Dragging apparatus with ripper shank

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.

Claims

1. A dragging apparatus, comprising: a carriage body having at least one attachment portion configured to connect the carriage body to a drag barge; at least one ripper shank disposed on a front wall of the carriage body and extending downwardly from the carriage body; and two underwater leveling devices disposed on opposing side walls of the carriage body, each leveling device configured to assess a vertical elevation of the carriage body below water, at least one of the underwater leveling devices configured to be in communication with a controller disposed on the barge, the controller configured to receive a signal from at least one of the underwater leveling devices and automatically change the vertical displacement of the carriage body based on the signal.

2. The dragging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one ripper shank is removably disposed on the carriage body.

3. The dragging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one ripper shank is removably disposed on the carriage body via a mechanical fastener.

4. The dragging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mechanical fastener is a bolt.

5. The dragging apparatus of claim 1, wherein a ripping depth below the carriage body is vertically adjustable.

6. The dragging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ripper shank has a shaft and a hook.

7. The dragging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the shaft is disposed on the carriage body.

8. The dragging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dragging apparatus has at least one line, the line may have a first end disposed on the at least one attachment portion and second end disposed on the barge, the line configured to be submerged in at least one of a fresh body of water or a salt body of water for an extended period of time without damaging the line.

9. The dragging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one line is a plurality of lines including a set of hanging lines and a set of dragging lines.

10. The dragging apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second end of each of the set of hanging lines may be disposed on a stern end of the barge, and the second end of each of the set of dragging lines may be disposed on a bow end of the barge.

11. The dragging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a reel device in communication with the carriage body via the hanging lines, the reel device disposed on the barge.

12. The dragging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reel device controls a vertical displacement of the carriage body.

13. The dragging apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one weight is disposed on the carriage body.

14. The dragging apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one weight is a plurality of weights.

15. The dragging apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of weights are interlocking weights.

16. A dragging apparatus and barge assembly, comprising: a barge; and a dragging apparatus including a carriage body having at least one attachment portion, at least one line, the line having a first end disposed on the attachment portion and a second end disposed on the barge, at least one ripper shank disposed on a front wall of the carriage body and extending downwardly from the carriage body, and two underwater leveling devices disposed on opposing side walls of the carriage body, each underwater leveling device configured to assess a vertical elevation of the carriage body below water, at least one of the underwater leveling devices in communication with a controller disposed on the barge, the controller configured to receive a signal from at least one of the underwater leveling devices and automatically change the vertical displacement of the carriage body based on the signal, where a differential elevation from the leveling devices is calculated and the controller is configured to adjust the vertical displacement of the carriage body in response thereto.

17. A method of operation for a dragging apparatus, comprising: providing a barge; providing a dragging apparatus having a carriage body having at least one attachment portion configured to connect the carriage body to the barge, at least one ripper shank disposed on a front wall of the carriage body and extending downwardly from the carriage body, and two underwater leveling devices disposed on opposing side walls of the carriage body, each underwater leveling device configured to assess a vertical elevation of the carriage body below water, at least one of the underwater leveling devices in communication with a controller disposed on the barge, the controller configured to receive a signal from at least one of the underwater leveling devices and automatically change the vertical displacement of the carriage body based on the signal; lowering the dragging apparatus to a floor or bottom of a body of water; and agitating the floor or bottom and calculating a differential elevation from the leveling devices and using the controller to adjust the vertical displacement of the carriage body in response thereto.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above, as well as other advantages of the present disclosure, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, particularly when considered in the light of the drawings described hereafter.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dragging apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded top perspective view of the dragging apparatus in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the dragging apparatus of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side elevational view of the dragging apparatus taken at section line A-A shown in FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view of a ripper shank of the dragging apparatus taken at callout B in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary, top perspective view of a ripper shank shown in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the dragging apparatus of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top perspective of a dragging apparatus and barge assembly, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the dragging apparatus and barge assembly of FIG. 8, further depicting the dragging apparatus and barge assembly in operation;

(11) FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the dragging apparatus and barge assembly of FIG. 9, and further depicting a movement of the dragging apparatus and method of agitating a floor of a body of water; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the dragging apparatus with ripper shank, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various embodiments of the composition. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the composition and are not intended to limit the scope of the composition in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical unless otherwise disclosed.

