U.S. patent application number 12/850991 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-12 for recuperation system for underwater cleaning operations.
Invention is credited to Boudewijn Gabriel VAN ROMPAY.
Application Number | 20120006244 12/850991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45437644 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120006244 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VAN ROMPAY; Boudewijn
Gabriel |
January 12, 2012 |
RECUPERATION SYSTEM FOR UNDERWATER CLEANING OPERATIONS
Abstract
Device for cleaning an underwater lying surface, wherein the
device comprises a movable frame with at least one rotating brush
which allows the device to pressed against or sucked against said
surface during movement of the device, wherein furthermore a drive
for the brush or brushes is provided, wherein the device is
provided with means which prevent that particles that are released
during cleaning of the surface, spread around in the water flowing
around the surface and around the device.
Inventors: |
VAN ROMPAY; Boudewijn Gabriel;
(Clearwater, FL) |
Family ID: |
45437644 |
Appl. No.: |
12/850991 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 59/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/222 |
International
Class: |
B63B 59/08 20060101
B63B059/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 12, 2010 |
BE |
2010/0423 |
Claims
1. Device for cleaning a surface located underwater, comprising a
movable frame having at least one rotating cleaning brush; said
frame enabling the device to be pressed against or sucked against
said surface during movement of the device; a drive for the brush
or brushes; and means for preventing particles that are released by
the brush or brushes during cleaning of the surface to be dispersed
in the water surrounding the surface and around the device.
2. Device according to claim 1, including an enclosure wherein said
brushes are arranged and which is at least partially defined by a
hard upstanding edge with a sealing edge comprising a synthetic
material providing a sealing contact with the surface to be cleaned
and which defines a space wherein the brushes may be in contact
with the surface to be cleaned.
3. Device according to claim 1, wherein said means for preventing
particles to be spread comprises a collecting reservoir with an
inlet and an outlet for water, said inlet in communication with
said space and the outlet terminating outside of the device; and
including a filter arranged to catch the released particles
disposed between said inlet and outlet.
4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the collecting device is
secured in a detachable way to the device.
5. Device according to claim 3, wherein the collecting reservoir is
detachable from the device by means of quick-release couplings.
6. Device according to claim 3, including a prefilter in the
inlet.
7. Device according to claim 3, wherein the inlet comprises a
constriction.
8. Device according to claim 3, including a rotatable screw in the
collecting reservoir arranged when driven to discharge water from
said enclosure through said collecting reservoir with filter.
9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the screw is provided in
the inlet.
10. Device according to claim 8, including a non-return valve
between the screw and the collecting reservoir.
11. Device according to claim 1, including one or more driving
wheels and at least one steering wheel.
12. Device according to claim 1, wherein the upstanding edge is
interrupted on one side.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a device for cleaning
underwater surfaces.
[0003] B. Related Art and Summary
[0004] More specifically, the invention is made for cleaning the
ship hull, the substructure of a platform or the like.
[0005] It is known that on these surfaces lying under the waterline
growth of algae and mollusks occur.
[0006] This biological growth has a detrimental influence on the
fuel consumption of ships due to the increase of flow
resistance.
[0007] Therefore it is already known for a long time to remove this
biological growth regularly or to scrape it off.
[0008] Such devices for cleaning surfaces already exist, which
devices have rotating disc-shaped brushes or scrapers, like
described for example in the Belgian patent document BE
1.000.486.
[0009] In these devices the brushes do not only have a cleaning
function but are also essential for keeping the device close to the
surface to be cleaned.
[0010] Indeed, due to the specific shape of the brushes, the
rotation thereof will create an underpressure between the surface
to be treated and the device, which underpressure causes the device
to be firmly pressed or sucked to the surface, such that the
brushes always remain in contact with the surface to be
treated.
[0011] A disadvantage is that during cleaning particles can be
released from the surface and these particles that are scraped off
by the brushes or released can spread around in the water.
[0012] These particles are not necessarily from biological origin
but can have any origin in principle.
[0013] Without additional measures it is possible that particles
from the paint are scraped off and float in the water around the
brushes thereby causing water pollution.
[0014] It is not excluded that particles from the paint or from a
specific coating on the ship's hull or more in general particles
from any chemical origine are released, certainly in case of
classical older kinds of paint, when the brushes exert too much
force on the surface or when they scrape too long on the same
place.
[0015] Of course, these particles of chemical origin have a
negative influence on the environment. There exist already paints
which cause no or only minor chemical pollution, like for instance
paints with incorporated glass flakes.
[0016] Anyway, the distribution of particles of biological origin
in the water has also a serious ecological influence on the fauna
and flora living in the water, with all detrimental consequences,
such as the disappearance of certain organisms in the long term or
the outbreak of epidemics and the like.
[0017] It is therefore clear that the cleaning of the surface and
the resulting water pollution has a serious ecological impact if no
further measures are taken.
