| 摘要 |
A self-propelled dredge includes a floating hull and a propulsion unit associated with the hull to propel the hull at the direction of an operator. Preferably, the propulsion unit includes a pair of paddlewheels disposed on opposite sides of the hull and independently operable to provide maneuverability to the hull. A boom is mounted on the front end of the hull in cantilevered fashion and a bucket is attached to the distal end of the boom to scoop material from the bottom of a body of water during operation of the dredge. Rigging is provided between the hull and the boom to allow the operator to raise and lower the boom to dip the bucket into and out of the water. The bucket has a pivotable scoop portion that actually receives the material being dredged and a stationary cover portion that is affixed to the boom. The scoop portion is movable between first and second positions and in a first position the scoop means is spaced from the cover plate to allow material to enter the bucket, and in a closed position the cover plate closes the opening in the scoop portion, preventing the exit of dredged material from the scoop portion. The bucket means is arranged on the end of the boom so that when the scoop portion moves from its first to its second position the bucket actually pivots on the nose of the scoop portion and pushes the boom in an upward direction away from the lake bottom to prevent the bucket from becoming stuck in the material at the lake bottom.
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