US-12624521-B2 - Submersible underwater dredge with integrated metal detector

US12624521B2US 12624521 B2US12624521 B2US 12624521B2US-12624521-B2

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a hand-held underwater dredge integrated with a metal detector, designed for locating and retrieving metallic objects from aquatic environments. Equipped with a suction-generating electric pump and powered by an onboard battery to enable operation while fully submerged, the dredge features a pipe system leading to a catch can that captures metal items while expelling the water drawn into the pipe system by the generated suction. In operation, users scan a riverbed, seabed, or lakebed using the metal detector. Once a metal item is detected, the user places the suction end of the pipe system over the metal item and activates the electric pump to start the suction, leading to capture of the metal item in the catch can for retrieval. This streamlines the process of underwater treasure hunting, combining detection and collection into a single user-operated system.

Inventors

Billie Gene CORNELIUS

Assignees

Billie Gene CORNELIUS

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240403

Claims (8)

1 . A hand-held submersible dredging device, comprising: a pipe apparatus including a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper pipe portion; the lower portion connected in fluid communication with the intermediate portion; the intermediate portion connected in fluid communication between a motor outlet connection and a catch can connection; a non-fluidic mechanical coupling connecting the upper pipe portion to the intermediate portion, wherein the upper pipe portion is sealed from the fluid communication of the intermediate portion to define a dry internal environment within the upper pipe portion; a battery disposed within the dry internal environment for powering the device; a metal detector powered by the battery, and comprising a search plate disposed about a distal end of the lower portion; a catch can connected in fluid communication with the catch can connection; an electric pump mechanically powered by the battery, and connected to and carried by the lower portion, the electric pump connected in fluid communication with the motor outlet connection such that, when the electric pump is activated while submerged in water, a water jet flowing through the motor outlet connection, intermediate portion, catch can connection, and into the catch can is formed, wherein the water jet causes suction at the distal end of the lower portion via venturi effect, the suction at the proximal end yielding suction at the distal end of the lower portion such that a mixture of water and solids located adjacent the distal end of the lower portion is sucked through the lower portion and into the intermediate portion at which point the water jet forces the mixture into the catch can so that at least some of the solids are retained within the catch can.
2 . The hand-held submersible dredging device of claim 1 , wherein the metal detector further comprises a control box carried by the upper pipe portion, the control box for driving and reading signals from the search plate.
3 . The hand-held submersible dredging device of claim 1 , further comprising a t-handle mechanically affixed to the support pipe and a switch carried by the t-handle, the switch electrically connected to the battery and the electric pump for turning the electric pump on and off.
4 . The hand-held submersible dredging device of claim 1 , wherein, when the hand-held submersible dredging device is in use, the lower portion extends generally vertically, the intermediate portion extends at an incline with respect to the search plate, the motor outlet connection in fluid connection with an outlet of the electric pump and a curved extension pipe connected between and in fluid communication with the intermediate portion and the motor outlet.
5 . The hand-held submersible dredging device of claim 1 , wherein the catch can includes a first end-cap having an inlet defined therein, the inlet connected in fluid communication with the catch can connection, the catch can further including a second end-cap and a mesh cage extending between the first end-cap and the second end-cap, wherein an opening is defined in the mesh cage and a door is hingeably connected over the opening so as to permit opening of the catch can to remove the retained solids.
6 . A method for retrieving submerged metallic objects using a hand-held, submersible dredge with integrated metal detection, the method comprising: powering on the metal detector integrated with the submersible dredge, where the submersible dredge includes a pipe apparatus with a distal suction end; manually sweeping the pipe apparatus with the activated metal detector over a submerged surface to scan for metallic objects; receiving an indication signal from the metal detector upon detection of a metallic object; placing the distal suction end of the pipe apparatus over the detected metallic object based on the indication signal manually pressing down on a t-handle mechanically affixed to the pipe apparatus to bring the distal suction end into contact with the submerged surface while maintaining a battery in a dry state within an upper pipe portion of the pipe apparatus, the dry state maintained by a non-fluidic mechanical junction positioned between the upper pipe portion and a water-filled intermediate portion of the pipe apparatus; activating an electric pump connected to the pipe apparatus to initiate suction through the distal suction end, thereby drawing the metallic object into a catch can via the suction created by the electric pump; and extracting the metallic object from the catch can for collection.