U.S. patent application number 14/170604 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-21 for apparatus for vacuuming pollution from a body of water.
This patent application is currently assigned to Island and Prairie Suction Tech Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Island and Prairie Suction Tech Inc.. Invention is credited to Jonathan Karl Wayne Biley, Sean Careis Farrell, Sarah Ng.
Application Number | 20140231326 14/170604 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51293323 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140231326 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Biley; Jonathan Karl Wayne ;
et al. |
August 21, 2014 |
Apparatus for Vacuuming Pollution from a Body of Water
Abstract
A floatable-material harvester is disclosed, including a vacuum
source, transport hose, and a floatable-material receiver. In one
embodiment, the transport hose has at least one air inductor/intake
along its length, which allows air to enter the transport hose to
accelerate its contents, by negative pressure air induction. In
another embodiment, a transport hose has at least one
floatable-material thruster along its length, comprised of at least
one nozzle, which provides pressurized fluid (e.g., air or water)
in the direction of the flow of the harvested floatable material by
positive pressure induction. A method is disclosed whereby the
floatable material harvester is used to harvest an absorbent
material (e.g., wood chips, straw, perlite, zeolite, polypropylene
mesh, titanate nanofibres) that has absorbed a pollutant (e.g.,
oil, solvent, radioactive isotopes) from a beach or in water.
Inventors: |
Biley; Jonathan Karl Wayne;
(Surrey, CA) ; Farrell; Sean Careis; (Manassas,
VA) ; Ng; Sarah; (Calgary, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Island and Prairie Suction Tech Inc. |
Surrey |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
Island and Prairie Suction Tech
Inc.
Surrey
CA
|
Family ID: |
51293323 |
Appl. No.: |
14/170604 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61786452 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
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61817267 |
Apr 29, 2013 |
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61838336 |
Jun 23, 2013 |
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61845349 |
Jul 11, 2013 |
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61878028 |
Sep 15, 2013 |
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61879646 |
Sep 18, 2013 |
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61887421 |
Oct 6, 2013 |
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61914353 |
Dec 10, 2013 |
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61923729 |
Jan 5, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/170.05 ;
210/170.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 15/104 20130101;
A01D 44/00 20130101; E02B 15/10 20130101; B63B 35/32 20130101; E01H
12/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/170.05 ;
210/170.01 |
International
Class: |
E01H 12/00 20060101
E01H012/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 6, 2013 |
CA |
2805925 |
Claims
1. A floatable-material harvester, comprising: a vacuum source
having a vacuum source input; a transport hose having an input at
one end thereof and an output at another end thereof, the output of
the transport hose being connected to the vacuum source input, the
transport hose further having at least one air inductor associated
therewith, said air inductor being configured for facilitating
intake of air into the transport hose; and a floatable-material
receiver connected to the input of the transport hose.
2. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, further
comprising at least one of a sterilizer and a refrigeration unit
that sterilizes and refrigerates collected seaweed.
3. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, further
comprising a ventilation system within the storage area of
collected seaweed, as to provide at least one of outside air to the
collected seaweed and exhaust of accumulated gases.
4. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, wherein the
transport hose has at least one flotation device operably
associated therewith.
5. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, wherein the
at least one air inductor is fluidly connected to at least one air
control valve, each respective air control valve being configured
for regulating the flow of air through a corresponding air
inductor.
6. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 5, wherein a
plurality of air inductors along the length of the transport hose
are fluidly connected to a plurality of air control valves, each
respective control valve being configured for regulating the flow
of air through a corresponding air inductor.
7. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 5, further
comprising a microprocessor coupled to at least on of the at least
one air control valve and the speed control of the vacuum source,
the microprocessor configured to control the at least one of an air
control valve and the speed of the vacuum source.
8. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 5, wherein at
least one given air inductor has an airflow meter structurally
associated therewith, the airflow meter being configured for
metering an airflow through the given air inductor.
9. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, wherein the
at least one air inductor is comprised of at least one flotation
device configured in such a manner as to minimize the entry of
water into the transport hose from the body of water from which the
air inductor floats.
10. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 9, wherein
the at least one air inductor is further comprised of an
anchor.
11. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 10, wherein
the anchoring system is automated.
12. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one air inductor further comprises a snorkel.
13. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, further
comprising an airtight hose section filled with air, the transport
hose being carried within and passing through the airtight hose
section, the airtight hose section interior being connected to the
interior of the transport hose by the at least one air
inductor.
14. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, wherein
the floatable-material receiver further comprises at least one of a
hopper and a funnel having an outlet, the hopper and funnel outlet
being coupled to the input of the transport hose.
15. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 14, wherein
the at least one of a hopper and a funnel further comprises an
agitator.
16. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, wherein
the floatable-material receiver comprises a nozzle placed within
the floatable-material receiver, the nozzle being configured to
propel the contents of the floatable-material receiver with a fluid
jet, the nozzle being connected to a pump configured for receiving
fluid from a fluid source and for driving the fluid into the nozzle
to produce the fluid jet.
17. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 16, wherein
the floatable-receiver is further comprised of a funneling element
that receives floatable material that is propelled by the fluid jet
from the nozzle.
18. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 1, further
comprising a flotation device configured for supporting the
floatable-material receiver when the floatable-material receiver is
positioned within a body of water.
19. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 18, wherein
the flotation device further comprises a buoyancy control.
20. A floatable-material harvester according to claim 18, wherein
the flotation device further comprises a propulsion system.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Canadian Patent
Application No. CA 2805925, filed on Feb. 6, 2013.
[0002] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/786,452, filed Mar. 15, 2013.
[0003] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/817,267, filed Apr. 29, 2013
[0004] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/838,336, filed Jun. 23, 2013.
[0005] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 61/845,349, filed 11 Jul. 2013.
[0006] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 61/878,028, filed 15 Sep. 2013.
[0007] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application No. 61/879,646, filed 18 Sep. 2013.
[0008] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application No. 61/887,421, filed Oct. 6, 2013.
[0009] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application No. 61/914,353, filed Dec. 10, 2013
[0010] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application No. 61/923,729, filed Jan. 5, 2014
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0011] This invention relates generally to harvesting floatable
material (e.g., in the form of seaweed and algae; or in the form of
a floating, chemical/radioactive absorbent material such as wood
chips, mesh polypropylene, straw, vermiculite, zeolite, composite
titanate nanofibres). Particularly, in one instance, the system of
the invention is used for harvesting beached seaweed and detached
seaweed floating in the surf and, in another instance, for
harvesting spent pollutant absorbent material floating on a body of
water or on the beach after having been used to aid the cleanup of
a chemical spill on that body of water or beach. In another
instance, for harvesting titanate nanofibre material that has been
used to absorb radiation, heavy metals, and isotopes from a nuclear
disaster. Furthermore, an efficient disposal method of incinerating
the chemical spill within the apparatus is disclosed, or, in the
instance of seaweed, the organic matter is processed within the
apparatus for preservation.
BACKGROUND ART
[0012] Eutrophication is the unnatural nutrient enrichment of our
oceans, rivers, and lakes, causing a linear increase in algae and
seaweed growth. This measurable scientific phenomenon is occurring
globally through sewer, aquaculture, and farm run-off pollution,
and as a result there is a large accumulation of seaweed on
beaches, in particular after storm activity that tears the seaweed
from the ocean floor. The amounts are sometimes staggering, leading
to mass rotting and often the generation of hydrogen sulphide gas,
which has been known to kill both humans and animals, as well as
the direct release of methane into the atmosphere through anaerobic
decomposition, where methane is commonly known to have 72 times the
Global Warming Potential (GWP) over 20 years than carbon dioxide.
Furthermore, although some of the seaweed provides beneficial
decomposing matter as food for insects and worms that feed other
species, the amounts of seaweed often far outweighs the benefit of
the ecosystem, as it amounts to incredible masses of rotting
vegetation similar to a massive landfill. There appears to be a
direct correlation between the global jellyfish epidemic and
eutrophication. Eutrophication is also for certain leading to the
starvation and destruction of coral reef systems that are
overwhelmed and suffocated by algae. In fresh water environments,
eutrophication is starving fish of oxygen and ultimately destroying
their natural habitat by overwhelming the habitat with biomass.
[0013] While overgrown or invasive, aquatic plants can be a
nuisance as well as a hazard to the environment, those plants at
the same time can present commercial opportunity. For example Irish
Moss, also known as Chondrus crispus, Mastocarpus stellatus, or
Mazaella japonica, is a type of storm-cast seaweed often found on
beaches in certain areas. Alginates from Laminaria and Macrocystis
also present commercial opportunity. The large amounts of seaweed
can be a nuisance when it washes up on shore and begins to decay,
causing a stench, releasing methane and hydrogen sulfide gases, and
leaving the beach looking filthy. However, some seaweeds are high
in carrageenan and alginates, which have significant commercial
value in the food and cosmetic industry. It would therefore be
beneficial to harvest this seaweed for its commercial value, while
at the same time providing an effective removal service for the
washed up seaweed on the beach.
[0014] Conventional methods of harvesting beached seaweed and other
aquatic plants cast on or near shores of bodies of water include
use of equipment such as all terrain vehicles and trailers on the
shore. However, conventional methods do not address the difficulty
of harvesting seaweed from shores where land access is unavailable.
Furthermore, in sensitive beach environments, they can disturb the
ground, causing the sea grass to die and the beach to erode, as
well as promoting the destruction of clams and fish eggs by the use
of tracked vehicles to access such beach areas.
[0015] Other methods of harvesting beached seaweed include
accessing a shore with a large barge or landing craft. However, the
waters near many shores have shallow areas where access would not
be possible during low tide, as the barge would contact the ground
and possibly damage clam beds and other sea life or ecology.
[0016] Another situation in which floatable material may need to be
removed from the surface of a body of water or the beach is when
floatable fibrous material are introduced to the surface of the
water or beach, to aid in the clean up of a chemical such as
petroleum. Many different apparatus that suction oil are known in
the prior art. All of them have a limitation of rate and speed of
pick up. Petroleum spills cause more damage to the environment the
longer the oil spill is present. A situation in which non-organics
may be used near a body of water is to aid in the clean up after a
nuclear disaster near/within water, such as the use of titanate
nanofibres or zeolite material to absorb radiation and radioactive
isotopes.
[0017] Therefore, there remains a need for an efficient and
environmentally sound system for harvesting seaweed from the shore
and intertidal zone of a body of water and a need for a system for
collecting floating fibrous material used in absorbing chemicals or
radioactive isotopes spilled on a given body of water.
SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] In brief, a floatable material (e.g., seaweed; fibrous
material used in oil-spill clean up or a nuclear disaster)
harvester is disclosed, including a vacuum source, a transport
hose, and a floatable-material receiver. In one embodiment, the
transport hose has at least one air inductor/intake along its
length, which allows air to enter the transport hose to accelerate
its contents, by negative pressure air induction. The air inductor
may have a valve controlled by an air meter. In another embodiment,
a plurality of air inductors is shown. In some embodiments, a
plurality of valves is shown. In another embodiment, a transport
hose has at least one floatable-material thruster along its length,
comprised of at least one nozzle, which provides pressurized fluid
(e.g., air or water) in the direction of the flow of the harvested
floatable material by positive pressure induction. In some
embodiments, a plurality of floatable-material thrusters is shown.
In some embodiments, the directed flow of fluid may also produce a
strong Venturi effect, which draws product in through the
floatable-material input of the thruster. A method is disclosed
whereby the floatable-material harvester is used to harvest a
chemically absorbent material (e.g., wood chips, straw, perlite,
vermiculite, polypropylene mesh, zeolite) that has absorbed
chemicals (e.g., oil or solvent) spilled in water. In another
example, the apparatus is used to remove chemicals from a beach by
use of sorbent material that is picked up by a vehicle configured
to pick up floatable material. In some embodiments, the absorbent
material may be floatable titanate nanofibres material and
radioactive heavy metals/chemicals may be absorbed by this
material. Zeolite and in particular some synthetic zeolites, are
also suitable for absorbing radioactive material or isotopes. For
the purpose of describing this invention, chemicals and radioactive
material/isotopes may be referred to simply as pollutants.
[0019] Zeolite is any of a large group of minerals consisting of
hydrated aluminosilicates of sodium, potassium, calcium, and
barium. They can be readily dehydrated and rehydrated, and are used
as cation exchangers and molecular sieves.
[0020] Disclosed is a floatable-material harvester, including a
vacuum source having an input, a transport hose having an input at
one end and an output connected to the vacuum source input, and
having at least one air inductor/intake, and a floatable-material
receiver, connected to the input of the transport hose. Also
disclosed is a process, for when the floatable material is
specifically seaweed, for treating and preserving the seaweed by
washing, sterilizing, refrigerating, and oxygenating the
seaweed.
[0021] In a related embodiment and improvement to the vacuum
system, the at least one air inductor is replaced with at least one
floatable-material thruster, which is a device designed to provide
pressurized fluid in the direction of the flow of seaweed or other
floatable material (whether natural or synthetic) to be collected,
through at least one nozzle pointed in the relative direction of
flow of the floatable material. The fluid, namely air or water, in
some embodiments is provided by a pump connected to a high pressure
hose that runs at least partially parallel to the transport hose
and connects to the at least one floatable-material thruster. In
some embodiments, at least one pump is connected to the at least
one floatable-material thruster.
[0022] In a related embodiment, the floatable-material harvester
further includes a trommel washer connected to the collection area.
The trommel washer has a refrigeration unit to lower the
temperature of the wash water to lower the temperature of the
seaweed for preservation. In another embodiment, refrigeration is
provided by circulating refrigerated air through the seaweed as it
enters the storage container. In another embodiment, refrigeration
is provided inside the storage container. The trommel washer also
has an ozonator or other sterilizer such as bromine or chlorine,
where ozone both sterilizes and oxygenates the seaweed. In another
embodiment, the seaweed is passed by a UV-C (i.e., an
Ultraviolet-C) light to sterilize the seaweed. In another
embodiment, radiation is used to sterilize the seaweed. In another
embodiment, the transport hose has at least one flotation device to
promote the buoyancy thereof.
