Dredging cutting wheel

Abstract

Cutting wheel system (1) for a dredging device, comprising a cutting wheel (2) and a cutting wheel drive system (8), whereby the cutting wheel comprises at least two cutting element rings (3), which rings are positioned at a distance from each other in parallel planes whereby the cutting element rings have coaxial rotation axes (12,13), whereby a suction tube (7) can be positioned between the two cutting element rings (3), whereby the cutting wheel drive system is arranged to rotate the cutting wheel about the coaxial rotation axes, wherein the cutting wheel system further comprises connecting arms (9) for mounting the cutting wheel in a rotatable manner to the dredging device, wherein the connecting arms are moveable with respect to each other between a closed position wherein the connecting arms engage the cutting wheel from opposite sides of the cutting wheel, and an open position wherein the cutting wheel is released from the connecting arms.

Claims

1. A cutting wheel system for a dredging device, comprising a cutting wheel and a cutting wheel drive system, whereby the cutting wheel comprises at least two cutting element rings, which rings are positioned at a distance from each other in parallel planes, are joined by a connection ring at an inner side, and have coaxial rotation axes, whereby a suction tube can be positioned between the two cutting element rings, whereby the cutting wheel drive system is arranged to rotate the cutting wheel about the coaxial rotation axes, wherein the cutting wheel system further comprises connecting arms for mounting the cutting wheel in a rotatable manner to the dredging device, and wherein the connecting arms are moveable with respect to each other between a closed position wherein the connecting arms engage the cutting wheel from opposite sides of the cutting wheel, and an open position wherein the cutting wheel is released from the connecting arms.

2. The cutting wheel system according to claim 1, comprising a retaining device which is arranged to keep the cutting wheel in place when the connecting arms are in the open position.

3. The cutting wheel system according to claim 2, wherein the cutting wheel comprises a connecting element which is arranged to connect the cutting wheel to the retaining device to retain the cutting wheel when the connecting arms are in the open position.

4. The cutting wheel system according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the cutting element rings is such that at least an end part of a suction tube is positionable between the cutting element rings.

5. The cutting wheel system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting wheel drive system comprises a drive element provided at at least one of the connecting arms, wherein, in the closed position of the connecting arms, the drive element is arranged to rotate the cutting wheel.

6. The cutting wheel system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the connecting arms is moveably connected to a supporting structure of a dredging device to move the connecting arms with respect to each other between the closed position and the open position.

7. The cutting wheel system according to claim 6, whereby the at least one connecting arm is hingeably connected by a hinge to a supporting structure to rotate the connecting arms with respect to each other along a hinge axis of the hinge between the closed position and the open position.

8. The cutting wheel system according to claim 6, wherein the supporting structure comprises a ladder of a dredging vessel.

9. The cutting wheel system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting wheel is a single unit.

10. A dredging vessel comprising: a cutting wheel system, the cutting wheel system comprising: a cutting wheel comprising at least two cutting element rings positioned at a distance from each other in parallel planes whereby the cutting element rings have coaxial rotation axes and are joined by a connection ring at an inner side; a cutting wheel drive system arranged to rotate the cutting wheel about the coaxial rotation axes; connecting arms moveable with respect to each other between a closed position engaging the cutting wheel from opposite sides and an open position to release the cutting wheel, and a retaining device connected to the dredger for retaining the cutting wheel with respect to the dredger when the connecting arms are in the open position and the cutting wheel is released.

11. The dredging vessel according to claim 10, and further comprising a suction tube positioned between the two cutting element rings.

12. The dredging vessel according to claim 11, wherein the suction tube comprises a first part extending between a supporting structure and the cutting wheel and a second part extending in a downward direction from the first part between the cutting element rings.

13. The dredging vessel according to claim 11, wherein a central axis of the first part of the suction tube and the coaxial axes of the cutting wheels lie in the same plane and wherein the second part extends from the first part between the cutting element rings such the second part is below the plane of the central axis and the axial axis.

14. The dredging vessel according to claim 10, wherein in use the cutting wheel rotates in a direction towards an opening of an end part of the suction tube.

15. A method for replacing or revising a cutting wheel from a cutting wheel system for a dredging device comprising connecting arms engaging the cutting wheel from opposite sides of the cutting wheel in a rotatable manner and being moveable with respect to each other, the method comprising: moving the connecting arms to an open position by rotating each connecting arm such that the cutting wheel is released, and retaining the cutting wheel in between the connecting arms by means of a retaining device.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising moving the cutting wheel away from the connecting arms.

17. The method according to claim 15, comprising: positioning a revised or replacement cutting wheel between connecting arms being at opposite sides of the revised or replacement cutting wheel, moving the connecting arms to a closed position such that the connecting arms rotatably engage the revised or replacement cutting wheel at opposite sides.

18. The method according to claim 15, whereby the cutting wheel comprises at least two cutting element rings, which rings are positioned at a distance from each other in parallel planes, are joined by a connection ring at an inner side, and have coaxial rotation axes, between which rings a suction tube of a dredging device is positionable.