[0018] The present invention aims to offer a solution for at least
one of said and/or other drawbacks by providing a device for
cleaning an underwater lying surface, whereby the device is
provided with a movable frame with at least one rotating brush,
which causes the device to be sucked against or pressed against
said surface during movement of the device, whereby further a drive
is provided for the brush or brushes and whereby the device is
provided with means that prevent particles, which are released from
the surface during cleaning, from spreading around in the water
flowing around the surface and around the device.
[0019] An advantage is that the released particles or scraped off
particles are stopped and water pollution is avoided and as such
there is no danger for the fauna and flora.
[0020] Another advantage is that the cleaning of the surface can be
achieved in a minimum of time, which is cost-saving.
[0021] Preferably, the device is provided with a space wherein one
or more brushes are arranged, whereby said space is at least
partially enclosed by a hard upstanding edge and whereby a sealing
edge of synthetic material is provided which allows for a sealing
contact between the surface to be cleaned and whereby the edge
defines a gap along which the brushes are in contact with the
surface to be cleaned.
[0022] According to a practical variant of the invention said means
comprise a collecting reservoir with an inlet and an outlet for
water, whereby the inlet ends up in said space and the outlet ends
up on the outside of the device and whereby a filter is provided
between said inlet and outlet for blocking the released
particles.
[0023] As such, scraped off particles from whatever origin will
remain in the filter and only purified water is discharged through
the outlet.
[0024] In the most preferred embodiment, the collecting reservoir
is detachable, for instance by means of quick-couplings.
[0025] An advantage is that it allows an easy cleaning or
replacement of the filter, such that the maintenance of the device
can be done in a minimum of time.
[0026] According to an especially practical embodiment, the
replacement of the collecting reservoir can be done even under
water. To that end the inlet of the collecting reservoir is
provided with a non-return valve, such that water and impurities in
the collecting reservoir cannot escape through the inlet from the
reservoir.
[0027] In a first practical variant of the invention, a screw is
provided in the inlet which screw is driven by a motor or the like,
and which has a sucking influence on the water coming from the
brushes when rotating.
[0028] In another practical variant a constriction can be
provided.
[0029] The released particles can precipitate downstream of the
constriction and can be discharged appropriately from there.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] In order to better explain the characteristics of the
present invention, a preferred embodiment of a device according to
the invention for cleaning an underwater lying surface is described
by way of example and without being limitative in any way, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows a device according to the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 represents a view from arrow F2 in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 represents at a larger scale a detail F3 of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] In FIG. 1 a device according to the invention is
schematically represented, comprising a movable frame 2 with at
least one brush 3.
[0035] For the movement of this frame 2, wheels 4 are provided on
one side, namely on the side intended for making contact with the
surface to be cleaned.
[0036] More specifically, three wheels 4 are provided in the
embodiment of the figures, each of them being driven by a motor
which isn't shown in the drawings.
[0037] This motor can be a hydraulic motor of which the flow can be
adjusted by means of a valve operated by a control device.
[0038] Flow control of the hydraulic motor is thereby advantageous
in that adjustment of the speed with which the device moves over
the surface is possible.
[0039] In the represented variant these wheels are ordered in a
triangular pattern, with a front wheel and two back wheels, whereby
the front wheel acts as steering wheel 5 and can be oriented as a
function of the desired displacement of the device 1 over the
surface to be cleaned.
[0040] In the embodiment shown a rotatable steering wheel 6 is
provided on the device 1 for said steering. It is evident that said
steering can also be achieved in other ways.
[0041] Many variants of the arrangement with three wheels in the
device as described are imaginable, such as for instance variants
with only one or two wheels or variants with caterpillars instead
of wheels;
[0042] Other variants of the invention are conceivable operating
like an automatic guided vehicle whereby the displacement of the
vehicle is controlled without any human intervention. Such systems
can be provided with suitable navigation means.
[0043] As can be seen from the view of FIG. 2, said side is
delimited by a hard upstanding edge 7 along a part of its
perimeters, for example from aluminum.
[0044] In a practical variant of the invention said edge does not
continue around the whole perimeter edge. As such at least one gap
8 is provided in the edge 7.
[0045] In the variant shown said gap 8 is situated at the same side
of the device as the steering wheel 5, although this is not a
strict requirement for the invention.
[0046] A sealing edge 9 of a synthetic material is preferably
provided on this upstanding edge 7 in order to have a sealing
contact with the surface to be cleaned.
[0047] For said sealing edge 9 the use of a synthetic material,
such as neoprene, is particularly well-suited, although the
invention is not restricted thereto.
[0048] On the side of the device 1 that is intented to make contact
with the surface to be cleaned, one or more brushes 10 are provided
for cleaning.
[0049] As can be seen in the figures, at least one brush 10 is
thereby situated in the vicinity of the gap in the upstanding
edge.