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of manually sweeping includes manually adjusting settings on the metal detector to enhance sensitivity or discrimination of metal detection.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of receiving the indication signal includes auditory notification through a set of headphones connected to the metal detector.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The technical field of this invention pertains to submersible excavation devices, specifically to a hand-held, submersible dredge with integrated metal detection capabilities for underwater treasure hunting and retrieval. BACKGROUND Metal detectors have become indispensable tools for locating lost items for retrieval such as coins, jewelry, and other valuable artifacts. The allure of “treasure hunting” and the quest to recover lost belongings drives the use of metal detectors in various environments. As an example, these items may be buried within lakebeds, riverbeds, and seabeds submerged under the water of those bodies. However, retrieving detected objects from underwater poses unique challenges. Traditional dredging equipment, designed for excavating or removing submerged materials in lakebeds, riverbeds, and seabeds, often falls short for individual treasure hunters due to its size, complexity, and weight. Additionally, the process of locating items with a metal detector and then switching to dredging equipment for retrieval can be cumbersome and time-consuming. This transition might result in losing the precise location of the found items. Therefore, integrating metal detection capabilities into a hand-held, submersible dredge, a solution not yet available in the art, would significantly enhance the efficiency of locating and retrieving metallic objects from aquatic environments. SUMMARY To meet the above-described need for a hand-held, submersible dredge, development efforts have been undertaken by the Inventor to merge detection of items and retrieval of those items into a single, handheld device. To that end, the invention as described herein is directed to a versatile hand-held underwater dredge integrated with a metal detector, designed for locating and retrieving metallic objects from aquatic environments. Equipped with a suction-generating electric pump and powered by an onboard battery to enable operation while fully submerged, the submersible dredge features a pipe system leading to a catch can that filters and captures metal items while expelling the water drawn into the pipe system by the suction generated by the electric pump. In operation, users scan a riverbed, seabed, or lakebed using the metal detector. Once a metal item is detected, the user can place the suction end of the pipe system over the metal item and activate the electric pump to start the suction, securely capturing the object in the catch can for retrieval. This all-in-one solution streamlines the process of underwater treasure hunting, combining detection and collection into a single user-operated system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the left side of a submersible underwater dredge disclosed herein. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the right side of a submersible underwater dredge disclosed herein. FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical view showing the submersible underwater dredge disclosed herein, when in use by a user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following disclosure enables a person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter described herein. The general principles outlined in this disclosure can be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed above without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is not intended to limit this disclosure to the embodiments shown, but to accord it the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed or suggested herein. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a submersible underwater dredge 5 having an integrated metal detector 30 is now described. The submersible underwater dredge 5 includes a pipe 10 which carries the metal detector 30 for detection of metals, an electric pump 40 for generating a suction into a distal end opening 18 of the pipe 10 and a corresponding blowing out of a distal end opening 20 of the pipe 10 into a catch can 60, and a battery housing 50 for powering the electric pump 40 and metal detector 30. General details of use are now provided. After this, explicit details of the submersible underwater dredge 5 and its use will then be given. In use, the user wades into a body of water and sweeps the submersible underwater dredge 5, with the metal detector 30 activated, over the bed of the body of water. Upon detecting a metal object, the metal detector 30 notifies the user. The user places the distal end opening 18 of the pipe 10 over the detected metal object, activates the electric pump 40 to initiate suction, and pushes down. The metal object is then drawn into the pipe 10 and trapped in the catch can 60. The user can then retrieve the captured metal item from the catch can 60 for inspection. In greater detail, the pipe 10 includes a lower pipe portion 17 extending between and in fluid communication with the distal end opening 20 and a first pipe junction 16. The first pipe junction 16 is defined as an opening into a mid-pipe portion 15, the mid-pipe portion 15