Experience with design and operation of bucket dredges for excavating sand-gravel-boulder soils

Conclusions

• 1. The use of bucket dredges capable of excavating water-covered, dense sand-gravel-boulder deposits is advisable and effective.

• 2. The standard bucket ladder can be lightened by reducing the bucket wall thickness, or the bucket capacity can be increased, using the same weight.

• 3. As a grading device, use should be made of barscreens of the heavy type, SM-690 for instance.

• 4. With regard to the type of soil transportation to the bank, the machine should be universal, permitting hydrotransportation or use of floating conveyors.

• 5. Erection and disassembly of bucket dredges is labor- and time-consuming, hence, development of demountable, easily transportable machines should be sped up.