Patent Application
20210062457
Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to equipment and methods for dredging. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure provide a dredging apparatus, method, and system with an adjustable turbidity curtain and bubble tube frame.
Removing of sediment from beneath the surface of water, or “dredging,” is a common environmental engineering process that may be undertaken for a variety of purposes. Successful dredging operations require compliance with several environmental regulations, which may increase the time and costs associated with a dredging operation. Conventional dredging uses one of several special-purpose dredging apparatuses adapted for use in a particular type of dredge site (e.g., a submerged river or ocean bed) with a particular depth and located in a particular ecosystem. Further complications may arise when endangered species, or other protected animals, are present at a dredge site. The types of endangered species at a dredge site may limit the type of dredging apparatus available to complete a dredging project. Although some dredging apparatuses are suitable for multiple dredge sites and/or ecosystems, differences between each dredge site may prevent any one dredging apparatus from being usable in multiple situations. The need for environmental specialists to monitor certain dredge sites may further limit the usefulness of some dredging apparatuses.
The illustrative aspects of the present disclosure are designed to solve the problems herein described and/or other problems not discussed.
An aspect of the disclosure provides dredging apparatus, including: a buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area and extending from the upper surface through the lower surface; a set of supports mechanically coupled to the buoyant platform, wherein the set of supports is configured to maintain a position of the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of the body of water; a turbidity curtain coupled to the buoyant platform using a plurality of telescoping members, wherein the turbidity curtain surrounds at least the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening; and a bubble tube frame coupled to the turbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefrom to surround the turbidity curtain, the bubble tube frame including a plurality of outlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of water around a perimeter of the dredge site.
Further aspects of the disclosure provide a dredging system, including: a buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area and extending from the upper surface through the lower surface; a set of supports mechanically coupled to the buoyant platform, wherein the set of supports is configured maintain a position of the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of the body of water; a turbidity curtain coupled to the buoyant platform using a plurality of telescoping members, the turbidity curtain surrounds at least the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening; a bubble tube frame coupled to the turbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefrom to surround the turbidity curtain, the bubble tube frame including a plurality of outlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of water around a perimeter of the dredge site; a wildlife detector mounted on the buoyant platform, and configured to monitor a body of water, wherein the wildlife detector is configured to detect wildlife and a distance of the wildlife from the dredge site; and a controller operatively coupled to the wildlife detector and a fluid supply to the bubble tube frame, wherein the controller is configured to selectively enable a flow of fluid to the bubble tube frame in response to the detected wildlife including a protected species, and the protected species being within a threshold distance from the dredge site.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method including: positioning a buoyant platform above a dredge site within a body of water, the buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float on the body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area over the dredge site and extending from the upper surface through the lower surface; monitoring the body of water with a wildlife detector configured to detect wildlife within the body of water, and a distance of the wildlife from the dredge site; selectively emitting bubbles around a perimeter of the dredge site using a bubble tube frame of a turbidity curtain coupled to the buoyant platform, in response to the detected wildlife including a targeted species, and the targeted species being within a threshold distance from the dredge site; and conducting a dredge operation on the dredge site after positioning the buoyant platform above the dredge site, and during the monitoring of the body of water.
These and other features of this disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dredging apparatus, system, and method, with an adjustable turbidity curtain and bubble tube frame. Additional features may identify protected wildlife in the vicinity of a dredge site, to selectively emit bubbles from the bubble tube frame to deter the wildlife from the dredge site. Embodiments of the disclosure can provide a buoyant platform including an upper surface, lower surface for floating on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area and extended from the upper surface through the lower surface. The buoyant platform may be coupled to a set of supports for maintaining a position of the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of a body of water. A turbidity curtain may be coupled to the buoyant platform via one or more telescoping members, and the turbidity curtain may surround at least the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening. A bubble tube frame may be coupled to the turbidity curtain, and may extend outwardly therefrom to surround the turbidity curtain. Several outlets may emit bubbles into the body of water around a perimeter of the dredge site. Embodiments of the disclosure are capable of being mounted on or attached to barges, sectional platforms, etc. Various embodiments discussed herein are capable of being transported and reused at multiple locations to allow dredging operations under a variety of conditions and/or at multiple locations. The apparatus can be used in a variety of additional applications, e.g., underwater demolition, pile driving, drilling, subaqueous in situ sediment stabilization, etc.
