A drag suction dredger with a tail drag

Abstract

The utility model relates to a drag suction dredger with tail part drag leveler, belong to ship equipment technical field, its ship body middle part both sides are equipped with the drag suction device, and the drag leveler winch is installed through the ladder platform on the stern deck, and the take-up cable of drag leveler winch output is connected with the eye plate in the middle part of drag leveler after the take-up cable guide of stern deck edge, and the eye plate of both ends of drag leveler is connected with the towed cable respectively, and the towed cable is fixed on the deck bollard through the fairlead hole of both sides of ship side, forms the three -point type towed stable form that is composed of two towed cables and a take-up cable, can realize the switch between the storage state and the lowering state of drag leveler when sweeping shallow and leveling operation. The utility model can solve the technical problem of the residual shallow point and the ridge ditch of the existing drag suction dredger construction channel bed, realizes the integrated operation of dredging and leveling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of marine equipment technology, specifically relating to a trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern towing leveler, which can operate in near-shore navigation areas and navigate in unlimited areas. Background Technology

[0002] Trailing suction hopper dredgers, as core equipment in port basin and waterway dredging projects, have long undertaken the important tasks of underwater earthwork excavation and channel widening and deepening. These vessels use a mud pump system located at the bow or midship to drive the rake head, sucking underwater sediment mixtures into the mud tank, thus achieving large-section, high-efficiency dredging operations. However, the design focus of traditional trailing suction hopper dredgers is primarily on improving dredging efficiency and loading capacity. Their operation is essentially a regional, extensive excavation process, lacking effective technical means for precise control of the seabed flatness. When operating in loose soil or layered geological conditions, the rake head is limited by factors such as uneven rake tooth cutting depth, differences in negative pressure distribution at the mud pump inlet, and insufficient accuracy of vessel track overlap. This easily leaves longitudinal or transverse ridge-like residues on the completed channel bed, while also creating localized shallow spots in turning areas, boundary overlap areas, and hard interlayer areas.

[0003] These construction defects have significant adverse effects on engineering practice. The ridges and shallow spots on the channel bed directly reduce the first-time acceptance rate of dredging projects, resulting in actual navigable depths falling short of design requirements. This increases the risk of ships running aground or hitting the bottom, posing a safety hazard, especially for large-draft container ships and tankers. To ensure navigation standards, owners often have to organize secondary shallowing operations, additionally deploying auxiliary equipment such as cutter suction dredgers, grab dredgers, or dedicated leveling vessels for supplementary dredging. This not only significantly extends the project cycle and increases the difficulty of construction coordination and overall costs, but secondary operations often cause further damage to the already formed channel bed due to positioning deviations and soil disturbance, creating a vicious cycle. More importantly, for stern-type trailing suction hopper dredgers with superstructures located at the stern and already limited deck space, the stern area is already occupied by engine room exits, propulsion control equipment, and necessary safety passages. Traditional solutions requiring large deck areas for external leveling equipment or gantry lifting systems are almost impossible to implement, resulting in a natural technical bottleneck for the functional expansion of this type of vessel.

[0004] While existing technologies offer localized improvements to address bed flatness issues, such as adding scrapers to the shovel head or adjusting the tooth density, these improvements are limited by the structural strength of the shovel head itself and the fundamental constraints of the operational mode. They can only alleviate furrow depth to a certain extent, failing to completely eliminate shallow spots or achieve proactive backtracking leveling of completed areas. Furthermore, some projects have attempted to use independent towed levelers pulled by tugboats, but this approach involves complex issues such as multi-vessel coordination, positioning synchronization, and rigging entanglement prevention, resulting in unsatisfactory construction efficiency and economy, and making it difficult to operate flexibly in narrow harbor basins. Therefore, the dredging industry urgently needs a new technological solution that integrates shovel suction and leveling functions on a single vessel platform, without requiring a large additional area on the main deck, and is particularly suitable for sterncastle-type vessels, to achieve a leap from "extensive excavation" to "integrated precision leveling." Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern towing leveler. By integrating a retractable towing leveler system at the stern, it solves the technical problems of shallow spots and furrows remaining on the channel bed after dredging by existing trailing suction hopper dredgers, achieving integrated dredging and leveling operations. This design employs a stepped platform layout and a three-point towing stabilization system, significantly reducing navigation risks and improving dredging quality while also being space-efficient and highly adaptable. It is particularly suitable for trailing suction hopper dredgers with their superstructure located at the stern and limited space.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device. The dredger has trailing suction devices on both sides of the middle of the hull, and a leveling device winch is installed on the stern deck via a stepped platform. The winding and unwinding steel cable output by the leveling device winch is guided by the winding and unwinding ram's horn at the edge of the stern deck and then connected to the eye plate in the middle of the leveling device. The eye plates at both ends of the leveling device are respectively connected to the towing steel cable. The towing steel cable is fixed to the deck bollard through the cable guide holes on both sides of the hull, forming a three-point towing stability consisting of two towing steel cables and one winding and unwinding steel cable. This allows the leveling device to be switched between the stored state during trailing suction hopper operation and the lowered state during shallow water leveling operation.

