Amphibious ditch excavator

Abstract

Abstract AN AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE FOR CUTTING MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF A WATER-FILLED DITCH BY MEANS OF A REVOLVING CYLINDRICAL DRUM WHICH IS STUDDED WITH PROJECTING CUT, TING ELEMENTS. THE DRUM, WHICH IS JOURNALLED TO THE FRONT OF A WATERTIGHT BODY MEMBER, CAN BE LOWERED INTO CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF A WATER-FILLED DITCH WHEN THE BODY MEMBER IS FLOATING IN THE DITCH. THE SLURRY PRODUCED BY THE ROTARY CUTTING ACTION OF THE DRUM IS DRAWN INTO AN OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY MEMBER BY SUCTION AND IS PUMPED OUT A T-SHAPED CONDUIT WHICH EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY BEYOND BOTH SIDES OF THE BODY MEMBER. THE SUCTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONDUIT IS PRODUCED BY A JET-PUMP SYSTEM IN WHICH A STREAM OF WATER IS PUMPED INTO THE CONDUIT THROUGH A JET NOZZLE NEAR THE OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY MEMBER. THIS STREAM OF WATER FLOWS THROUGH A VETURI CONSTRICTION IN THE CONDUIT, DRAWS THE SLURRY INTO THE CONDUIT OPENING AND PROPELS IT THROUGH THE T-SHAPED CONDUIT FOR DISCHARGE BEYOND THE EDGES OF THE DITCH. A SECOND CYLINDRICAL DRUM IS JOURNALLED TO SUPPORTING ARMS WHICH PROJECT FROM THE REAR OF THE BODY MEMBER. THIS DRUM IS STUDDED WITH PROJECTING TRACTION ELEMENTS AND CAN BE LOWERED INTO CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE DITCH AND ROTATED TO PROPEL THE BODY MEMBER ALONG THE DITCH. THE REAR DRUM CAN ALSO BE TURNED FROM SIDE TO SIDE FOR STEERING PURPOSES, AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN OUT LAND, MARSH, OR PAVED ROADS TO REACH ITS DESTINATION.

Inventors

• 👤 Ronald R Dysart

Bibliographic Details