Referring to
Buoyant platform 104 may include an upper surface A, a lower surface B configured (e.g., by its shape and/or composition) to float on upper surface WL of body of water 106, and an opening 108 extending from upper surface A through lower surface B (i.e., completely through buoyant platform 104). Opening 108 may have a cross-sectional area that is sized for placement over a dredge site 110 located at a bottom T of body of water 106. In an example, bottom T may be approximately forty feet beneath upper surface WL of body of water 106, but it is understood that apparatus 100 and several of its components can accommodate a variety of depths. Apparatus 100 and system 102 is shown to be positioned over bottom T of body of water 106, where a dredging operation is to be implemented. Buoyant platform 104 may be dimensioned and/or otherwise structured to support dredging equipment such as an excavator 113 for physically operating on dredge site 110. Excavator 113 may be operationally independent of apparatus 100, and may take the form of any currently known or later developed instrument for moving sediment from one location to another (e.g., from beneath body of water 106 to a receptacle on buoyant platform 104 or elsewhere). Opening 108 may extend from upper surface A through to lower surface B to allow excavator 113 to access dredge site 110 during a dredge operation.
Further components of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 may be configured to maintain the position of buoyant platform 104 over dredge site 110, adjust the position of further elements relative to upper surface WL of body of water 106, and/or provide further control over a dredging operation. For instance, apparatus 100 may include a set of supports 112 mechanically coupled to buoyant platform 104. In one implementation, buoyant platform 104 may be slidably mounted on support(s) 112. For example, each support 112 may be slidably coupled to buoyant platform 104 through a slidable coupling, bearing, and/or other device allowing one element (e.g., buoyant platform 104) relative to another element (e.g., one or more supports 112). Supports 112 are shown by example to hold buoyant platform 104 in place above dredge site 110 by being mounted on bottom T of body of water 106. It is understood, however, that buoyant platform 104 may be coupled to another structure (e.g., a barge, another platform, etc.) through one or more additional couplings. Since buoyant platform 104 floats on body of water 106, supports 112 may be located on only certain portions of the perimeter of buoyant platform 104 and/or may only be located at predetermined positions, to prevent buoyant platform 104 from drifting with the flow of body of water 106. The slidable couplings between buoyant platform 104 and supports 112 may allow the apparatus 100 and/or system 102 to be adjusted when moving to different locations, and/or in response to changing water depths, dredging conditions, etc.
In cases where upper surface WL changes with time (e.g., rising and falling tides, seasonal water levels in a river, estuary, etc.), buoyant platform 104 can move vertically with respect to support(s) 112 while maintaining its position over dredge site 110. Supports 112 can be mounted on bottom T of body of water 106, e.g., by extending into the earth beneath body of water 106. Support(s) 112 thus can removably mount buoyant platform 104 on a selected portion of bottom T of body of water 106. Support(s) 112 can be located on multiple locations of buoyant platform 104 (e.g., two shown in
Referring to
Turbidity curtain 114 may be formed of any currently known or later developed material capable of blocking the passage of all fluids (e.g., water and oil) or may be formed of a semi-permeable material which allows selected fluids (e.g., water) to pass therethrough. The semi-permeable material of turbidity curtain 114 may block passage of suspended particles, the size of which may be dictated by the type of semi-permeable turbidity curtain used, from exiting dredge site 110. Turbidity curtain 114 may also prevent such particles from entering dredge site 110 as well. However embodied, turbidity curtain 114 blocks all suspended particles and fluids (i.e. water, oil, other contaminants contained in the sediment) from passing therethrough. Turbidity curtain 114 may be coupled to, or otherwise may include, one or more floating “absorbent booms” (not shown) positioned at various locations around the interior and exterior perimeters of dredge site 110 to prevent the release of oil/sheen at upper surface WL of body of water 106 water from leaving the active dredging area. Such sheens can be generated by the release of contaminants in the sediment being dredged, or incidentally by excavator 113, and/or by portions of apparatus 100 itself.
