Appendix: Setup procedure for mud collector

The setup of the mud collector before placing it in the water requires a two-step operation: retracting the spring and setting it on the trigger, and then opening the bucket and setting it on the trigger. The procedure is described in detail below.

In the beginning, the bucket is lifted and the spring is retracted and set on the trigger as shown in Fig. 10. Since the bucket is subjected to strong spring repulsive force in this process, use the special tool shown in Fig. 11 for this operation. First, insert the connecting plate into the hole in the center of the upper surface of the support frame (Fig. 10-a). Next, insert the tip of the metal lever through the upper hole in the connecting plate and the support pin through the lower hole (Fig. 10-b). By inserting the support pin, the connecting plate and the bucket support frame are connected, so when the handle of the lever is pushed down and the connecting plate is pulled up, the bucket support frame is also pulled up at the same time. Finally, close the trigger hook and secure the bucket support frame (Fig. 10-c). The trigger hook can be opened and closed by moving the bottom plate arm as shown in Fig. 4. The sequence of operations is shown in a series of photographs in Fig. 12.

Fig. 10 Procedure for setting to trigger

Fig. 11 Special tool for setup

a. Metal lever b. Connecting plate c. Support pin

Fig. 12 Procedure for setting to trigger (continuous photo)

Next, set the bucket in the open position on the trigger. Pull up the bucket arm as shown in Fig. 13 to connect the hook of the bucket arm to the hook of the bottoming plate arm. When the mud collector reaches the bottom, the connection between the two is disconnected and the bucket is unfastened. Figure 14 shows a series of photographs of this operation.

Do not touch the set-up mud collector or put your hand in the opening of the bucket as a malfunction could cause the bucket to close unexpectedly.

Fig. 13 Bucket opening procedure

掛金: hook 着底板アーム: bottoming plate arm バケットアーム: bucket arm

Fig. 14 Bucket opening procedure (continuous photo)