Improvements in or applicable to Dredging Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Dredging Apparatus.
I, JOHN GWYNNE of Hammersmith Iron Works, Hammersmith, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in or applicable to dredging
apparatus of the kind wherein material such as silt, mud, sand, and gravel is raised
by means of water through a suction pipe connected to a centrifugal pump or
equivalent device and my invention has for object to render this mode of
dredging more efficient than heretofore in cases where material of the kind
referred to is in the form of a more or less compact mass.
For this purpose
I provide the lower end of the suction pipe with a nozzle or nozzles through
which a jet or jets of water under pressure is or are forced in such a manner
as to disintegrate, break up, or loosen the said material and render it capable
of being readily withdrawn through the suction pipe with the water drawn
therethrough.
According to one construction the lower end of the suction pipe is surrounded
by a casing that forms therewith a water tight chamber, the upper end of which
is provided with an inlet pipe adapted to be connected with a force pump, and the
lower end of which is provided with a series of nozzles arranged in a circular or
other suitably shaped row around and below the mouth of the suction pipe and
through which water under pressure is forced from the said chamber.
Dated this 13th day of December 1892.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Dredging Apparatus.
I, JOHN GWYNNE, of Hammersmith Iron Works, Hammersmith, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to improvements in or applicable to dredging
apparatus of the kind wherein material such as silt, mud, sand, and gravel, is
raised by means of water through a suction pipe connected to a centrifugal
pump or equivalent device, and my invention has for object to render this
mode of dredging more efficient, than heretofore, in cases where material of the
kind referred to is in the form of a more or less compact mass.
For this purpose
I provide the lower end of the suction pipe with a nozzle or nozzles through
which a jet or jets of water, under pressure, is or are, forced in such a manner
as to disintegrate, break up, or loosen the said material and render it capable
of being readily withdrawn through the suction pipe with the water drawn there-
through.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in vertical section; and Fig. 2 in plan, the lower end of a suction
pipe constructed with nozzles according to this invention, and suitable for connection
to a centrifugal pump or equivalent device.

page_text: Figs. 3 and 4 show in elevation, alternative forms of nozzles that may be
used.
A is a pipe, preferably of wrought iron or steel, forming the lower portion of a
pump suction pipe. The lower end or mouth of this pipe A is conically enlarged
and is provided with a grid or guard B to prevent too large pieces of the more or
less disintegrated material being drawn into the suction pipe.
C is a sheet metal casing arranged to surround the lower enlarged end of the
pipe A, to which it is firmly secured by angle iron rings, CC, and rivets so as to
form, with the said pipe, an annular water-tight chamber D. Screwed into the
upper end of this casing C is a union E adapted to receive the lower end of a
flexible pipe F which is suitably connected to a force pump, not shown, by which
water under considerable pressure can be forced into the chamber D.
G is a perforated metal ring firmly secured to the lower end of the chamber D
and serving in the example shown to hold the grid B in place. To the lower side
of this ring and in line with the perforations G' therein and in the lower side of
the chamber D are fixed a series of nozzles H which are consequently arranged in
a circular row around and below the mouth or lower end of the suction pipe A and
through which water under pressure can be caused to pass from the chamber D.
In the drawings I have shown six nozzles but it will be obvious that I do not limit
myself to this number as the same may be varied according to circumstances.
These nozzles are each fixed at a slight angle to the vertical in order that the
water forced through them shall be directed toward the axis of the suction pipe A
and thereby more effectually break up or loosen the material directly under the
grid or guard B of the said suction pipe.
Each of the nozzles may be cast with a flange H as shown at the left-hand
side of Fig. 2, and in Fig. 3, so that it can be fixed to the ring G by means
of studs and nuts or they may be each formed with a screw F and an hexagonal or
other suitably shaped shoulder H3 as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 3 and in
Fig. 4 and be screwed to the ring G. Or the said nozzles may be cast in one with
the said ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In dredging apparatus of the kind herein referred to a suction pipe provided
at its lower end with one or more nozzles through which a jet or jets of water under
pressure can be caused to issue substantially as herein described for the purpose
specified.
2. In dredging apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a suction pipe provided
at its lower end with a water tight chamber having an inlet for water under pressure
and a number of nozzles arranged around and below the mouth of the said suction
pipe and through which water under pressure can be discharged from said chamber
substantially as described and shown."
Dated this 18th day of August 1893.
W. Lloyd Wise,
JOHN GWYNNE.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.