[0007] Preferably, in conventional shovel suction hopper operation, the tow leveler winch lifts the tow leveler to a safe height above the water surface via the take-up and release steel cable, with the towing steel cable in a slack state or removed from the end eye plate of the tow leveler; in shallow water leveling operation, the tow leveler winch releases the take-up and release steel cable to lower the tow leveler to the bottom of the riverbed, with the towing steel cable connecting both ends of the tow leveler and fixed to the mooring bollard, and the propulsion device provides thrust to drag the tow leveler to scrape the shallow spots and furrows of the bottom bed.

[0008] Preferably, the towing device has a long strip-shaped steel frame structure, with a central eye plate welded to the top center for connecting the take-up and release steel cables, and end eye plates symmetrically arranged on both side plates for connecting the towing steel cables.

[0009] Preferably, the towing cable is a high-strength steel wire rope, one end of which is fixed to the end eye plate of the towing device, and the other end passes through the embedded bushinged cable guide hole fixed to the side plate of the ship's hull, and then is wound around the double-column cable bollard welded to the strong structural part of the deck.

[0010] Preferably, a stainless steel abrasion plate is fitted onto the stern outer plate near the towing device's retraction area, with its longitudinal length covering the entire friction zone of the retraction cable and its lateral width extending to the outside of the retraction ram's horn projection area.

[0011] Preferably, the towing winch is an electro-hydraulic driven double-drum structure, with high-strength galvanized steel wire rope wound on the drum as the take-up and release cable. The diameter of the steel wire rope is designed to match the weight of the towing winch and the operating water depth. The take-up and release horn is a hyperboloid cable guide horn with a polished surface and a nylon sheath. The take-up and release cable bypasses the curved surface of the horn to achieve vertical steering guidance.

[0012] Preferably, the stepped platform is a layered steel frame structure, which is fixedly connected to the main deck and the strong ribs of the stern structure by welding, and the platform height decreases step by step.

[0013] Preferably, the system includes a hull and a pump house, a mud house, an engine house, and the propulsion device arranged longitudinally along the hull. The pump house is located at the bow, and an internal diesel engine power unit provides power to the mud pumps in the pump house. The mud house is located in the middle of the ship. The pump house is located between the mud house and the pump house. The engine house is located at the stern, and the propulsion device is located behind the engine house.

[0014] Preferably, the deckhouse is located above the engine room exit above the main deck at the stern, and integrates the ship's control system, hydraulic pump station and winch drive device. The stepped platform is arranged adjacent to the rear of the deckhouse, realizing a compact three-dimensional arrangement of the towing winch and the ram's horn.

[0015] Preferably, the propulsion device adopts a full-rotation rudder propeller or a fixed-pitch propeller to provide thrust for the ship's trailing suction hopper operation and shallow water leveling operation.

[0016] In summary, this utility model has the following beneficial technical effects: This invention integrates a leveling system into the stern of a trailing suction hopper dredger, enabling a single vessel to simultaneously perform both trailing suction hopper dredging and leveling operations, fundamentally improving operational efficiency. In traditional waterway dredging, after a trailing suction hopper dredger completes its main dredging operations, a dedicated leveling vessel or other auxiliary equipment must be deployed for secondary treatment of shallow areas and furrows. This not only involves time losses due to multi-vessel coordination, repetitive positioning, and alternating operations, but also increases the difficulty of construction organization and overall cost. The innovative layout of this invention allows the same vessel to immediately switch to leveling operation mode after completing the trailing suction hopper operation. The three-point stabilization system, consisting of the retractable and towing cables, can quickly lower and adjust the leveling device's attitude without waiting for auxiliary vessels to arrive, significantly shortening the construction cycle. It also avoids fluctuations in leveling quality caused by differences in operating parameters between different vessels, ensuring that the design water depth and smoothness requirements are met in one go, greatly improving the cost-effectiveness ratio and the project's economic efficiency.