[0050] More specifically, there are two brushes approximate to the
steering wheel 5 at the front side and a third brush is situated
more towards the back side in the variant as shown.
[0051] Each of these brushes 3 is, as is known, composed of a
rotating disc 13 whereupon bristles 14 are provided. These bristles
14 are preferably made from an abrasive material. Each brush 3 can
be driven by a hydraulic motor, although other types of drives are
also possible.
[0052] It is known that said brushes 3 can be arranged under
certain angles with respect to one another to improve the stability
of the device 1.
[0053] Preferably, the pressurising force against the surface to be
cleaned of each bristle is controllable during rotation of the
brush 3 such that a constant pressure is exerted on the surface to
be cleaned, irrespective of the position of the brush 3 or the
shape of or the irregularities on the surface to be cleaned.
[0054] To that end each brush 3 can be screwed on the axis of a
hydraulic motor and each brush 3 with its hydraulic motor can be
suspended in a cardan coupling.
[0055] According to the invention means 15 are provided which
prevent particles, which are released during the cleaning from the
surface, of spreading around in the surrounding water.
[0056] In a practical variant of the invention the device 1 is
provided with a space 16 wherein the brushes 3 are mounted and said
space 16 is partially delimited by the upstanding edge 7.
[0057] Preferably, said means 15 comprise a collecting reservoir
17, which is situated nearby the back side of the device 1 in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
[0058] In the most practical variant of the invention said
collecting reservoir 17 is detachable from the device 1, for
instance by means of quick-couplings.
[0059] This collecting reservoir 17 is provided at one side with an
inlet 18 ending up in said space 16. The outlet 19 of the
collecting reservoir 17 is situated on another side, more
specifically on the side opposite the inlet 18, and ends up on the
outside of the device 1.
[0060] According to a practical variant of the invention, a filter
20 is provided in the collecting reservoir 17 for blocking the
released particles.
[0061] Additionally, a prefilter 21 can be provided as well in the
inlet 18 of the collecting reservoir 17.
[0062] Preferably means are provided which exert a sucking
influence on the water from said space 16 and which suck this water
in the direction of the collecting reservoir 17.
[0063] Alternatively, the inlet 18 of the collecting reservoir 17
can be made as a constriction. As is known, it consists mainly of a
channel with a restriction.
[0064] It is also possible to provide a rotatable screw 22 in the
inlet 18 of the collecting reservoir 17, which screw is driven by
an engine, such that the rotation of the screw 22 provides for the
discharge of water from the space 16 towards the collecting
reservoir 17, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 amongst others.
[0065] Furthermore a non-return valve 23 can be provided at the
inlet 18, which automatically shuts off if the water flow towards
the collecting reservoir 17 drops away.
[0066] The method for cleaning a surface by means of the device 1
according to the invention is very easy and as follows.
[0067] During the movement of the device 1, the device 1 is sucked
against the surface to be cleaned with its side provided with
brushes 3.
[0068] Due to a well chosen arrangement of the brushes 3 the strips
cleaned by the brushes will overlap or touch each other when moving
the device 1, such that no dirty strip remains.
[0069] During rotation, the brushes 3 scrape off particles from
biologic growth of the surface or sweep off such particles. The
particles that are thus released, will first float in the water in
the space 16 between the brushes 3 and the surface.
[0070] From this space 16, water is discharged to the collecting
reservoir 17, wherein the filter 20 is provided that blocks these
particles, such that only purified water is discharged through the
outlet 19 of the collecting reservoir 17.
[0071] The discharge of water by means of the collecting reservoir
17 is achieved thanks to exerting a sucking action on the water in
the space 16. This sucking action can be achieved in many ways, for
instance through rotation of a screw 22 or through a constriction
at the inlet 18 of the collecting reservoir 17
[0072] From the foregoing it is clear that the invention is very
well suited for all kinds of cleaning operations that have to be
carried out under water by providing the collecting system as
described.
[0073] Although the device 1 according to the invention is mainly
intended for the removal of growth of algae, mollusks and the like,
variants for polishing or scraping off ship hulls are also
possible.
[0074] It is clear that the filter 20 can be chosen as a function
of the purpose of the device. It is for example possible to
implement the filter 20 in such way that released paint particles
or particles from chemical coatings or the like are blocked.
[0075] The brushes 3 from the previously described invention can be
replaced by other treating elements, like scrapers or abrasive
circular disks in other embodiments.
[0076] It is clear for a person skilled in the art that in the
device means can be provided for adjusting the suction force
between the surface to be cleaned and the device.
[0077] Indeed, it can be desirable to, depending on the thickness
and the type of growth to be removed, apply immediate changes on
the suction force in order to not damage the paint layer of the
ship by scraping or brushing too hard.
[0078] The present invention is by no means limited to the
embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but
a device according to the invention for cleaning an underwater
lying surface can be made in many shapes and dimensions without
going beyond the scope of the invention.
* * * * *