However embodied, turbidity curtain 114 may be shaped to enclose a cross-sectional area that is at least as large as opening 108 through buoyant platform 104. In this manner, turbidity curtain 114 may prevent passage of objects into, or out of, dredge site 110 beneath opening 108. Telescoping members 116 may be mounted on buoyant platform 104 (e.g., on first portion 104a) and more particularly may be arranged about opening 108. Telescoping members 116 may have adjustable lengths, such that the position of turbidity curtain 114 may be adjusted to accommodate changes to the position of upper surface WL of body of water 106. Turbidity curtain 114 and telescoping members 116 can surround at least the cross-sectional area of opening 108, thereby allowing turbidity curtain 114 to horizontally surround dredge site 110. Before use, turbidity curtain 114 may be positioned vertically above bottom T of body of water 106, before being repositioned to a desired depth via telescoping members 116. In an example embodiment, telescoping members 116 may allow apparatus 100 and/or system 102 to be used at varying depths, e.g., between ten and forty feet. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure allow turbidity curtain 114 to extend through over, for example, forty feet of water, while remaining operable when deployed in shallower depths. This variability may prevent mismatch between some types of machines and dredge configurations, while retaining sufficient clearance for shallow and/or deep dredging without fundamentally modifying buoyant platform 104.
Referring now to
In some implementations, a plurality of winches 122, 123 may be mounted on buoyant platform 104 (e.g., on upper surface A and on first portion 104a). Winches 122 may be positioned on the horizontal exterior of platform 104 for positioning bubble tube frame 120. Winches 123 may be positioned on the horizontal interior of platform 104 (e.g., adjacent opening 108) to control telescoping members 116. It is understood that the difference in numbering is solely for clarity of explanation, and that winches 122, 123 may be identical to each other in some implementations. Winches 122 may be structured to control a vertical position of bubble tube frame 120 with respect to lower surface B of buoyant platform 104, and/or upper surface WL of body of water 106, e.g., by direct adjustment and/or automated control. Winches 123 may be operatively coupled to telescoping members 116, similarly to control a height and/or vertical position of turbidity curtain 114 relative to body of water 106. According to one example, fourteen winches 122 may be on platform 104 to control bubble tube frame 120, while sixteen winches 123 may control telescoping members 116. Winches 122, 123 may be mounted on buoyant platform 104 at respective positions, with a cable portion of each winch 122, 123 being mechanically coupled to respective portion of bubble tube frame 120 or telescoping member(s) 116. According to further embodiments, custom mounting and/or frameworks may allow different winch configurations to be used with apparatus 100 and/or system 102, while still performing substantially the same functions. In further implementations, buoyant platform 104 may include customized framework to support more or fewer winches 122, 123 and accompanying electrical lines to operate winches 122, 123, i.e., motorized spool portions thereof. Similar modifications may also be applied to the mounting of telescoping members 116 on buoyant platform 104, e.g., such that an operator may adjust the position of turbidity curtain 114 and/or bubble tube frame 120 together or independently of each other. In such cases, standoff connections between winches 122, 123 and/or between the frame of telescoping members 116 for turbidity curtain 114, and for bubble tube frame 120, can be implemented for stability and synchronized operation.
Referring briefly to
Referring to
In some implementations, wildlife detector 140 may include a sonar transceiver 142 configured to send sound waves into body of water 106, and receive sound waves that are reflected back to sonar transceiver 142. Wildlife detector 140 and/or sonar detector 142 can interpret the incoming sound waves to generate a “visual signature” of various elements in body of water 106. The term “visual signature” may include, e.g., an acoustic map of body of water 106 and/or other elements near dredge site 110. In this case, sonar transceiver 142 can indicate to wildlife detector 140 whether any wildlife is within a threshold distance S of dredge site 110, and/or the type(s) of wildlife within body of water 106. In cases where only some types of wildlife are protected and/or vulnerable to the presence of apparatus 100 and/or system 102, a controller 144 may be coupled to wildlife detector 140 and may distinguish between protected species 130 and other species within body of water 106. Controller 144 may be communicatively coupled to wildlife detector 140 and fluid supply 124, thereby controlling the operation of fluid supply 124 based on signals received and/or interpreted by wildlife detector 140. Controller 144 moreover may cause bubble tube frame 120 to emit barrier F only when sensitive species 130 is within threshold distance S of dredge site 110. In this case, controller 144 may selectively enable or disable a flow of air from fluid supply 124 to bubble tube frame 120 when wildlife detector 140 identifies the presence or absence of sensitive species 130 within threshold distance S of dredge site 110, based on the visual signatures generated via wildlife detector 140 and/or sonar transceiver 142.
Sonar transceiver 142 of wildlife detector 140 may be any currently known or later developed acoustic monitoring system for analysis of body of water 106 near dredge site 110. Sonar transceiver 142 may be preferred for use with wildlife detector 140 for its ability to contextualize incoming sound by generating a visual signature based on detected sound waves. In this case, sonar transceiver 142 may include adaptive resolution imaging sonar and/or dual-frequency identification sonar. To process and interpret the incoming sound waves, controller 144 and/or wildlife detector 140 may implement one or more acoustic analysis techniques (e.g., attack-sustain-decay-release (ASDR) analysis) to distinguish between various types of incoming sound waves. Wildlife detector 140 thus may be capable of identifying wildlife within or near the dredge site to evaluate the risk of interfering with various types of protected species 130 (e.g., endangered fish).
