METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY HYDRAULICALLY DREDGING TO A LEVEL BOTTOM

摘要

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY HYDRAULICALLY DREDGING TO A LEVEL BOTTOM A method and apparatus for efficiently and economically hydraulically dredging to a level bottom. The method includes the use of a cutter head which is pivotally mounted to the end of a dredging ladder. The cutter head is swung through its cutting arcs with the axis of rotation of the cutter head aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ladder. The cutter head is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the ladder until the cutter blades are parallel to the level bottom to be cut with the adjustment accomplished before the cutter head is swung through the last cutting arc above the level bottom to be reached. The apparatus includes a pivotal connection between the cutter head and the ladder which is located at the trailing edges of the cutter blades so as to follow the path of the trailing edge of the swath of the normal cut of the cutter head.