Dredger Cutter Head Suction Blade Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutter heads for dredging require strong pumps to achieve sufficient suction, which increases costs, and positioning the pump close to the cutter head is not feasible due to operational constraints.
Innovation Solution
A cutter head design featuring rotating blades with a rounded cone leading edge and a connecting ring, where the trailing edge is positioned closer to the rotation axis than the leading edge, creating a suction function and radial motion to guide the mixture of water and solid materials into a tube, potentially eliminating the need for a separate pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate pump is positioned away from the cutter head to transport the mixture, then the pump can operate above water level, but the suction action becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pumping function with the cutter head by integrating rotating blades that directly generate suction within the cutter head structure itself. The blades are arranged to create a pressure difference that draws the mixture into the tube, eliminating the need for a separate pump positioned at a distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating blades serve multiple functions: they cut the water bottom, generate suction to transport the mixture, and guide the mixture into the tube. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pumping equipment while maintaining effective operation.
2Power
If stronger pumps are applied to increase suction capacity, then the pumping action improves, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pumping function from separate expensive pump equipment and integrates it into the cutter head structure using simple rotating blades. This extraction eliminates the need for costly pump machinery while achieving the required pumping capacity through the blade design and rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter head itself generates the suction action needed to transport the mixture through its rotating blades, rather than requiring an external pump. The system serves its own pumping needs through the mechanical action of the blades, eliminating the need for additional powered equipment.
3Reliability
If the pump is positioned close to the cutter head to improve suction, then the suction action improves, but the operational constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the pumping mechanism with the cutter head structure, the patent eliminates the positioning constraint between pump and cutter head. The suction generation point is integrated directly into the cutter head, allowing operation without violating the constraint of positioning pumps above water level at a distance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a high pumping action, effectively removing all solid materials with minimal loss and preventing clogging, allowing for a smaller or omitted pump capacity, thereby reducing costs and enhancing dredging efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a trailing edge of part at least one of said blades is positioned closer to said rotation axis than a leading edge of said blades so as to provide a suction function towards said tube upon rotation of said cutter head
Implementation Method 2
any mixture can only leave the cutter head through said tube, yielding a pressure inside said tube and as a consequence a positive head to the pumping action
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cutter head for removing a mixture comprising water and solid materials from a water bottom, comprising rotating blades each provided with cutting means on a leading edge thereof, said cutter head being rotatably coupled to a tube for transporting said mixture, the shape of the leading edge of said rotating blades being defined by substantially fitting a rounded cone with a rotation axis, wherein each rotating blade at a middle part is coupled to a connecting ring and at a top part is linked to a top part of another rotating blade. The cutter head is characterized in that the rotation axis of said blades is substantially aligned with a rotation axis of said ring; in that a trailing edge of part at least one of said blades is positioned closer to said rotation axis than a leading edge of said blades so as to provide a suction function towards said tube upon rotation of said cutter head; and in that said blades as viewed from said top part at a bottom part of said blades extend to a position beyond said connecting ring. A preferred embodiment comprises a method for using the cutter head according to the invention.