Abstract: A dragging apparatus has a carriage body. The carriage body has at least one attachment portion. The attachment portion is configured to connect the carriage body to a drag barge. At least one ripper shank is disposed on the carriage body. The ripper shank extends downwardly from the carriage body. A method for operating a dragging apparatus includes providing a barge and a dragging apparatus, and then lowering the dragging apparatus to a floor or bottom of a body of water to agitate the floor or bottom.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing sludge from an underwater deposit comprises a blade having a cutting edge that points forwards and a blade surface to the rear of the cutting edge that faces the interior of a housing. Nozzles are positioned and oriented to direct jets of water onto the blade surface to fluidize sludge that has been cut by the blade. The jets have a component of motion in the rearward direction relative to the blade surface, whereby the fluidized sludge is effectively contained within the housing and high collection rates can be achieved. The apparatus can be adapted for horizontal use over the surface of a sludge deposit or for movement in any direction through a bulk sludge deposit.

Abstract: A lip to be applied to a bucket of excavating equipment for moving ground materials that includes a lip adapted to be attached to an open end of a container of the excavating equipment having a front end facing in a forward direction of the container, the lip defining a substantially horizontal bottom lip portion and side portions extending upwardly from lateral ends of the bottom lip portion, and a multiplicity of like projections extending forwardly relative to the lip from at least one of the portions of the lip.

Abstract: An underwater excavation apparatus having various mechanisms for moving the underwater excavation apparatus that are provided on or adjacent to the apparatus is described. The mechanisms for moving the underwater excavation apparatus provide for orienting, positioning, rotating, counteracting reactive torque and/or steering the apparatus.

Abstract: An excavation system employing a high-pressure pulsed air jet in combination with a low-pressure high velocity blower for excavating improvised explosive devices or other buried objects. The excavation system may also be employed to operate a pneumatic tool such as a cut-off tool or a chisel. The high velocity blower may incorporate a bifurcated fan duct having two air outlets. The system may include a pressure control module for regulating the from a high-pressure air source to an evacuation valve. The evacuation valve employs first and second valves where the second valve controls the operation of the first valve.

Abstract: A seabed plow capable of over-the-stern release and retrieval is usable in any of boulder clearing, trench cutting and backfill modes. In its boulder clearing mode, the plow uses its skid in torquing configuration followed by moldboards to push boulders out of the path to be trenched. In the trench cutting mode, the plow uses the skid in the same configuration with its share and moldboards for initial trench depth and the same share and moldboards with moldboard extensions for increasing trench depth in subsequent passes. In the backfill mode, the plow uses its skid in trench-straddling configuration following a blade with a passage designed to discharge fragmented spoil directly onto the pipe being covered. Thus, a single plow can be reconfigured for all modes for release and retrieval to and from a relatively small vessel without use of heavy lifting equipment.

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 underwater excavating tool can generate a downward directed jet of water from a propeller in a main thruster body connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical. The umbilical can include an outer armored sheath that supports an underwater weight of the excavating apparatus, a data cable carrying signals from a controller unit on a surface vessel, and a power cable that supplies electrical power to operate the propeller and other functions of the excavating apparatus. One or more of the orientation, position, and rotation of the main thruster body can be controlled remotely by adjusting two or more positional thrusters mounted radially on the main thruster body. Remote control can be provided using the signals carried via the data cable. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one methodology of the present disclosure, an excavating machine (e.g., excavator, backhoe, bulldozer, etc.) moves an excavating apparatus (e.g., a bucket, blade, etc.) such that the excavating apparatus skims the underwater surface of a beach close to the shoreline to gather sand thereby forming a shallow trench in such surface. The depth of trench is small so that the effects of the sand removal to the contour of the beach is quickly compensated by the wave action of the ocean. Although the depth of the removed layer of sand is small, a significant amount of sand can be gathered by continuing the skimming operation over a much longer horizontal distance relative to the vertical depth of the removed sand. Moreover, by repeating the skimming operation along a shoreline, large amounts of sand can be gathered from the underwater surface of a beach close to the shoreline without a significant prolonged impact to the beach's underwater surface contour.

Abstract: A system for treating sediments contaminated with organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) includes treating the sediments with ozone to react the contaminants. The system is particularly effective for remediation of PCBs. In an in-situ system for remediating sediments in underwater sediment beds that are contaminated with (PCBs) and other contaminants, the contaminated sediments are treated with ozone with an ozonator conveyed over the sediment bed to mix the sediment with the ozone. The ozone reacts with the PCBs to form more reactive and biodegradable products. The treated sediment is then redeposited upon the sediment bed.