(14) The present disclosure relates to a dragging apparatus 100, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1-10. The dragging apparatus 100 may have a carriage body 102. The carriage body 102 may have at least one attachment portion 104, which may be configured to connect the carriage body 102 to a drag barge 101. At least one ripper shank 106 may be disposed on the carriage body 102.

(15) The dragging apparatus 100 may be configured to be dragged along and agitate a bottom or floor of a body of water, such as a sea floor as one example, such that the at least one ripper shank 106 gouges the bottom or floor. Advantageously, the dragging apparatus 100 may be used to loosen compacted or hard areas of the bottom or floor in order to facilitate dredging or marine construction.

(16) With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the carriage body 102 may have a base wall 108, a front wall 110, and a plurality of sidewalls 112. The base wall 108 may be configured to be disposed adjacent to the floor of the body of water, in operation. The attachment portion 104 may be an eyelet as shown in FIG. 1, for example. In certain embodiments, four attachment portions 104 may be disposed on a top surface 111 of the carriage body. More particularly, each of the four attachment portions 104 may be disposed on each corner 113 of the top surface 111 of the carriage body 102. A skilled artisan may select other suitable arrangements for the attachment portions 104, as desired.

(17) The base wall 108, the front wall 110, and the plurality of sidewalls 112 may define a cavity 114, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. The cavity 114 may be configured to selectively receive at least one weight 116. Advantageously, the at least one weight 116 may militate against the carriage body 102 rising from the floor of the body of water, in operation.

(18) In certain embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the at least one weight 116 may be a plurality of weights 116. The plurality of weights 118 may be configured to interlock. The plurality of weights 116 may include a first weight 118 and a second weight 120. Each of a first weight 118 and the second weight 120 may have at least of one of a female portion 122 and a male portion 124. The female portion 122 of the first weight 118 may receive the male portion 124 of the second weight 120. Advantageously, the interlocking weights 116 allow each of the plurality of weights 116 to be separable and selectively used in the carriage body 102, as necessary.

(19) It should be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the carriage body 102 may not be configured to receive weights 116. Alternatively, the carriage body 102 may be formed only from interlocking weights 116, or it may be a solid beam, as non-limiting examples.

(20) With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the dragging apparatus 100 may also have at least one ripper shank 106. The ripper shank 106 may be configured to gouge the bottom or floor. The ripper shank 106 have a shaft 126 and a cutting tooth 128, for example.

(21) It should be appreciated that the cutting tooth 128 of the ripper shank 106 may be oriented in a direction of motion of the barge 101, for example as shown in FIGS. 9-10. The cutting tooth 128 of the ripper shank 106 may be configured to create a furrow in an area of bottom or floor, as the ripper shank 106 is dragged across the bottom or floor of the body of water by the barge 101, in operation. Advantageously, the cutting tooth 128 of the ripper shank 106 may be configured to be driven into the area of bottom or floor, for example, due to a curved shape of the cutting tooth 128 and forward motion of the barge. Thus, the ripper shank 106 is able to loosen hard and compact soil when dragged by the barge 101, in operation.

(22) The ripper shank 106 may be disposed on the carriage body 102. More particularly, the ripper shank 106 may be disposed on the front wall 110 of the carriage body 102. In certain embodiments, the at least one ripper shank 106 may be a plurality of ripper shanks 106. The at least one ripper shank 106 may be selectively and removably disposed on the front wall 110 of the carriage body 102. Advantageously, the plurality of ripper shanks 106 may be selectively arranged on the carriage body 102 based on requirements of a particular project. For example, a ripping depth below the carriage can be adjusted vertically such that different depths of cut can be achieved. A skilled artisan may select a suitable number and arrangement of ripper shanks 106 to be utilized, as desired.

