Patent ID: 7089693
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
1. An improved hydraulic dredging apparatus for removing a sediment layer from an underlying substrate lying below a water surface, said dredging apparatus of the type having a surface vehicle, a boom having an end that is mounted on said surface vehicle and a submersible end that extends from said surface vehicle, and a receptacle that is attached to said boom submersible end, wherein said receptacle includes an open-front portion through which said sediment is collected and a hydraulic pump attached to said receptacle for pumping a sediment and water slurry having a percentage solids content to the water's surface, wherein said receptacle having a weight that causes a pressure on said underlying substrate and wherein said receptacle having the property that said receptacle can be filled to various degrees of said sediment, wherein the improvements comprise: a buoyancy compensation chamber attached to said receptacle for allowing said pressure of said receptacle on the underlying substrate to be controlled, a load cell mounted on said receptacle that determines said degree to which said receptacle is full of sediment, and a water manifold system attached to said receptacle for allowing water to be added to said receptacle's contents so as to control said percentage solids content of said slurry being pumped.