US3690180A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dredger vessel and a method of determining the loaded weight of sedimented material in a dredger vessel
Assignee: Ingenieursbureau voor Systemen en Octrooien Spanstaal BV
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Filing: 1970-01-30
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1990-01-30
Abstract
Abstract When measuring the quantity of sand in a dredger vessel which sand is sedimented from a suspension of sand and water, the height of the sedimented sand is determined by means of inaccurate mechanical sensitive means acting on the surface of the sedimented sand. An accurate method of measuring is provided in which fluid, such as water, is so fed at pressure, into the hold at at least one measuring place provided in said hold, that the fluid fluidizes the compacted material sedimented at the measuring place, the pressure at the measuring place being picked up when said material is in fluidized state, so that the pressure picked up corresponds with the weight of the column of dredger spoil and water, from which the weight of the loaded material at the measuring place is derived.
Inventors
- 👤 Romke Van Der Veer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; E; E02; E02F; E02F7/00; E02F7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of determining the amount of material, such as dredger spoil, contained in the hold of a vessel, at least a part of said material being sedimented from a suspension of water and said material, comprising the steps of: a. feeding fluid, such as water, under pressure into the hold at at least one measuring place below the surface of said material for rendering fluid a column above said measuring place wherein all of said material is made into a fluid suspension including a column of the sediment so that the pressure at said measuring place corresponds to the weight of the fluid material and the water above said measuring place, b. sensing the pressure at the measuring place when said column of material is in fluid state, and c. determining the amount of material contained in the hold of the vessel from the pressure sensed in step (b).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of determining the amount of material, such as dredger spoil, contained in the hold of a vessel, at least a part of said material being sedimented from a suspension of water and said material, comprising the steps of: a. feeding fluid, such as water, under pressure into the hold at at least one measuring place below the surface of said material for rendering fluid a column above said measuring place wherein all of said material is made into a fluid suspension including a column of the sediment so that the pressure at said measuring place corresponds to the weight of the fluid material and the water above said measuring place, b. sensing the pressure at the measuring place when said column of material is in fluid state, and c. determining the amount of material contained in the hold of the vessel from the pressure sensed in step (b).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 including, during step (b), sensing the pressure at a second measuring place which is disposed above the first measuring place and above said column of fluid material, but below the water level, and wherein the determination of step (c) is derived from the difference in pressure between said first and said second measuring places.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the local loaded height of dredger spoil is determined at a number of measuring places on both the starboard and port sides of the vessel, at a number of locations distributed over the length of the hold, such height being fed to an indicator which indicates the distribution of the loaded height of dredger spoil over the hold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
A dredger vessel comprising, in combination: a buoyant hull having a hold into which a suspension of dredger spoil and water is to be discharged whereby the dredger spoil settles and compacts therewithin; means for rendering fluid a column of compacted dredger spoil above a selected measuring place within said hold so that the pressure at said measuring place is indicative of the height of said column above said measuring place; pressure pick-up means for sensing the pressure at said measuring place; and means for determining the height of said column above said measuring place from the pressure sensing by said pressure pick-up means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
A dredger vessel comprising, in combination: a buoyant hull having a hold into which a suspension of dredger spoil and water is to be discharged whereby the dredger spoil settles and compacts therewithin; means for rendering fluid a column of compacted dredger spoil above a selected measuring place within said hold so that the pressure at said measuring place is indicative of the height of said column above said measuring place; pressure pick-up means for sensing the pressure at said measuring place; and means for determining the height of said column above said measuring place from the pressure sensing by said pressure pick-up means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said means for rendering fluid comprises a source of pressurized fluid and a pipe leading from said source to said measuring place, said pressure pick up means being connected to said pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pressure pick-up means also senses pressure at a second mEasuring place which is disposed above the first measuring place, and said means for determining determines the weight of said column from the pressure difference of pressures at said two measuring places.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A dredger vessel as defined in claim 4 including discharge means for selectively discharging the suspension to a plurality of regions within said hold, one of which is associated with said selected measuring place; means for rendering fluid a column of compacted dredger spoil above a further selected measuring place within each such region, further pressure pick up means for measuring the pressures at said further sensing places; means for determining the weights of the columns above each of said further measuring places from the pressures sensed by said further pressure pick up means; and means for controlling said discharge means to even out the distribution of said dredger spoil within said hold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of measuring places are disposed on both the starboard and port sides of the dredger vessel, at a number of locations distributed over each hold, and a load-distribution indicator is used which can indicate the loaded height of dredger spoil at each of the measuring places.