Wilco Marsh Buggies and Draglines, Inc.

Other

Wilco Marsh Huggies & Draglines, Inc.

John M Wilson, Sr

Dean R Wilson

John M Wilson, Jr

Robert A Wilson

Robert M Wilson

Jules A Dornier, Ii

An amphibious platform vehicle-vessel to support and to move hydraulically operated and controlled earth-moving and lifting equipment, such as excavators and cranes, on solid ground, semi-solid or marshy ground, shallow water, and deeper water. The modular units can be transported to a worksite on separate trailers and assembled and reconfigured on site. Two compartmented pontoon units are mounted to an adaptive cross member that can accommodate different types of moving-lifting equipment through different mounting flanges, and to auxiliary cross members. Propulsion is provided through amphibious cleats on drive chains in chain tracks driven by dual-motor driving drums and over a tension-adjusting passive chain roller, surrounding a sealed pontoon shell internally reinforced with bulkhead partitions, beam shell-bottom stiffeners, and pressed-angle shell-bottom stiffeners. An extendable auxiliary float can be extended outward from each compartmented pontoon for increased stability in floating operations.

Amphibious platform vehicle-vessel

An amphibious vehicle with submersible capacity includes a first portion and a second portion, coupled by an extension, and a valve assembly. The first portion is capable of floating on water while the second portion is contemporaneously submerged beneath the surface and performing a variety of operations on the water's bottom. The valve assembly allows the vehicle to move between an amphibious mode and a submerged mode.

Amphibious vehicle with submersible capacity

Effective techniques and equipment are described for maintaining and improving dredge disposal sites. In one aspect, the use of winching equipment is described to move a digging vehicle within a containment area for effective creation of ditching to permit substantial dewatering and drainage of the dredge spoil to dry it. Substantially dried spoil is removed from the containment area pit using amphibious scraper equipment. The substantially dried spoil may then be used to build up the berm surrounding the dredge pit.

Containment area process

Apparatus and methods are described for modification of a scraper, or similar heavy equipment, for operation in wet or swampy areas including dredge disposal areas. A floatation tire assembly is described which is removably affixable to the scraper to give the scraper the amphibious capability to operate in the wet, swampy environment.

Amphibious scraper

A hydraulic winch which is capable of generating significant amounts of torque and providing very high line pull even after a significant amount of cable is wrapped onto its spool. The winch spool is also capable of carrying a large amount of thick cable. It is useful in applications such as assisting maintenance of dredge disposal areas in which a ditching machine must be assisted by a tether across the pit of the disposal area. In the described embodiment, the novel winch includes a transportable base or skid which is affixable to a prime mover vehicle, a heavy duty spool, a chain drive and a power train. The power train for the winch is powered by a hydraulic motor. Through significant gear reduction via the chain drive and a hydraulic gear box, the winch is capable of generating sustained significant torque regardless of the amount of cable on the spool. A selectively engageable clog or dog assembly permits the spool to be unengaged so that 'free spooling' can occur to permit the cable to be unrolled freely despite operation of the hydraulic motor. Additionally, the winch includes a manual brake assembly which selectively stops the spool from unrolling the cable. The winch also includes a backlash preventor in which a Teflon.RTM. drag member is maintained in frictional engagement against portions of the spool to govern the speed at which the spool will rotate.

High line pull winch assembly

An efficient direct drive system is featured which is easier to maintain than conventional systems. The system includes a drive assembly which employs a hydraulic motor to rotate a shaft assembly and power most or all of the drive chains of the vehicle's endless track assembly at once. A laterally located motor directly rotates the shaft assembly. A gear assembly is included in the drive system. A brake assembly may be included in the system. The shaft assembly is made up of an inner shaft and an outer shaft sleeve which are disposed over portions of the inner shaft. Laterally outer drive sprockets are bolted or otherwise affixed to the outer shaft sleeve. The inner shaft and outer shaft sleeve are further keyed together so that the shaft assembly is rotatable as a unitary piece. The shaft assembly may be easily dismantled to change the laterally outer sprockets when necessary.

Tracked vehicle drive system

An arrangement and methods are described for creating a pontoon of the type used with amphibious vehicles such as marsh buggies. A pontoon is described which features an outer shell comprised of an aluminum or aluminum alloy shell enclosing one or more water-tight chambers. The shell has an exterior surface, and one or more runners are provided upon the exterior surface which serve to both reinforce the pontoon and guide the endless chain system which drives the cleated tracks which surround the pontoon and serve to propel the vehicle. The runners are comprised of at least one longitudinal strip. The strip is disposed along and fixedly attached to the lower surface of the pontoon shell. Preferably, the strip is comprised of an aluminum or aluminum alloy-type material and is fixedly attached by means of welding to the shell. A longitudinal channel member, preferably made of steel or a steel-type alloy is disposed proximate the strip. It is preferred that the channel member be attached to the strip by means of bolting or other known engagement means.

Growing community of inventors

Marrero, LA, United States of America

John M Wilson, Sr