Lever Room & Control System

The climate-controlled operator’s cabin incorporates the latest in dredge control technology. Dredge controls utilizes a Programmable Logic Controller, known as a PLC, to control the functions of the various control circuits. PLC’s have been the standard in manufacturing automation since the 1960’s and is a reliable and time proven technology.

PLC and electronic/hydraulic controls facilitates the remote mounting of hydraulic control valves, removing the need to mount them under the control console. This removes the heat and noise associated with console mounting of hydraulic valves. The expandable PLC facilitates dredge operation, alarms, logging and custom settings. Onboard dredge diagnostics and setup screens provide fast trouble shooting and custom operating parameters.

Hydraulic System

All DSC dredges, utilize integrated load sensing, pressure compensated hydraulic components. This style of hydraulic system means the system only generates the hydraulic flow necessary to operate the system components at the speed set by the operator and the pressure demanded by the task. Since no oil is bypassed back to tank or throttled by pressure regulating valves, (the major source of heat generated in a system), the system operates with increased efficiency and at cooler temperatures. This not only reduces the power consumption but also reduces the required cooling, tank capacity, and filtration. In a typical hydraulic system where 50% of the system’s flow is demanded and 75% of the pump’s pressure is required for the task, a conventional fixed displacement system (found on older portable dredges) will consume 75% of the pump’s power, while a pressure compensated system (found on modern dredges) consumes approx. 50% of the pump’s power. DSC’s hydraulic systems, however, consume only 37.5% of the pump’s power. This lower power consumption equates directly to cost of operation, (even on smaller dredges) resulting in dramatic energy savings.