Abstract: A system and method for stockpiling material on the seafloor, the system and method using seafloor collection machines, such auxiliary or bulk cutters or collection machines, to capture seafloor material to be stockpiled. The captured seafloor material is carried in slurry form over a flexible transfer pipe to an outlet at a desired seafloor site. In a preferred form the outlet is mounted in a seafloor stockpiling hood that sits on the seafloor at the desired seafloor site and captures and contains slurry from the outlet while allowing egress of water. The captured seafloor material can then be extracted to a surface vessel.

Abstract: A suction mouth (10) for mounting on the front of a subsea mining tool and to be pushed into sediment. The suction mouth comprises a hollow body (12) having an entrance opening (14) and an exit opening (16), wherein the body converges from the entrance opening towards the exit opening. The entrance opening has a lower lip (20) and an upper lip (22), and the upper lip comprises an extension (22a) projecting forwardly and upwardly relative to the lower lip to form a canopy over the entrance opening. The suction mouth (10) may include a valve (30) on the body downstream of the entrance opening which is operable to selectively provide a further entrance opening into the body. Where such a valve is present, the consistency of the material sucked in can be regulated.

Abstract: A drag head (100) for dredging material (2) from the bed (3) of a body of water and transporting the material (2) to a suction tube (120). The drag head (100) is arranged to be dragged over the bed (3) in a dragging direction (D). The drag head (100) includes a suction section (110) in which an under pressure can be created to suck up the material (2) from the bed (3) through a suction opening (113) into a suction chamber (112). A heel section (111) guides the drag head (100) along the bed (3). The suction section (110) is preferably rotatably connected to the heel section (111). The suction section (110) also includes an outlet (114) for transporting the material (2) towards the suction tube (120).

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a wheeled dredging head is configured to operate in a stand-alone condition, with the addition of a water jet assembly, and/or with the addition of an adapter at an intake of the dredging head. In one embodiment, the adapter is configured to vacuum the floor of a body of water. In another embodiment, the adapter is configured to remove sediment or other material from a sloped surface in a body of water. In yet another embodiment, the adapter is configured to remove sediment or other material from around obstacles in a body of water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively removing fine sediments from a water body bottom using a dredging head with one or more intake openings situated to accelerate flows through the interior of the head and across the water body bottom causing fine particles to become suspended in a slurry outflowing from the head for disposal, while coarser, heavier, bottom gravels remain in place. The stream cleaner dredging head includes a main body having at least one intake, at least one plate attachment feature, a discharge point, and an at least partly open bottom; a flow-adjusting plate that is adjustably connected to the at least one plate attachment feature and configured to adjust a fluid flow through the main body from the at least one intake, and a hose attachment connected to the discharge point of the main body.

Abstract: A draghead visor is configured to attach to an armature along a rotation axis. A biasing assembly attached to the draghead visor is configured for attachment to the armature such that the biasing assembly is positioned to apply a force on the visor in a manner such that a rotational force is applied to the visor around the rotation axis. The biasing assembly may include one or more spring subassemblies, wherein a spring subassembly may include one or more compression spring, extension spring, or torsion spring. The draghead visor may be part of a draghead pulled by a marine vessel.

Abstract: A drag head (100) for dredging material (2) from the bed (3) of a body of water and transporting the material (2) to a suction tube (120). The drag head (100) is arranged to be dragged over the bed (3) in a dragging direction (D). The drag head (100) includes a suction section (110) in which an under pressure can be created to suck up the material (2) from the bed (3) through a suction opening (113) into a suction chamber (112). A heel section (111) guides the drag head (100) along the bed (3). The suction section (110) is preferably rotatably connected to the heel section (111). The suction section (110) also includes an outlet (114) for transporting the material (2) towards the suction tube (120).

