ZA200404778B

ZA200404778B - Submerged gravel collection device.

Info

Publication number: ZA200404778B
Application number: ZA200404778A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Graham Albrecht
Original assignee: Graham Albrecht
Priority date: 2001-11-22
Filing date: 2004-06-17
Publication date: 2005-07-22

Description

TITLE: SUBMERGED GRAVEL COLLECTION DEVICE

Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a device for collection. of gravel from a submerged bed.

Background to the invention

The applicant is aware that divers are utilised to collect gravel from the seabed and riverbed for mining purposes by manually operating a suction hose underwater. Often such collection is hampered due to adverse weather, sea conditions and low visibility. Further disadvantages of utilising divers are safety and operational considerations. Divers are limited to certain depths and dive times and often suffer from decompression iliness.

Existing dredging devices often clog up with debris. Such devices are normally suspended from a crane or like apparatus and its lateral movement and control thereof limited and needs to be controlled by the crane or like apparatus.

General description of the invention

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for ) 25 the collection of gravel from a submerged bed, which includes: a head which is connectable to an inflow of a suction pump and an outflow of a fluid pump, and the head including a tubular member defining a gravel intake opening which is in fluid communication with the inflow and one or more jets in fluid communication with the outflow. ’ 5 The device may include a first connection means for connecting to the inflow of a suction pump and a second connection means for connecting to the outflow of a fluid pump.

The head may include a first plurality of jets spaced about the opening and directed towards the submerged bed, in use. : oo The head may include a second plurality of laterally directed jets spaced about the head.

The head may include a cover for at least partially covering the tubular member, the cover being open at the bottom thereof. The cover may be generally bell shaped and the perimeter of the open end may define, in use, the area on the bed to be subjected to suction.

The head may further include a grating arranged on the head and over the opening such that objects larger than the mesh of the grating are prevented, in use, from entering into the opening.

The head may also include a clearing arrangement for dislodging ) 25 objects captured or wedged in the mesh openings defined in the grating. The clearing arrangement may include projections, which are moveable relative to the grating and configured to fit through the openings defined in the grating.

The projections may be arranged on the tubular member about its ) 5 opening. The head may include a tube and the grating may be arranged on one end of a tube which may be co-axially with and slidably fitted over the tubular member. The tube may be slidably moveable between a first position with the projections clear of the openings. of the grating and a second position with the projections projecting into, or through the openings of the grating.

The head may include an urging means for urging the tube into the first position, its normal operating position, in use. The clearing arrangement may also include one or more guide runners and/ or stoppers for guiding the movement of the tube of the grating.

In one embodiment of the invention, the grating may extend downwards and project out of the cover of the head in its first position and be . retracted into the head in its second position. It will be appreciated that, in - use, when an object is stuck in one of the openings of the grid, the head may be lowered such that contact is made between the bed and the grating and the grating moved into the second position allowing the projections to dislodge the object, after which normal operations can be resumed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cover of the head may be fast with the tube and the grating may extend downwards and may remain in ) 25 the head in its first position and second position. It will be appreciated that, in use, when an object is stuck in one of the openings of the grid, the head may be lowered such that contact is made between the bed and the cover and the . grating moved into the second position allowing the projections to dislodge the object, after which normal operations can be resumed.

The head may also include a deflector within the cover and arranged about the tubular member. The deflector and the cover may be provided with apertures, which are arranged such that, in use, water is sucked into the head and its flow directed from an upper region of the cover, downward towards and through apertures on the outer periphery of the deflector towards the bed and into the gravel intake. It will be appreciated that this water flow, with or without the first plurality of jets, aids in loosening the gravel for uptake into the gravel intake.

It will also be appreciated that, if the device is used from a floating platform, rocking movement of the float may intermittently lower the head contacting the grating or cover, as the case may be, with the bed to dislodge . any objects such as stones from the grating.

