Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to machines used in the
control of aquatic nuisance weeds in general and myriophyllum
Spicatum L. in particular.
Aquatic weeds have become widespread in many
areas of the world in both fresh and brackish waters~ Numerous
co~trol methods have been suggested and implemen~ed including
the use of chemical herbicides, animal pathogens, introduced
diseases, and mechanical harvesting ox removal equipment.
The mechanical equipment presently used is
primarily barge or boat-mounted, designed to operate in shallow
weed beds. The mechanical harvesting devices are cutters or other
n~achines such as rototillers which are suspended from the barge.
This sytem, although partially effective in some types of weed
beds, is totally ineffective in controlling the Myriophyllum
spicatum L. species. This is due to the rapid regrowth of the
weed, the propagation of the weed from cuttings, and the depth
at which the weed will grow. Also, it is evident that existing
equipment, mounted on barges, for example, the "Aquamarine"
harvester, is inadequate due to: the slow rate of weed removal,
inability to maintain a consistent cutting pattern, inability to
sever the plant at optimum location (that is, the roots), and
the requirement for fencing off the harves-ting area to prevent
the spread of fragments.
It is the object of the invention to disclose and
provide a mechanical system which will overcome the above noted
deficiencies: that is, a system which can remove aquatic weeds
in water depths of up to 22 feet, which can remove the weeds
at rates of greater than half an acre per hour, that can be
easily manoeuvered in the weed beds, that minimizes missed areas
in harvesting, that achieves removal of the plant down to the
root, and that minimizes fragmentation of the weeds. It is a
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further object of the ;nvent;on to prov;de a system wh;ch can perform a
number of tasks ;n d;fferent aquat;c environments.
Broadly stated, the inventi:on i:s a machine for u~e in
mechanically controlling aquatic plants, comprising a floating surface
unit; a powered bottom uni:t; means mounted on the bottom unit for removing
weeds; and means interconnecti.ng the surface and bottom units, for
lifting and loweri.ng the bottom unit relati:ve to the sur~ace unit to vary
the proportion of the weight of the machine carried by the bottom unit
and thus vary the load on the bottom un;t.
These and other objects and advanta~es. of the machi:ne of
the present i.nvention will hecome apparent to tfiose ski:lled in the art from
consideration of the followi.ng detai:led descri;ption of the preferred
embodinlent thereof. Reference wi`ll b.e made to the appended drawings in
which:
Fi~gure 1 i;s a side elevatiQn vi:ew of the exemplary embodiment
of the weed control system i`n operation.
Figure 2 i.s a front ele.vati.on ~i:ew of the exemplary embodiment
of the system i.n operation.
Figure 3 is a front elevation vi:ew of the exemplary embodi.ment
of the system in trans:portation configuration.
Figure 4 i.s a cutaway s:ide view of the system of Fi.gure 2 along
plane 4 - 4, showing the bottom tracking uni:t.
Figure 5 is a cutaway side view of the sys.tem of Figure 2 along
plane.5 - 5 showing the adjustable depth me.chanism.
Figure 6 i.s a view of an alte.rnate embodi.ment.
Figure 7 is a view Qf another alternate emkodiment.
Referring now to Fi:gure 1 whi`ch i`s a preferred embodi:ment
of the invention, it will be seen there i:s shown a water sur~ace 7, a
lake bottom 8, an aquatic ~eed 5, the aquatic weed root system, and the
aquatic weed harvester generally described as #1 the surface uni:t floati.ng
on the water s.urface 7, the ~ubsurface uni:t 2, travelli:ng on the lake
b.ottom 8, and a depth control section 3, which ties the
surface unit 1, and the bottom unit 2, together. Also
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in Figure 1 is shown a conveyor system 9, driven by a motor 10, wh;ch
leads to a floating barge 4, which is to~ed by surface unit 1.
Surface unit 1, is equi.pped ~ith a hydraulic power unit 22,
operated by operator 23. Po~er from the power unit 22, ;s transferred to
the subsurface unit 2, by means of hydraulic li.nes 29 to power the hydraul;.c
motors on the subsurface uni.t Wi`th hydraulic flui~d under hi:gh pressure.
Po~er is transmitted to the drive system for conveyor ~, by means of hy-
draul;c l;nes 28, wh;ch dr;.ve conveyor dr;:ve motor 10.
Wi.th reference to Fi.gure 2, the surface uni.t 1, i:s seen to be
composed of hulls, 24 and 25, joined together by a platform type of
sys.tem 30. Also sho~n in Figure 2 are th.e components of subsurface
unit 2, consist;ng of tracked un;.ts, 42 and 41, jo;:ned together by
structure, 45. Structure 45 als.o s.upports cutting uni:t 11. Attached
to cutting unit 11 are guide members 38 whi.ch guide the cut weeds onto
conve~or 9.
Referri.ng to F;gure 3, ;.t can be seen that ;:n the collapsed
position, subs.urface unit 2 and depth control section 3 fold ;nto a space
formed het~een hulls 24 and 25 of surface uni`t 1. The complete s~stem i.n
its collapsed form can then be transported an truck-trai`ler uni.t 100.
2Q As ~i.ll be di:sclos.ed herei:nafter, th.e depth control se.ct;on
3 i.nterconnecti.ng the s:urface and bottom units 1 and 2 i:5 functi:onal to
lift and lower the bottom uni.t 2 relative to the surface uni:t 1 and to
maintai.n a desi.red load on the bottom unit 2.