Abstract: The apparatuses for improving the permeability of a fluid containment basin having a plurality of ridges and furrows in the bottom of the basin are configured to disturb sediment that has settled on the ridges so as to place the sediment back into suspension. In one configuration, the apparatus comprises a tool support frame adapted to support one or more ridge cleaning tools on top of the ridges. The tools include dragging, discing and grinding tools. The discing tool is configured with a flexible axle to allow the tool to move in response to changes in the contour of the ridge. In another configuration, a boat or other device is moved across the basin above the ridges to cause wave energy from the boat's propellor to disturb the sediment on the ridges. The tool support frame with one or more ridge cleaning tools can be pulled behind the boat.

Abstract: An aquatic weeding device is provided for removing aquatic vegetation from a body of water and transporting the vegetation to a desired location. The weeder includes at least one weeding element connected with respect to a vessel for collecting aquatic vegetation, an extendable and retractable weed transporter positioned on the vessel for transporting the cut vegetation to a desired location, and a weed transferor positioned on the vessel for transferring the collected vegetation from the weeding element to the weed transporter.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a vessel having means at the bow of the vessel to direct a water flow ahead of the vessel downwardly towards the sea bed in front of and to either side of the path of the vessel to displace material from the sea bed including any weapon system or obstacles on or buried in the sea bed away from the path of the vessel.

Abstract: Transmitting/receiving apparatuses are installed in a base station and a mobile station, respectively, to perform mutual transmission and reception by using a plurality of spreading codes. The transmitting/receiving apparatus installed in the base station has a block for designating to the mobile station the kind and the number of spreading codes used in a reverse link from the mobile station to the base station through a forward link at the time that communication with the mobile station is started. The transmitting/receiving apparatus installed in the mobile station has a block for transmitting a signal to the base station by using spreading codes of the designated kind and number.

Abstract: An energy conservation system for an earth-moving loading machine is comprised of one or more pressurized gaseous pistons that extend from the front of the frame of a loading machine to the boom assembly. Although this piston does not provide sufficient force to maintain the boom assembly in a raised position, a portion of the weight of the boom assembly and associated payload is always supported by the piston. This energy conservation system thus decreases the hydraulic horsepower needed to raise and lower the boom assembly and payload, or, in the alternative, decreases the cycle time required to raise and lower the boom assembly. The energy conservation system of the present invention into a loading machine also allows for a more controlled lowering of the boom assembly.

Abstract: A dredging apparatus comprising a body mounting thruster to direct, in use, a wash of water downwards towards an area of sea bed or the like, connection device to connect the dredging apparatus to a support vessel above the sea bed, said connection device including attitude adjusted to selectively adjust the attitude of the dredging apparatus in a side to side (roll) orientation.

Abstract: A dragline apparatus for cleaning waste material and sludge in clarifier and settling ponds and lagoons includes a pair of side walls and a back wall forming a frame supported on front and rear flotation rollers. Between the home member is at least one blade, pivotally mounted for swinging movement from an active to an inactive position. Cables are connected to the front and rear of the frame and to prime movers on the banks of a pond to be cleaned.

Abstract: An ash scoop which remains out of the water during most of its operation. The ash scoop has a retaining and a nonretaining configuration. It moves along a track downward into the pit while poised in its nonretaining configuration. Once in the pit, it moves to its retaining position to grab debris within the pit. It then moves back out of the pit along the track until it reverts to its nonretaining configuration to dump the ashes dragged out of the pit.

Abstract: An improved material movement system for use in a body of water for moving bottom materials. The system includes a vessel from which at least one propulsion unit is suspended and which has the ability to provide flow therefrom directed at a preselected angle toward the bottom. Deflector means are used with the propulsion units to control the direction of flow from the propulsion unit and to create pressure fluctuations in the flow from the propulsion which fluctuations are both low frequency and higher frequency. The pressure fluctuations, the deflection of the propulsion flow and other features are controlled by a central controlling computer. It is preferred that the high frequency fluctuations in the propulsion flow be controlled so that the frequency is adjusted to cause a maximum of excitation or movement of the bottom materials. This is done by propeller selection, speed of rotation and other factors under the control of the operator.

Abstract: A submersible thrust producing implement for use in combination with an excavator, the excavator being of the type having a boom and a stick with an attachment end on the stick for attaching the implement, which boom and stick can be extended and retracted to selectively submerge the attachment end to a predetermined location in a body of water, and having a hydraulic power system for actuating the boom, the stick, and the implement.