[0023] In an additional embodiment, at least one air inductor has
at least one air control valve regulating the flow of air through
the at least one air inductor. An air inductor is an air intake
that allows a controlled amount of air to enter the transport hose
by negative pressure. In some embodiments, a plurality of air
inductors is shown. In still another embodiment, the
floatable-material harvester includes a microprocessor coupled to
the at least one air control valve and configured to control the at
least one air control valve. The at least one air inductor may
further include an airflow meter, in another embodiment. A
plurality of air inductors may assist material in traveling a
greater distance than a single air inductor.
[0024] In yet another embodiment, the least one air inductor
includes a snorkel to help ensure that air and not water is intaken
by placing the level of the air intake a distance above the normal
water level, while being high enough of a distance to minimize take
on water from waves. Another embodiment of the floatable-material
harvester includes an airtight hose section filled with air,
through which the transport hose passes, with the airtight hose
section interior being connected to the interior of the transport
hose by the at least one air inductor.
[0025] In another embodiment, the at least one air inductor is
replaced with or possibly supplemented by at least one
floatable-material thruster connected to a pump. A
floatable-material thruster is a device designed to inject high
pressure fluid into the transport hose from a fluid input and
through at least one nozzle. In some embodiments, the
floatable-material thruster operates in the same manner as a
conventional air conveyor, comprised of a fluid input that connects
to an outer plenum that is pressurized with fluid, connected to a
ring of nozzles that injects the fluid into the direction of the
flow of the floatable material through the inner passage. Air
conveyors also may have a slightly smaller passage diameter than
the connecting hose, causing a Venturi effect to occur on the inlet
and thrust on the outlet of the floatable-material thruster. In
some embodiments, the floatable-material thruster is provided fluid
through at least one flow control valve. In other embodiments, the
flow control valve is controlled by a microprocessor. In some
embodiments, at least one flow meter is connected in series with
the at least one flow control valve and controls the at least one
flow valve. In some embodiments, at least one pressure sensor
provides pressure information from inside the transport hose to a
microprocessor, which for the purposes of the present disclosure
could, by way of example only, be part of a personal computer or a
computer network or may be a stand-alone programmable logic circuit
(PLC). In some embodiments, the microprocessor also receives
information from the at least one flow meter. In another
embodiment, the pressure sensor controls at least one of the flow
valve, pressure regulator, and the speed or thrust of the pumps by
an analog electrical connection. In another embodiment, the at
least one pressure sensor is located on the high pressure hose
and/or the high pressure tank. In another embodiment, an air
inductor may operate in the opposite flow direction to function as
a gas escape mechanism, where it is positioned in such a manner as
to relieve gas pressure produced in the transport hose by the
floatable-material thruster. A filter screen may be placed over the
air output, as to prevent the solid contents of the transport hose
from plugging the gas escape mechanism.
[0026] In yet other embodiments, the microprocessor uses the
information from the at least one pressure sensor and the at least
one flow meter to control the at least one flow valve and the speed
of the high pressure pump. In another embodiment, the
microprocessor also controls the speed of the vacuum source or of a
centrifugal or other type of water pump. The water pump and vacuum
source each may have its speed and/or power controlled, for
example, by the rpm (i.e., revolutions per minute) of an engine, by
pulsation, or by otherwise providing continuous flow or bursts of
energy by combustion, electrical, or waste steam from an
incinerator connected to the apparatus.
[0027] According to another embodiment, the floatable-material
receiver further includes a hopper having an outlet coupled to the
input of the transport hose. In an additional embodiment, the
hopper also includes an agitator, which vibrates to assist in the
flow of floatable material. In another embodiment of a feeder
mechanism, the floatable-material receiver includes a paddle wheel
placed within the floatable-material receiver so as to stir its
contents into the transport hose. In still another embodiment, the
floatable-material receiver includes a nozzle placed within the
floatable-material receiver, so as to propel the floatable-material
receiver's contents with a water jet into the transport hose. The
nozzle is connected to a water pump that receives water from a
water source and drives the water into the nozzle to produce the
water jet. The water jet may propel the floatable material into a
funneling element and into the transport hose, or the water jet may
propel the floatable material directly into the transport hose. In
some embodiments, a water jet or nozzle is submerged into the
floatable material within the beach or surf, propels the material
onto a mechanic device that picks up floatable material, such as a
conveyor belt. In another embodiment, the nozzle simply propels
material in the surf or on the beach into the floatable-material
receiver. In another embodiment, the nozzle is fluidly connected to
an air compressor and instead provides an air jet.
[0028] Another embodiment of the floatable-material harvester
includes a flotation device supporting the floatable-material
receiver in order to keep the floatable-material receiver
approximately near the level of the water in which it is operating.
In a related embodiment, the flotation device further includes
buoyancy control to allow the floatable-material receiver to be
lowered into the water. In another embodiment, the flotation device
additionally includes a propulsion system. In yet another
embodiment, the flotation device has a rudder. The flotation device
further includes an anchoring system, in another embodiment. In a
related embodiment, the anchoring system is automated.
[0029] A method is also included for harvesting beached and/or
near-shore floatable material. The method involves dispersing
sorbent material designed or suitable for absorbing petroleum or
other chemicals and radiation/radioactive material while repelling
water. The method may involve dispersing said material with an
apparatus comprised of a storage area, feeder mechanism, floatable
material receiver, and a transport hose comprised of at least on
floatable material thruster. The method involves providing a
floatable-material harvester as described above, activating the
vacuum source or high pressure pump, supplying floatable material
to the floatable-material receiver, and emptying harvested
floatable material from the collection area. In the case of
petroleum, the method further includes incinerating at least some
of the collected floatable-material within the harvesting
apparatus. The method then includes using the waste heat from the
incinerator to provide power for the harvest apparatus. That power
may be provided by way of steam to turbine and/or impeller. The
same method includes using an air inductor along the length of the
transport tube and a vacuum source, that both may replace or
supplement the floatable-material thruster and high pressure
pump.
[0030] In some embodiments, collected seaweed is metered into and
through a mesh belt dryer, which is a well known apparatus for
drying seaweed. This dryer provides air flow through a layer of
seaweed that is several inches deep on a conveyor belt. The seaweed
is often stirrated or flipped over as it moves down the conveyor
belt to cause even distribution of air and drying. In some
embodiments, instead of drying, the mesh belt dryer has an air
intake that is fitted with a refrigeration unit, so that cold air
is circulated through the seaweed, lowering its temperature to
around -2 degrees Celsius as it moves down the conveyor belt. In
some embodiments, an apparatus that cools the seaweed by cold air
is used instead of the refrigeration unit in the seaweed washer. In
some embodiments, a rotary dryer is used in place of a mesh belt
dryer or any device suited for circulating cold air around solid
material. The exhaust and intake of the mesh belt dryer may be
directly connected by a circulation fan, so that the evaporator
coils or other cooling mechanism of the refrigeration unit are in
the path of the airflow. Cooling the seaweed from ambient
temperature has the effect of dramatically lowering its rate of
decomposition.
[0031] In other embodiments, the collected seaweed is processed
through a seaweed washer. In some embodiments, the seaweed washer
is comprised of a refrigeration unit to lower the temperature of
the wash water, which in turn lowers the temperature of the
seaweed. In other embodiments, the wash water is injected with a
sterilizing agent such as ozone, bromine, or chlorine. In another
embodiment, the seaweed is sterilized by ultraviolet-C (e.g. UV-C)
or electromagnetic radiation suitable for killing, e.g., bacteria,
nematodes, protozoans, and fungi, thereby suitably sterilizing the
seaweed. Sterilizing the seaweed also aids in slowing the rate of
decomposition.
[0032] Other aspects, embodiments and features of the invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
figures. The accompanying figures are for schematic purposes and
are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each
identical or substantially similar component that is illustrated in
various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation at
its initial drawing depiction. For purposes of clarity, not every
component is labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of
each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not
necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The preceding summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the attached drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, presently preferred embodiments are
shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a mechanized floatable-material harvester;
[0035] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of the transport hose and a rear facing direct view of
an embodiment of an amphibious vehicle;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material harvester;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an overhead or top view of
an embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0042] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0043] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0044] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0045] FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a gas escape mechanism;
[0046] FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a gas escape mechanism;
[0047] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0048] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0049] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0050] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0051] FIG. 16 is schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0052] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0053] FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0054] FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0055] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0056] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster connected to a water
pump and floatation device;
[0057] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a trommel
washer, sterilizer, and refrigeration unit that can be used with
the floatable-material harvester;
[0058] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an
overhead view of a floatable-material harvester;
[0059] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver and an entrance of air
for at lease one air inductor;
[0060] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an
overhead view of an air induction floatable-material harvester;
[0061] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor through a snorkel;
[0062] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor;
[0063] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a side
and overhead view of a plug designed to bleed air;
[0064] FIG. 28A is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of an air induction system with an air tight outer
hose;
[0065] FIG. 28B is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of an air induction system with an air tight outer
hose;
[0066] FIG. 29C is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of an air induction system with an air tight outer
hose;
[0067] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor;
[0068] FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor with a counterweight;
[0069] FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a side
view of a floatable-material receiver;
[0070] FIG. 32A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of an elongated pickup mechanism.
[0071] FIG. 32B is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of an elongated pickup mechanism;
[0072] FIG. 33A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a swivel conveyor apparatus;
[0073] FIG. 33B is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a swivel conveyor apparatus;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0074] Embodiments of the disclosed floatable-material harvester,
when used particularly to harvest seaweed or chemically absorbent
material, enable workers on a shore of adjacent body of water to
clean up seaweed or other floatable material more efficiently, with
less environmental impact. The improved transport hose has the
effect of accelerating the speed of material as the air speed
increases over each air inductor, allowing a significant increase
in both travel/conveyance distance, even while possibly using a
smaller hose diameter. The improved suction also permits the
harvester to collect seaweed or other floatable material more
rapidly. Even more mass may be moved and/or an even larger
conveyance distance may be achieved in some embodiments which
depict at least one floatable-material thruster comprised of at
least one nozzle pointed in the general direction of flow of the
seaweed or floatable material, where the floatable-material
thruster provides pressurized fluid from at least one pump through
a high pressure hose. Even more mass may be transported a longer
distance with the use of a plurality of floatable-material
thrusters and a plurality of flow control valves.
[0075] Some embodiments disclosed herein are designed to harvest
seaweed, particularly loose seaweed on the surface or shore of any
body of water. "Seaweed" for the purposes used in this document
includes oceanic seaweed, kelp, and other algal "plants," as well
as any aquatic plant or plant-like organisms in fresh, brackish, or
salt water. Embodiments of the disclosed floatable-material
harvester may function on the surface or shore of any body of
water, including oceans, seas, bays, fjords, lagoons, lakes,
rivers, streams, ponds, estuaries, marshes, salt marshes, and
swamps. The "shore" or "beach" of a body of water is the area of
land immediately adjacent to that body of water.
[0076] It is noted that, for simplicity sake and ease of
description, the floatable-material harvester is being described
primarily in the context of harvesting seaweed but, as previously
noted, the system can be used in a similar manner to
harvest/retrieve other types of floating or beached sorbents, also
known as a chemically absorbent material (e.g., wood chips,
vermiculite, straw, clay, mesh polypropylene, zeolite, titanate
nanofibres), such as those employed to aid clean up of a chemical
or pollutant spill (e.g. absorbent material capable of floating in
water) and providing that such material could be harvested either
while floating or once beached on a shore. It is to be understood
that, for the purposes of cleaning up non-organic beach/floating
sorbents (e.g., clay, perlite, titanate nanofibres), the system
described herein for use with floating organics can also be used to
clean up of such non-organic beached/floating sorbents, given that
the principles of operation are basically the same for such
materials. Also, natural and synthetic zeolite minerals have a
unique ability to absorb radiation and harmful substances from the
environment. They are used even in food supplements for people
employed in industries where there is a risk of exposure. Products
such as zeolite which may not be easily pierced and picked up by a
tine may be blended with a Styrofoam, fabric, or other material
that is easily picked up by a tine or hook. In some embodiments,
the absorbent material may be configured into loops. In some
embodiments, zeolite or nanofibres may be embedded in natural
material such as cotton. In some embodiments, zeolite or nanofibres
may be embedded in a synthetic material such as but not limited to
polypropylene mesh. In some embodiments, the sorbent may be
comprised of magnetic material, so that it may be easier for a
mechanical device to pick up.
[0077] A beach cleaner is a vehicle or pull-behind unit that
operates on the beach and is designed to remove seaweed and refuse
while leaving sand, either from the beach or near-shore waters.
Beach cleaners may be comprised of a mechanical device that picks
up floatable material, or pick up floatable material that can be
pierced or grabbed by the tines. Beach cleaners come in many
different forms and have been in active use for decades. The beach
cleaner's largest limitation is that it has a collection area which
becomes full, which requires the beach cleaner to travel to a
separate vehicle to transfer the load, or a vehicle needs to meet
the beach cleaner. This is fuel inefficient and an inefficient
process in general. Beach cleaners may also only use one pick up
mechanism, which makes the rate of pick up too slow for a mass
removal from a single apparatus. Beach cleaners also have no means
of elevating themselves over large obstructions. Also, once the
load is transferred to truck, it is well known and published that
barging can be roughly 6.2 times more fuel efficient than trucking
a material an equal weight and distance. In some embodiments, the
beach cleaner may be replaced with an amphibious vehicle. In some
embodiments, the vehicle may be a hovercraft. In some embodiments,
a vehicle that floats may be configured to pick up floatable
material from the beach or within a body of water.
[0078] FIG. 1 is the embodiment of the inventive components of a
completely mechanized apparatus, where beach cleaner 7 would have
arrived by land or by amphibious means. The beach cleaner 7
generally includes a mechanical device that picks up floatable
material 120. This device may be a rake and a rotating cylinder
with numerous small tines that pick up material from the sand,
leaving most of the sand behind. In one embodiment, the device may
also pick up seaweed/floatable material in a manner similar to a
farm combine with a rotating cylinder and flat blades. In another
embodiment, sand and waste are collected via the pick-up blade of
the vehicle onto a vibrating screening belt, which leaves the sand
behind while retaining the floatable material. Beach cleaners
generally operate and move themselves on wheels or tracks. Beach
cleaners transfer the collected material to a collection area.
