Dredge nozzles hydroforce9/21/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() A properly set up sluice box does not need tending - all the material sucked up passes over the riffles with no extra attention needed by the operator. In normal operation a gold dredge is run by an operator at the intake nozzle who directs the nozzle and who captures and discards oversized rocks that would plug the intake hose. Second, a 2" pump can easily be used with a venturi to create suction in a 4" hose, greatly increasing the volume of material that can be processed.Ī common suction gold dredge design - 4" surface dredge with air compressor First, gravel pumps are very expensive, heavy, and high maintenance items. The pump actually pumps only water, which is delivered to a venturi type device (called a power jet or a suction nozzle) which indirectly creates suction in a larger hose. A common misperception is that gravel is sucked through the pump. Nozzles sizes may be up to 2" smaller than hose sizes.Ī gold dredge is powered by a motor and pump. What a dredge manufacturer calls a 5" dredge may be a 4" intake nozzle dredge for permitting purposes. This is a very important thing to remember when working with permits. Therefore most dredge permits refer to the nozzle size, not the hose size, when imposing rules and restrictions. ![]() The volume of material processed is determined by the nozzle opening, not the inside diameter of the hose. A 5" dredge may have a nozzle opening of 4" for this reason. However, nozzles are used on dredges which restrict the intake to a size smaller than the inside diameter to help prevent clogs. So a 5" dredge has a main suction hose with a 5" inside diameter. Manufacturers rate suction dredges by the inside diameter of the main suction hose. Floats are also needed because there is rarely a nice gravel bar in just the right place to set up a dredge without floats. Every inch of vertical lift above the surface of the water robs power/suction from the system. This is because a dredge has just enough power to lift water and gravel to just above the surface of the water. Dredges almost always need to be mounted on a set of floats. A sluice box works because gold is 15 times heavier than sand and gravel and so is easily trapped by the riffles and carpet in the sluice box. ![]() Material is transported from underwater to the surface and run through a sluice box to capture the gold. A suction gold dredge is basically an underwater vacuum cleaner. ![]()
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