Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel and includes a housing and a valve member movable with respect to the housing for opening and closing the hopper outlet. A transmitter tube containing longitudinally spaced-apart magnetic switches and associated resistors is carried by the housing, the switches being connected in circuit with resistors and coupled to power supply and indicating means in the vessel. A hollow sleeve is fixedly secured to the valve member and is disposed in surrounding telescopic relationship with the tube, the sleeve carrying a permanent magnet therein for sequentially actuating the magnetic switches as the valve member moves between its open and closed positions, the varying current through the assembly of switches and resistors indicating the position of the valve member.

Abstract: A liquid agitator system for a hopper of a hopper barge includes a trunk conduit assembly and associated pumping means for pumping water under pressure to the hopper, being there coupled through a valve to a branch conduit assembly which extends downwardly into the hopper centrally thereof to an array of eccentric water discharge nozzles arranged closely adjacent to the hopper bottom for ejecting water at a velocity and in a volume sufficient to break up agglomerations of solid material and prevent the formation thereof on the hopper bottom and direct the resulting slurry to discharge ports. A barge having several hoppers is disclosed, with a nozzle array and branch conduit assembly for each hopper.

Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel for opening and closing the hopper outlet, the module being attached to the vessel only adjacent to the hopper outlet so that the module may be removed as a unit. An annular ring is secured around the top of the hopper well with support arms extending upwardly therefrom to support a vertically extending cylindrical housing having a hydraulic drive cylinder mounted therein with a piston rod connected to a valve member which closes against a valve seat to provide a watertight seal.In a first embodiment of the invention a conicalvalve member is coupled by a universal joint to the piston rod and has a replaceable resilient covering for sealing against the valve seat at the bottom of the hopper well. A watertight enclosure is provided for the drive means.

Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel for opening and closing the hopper outlet, the module being attached to the vessel only adjacent to the hopper outlet so that the module may be removed as a unit. An annular ring is secured around the top of the hopper well with support arms extending upwardly therefrom to support a vertically extending cylindrical housing having a hydraulic drive cylinder mounted therein with a piston rod connected to a valve member which closes against a valve seat to provide a watertight seal.In a first embodiment of the invention a conical valve member is coupled by a universal joint to the piston rod and has a replaceable resilient covering for sealing against the valve seat at the bottom of the hopper well. A watertight enclosure is provided for the drive means.