These collection areas generally have means of transferring their
load to another vehicle, either by dumping or conveying.
[0079] In some embodiments, an elongated pick up 19 is comprised of
a side-by-side row of conveyor belts 120 which are further
comprised of many tines, the conveyor belts 120 configured in such
a manner as to pick up floatable material from the beach as
depicted in FIG. 32. In some embodiments, the same mechanism may
pick up floating material from a body of water. In some
embodiments, the conveyor belts 120 may have cutters on the bottom,
which sever algae weeds from the bottom of the body of water. The
row of conveyor belt mechanical devices that pick up floatable
material 120 transfers the collected material to two perpendicular
conveyor belts 8, which both operate in opposite directions to one
another, so that the flow of collected floatable matter flows from
the outside of the elongated pickup into the center of the
apparatus. The floatable material in one embodiment is then
transferred to reducing and metered conveyor belt 46 shown in FIG.
1. In reference to FIG. 32 and in another embodiment, the floatable
material is transferred to a screw conveyor 52. The terms screw
conveyor and screw auger are used interchangeably in this document,
but both are conveyors.
[0080] In one of the embodiments and in relation to FIG. 1, the
vessel 68 arrives in a position and depth that is calculated to be
safe, controlled by an operator where the vessel may be self
propelled or pulled by tugboat. The spool 57 deploys high pressure
hose 28, and transport hose 60 is deployed from spool 56. A
floatable-material thruster 62 is lined up with a water tight
connector 4, a flow valve 69 and flow meter 23, which are threaded
or otherwise connected to floatable-material thruster 62 and water
tight connector 4. In some embodiments, the flow valve 69 may be
replaced with a pressure regulator valve. In some embodiments, the
flow valve 69 may be replaced with any device designed to control
the flow of fluid through the floatable-material thruster 62. As
the hose is deployed from the two spools, this may be repeated
perhaps dozens of times if a long hose length is required to reach
the beach. Several amphibious vehicles 5 may, as needed, position
themselves between the beach cleaner 7 and the low tide line. The
amphibious vehicles 5 attach the floatable-material thruster 62
assembly by swivel plate 61, separated by an undercarriage 100. The
undercarriage may have a series of horizontally flexible joints
152, so that the entire apparatus can bend, as well as wrap itself
assembled around a large spool. The swivel plate may be further
connected to a slider/prismatic joint 150, so that the amphibious
vehicle 5 may turn and move lateral underneath the undercarriage
100 by the swivel 61 and the slider joint 150. The ends of the
hoses are attached to beach cleaner 7. Floating transport hose 60,
in its operative state, is disconnected from spool 56 and
connected, directly or indirectly, to water pump 72 (e.g., a
centrifugal water pump in the illustrated example). The hoses are
suspended between the beach cleaner 7 and from each amphibious
vehicle 5 by an undercarriage 100. The swivel 61 connected to the
amphibious vehicle may assist the apparatus in turning and moving
up and down the undercarriage 100 by the slider joint 150. In some
embodiments, the swivel 61 may be comprised of a ball joint, so
that it may rotate in all directions. In some embodiments, the
amphibious vehicle 5 is a hovercraft. In some embodiments such as
in FIG. 1B, the amphibious vehicle 5 is supported and moved by
treads 153. In some embodiments such as depicted in FIG. 32, the
amphibious vehicle is equipped with a radar/sonar system 122, which
is further disclosed in this document, so that the amphibious
vehicle 5 may avoid obstructions while still suspending the
transport hose 60 above the ground. The amphibious vehicle 5 may be
further comprised of a vertical jack 151, so that the
microprocessor 11 may raise or lower the apparatus over
obstructions. Jacks employ a screw thread or hydraulic cylinder to
apply very high linear forces. The jack 151 may be a scissor jack.
Before the apparatus is deployed, an aircraft, satellite, vessel,
or vehicle may survey the terrain in advance with radar, sonar,
infrared, laser, or photographic imagery and provide such data to
the microprocessor 11, so that the microprocessor may best
determine the best route for the harvesting apparatus to
undertaken, and the microprocessor shall determine if certain
obstructions may present difficulty or should be avoided. In some
embodiments, the underwater terrain is surveyed by an Autonomous
Underwater Vehicle (AUV) or a manned submarine.
[0081] For simplicity of naming conventions, hoses that transport
floatable material are often referred to herein as "suction hoses"
and vise-versa, given that a vacuum source is often employed to
move material toward the collection area 12 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
However, these hoses may be more generically considered to be
"transport hoses". The generic term applies because such hoses are
indeed being used to transport floatable materials such as seaweed,
but the means to move the floatable material may involve vacuum
and/or thrust forces. That is, vacuum or suction forces drawing the
material flow toward the hose 60 output, or thrust forces, pushing
the material flow toward the hose output, can be used, and
illustrations of both mechanisms are indeed shown.
[0082] Returning to FIG. 1, beach cleaner 7 has an elongated pick
up 19 designed to transport seaweed from the beach into a
collection area on the beach cleaner unit 7. The pick up 19 is
adjustable in height to leave a layer of seaweed in place on the
beach if desired, often to ensure that a proper and natural level
of nutrients are returned to the sea. An elongated pick up 19 is
well known on farm combines and other types of similar harvesting
machinery. In some embodiments, the elongated pick up 19 may be a
rotating cylinder with horizontal blades that picks up the
seaweed/floatable material and places it on a reducing/channelling
metered conveyor belt 46. In some embodiments, several hooks may be
positioned on the material pick up device 120. The hooks or tines
may each pass through a flat surface with a narrow opening for each
tine to pass through, so that the attached material is severed and
remains on top of the flat surface. The tine may return down the
device to obtain more material from the sand or surf, while the
severed material now flows by force of gravity or any other means
of propulsion including what is described in this document, towards
the floatable material receiver. In some embodiments, the tines or
hooks may be configured in such a manner as to retract from the
surface, which may cause the material picked up to drop. The tines
may then emerge to the surface of the conveyor to pick up more
material. The beach cleaner vehicle may be equipped with means of
flotation. The beach cleaner in some embodiments may be an
amphibious vehicle that can also collect material from the surf. In
some embodiments, the beach cleaner 7 may be substituted with a
small vessel, so that only a harvest from shallow water may take
place.
[0083] In some embodiments, the pick up 19 is a rotating conveyor
belt 120 containing a large amount of tines or hooks that combs
through the sand and removes surface and buried debris while
leaving the sand on the beach. In some embodiments, the conveyor
belts 120 transfer their load to a perpendicular conveyor 8 (see
FIGS. 32 a-b). In some embodiments, that perpendicular conveyor may
be a screw conveyor. In some embodiments, the perpendicular
conveyor may be curved and follow a perpendicular curve in relation
to the mechanical devices that pick up floatable material. The
collection area of the beach cleaner 7, in the illustrated
embodiment, has been removed or bypassed, so that the flow of the
seaweed on the elongated pickup 19 is fed into a
reducing/channelling and metered conveyor belt 46. This funnelling
element is comprised of two tapered walls that rest on top of the
conveyor belt, so that forward motion of the conveyor belt causes
the seaweed on top of the belt to pile up into a narrower path.
[0084] FIG. 32 is an embodiment of a conveyor system designed to
pick up and remove floatable material from the beach or the surf.
FIG. 32A is of an overhead embodiment of the conveyor apparatus.
FIG. 32B represents an embodiment of a side view of the conveyor
apparatus. In some embodiments, conveyor belts with tines, which
for the present invention will be called a mechanical device that
picks up floatable material 120, are used to pick up and transfer
material from the beach. In some embodiments, an upwards facing
nozzle 58 fluidly connected to a pump is extended into the material
to be harvested, may provide pressurized fluid in the direction of
flow onto the mechanical device 120 to assist in picking up
floatable material. In some embodiments, the nozzle 58 may replace
or assist the mechanical device that picks up floatable-material
120. In some embodiments, the nozzle 58 that is configured to pick
up floatable material, may be raised or lowered into the floatable
material by a swivel or elevator. In some embodiments the
mechanical device that picks up floatable material 120 may have a
magnetic surface and the floatable material may be magnetic, so the
floatable material is picked up. In another embodiment, the
apparatus of FIG. 32 is equipped with means of flotation which may
be pontoons 43, so that the floatable material can be harvested
from the surf. In some embodiments, the conveyor system of FIG. 32
may be mounted on an amphibious vehicle or a beach cleaner. In one
embodiment, the conveyor system may be floated by a boat. In
another embodiment, cylinders with tines are used to pick up
material from the beach or surf as commonly known in a beach
cleaner vehicle or pull behind. As depicted, floatable material
flows from the mechanical device that picks up floatable material
120 and is transferred to two perpendicular conveyor belts 8. In
some embodiments, the conveyor belts 8 are replaced with screw
augers, which devices are also known in this document as screw
conveyors 52. Both conveyors move in an inward direction towards a
central screw conveyor 52 that is configured to receive material
from the two conveyor belts 8. In some embodiments, screw auger 52
may be replaced by a conveyor belt 8. The screw auger 52, which for
the scope of this document may be referred to as a conveyor or
conveying device, flows floatable material directly into the
floatable-material receiver, which in some embodiments is equipped
with a funneling element 45. The floatable material may then be fed
directly into the transport hose 60. In other embodiments, such as
depicted in FIG. 31, the floatable material may pass by a
floatable-material thruster 62 before entering the transport hose
60. In some embodiments, a nozzle 58 is positioned in the direction
of the flow between the conveyor and the entrance of the transport
hose 60, as to provide pressurized fluid to assist with entry of
floatable material into the transport hose 60 by an expanding,
directed fluid stream 59 as depicted in FIG. 31. In some
embodiments, the entire conveyor apparatus of FIG. 32 is a pull
behind unit, so that floatable material first flows under the
apparatus and is picked up after the apparatus has passed over the
floatable material. In some embodiments, such as depicted in FIG.
1, the elongated pick up apparatus 19, which may be the pick up
apparatus of FIG. 32, is positioned in front of the vehicle or
vessel that transports the apparatus, so that very little floatable
material passes under the apparatus. In some embodiments, each
mechanical device that picks up floatable material 120 may be
connected with a powered swivel 135 connected to the apparatus, in
such a manner that each mechanical device that picks up floatable
material may all individually be adjustable in height by control.
Such a mechanism assists in passing over beach or surf that is
uneven in height or where obstructions such as rocks are present.
In one embodiment, one conveyor is positioned perpendicular to all
of the mechanical devices configured to pick up floatable material
120 and the end of the conveyor belt is curved so that the material
flows directly to the floatable-material receiver. In some
embodiments, one conveyor is curved in a semi-circle to receive
floatable material from a multitude of mechanical devices that pick
up floatable material. In the same embodiment, each device that
picks up floatable material is positioned in a perpendicular curve
to the at least one receiving conveyor, which then conveys its load
into the floatable material receiver. In some embodiments, the
height of the pickup device 120 is moved by a gear motor connected
to a swivel 135. In another embodiment, a hydraulic device is used
to raise and lower the mechanical devices that pick up floatable
material 120. In another embodiment, the mechanical device that
picks up floatable material 120 is raised and lowered by cables
connected to a winch, pivoting on the swivel 135 earlier described.
In some embodiments, the mechanical devices that pick up floatable
material are connected to elevators that raise and lower said
devices. In another embodiment, a conveyor belt that picks up
floatable-material may be retractable and extendable in overall
length. This may be accomplished by sliding joints between the rows
of tines. In the same embodiment, the slider joints may be
controlled by hydraulic pressure. In some embodiments, the slider
joints may by extended and compressed by springs. The mechanical
device that picks up floatable-material may be comprised of a
plurality of pressure sensors, which may control the retraction or
expansion of the mechanical device that picks up floatable-material
120, directly or through the decision of a microprocessor. It
should be noted that material that doesn't float may still be
picked up by this invention, including but not limited to rocks and
sand, however the intention of this invention is to efficiently
pick up relatively light material, and ideally but not necessarily
material that can be pierced or grabbed by tines or hooks. A series
of retractable wheels 132 or treads may be positioned on the
floatable-material receiver or the conveyors 8 depicted in FIG. 32.
Retractable wheels are well known on aircraft. These wheels or
treads, which may be referred to as devices that turn on an axle to
provide motion, may be retractable to overcome objects and
clearance when the apparatus is floating in the water. In some
embodiments, the wheels, tracks, or treads may have means of
propulsion such as an electric, hydraulic, or internal combustion
engine. In other embodiments, the devices that turn on an axle to
provide motion 132 may only provide means of support of the
apparatus and are without power to move the apparatus. In some
embodiments, there may be a plurality of retractable wheels or
tracks, so that it may be easier for the apparatus to navigate over
obstructions. A retractable wheel is a known configuration on
aircraft. The retractable wheel 132 may retract straight up, or may
pivot up and to the back of the conveyor 8, so that it may allow
obstructions 123 to pass under the apparatus.
[0085] Continuing with FIG. 32, a radar system coupled to a
microprocessor 11 is a common device in modern automobiles, often
referred to as collision avoidance systems or active cruise
control. A forward looking or backward looking electronic device
such as a radar system 122 may provide information to a
microprocessor 11, where the microprocessor 11 uses information
provided by the radar system 122 to raise or lower the height of
each mechanical device that picks up floatable material 120. In
some embodiments, the retractable devices that turn on an axle to
provide motion may be raised or lowered by the radar/sonar system
122 by control. In some embodiments, the nozzle 58 that is
positioned to assist or replace the mechanical device 120 in
picking up floatable material, is also raised or lowered by the
control of the radar system 122. This allows the apparatus to avoid
solid objects during the course of forward motion of the
floatable-material receiver and surrounding apparatus. In some
embodiments, the radar system may be a sonar system, which may
allow the use of the collision avoidance system underwater. Sound
generally travels better in water than high frequency radio waves.
