Dredging Suction Head Visor Flushing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction heads for dredging vessels, particularly those designed for clay bottoms, face efficiency issues due to clay accumulation, leading to reduced suction efficiency and potential blockages.
Innovation Solution
A suction head with a visor that includes a rear opening for water inflow, controlled by a closing member, which can be slid or rotated to maintain a watertight seal and facilitate flushing, along with nozzles for ejecting liquid to dislodge accumulated material, and a push-out grating to remove adhered material, ensuring efficient dredging by preventing clay accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction head operates continuously without flushing, then suction efficiency is maintained through sealing, but clay accumulates and blocks the suction head and visor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic flushing action by providing a flushing conduit with可控 valves that allow water to be periodically injected into the visor interior. This periodic flushing clears accumulated clay from the suction head and visor, preventing blockages while maintaining operational continuity. The system alternates between suction mode and flushing mode, resolving the contradiction between maintaining suction efficiency and preventing clay accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance through the flushing conduit system. This water acts as a mediator that carries away accumulated clay particles from the visor interior and suction head. The flushing water flows through the visor and out through the suction opening, effectively removing the harmful clay accumulation without requiring system disassembly or shutdown.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the visor follows the bottom contour, then adaptation to varying bottom conditions is improved, but the rear wall and side walls penetrate the bottom to varying extents causing inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment capability by making the visor rotatable around a transverse shaft, allowing it to change its angle and position relative to the bottom contour. The visor can be raised or lowered independently of the suction head construction, enabling real-time adaptation to varying bottom conditions while maintaining optimal dredging geometry and preventing excessive penetration that would reduce efficiency.
3Power
If the suction head is sealed for efficient suction, then underpressure is maintained for suction, but clay accumulates in the interior blocking flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary flushing medium through the flushing conduit system. This water flows into the visor interior and carries away accumulated clay particles, preventing blockages while the suction system maintains its sealed configuration for efficient underpressure generation. The flushing water temporarily overrides the sealing to remove contaminants, then the system returns to sealed suction mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful clay accumulation from the suction head interior by introducing flushing water that flows through the visor and carries the clay particles out through the suction opening. This extraction process removes the blockage-causing material while preserving the sealed suction configuration for maintaining power efficiency.
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 enhances dredging efficiency by maintaining a clear flow path, allowing for higher volumes of clay to be dredged per unit time and power, reducing maintenance and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a curved wall part of the visor is slid in substantially watertight manner along a wall part of the suction head
Implementation Method 2
Owing to the suction action of the suction conduit an underpressure will be built up in the suction head which depends on, among other factors, the extent of sealing of the suction head. The built up underpressure provides for suction of dredged bottom material.
Implementation Method 3
which opening can be closed to the surrounding water by means of a closing member. The invented suction head has been found able to dredge bottoms with an improved efficiency compared to the known suction head. Providing the visor of the suction head at the rear (downstream) thereof with a closable opening enables surrounding water to flow in when the closing member is opened.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a suction head (6) for a dredging vessel (1). The suction head comprises a construction (7) provided on the bottom side with a suction opening and having a connection for a suction conduit (3) of the dredging vessel (1) and a visor (81) rotatable around a shaft (9) running transversely of the direction of movement (P) between a lowered and a raised position, wherein a curved wall part (8a) of the visor (81) is slid in substantially watertight manner along a wall part (7c) of the suction head (6). The visor (81) is further provided on the bottom side thereof with a toothed beam (10) with cutting tools (11) for penetrating the bottom, and with an opening (15) in its rear wall (8b) along which surrounding water can flow into the suction head (6) and which can be closed to the surrounding water by means of a closing member (20). Bottom material, and in particular bottom material comprising clay, can be dredged in efficient manner using the suction head (6). The invention also relates to a dredging vessel (1) equipped with the suction head (6) and a method for dredging a bottom particularly comprising clay.