Patent ID: 9611621
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: E02F

Claim:
1. A method for operating a cutting dredger in open water, the dredger comprising a floating body, an elongate cutter ladder comprising a lower free end with a cutting head for dredging, and a hinge point, the elongate cutter ladder being hingeably coupled to the floating body at the hinge point and hingeable between an upwards position and a cutting position in which the cutting head engages matter to be cut away at a floor of a body of water, and a driving device comprising an onboard hydraulic cylinder directly coupled with the elongate cutter ladder at a positon near the hinge point for hinging the cutter ladder between the upwards position and the cutting position, the method comprising the step of operating the driving device, when the elongate cutter ladder is in the cutting position to urge the elongate cutter ladder down in a controlled manner for controlling a ground reaction force F between the elongate cutter ladder and the bottom of the body of water.