[0017] The space-efficient design of the towing leveler system is another core technological advantage of this invention, making it highly adaptable to trailing suction hopper dredgers with dense superstructures and limited layout space at the stern. Traditional towing leveling equipment usually requires a large area of ​​the main deck and complex gantry or crane structures. In contrast, this invention adopts a stepped platform three-dimensional layout strategy, arranging the towing leveler winch, jacking / unjacking horns, guide holes, and bollards in layers along the vertical and longitudinal directions. The winch drive is integrated inside the deckhouse, and the jacking / unjacking cables achieve compact steering through the jacking / unjacking horns. The towing cables are directly secured to the bollards through the guide holes on the side. Each functional component can complete collaborative operations with only a minimal deck projection area. This design not only avoids the need to add a large support structure at the stern, but also does not require any changes to the original main hull structure, engine room layout, or propulsion device. It has excellent adaptability to the modification of existing trailing suction hopper dredgers with stern towers, significantly lowers the technical application threshold, provides a feasible solution for the functional upgrade of a large number of existing vessels, and significantly expands the market coverage and promotional value of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a side view of the structure of a trailing suction hopper dredger with a tail leveling device according to the present invention. Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of a trailing suction hopper dredger with a tail leveling device according to the present invention. Figure 3 This is a side view of the working structure of the leveling device of a dredger with a tail leveling device according to the present invention.

[0019] Reference numerals: 1. Propulsion device; 2. Engine room; 3. Shooting suction device; 4. Mud tank; 5. Pump room; 6. Pump hopper; 7. Deck room; 8-1. Leveler; 8-2. Towing cable; 8-3. Retracting cable; 8-4. Leveler winch; 8-5. Retracting ram's horn; 8-6. Abrasion plate; 9. Guide hole; 10. Bollard. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0021] This utility model discloses a trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device, which integrates the channel widening and deepening function of conventional trailing suction hopper dredgers with the stern shallowing and leveling function. Through the optimized layout of the stern space and the ingenious design of the leveling device deployment and retraction system, it can not only complete traditional dredging operations, but also efficiently level shallow spots and furrows that appear on the channel bed after construction, significantly reducing the navigation risk of ships and improving the quality of dredging operations. It is especially suitable for trailing suction hopper dredgers with the superstructure located at the stern and limited space, and has good market prospects.

[0022] This utility model adopts a functional zoning design in its longitudinal layout. A pump compartment 6 is preferably located at the bow, housing a diesel engine power unit to provide the main power source for the entire ship's mud pump system. A large-capacity mud compartment 4 is located midway for storing the mud mixture sucked in during the drag suction operation. A pump compartment 5 is located between the mud compartment 4 and the pump compartment 6, housing a high-power mud pump and its auxiliary piping system. The mud pump's inlet is connected to the discharge pipeline of the drag suction device 3, and the outlet extends to the top of the mud compartment 4, forming a complete mud transport channel. The drag suction device 3, guide cable holes 9, and bollards 10 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the deck midway. The drag suction device 3 uses a traditional combination structure of a drag head and suction pipe, with lifting and angle adjustment controlled by a hydraulic system. The guide cable hole 9 is an embedded, bushed opening structure fixed to the side plate of the ship to guide the steel cable and reduce wear. The bollards 10 are double-column mooring bollards welded to the strong structural parts of the deck for securing the steel cable during towing operations. The stern is equipped with an engine room 2, which houses the ship's main propulsion system and its auxiliary equipment. A propulsion device 1 is located behind the engine room 2. The propulsion device 1 preferably adopts a full-rotation rudder propeller or a fixed-pitch propeller to provide the ship with all the thrust required for navigation and operation.

[0023] The layout of the deck at the stern fully embodies the concept of intensive space utilization. A deckhouse 7 is located above the main deck at the stern, near the engine room 2 exit. Deckhouse 7 houses the ship's control system, hydraulic pump station, and winch drive unit. Adjacent to deckhouse 7 is a stepped platform, preferably constructed with a layered steel frame, welded to the main deck and stern structural ribs. The platform's height decreases progressively to accommodate the winch operating space and the installation position of the winch 8-5. A leveling winch 8-4 is bolted to the stepped platform. The leveling winch 8-4 preferably employs an electro-hydraulic driven double-drum structure, with a high-strength winding cable 8-3 wound around the drums. This winding cable 8-3 is preferably made of galvanized steel wire rope, with a diameter matching the weight of the leveling winch 8-1 and the operating water depth. A take-up / deployment horn 8-5 is welded to the aft deck edge of the stepped platform. The take-up / deployment horn 8-5 is a hyperboloidal guide horn with a polished surface and a nylon sheath. The take-up / deployment cable 8-3 extends from the drum of the towing winch 8-4 to the take-up / deployment horn 8-5, then curves around its smooth surface to change direction, extending vertically downwards and finally connecting to the central load-bearing eye plate of the towing winch 8-1. An abrasion plate 8-6 is installed on the outer stern surface near the take-up / deployment area of ​​the towing winch 8-1. The abrasion plate 8-6 is preferably made of stainless steel abrasion-resistant plate, attached to the outer plate surface by continuous fillet welding. Its longitudinal length covers the entire friction area of ​​the take-up / deployment cable 8-3, and its lateral width extends to the outside of the projected area of ​​the take-up / deployment horn 8-5, to prevent the take-up / deployment cable 8-3 from causing wear and damage to the hull paint and steel plates during ship rolling or take-up / deployment.

