Patent Grant
12241216
The present disclosure relates generally to recovering floating debris or contaminants. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to recovering floating oil, chemicals, trash, biological matter, other substances and materials, or a combination thereof, at offshore or onshore locations (e.g. ocean, pond, tank farm).
Historically, it has proven difficult to effectively and efficiently remove substantial amounts of floating debris, or contaminants, from offshore and onshore bodies of water and other locations. Some variables that may hinder such recovery efforts include the large amount of debris often needed to be recovered, the different types of debris, the rapid speed at which the debris spreads, the effect of wind, waves, rough seas and other environmental factors on the recovery operations and the limited size and/or capacity of existing recovery systems. Presently available debris recovery systems and techniques are thus believed to have one or more limitations or disadvantages.
For example, presently known vessels being used or promoted to collect waterborne debris are typically unable to efficiently and/or effectively collect different types of debris. For another example, in the offshore and inland waterway oil spill recovery arenas, various existing oil skimmers are believed to be unable to recover large volumes of oil. Many and perhaps all known systems cannot separate out significant amounts (or any) of the collected oil from sea water, resulting in limited on-board oil storage and, thus, oil recovery capacity. In fact, many existing systems cause further emulsification of the oil and water and thus cannot return separated water back to the sea or other body of water, limiting on-board oil storage capacity, increasing cost and time, etc. Other existing oil skimmers attempt to separate the recovered oil from sea water, but are slow and thus largely ineffective at recovering substantial volumes of oil.
It should be understood that the above-described examples, disadvantages, limitations, features and capabilities are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope or subject matter of this disclosure or the appended claims. Thus, none of the appended claims should be limited by the above discussion or construed to address, include or exclude each or any of the above-cited examples, disadvantages, features and capabilities merely because of the mention thereof above or herein.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved systems, apparatus and methods useful in connection with debris recovery operations having one or more of the attributes or capabilities described or shown in, or as may be apparent from, this patent.
In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems for processing floating solid debris recovered from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel includes at least one chamber, at least one intake opening fluidly coupled to the chamber(s) and through which water enters the chamber(s) from the body of water and at least one discharge port fluidly coupled to the chamber(s) and through which at least some processed solid debris exits the chamber(s). Each item of floating solid debris has an original respective size. These systems include a first debris processor disposed on the vessel between the intake opening(s) and the discharge port(s) and configured to fragment floating solid debris from the body of water into fragments. Each such fragment generally has a fragmented size that is smaller than the original size of the solid debris from which it was fragmented. A second debris processor is disposed on the vessel between the first debris processor and the discharge port(s) and configured to receive solid debris fragments fragmented by the first debris processor and re-fragment at least some of the received fragments into a size that is smaller than the fragmented size thereof and allow at least some of the re-fragmented solid debris to enter the at least one discharge port(s).
The vessel includes at least first and second chambers, the first chamber being an inflow chamber positioned proximate to the intake opening(s) and the second chamber being a main cargo compartment fluidly coupled between the inflow chamber and at least one discharge port. The first debris processor is configured to fragment solid debris before it enters the main cargo compartment and the second debris processor is configured to re-fragment solid debris fragments received thereby from the main cargo compartment and before the solid debris fragments enter the at least one discharge port.
The following features are optional. The first debris processor may be configured to discharge solid debris fragments fragmented thereby into the inflow chamber and the second debris processor may be configured to receive debris fragments fragmented by the first debris processor. The first debris processor may be configured to be positioned within the inflow chamber. The first debris processor may be configured to be positioned above the inflow chamber. The first debris processor may be configured to receive and fragment floating solid debris constructed at least partially of any among plastic, metal, glass, fabric, other man-made materials, wood or a combination thereof, and the second debris processor may be configured to reduce the solid debris fragments received thereby into finely ground particles.
The first debris processor may include a shredder and the second debris processor includes a grinder. The first debris processor may include an industrial shredder capable of receiving and grinding wood and metal into smaller fragmented pieces and the second debris processor may include a grinder. The first and second debris processors may each include an in-line grinder, respectively. The second debris processor may include a shredder. At least one among the first and second debris processors may include a macerator. At least one among the first and second debris processors may include a clean-out configured to collect debris items that are too big to be processed or are otherwise rejected thereby. At least one feeder configured to help feed debris into the first debris processor may be included. The feeder(s) may include at least one funnel. At least one robotic handler configured to help feed debris into the first debris processor may be included.