(23) As a non-limiting example, the at least one ripper shank 106 may be removably disposed on the front wall 110 of the carriage body 102 with a fastener, for example, a mechanical fastener 130. It should be appreciated that the mechanical fastener 130 may be permanently or removably affixed to the front wall 110 of the carriage body 102 and configured to receive the ripper shank 106. Alternatively, the mechanical fastener 130 may be permanently or removable affixed to the ripper shank 106 and configured to be disposed on front wall 110 of the carriage body 102.

(24) At least one aperture 132 may be formed through the shaft 126, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5-6. The at least one aperture 132 may be configured to receive the mechanical fastener 130. In more particular embodiments, a plurality of apertures 132 may be formed along a length of the shaft 126. Advantageously, the plurality of apertures 132 allow the shaft 126 to be adjustable. In other words, a cutting depth of the ripper shank 106 may be adjusted based on which aperture 132 receives the mechanical fastener 130. A skilled artisan may select other suitable methods of securing the ripper shank 106 to the carriage body 102, as desired.

(25) In certain embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the mechanical fastener 130 may include at least one pair of brackets 134 and at least one bolt 136. Each of the brackets 134 may be disposed on the front wall 110 of the carriage body 102. Each of the brackets 134 may have at least one opening 138 formed therein. The at least one opening 138 of the bracket 134 may correspond to the at least one aperture 132 of the shaft 126 of the ripper shank 106.

(26) Each one of the brackets 134 may be spaced apart a distance from the other bracket 134. The distance is substantially the same as a width of the shaft 126. The shaft 126 may be disposed between the pair of brackets 134 such that the at least one opening 138 of the bracket 134 is aligned with the at least one aperture 132 of the shaft 126 of the ripper shank 106. The at least one bolt 136 may be disposed through the at least one opening 138 of each of the brackets 134 and the at least one aperture 132 of the shaft thereby securing the shaft 126 of the ripper shank 106 to the carriage body 102.

(27) The dragging apparatus 100 may further include at least one line 140. The line 140 may be fabricated from a durable material. The durable material may be submerged in fresh or salt water for extended periods of time without damaging the line 140. The line 140 may be one of a wire, a rope, and a chain, as non-limiting examples. A skilled artisan may select other suitable materials and configurations for the line 140, as desired.

(28) The at least one line 140 may have a first end 142 and a second end 144. The first end 142 of the line 140 may be disposed on the attachment portion 104 of the carriage body 102. The second end 144 of the line 140 may be disposed on the barge 101.

(29) In more particular embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the at least one line 140 may be a plurality of lines 140, more particularly, the plurality of lines may include a hanging set of lines 146 and a dragging set of lines 148.

(30) With continued reference to FIG. 8, the first end 142 of each of the set of hanging lines 146 may be disposed on one of the attachment portions 104 of the carriage body 102. The second end 144 of each of the hanging lines 146 may be disposed on a stern end 150 of the barge 101. Where the carriage body 102 is lowered to the floor of the body of water, the set of hanging lines 146 may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the stern end 150 of the barge 101. Accordingly, in operation, the carriage body 102 may be disposed below the stern end 150 of the barge 101.

(31) The first end 142 of each line of the set of dragging lines 148 may be disposed on one of the attachment portions 104 of the carriage body 102. The second end 144 of each of the dragging lines 146 may be disposed on a bow end 152 of the barge 101. In operation, the set of dragging lines 148 may be disposed at an angle relative to the bow end 152 of the barge 101, for example, as shown in FIG. 8. Advantageously, the set of dragging lines 148 may militate against the carriage body 102 from undesirably moving from below the stern end 150 of the barge 101, in operation.

(32) The dragging apparatus 100 may further include at least one reel device 154. The reel device 154 may be disposed on the barge 101. The reel device 154 may be in communication with the set of hanging lines 146. Accordingly, the reel device 154 may be configured to control a vertical displacement of the carriage body 102. In other words, the reel device 154 may raise or lower the carriage body via the hanging lines 146.