The use of wildlife detector 140, sonar transceiver 142, and/or controller 144 on buoyant platform 104 to monitor for protected species 130 is a departure from conventional dredging apparatuses. Conventional systems typically rely on personnel (e.g., divers) and/or an independent monitoring system, as compared to using a sensor for automatic detection of wildlife at higher depths and/or low visibility regions. In still further embodiments, sonar transceiver 142, and/or buoyant platform 104 itself, may include an acoustic disruptor sub-system in addition to bubble tube frame 120 to deter further protected species 130 from entering dredge site 110. In this case, the acoustic disruptor sub-system may emit sounds that cause some protected species 130 to move away from dredge site 110 without approaching turbidity curtain 114, further reducing the risk of damage to protected species 130 in a sensitive area. Where applicable, the acoustic disruptor sub-system of sonar transceiver 142 may operate independently of bubble tube frame 120 and/or in tandem with bubble tube frame 120. In some cases, wildlife detector 140 may be coupled to both bubble tube frame 120 and/or any acoustic disruption sub-systems of sonar transceiver 142 such that acoustic interference is emitted only in response to when sonar transceiver 142 detecting sound waves are indicative of sensitive species 130.
Apparatus 100 and/or system 102 in some cases may include a network transceiver 150 for exchanging various types of data with a monitoring system 152 at a location 154 distal to buoyant platform 104. To allow remote monitoring and/or control of a dredging operation, network transceiver 150 may be coupled to wildlife detector 140, and may be configured to exchange various forms of data with a monitoring system 152 located at a remote location 154. The inclusion of network transceiver 150 may allow individuals to monitor one or more sites remotely without being physically present on buoyant platform 104. Network transceiver 150 may include any currently known or later developed communication system for exchanging data with interconnected systems, e.g., satellite based, radio based, and/or communication line-based communication infrastructure(s). Network transceiver 150 itself may take a variety of forms including, e.g., a stationary (i.e., non-moveable) transceiver device, an aerial transceiver device, a vehicle-based transceiver, etc. Network transceiver 150 may represent a single communications node of a distributed communication network (e.g., including multiple instances of apparatus 100 and/or system 102, and/or other related devices) capable of communicating with other network transceivers 150 and/or other monitoring systems 152, as noted herein. Network transceiver 150 in one example may be configured for remote communication via wireless radio frequency (RF), and/or other types of communication systems.
Network transceiver 150 may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), hardware for enabling communication with and/or between local area network (LAN) devices within a single LAN area. Wi-Fi infrastructure may be particularly suitable for creating a LAN area because Wi-Fi offers a mid-sized network area (i.e., up to approximately three hundred-foot radius) for interconnecting multiple network transceivers 150. Embodiments of the disclosure may integrate a first type of network infrastructure (e.g., Wi-Fi as noted above) with a second, distinct type of network infrastructure configured to allow communication over larger distances (e.g., several miles as compared to several-hundred feet). In some cases, network transceiver 150 may act as a short-range transceiver for permitting communication between embodiments of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 in nearby locations. In any case, network transceiver 150 may include an RF antenna, and/or any conceivable long-range transmission components (including RF hardware and/or other types of communication infrastructure) for transmitting data packets between interconnected devices. In further implementations, network transceiver 150 may be part of, or may provide, a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). According to one example, the LPWAN may be provided via the LoRaWAN™ specification or other proprietary, commercially-available technology for wireless data communication.
Network transceiver 150 may allow a user to access various forms of data (e.g., information pertaining to the embodiment where body of water 106 is located, relevant information from ongoing related dredging operations, etc.), from another apparatus and/or from monitoring system 152. Network transceiver 150 may also provide an access point to external networking technology within and/or coupled to monitoring system 152, thereby providing a mechanism for exchanging information such as software updates and/or instructions to various components of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 (e.g., controller 144 discussed herein). It is possible for other users, systems, etc., to access components of apparatus 100 and/or monitoring system 152 via additional devices (e.g., personal computers, phones, tablets, etc.), that are included on the same communications network. Thus, it is possible for a user of monitoring system 152 and/or other types of hardware that is not physically present on buoyant platform 104 to access, monitor, and/or control the functions of apparatus 100 and/or system 102, e.g., through network transceiver 150. These features moreover may allow monitoring system 152 to immediately enable or disable wildlife deterrents (e.g., disable fluid flow from fluid supply 124) without visual inspection or intervention at the site of buoyant platform 104 and/or body of water 106.