In other embodiments, a laser may be used instead of sonar or
radar. In some embodiments, one or more cameras connected to a
microprocessor 11 may be used to provide information so the
microprocessor 11 may lift the mechanical device that picks up
floatable material 120 over obstructions by an interpretation from
the microprocessor 11 of the image provided by the cameras. In some
embodiments, the camera system may use infrared such as a
forward-looking infrared system (FLIR). The infrared system may be
configured to detect infrared signatures of pollutants and
absorbent material. In some embodiments, a Geiger counter or a
device configured to receive and interpret particle radiation may
be implemented. The radar system 122 may use passive energy such as
daylight/radiation or may emit active radar, sonar, or laser, such
emission of energy 121 reflecting back off of solid obstruction
123. All of these devices are non-limiting examples of an
electronic device that receives and interprets energy from an
object. In some embodiments, the radar system 122 is mounted on a
horizontal pole positioned between mechanical devices that pick up
floatable material 120, so that the radar/sonar system 122 is
positioned slightly ahead of the mechanical device that picks up
floatable material 120, as this may ensure a more accurate
reflection without interference. An electronic device that receives
and interprets energy from an object may have a transmitter as well
as a receiver to transmit sonar, radar, or laser, and also receive
radar, laser, or sonar. The radar system 122 may control the height
of at least one nozzle 58 that is positioned in the flow of the
floatable material as depicted in FIG. 32B. The microprocessor 11
may use information provided from the electronic device that
receives and interprets energy to control the propulsion and
direction of the floatable-material receiver, the beach cleaner 7,
the amphibious vehicles 5, the vessel 68, and the directional
propulsion thruster of FIG. 11. The microprocessor 11 in general
terms controls the movement of the floatable-material
harvester.
[0086] An AUV is an acronym for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
and is well known in the prior art. AUV's are generally powered by
an electric power plant, but may use other forms of energy as
propulsion including diesel, gas, nuclear, or solar. In some
embodiments, the AUV is comprised of cutting blades. In the same
embodiment, the AUV may operate near the bottom of the body of
water, severing macro algae growing on the bottom. This may cause
the algae to float to the surface of the body of water, where the
algae may be harvested by the floatable-material harvester. For
efficiency of the operation, several AUV's may be deployed
simultaneously. In some embodiments, the underwater vehicle may
have an operator. In some embodiments, the AUV is instead
controlled remotely.
[0087] Returning to FIG. 1, this arrangement allows the seaweed to
flow from the reducing/channelled conveyor 46 into a trommel washer
64, where an appropriate amount of water flows through flow valve
69 and flow meter 23 and then into the trommel washer 64. A device
that dissipates or reduces the water pressure to the trommel washer
may be used. The amount of water is adjusted in each case to have
an efficient means of returning sand to the beach and not so much
water as to cause beach erosion. Water and sand dissipate back onto
the beach with an elongated water displacement apparatus 20. In
some embodiments, the elongated water displacement apparatus 20 may
be a series of pipes angled to distribute the water evenly back on
the beach. In other embodiments, the elongated water displacement
apparatus 20 may be a flat board with a number of vertical
dividers, to distribute water and sand evenly to the beach.
[0088] High pressure water pump 29 draws water from the ocean or
body of water and pressurizes high pressure water tank 30, then the
water flows into high pressure hose 28 through spool 57. The high
pressure hose may be pressurized to several thousand psi, as to
provide a long hydraulic parallel to the transport hose 60, which
may be an efficient means of transferring energy into a system. In
some embodiments, the speed of the high pressure pump 29 may be
controlled by pulsation or a wave of energy. In other embodiments,
the high pressure pump 29 may be controlled by bursts of energy.
The energy may be electrical, combustion, mechanical, chemical, or
the expansion of a fluid such as steam into a turbine. In a
variation of the fluid compression system, high pressure water pump
29 is replaced or supplemented by air compressor and motor, and the
high pressure water tank 30 is replaced or supplemented by high
pressure air tank.
[0089] Returning to FIG. 1, the washed seaweed flows from the
trommel washer 64 to vegetation shredder 67 via a slopped angle of
the trommel washer 64. In some embodiments, the vegetation shredder
67 may be a wood chipper or another cutting, grinding, or
size-reduction mechanism. In other embodiments the vegetation
shredder 67 may be a leaf shredder. The vegetation shredder 67
feeds the flow of seaweed into transport hose 60, where the seaweed
is then sucked off by force of vacuum into transport hose 60 and/or
forced by a positive fluid flow by an floatable-material thruster
62 or a spray nozzle 58 (not specifically shown in this context).
In some embodiments, the speed of the vegetation shredder 67 and
trommel washer 64 are controlled by a microprocessor 11. The
seaweed passes by floatable-material thruster 62, where flow valve
69 provides a metered flow of high pressure water in the direction
of the flow of seaweed. In some embodiments, pressure meter 44 and
flow meter 23 relay information back to a central microprocessor
11, which controls the speed of water pump 72 and high pressure
pump 29, as well as flow valves 69. Microprocessor 11 may also
control the speed of reducing conveyor 46, elongated pick up 19,
and the speed of vegetation shredder 67.
[0090] The implementation of a series of floatable-material
thrusters 62 along the length of the transport hose 60 has a
distinct advantages of transporting floatable material a greater
overall distance and more efficiently than a single
floatable-material thruster, with less wear on the transport hose
60, extending time between hose replacement. Wear may be especially
excessive on the hose near the output of the floatable-material
thruster 62. The release of high pressure fluid into a lower
pressure environment may cause expansion and acceleration of the
overall volume of the fluid or the space that it occupies, which in
turn may cause acceleration of the material travelling through the
hose and potential damage to that material.
[0091] The velocity of the material and wear of components due to
frictional contact with that same material have a relationship that
is often nearly exponential. That is, an increase in velocity has
an often near exponential increase in wear due to friction and loss
of energy as heat. Furthermore, hydraulics can offer an enormous
transfer of energy that has the potential to cut through hose if
that localized release of energy is too great, as well as damaging
the product being transported thereby. Therefore, it is
advantageous and more energy efficient to spread the overall
release of energy over the entire distance of the transport hose
60, by using as many floatable-material thrusters 62 connected in
series as possible and regulating the flow of fluid into each
floatable-material thruster 62. Often the fluid is provided from a
high pressure hose 28 that is deployed parallel to the transport
hose 60. In some embodiments, the high pressure hose 28 may be
flexible in composition and may float. It may be advantageous to
use flexible hose to transport fluid through high pressure hose 28
to the floatable-material thruster 62, and as well the use of
flexible hose for both the suction hose and the transport hose 60.
In some embodiments, the transport hose 60 may be a rigid tube. In
some embodiments, the high pressure hose 28 may be a rigid
tube.
[0092] In one embodiment of the apparatus, the flexible hose is
wound around the outer perimeter of the apparatus, so that the
apparatus becomes, in essence, one very large spool. This allows
for a gradual pending of the flexible hose, where the hose may be
of a composition that makes it difficult to bend on a smaller
conventional spool. Winding the hose on the outer perimeter also
allows the vessel or apparatus to carry a relatively long length of
hose and to deploy the apparatus rapidly without assembly.
[0093] Based on the pressure information from the pressure sensor,
entrained air may be released out of the system through the
mechanism of FIG. 11 and the escaping air used as a form of
propulsion of the hose floating in the water, to move and/or
straighten the hose apparatus against the current and waves. The
beach cleaner 7 moves over seaweed windrow 53, while the amphibious
vehicles 5 and ocean vessel 68 all move in relatively the same
direction as a single apparatus. The beach cleaner may be a vehicle
which is configured to pick up floatable material. As the tide
comes in and out, amphibious vehicles 5 may use spinning deep
groove wheels or other means of propulsion such as propellers while
immersed in water. In some embodiments, the amphibious vehicle 5
may be an Argo. In some embodiments, the amphibious vehicle may
have an inboard or outboard motor connected to a propeller. During
times of lower tide, amphibious vehicles 5 may further be
configured to keep the hose elevated above the ground, to prevent
the hoses from dragging and snagging on rocks and sand.
Additionally, those amphibious vehicles 5 that are out of the water
may drive at the same speed and direction as the rest of the
apparatus remaining in the water to reduce the opportunity, for
example, kinking of the hoses and working loose of any of the
various connections due to stresses created by mismatched travel
speeds.
[0094] Undercarriage 100 suspends the hoses between each amphibious
vehicle 5 and the beach cleaner 7. The undercarriage 100 may be
comprised of many horizontally positioned solid plates overlapping
one another, so that the undercarriage 100 is horizontally
flexible. They may be referred to as horizontally flexible joints
152. As seaweed reaches the vessel through transport hose 60, the
seaweed is deposited into the collection area 2 through the large
cavities of centrifugal pump 72. The seaweed then flows
perpendicular down draining conveyor belt 17, so that extra water
in the system is removed efficiently. Most of the water passes
through small holes in the back of the collection area 12, and the
water is directed to pass through a directional propulsion thruster
101. Directing the water in such a fashion provides thrust for the
vessel in any direction the operator chooses, while dissipating the
immense energy of the vacuum system. In some embodiments, the
collection area may be a large net that collects material and
allows water to project into the air.
[0095] At a reasonable distance down the hose (e.g., nearing the
end thereof), most or all of the entrained gas is evacuated through
the series gun silencer system shown in FIG. 11. This will allow
the use of a centrifugal water pump instead of a vacuum pump, which
is more energy efficient. Additionally, the centrifugal pump may be
able to hydraulically pull a significant vacuum compared to a
vacuum possible using a pneumatic pump. Additionally, a pneumatic
pump can lose a significant amount of energy as heat. (That said,
in certain circumstances, there could be instances in which one
could choose any of a variety of pumps (e.g., based on cost,
availability, etc.), including a pneumatic or another type of
vacuum pump, could be employed for the water pump, and such choices
are considered to be with in the scope of the present system.) The
centrifugal pump may contain a continuous air bleed as well, to
ensure complete or ideal evacuation of the air in the system and
minimize cavitation. The floatable material is drawn through and
expelled through the impeller of the pump, thereby allowing for
continuous operation. A pump may also provide fluid by continuous
flow or by bursts or pulsations of energy.
[0096] Sorbents or absorbent material are insoluble materials or
mixtures of materials used for the recovery of a fluid. In broadest
terms, the sorbent or absorbent material needs to have an
attraction for the fluid that is being used to recover and should
have the ability to float on or near the surface of the body of
water upon which it is employed. To be particularly useful in
combatting petroleum and solvent spills, sorbents should, to at
least some degree, be both oleophilic (oil attracting) and
hydrophobic (water repelling). Suitable materials can be divided
into three basic categories: natural organic, natural inorganic,
and synthetic. Natural organics include peat moss, straw, hay,
sawdust, and feathers. Natural inorganics include clay, perlite,
vermiculite, glass wool, zeolite, and sand. Synthetics include
plastics such as polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene. For
the purpose of this invention, the terms sorbent and absorbent
material are used interchangeably.
[0097] Clay, perlite, zeolite, and vermiculite are also used to
absorb radioactive material and heavy metals. They have the
disadvantage of sometimes releasing the absorbed radioactive
material if they are exposed to water. Nanofibres on the other hand
have the benefit of permanently absorbing radiation and radioactive
material such as heavy metals (e.g. cesium and cadmium), which may
make their use in and near water ideal. In some embodiments, the
nanofibres may be made from sodium titanate. In other embodiments,
other titanate salts may be used. Radioactive iodine is also
effectively absorbed by nanofibres. For the purpose of the
invention, nanofibres may be mixed with and/or comprised of
floatable material, pelletized, cubed, shredded, comprise of loops,
or provided in such a manner that the nanofibre is easy to collect
by the apparatus, where the absorbent material is composed or
configured in such a manner that a tine can pick up said material
easily.
[0098] In reference to FIG. 1, a method of cleaning chemical
spills/radioactive material is accomplished by using sorbent or
absorbent material that is laid down on the beach or in the
adjoining body of water, in the same manner the seaweed windrow 53
is depicted. The apparatus that lays down the material may be
comprised of a vessel with a storage area full of absorbent
material, where the sorbent material is conveyed into a
floatable-material receiver and through a transport hose, where
said transport hose is connected to at least on floatable-material
thruster connected to a high pressure pump, where a small vessel
may control the direction of the output of the hose, so that
absorbent material is spread evenly along the beach and adjacent
body of water. The apparatus of FIG. 1 then operates in the same
manner as it would harvesting seaweed, although the trommel washer
64, water displacement apparatus 20 and vegetation 67 may be
omitted. The use of the device in organic solvent, petroleum, and
other organic chemicals may require a process involving the
disposal of said material.
[0099] As seaweed is a sensitive and live organic that needs to be
preserved, seaweed requires a chemical and physical treatment to
ensure its preservation, often so that the seaweed has time to
reach a drying facility. However, the pick up of waste solvents
presents another process distinct from the processing of seaweed or
radioactive material, where there is a desire, if at all possible,
to simply combust the product to ensure its immediate disposal and
to reduce or possibly eliminate the amount that might otherwise
need to be land-filled or stored. Furthermore, some of the
collected pollutant (e.g. petroleum, crude oil) may be recycled by
pressing the absorbent material, centrifuging the material, or
otherwise mechanically separating the pollutant from the absorbent
material. The apparatus can serve as an ideal location to process
the waste absorbent material since nominally little or no
additional time or effort is used to dispose of the contamination.
Further, the waste energy generated by combusting the waste
material instead could be used directly to power the vessel or
apparatus or otherwise stored or delivered to a local energy grid
(depending, in part, on the amount of energy generated). Also it
presents the safety of having contained the spreading of a fire,
which is a concern when performing the combustion task within a
body of water.
[0100] In the method, the absorbent material is ideally, although
not necessarily, combustible as well, so materials such as wood
chips or straw becomes more suitable for absorbing petroleum. The
wet organic solvent and absorbent material is metered under the
rate of feed decided by the central microprocessor 11 into an
incinerator of sufficient size as to incinerate at a rate that is
consistent with the rate of feed. This may in fact be a very large
incinerator. The incinerator may have all of the emission controls
that are relevant and known to the prior art, including but not
limited to catalytic conversion, air intakes, sensors to monitor
plume gas concentrations, and temperature control. In some
embodiments, the collected floatable material is metered into the
incinerator by an operator. In some embodiments, the collected
organic material is metered into the incinerator by a variable
speed controller and a conveyor.
