Automatic dredge system and method of operation

Abstract

A method for automatically operating a dredge having a swingable and elevatable ladder with a cutting head having a speed comprising the steps of: providing an automatic swing sequence; providing a cutter head rate control; and providing an automatic ladder raise control sequences. A dredge in which this method is used is also disclosed.

1 . A method for automatically operating a dredge having a swingable and elevatable ladder with a cutter head having a speed comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an automatic swing sequence for the ladder;    (b) providing a rate control for the cutter head; and    (c) providing an automatic raise control sequence for the ladder.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) includes the further step of providing an automatic swing rate control.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein step (a) includes the further step of providing an automatic swing rate speed decrease control.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) includes the further step of providing an automatic speed decrease control sequence for the cutter head.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (c) includes the further step of providing swing control sequence for the ladder.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of automatically measuring the pressure at the cutter head.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including the steps of providing a material discharge line operatively connected to the cutter head and measuring the pressure of the discharge line.  
     
     
         8 . A method for automatically operating a dredge having a swingable and elevatable ladder with a cutting head having a speed comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an automatic swing sequence for the ladder, wherein said automatic swing sequence includes an automatic swing rate control and an automatic swing rate speed decrease control;    (b) providing a cutter head rate control wherein said cutter head rate control includes an automatic head speed decrease control sequence which includes the further step of measuring the pressure at the cutter head;    (c) providing an automatic ladder raise control sequence; and    (d) providing a material discharge line including the step of measuring pressure at said discharge line.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  including the step of measuring the speed of the material moving through the discharge line.  
     
     
         10 . An automatic dredge comprising: 
 a swingable and elevatable ladder;    a cutter head mounted on the ladder;    means for providing an automatic swing sequence for the ladder;    means for providing a rate control for the cutter head; and    means for providing an automatic raise control sequences for the ladder.    
     
     
         11 . The dredge of  claim 10  further comprising an automatic swing rate control for the ladder.  
     
     
         12 . The dredge of  claim 11  further comprising an automatic swing rate speed decrease control for the ladder.  
     
     
         13 . The dredge of  claim 10  further comprising an automatic speed decrease control sequence for the cutter head.  
     
     
         14 . The dredge of  claim 10  further comprising a material discharge line communicating with the cutter head; and a valve for admitting additional water into the discharge line.  
     
     
         15 . The dredge of  claim 14  wherein the valve is a butterfly valve.  
     
     
         16 . The dredge of  claim 10  further comprising a means for measuring pressure at the cutter head.  
     
     
         17 . The dredge of  claim 16  further comprising a material discharge line operatively communicating with the cutter head, and a means for measuring pressure at said discharge line.  
     
     
         18 . The dredge of  claim 10  further comprising a means for measuring line speed.  
     
     
         19 . An automatic dredge comprising: 
 a swingable and elevatable ladder;    a cutter head mounted on the ladder;    means for providing an automatic swing sequence for the ladder including an automatic swing rate control and an automatic swing rate decrease control;    means for providing a speed control for the cutter head including an automatic speed decrease control;    means for measuring pressure at the cutter head;    means for providing an automatic ladder raise control sequence; and    a discharge line and a means for measuring pressure at said discharge line.    
     
     
         20 . The dredge of  claim 19  further comprising means for measuring discharge line speed.