Dredging apparatus

Abstract

Dredging apparatus systems and methods are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a dredging apparatus includes a float assembly, a support frame, and a suction head assembly. The float assembly is configured to float on the surface of a liquid. The support frame is connected to the float assembly. The suction head assembly is movably supported with respect to the float assembly by the support frame. The support frame is tiltable with respect to the float assembly between a first position and a second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dredging apparatus comprising:
 a float assembly configured to float on a surface of a liquid;   a support frame connected to the float assembly; and   a suction head assembly movably supported with respect to the float assembly by the support frame,   the support frame being tiltable with respect to the float assembly between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the suction head assembly includes a pump and a hose having one end connected to the pump.   
     
     
         3 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the float assembly includes an opening dimensioned such that the suction head assembly can pass through the opening.   
     
     
         4 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the support frame includes an elongated guide member and a hoist device configured to raise and lower the elongated guide member, and   the suction head assembly is attached to one end of the elongated guide member such that the suction head assembly can be raised and lowered with respect to the float assembly by raising and lowering the elongated support member.   
     
     
         5 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein
 the elongated guide member is oriented substantially vertically when the support frame is in the first position while the float assembly is floating on the surface of the liquid, and   the elongated guide member is oriented substantially horizontally when the support frame is in the second position while the float assembly is floating on the surface of the liquid.   
     
     
         6 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein
 the float assembly includes an opening through which the elongated guide member extends when the suction head assembly is lowered below the float assembly, and   the opening is dimensioned such that the suction head assembly can pass through the opening.   
     
     
         7 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the support frame, the suction head assembly, and the opening are configured such that the support frame can be tilted from the first position to the second position without removing the suction head assembly when the elongated guide member is raised to a first height position or higher.   
     
     
         8 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the suction head assembly includes a pump and a hose having one end connected to the pump,   the opening is a first opening, and   the float assembly includes a second opening that communicates between an exterior of the float assembly and the first opening, the second opening being dimensioned to permit the hose to extend into the first opening via the second opening.   
     
     
         9 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the support frame, the suction head assembly, and the opening are configured such that the support frame can be tilted from the first position to a maximum tilt angle of 60 degrees toward the second position while the elongated guide member is positioned lower than a second height position.   
     
     
         10 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein
 the second height position is a position where the suction head assembly is disposed below the float assembly while the float assembly is floating on the surface of the liquid.   
     
     
         11 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising
 a pump,   a suction hose having one end connected to a suction side of the pump and another end attached to the suction head assembly, and   a discharge hose having one end connected to a discharge side of the pump.   
     
     
         12 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising
 an auxiliary float assembly,   the pump being arranged on the auxiliary float assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein
 the auxiliary float assembly is configured to be attached to the float assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising
 a land support assembly configured to be arranged on a shore of the liquid,   the pump being arranged on the land support assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the support frame includes at least one tilt member configured and arranged to tilt the support frame with respect to the float assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 15 , comprising
 a pair of longitudinal base members arranged spaced apart in a widthwise direction of the float assembly and extending in a longitudinal direction of the float assembly,   the pair of longitudinal base members being fixed with respect to the float assembly, and   the at least one tilt member includes a first tilt member mounted to one of the pair of longitudinal base members and a second tilt member mounted to the other of the pair of longitudinal base members.   
     
     
         17 . A dredging apparatus comprising:
 a float assembly configured to float on a surface of a liquid;   a support frame connected to the float assembly;   a suction head assembly movably supported with respect to the float assembly by the support frame;   a suction hose having one end connected to a suction side of a pump and another end attached to the suction head assembly; and   a discharge hose having one end connected to a discharge side of the pump.   
     
     
         18 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 17 , comprising
 an auxiliary float assembly,   the pump being arranged on the auxiliary float assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein
 the auxiliary float assembly is configured to be attached to the float assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The dredging apparatus of  claim 17 , comprising
 a land support assembly configured to be arranged on a shore of the liquid,   the pump being arranged on the land support assembly.