[0101] The incinerator produces a great deal of waste heat, which
also produces steam from the wet organic material. Water from the
body of water may be added to the exhaust of the incinerator to
create more steam, or a heat exchanger may be used in some
embodiments. The steam can be used to power a turbine or any
similar device that converts steam into mechanical energy. The
mechanical energy can used to power the apparatus through direct
drive of the hydraulic or vacuum pumps and/or to turn generators
for electrical power, electrical power which could be used onsite
or delivered to a power grid. Organic material for the purpose of
this document may include material which is inorganic or synthetic
that has absorbed organic material, since the chemical it absorbs
is sometimes organic in nature.
[0102] During the vacuuming process, there may be times oil may
separate back into the body of water. It is, of course, desirable
to separate the oil and water and to not allow petroleum or solvent
to return to the body of water from which it was drawn. This may be
done by passing the fluid draining as part of the vacuum process
through more wood chips or other sorbent material. If need be, the
oil may be separated by allowing it to float on the surface of the
water and skimming the oil from the water. All that said, the
present process is designed to limit the amount of oil or other
solvents that might return to the water, given the capabilities of
the sorbents being employed. Such additional processing steps are
provided simply to increase the percentage of oil/solvent that is
to be captured. The use of nanofibres in the cleanup of radioactive
material has the benefit of retaining said material and radiation,
so that the radioactive material/isotopes has the benefit of not
separating back into water. Zeolite is also a useful material for
absorbing and purifying both salt and fresh water from radiation
and other chemicals.
[0103] FIG. 2 illustrates an additional benefit can be gained by
staging or increasing the inside diameter of the suction and high
pressure hose between the floatable-material thrusters 62 and the
water tight connectors 4. Staging the hose allows volume
compensation for the displacement of the fluid from the high
pressure pump 29 as the volume of fluid flows to the vacuum source
66 or centrifugal pump 72. This will minimize compression of
entrained gases in the transport hose 60 and will have a tendency
to minimize the acceleration of the material flow, which would both
cause loss of energy as heat. It also has the benefit of operating
a smaller diameter hose near the beach and workers, which is easier
to move. Also, more hose will fit on a spool overall. The staging
configuration may allow the component shown in FIG. 11 to be
omitted from the apparatus. In reference to FIG. 2, both the high
pressure hose 28 and transport hose 60 are shown with decreasing
interior diameter as they become closer to the floating conveyor
belt apparatus, as depicted in FIG. 5.
[0104] FIG. 2 is of an embodiment of a completely deployed
floatable-material harvester apparatus, where the floating conveyor
belt apparatus of FIG. 5 is feeding floatable material in a forward
motion towards the vacuum source, as the floatable material is
provided by workers surrounding the deployed seaweed harvest
apparatus. In one embodiment, small conveyor 110, a mechanical
device that picks up floatable material, is lowered into the water
at an appropriate angle by a locking swivel joint and floating
funnelling element 111 assists in providing greater capture of
detached seaweed/floatable material in the surf, directing the
seaweed to the small conveyor 110, which is a mechanical device
that picks up floatable material. Small conveyor 110 unloads its
contents by the forward motion generated thereby onto a horizontal
conveyor belt 8, which is a feeder mechanism that provides
floatable material to the transport hose 60. The vacuum is provided
by vacuum unit 66, and water is drawn through a filter to the high
pressure water pump 29, which pressurizes the high pressure water
tank 30 with water, and water flows down the high pressure hose 28
on spool 57. Subsequently, the water flows down high pressure hose
28 to a set of parallel flow meters 23, and then the metered water
flows through parallel flow valves 69 and into the fluid input of
floatable-material thrusters 62 of either FIGS. 16,17,18,19.
Seaweed flows from the moving belt conveyor 8 and is directed by
funnelling element 45 into the front of the transport hose 60,
where the force of the vacuum carries the floatable material down
the transport hose. As depicted in FIG. 31, entry of floatable
material into the transport hose 60 may be assisted by a spray
nozzle 58 which provides pressurized fluid in the direction of flow
of the floatable material.
[0105] The seaweed flows through the center of floatable-material
thrusters 62 or conventional air conveyors, where additional
forward moving energy is released into the system by expansion of
high pressure fluid. That additional forward moving energy pushes
the material in the direction of flow at a higher velocity and
minimizes the resistance on vacuum unit 66, where the effect may
allow vacuum unit 66 to run at higher velocity. This high velocity
is achieved through, e.g., a higher gear ratio from motor-to-fan
and/or a larger fan size-to-motor size ratio. Microprocessor
control 11 (not shown in this context) receives flow and pressure
information from ultrasonic/radio 2-way transmitter 65, calculates
ideal conditions from a set table, and relays commands back to flow
valves 69, vacuum unit 66, high pressure water pump 29, and the
belt conveyor 8, and buoyancy control through bilge pumps 9 located
on the floating conveyor belt apparatus of FIG. 5. In some
embodiments, the entire transport hose 60 may be comprised of
buoyancy control, so that the entire apparatus may lower itself
into the water in which it floats. This may assist in the hose
wrapping itself around the entire perimeter of vessel 68.
[0106] When seaweed and water fills the collection area 12 of
vacuum unit 66, the vacuum unit shuts off, and the collection area
12 is opened. The floatable material is dumped into dump box 18,
which is equipped with adequate draining, where seaweed is then
metered into trommel washer 64 by a conveyor belt 8. The trommel
washer 64 is equipped with a refrigeration unit 48 and sterilizer
injector 79, as depicted in FIG. 21. The refrigeration unit 48
cools the wash water to -2 C or any other temperature found to be
ideal for preservation. The sterilizer injector 79 provides ozone,
bromine, chlorine, or any other suitable sterilizer to clean the
seaweed and kill bacteria and fungi. Ozone has the additional
benefit of decomposing rapidly to oxygen, which further oxygenates
the seaweed and prolongs preservation. Collection area 12 is again
sealed, and vacuum unit 66 is turned on again to resume operations.
This is a common cyclic operation of a conventional Hydrovac unit.
The seaweed is then metered by a belt conveyor 8 into refrigerated
storage container 31, where the container 31 may be craned to a
different vessel, once filled, and an empty container moved into
its place. In some embodiments, the storage container 31 has a
ventilation system which removes gases of decomposition from the
seaweed such as carbon dioxide, while providing outside air and
oxygen. The ventilation system may use fans and ducting to
circulate outside air. In some embodiments, the storage container
31 may have a perforated floor to allow a relatively even flow of
gases through the seaweed. In some embodiments, the ventilation
system may circulate air cooled by a refrigeration unit.
[0107] Transport hose spool 56 was bypassed after deployment of the
hose, so that transport hose 60 could guide the floatable material
directly into the collection area 12 as straight as possible. Such
a substantially straight alignment limits the centripetal force and
resistance that would have occurred by having such a large mass
coil around at a high speed inside the spool, which may cause
energy loss and add resistance to the system. Also, the propulsion
thrusters 63 of FIG. 11 provides exit gas which can resist currents
and waves to keep the hose apparatus as straight as possible during
operation. The mechanism of FIG. 11 is later described in
detail.
[0108] FIG. 3,4,5,6 illustrate a floating belt conveyor 8 based
apparatus that works on both the beach and in the surf. The motor
speed of the belt conveyor 8 is controlled by central
microprocessor control 11 and speed information is transmitted by
ultrasonic/radio 2-way transmitter 65. The conveyor belt 8 is a
feeder mechanism that provides floatable material to the transport
hose 60. The microprocessor 11 is not shown. Anchors 6 can be used
for stability. The unit floats or rests on pontoons 43, where the
bottom of the pontoons and vessel may be flat for lower footprint
on the beach. Unit may be lowered or raised by positive or negative
buoyancy through reversible bilge pumps 9 and snorkels 54 by
pumping water or air into the hollow portion of floatation device
43. The conveyor moves in a forward motion towards funnelling
element 45 and into removable vegetation shredder 67, where
contents of the belt conveyor 8 are pushed into the mouth of
removable vegetation shredder 67 and then into transport hose 60.
The vegetation shredder is also a feeder mechanism that provides
floatable material to the transport hose 60. The vegetation
shredder 67 may be omitted and the conveyor belt 8 may act as the
feeder mechanism that provides material to the funnelling element
45.
[0109] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a variation of the conveyor where a
motorized paddle wheel 34 spins in a forward motion pushing the
floatable material into the hose in conjunction with the conveyor
belt 8 and with no vegetation shredder 67 being used. In some
embodiments, the speed of motorized paddle wheel 34 is controlled
by a microprocessor, which may be microprocessor 11. In some
embodiments, the paddle wheel may be a feeder mechanism that
provides floatable material to the transport hose 60. The paddle
wheel may be powered by air, steam, electricity, petrol or
biodiesel engine. Negative buoyancy is achieved by flooding the air
compartment/conduit of the pontoons 43 with water through the
reversible bilge pumps 9, where air is either drawn from or
evacuated through snorkel 54. Stability of the apparatus is
achieved through automatically deployed anchors 6. Handles 25 can
be used by the operators and workers to move the apparatus. In some
embodiments, the apparatus has a propulsion system. The propulsion
system 49, the reversible bilge pumps 9, and the automatic
anchoring system 6 may be controlled by microprocessor 11.
[0110] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 depict a variation of the conveyor belt
apparatus where a removable vegetation shredder 67 is inserted
inside funnelling element 45 so that larger algae such as kelp may
be processed through the machine. Also depicted is a smaller
conveyor belt 110, which is submerged into the body of water on
which the floatable-material receiver floats. The smaller conveyor
belt 110 may be a mechanical device that picks up floatable
material. In some embodiments, the smaller conveyor belt 110 may
have a locking swivel joint, which allows it to be moved to a
vertical position for transport or adjusted to the depth of the
water. In some embodiments, the smaller conveyor belt 110 may have
spikes or tines designed to pick up seaweed or floatable material
out of the water easier and transfer the material onto conveyor
belt 8. Also available is a floating funnelling element 111, the
top of which is comprised of two flotation devices, and where the
walls are angled to connect directly to the side of the smaller
conveyor belt 110. In some embodiments, the floatable-material
receiver has propulsion and steering. In some embodiments, the
propulsion and steering are controlled by microprocessor 11. In
some embodiments, the floatable-material receiver and conveyor
belts have means of draining water, such as by the use of a mesh
belt, so that only solid material is left on the conveyor belt.
[0111] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate a system that is comprised of
and operates in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4,
with a variation and replacement of the belt conveyor 8, where a
screw conveyor 52 is used in place of the belt conveyor to feed the
seaweed into removable vegetation shredder 67, where the seaweed is
then sucked into transport hose 60 by way of vacuum. Seaweed is
deposited in the top of the apparatus by workers similar to the
belt conveyor unit 8. Motor 85 turns the screw conveyor 52. The
speed of the motor is controlled by variable speed controller 75,
which in turn receives speed information from microprocessor 11
through the 2-way wireless transmitter 65. Snorkel 54 provides air
for the internal combustion engine of motor 85.
[0112] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 depicts a floatable-material receiver
comprised of a hopper 84, mounted to the same flotation device by
swivel 61. The floatable-material receiver is detachable from the
floatation apparatus. An anchoring system 6 is depicted holding the
floatable material receiver in place in the surf. Rudders 50
provide steering of the unit in the surf while the reversible
propulsion system 49 provides movement of the apparatus. An
agitator 108 connected to the hopper 84 further assists the flow of
seaweed/floatable material down the hopper and into the transport
hose 60. In some embodiments, an agitator 108 is used to assist
with the flow of seaweed into the mouth of the transport tube. The
speed of agitator 108, the direction and speed of reversible
propulsion system 49, and rudders 50 may be controlled by
microprocessor 11.
[0113] FIG. 11B shows an overhead view of a gun silencer type
apparatus that allows gas to exit from the transport hose 60 during
transport of the seaweed through the apparatus of FIG. 11. FIG. 11A
depicts a direct view of the same apparatus. The exiting gases can
be further utilized as means of directed propulsion in the body of
water in which the transport hose 60 floats. The apparatus uses the
physical principal of a gun silencer to allow the escape of gas
through the perforated opening 39. In some embodiments, the escape
route is provided by the top half of the entire cylinder, while
solid tube 55 comprises the other lower half of the cylinder in
some embodiments. The function of the tube is to allow a tendency
for air to escape above while water flowing through the system will
have a tendency to pass through below due to water's mass and
gravity. Pressurized air from transport hose 60 flows through
perforated openings 39 and travels down between the outer cylinder
14 and the solid tube 55, the flow of such gas is regulated by air
flow valves 3. The escaping gases flow down the center of motorized
swivel 35 and to which gas flow is regulated by then flowing
through flow meter 23, which in turn controls variable air flow
valve 3 via central microprocessor 11. The air flow valves allow
pressurized air to exit through propulsion thrusters 63, providing
thrust in the direction the propulsion thruster 63 is facing. In
some embodiments, the propulsion thruster 63 may rotate on a sealed
swivel to provide upward and downward propulsion. Flow rate through
variable air valves 3 are determined by a central microprocessor 11
(not shown in this context). The propulsion thrusters 63 may
individually vary output by air flow control valves 3, as to assist
in turning/aligning (as needed) with motorized swivel joint 35.
Steering stability may be accomplished with rudder 50. In some
embodiments, air flow control valves 3 and motorized swivel 35 are
controlled by microprocessor 11. In some embodiments, pressure
relief valves are used in place of air flow control valves 3.
[0114] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are overhead and side views respectively
of a floating funnel craft, where funnel 24 is a large enough
funnel to allow surrounding personnel to deposit seaweed into said
funnel from all sides of the craft, by use of hand tool such as a
pitchfork. The base of the funnel has a gradual 90 degree bend to
point horizontal, and is then connected to transport hose 60, which
is commonly in the range of 7 to 9 inches in diameter and sometimes
several hundred feet in length. Agitator 108 vibrates the funnel to
assist with the movement and flow of seaweed into the center. Below
the 90 degree bend in the illustrated embodiment is a 360 degree
swivel joint 61, which connects to a detachable plate 16, so that
the funnel, hose, and plate can be removed from the water craft and
placed on a solid surface such as sand or rock.
