Dredge with replaceable arms

Abstract

A dredge having easily replaceable arms, a composite dredge which is configurable to laterally couple at least two hubs, and methods for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, a dredge includes plurality of arms having at least one teaser attachment and a first hub configured to removably retain the arms in a radial orientation. At least one arm is configured to attached to a second hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dredge comprising:
 a plurality of arms;   a plurality of teaser attachments coupled to the plurality of arms; and   a hub having central axis aligned with a direction in which the dredge is configured to be towed, the central axis interesting a front end and a rear end of the hub, the front end of the hub including a towing eye disposed on the central axis, the hub configured to removably retain the plurality of arms in a radial and cantilevered orientation relative to the central axis; and   wherein at least a first arm of the plurality of arms has identical first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second ends are configured to interchangeably connect with the body of the hub in a radial and cantilevered orientation relative to the central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The dredge of  claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises:
 a body having a plurality of arm receiving slots open to a first surface of the body, each arm receiving slot of the plurality of arm receiving slots extending radially and open to an outer perimeter of the body, each arm receiving slot retaining a respective one of the plurality of arms.   
     
     
         3 . The dredge of  claim 2 , wherein the hub comprises:
 a plurality of holes, each of the holes receiving a respective one of the arms.   
     
     
         4 . The dredge of  claim 3 , wherein the arms have a clearance fit in the holes. 
     
     
         5 . The dredge of  claim 2 , wherein the hub comprises:
 a plurality of offset slots, each offset slot of the plurality of offset slots connected non-linearly to a respective one of the arm receiving slots.   
     
     
         6 . The dredge of  claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises:
 a plurality of holes each having a centerline parallel with a central axis of the hub, each of the holes receiving a respective one of the arms.   
     
     
         7 . The dredge of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a retainer cap configured to removably mate with the body in a manner that captures a first end of each of the plurality of arms to the hub in a cantilevered orientation, the arms freely replaceable from the body upon removing the cap. 
 
     
     
         8 . The dredge of  claim 7 , wherein the body extends through the retainer cap. 
     
     
         9 . The dredge of  claim 1 , wherein each arm of the plurality of arms includes a retention feature that extends out of a profile of a main elongated portion of the arm. 
     
     
         10 . The dredge of  claim 9 , wherein the retention feature is a linear portion of the arm bent relative to the main elongated portion of the arm at an angle greater than or equal to about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The dredge of  claim 1 , wherein the rear end of the hub including a rear eye disposed on the central axis, the rear eye configured to attach a second dredge behind the hub in-line with the central axis of the hub. 
     
     
         12 . A composite dredge comprising:
 a first plurality of arms;   a second plurality of arms;   a plurality of teaser attachments coupled to the first and second plurality of arms;   a first hub having first central axis aligned with a direction in which the dredge is configured to be towed, the front end of the first hub including a towing eye disposed on the first central axis, the first hub configured to removably retain the first plurality of arms in a radial orientation relative to the first central axis;   a second hub having second central axis that is laterally offset and parallel with the first axis, the second hub configured to removably retain the second plurality of arms in a radial orientation relative to the second central axis, wherein at least one arm of the second plurality of arms laterally connects the first hub to the second hub.   
     
     
         13 . The composite dredge of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one arm of the second plurality of arms coupling the first hub to the second hub has opposite ends that are configured to interchangeably couple to either of the first hub and the second hub. 
     
     
         14 . The dredge of  claim 12 , wherein the first hub comprises:
 a rear eye disposed on the central axis, the rear eye configured to attach a third dredge behind the first hub in-line with the first central axis of the first hub.   
     
     
         15 . The composite dredge of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one arm of the second plurality of arms connecting the first and second hubs comprises threaded ends. 
     
     
         16 . The composite dredge of  claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of arms are removable from the first hub and the second plurality of arms are removable from the second hub. 
     
     
         17 . A composite dredge comprising:
 a first plurality of arms, at least one arm of the first plurality of arms having at least one teaser attachment;   a second plurality of arms, at least one arm of the second plurality of arms having at least one teaser attachment;   a third plurality of arms, at least one arm of the third plurality of arms having at least one teaser attachment;   a first hub having a front end and a rear end through which is defined a first central axis, the first plurality of arms extending radially outward from the first hub relative to the first central axis;   a second hub having a front end and a rear end through which is defined a second central axis, the second plurality of arms extending radially outward from the second hub relative to the second central axis, wherein the second hub is laterally connected by a first arm of the first plurality of arms to the first hub, the first arm separating the second central axis from the first central axis in a substantially parallel and laterally offset orientation; and   a third hub having a front end and a rear end through which is defined a third central axis, the third plurality of arms extending outward from the third hub relative to the third central axis, wherein the third hub is laterally connected by a second arm of the first plurality of arms to the first hub, the second arm separating the third central axis from the first central axis in a substantially parallel and laterally offset orientation.   
     
     
         18 . The dredge of  claim 17 , wherein the first end of the first hub further comprises:
 a towing eye disposed on the first central axis.   
     
     
         19 . The dredge of  claim 17 , wherein the rear end of the first hub further comprises:
 a rear eye disposed on the first central axis.   
     
     
         20 . The dredge of  claim 17 , wherein first ends of the first plurality of arms are removably coupled to the first hub.