The device may further include a suction pump and the first connection means may be a flexible pipe for connecting the inflow of the suction pump to the head. At least a portion of the pipe may be a reinforced plastic pipe.

The device may further include a fluid pump and the second connection means may be a flexible pipe for connecting the outflow of the fluid pump to the head. The fluid pump may be a high pressure water pump. ‘ 5 The second plurality of laterally directed jets spaced about the head may be independently operable such that the head may be operably moveable by an operator in any lateral direction as desired. It will be appreciated that the lateral movement may be complimented by a crane at the surface from which the device is suspended. The crane may be located on a ship or on land.

The device may further include one or more buoys from which the flexible pipe for connecting the inflow of the suction pump to the head may be suspended, in use. 16

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described, by way of non limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows schematically a partial sectional side view of one embodiment of the device for the collection of gravel from a submerged bed, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows schematically a side view of the one embodiment of the device,

Figure 3 shows schematically a side view of the device;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the device, in use, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the device, in use; : ] 5 Figure 6 shows a partial sectional side view of another embodiment of device, in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 7 shows a partial sectional three dimensional view of the other embodiment of device.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally refers to the device for the collection of gravel from a submerged bed. The device 10 includes a head 12, which is connectable to an inflow of a suction pump (not shown) and an outflow of a high pressure water pump 14. The head 12 includes a tubular member 16 defining a gravel intake opening 18, which is in fluid communication with the inflow. The head 12 further includes a plurality jets 20 in fluid communication with the outflow of the pump14.

The device 10 further includes a suction pump (not shown). and the first connection means is in the form a flexible pipe 22 for connecting the inflow of the suction pump to a flange 24 arranged on the head 12. A portion of the pipe 22 is reinforced plastic pipe.

The device 10 further includes a high pressure water pump 14 and the second connection means is in the form of a flexible high pressure pipe 26 for connecting the outflow of the pump 14 to the head 12.

The head 12 further includes a first plurality of jets 20.1 spaced about the opening 18 and directed towards the submerged bed 28, in use. The head 12 also includes a second plurality of laterally directed jets 20.2 spaced ) 5 about the head 12.

The head 12 also includes a generally bell shaped cover 13.

The head 12 further includes a grating 30 arranged on the head 12 and over the opening 18 such that objects larger than the mesh of the grating is prevented, in use, from entering into the opening 18.

The head 12 then also include a clearing arrangement for dislodging objects captured or wedged in the mesh openings defined in the grating. The’ clearing arrangement includes projections 32, which are moveable relative to the grating 30 and configured to fit through the openings defined in the grating 30.

The projections 32 are arranged on the tubular member 16 about its opening 18. The head 12 includes a tube 34 and the grating 30 is arranged 50 on one end of the tube 34 which is co-axially with, and slidably fitted over the tubular member 16. The tube 16 is slidably moveable between a first position with the projections 32 clear of the openings of the grating 30 and a second position with the projections projecting into, or through the openings of the grating 30. The head shown in Figure 1 also includes an urging means in the form of a coil spring 36 for urging the tube 34 into the first position, its normal operating position, in use. The clearing arrangement shown in Figure 1 also includes three guide runners 38 spaced about the inside of the head 12 for guiding the movement of the tube 34 of the grating 30. The grating 30 extends downwards and project out of the head 12 in its first position and is ’ 5 retracted into the head 12 in its second position. :

The second plurality of laterally directed jets 20.2 spaced about the head 12 are independently operable such that the head may be operably moveable by an operator in any lateral direction as desired. It will be appreciated that the lateral movement can be complimented by a crane 40 as shown in figures 4 and 5 at the surface from which the device 10 is ’ suspended. The crane 40 can be located on a ship 42 or on land 44.

The device 10 further includes two buoys 46 from which the flexible pipe 22 for connecting the inflow of the suction pump to the head 12 is suspended, in use.