[0115] Handles 25 are located in all four corners of the detachable
plate allow ease of movement by personnel. The watercraft is
stabilized by two pontoons 43, where the reversible propulsion
system 49 is located in the center of the craft, between and
parallel to the two pontoons 43. Steering of the vessel is
performed with a rudder system 50. Mesh filters 33 may be placed
over the intake and exhaust of the propulsion systems to keep
windrow and loose seaweed and floatable material out of the
propulsion system. Outside of the perimeter of the funnel is a
snorkel 54, which connects by tubing to bilge pumps 9 which have
the ability to pump air or water in either direction of flow into
the air cavities of pontoons 43, thereby raising or lowering the
apparatus in the surf. Additional bilge pumps 9 are connected to
the bottom outside of the craft and to the inside of the pontoons,
so that water or air can be pumped in either direction. An
automatic anchoring system 6 may also be deployed to help stabilize
the floating funnel in the surf. In some embodiments, bilge pumps
9, anchoring system 6, rudders 50, propulsion system 49, and
agitator 108 are controlled by microprocessor control 11.
[0116] FIG. 14 & FIG. 15 show a floating water based system
comprised of pontoons 43, where the floatable-material receiver
sits below the water line. Water is drawn through filter screen 33
and through water pump and motor 70. If the motor 70 is an internal
combustion engine, the air to be used for combustion is available
through snorkel 54, but if it were instead to be an electric motor,
no snorkel would be needed, of course. Variable speed controller 75
controls the speed of the water flow, which information is
transmitted by, e.g., ultrasonic/radio 2-way transmitter 65 to
central microprocessor control 11, which is not shown. In some
embodiments, microprocessor 11 controls all motorized components of
the apparatus. Automatic anchors 6 serve to hold the unit in place.
The flow of water from the output of the water pump 70 is directed
into a nozzle 58, which propels seaweed into the removable
vegetation shredder 67 and into transport hose 60. The unit can be
maneuvered by personnel with handles 25. In some embodiments, there
is a manifold of nozzles that spray water parallel to one another,
which allows for a wider floatable-material receiver. Funnelling
element 45 directs the seaweed/floatable-material into the
transport hose 60.
[0117] FIG. 16 represents a side view of a floatable-material
thruster 62, which design is based on that of a conventional air
(pneumatic) conveyor that has been modified to handle high pressure
water/air. Flow of high pressure fluid 73 travels through a fluid
input and into an outer plenum 41 and through variable flow valves
69, where the fluid passes through nozzles 36 and is injected into
the transport hose 60 in the relative direction of floatable
material flow through a fluid stream 74, thereby increasing the
speed of and the distance the seaweed mass can travel. Every
floatable-material thruster 62 may have a floatable-material input
to which material enters the thruster and a floatable-material
output to which product and fluid exit the thruster. The purpose of
the variable flow valves 69 being positioned directly behind
nozzles 36 is to ensure the majority of material erosion that will
occur in the floatable-material thruster 62, which would be
particularly rapid when using high pressure water, would occur
mostly on the replaceable nozzles 36 themselves, as plenum 41 would
remain pressurized and therefore may be inclined to wear due to a
much lower fluid velocity inside the plenum 41. The
floatable-material thruster 62 may be composed of aluminum,
stainless steel, composite plastic, zinc, or any other suitable
material that is sufficiently corrosion and wear resistant. The
interior of the floatable-material thruster may have a smaller
interior diameter than the connecting transport hose 60 to cause a
Venturi effect on the intake.
[0118] FIG. 17 shows a pear shaped floatable-material thruster 62,
where either high pressure water or air flows down high pressure
hose 28 and flow meter 23, then through air flow valve 3 or water
flow valve 69 and through a fluid input. With this nozzle design,
the fluid rapidly expands due to the decrease in pressure in the
pear shaped nozzle, and the fluid is thrust into the transport hose
60 at an inward angle. Pressure sensor 44 transmits information
through ultrasonic/radio 2-way transmitter 65 to central
microprocessor 11 (not shown here).
[0119] FIG. 18A is an embodiment of a floatable-material thruster
that represents the reverse process of a firearm silencer. In this
configuration, high pressure air or water enters through high
pressure hose 28 and through flow meter 23, then through air flow
valve 3 or water flow valve 69 and through a fluid input into the
expansion chamber. The fluid then passes through perforated tube
opening 39 and is injected into the transport hose 60. FIG. 18B is
an embodiment of a central tube thruster, where high pressure water
or air flows down high pressure hose 28 and through flow meter 23,
and through water flow valve 69 or air flow valve 3, into a fluid
input where the fluid passes through a 90 degree bend and is thrust
into the center of the flow of seaweed by a spray nozzle 58.
Pressure sensor 44 relays pressure and flow information through
ultrasonic/radio 2-way transmitter 65 to central microprocessor 11,
where the microprocessor 11 controls water flow valve 69 or air
flow valve 3.
[0120] FIG. 19 is a depiction of a cone nozzle within the
floatable-material thruster, where high pressure air or water
travels down high pressure hose 28 and then through flow meter 23.
The water then flows through water flow valve 69 or air flow valve
3, and through a fluid input into the thruster where the fluid
rapidly expands due to decrease in pressure into the cone. The
expanding fluid is thrust at an inward angle into the flow of the
seaweed in transport hose 60. Pressure sensor 44 relays its
information along with flow meter 23 to central microprocessor 11,
where the microprocessor 11 in turn controls water flow valve 69 or
air flow valve 3 through ultrasonic/radio 2-way transmitter 65.
[0121] FIG. 20 is a direct view of a floating high pressure water
thrust system that replaces the parallel high pressure hose 28,
where water passes through filter screen 33 and through high
pressure water pump 29. High pressure water pump 29 shown is driven
by an internal combustion engine, so the system uses snorkel 54 to
provide oxygen for the internal combustion engine, but if an
electric motor were instead to be employed, no snorkel would be
needed. Through use of the high pressure water pump 29, water is
injected into the fluid input of floatable-material thrusters 62
depicted in FIGS. 16,17,18,19. Floatation devices 43 provide
support, and automatic anchors 6 provide stability in rough water.
In some embodiments, microprocessor 11 controls the speed of the
high pressure water pump 29 by transmitting information through
wireless transmitter 65 to water speed controller 71, which in turn
controls the speed of high pressure water pump 29.
[0122] FIG. 21 is an illustration of trommel washer 64, where water
is provided by an external pump to water inlet 51. The water then
passes either through shut off valve 83 and heat exchanger 26, or
through bypass valve 10 and into refrigeration unit 48 where the
water's temperature is substantially lowered. Then the water passes
through ozone, bromine, chlorine, or sterilizer injector 79 and
into the trommel washer 64 through spray valve 58, where the wash
water drains through the holes in the trommel and passes through
heat exchanger 26, where the waste water returns out back to the
body of water through water outlet 80.
[0123] FIG. 22 depicts one embodiment of the floatable-material
harvester. In brief overview, the harvester includes a vacuum
source 66 having an input, a transport hose 60, having an input at
one end and an output connected to the vacuum source 66 input, and
having at least one air inductor. The at least one air
inductor/intake is comprised of a water tight joint 4, an air
cavity 1, and a snorkel 54. The transport hose 60 is connected to a
floatable-material receiver as shown in FIG. 4. An air inductor may
be simply an opening 106 that allows air to enter along the length
of the hose. A plurality of air inductors is desirable to keep the
overall pressure of the transport hose from dropping too much
through resistance, where maintaining an increase in air speed and
the pressure from dropping too much allows material to be
transferred longer distances in a smaller transport hose than a
transport hose with only one or no air inductors.
[0124] In some embodiments, the vacuum source 66 is an air-impeller
evacuated device, such as that commonly available under the
tradename "Hydrovac". In some embodiments, the vacuum source 66
includes a vacuum chamber evacuated by an air impeller (not shown).
In some embodiments, the vacuum source is a large fan connected to
a motor. In some embodiments, the vacuum source is a large fan
connected to a turbine powered by steam. In some embodiments, the
vacuum source 66 is a vacuum excavator system, which combines a
Hydrovac vacuum device a high-pressure water pump connected to a
high pressure hose and a wand that allows a worker to loosen
substrates with the jet so that the Hydrovac vacuum can consume the
resulting slurry. In some embodiments, the vacuum source 66 draws
the contents of the transport hose into a collection area 12. The
vacuum source 66 may be mounted on a transporter. The transporter
may include a watercraft. In some embodiments, the watercraft is a
boat. In other embodiments, the watercraft is a barge. In still
other embodiments, the watercraft is a raft. The watercraft may be
a flotation device. The transporter may include a terrestrial
vehicle. In some embodiments, the transporter is a motorized
wheeled vehicle. In other embodiments the transporter is a trailer.
In other embodiments, the transporter is a sledge. The vacuum
source 66 may be mounted on skids to permit it to be pulled over
sand and debris. The vacuum source 66 may have an on/off switch.
The vacuum source 66 may have controls that vary its power. An
operator may operate the controls. An "operator," as used in this
document, is a person operating the floatable-material harvester of
FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 22, and FIG. 24. The controls may be operated
either locally or remotely. A microprocessor configured to operate
the controls may operate the controls.
[0125] In some embodiments, the vacuum source 66 includes a
canister, defined as a chamber in which the vacuum source collects
the seaweed and other floatable materials it receives via the
transport hose 60. The canister may be the collection area 12. In
some embodiments, the vacuum source may be connected to at least
one storage container. The at least one storage container may be
refrigerated. The at least one storage container may be detachable
from the vacuum source 66 for transport. The vacuum source 66 may
have a dump box into which the canister may rapidly be emptied, for
instance, by opening a connecting door between the canister and the
dump box so that the force of gravity causes the contents of the
canister to fall into the dump box. In some embodiments, the vacuum
source 66 includes at least one conveyor to move seaweed and other
floatable materials from one container to another. The least one
conveyor may be a conveyor belt. The least one conveyor may be a
conveyor screw. The conveyor may be least one controlled by an
operator. The conveyor may be controlled by a microprocessor
configured to control the conveyor. In some embodiments, the
conveyor is a drainage conveyor; for instance, it may be a conveyor
belt made of mesh, which allows water to run out of the materials
it is transporting.
[0126] As illustrated in FIG. 21, in some embodiments, the vacuum
source 66 includes a trommel washer 64 connected to the vacuum
chamber, which may be connected by a conveyor belt. The trommel
washer 64 includes a washer drum. The washer drum may be
substantially cylindrical in form. The washer drum may have
perforations in the curved cylinder wall; the perforations may
permit water to escape the trommel washer. The washer drum may have
a cylindrical wall made of mesh. In some embodiments, the mesh is
loose enough to allow non-seaweed matter such as sand and small
organisms to wash out through the mesh, while retaining the
seaweed. In some embodiments, the washer drum rotates around the
vertical axis of its cylindrical form. In some embodiments, the
vertical axis of the cylinder making up the washer drum is tilted
from the horizontal, causing the seaweed to move from one end to
the other of the washer drum as it rotates. In some embodiments
such as in FIG. 21, the ocean water that enters the trommel washer
64 is cooled by passing through a refrigeration unit 48. In some
embodiments, ozone or another sterilizing agent such as chlorine or
bromine is injected into the water from a sterilizer injector 79.
In some embodiments, the trommel washer 64 includes a spray nozzle
58 that sprays water on the seaweed as the washer drum rotates. In
some embodiments, water is drawn from a water inlet 51 by a pump 70
and provided to the spray nozzle 58.
[0127] In some embodiments, the water passes through a heat
exchanger 26 prior to being sprayed on the seaweed by the spray
nozzle 58 and then again passes through the same heat exchanger as
the water exits. In some embodiments, the water that drains from
the washer drum is ejected from the trommel washer 64 via a water
outlet 80. In some embodiments, the water passes through the heat
exchanger 26 prior to being ejected through the water outlet 80.
The trommel washer 64 may have controls by means of which its
operation may be regulated. An operator may operate the controls.
The controls may be operated remotely or locally. A microprocessor
configured to operate the controls, as set forth more fully below,
may operate the controls.
[0128] The suction tube or, more broadly, transport hose 60 of any
of the embodiments may be made from any combination of materials
that permit the tube to be sufficiently airtight to maintain the
pressure differentials with the outside atmosphere that is
necessary for suction or pressure thrusting. The transport hose 60
should also be sufficiently watertight to transport wet materials
and be capable of withstanding the suction force without collapsing
or the thrust pressure force without exploding or rupturing. In
some embodiments, the transport hose 60 may be reinforced with a
metal mesh to withstand high pressure. In some embodiments, the
transport hose/suction tube 60 is a flexible hose or other conduit.
For the purposes used herein, an object is "composed at least in
part" of a substance if any non-zero proportion of the object is
composed of that substance. An object is "composed at least in
part" of a substance if the object is composed entirely of that
substance.
[0129] In some embodiments, the transport hose 60 is composed at
least in part of a polymer material. In some embodiments, the
transport hose 60 is composed at least in part of polyvinyl
chloride. In other embodiments, the transport hose 60 is composed
at least in part of polyurethane. In additional embodiments, the
transport hose 60 is composed at least in part of a fluoropolymer
also known as Teflon. In additional embodiments, the transport hose
60 is composed at least in part of polyethylene. In still other
embodiments, the transport hose 60 is composed at least in part of
nylon. The transport hose 60 may be composed at least in part of a
natural rubber. In some embodiments, the transport hose 60 is
composed at least in part of a synthetic rubber. The transport hose
60 may be composed at least in part of a textile material. The
transport hose 60 is composed at least in part of metal. The
transport hose 60 may be composed at least in part of a rigid
plastic.
[0130] In some embodiments, the transport hose 60 is composed of a
combination of the above materials. For instance, the transport
hose 60 may be composed of a flexible substance reinforced with
cross-sectional hoops of a rigid substance. The transport hose 60
may be composed of a polymer substance reinforced with textile
material. The transport hose 60 may be composed of cylindrical
sections of rigid material such as metal concatenated with
cylindrical sections of flexible material, such as flexible
polyvinyl chloride. The rigid cylindrical sections may form
watertight joints for connecting together two sections of flexible
hose. In some embodiments, each hose section connects to the
watertight joints via a threaded connection, requiring the hose
section to be screwed together with the watertight joint. Some
embodiments of the transport hose 60 are composed of a flexible
material corrugated to form cross-sectional circular ribs for
greater strength. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of
transport hose 60 may be between 4 and 17 inches. In some
embodiments, the transport hose may be at least 500 feet long.