A debris pump having at least one inlet fluidly coupled to at least one discharge port may be included and the second debris processor may be configured to allow solid debris fragments re-fragmented thereby to enter at least one inlet of the debris pump. The second debris processor may be arranged so that all solid debris fragments re-fragmented thereby enter at least one inlet of the debris pump. The second debris processor may be positioned closer to the upper end than the lower end of the main cargo compartment.
A conveyor configured to extend from the vessel to the body of water and receive floating solid debris from the body of water and deliver it to the first debris processor may be included. The conveyor may be elongated, include first and second ends and be positioned during floating solid debris collection operations so that the first end thereof extends at least partially over the inflow chamber and the second end thereof is positioned proximate to the surface of the body of water. The first debris processor may be positioned closer to the first end than the second end of the conveyor. The first debris processor may be positioned at least partially below the conveyor, wherein at least some of the collected floating solid debris drops from the conveyor into the first debris processor. The conveyor may be at least partially porous and configured to allow floating solid debris having an outer dimension of up to one and one-half inches to filter therethrough and into at least one chamber of the vessel. The conveyor may be positioned during floating solid debris collection operations so that the second end thereof is positioned below the surface of the body of water. The conveyor may be positioned during floating solid debris collection operations so that the second end thereof is positioned at the surface of the body of water. The conveyor may be at least partially porous and configured to allow floating solid debris having no dimension greater than one inch to filter therethrough.
At least one wall may extend at least partially between the upper and lower ends of the vessel and at least partially separate the main cargo compartment and inflow chamber. At least one passageway may fluidly couple the inflow chamber and main cargo compartment and the discharge port(s) may be fluidly coupled to the main cargo compartment at a height higher than the height of the passageway(s). An inflow regulator (IFR) configured to at least partially float in the inflow chamber at a height higher than the height of the at least one passageway may be included and the inflow chamber and main cargo compartment may be configured so that buoyant debris and water can move from the body of water onto the vessel through at least one intake opening thereof and into the inflow chamber, pass over the IFR and then move downwards to and through at least one passageway and into the main cargo compartment, then upwardly therein to at least one debris removal outlet.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system for collecting and processing floating solid debris from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel has at least one chamber and at least one debris pump in fluid communication with and positioned at or proximate to the upper end of the at least one chamber. The system includes a debris recovery conveyor belt having first and second ends and extending from the vessel to the body of water during operations so that the first end thereof is at or under the surface of the body of water. A first debris processor is positioned closer to the second end than the first end of the conveyor belt so that the conveyor belt receives floating solid debris from the body of water and delivers it to the first debris processor, which fragments the solid debris into small debris pieces and delivers the small debris pieces into at least one chamber of the vessel. A second debris processor is positioned in or proximate to the at least one chamber of the vessel and receives small debris pieces from the at least one chamber and fragments at least some of it into even smaller debris pieces and delivers that to the at least one debris pump.
In certain embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system for collecting floating debris from a body of water. At least one ingestion head is positionable at or proximate to the surface of the body of water. The ingestion head includes at least one intake opening and at least one exit port fluidly coupled together and a vacuum cavity surrounding the exit port(s) so that the exit port(s) can be maintained submerged in liquid throughout debris recovery operations. A fluid removal system is separate and distinct from the ingestion head and connected thereto only by one or more fluid transmission conduits extending therebetween and fluidly coupled to the exit port(s) of the ingestion head. The fluid removal system includes at least one suction pump fluidly coupled to the fluid transmission conduit(s) and is configured to draw debris and water into the ingestion head. The fluid removal system provides a sealed liquid system extending between the suction pump(s) and the port(s) of the ingestion head.
If desired, the ingestion head may include a plurality of intake openings positioned proximate to one another around the perimeter of the ingestion head and a plurality of IFRs, at least one IFR extending at least partially across each intake opening. At least IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR. At least four IFRs may be included. The intake openings may be positioned around the perimeter of the ingestion head to ingest floating debris and water into the ingestion head from the body of water from any direction without moving the ingestion head. The ingestion head may be movable relative to the fluid removal system. The ingestion head may be moveable between at least one underground stowed position and at least one operating position at or proximate to the surface of the body of water.