The head 12 of device shown in figures 3 and 4 is fitted with a protective shock absorbing skirting 48. The head 12 is further fitted with lights 50 and an underwater closed circuit video camera 52 to enable an operator to see the sea bed 28.

In the embodiment of the device 10 shown in figures 6 and 7, the cover 13 of the head 12 is fast with the tube 34 and the grating 30 extends downwards and remain in the head 12 in its first position and second position.

The head 12 also includes a deflector 54 within the cover 13 and is arranged : about the tubular member 16. The deflector 54 and the cover 13 are provided with apertures, 56 and 58, respectively, which are arranged such that, in use, water is sucked into the head 12 and its flow, shown by the arrows marked 60, ’ 5 is directed from an upper region of the cover 13, downward towards and through the apertures 56 on the outer periphery of the deflector 54 towards the bed 28 and into the gravel intake opening 18. in Figure 6, it can be seen that this embodiment of the device 10 also includes a stopper arrangement 62 to limit the movement of the cover 13 relative to the tubular member 16. The device 10 is also provided with eyeets : 64 for attaching a crane cable. it shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for the collection of gravel from a submerged bed, which includes: a head which is connectable to an inflow of a suction pump : 5 and an outflow of a fluid pump, and the head including a tubular member defining a gravel intake opening which is in fluid communication with the inflow, and one or more jets in fluid communication with the outflow.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, which include a first connection means for connecting to the inflow of a suction pump and a second connection means for connecting to the outflow of a fluid pump.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which includes a plurality of jets spaced about the opening and directed towards the submerged bed, in use.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, which includes a plurality of laterally directed jets spaced about the head.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the head includes a grating arranged on the head and over the opening such that objects larger than the mesh of the grating is prevented, in use, from entering into the opening.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, in which the head includes a clearing arrangement for dislodging objects captured or wedged, in use, in the mesh openings defined in the grating.

. 5 7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, in which the clearing arrangement includes projections, which are moveable relative to the grating and dimensioned and configured to fit through the openings defined in the grating.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the projections are arranged on the tubular member about its opening and wherein the cleaning : arrangement includes a tube and the grating being arranged on one end of the tube which fits co-axially with and slidably over the tubular member.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8, in which the tube is slidably moveable between a first position with the projections clear of the openings of the grating and a second position with the projections projecting into, or through the openings of the grating. ’

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, in which the head includes an urging means for urging the tube into the first position, its normal operating position, in use.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 9 and Claim 10, in which the clearing arrangement includes one or more guide runners for guiding the movement of : 25 the tube of the grating.

: 12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the grating extends downwards and projects out of the head in its first position and is retracted into the head in its second position. . 5

13. A device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the head includes a generally bell shaped cover which at least partially covers the tubular member and which is open at the bottom thereof.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the cover is fast with the tube.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the head includes a deflector arranged within the cover about the tubular member.

16. A device as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the deflector is provided with apertures on its outer periphery and the cover is provided with apertures at an upper region thereof such that, in use, water is sucked into the head and its flow directed from an upper region of the cover, downward towards and through apertures on the outer periphery of the deflector towards the bed and into the gravel intake opening.

17. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 16, in which the device include a suction pump and the first connection means is a flexible pipe for ‘ 25 connecting the inflow of the suction pump to the head.

18. A device as claimed in Claim 17, in which at least a portion of the pipe is a reinforced plastic pipe. ) 5

19. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 18, which include a fluid pump and the second connection means is a flexible pipe for connecting the outflow of the fluid pump to the head.

20. A device as claimed in Claim 19, in which the fluid pump is a high pressure water pump.

21. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 20, in which the plurality - of laterally directed jets spaced about the head are independently operable such that the head can be operably moveable by an operator in any lateral direction as desired with propulsion from the jets.

29. Adevice as claimed in any one of claims 19 t6 21, which include one or more lift buoys from which the flexible pipe for connecting the inflow of the suction pump to the head can be suspended, in use. ~

20 .

23. A device for the collection of gravel from a submerged bed substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.