Year: 1885

page_text: We, WILLIAM YOUNG FLEMING and PETER FERGUSON, both of Phoenix Works,
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Engineers and Shipbuilders do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention of improvements in dredgers consists in so forming the dredging.
vessel and fitting the bucket ladder that the buckets may cut ahead of the vessel
and to or near to the water level while dispensing with the use of traversing gear
such as is commonly employed in dredging plant designed for cutting ahead.
In constructing the improved dredger or hopper dredger we cut away and
flatten the lower part of the stem or bow of the vessel or so incline it from about
the deck level to the keel that the prow of the vessel may project considerably
over the point or line at which the plane of the bow intersects the water line and
that when cutting a sloping bank the bow may be at the water's edge or over
shallow water while the main part of the vessel may be in comparatively deep
water. We cut the well for the bucket ladder forward as close as practicable to
the bow and into the inclined stem leaving however a connecting part or bridge at
the bow to give the necessary strength to the structure and we secure the bucket
ladder amidships to dead eye brackets, the forward end of the bucket ladder being
made to clear the bridge in front of the well when it is hoisted up within the
vessel. The degree of inclination of the bow and the relative position of the
forward end of the well are such that the bucket ladder may be raised partially.
into the well so that a sloping bank may be cut ahead of the vessel to about the
water level while the ladder may be lowered for cutting at any lower level in the
usual way.
The bucket ladder and operating gear being well forward, the vessel may be
trimmed with a single hopper or receptacle for mud abaft the driving gear.
C.
A dredger or hopper dredger constructed in the manner described has the
advantage of being less costly, more easily managed and maintained in repair and
less liable to accident in working than dredgers provided with the expensive and.

page_text: complicated traversing gear usually employed for bringing forward the bucket
ladder to the operative position for cutting ahead while it is also capable of
cutting slopes in shallow water and closer to the water level and in the event of
grounding the vessel is easily backed off without risk of the bucket ladder being
driven through the bottom of the hull.
We, WILLIAM YOUNG FLEMING and PETER FERGUSON, both of Phoenix Works,
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Engineers and shipbuilders, 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:—
Our invention of improvements in dredgers consists in so forming the dredging
vessel and fitting the bucket ladder that the buckets may cut ahead of the vessel
and to or near to the water level while dispensing with the use of traversing gear
such as is commonly employed in dredging plant designed for cutting ahead.
In constructing the improved dredger or hopper dredger as represented in
sectional elevation at figure 1, and in outline plan at figure 2, of the accompanying
drawings we cut away and flatten the lower part of the stem or bow of the vessel
or so incline it from about the deck level to the keel as shown at A in figure i,
that the prow of the vessel may project considerably over the point or line at
which the plane of the stem or bow intersects the water line, and that when
cutting a sloping bank the bow may be at the water's edge or over shallow water
while the main part of the vessel may be in comparatively deep water, We cut
the well B, for the bucket ladder C forward as close as practicable to the bow and
into the inclined stem leaving however a connecting part or bridge D, at the bow
to give the necessary strength to the structure, and we secure the bucket ladder C
amidships to dead eye brackets E, the forward end of the bucket ladder being
made to clear the bridge D in front of the well when it is hoisted up within the
vessel. The degree of inclination of the bow and the relative position of the
forward end of the well are such that the bucket ladder may be raised partially
into the well when dredging so that a sloping bank may be cut ahead of the vessel
to about the water level while the ladder may be lowered for cutting at any lower
level in the usual way.

page_text: The bucket ladder and operating gear (which are of ordinary construction) being
well forward, the vessel may be trimmed with a single hopper or receptacle for
mud abaft the driving gear. The bucket ladder is shown in full lines at C, in a
position for dredging under the vessel. It is also in part shown in dotted lines
at C¹, in a position for cutting a bank ahead of the vessel and at C' as raised
through the well and out of the operative position.
A dredger or hopper dredger constructed in the manner described has the
advantage of being less costly, more easily managed and maintained in repair and
less liable to accident in working than dredgers provided with the expensive and
complicated traversing gear usually employed for bringing forward the bucket
ladder to the operative position for cutting ahead while it is also capable of
cutting slopes in shallow water and closer to the water level and in the event of
grounding the vessel is easily backed off without risk of the bucket ladder being
driven through the bottom of the hull.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
.
A dredger or bopper dredger formed substantially as herein described with
reference to the annexed drawings.