[0024] The towing leveler 8-1 has a long, rectangular steel frame structure. A central eye plate for connecting the take-up and release steel cable 8-3 is welded to the center of its top surface. Symmetrical end eye plates for connecting the towing steel cable 8-2 are located on both side plates. A replaceable wear-resistant scraper or high-pressure water jet nozzle is preferably installed at the bottom of the towing leveler 8-1 to adapt to different riverbed textures and leveling requirements. The towing leveler 8-1 can be connected to the towing steel cable 8-2, which is preferably a high-strength steel wire rope of the same specifications as the take-up and release steel cable 8-3. Its end furthest from the towing leveler 8-1 passes through the cable guide holes 9 on both sides of the ship's side and is wound and secured to the bollard 10, forming a three-point towing stabilization system. Two of the towing steel cables 8-2 and the towing leveler 8-1 work together to form a horizontal towing surface, while the take-up and release steel cable 8-3 controls the vertical take-up and release and attitude adjustment of the towing leveler 8-1.

[0025] During routine dredging operations, the propulsion unit 1 located in the engine room 2 provides the main thrust. The diesel engine in the pump room 6 drives the mud pump in the pump room 5 to operate at high speed, creating negative pressure in the suction pipe system. The slurry, formed by the mixture of riverbed sediment and water, is continuously sucked in through the dredging device 3 and transported to the mud tank 4 for storage via the discharge pipeline. At this time, the leveling device 8-1 is in the storage state. The leveling device winch 8-4 raises the leveling device 8-1 to a special storage trough at the bottom of the stern or suspends it at a safe height above the water surface by raising and lowering the steel cable 8-3. The towing cable 8-2 is in a slack state or is removed from the end plate of the leveling device 8-1 and stored separately to ensure that the leveling device 8-1 system does not interfere with the dredging device 3 during the dredging operation and to ensure the normal operation of the main dredging function.

[0026] When shallowing and leveling operations are required, the towing leveler 8-1 initiates a dedicated operating procedure. First, one end of the towing cable 8-2 is secured to the end eye plates at both ends of the towing leveler 8-1, and the other end passes through the guide holes 9 on the port and starboard sides respectively. The curved bushings of the guide holes 9 effectively reduce the friction loss of the cable. Then, the free end of the towing cable 8-2 is fixed to the bollard 10 in the middle of the deck, forming a stable towing connection.

[0027] The leveling winch 8-4 is then connected to the eye plate in the middle of the leveling device 8-1 via the winding and unwinding steel cable 8-3 and the winding and unwinding ram's horn 8-5. Driven by a hydraulic motor, the leveling winch 8-4 slowly releases the winding and unwinding steel cable 8-3. The curved guiding effect of the winding and unwinding ram's horn 8-5 ensures that the steel cable is smoothly turned and lowered vertically. The leveling device 8-1 descends at a uniform speed under the action of gravity until its bottom scraper contacts the bottom of the riverbed. The descent depth of the leveling device 8-1 is jointly controlled by the release length of the winding and unwinding steel cable 8-3 and the tension monitoring.

[0028] During operation, the propulsion unit 1, located in the engine room 2, provides sufficient thrust to the vessel. The vessel, traveling at low speed, moves the leveling device 8-1 along the riverbed. The wear-resistant scraper at the bottom of the leveling device 8-1 smooths out the shallow spots and furrows created during the slurry suction operation. The towing cable 8-2 and the retractable cable 8-3 work together to maintain the stability of the leveling device 8-1, preventing it from sideslipping or capsizing. The abrasion plate 8-6 protects the hull from wear and tear by the retractable cable 8-3 when the vessel rolls. After the leveling operation is completed, the leveling winch 8-4 reverses direction to retrieve the retractable cable 8-3, and the leveling device 8-1 is vertically lifted to its storage position. The towing cable 8-2 is released from the bollard 10 and the guide hole 9 and stored, and the vessel resumes normal navigation.

