Dredge pumps can be fitted out with a second outer pump casing. Up to now, this meant a large, heavy piece of steel. Pioneering research by Damen R&D engineers has resulted in a patented pump cover, which can be zipped onto the current dredge pump effortlessly.
The new DynaCover is made of finely woven super strong Dyneema fibres, which can be mounted around any existing cast pump casing.
“The total weight is only 10% of a similar steel casing, resulting in serious weight gain. Moreover, the limited size of the cover results in a lower position of the entire dredge pump which is favourable for the dredge pumps suction properties,” Damen said.
Using the outer cover, the inner pump casing can be worn to the max and enhances crew safety significantly on board at the same time.
The DynaCover consists of a Dyneema clamp-mounted inner cover and a NOMEX zipped-on outer cover.
Around the Dyna-Cover, a NOMEX outer cover is zipped.
“The innovative zip design not only ensures simple mounting, but also acts as detector for a burst inner pump casing,” according to Damen.
The Dyneema cover being water tight, the burst casing is detected by a tension QuickBurst zipper in the NOMEX cover automatic opening under higher tension.
Once a new inner casing is mounted, both covers can be re-used by simply re-zipping the QuickBurst zipper.