Suction head for a dredger

Abstract

A suction head ( 1 ) for a dredger, includes;—an outlet ( 2 ) for fluidly coupling the suction head with a suction tube ( 3 ) for transport of dredge to the loading space of a floating dredger;—a sand inlet ( 4 ), which in use faces a sand bed ( 5 ) to be sucked away, for taking in a flow of dredge ( 6 ) in the suction head, and which flow of dredge runs in a dredge flow direction ( 7 ) at the sand inlet;—a side inlet ( 8 ) fluidly coupled with the sand inlet, wherein the side inlet and the outlet are arranged at opposite sides of the suction head for introducing a lateral flow ( 9 ) from outside the suction head into the suction head locally at the sand inlet, which lateral flow runs substantially transverse relative to the dredge flow direction.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . Suction head ( 1 ) for a dredger, the suction head comprising;
 an outlet ( 2 ) for fluidly coupling the suction head with a suction tube ( 3 ) for transport of dredge to the loading space of a floating dredger,   a sand inlet ( 4 ), which in use faces a sand bed ( 5 ) to be sucked away, for taking in a flow of dredge ( 6 ) in the suction head, and which flow of dredge runs in a dredge flow direction ( 7 ) at the sand inlet,   a side inlet ( 8 ) fluidly coupled with the sand inlet, wherein the side inlet and the outlet are arranged at opposite sides of the suction head for introducing a lateral flow ( 9 ) from outside the suction head into the suction head locally at the sand inlet, which lateral flow runs substantially transverse relative to the dredge flow direction.   
     
     
         14 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , wherein the side inlet is transversely oriented relative to the sand inlet. 
     
     
         15 . Suction head according to a  claim 13 , wherein the side inlet, in use, faces away from the sand bed to be sucked away for taking in relative clear water. 
     
     
         16 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , wherein the sand inlet has a sand inlet cross sectional area ( 10 ) and the side inlet has a side inlet cross sectional area ( 11 ), and the side inlet cross sectional area is relative small with respect to the sand inlet cross sectional area, preferably between 10-25% of the sand inlet cross sectional area. 
     
     
         17 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , wherein the side inlet changes over, preferably smoothly changes over, into the sand inlet. 
     
     
         18 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , wherein the sand inlet and the side inlet are integrally formed. 
     
     
         19 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , wherein the suction head comprises a number of side inlets. 
     
     
         20 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , comprising a jet water device having a jet water outlet arranged for introducing a flow into a side inlet associated with the jet water outlet. 
     
     
         21 . Suction head according to  claim 20 , wherein the jet water outlet is fluidly coupled with the side inlet associated with the jet water outlet. 
     
     
         22 . Suction head according to  claim 13 , comprising a passive or active excavated layer height adjusting device. 
     
     
         23 . Dredging vessel, like a hopper, comprising a suction head according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         24 . Method for operating a suction head for a dredger, the suction head comprising;
 an outlet for fluidly coupling the suction head with a suction tube for transport of dredge to the loading space of a floating dredge,   a sand inlet, which in use faces a sand bed to be sucked away, for taking in a flow of dredge in the suction head, and which flow of dredge runs in a dredge flow direction at the sand inlet,   
       the method comprising the step;
 introducing a lateral flow, relative to the dredge flow direction, in the suction head locally at the sand inlet.