The ingestion head may include an inflow chamber extending between and fluidly coupled to the at least one intake opening and the at least one exit port, the inflow chamber having a bottom surface and an inner vacuum cavity wall extending upwardly therefrom and surrounding the at least one exit port. At least one inflow chamber cover may extend over the inflow chamber and at least one exit port and have an outer vacuum cavity wall extending downwardly therefrom and around the inner vacuum cavity wall, the inflow chamber cover forming the vacuum cavity. The upper end of the inner vacuum cavity wall may be spaced downwardly from the inflow chamber cover and remain submerged in water during debris collection operations and the lower end of the outer vacuum cavity wall may be spaced downwardly from the upper end of the inner vacuum cavity and upwardly from the bottom of the inflow chamber. The space between the lower end of the outer vacuum cavity wall and the bottom of the inflow chamber may remain submerged in water during debris collection operations, whereby debris drawn into the ingestion head must pass below the outer vacuum cavity wall and over the inner vacuum cavity wall before entering the exit port(s) and remain submerged during such travel. The suction pump(s) may concurrently draw debris and water into the ingestion head and discharge such water from the fluid removal system.
If desired, a debris separation system fluidly coupled to the fluid removal system and remote from the ingestion head may be provided, whereby the water discharged from the fluid removal system has a hydrocarbon concentration of less than 5.0 PPM. A plurality of ingestion heads may be included, each ingestion head being connected to the fluid removal system only by one or more fluid transmission conduits and the fluid removal system may be at least partially disposed on a vessel or be land-based.
In many embodiments, a system for collecting floating debris from a body of water includes an ingestion head positionable at or proximate to the surface of the body of water. The ingestion head includes one or more intake openings extending around the perimeter thereof to allow floating debris and water to be drawn into the ingestion head from the surface of the body of water from any direction without moving the ingestion head. A fluid removal system may be separate and distinct from the ingestion head and connected thereto only by one or more fluid transmission conduits extending therebetween. The ingestion head may be movable relative to the fluid removal system and debris and water may be drawn into the ingestion head by suction provided by the fluid removal system through the at least one fluid transmission conduit. If desired, the ingestion head may include at least one exit port fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid transmission conduit. The fluid removal system may include at least one suction pump fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid transmission conduit and configured to draw debris and water into the ingestion head. The fluid removal system may provide a sealed liquid system extending between the at least one suction pump and the at least one port of the ingestion head.
In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves a method of collecting floating debris from a body of water. These exemplary methods include positioning an ingestion head at or proximate to the surface of the body of water, the ingestion head including at least one intake opening and at least one exit port fluidly coupled together; connecting a fluid removal system to the ingestion head only by one or more fluid transmission conduits; at least one suction pump of the fluid removal system fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid transmission conduit and drawing debris and water into the ingestion head, through the at least one fluid transmission conduit and into a vacuum-sealed collection chamber; the fluid removal system providing a sealed liquid system extending between the at least one suction pump and the port of the ingestion head; and the at least one suction pump discharging water from the collection chamber.
These exemplary methods may further include any combination of the following: the ingestion head moving across the body of water relative to the fluid removal system; the at least one suction pump concurrently drawing debris and water into the ingestion head and discharging water from the collection chamber; the ingestion head moving between at least one underground stowed position and at least one operating position at or proximate to the surface of the body of water; or any combination thereof. If desired, the ingestion head may include a plurality of intake openings positioned proximate to one at different locations around the perimeter thereof and floating debris and water may be drawn into the ingestion head from the body of water from any direction without moving the ingestion head.
In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves apparatus, systems and methods for collecting debris floating on an onshore or offshore body of water or other area (tank farm, earthen cavity, crater, etc.) and involve the use of at least one ingestion head configured to be positioned in the body of water to ingest debris from the body of water. Each ingestion head including at least one inflow regulatory (“IFR”) and is remote from and fluidly coupled to at least one collection system configured to store and/or process debris recovered through the ingestion head. In some applications, any of the debris collection vessels summarized and described below may serve as the collection system. Furthermore, these embodiments can include any components and features of the debris collection vessels summarized and described below and vice versa.