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a dredging head assembly uses vacuum only, or a combination of vacuum and flexible PVC tines, rather than the harsh digging and/or scraping features of conventional dredging equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide a dredging head assembly that may be used in very shallow water. An embodiment of the invention includes a hose and wand to enable vacuuming around obstacles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an excavating device, comprising a floating device which can be moved in a navigating direction and to which a drag head (1) is attached which during use is dragged over the bottom (50) and herein loosens soil, and a suction conduit (4) which connects to the drag head (1) and which discharges the loosened soil. The excavating device is provided with a steering device (10) for moving the drag head (1) out of the navigating direction. The invention also relates to a method for excavating ground (50) using the excavating device, and a computer program for performing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drag head (1) of a trailing suction hopper dredger, comprising a visor (2) which is dragged over the bottom in a dragging direction and herein loosens soil, and a suction conduit (5) which connects to the visor (2) and which discharges the loosened soil. The drag head is provided with cutting bodies for loosening the soil, with the proviso that the cutting bodies comprise bits (20). Harder soil can also be dredged with the drag head by applying bits (20). The invention also relates to a method for dredging at least partially hard bottoms under water with a trailing suction hopper dredger equipped with the drag head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drag head of a trailing suction hopper dredger. The drag head comprises a visor which is dragged over the bottom and herein loosens soil, and a suction pipe which is connected to the visor and which discharges the loosened soil. The visor comprises at least two individually movable pressure elements transversely of the dragging direction which comprise a number of substantially disc-shaped penetrating bodies. The penetrating bodies transmit forces to the bottom via their peripheral edge under the influence of the weight of the pressure element in which they are received, whereby the bottom is broken. The drag head has an improved efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a draghead (1) for a trailing suction hopper, comprising a visor (2), revolvable around a first axis (6) for removing soil, and a suction line (31) connected to the visor (2) for the removal of the loosened soil, characterised in that the draghead (1) is provided with a pressure plate (21), which comprises a number of mainly disc-shaped penetrating bodies (22) on the soil-facing side of the pressure plate (21), in such a way that their circumferential edge (23) is capable of transferring forces to the soil.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic dredging apparatus for removing a sediment layer from an underlying substrate lying below a water surface includes a receptacle having an open-front portion through which is sediment is collected, means for attaching the dredging apparatus to the submersible end of a boom that extends from a surface vehicle, a hydraulic pump for pumping a sediment and water slurry to the water's surface.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic dredging apparatus for removing a sediment layer from an underlying substrate lying below a water surface includes a receptacle having an open-front portion through which is sediment is collected, means for attaching the dredging apparatus to the submersible end of a boom that extends from a surface vehicle, a hydraulic pump for pumping a sediment and water slurry to the water's surface.

Abstract: A dredging system for removing material from a submerged ground surface includes a dredge head housing having an enclosed, pressurized agitation chamber into which the material to be removed is received from an intake opening. Connected to the housing is a feed line that supplies pressurized fluid, such as water, air or both, to a fluid manifold connected to the housing and within the agitation chamber. The fluid manifold contains cutting outlets for discharging the pressurized fluid onto the material to liquefy the material and lifting outlets for discharging the pressurized fluid so as to urge the liquefied material towards a riser chute. The riser chute is connected to a top cover of the housing and extends above the housing and upwardly discharges the liquefied material into the water column of the body of water.

Abstract: A dredge head for dredging sludge by a trailing and pushing motion thereby defining a trailing and pushing direction is configured to be fitted on a ladder of a stationary dredger. The ladder is movable in the trailing and pushing direction for moving the dredge head.

Abstract: A process for suctioning solid material from a waterbed and for conveying a resulting solids-water suspension into a hopper is provided. A flow of water is supplied to a towed suction basket. The basket has a suction region connected to a suction tube, at least one pressure nozzle and at least one motive nozzle. The flow of water supplied to the towed suction basket is divided into a motive water flow and a pressure water flow. The pressure water flow is directed through the at least one water pressure nozzle onto the waterbed for dislodging the solid material on the waterbed and creating the solids-water suspension in the suction region of the towed suction basket. The motive water flow is directed through the at least one motive water nozzle through the suction region of the towed suction basket and into the suction tube for accelerating the solids-water suspension into the suction tube.