Where the transport hose 60 is a flexible hose, it may be stored on
a spool; for instance, it may be wound on a spool attached to the
vacuum source 66.
[0131] In some embodiments, the transport hose 60 has at least one
flotation device 105. In some embodiments the flotation device 105
is a buoy. The buoy may be composed of any combination of materials
known in the art to be suitable for manufacturing buoys. The buoy
105 may be composed at least in part of foam. The buoy 105 may be
composed least in part of natural polymer foam, such as latex foam.
The buoy 105 may be composed least in part of synthetic polymer
foam such as polyethylene foam. The foam may be closed-celled. The
foam may be open-celled. Open-celled foam may be combined with a
waterproof skin to prevent incursion of water and resultant loss of
buoyancy.
[0132] The high pressure hose 28 may share similar characteristics
to the transport hose 60. High pressure hose 28 may have much
higher pressure ratings than transport hose 60 and may be comprised
of thicker material. High pressure hose 28 may be flexible or rigid
in composition. High pressure hose 28 may be reinforced with a mesh
designed to withstand very high pressures. High pressure hose 28
may float from its composition or may require an additional
floatation device.
[0133] In some embodiments, the flotation device 105 is a
cylindrical `O` type buoy that is designed to be attached to the
transport hose 60, comprised of two C halves connected by hinges.
On the opposite end of the hinges there may be locking clamp to
secure the buoy 105 to the transport hose 60. The inside diameter
of the locked `O` type buoy may be equivalent to the outside
diameter of the transport hose 60, so that the buoy firmly grips
the transport hose 60.
[0134] In some embodiments, the flotation device 43 is a part of
the air inductor, as set forth below in reference to FIG. 25. The
flotation device may be an airtight outer hose 77 section as set
forth in more detail below in reference to FIG. 28. In some
embodiments, where the transport hose 60 is formed from a series of
flexible hose sections concatenated with watertight joints, the
flotation device is a set of pontoons 43 affixed to a watertight
joint. The flotation device 43 may be detachable. In some
embodiments, the transport hose 60 includes at least one anchor 6.
Where the transport hose 60 is made up of flexible hose sections
concatenated with watertight joints, the anchor may be affixed to a
watertight joint. The anchor may be detachable and the anchor may
be automatically deployed by a winch. An air inductor may also have
an anchor and said anchoring system may be automated.
[0135] As illustrated by FIG. 26, in some embodiments, the
transport hose 60 has at least one air inductor/intake mechanism.
In some embodiments, the transport hose 60 has a plurality of air
inductors. Air may enter through an opening 106. The at least one
air inductor is an element that allows air to enter the interior of
the transport hose by, for example, passive induction/intake or
negative pressure. The at least one air inductor is a separate
element from the input of the transport hose 60. The presence of
the at least one air inductor has the effect of accelerating the
speed of material, as the air speed increases past each opening,
allowing a significant increase in both distance travelled by the
material and allowing for a smaller hose diameter to be used. In an
embodiment, the air inductor includes an opening 106 in the wall of
the transport hose 60; and the inducted air passes through the
opening 106 into the interior of the transport hose 60. In some
embodiments, the opening opens on an air cavity 1 outside the
transport hose 60. The air cavity 1 may act as a local reservoir of
air from which the transport hose 60 can draw through the opening
106. The air cavity 1 may also function as a flotation device 43,
as described above in reference to FIG. 22.
[0136] In some embodiments, the at least one air inductor also
includes at least one air control valve 3, regulating the flow of
air through the at least one inductor. The air control valve 3 may
be located at the opening 106. In embodiments in which the air
inductor includes an air cavity 1, the air control valve 3 may
regulate the entry of the air into the air cavity 1. In one
embodiment, the air control valve 3 is a check valve. For instance,
the air control valve 3 could be a check valve with a bias that
causes it to close if the pressure within the transport hose 60
interior relative to the source of the air outside the opening 106
falls below a certain threshold. In some embodiments, the air
control valve 3 is a ball valve. In some embodiments, the air
control valve 3 is a pressure regulator valve. In other
embodiments, the air control valve 3 is a globe valve. In still
other embodiments, the air control valve 3 is a gate valve. The air
control valve 3 may be a butterfly valve. The air control valve 3
may be actuated mechanically. The air control valve 3 may be
actuated hydraulically. The air control valve 3 may be actuated
pneumatically. The air control valve 3 may be actuated by means of
an electrical motor. In some embodiments, any of the air inductors
described within this document may function in reverse direction as
a gas escape mechanism that may be for a floatable-material
thruster, such as is depicted in FIG. 11.
[0137] Some embodiments include a microprocessor 11 coupled to the
at least one air control valve or water control valve and
configured to control the at least one air control valve 3 or water
control valve 69. The microprocessor 11 may control the air control
valve 3 or water control valve 69 via any actuator controls listed
herein or by any conventional means. The microprocessor 11 may be
coupled to the air control valve 3 or water control valve 69 with
actuator control by a wired connection. The microprocessor 11 may
be coupled to the air control valve 3 actuator via a wireless
connection 65. The microprocessor 11 may be any processor known in
the art. The microprocessor 11 may be a special purpose or a
general-purpose processor device. As will be appreciated by persons
skilled in the relevant art, the microprocessor 11 may also be a
single processor in a multi-core/multiprocessor system, such system
operating alone, or in a cluster of computing devices operating in
a cluster. The air flow valve 3 and water flow valve 69 may be
controlled by an analog circuit coupled to the flow meter
[0138] In some embodiments, the at least one air inductor also
includes an airflow meter 23. The airflow meter 23 may measure the
rate of flow of the air through the air inductor. In some
embodiments, the air flow meter is an anemometer. An anemometer may
obtain an air flow reading through Doppler laser, sonic, windmill,
cup, hot hire, acoustic resonance, ping-pong ball, pressure, plate,
tube, and air density. The airflow meter 3 in some embodiments
controls the airflow through the air control valve 3 by means of
the air control valve 3 actuator, responsive to that measurement.
In some embodiments, the airflow meter 23 is coupled to the
microprocessor 11. In some embodiments, the microprocessor 11
controls the air control valve 3 in response to a measurement of
airflow received from the airflow meter 23. In some embodiments,
the air inductor includes an anchor 6. In some embodiments, the
anchoring system is automated. In some embodiments, such as an
embodiment using a floatable-material thruster, the airflow meter
23 is replaced or supplemented by a flow meter designed to measure
the flow of pressurized fluid such as air or water. The flow of
water may be measured by turbine, displacement, velocity, compound,
electromagnetic, ultrasonic, and impeller.
[0139] In some embodiments, the at least one air inductor includes
a snorkel 54. The air inductor in some embodiments receives air
through the snorkel 54. The snorkel may be of sufficient height to
prevent or at least minimize entry of water from waves. The air may
enter the air inductor via the snorkel by passive
induction/negative pressure. In some embodiments, watertight
connectors 4 allow the snorkel apparatus to be detached when not in
use, so that the transport hose 60 rolls up easily onto a spool 56.
In some embodiments, the at least one air inductor includes two
snorkels 54. In some embodiments, the air inductor includes a
counterweight 13, such as in FIG. 30. For example, in one
embodiment, the air inductor has where snorkel 54 with an air
control valve 3, air flow meter 23 and air cavity 1 on one side of
the transport hose 60, and a watertight connector, with air cavity,
and counter balance weight on the opposite side. Returning to FIG.
22, in some embodiments, the air inductors are connected to
watertight joints that are combined with sections of flexible hose
to form the transport hose 60, as disclosed above.
[0140] As shown in FIG. 28, some embodiments of the
floatable-material harvester include an airtight outer hose section
77 filled with air, through which the transport hose 60 passes. The
airtight hose section 77 interior is fluidly connected to the
interior of the transport hose 60 by the at least one air inductor.
The airtight hose section 77 may cover the entire length of the
transport hose 60; for instance, the transport hose may in effect
be a double hose. The airtight outer hose section 77 may cover less
than the entire length of the transport hose 60. Where the
transport hose 60 is composed of lengths of flexible hose
concatenated with watertight joints, the airtight outer hose
section 77 may cover one flexible hose length. Each flexible hose
length may have a separate airtight hose section 77. The hose
section 77 may act in a similar capacity to the air cavity 1
described above in reference to FIG. 26. In some embodiments, the
hose section 77 functions as source of flotation for the transport
hose 60. As shown in FIG. 23, the hose section 77 has an opening
107 at one end to receive air, in some embodiments. The hose
section 77 receives air from the outside via a snorkel (not shown)
in some embodiments.
[0141] FIG. 33 is an embodiment of a swivel connection in the
conveyor system, that is configured to transport floatable material
through the swivel connection to the floatable-material receiver.
The swivel joint 61 is designed to transport floatable material
through the swivel joint 61 from one conveyor to another. The
swivel 61 in some embodiments may connect directly to the
floatable-material receiver. In some embodiments, the swivel
connection 61 may connect anywhere down the process before the
transport hose 60, from the mechanical device that picks up
floatable material 120 to the floatable-material receiver. In some
embodiments, the swivel joint 61 is connected directly to the
floatable-material receiver and the lower feeder mechanism is a
feeder mechanism of the floatable-material receiver. In some
embodiments, the swivel joint 61 may rotate 360 degrees. In some
embodiments, the lower conveyor belt 131 may be replaced or
supplemented by a hopper or a funneling device. The swivel may
allow the vehicle or watercraft carrying the floatable-material
receiver to turn while it is collecting floatable material, which
may have the advantage of a more maneuverable and efficient
apparatus on both the beach and operating in the water. The swivel
may allow a watercraft containing the mechanical device that picks
up floatable material 120 to turn into the surf to collect
floatable material, navigate up to or near the beach, and then turn
to collect floatable material in an optimal direction.
[0142] In this embodiment, top conveyor belt 130 is positioned
above the swivel joint 61. As top conveyor belt 130 moves its load
forward, the force of gravity causes the floatable material to drop
to the lower conveyor belt 131. The swivel 61 ensures that whatever
direction a conveyor belt 130 is facing, it is able to transfer its
load to the lower conveyor belt 131. This may present a flow
problem however, where the top conveyor belt may transfer its load
faster than gravity may cause the material to fall. This may cause
plugging or a low rate of flow. This problem is minimized by a
downward pointing spray nozzle 58, which may provide fluid from a
high pressure hose 28 or an independent source. The high pressure
fluid released from nozzle 58 forces the material in a downward
direction much faster than for which gravity can provide, thereby
producing a faster rate of transfer from one conveyor to the next.
In some embodiments, screw augers are used to substitute or augment
the conveyor belts. In some embodiments, two screw conveyors are
positioned to replace conveyor belts 130 and 131 with a nozzle
pointed in the direction of flow of the seaweed in the same manner
as FIG. 33. This may allow a swivel joint 61 to operate in any
direction with the use of screw augers positioned within the swivel
joint tube 61, since there is not a reliance on the need for
gravity. In some embodiments, the swivel joint tube is comprised of
a screw conveyor, so that a total of three conveyors, one
perpendicular to the two others, operate simultaneously to transfer
material through the swivel connection. The connection may have
means of draining or evacuating the fluid from the nozzle.
[0143] Returning to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 22, or FIG. 24, the
floatable-material harvester of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 22, or FIG. 24
includes a floatable-material receiver. The floatable-material
receiver is connected to the input of the transport hose 60. In
some embodiments, the floatable-material receiver is a device that
aids operators of the floatable-material harvester of FIG. 1, FIG.
2, FIG. 22, or FIG. 24 in placing floatable material into the
transport hose 60.
[0144] The floatable-material receiver may include a nozzle 58. The
nozzle 58 may have handles (not shown), allowing an operator to
direct the nozzle at floatable material on a shore or in water. The
nozzle may have two or more sections connected by joints, allowing
the operator to direct the nozzle opening to various angles
relative to the position of the transport hose 60. The nozzle may
have a valve that allows the operator to stop airflow or water flow
through the nozzle into the transport hose 60. An operator may
operate the valve directly or via remote control. A microprocessor
11 may operate the valve.
[0145] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the
floatable-material receiver is a platform-based floatable-material
receiver. A platform-based floatable-material receiver is a
floatable-material receiver that includes a floor portion on which
floatable material may be placed. In some embodiments, the floor
portion is substantially planar. In other embodiments, the floor
portion is curved. The floor portion may be angled; for example,
the floor portion may be angled toward the transport hose 60 so
that the action of gravity aids in moving the floatable material
toward the transport hose 60. In some embodiments, the floor
portion is substantially horizontal. Other components of the
floatable-material receiver may be placed on the floor portion; for
example a receptacle may be placed upon the floor portion. In some
embodiments, the transport hose 60 removes the floatable material
directly from the platform.
[0146] The platform-based floatable-material receiver may include a
conveyor belt 8 or a screw auger 52 to convey the seaweed from the
platform to the transport hose 60. As a non-limiting example, the
feeder mechanism may be a conveyor belt 8. The conveyor belt 8 may
be powered by any conventional means, including the force of the
vacuum itself. In some embodiments, the conveyor belt 8 has a
variable speed control. In some embodiments, the feeder may have a
funneling element 45 that forces floatable material into the hose
by narrowing the path the material can follow as the conveyor belt
8 moves forward. The variable speed control may be able to cause
the conveyor belt to move faster or slower. The variable speed
control 75 may be controlled by an operator. The variable speed
control 75 may be controlled by a microprocessor configured to
control the variable speed control (not shown). The microprocessor
may be a microprocessor 11.
[0147] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, the
floatable-material receiver is a receptacle-based
floatable-material receiver. A receptacle-based floatable-material
receiver may be a floatable-material receiver that includes a
receptacle into which the floatable material may be placed, and
from which the transport hose 60 removes the floatable material.
The transport hose 60 may remove the floatable material directly
from the receptacle. The transport hose 60 may receive the
floatable material from the receptacle indirectly, via a feeder
mechanism. For example, a screw conveyor 52 may remove the
floatable material from the receptacle and feed it to the transport
hose 60. A conveyor belt may remove floatable material from the
receptacle and feed it to the transport hose 60.