In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel includes at least one cargo compartment and at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the at least one cargo compartment and the body of water during debris collection operations. At least one discharge pump fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment concurrently draws water and debris from the body of water into the at least one cargo compartment and removes water from the cargo compartment(s). Concurrently therewith, at least one debris pump, distinct from the discharge pump(s), removes debris from the cargo compartment(s).
If desired, any one or more, or none, of the following features may be included. One or more discharge pumps may remove water from one or more cargo compartments at or proximate to the lower end thereof and/or one or more debris pumps may remove debris from one or more cargo compartments at or proximate to the upper end thereof. The discharge pump(s) may be selectively controlled to vary the volume of water removed from at least one cargo compartment and/or the debris pump(s) may be selectively controlled to vary the volume of debris removed from at least one cargo compartment.
At least one inflow chamber may be disposed on the vessel between the cargo compartment(s) and intake opening(s). The inflow chamber(s) may be at least partially separated from the compartment(s) by at least one wall and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. At least one IFR at least partially free-floating at or near the surface of liquid in at least one inflow chamber may limit the water and debris drawn from the body of water into the cargo compartment(s) to primarily debris and water that passes over the at least one IFR. At least one discharge pump may lower the liquid level in at least one inflow chamber between the IFR(s) and passageway(s) to a height lower than the liquid level therein between the IFR(s) and the intake opening(s) during debris collection operations.
A variable buoyancy system associated with at least one IFR may be selectively actuated to adjust the height thereof in the inflow chamber(s). First and second variable buoyancy IFRs may be disposed in the same inflow chamber, the second variable buoyancy IFR being positioned between the first variable buoyancy IFR and the cargo compartment(s). The first variable buoyancy IFR may primarily reduce wave action and/or turbulence in the water and debris moving through the inflow chamber(s) from the intake opening(s) to the cargo compartment(s), and/or the second variable buoyancy IFR may primarily cause mostly debris to enter the cargo compartment(s) during debris collection operations. The first variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to de-ballast it higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the second variable buoyancy IFR when there is an increase in water turbulence and/or wave action in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s). The second variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to de-ballast it higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the first variable buoyancy IFR when debris in the body of water is a sheen and/or decreases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s). The second variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to ballast it lower in the inflow chamber(s) than the first variable buoyancy IFR when debris in the body of water is thicker than a sheen and/or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s).
A vacuum may be created above the surface of the contents of at least one cargo compartment and maintained during debris collection operations. The cargo compartment(s) may be maintained completely full of water and/or debris during collection operations. The vessel may include at least one vertical trunk fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment at or above the upper end thereof and the debris pump(s) fluidly coupled to at least one vertical trunk. Debris may be allowed to rise into at least one vertical trunk from at least one cargo compartment and at least one debris pump may remove debris from the cargo compartment(s) through the vertical trunk(s). The debris pump(s) may be selectively temporarily turned off when the level of debris in the vertical trunk(s) is at or below a particular height. At least one sensor may be disposed at least partially within at least one cargo compartment and/or at least one vertical trunk and indicate the height of water in the cargo compartment(s) and/or vertical trunk(s), respectively.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems useful for collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel includes at least one cargo compartment and at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the cargo compartment(s) and body of water during debris collection operations. At least one discharge pump may be fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment(s) and have sufficient pumping capacity both when the vessel is moving and stationary to concurrently (i) draw water and debris from the body of water into the cargo compartment(s) and (ii) remove water from the cargo compartment(s). At least one debris pump that is distinct from the discharge pump(s) is fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment(s) and selectively controllable to remove debris from the cargo compartment(s) concurrently with (i) and (ii) above.
If desired, any one or more, or none, of the following features may be included. each cargo compartment has upper and lower ends, further wherein the at least one discharge pump is fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment closer to the lower end than the upper end thereof and the at least one debris pump is fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment closer to the upper end than the lower end thereof. The discharge pump(s) may be selectively controllable to vary the volume of water removed from the cargo compartment(s) and the debris pump(s) may be selectively controllable to vary the volume of debris removed from the cargo compartment(s).
