Dredging Apparatus with Crushing Heads for Tubular Foundations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dredging apparatuses for tubular foundations on seabeds are ineffective on hard seabeds, complex to assemble and operate, and incompatible between hydraulic and mechanical dredging modes, leading to increased costs and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a support frame with multiple crushing heads and suction pumps, equipped with radial piston hydraulic motors and centrifugal suction pumps, allowing for independent movement and operation on various seabed types without the need for complex motor connections, enabling efficient hydraulic and mechanical dredging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydraulic nozzles are used for dredging, then soft seabed material can be removed effectively, but hard seabed material cannot be removed and operational duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hydraulic dredging (via nozzles) and mechanical dredging (via rotating teeth) into a single integrated crushing head assembly. This allows the apparatus to switch between or combine both methods to handle different seabed compositions, resolving the limitation of using only hydraulic methods on hard seabeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The crushing head is designed to rotate independently, allowing the teeth to dynamically engage with hard seabed material while the nozzles remain positioned for hydraulic action on softer materials. This dynamic configuration enables adaptive dredging based on seabed conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rotating crushing head with teeth is added for mechanical dredging, then hard seabed can be processed, but device complexity increases due to motor and hydraulic joint requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The crushing head serves multiple functions: it acts as both a hydraulic nozzle carrier and a mechanical tooth rotor. The single rotating component integrates both hydraulic and mechanical dredging capabilities, reducing the need for separate independent systems and their associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the hydraulic motor and mechanical tooth rotation into a single integrated system where the crushing head rotates as one unit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate motors, hydraulic joints, and control systems required compared to having independent mechanical and hydraulic systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If independent nozzle movement is implemented for uniform sediment removal, then dredging uniformity improves, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of independently controlling each nozzle, the patent combines all nozzles onto a single rotating crushing head. The rotation of the entire head provides uniform coverage through a simple rotational motion, eliminating the need for complex independent control of each nozzle while achieving uniform sediment removal.
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 apparatus effectively operates on all seabed types, reducing operational duration and costs, and simplifies assembly and operation by decoupling hydraulic and mechanical dredging functions, ensuring high reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
each comprising a radial piston hydraulic motor
Implementation Method 2
centrifugal suction pumps
Implementation Method 3
dispensing water at high pressure (greater than 100 bar) towards the seabed and removing, by means of the hydraulic action, the detrital material from the seabed
Implementation Method 4
The operation of removing detritus from the tubular foundations provides for a first step of abrasion of the seabed, attained inside the foundation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Apparatus for dredging detrital material from a tubular foundation planted in a seabed, comprising a support frame (2), a plurality of crushing heads (3), mounted on the support frame (2) in peripheral position and each comprising a first hydraulic motor (31), supplied by a pressurized fluid, and at least one excavator tool (32), movable by the first hydraulic motor (31) in order to remove detrital material from the tubular foundation (100). The apparatus for dredging also comprises at least one suction pump (4), fixed to the support frame (2) and placed in a central portion of the latter, interposed between the crushing heads (3) and comprising a second hydraulic motor (41), supplied by a pressurized fluid, and a pump body (42), provided with a suction opening (42'), arranged for suctioning the detrital material from the tubular foundation (100), and a discharge opening (42"), arranged for expelling the detrital material outside the tubular foundation (100) or for transferring said detrital material to a deposition zone.