(33) A second reel device 155 may also be disposed in the barge 101. The second reel device 155 may be in communication with the set of dragging lines 148. Accordingly, the second reel device 155 may control a length of the dragging lines 148, as needed. A skilled artisan may select other suitable devices and methods for controlling the set of hanging lines 146 and the set of dragging lines 148, as desired.

(34) The dragging apparatus 100 may also include an automation system 156. The automation system 156 may be in electrical communication with the reel device 154 and the second reel device 155. It should be appreciated that the automation system 156 may be configured to raise and lower the carriage body 102 automatically, as needed.

(35) More particularly, the automation system 156 may have at least one leveling device 158 and at least one controller 160. The leveling device 158 may be disposed on at least one of the side walls 112 of the carriage body 102. More particularly, two leveling devices 158 may be disposed on opposing side walls 112. The leveling device 158 may be configured to assess a vertical elevation of the carriage body 102 below water. A differential elevation from the leveling devices 158 on the opposing side walls 112 may be calculated. Accordingly, the leveling device 158 may provide real time data on the state of the carriage body 102 below water, where the carriage body 102 may not be visible.

(36) The at least one leveling device 158 may send a signal 162 to the controller 160, for example, as shown in FIG. 10. The leveling device 158 may send the signal 162 via a transceiver (not shown). Based on the signal 162, the controller 160 may adjust the vertical displacement of the carriage body 102. The controller 160 may also interpret survey data and global positioning (GPS) data along with the signal 162 to further adjust the vertical displacement of the carriage body 102 based on the topography of the floor of the body of water.

(37) The present disclosure includes a method 200 for operating a dragging apparatus 100, for example, as shown in FIGS. 9-11. A first step 202 in the method 200 may include providing the dragging apparatus 100. A second step 204 in the method 200 may include providing the barge 101, and attaching the dragging apparatus 100 to the barge 101 via the set of hanging lines 146 and the set of dragging lines 148. The number and arrangement of ripper shanks 106 may be customized based on the project requirements. Further, the cutting depth of the ripper attachment 106 may be customized by adjusting the placement of the shaft 126 of the ripper shank 106 in the mechanical fastener 130, as desired.

(38) A third step 206 in the method 200 may include lowering the carriage body 102 to the floor of the body of water. The first reel device 154 and the second reel device 155 may be used to lower the carriage body 102 via the hanging lines 146.

(39) A fourth step 208 of the method 200 may including agitating the floor of the body of water. In particular, the cutting tooth 128 of the ripper shank 106 may create a furrow in the floor as the ripper shank 106 is dragged across the bottom or floor of the body of water by the barge. Thus, the ripper shank 106 is able to loosen hard and compact soil or rocks when dragged by the barge 101.

(40) A fifth step 210 in the method 200 may including monitoring the stability of the dragging apparatus 100 and adjusting the vertical displacement of the carriage body 102. When the ripper shank 106 is agitating the floor, the controller 156 of the automation system 156 may receive the signal 162 from the leveling device 158 and automatically adjust the vertical displacement of the carriage body 102, as deemed necessary by the operator.

(41) It should be appreciated that there may be a continuous feedback loop (identified by the dashed line in FIG. 11) where the vertical displacement of the carriage body 102 in automatically raised and lowered through the automation system 156 once the ripper shank 106 is engaged with the floor or bottom.

(42) After the bottom or floor has been agitated or sufficiently disturbed by the ripper shank 106, the bottom or floor may further be excavated or dredged. A clamshell dredge device or similar device may remove the loosened soil to be transported to another site. A traditional drag beam may also be used to drag the loosened soil to the desired site. It should be understood that one having skill in the art may choose to remove the soil via any available and sufficient method, as desired.

(43) Advantageously, the dragging apparatus 100 of the present disclosure is configured to loosen compacted materials from a floor or bottom of a body of water for dredging or marine construction. Thus, the dragging apparatus may allow for dredging in areas where it was previously not economically feasible.

(44) While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure, which is further described in the following appended claims.