At least one inflow chamber may be disposed on the vessel between the cargo compartment(s) and intake opening(s) and at least partially separated from the at least one cargo compartment by at least one wall and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. At least one IFR may be at least partially free-floating at or near the surface of liquid in at least one inflow chamber. At least one discharge pump may be configured to lower the liquid level in at least one inflow chamber between the IFR(s) and passageway(s) to a height below the liquid level in the inflow chamber(s) between the IFR(s) and intake opening(s) during debris collection operations. First and second variable buoyancy IFRs disposed in the same inflow chamber, the second variable buoyancy IFR being positioned between the first variable buoyancy IFR and the cargo compartment(s).
A variable buoyancy system may be associated with at least one IFR, the variable buoyancy system being configured to (i) allow air to escape from the at least one IFR and be replaced with liquid to decrease the buoyancy thereof and (ii) provide air into the at least one IFR and force liquid out of the at least one IFR to increase the buoyancy thereof.
At least one vertical trunk may be fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment at or above the upper end thereof. The debris pump(s) may be fluidly coupled to at least one vertical trunk and configured to remove debris from at least one cargo compartment through at least one vertical trunk. At least one sensor disposed at least partially within at least one cargo compartment and/or at least one vertical trunk and configured to indicate the height of water therein, respectively.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water. The vessel has at least one inflow chamber distinct from a main collection compartment and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. The main collection compartment has a length, width, height and upper and lower ends. The vessel also includes at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the inflow chamber(s) and the body of water and through which water and floating debris can enter the at least one inflow chamber and vessel from the body of water. At least one water removal outlet and at least one debris removal outlet (distinct from the water removal outlet(s)) are fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment. The passageway(s) and water removal outlet(s) are fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the lower end than the upper end of the main collection compartment and the debris removal outlet(s) are fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the upper end than the lower end of the main collection compartment. These methods include filling the main collection compartment with liquid to a fill height above the passageway(s) and water removal outlet(s) and thereafter, concurrently drawing floating debris and water from the inflow chamber(s) through the submersed passageway(s) and into the main collection compartment during collection operations. At least one IFR at least partially floats in the inflow chamber(s) and reduces wave action and/or turbulence in the floating debris and water passing through the inflow chamber(s) to the main collection compartment during collection operations. Floating debris in the main collection compartment is allowed to rise above the at least one debris removal outlet and the water in the main collection compartment, removing water from the main collection compartment through the water removal outlet(s) and discharged to the body of water. Floating debris is allowed to be removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and directed to one or more debris delivery destinations.
If desired, any of the following may be included. These methods may include minimizing emulsification of water and debris in the main collection compartment during collection and separation operations. At least initially, the main collection compartment may be filled with primarily water from the body of water to a fill height above the at least one debris removal outlet and all or substantially all air may be evacuated from the main collection compartment above the surface of the contents therein. If desired, initially, the main collection compartment may be completely filled with primarily water from the body of water and, thereafter, maintained completely full of water and/or debris during collection operations. Floating debris and little, or no, water may be caused to enter the main collection compartment during collection operations. A vacuum may be created above the surface of the contents of the main collection compartment. The vessel may include at least one vertically-oriented trunk having at least one elongated, upwardly extending void fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment at or above the upper end thereof, the void(s) having a width that is smaller than the length and width of the main collection compartment. Water and/or floating debris may be allowed to completely fill the main collection compartment and extend up into at least one void of the vertical trunk(s) during collection operations. The debris removal outlet(s) may be fluidly coupled to the void(s) and floating debris may be allowed to float to the upper end of the main collection compartment and into the vertical trunk(s) and be removed therefrom through the debris removal outlet(s) and directed to one or more debris delivery destinations.
These methods may include at least substantially preventing the entry of air into the main collection compartment during collection and separation operations. The drawing floating debris and water from the inflow chamber(s) into the main collection compartment may be ceased and at least one IFR allowed to extend at least partially above the surface of the contents of the at least one inflow chamber to prevent floating debris from backing out of the inflow chamber(s) through the intake opening to the body of water. One or more IFR(s) may be disposed on the vessel at a height above the location of the passageway(s) and limit the floating debris and water that enters the main collection compartment during collection operations to primarily floating debris and water that passes over the at least one IFR. The passageway(s) may have a width or diameter that is less than 10 percent the height of the main collection compartment and be disposed at or proximate to the bottom of the main collection compartment and primarily floating debris and some water may be drawn over the at least one IFR, down in the inflow chamber(s), through the passageway(s) and into the main collection compartment during collection operations.