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a plurality of measuring places are connected, via tubes having closure valves, to one and the same pressure pick up, and the closure valves are controlled by a programmed switch, while at least one starboard pressure pick up and one port pressure pick up feeds measured results to computer units and indicators.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that in addition to the measuring places, calibration places are provided, and at least one reserve pressure pick up is so included in the pipe system that if there has been wrong calibration, a reserve pressure pick up is automatically switched in.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that at least one measuring place for picking up the draught is disposed outboard below the water level, such measuring place being also included in the pipe system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a plurality of valves are disposed on a dredger loading pipe, the valves being controllable by the measured values or signals from the pressure pick ups.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A dredger vessel as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a computer unit receiving signals from the pressure pick ups feeds a loading-speed meter, so that information is provided about the speed of loading of the dredger spoil, thus enabling determination of the moment when the loading must be stopped.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for determining the amount of material contained in a container at least part of which material has settled and compacted in the container, comprising the steps of: a. feeding fluid under pressure into the container at at least one measuring place provided in said container for rendering fluid a column of the settled and compacted material above the measuring place so that the pressure at said measuring place is indicative of the weight of the grandular material and fluid in said column, b. sensing the pressure at the measuring place when said column of material is in fluid state, and c. determining the amount of material contained in the container at least in part from the pressure sensing in step (b).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for determining the amount of material contained in a container at least part of which material has settled and compacted in the container, comprising the steps of: a. feeding fluid under pressure into the container at at least one measuring place provided in said container for rendering fluid a column of the settled and compacted material above the measuring place so that the pressure at said measuring place is indicative of the weight of the grandular material and fluid in said column, b. sensing the pressure at the measuring place when said column of material is in fluid state, and c. determining the amount of material contained in the container at least in part from the pressure sensing in step (b).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 including, during step (b), sensing the pressure at a second measuring place which is disposed above the first measuring place and above the column of fluid material, and wherein the loaded height of granular material between the two measuring places is determined in step (c) from the difference in pressure therebetween.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the local loaded height of granular material is determined at a number of measuring places divided over the container in horizontal direction, such height Being fed to an indicator which indicates the distribution of the loaded height of granular material over the container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a measuring system, in combination: a container having a suspension of grandular material therein from which there is settled and compacted at least a portion of said suspension; is; means for rendering fluid a column of settled and compacted material above a selected measuring place within said container so that pressure at said measuring place is indicative of the weight of fluidized material in said column above said measuring place; pressure pick-up means for sensing the pressure at said measuring place; and means for determining the amount of material contained in the container at least in part from the pressure sensed by said pressure pick-up means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a measuring system, in combination: a container having a suspension of grandular material therein from which there is settled and compacted at least a portion of said suspension; is; means for rendering fluid a column of settled and compacted material above a selected measuring place within said container so that pressure at said measuring place is indicative of the weight of fluidized material in said column above said measuring place; pressure pick-up means for sensing the pressure at said measuring place; and means for determining the amount of material contained in the container at least in part from the pressure sensed by said pressure pick-up means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A container as claimed in claim 17, wherein said means for rendering fluid comprises a source of pressurized fluid and a pipe leading from said source to said measuring place, said pressure pick up means being connected to said pipe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
A container as claimed in claim 17 including a second measuring place which is disposed above the first measuring place, and said means for determining determines the weight of said column from the pressure difference of pressures at said two measuring places.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A container as claimed in claim 17, wherein a plurality of measuring places are distributed in horizontal direction over said container, and a load-distribution indicator is provided indicating the loaded height of granular material at each of the measuring places.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