19. The method according to claim 15, comprising connecting the cutting wheel to the retaining device.

20. The method according to claim 15, and further comprising positioning a ladder of a dredging vessel in a top position such that the cutting wheel is above water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings of a number of exemplary embodiments, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a cutting wheel system with connecting arms in a closed position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of a cutting wheel system with connecting arms in an open position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of a cutting wheel system;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a dredging vessel provided with a cutting wheel system as in FIGS. 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a cutting wheel system 1 with connecting arms 9 in a closed position. The cutting wheel system 1 includes a cutting wheel 2 and a cutting wheel drive system 8 to rotate the cutting wheel around a rotation axis 12. The cutting wheel drive system 8 comprises two connecting arms 9 connecting the cutting wheel 2 to a ladder 10 of a dredging vessel 20 (see FIG. 4).

(7) The cutting wheel 2 is built from two cutting element rings 3 that are connected to each other by an inner connection ring 5 to form the cutting wheel 2. The connection ring 5 connects the cutting element rings 3 at an inner side of the cutting element rings 3, such that at an outer side of the cutting wheel an opening 6 is left between the cutting element rings 3 and the space between the cutting element rings 3 is accessible. The opening 6 is provided along the circumference of the cutting wheel.

(8) The cutting element rings 3 have coaxial axes 13 and are at a distance from each other in parallel planes. The two cutting element rings 3 are both provided with cutting elements 4 positioned along the circumference of the rings 3. The connecting arms 9 engage the cutting wheel at the location of the connection ring 5. Drive elements 11 are provided at the connecting arms and each have a rotation axis 12 that is coaxial with the axis 13 of the cutting wheel 2 in the closed position of the connecting arms. The drive elements 11 rotate the cutting wheel around the axes 12, 13 such that the cutting elements 4 in use will cut away the bottom of the water body.

(9) The connection arms 9 are hingeably connected to the ladder 10 of a dredging vessel 20 by means of hinges 19. Each connection arm 9 can be moved independently of the other connection arm 9. In addition, each connection arm 9 is provided with a drive element 11 for rotating the cutting wheel 2 in the closed position of FIG. 1.

(10) The distance between the cutting element rings 3 corresponds to the typical dimensions of the suction tube 7 extending from the dredging vessel 20. The suction tube 7 has a mouth piece 17 that is positioned between the cutting element rings 3. The opening 6 is formed such that a mouth piece of a suction tube 7 can be inserted between the cutting element rings 3.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a top view of a cutting wheel system 1 with connecting arms 9 in an open position. The connecting arms 9 are each hinged about a hinge axis 15 to the open position to release the cutting wheel 2. The cutting wheel 2 is now easily accessible for either repair or revision on site or for replacement. The hinges 19 are operated to position the connecting arms 9 in an open to a closed position and vice versa by an actuator, such as an hydraulic system or a motor.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a side view of a cutting wheel system 1 in the closed position. The cutting wheel drive system 8 engages the cutting wheel 2. The connection arms 9 are rotated around hinge axes 15 to the closed position. The suction tube 7 extends from the dredging vessel 20 (see FIG. 4) to the cutting wheel system. The mouth piece 17 of the suction tube 7 is situated between the cutting elements 4 of the cutting element rings 3. Before rotating each of the connection arms 9 around a hinge axis 15 to the open position and releasing the cutting wheel, the cutting wheel is connected to the dredging vessel through a retaining device, such as a (hoisting) crane 16. The hoisting crane 16 is connected to the cutting wheel 2 by hoisting cable 14. FIG. 3 shows the connection of the hoisting crane 16 by inserting the hoisting cable 14 through openings 18 in the cutting wheel 2. The openings 18 extend from one cutting element ring 3 to another.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a dredging vessel 20 provided with a cutting wheel system 1 as described above. The dredging vessel 20 is provided with a ladder 10 to which the cutting wheel drive system 8 is connected. The connecting arms 9 of the cutting wheel drive system 8 are in an open position initially (not shown). Additionally, the dredging vessel 20 is provided with a hoisting crane 16. The cutting wheel 2 is provided with openings 18 (see FIG. 3) to which the hoisting cable 14 of the hoisting crane 16 is connected. The cutting wheel 2 is hoisted between the connecting arms 9, the connecting arms 9 being at opposite sides of the cutting wheel 2. The connecting arms 9 are then rotated about hinging axes 15 to a closed position, such that the connecting arms 9 engage the cutting wheel 2 at opposite sides. After mounting the cutting wheel 2 between the connecting arms 9, the hoisting cable 14 of the crane 16 is released.

LIST OF PARTS

(14) 1. Cutting wheel system 2. Cutting wheel 3. Cutting element ring 4. Cutting element 5. Connection ring 6. Opening 7. Suction tube 8. Cutting wheel drive system 9. Connecting arm 10. Ladder 11. Drive element 12. Rotation axis 13. Coaxial axes 14. Connecting element 15. Hinging axis 16. Hoisting crane/retaining device 17. Mouth piece 18. Connecting element 19. Hinge 20. Dredging vessel