A second IFR may be disposed in the inflow chamber(s) between a first IFR and the main collection compartment. The first IFR may primarily reduce wave action and turbulence in water and floating debris moving through the inflow chamber(s) and the second IFR may primarily cause mostly floating debris to enter the main collection compartment during collection operations. At least one IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR and at least one variable buoyancy IFR may be actuated during collection operations to vary the buoyancy thereof and its reducing water turbulence in the floating debris and water moving through the inflow chamber(s) and into the main collection compartment. If desired, at least one variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated during collection operations to vary the buoyancy thereof and its causing mostly floating debris to enter the main collection compartment during collection operations. A second IFR may be is disposed in the inflow chamber(s) between a first IFR and the main collection compartment, both IFRs being variable buoyancy IFRs. The second IFR may be actuated during collection operations to ballast it lower in the inflow chamber(s) than the first IFR when the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is a sheen and/or decreases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s) to assist in increasing the volume and cascading movement of floating debris passing by the second IFR into the main collection compartment. The first IFR may be selectively actuated to ballast it higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the second IFR during collection operations when at least one among the speed of the vessel in the body of water or the water turbulence and/or wave action in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s) increases.
If desired, at least one fluid discharge pump may draw water and floating debris from the inflow chamber(s), through the passageway and into main collection compartment. The fluid discharge pump(s) may concurrently (i) draw water and floating debris from the body of water into the inflow chamber(s) and main collection compartment and (ii) remove water and little or no debris from the main collection compartment through the water removal outlet(s) and discharge it to the body of water during collection and separation operations. The fluid discharge pump(s) may lower the liquid level in the inflow chamber(s) between the passageway(s) and the IFR(s) to assist in increasing at least one among the cascading movement, volume and rate of floating debris drawn over the IFR(s) and into the main collection compartment. At least one debris discharge pump, distinct from the fluid discharge pump(s) may remove floating debris and little or no water from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and directing it to one or more debris delivery destinations during collection and separation operations. The debris discharge pump(s) may remove floating debris and little or no water from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and direct it to one or more debris delivery destinations concurrently with the fluid discharge pump(s) concurrently (i) drawing water and floating debris from the body of water into the inflow chamber(s) and main collection compartment and (ii) removing water and little or no floating debris from the main collection compartment through the water removal outlet(s) and discharging it to the body of water during collection and separation operations regardless of whether the vessel is moving.
At least one IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR and the speed of the vessel in the body of water may be selectively varied, and/or the fluid discharge pump(s) may be selectively actuated and/or at least one variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to assist in (a) varying the buoyancy thereof in real-time on an ongoing basis as needed during collection operations in response to one or more changes in wind, rain, wave action, turbulence or other sea conditions in or above the body of water, the type, density and/or viscosity of liquid in the body of water or main collection compartment, the thickness, size, composition and/or depth of floating debris in the body of water or main collection compartment, or a combination thereof, and/or (b) changing at least one among the volume, rate and ratio of floating debris and water entering the main collection compartment, (c) optimizing the intake resistance of at least one IFR, (d) optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of debris collection, (e) enhancing the separation of floating debris and water on the vessel, or a combination thereof.
If desired, at least one debris discharge pump, distinct from the fluid discharge pump(s) may be used to remove floating debris and little or no water from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and direct it to one or more debris delivery destinations during collection and separation operations. The debris pump(s) may be selectively actuated to vary the volume of floating debris removed from the main collection compartment. The suction of the fluid discharge pumps and/or speed of the vessel in the body of water may be increased during collection operations when the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is thicker than a sheen and/or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s) in order to assist in increasing the volume and/or rate of floating debris entering the main collection compartment. At least one IFR may be de-ballasted during collection operations when at least one among the (i) speed of the vessel in the body of water, (ii) suction of the fluid discharge pump(s) and (iii) wave action and/or turbulence in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s) increases.