A container as claim in claim 20, wherein a plurality of measuring places are connected, via tubes having closure valves, to one each of a plurality of pressure pick up means, and the closure valves are controlled by a programmed switch, while at least one pressure pick up means at either side of the container feeds measured results to computer units and indicators.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A container as claimed in claim 21, wherein in addition to the measuring places, calibration places are provided, and at least one reserve pressure pick up is so included in the pipe system that if there has been wrong calibration a reserve pressure pick up is automatically switched in.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A container as claimed in claim 20, wherein the container is positioned on a vessel and that at least one measuring place for picking up the draught is disposed outboard below the water level, such measuring place being also included in the pipe system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A container as claimed in claim 20, including a plurality of valves are disposed in a loading pipe, the valves being controllable by the measured values or signals from the pressure pick ups.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
A container as claimed in claim 20, wherein a computer unit receiving signals from the pressure pick ups feeds a loading-speed meter, so that information is provided about the speed of loading of the granular materials, thus enabling determination of the moment when the loading must be stopped.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of measuring the height of a body of compacted granular material above a selected measuring point located below the top level of the compacted material, which comprises the steps of: a. introducing a flow of fluid into said compacted material at or near said measuring place; b. maintaining the pressure of fluid introduction sufficiently high and the flow rate of fluid sufficiently low as to produce a column of fluid material which is localized vertically with respect to said measuring place and which extends upwardly through the compacted material from said measuring place to the top level of said body of compacted material; c. sensing the pressure at said measuring place; and d. determining the weight of said column from the sensing of pressure of step (c).
Claim 31
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of measuring the height of a body of compacted granular material above a selected measuring point located below the top level of the compacted material, which comprises the steps of: a. introducing a flow of fluid into said compacted material at or near said measuring place; b. maintaining the pressure of fluid introduction sufficiently high and the flow rate of fluid sufficiently low as to produce a column of fluid material which is localized vertically with respect to said measuring place and which extends upwardly through the compacted material from said measuring place to the top level of said body of compacted material; c. sensing the pressure at said measuring place; and d. determining the weight of said column from the sensing of pressure of step (c).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein the container is the hold of a dredging vessel, the compacted material is dredging spoil and said fluid is water, the pressure and flow rate of step (b) being respEctively about 15m of water and about half a l1ter per minute.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method according to claim 27 including the step of sensing the pressure of water at a SECOND measuring place vertically above said first measuring place and determining in step (d) the weight of said column from the difference in pressure between that of step (c) and that of the water at said second measuring place, whereby the determination is independent of changes in the water level in the hold.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of filling a container with an evenly distributed body of compacted material, which comprises the steps of: a. introducing the material to build up the body of compacted material; b. introducing a flow of fluid into said compacted material at a plurality of horizontally spaced measuring points within said container and below the top level of said body of compacted material; c. maintaining the pressure of fluid introduction sufficiently high and the flow rate of fluid sufficiently low as to produce a localized vertical column of fluid material from each of said measuring places to the top level of the compacted material; d. sensing the pressure at each of said measuring places and determining the column heights therefrom; and e. controlling the distribution of material introduced in step (a) in accord with the sensed pressures and determinations of step (d) evenly to distribute the body of compacted material within said container.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of filling a container with an evenly distributed body of compacted material, which comprises the steps of: a. introducing the material to build up the body of compacted material; b. introducing a flow of fluid into said compacted material at a plurality of horizontally spaced measuring points within said container and below the top level of said body of compacted material; c. maintaining the pressure of fluid introduction sufficiently high and the flow rate of fluid sufficiently low as to produce a localized vertical column of fluid material from each of said measuring places to the top level of the compacted material; d. sensing the pressure at each of said measuring places and determining the column heights therefrom; and e. controlling the distribution of material introduced in step (a) in accord with the sensed pressures and determinations of step (d) evenly to distribute the body of compacted material within said container.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein the container is the hold of a dredging vessel, the compacted material is dredging spoil, said fluid is water, and the material is introduced as a suspension of dredging spoil in water is step (a), the pressures and flow rate of step (c) respectively being about 15 m of water and about half a liter per minute.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1621535A
Cited
US1987988A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |