Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING
POLLUTION
FROM A BODY OF WATER
Related Application Data
This application claims the benefit of Canadian Patent Application
No. CA 2805925, filed on February 6th, 2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
Application No. US 61/786,452, filed March 15th, 2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
Application No. US 61/817,267, filed April 29th, 2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
Application No. US 61/838,336, filed June 23, 2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US provisional
application No. US 61/845,349, filed II-July-2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US provisional
application No. US 61/878,028, filed 15-Sept-2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
application No. US 61/879,646, filed 18-Sept-2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
application No. US 61/887,421, filed October 6, 2013.
This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
application No. US 61/914,353, filed December 10, 2013.
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This application also claims the benefit of US Provisional
application No. US 61/923,729, filed January 5th, 2014.
Technical Field
10001] 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
[00021 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
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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.
100031 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
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an effective removal service for the washed up seaweed on the
beach.
(0004] 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.
(00051 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.
100061 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.
[00071 Therefore, there remains a need for an
efficient and environmentally sound system for harvesting seaweed
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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
[00081 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
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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.
[00091 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.
100101 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.
[00111 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.
[0012] In a related embodiment,
the floatable-
material harvester further includes a trommel washer connected to
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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.
[00131 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.
[00141 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
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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.
[001511 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
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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.
[0016] 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.
100171 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
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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.
100181 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.
(00191 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
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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.
100201 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.
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[0021] 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.
[0022] 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
[0023] 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,
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however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0024] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a mechanized floatable-material harvester;
100251 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;
10026] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material harvester;
10027] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
100281 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
100291 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
100301 FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
10031] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an overhead or top view
of an embodiment of a floatable-matcrial receiver;
(0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
100341 FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
(00351 FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a gas escape mechanism;
(0036( FIG. IIB is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a gas escape mechanism;
100371 FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
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embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0038] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0039] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0040] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material receiver;
[0041] FIG. 16 is schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0042] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0043] FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0044] FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0045] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floatable-material thruster;
[0046] 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;
[0047] 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;
[00481 FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an
overhead view of a floatable-material harvester;
[0049] 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;
[00501 FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an
overhead view of an air induction floatable-material harvester;
[0051] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
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embodiment of a floating air inductor through a snorkel;
[00521 FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor;
100531 FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a side
and overhead view of a plug designed to bleed air;
[00541 FIG. 28A is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of an air induction system with an air tight outer hose;
[0055] FIG. 288 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of an air induction system with an air tight outer hose;
100561 FIG. 28C is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of an air induction system with an air tight outer
hose;
[0057] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor;
[0058] FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of a direct view of an
embodiment of a floating air inductor with a counterweight;
100591 FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a side
view of a floatable-material receiver;
10060] FIG. 32A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of an elongated pickup mechanism.
[0061] FIG. 32B is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of an elongated pickup mechanism;
100621 FIG. 33A is a schematic diagram of an overhead view of an
embodiment of a swivel conveyor apparatus;
[00631 FIG. 33B is a schematic diagram of a side view of an
embodiment of a swivel conveyor apparatus;
Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments
[00641 Embodiments of the
disclosed floatable-
material harvester, when used particularly to harvest seaweed or
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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.
100651 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.
[00661 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
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rioted, 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.
[0067] 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
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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.
100681 FIG. 1A 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
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collection areas generally have means of transferring their load to
another vehicle, either by dumping or conveying.
[0069f 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. IA. In reference to FIG.
32 (A-B) 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.
100701 In one of the
embodiments and in relation to
FIG. 1A, 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
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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 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. IB, the
amphibious vehicle 5 is supported and moved by treads 153. In some
embodiments such as depicted in FIG. 32 (a-b), 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
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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.
[0071) 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.
1A 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.
[0072] Returning to FIG. 1A, 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
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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/channeling 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.
100731 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
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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.
100741 FIGS. 32 a-b are
embodiments 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 a-b 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 FIGS.
32 a-b may be mounted on an amphibious vehicle or a beach
cleaner. In one embodiment, the conveyor system may be floated by
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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 FIGS. 32 A-B 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. 1A, the elongated pick up
apparatus 19, which may be the pick up apparatus of FIGS. 32 a-b,
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
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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. 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 FIGS. 32 a-b. Retractable wheels are well
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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.
100751 Continuing with FIGS. 32
a-b, 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
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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
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cleaner 7, the amphibious vehicles 5, the vessel 68, and the
directional propulsion thruster of FIG. 11. The microprocessor 11
in general terms control's the movement of the floatable-material
harvester.
[0076] 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.