At least one IFR may include at least one buoyant portion that free-floats at or near the surface of liquid in the inflow chamber(s). The buoyant portion(s) of IFR(s) may be lowered relative to the surface of liquid in the inflow chamber(s) during collection operations when (i) the vessel is not moving or slowed, (ii) there is a reduction in, or little or no, wave action and/or water turbulence in the body of water, (iii) the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is thicker than a sheen and/or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s), or a combination thereof. The suction of the fluid discharge pump(s) and/or the height of the buoyant portion(s) of at least one IFR in the inflow chamber(s) may be varied during collection operations to assist in (i) increasing the ratio of floating debris to water entering the main collection compartment, (ii) increasing the volume and cascading movement of floating debris passing by the IFR(s) into the main collection compartment, (iii) optimizing the intake resistance of at least one IFR, (iv) optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of debris collection, (v) enhancing the separation of floating debris and water on the vessel, or a combination thereof. The height of the buoyant portion(s) of at least one IFR may be increased in the inflow chamber(s) during collection operations when at least one among (i) the speed of the vessel in the body of water and/or the water turbulence and/or wave action in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s) increases and/or (ii) the floating debris on the surface of in the body of water is a sheen or decreases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s).
If desired, a second IFR may be disposed in the inflow chamber(s) between a first IFR and the main collection compartment, both IFRs being variable buoyancy IFRs. The second IFR may be ballasted higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the first IFR during collection operations when the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is thicker than a sheen or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s). When the vessel is moving in the body of water during collection operations, the suction of at least one fluid discharge pump may be increased to a volume that is at least slightly greater than the volume of water and/or floating debris entering the intake opening(s) to reduce or eliminate the existence or effect of head waves at the intake opening(s). One or more fluid discharge pumps may be disposed in at least one suction chamber that is distinct from the inflow chamber(s) and the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by the at least one water removal outlet. At least one suction chamber vent may be fluidly coupled to the suction chamber(s) proximate to the upper end thereof and opened during initial filling of the main collection compartment with liquid to at least partially vent the suction chamber(s) of gases and allow liquid to enter the suction chamber sufficient to submerse the water removal outlet(s) in liquid and provide a liquid-only interface between the suction chamber(s) and main collection compartment, to allow minimal or no gases to enter the main collection compartment from the at least one suction chamber.
In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water and which include a main collection compartment disposed on the vessel and having a length, width, height and upper and lower ends. At least one water removal outlet is fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the lower end than the upper end of the main collection compartment. At least one debris removal outlet, distinct from the at least one water removal outlet(s), is fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the upper end than the lower end of the main collection compartment. At least one inflow chamber is disposed on the vessel and at least partially separated from the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. The at least one passageway is disposed closer to the lower end than the upper end of the main collection compartment. At least one intake opening is fluidly coupling the at least one inflow chamber and the body of water, whereby water and floating debris can enter the vessel from the body of water through the at least one intake opening and into the at least one inflow chamber. At least one fluid discharge pump is fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by the at least one water removal outlet. The fluid discharge pump(s) are selectively controllable during collection operations to draw water and floating debris from the at least one inflow chamber, through the at least one passageway and into the main collection compartment and vary at least one among the volume, rate and ratio of water and floating debris drawn into the main collection compartment. At least first and second IFRs are at least partially floating in the same inflow chamber. The second IFR is disposed between the first IFR and the main collection compartment.
If desired, at least one IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR that is selectively controllable during collection operations to vary the buoyancy thereof in at least one inflow chamber. A variable buoyancy system may be associated with one or more variable buoyancy IFRs and is selectively controllable during debris collection operations to allow air to escape from the variable buoyancy IFR(s) and be replaced with liquid to decrease the buoyancy of the variable buoyancy IFR(s), and provide air into the variable buoyancy IFR(s) and force liquid out of the variable buoyancy IFR(s) to increase the buoyancy of the variable buoyancy IFR(s). The first and second IFRs may be pivoting-type, variable buoyancy IFRs, each disposed on the vessel at a height above the location of the at least one passageway. At least one IFR may be configured to principally limit the floating debris and water that enters the main collection compartment from the at least one inflow chamber to primarily floating debris and water that passes over the at least one IFR and thereafter moves down in the at least one inflow chamber and into the at least one passageway. The passageway(s) may have a width or diameter that is less than 10 percent the height of the main collection compartment and be disposed at or proximate to the bottom of the main collection compartment. During collection operations, the at least one passageway and the at least one water removal outlet may be configured to be submersed in liquid to provide a liquid seal of the main collection compartment below the surface of the contents thereof and allow minimal or no gases to enter the main collection compartment from below the surface of the contents thereof (e.g. to support a sealed liquid system, such as defined below).