Network transceiver 150 may include and/or otherwise be coupled to one or more power sources 160 for enabling operation of its functions without reliance on a conventional power grid or similar infrastructure. In various implementations, power source(s) 160 may include or otherwise be coupled to a generator, battery, solar panel, wind turbine, and/or other power source for providing electrical energy on command. Where only temporary network accessibility is required (e.g., only a few minutes or hours), network transceiver 150 may offer smaller size and/or limited portability by changing the type of applicable power source. In one example, network transceiver(s) 150 may be configured to operate over at least one day without sunlight, or alternatively for multiple days in presence of continued sunlight. Power source 160 itself may also be coupled to other components of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 described herein, e.g., telescoping members 116, winches 122, 123, and/or wildlife detector 140 to drive the various physical and/or electrical operations described herein.
To mechanically drive various operations of apparatus 100 and/or system 102, a hydraulic adjustment system 170 may be mounted on an upper surface of buoyant platform 104 (e.g., on second portion 104b thereof). Hydraulic adjustment system 170 may include, or otherwise be coupled to, a source of energy such as power source 160 described herein. Hydraulic adjustment system 170 may include a hydraulic pump 172 for driving a hydraulic actuator 174 of, e.g., supports 112 and/or other mechanically actuated components such as telescoping members 116 with respect to buoyant platform 104. Where applicable, each hydraulic actuator 174 may be mechanically integrated within support(s) 112, or alternatively other components such as telescoping members 116, to enable adjustment of the various components with respect to buoyant platform 104. Hydraulic pump 172 thus may mechanically drive various functions such as, e.g., mounting of support(s) 112 within bottom T of body of water 106 to maintain a position of buoyant platform 104. In further embodiments, other types of actuator assemblies (e.g., hybrid hydraulic-electrical and/or other hybrid actuator system) and/or non-hydraulic actuators may be mounted on buoyant platform 104, used together with and/or in substitution for hydraulic adjustment system 170, to control various mechanical functions of apparatus 100 and/or system 102.
Referring to
Methods according to the disclosure may include using wildlife detector 140 to detect various types of wildlife within body of water 106, and calculate the distance of any detected wildlife from dredge site 110. The monitoring of wildlife may be implemented, e.g., with sonar transceiver 142 coupled to wildlife detector 140, and/or any other type of hardware capable of monitoring body of water 106 for wildlife. In the event that protected specie(s) 130 come within threshold distance S of dredge site 110, wildlife detector 140 may signal controller 144 (or alternatively, may signal fluid supply 124 (
Methods according to the disclosure may further include other actions to adjust the position of turbidity curtain 114 and/or bubble tube frame 120 relative to buoyant platform 104. In cases where upper surface WL of body of water 106 changes with time and/or environmental conditions, methods according to the disclosure can include adjusting telescoping members 116 and/or winches 122, 123 (e.g., with energy from power source 160) to accommodate the changing water depths and/or position of buoyant platform 104. Such adjustment may not interfere with the operation of bubble tube frame 120 in implementations where bubble tube frame 120 is fluidly coupled to fluid supply 124 (
Embodiments of the disclosure provide various technical and commercial advantages, some of which are discussed herein as examples. Embodiments of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 can provide a single movable platform for operating on dredge site 110, while also preventing significant harm to protected species 130 that otherwise may approach dredge site 110 and/or interfere with ongoing dredge operations. The inclusion of turbidity curtain 114 and bubble tube frame 120, moreover, may allow real-time adjustment of these components of apparatus 100 and system 102 to accommodate changes in body of water 106, and/or the re-use of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 at other dredge sites 110 without significant alterations to apparatus 100 or system 102. Thus, structures and methods according to embodiments of the disclosure integrate several distinct functions (e.g., positioning, wildlife deterrence, access for excavator 113, etc.) onto a single buoyant platform 104 with mobile capabilities. In any case, apparatus 100 and/or system 102 each have the ability to be tailored to a variety of environmental dredging project conditions and requirements, using all or any combination of the features described herein, thereby allowing for flexible implementation and associated costs.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62895761 | Sep 2019 | US |