Referri.ng to Fi:gure 4, it is. seen that track unit 41 carried
by structure 45 i:s pi.voted wi`th re~pect to support structure 3 at 30. This
p;votal i.nterconnection 30 permits longi:tudi:nal pi`votal movement of the
hottom unit 2 i.ndependent of the surface unit. Thus the bottom unit
2 can pivot as i.t travels over an uneven lake bottom wi:thout ti.pping the
surface uni.t 1. While permi.tting thi`s pi.votal movement, the pivotal
3Q- CQnneCtiOn 30 als:o allows Yerti:cal load to b.e transferred to the bottom
unit 2. It is also shown that tracks 47 are carried on a s.eries of wh.eels
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48 which are rotationally attached to structure 45. One such wheel is
driven by hydraulic motor 49. The cutting attachment system 11 is
pi~oted around frame structure component 74. The structural member 73
which carries wedgeshaped cutters 77 and pivots around point 74 is
actuated by hydraulic cylinder 71 to adjust the position of cutters 77.
Cutters 77 are oscillated laterally by hydraulic motor 78 fitted with
eccentric cam 79. Wedge cutters are well known in mowing equipment.
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Referring to Figure 5, it is. shown the depth control system
3 which connects surface unit 1 with subsurface 2. The system 3
consists of members 32 and 33 wl~ich are pin-connected at po;nts 31 to
allow sc;ssor-l;ke act;on to occur. The scissor action is actuated by
hydraulic cylinders 34 ~hich are fixed at point 35. Cylinders 34 are
powered by hydraulic lines 37 which are fed from power unit 22. -`
Another embodiment of the cutt;ng device 11 is shown in Figure
6 where;n p;votal member 73 ;s pivoted around poi:nt 74 being actuated by
hydrauli.c cylinder 71. On member 73 i:s mounted a drum-like attachment
110 fitted with withdrawing fi.ngers 111. Such ~i:thdrawi:ng fingers are
known ;n the art of rotot;lling, for example see U.S. Patent 2,599,~45
to Kramer. Rotat;onal direction is. sh.own by the arro~. Drum member 110
is driven b~ hydrauli.c motor 112 in the di.recti.on shown.
Another embodi.ment of th.e cutting system 11 is shown in Figure
7 wherein pivotal member 73 pivots around point 74 being actuated by
hydraul;c cylinder 71. Memher 73 carries a mani:fold system 120 which
feeds nozzles 121. Manifold system 12a i`s suppli:ed wi.th hi:gh pressure
fluid by means of p;pi.ng 123. Th.i.s pi:pi:ng system i:s fed hy a s.eparate
high pressure pump whi.ch i.s mounted on surface unit 1 and connected to
20. man;fold 120 b~ hoses.123. The h;gh. press:ure flu;:d i:s fed through
nozzles.121 generati:ng flui.d jets 122. `
In operation, the s.urface uni:t 1 and su~surface unit 2
are closely connected by connecti`ng means 3. When attac~i.ng a
weed bed as shown i:n Figure 1, surface unit 1 tows a perforated
barge unit 4 with driv;ng power heing supplied b.y subsurface unlt 2.
The driving energy for unit 2 comes from power unit 22 mounted on ~ur-
face unit 1. Power uni:t 22 is a sui:tahle pri.me mover dr;:v;ng a hydraulic
pump, sai:d pump s.upplying hydrauli:c power to drive uni:ts 49 on suhsurface
tracked units 41 and 42. The necess:ary tracti`on for subs;urface uni.t 2 comes
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from the weight of unit 2 plus the extra weight supplied by
operating hydraulic rams 3~ which function to activate
the scissor-like motion of connecting unit 3. If less traction
or less weight is required on subsurface unit 2, hydraulic
rams 34 are extended to allow more of the weight of surface
unit 1 to be carried by the water. If more traction is xequired
on subsurface unit 2, wei~ht is added ~y retractin~ rams 34 to
effectivel~ lift surface unit 1 hi~her out of the water thus
transferrin~ more load to subsurface unit 2.
As subsurface unit 2 travels forward carrying sur-
face unit 1 and bar~e forward, cutting attachment 11 which oper-
ates slightly below the bottom surface oE the lake, oscillates
laterally cuttin~ the root system 6 of plants 5. ~s subsurface
unit 2 moves forward, the cut weeds 5 with attached root systems
lS are picked up by perforated conveyor 9 and transported to barge 4.
Cutting of the root system 6 is accomplished by a lateral as
well as forward motion of cutting system 11.
Turning of subsurface system 2 and conse~uently
surface system 1 is accomplished by means of hydraulic motors 49
~ on tracked systems 41 and 42~ By increasing the speed of either
track system 41 or 42, a turning motion is effected similar to
that of a caterpillar type tractor. Power unit 22 and variable
speed hydraulic motors ~9 are coupled to provide variable forward
speed ability of subsurface unit 2.
For transportation purposes, subsurface unit 2
is nested into the bottom of surface unit 1 as shown in Fi~ure 3.
This provides for a compact system to be moved forward onto a
truck-trailer system for movement from one site to another.
Also provided on surface unit 1 is a separate
power source 130 which could be an outboard motor to allow for
movement of the nested system from one portion of a lake to
another.
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Other embodiments of the device or system can
be envisaged using weed cutting systems other than the later-
ally oscillatin~ system shown in the preferred embodiment.
Figure 6 d~scribes a rototilling type of system consisting of
a drum fitted with retractable fingers or tines 111 which
are driven by the power unit 22. The rototilling system tends
to remove roots and weeds which are then picked up on conveyor
9 and transported to barge 4.
Another embodiment envisaged is shown in Figure 7
wherein high pressure water jets being expelled from a manifold,
120, are used to dislodge root bundles and low growing weeds.
sai~ root bundles and weeds are then transported by means of
per~orated conveyor 9 into barge 4.
Having thus described a preferred embodiment
of the weed harvesting system according to the present in-
vention, it is understood that various alterations, modifi-
cations and adaptations to the system may be made within the
scope of the present invention which is de~ined and limited
only by the following claims.
