Qingzhou Yongli Minning and Dredging machinery Co.,ltd produced the bucket chain dredger for the sand mining project in Africa. Local river sand resources are in great demand, so the vessel was manufactured to boost mining efficiency.
Our 120m³/h bucket chain sand dredger, also known as bucket ladder dredger, sand dredger, sand mining dredger and river sand dredger, is a high-efficiency, durable and cost-effective dredging equipment independently developed for river sand extraction, channel maintenance and shallow-water mining projects. As a core river sand dredger solution, it integrates mechanical excavation, sand-gravel separation and material conveying, designed to deliver stable and continuous performance in complex inland water environments.
This bucket chain dredger is engineered with a robust pontoon structure to ensure excellent buoyancy and stability. The pontoon consists of two main parts: the left pontoon (28m×2.0m×1.26m) and the right pontoon (28m×2.3m×1.26m), both made of 6mm thick steel plates with 60×40mm angle steel inner keels spaced 600mm apart. Equipped with 14# channel steel side frames, 4 balance tanks and 4 bulkhead compartments, the sand dredger maintains balanced operation even in fluctuating water levels. The 5mm anti-slip steel deck ensures safe operation for crew members, a key design for reliable sand mining dredger use.
The core of this bucket ladder dredger is its heavy-duty bucket chain system, built for high-capacity sand excavation. The dredging bucket is 80cm in mouth length, with a 1.0cm thick bottom plate, 0.6cm thick shoulder plates and a 1.4cm thick bucket lip, ensuring strong wear resistance for long-term river sand dredger work. The system includes 70 high-strength dredging buckets, 140 casting chain plates (80cm×9cm×3cm) and 140 manganese steel chain pins (12cm long, 3.2cm diameter), which connect to form a continuous digging loop. The upper aquatic four-angle wheel (1.15m diameter, 1.1m width, 20mm plate thickness) and lower underwater four-angle wheel (1.25m diameter, 1.1m width, 20mm plate thickness with spring steel side covers) drive the bucket chain, enabling smooth digging and lifting of sand and gravel. This reliable transmission design makes the bucket chain dredger highly efficient for underwater excavation.
The sand dredger is equipped with a dual-conveyor system for precise material classification. The sand conveyor (25m long, 80cm wide, 22kw motorized drum) transports fine sand (<16mm), while the stone conveyor (11.8m long, 80cm wide, 15kw motor) handles coarse gravel (>16mm). This separation function improves sand quality and adds economic value, a critical feature for professional sand mining dredger applications.
Power and control systems are optimized for stable, all-day operation. The digging system uses a 30kw motor with a ZQ850 reducer; the lifting winch (18.5kw, ZQ650) adjusts the underwater arm depth; two forward winches (11kw each, ZQ400) and one positioning winch (5.5kw, ZQ350) ensure flexible movement and fixed-point work. The total power consumption is 113kw, supported by a 150kw Cummins 6CTA8.3-G2 diesel generator (220/380V, 50Hz), providing stable power for the bucket ladder dredger in remote areas without grid access. An integrated operation cabin with an electrical control cabinet and complete cables simplifies operation and maintenance, reducing labor costs for river sand dredger projects.
Core Functions
High-Efficiency Sand Excavation: As a professional bucket chain dredger, it delivers a 120m³/h sand extraction capacity, suitable for medium-scale sand mining and channel dredging. The heavy-duty bucket chain digs riverbed sand, silt and gravel continuously, with strong adaptability to muddy and sandy riverbeds.
Accurate Sand-Gravel Separation: The dual-conveyor system classifies materials into fine sand and coarse gravel, meeting different industrial needs (e.g., construction sand, concrete aggregate). This function enhances the commercial value of extracted materials, a key advantage of this sand dredger.
Stable & Safe Operation: The balanced pontoon, anti-slip deck and reliable winch system ensure safe work in shallow rivers, lakes and harbors. The manganese steel chain parts and wear-resistant buckets extend service life, lowering maintenance costs for sand mining dredger users.
Flexible Adaptability: The adjustable underwater arm (22m long) supports a maximum dredging depth of 20m, covering most inland water dredging needs. It can work in narrow rivers, shallow lakes and coastal shallow waters, making it a versatile river sand dredger.
Application Scenarios
River Sand Mining: The primary use of this bucket ladder dredger is river sand extraction in inland rivers, which supplies high-quality construction sand for infrastructure projects. It works efficiently in calm and slow-flowing rivers, the most common scenario for bucket chain dredger deployment.
Channel & Waterway Dredging: As a sand dredger, it clears silt and sediment in navigation channels, ensuring smooth water transport for small vessels. It is widely used in river, lake and port maintenance projects to prevent channel silting.
Lake & Reservoir Desilting: The sand mining dredger removes sediment from lake beds and reservoirs, increasing water storage capacity and improving water quality. Its shallow-water adaptability makes it ideal for lake restoration projects.
Shallow Water Construction & Reclamation: This river sand dredger provides sand and gravel for shoreline reclamation, port construction and flood control projects. It can work near construction sites, reducing material transportation costs.
