moving the dredge head. The dredge head includes: a component defining a passageway having a longitudinal axis in the trailing and pushing direction, the component being configured to be connected to a suction tube at a rear extremity thereof; a first scraper and a second scraper both disposed at a front extremity of the component and facing one another, the first scraper and the second scraper further having respective cutting edges extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the passageway and defining an elongated opening therebetween, the first scraper being fixed with respect to the component and the second scraper being configured to have an adjustable height with respect to the first scraper; and a visor connected to the second scraper and being movable with respect to the component for effecting a height adjustment of the second scraper with respect to the first scraper.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an excavator for suction material, particularly for removing soil from underground pipes. The excavator has a pneumatic elephant trunk for removing the suctioned material and which issues into a storage tank for the suctioned material and to which is connected an exhaust fan. In the storage tank the suctioned material is separated from the suction air flow and is subsequently passed through a filter positioned between an elephant trunk opening and the exhaust fan. In order to ensure a good separation on the part of the filter for a long period of time, the filter is formed by a coarse filter and a fine filter connected to the latter. The coarse filter is formed by a labyrinth or cascade-like flow channel, which is bounded by reciprocally displaced partitions and whose flow cross-section increases in the flow direction. On the tank bottom can be provided a conveyor by which the suctioned material separated from the air flow can be removed continuously or at intervals from the storage tank.
Abstract:
A system for collecting mineral resources on the ocean floor, having an automotive collector for collecting mineral resources, a collection vessel which is connected to the automotive collector so that the collected mineral resources are fed to the collection vessel, and an endless bucket lift device having a number of buckets. The endless bucket lift is lowered from a ship and circulates between the ship and the collection vessel. The circulation of the buckets carries the mineral deposits, collected at the collection vessel, to the ship. The ship has an expansion apparatus having at least a pair of end-rollers on which an endless belt carrying a number of buckets are wound. The distance between the end rollers is adjustable so that the lowering distance of the collection vessel and the automotive collector can be adjusted according to the depth of the seabed.
Abstract:
The dredging apparatus includes a vertical hollow body arranged to be lowered to the ocean floor and incorporating a venturi entrance at a bottom opening converging to a throat and thence widening abruptly to define an annular step facing upwardly. The diffusion portion of the venturi extends from the step to the upper part of the body and is defined by a gradually widening or increasing diameter portion. Compressed air or gas is introduced into the throat of the venturi at the annular step by passing the gas through a series of vertical holes or orifices passing through the step. The step results in cavitation of the flow of fluid and debris past the exit end of the throat at the step area to result in a reduced pressure at the step surface to thereby facilitate the flow of gas upwardly through the step. The fluid and debris are passed up to the surface of the ocean by an appropriate conveying means either in the form of flexible hose or a series of pipe sections.