[0148] In some embodiments, the receptacle-based floatable material
receiver includes a funnel 24. In some embodiments, the funnel 24
is angled so that it opens directly into the transport hose 60. In
other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, the mouth of the funnel 24
is pointed vertically, and the funnel 25 is connected to the
transport hose 60 input by a conduit with a gradual 90-degree bend.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9 the receptacle-based
floatable-material receiver includes a hopper 84 having an outlet
coupled to the input of the transport hose 60.
[0149] In one embodiment, the hopper 84 includes an agitator 108.
The agitator 108 may be an element that agitates the seaweed or
floatable material in the hopper or funnel; this may have the
effect of loosening clumps of seaweed/floatable material and may
act as a feeder mechanism to the transport hose 60. In some
embodiments, the agitator 108 vibrates. In some embodiments, the
nozzle 58 may assist or replace a feeder mechanism for the
transport hose 60. An operator may operate the agitator 108
directly or via remote control. A microprocessor configured to
operate the agitator 108 may operate the agitator. In some
embodiments, the floatable-material receiver includes a vegetation
shredder 67. An operator may operate the vegetation shredder 67
directly or via remote control. A microprocessor configured to
operate the vegetation shredder 67 may operate the vegetation
shredder 67. In some embodiments, the floatable-material receiver
includes a trommel washer 64. The trommel washer may be a trommel
washer 64 as described above in reference to FIG. 21.
[0150] Returning to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 22, and FIG. 24, in some
embodiments, the floatable-material harvester includes a
floatable-material receiver transporter supporting the
floatable-material receiver. In some embodiments, the
floatable-material receiver transporter is a terrestrial vehicle.
In some embodiments, the floatable-material receiver transporter is
a motorized wheeled vehicle. In other embodiments the
floatable-material receiver transporter is a trailer. In other
embodiments, the floatable-material receiver transporter is a
sledge. In other embodiments, the floatable-material receiver
transporter is a beach cleaner, or a vehicle designed to collect
seaweed and convey the seaweed into the transport hose 60.
[0151] In some embodiments, the floatable-material receiver
transporter includes a flotation device 43 supporting the
floatable-material receiver. The flotation device may be a raft.
The flotation device 43 may be a boat. The flotation device 43 may
include at least one pontoon. The flotation device 43 may be
constructed using any combination of materials known in the art to
produce a buoyant object. In some embodiments, the flotation device
43 is composed at least in part of polymer foam, as described above
in reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 22. In other embodiments, the
flotation device 43 is composed at least in part of wood. In still
other embodiments, the flotation device 43 includes at least one
enclosed cavity filled with air. The material enclosing the at
least one cavity may be any material or combination of materials
capable of forming an airtight enclosure. The material enclosing
the at least one cavity may be metal. The material enclosing the at
least one cavity may be a polymer.
[0152] As shown in FIG. 13, the flotation device 43 may also
include buoyancy control. In some embodiments, buoyancy control is
a set of devices that enables the flotation device 43 to increase
or decrease its buoyancy. Where the flotation device 43 contains at
least one air-filled, enclosed cavity, the buoyancy control may
include at least one bilge pump 9. In an embodiment, the at least
one bilge pump 9 is capable of pumping water into the cavity. In
another embodiment, the at least one bilge pump 9 is capable of
pumping water out of the cavity. In an additional embodiment, the
at least one bilge pump 9 is capable of both of pumping water into
the cavity and of pumping water out of the cavity. In some
embodiments, the at least one bilge pump 9 pumps water from the
body of water using a water conduit. The water conduit may have an
element that filters solid matter out of the water, such as a mesh
filter.
[0153] In some embodiments, the at least one bilge pump 9 pumps
water from the cavity into the body of water through a water
conduit. In an embodiment, the at least one bilge pump 9 is capable
of pumping air into the cavity. In another embodiment, the at least
one bilge pump 9 is capable of pumping air out of the cavity. In an
additional embodiment, the at least one bilge pump 9 is capable of
both of pumping air into the cavity and of pumping air out of the
cavity. In some embodiments, the at least one bilge pump 9 pumps
air from the atmosphere using a snorkel 54. In some embodiments,
the bilge pump 9 pumps air back into the atmosphere using a snorkel
54. In some embodiments, the at least one bilge pump 9 can pump
either air or water in or out of the cavity, as needed to adjust
the buoyancy of the flotation device 43. In some embodiments, the
buoyancy control is controlled by an operator. In some embodiments,
the operator controls the buoyancy control remotely by means of a
wired or wireless signal. In some embodiments, the buoyancy control
is controlled by a microprocessor configured to control the
buoyancy control (not shown). The microprocessor may be a
microprocessor 11.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the flotation
device further includes a propulsion system 49. The propulsion
system 49 includes at least one propeller, in some embodiments. In
some embodiments, the propulsion system may use the principal of
magneto hydrodynamics. In some embodiments, the propulsion system
49 has reversible thrust. In some embodiments, the propulsion
system 49 is controlled by an operator. In some embodiments, the
operator controls the propulsion system 49 remotely by means of a
wired or wireless signal. In some embodiments, the propulsion
system 49 is controlled by a microprocessor configured to control
the propulsion system 49 (not shown). The microprocessor may be a
microprocessor 11. In some embodiments, the flotation device 43
includes a rudder 50. In some embodiments, the rudder 50 is
controlled by an operator. In some embodiments, the operator
controls the rudder 50 remotely by means of a wired or wireless
signal. In some embodiments, the rudder 50 is controlled by a
microprocessor configured to control the rudder 50 (not shown). The
microprocessor may be a microprocessor 11. In some embodiments, the
flotation system 43 is made up of two pontoons, and the propulsion
system 49 is located in between the two pontoons.
[0155] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, the flotation
device includes an anchoring system 6. In some embodiments, the
anchoring system 6 includes at least one anchor attached to at
least one cable. The at least one cable may be wound on at least
one winch. In some embodiments, the at least one winch is electric.
In some embodiments, the anchoring system 6 is automated; for
instance, the anchoring system 6 may have at least one electric
winch that is remotely controlled. The winch may be controlled by
an operator. The winch may be controlled by a microprocessor
configured to control the winch (not shown). The microprocessor may
be a microprocessor 11.
[0156] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, the
floatable-material receiver is mounted on the flotation device 43
by means of a swivel 61. The swivel 61 may be a horizontal swivel.
The swivel 61 may permit the transport hose 60 and the
floatable-material receiver to swivel three hundred and sixty (360)
degrees with respect to the flotation device 43. The swivel 61 may
permit the transport hose 60 and the floatable-material receiver to
three hundred and sixty (360) degrees an unlimited number of times
in either horizontal direction with respect to the flotation device
43. In some embodiments, the floatable-material receiver is
detachable from the flotation device 43; in other words, the
floatable-material receiver may be detached from the flotation
device 43 and reattached to the floating device 43 an indefinitely
large number of times without any noticeable damage to either the
flotation device 43 or to the floatable-material receiver. The
floatable-material receiver may include one or more handles 25 so
that operators can lift and carry it where necessary.
[0157] A team of operators provide a floatable-material harvester
as described above in reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2. FIG. 22, or FIG.
24. In some embodiments, the operators assemble the transport hose
60; for instance, where the transport hose is made up of a series
of lengths of flexible hose concatenated with watertight joints,
the operators may connect together the lengths of hose and the
joints to produce the fully assembled transport hose 60. Where the
transport hose 60 is wound on a spool, the operators may partially
or wholly unwind the transport hose 60. Where the transport hose 60
is not initially attached to the input of the vacuum source 66, the
operators may attach the transport hose 60 to the input of the
vacuum source 66. In some embodiments of the method, the at least
one air inductor is not attached to the transport hose 60 prior to
deploying the floatable-material harvester of FIG. 22 or FIG. 24;
the operators may attach the at least one air inductor to the
transport hose 60 while deploying the floatable-material harvester
of FIG. 22 or FIG. 24. The operators may activate the at least one
actuator of the at least one valve 3.
[0158] In an embodiment, the operators attach the
floatable-material receiver to the transport hose 60. In another
embodiment, the operators attach the floatable-material receiver to
the flotation device 43; for instance, the operators may attach the
floatable-material receiver to the flotation device 43 via the
swivel 61 as described above. The operators may couple the
microprocessor 11 to the at least one valve 3. The operators may
couple the microprocessor to the propulsion system 49. The
operators may couple the microprocessor to the buoyancy control.
The operators may couple the microprocessor to the automated
anchoring system 6. The operators may couple the microprocessor to
the conveyor belt 8. The operators may couple the microprocessor to
the agitator 108. The operators may couple the microprocessor to
the vacuum source 66. The operators may couple the microprocessor
to the air flow meters 23. In some embodiments, the
floatable-material receiver is comprised of a floatable-material
thruster 62 such as depicted in FIG. 31.
[0159] In some embodiments, for instance when the
floatable-material receiver is platform-based or receptacle-based
as described above in reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 9, the operators
may pitch seaweed into or onto the floatable-material receiver, for
instance with a shovel or pitchfork 82. Where the
floatable-material receiver has a conveyor belt 8, the conveyor
belt 8 may transport the seaweed to the input of the transport hose
60. Where the conveyor belt 8 has variable speeds, an operator may
cause it to vary its speed. A microprocessor 11 may cause it to
vary its speed. Where the floatable-material receiver has a screw
conveyor 52, the screw conveyor may transport the seaweed/floatable
material to the input of the transport hose 60. Where the
floatable-material receiver includes a hopper 84 with an agitator
108, the agitator may agitate the seaweed by vibration, which may
provide a more even flow of floatable material into the transport
hose 60. Where the harvesting apparatus includes a trommel washer,
the trommel washer may wash the seaweed. In embodiments in which
the floatable-material receiver includes a vegetation shredder 67,
the vegetable shredder may shred the seaweed. Where the
floatable-material receiver has a nozzle, the operators may harvest
seaweed by directing the nozzle at the seaweed and permitting the
suction of the transport hose 60 to further transport the
seaweed.
[0160] In some embodiments, the transport hose and
floatable-material thruster are comprised of a pressure sensor.
Pressure sensors can alternatively be called pressure transducers,
pressure transmitters, pressure senders, pressure indicators and
piezometers, manometers, among other names. Pressure may be
measured by piezoresistive strain gauge, capacitive,
electromagnetic, piezoelectric, optical, potentiometric, resonant,
thermal, and ionization. In another embodiment, a pressure sensor
is connected to the high pressure hose and the high pressure tank.
The pressure sensor may transmit pressure information to the
microprocessor 11. The microprocessor 11 may use such pressure
information to control the speed and generated thrust of the high
pressure pump, the water pump connected to the transport hose, and
the flow valves 69 or 3. In some embodiments, the microprocessor
may be replaced or supplemented by an analog circuit, configured to
control said valves and said pumps.
[0161] A method is disclosed of an additional benefit to the
floatable-material harvester, where the floatable-material
harvester is used to remove other types of floatable substrate from
the body of water that the floatable-material receiver floats on.
This substrate can, for example, be material used to absorb
chemical spills, such as in a spill of petroleum. These substrates
have an affinity for absorbing petroleum over water, such as but
not limited to wood chips, peat moss, or sphagnum moss. The
substrate may be comprised of nanofibres, to absorb nuclear waste.
Nanofibres neutralize radiation and permanently absorb some heavy
metals. Large amounts of the substrate are placed into the body of
water or on the beach and are allowed enough time for the chemical
to absorb into the substrate, which for the purpose of this
document are referred to as sorbent or absorbent material. The
spilled chemical and/or radioactive material may be referred to as
pollutants. A similar apparatus may be used to deploy the sorbent
material to the beach and shore. In some embodiments, the sorbent
material deploying apparatus is comprised of a storage area
containing absorbent material, which is metered by a conveyor into
a floatable-material receiver which, is fluidly connected to a
transport hose, the transport hose having at least one
floatable-material thruster along its length. The
floatable-material thruster is fluidly connected to at least one
pump. The apparatus may have a small vessel which directs the
output end of the transport hose to deploy absorbent material to
the beach and shore.
[0162] The floatable-material receiver depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG.
6 uses a small conveyor belt 110 submerged at an angle close to 45
degrees into the body of water on which the floatable-material
receiver floats in order to retrieve the substrate or
floatable-material. In some embodiments, the small submerged
conveyor belt 110 may have spikes, hooks, or prongs that protrude
from the surface of the belt, making it easier for material to be
picked up and carried by the conveyor belt 110 and deposited onto
the platform conveyor belt 8. In one embodiment, the conveyor belt
8 may be replaced with a screw auger. The horizontally level
conveyors that feed the transport tube are non-limiting examples of
feeder mechanisms that provide floatable material to the transport
tube 60. The floatable-material receiver uses propulsion and
steering to maneuver itself through the body of water. The floating
funneling element 111 functions in the same manner as the smaller
funneling element 45, with the difference being that the floating
funneling element 111 is located on the sides of the conveyor belt
110, while the smaller funneling element 45 lays on top of conveyor
belt 8. Apparatus is maneuvered around the body of water and used
to collect the substrate. The floatable-material receiver and
conveyor belt 8 provide enough draining to ensure that mostly solid
substrate is removed and water is drained. Once the collection area
is full, the collection area is emptied and its contents, for
example, may be transported away, stored, or incinerated.
[0163] Essentially, the same features that facilitate the
collection of seaweed are generally able to be employed for
collection of chemical/radioactive-spill absorption substrate,
whether the absorption substrate is organic or inorganic in nature.
That is, while many of the elements are described in relation to
"floating-organics" harvesting, those same elements could, within
the scope of the present device, also be used to collect floating
sorbents (both organic and inorganic varieties). That said, certain
features may not necessarily be employed with the clean up of the
absorption substrate, such as the
cleaning/oxygenating/refrigeration system and/or the vegetation
shredder. Also, the water displacement apparatus and the trommel
washer may be excluded from the apparatus. In the method of
harvesting material used to absorb a chemical/radioactive spill, a
floatable-material thruster may be referred to as a material
thruster or vise-versa, and an organics receiver may be referred to
as a floatable-material receiver or vise-versa, since the material
used to absorb the chemical spill may be inorganic or synthetic in
composition.
[0164] It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central
characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,
therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the
details given herein.
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