[0029] The main features of this utility model are its high spatial adaptability and functional integration. The towing leveling winch 8-4 and the hauling horn 8-5 are arranged in a three-dimensional manner through a stepped platform. The hauling cable 8-3 and the towing cable 8-2 are operated independently. Each rigging system achieves coordinated operation through auxiliary structures such as the guide cable hole 9, the cable bollard 10, and the abrasion plate 8-6. The overall system occupies little deck space and is highly applicable to trailing suction hopper dredgers that were originally built at the stern and had limited space. Without changing the main hull structure and main propulsion system, it effectively expands the shallow water leveling function.

[0030] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device, characterized in that, The ship is equipped with a snorkel suction device (3) on both sides of the middle section of the hull. A towing winch (8-4) is installed on the stern deck via a stepped platform. The take-up and release steel cable (8-3) output by the towing winch (8-4) is guided by the take-up and release horn (8-5) at the edge of the stern deck and then connected to the eye plate in the middle of the towing winch (8-1). The eye plates at both ends of the towing winch (8-1) are respectively connected to the towing steel cable (8-2). The towing steel cable (8-2) is fixed to the deck bollard (10) through the guide cable holes (9) on both sides of the ship's side, forming a three-point towing stability form consisting of two towing steel cables (8-2) and one take-up and release steel cable (8-3). This allows the towing winch (8-1) to switch between the storage state during snorkel suction operation and the lowering state during shallowing and leveling operation.

2. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the normal shovel suction operation, the tow leveler winch (8-4) lifts the tow leveler (8-1) to a safe height above the water surface via the take-up and release steel cable (8-3), and the towing steel cable (8-2) is in a slack state or removed from the end eye plate of the tow leveler (8-1); in the shallow water leveling operation, the tow leveler winch (8-4) releases the take-up and release steel cable (8-3) to lower the tow leveler (8-1) to the bottom of the riverbed, and the towing steel cable (8-2) connects the two ends of the tow leveler (8-1) and is fixed to the mooring bollard (10). The propulsion device (1) provides thrust to drag the tow leveler (8-1) to scrape the shallow spots and furrows of the bottom bed.

3. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The towing device (8-1) has a long strip-shaped steel frame structure. The center of the top surface is welded with a central eye plate for connecting the take-up and release steel cable (8-3), and the two end side plates are symmetrically provided with end eye plates for connecting the towing steel cable (8-2).

4. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The towing cable (8-2) is a high-strength steel wire rope. One end of the cable is fixed to the end eye plate of the towing device (8-1), and the other end passes through the embedded cable guide hole (9) fixed to the side plate of the ship and is then wrapped around the double-column cable bollard (10) welded to the strong structural part of the deck.

5. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 4, characterized in that, A stainless steel abrasion plate (8-6) is fitted onto the stern outer plate near the towing device (8-1) retraction area. Its longitudinal length covers the entire friction area of ​​the retraction cable (8-3), and its lateral width extends to the outside of the projection area of ​​the retraction ram's horn (8-5).

6. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The leveling winch (8-4) is an electro-hydraulic driven double-drum structure. High-strength galvanized steel wire rope is wound on the drum as the take-up and release cable (8-3). The diameter of the steel wire rope is designed to match the weight of the leveling device (8-1) and the operating water depth. The take-up and release horn (8-5) is a hyperboloid cable guide horn with a polished surface and a nylon sheath. The take-up and release cable (8-3) bypasses the horn surface to achieve vertical steering guidance.

7. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The stepped platform is a layered steel frame structure, which is fixed to the main deck and stern structure ribs by welding, with the platform height decreasing step by step.

8. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The ship includes a hull and a pump room (6), a mud tank (4), an engine room (2), and a propulsion device (1) arranged longitudinally along the hull. The pump room (6) is located at the bow, and the internal diesel engine power unit provides power to the mud pump in the pump room (5). The mud tank (4) is located in the middle of the ship. The pump room (5) is located between the mud tank (4) and the pump room (6). The engine room (2) is located at the stern, and the propulsion device (1) is located behind the engine room (2).

9. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The deckhouse (7) is located above the engine room (2) at the stern main deck. It integrates the ship control system, hydraulic pump station and winch drive device. The stepped platform is arranged adjacent to the rear of the deckhouse (7) to realize the spatial compact three-dimensional arrangement of the towing winch (8-4) and the ram horn (8-5).

10. A trailing suction hopper dredger with a stern leveling device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The propulsion device (1) adopts a full-rotation rudder propeller or a fixed-pitch propeller to provide thrust for the ship's dredging and leveling operations.

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