[0077] Returning to FIG. IA, 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
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with a number of vertical dividers, to distribute water and sand
evenly to the beach.
[00781 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.
[00791 Returning to FIG. IA, 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 a 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 II.
The seaweed passes by floatable-material thruster 62, where flow
valve 69 provides a metered flow of high pressure water in the
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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.
100801 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.
100811 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
CA 2840478 2018-07-13
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.
[0082] 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.
[0083] Based on the pressure information from the
pressure sensor, entrained air may be released out of the system
through the mechanism of FIGS. 11 a-b 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
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
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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.
[0084] 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.
[00851 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 FIGS. 11 a-b. 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
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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.
[00861 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.
10087) 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. Nano fibres on the other hand
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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.
[0088] In reference to FIG 1A, 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. 1A then operates in the same manner as it would harvesting
seaweed, although the tromrnel 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.
[0089] As seaweed is a sensitive and live organic
that needs to be preserved, seaweed requires a chemical and physical
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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.
[00901 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
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operator, In some embodiments, the collected organic material is
metered into the incinerator by a variable speed controller and a
conveyor.
100911 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.
100921 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 hmit thc 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
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separating back into water. Zeolite is also a useful material for
absorbing and purifying both salt and fresh water from radiation and
other chemicals.
[0093] 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 FIGS. 11 a-b 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.
[00941 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 funneling
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
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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 funneling 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.
100951 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
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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.
[00961 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 trammel 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 -2C 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
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through the seaweed. In some embodiments, the ventilation system
may circulate air cooled by a refrigeration unit.
[0097] 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 FIGS. 11 a-b is later described
in detail.
[0098] 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 funneling 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
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the conveyor belt 8 may act as the feeder mechanism that provides
material to the funneling element 45.
[00991 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.
101001 FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 depict a variation of the
conveyor belt apparatus where a removable vegetation shredder 67
is inserted inside funneling 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.
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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 funneling 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.
101011 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.
[01021 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
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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.
101031 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. ii
a-b. 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
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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.
10104] 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.
10105] 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
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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.
[01061 FIG. 14 8z. 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.
[0107] FIG. 16 represents a side view of a floatable-
material thruster 62, which design is based on that of a conventional
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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.
[0108] 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).
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[0109] 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.
Figure 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.
[0110] 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.
[0111] 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
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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. 16,17,18A,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.
101121 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.
101131 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
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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.
101141 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
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operating the floatable-material harvester of FIG. 1A, 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.
10115] 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.
[0116] 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
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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.
[0117] 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.
[0118] The suction tube or, more broadly, transport
hose 60 of any of the embodiments may be made from any
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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.
101191 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.
101201 In some embodiments, the transport hose 60
is composed of a combination of the above materials. For instance,
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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.
[01211 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.
10122) The high pressure hose 28 may share similar
characteristics to the transport hose 60. High pressure hose 28 may
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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.
101231 In some embodiments, the flotation device
105 is a cylindrical '0' 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 '0' type buoy may be equivalent to the outside
diameter of the transport hose 60, so that the buoy firmly grips the
transport hose 60.
[0124] 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.
[0125] 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
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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.
101261 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
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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 FIGS. 11 a-b.
[0127] 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.
(01281 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,
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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.
101291 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
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joints that are combined with sections of flexible hose to form the
transport hose 60, as disclosed above.
101301 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.
101311 FIGS. 33 (a-b) are embodiments 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
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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.
101321 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
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and 131 with a nozzle pointed in the direction of flow of the seaweed
in the same manner as FIGS. 33 (a-b). 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.
[0133] Returning to FIG. 1A, FIG. 2, FIG. 22, or
FIG. 24, the floatable-material harvester of FIG. 1A, 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. 1A,
FIG. 2, FIG. 22, or FIG. 24 in placing floatable material into the
transport hose 60.
[0134] 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 floatablc 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.
[0135] 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-
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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.
101361 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.
[01371 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
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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.
101381 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.
[01391 In one embodiment, the hopper 84 includes
art 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
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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.
[01401 Returning to FIG. 1A, 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.
101411 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.
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101421 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.
[0143] 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
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buoyancy control is controlled by a microprocessor configured to
control the buoyancy control (not shown). The microprocessor may
be a microprocessor 11.
101441 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.
[0145] 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
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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.
[01461 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.
101471 A team of operators provide a floatable-
material harvester as described above in reference to FIG. IA, 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
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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.
[0148] 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 /OS. 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,
101491 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
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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.
[0150] 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
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may be replaced or supplemented by an analog circuit, configured
to control said valves and said pumps.
[0151] 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.
[0152] 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
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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.
101531 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
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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.
101541 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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