Dredge cutter head

Claim 1

A dredge cutter head comprising a horizontally disposed auger structure, comprising two augers supported for rotation about parallel axes, means for rotating said augers in timed relation in the same direction, a slotted cutting bar disposed above and between said axes, radial projections axially spaced along said augers and disposed in common planes normal to said axes, said projections in each common plane traversing a common slot of said bar from different directions, the projections on one auger having an upward arcuate movement through the common slot and the projections on the other auger having a downward arcuate movement through the same slot in timed relation, a hood comprising front and rear sections substantially coaxial with said auger structure and located on opposite sides of said bar to provide a passageway between said structure and the under surfaces of said hood sections, an opening defined in said rear hood section, and a suction inlet communicating with said passage through said opening whereby dispersion of dredged material into the surrounding water is mitigated.