A vertically-oriented trunk having at least one elongated, upwardly extending void may be fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment at or above the upper end of the main collection compartment. The void(s) may have a width that is smaller than the length and width of the main collection compartment. The debris removal outlet(s) may be fluidly coupled to the void(s) and the main collection compartment may be completely filled with water and/or floating debris. During debris collection operations, floating debris at the upper end of the main collection compartment may be able to pass into the vertical trunk(s) and thereafter removed through the debris removal outlet(s). A debris discharge pump that is distinct from the fluid discharge pump(s) and fluidly coupled between the debris removal outlet(s) and one or more debris delivery destinations may be included. The debris discharge pump(s) may be selectively controllable during collection and separation operations to vary the volume of floating debris removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s).
The fluid discharge pump(s) may be disposed on the vessel in at least one suction chamber that is distinct from the inflow chamber(s) and the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by at least one water removal outlet. The water removal outlet(s) may be disposed proximate to the lower end of the main collection compartment and submersed in water during collection operations. At least one gate may be associated with the passageway(s) and/or water removal outlet(s). The gate(s) may be selectively controlled to block the passageway(s) and/or water removal outlet(s) and fluidly isolate the main collection compartment from the inflow chamber(s) and/or water removal outlet(s).
At least one inflow chamber cover may extend at least partially over at least one inflow chamber on the vessel and be at least partially transparent, see-through or perforated and/or strong enough to support large-sized debris placed thereupon. At least one front door may be disposed on the vessel and selectively controllable to close off or block the intake opening(s). At least one large-sized debris guard may be provided on the vessel proximate to the intake opening(s) to assist in preventing large-sized debris from entering into the inflow chamber(s).
In the present disclosure, there are also embodiments of systems for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water. These systems include a main collection compartment disposed on the vessel and having a length, width, height and upper and lower ends. At least one inflow chamber is disposed on the vessel and is distinct from the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. At least one intake opening fluidly couples the inflow chamber(s) and the body of water, whereby water and floating debris can enter the vessel from the body of water through the intake opening(s) and into the inflow chamber(s). At least one fluid discharge pump is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment. The fluid discharge pump(s) are selectively controllable during collection operations to draw floating debris and water from the inflow chamber(s) through the passageway(s) and into the main collection compartment. At least one vertical trunk has at least one elongated, upwardly extending void fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment at or above the upper end thereof. During debris collection operations, floating debris at the upper end of the main collection compartment can pass into the vertical trunk to allow the main collection compartment to be completely filled with water and/or floating debris. At least one debris removal outlet through which floating debris can be removed from the main collection compartment is also included. The debris removal outlet(s) are fluidly coupled to the vertical trunk(s), whereby floating debris at the upper end of the main collection compartment will pass at least partially through the vertical trunk(s) as it is removed through the debris removal outlet(s). At least one IFR at least partially floats in the inflow chamber(s).
If desired, at least one wave diminishing surface may be disposed on the vessel between the IFR(s) and the body of water, slant downwardly away from the vessel and towards the body of water and be configured to assist in dampening or reducing the impact, size and/or action of waves and turbulence of water and debris entering the intake opening(s). The fluid discharge pump may be disposed on the vessel in at least one suction chamber having upper and lower ends and being distinct from the main collection compartment and inflow chamber(s). The suction chamber(s) may be fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by at least one water removal outlet, the water removal outlet(s) being submersed in water during collection operations. A suction chamber vent may be disposed proximate to the upper end of the suction chamber(s) and configured to allow the suction chamber(s) to be selectively at least partially vented of gases. At least one flooding port may be fluidly coupled between the main collection compartment and body of water and configured to allow the main collection compartment to be at least partially filled with liquid from the body of water. At least one submersible fluid pump may be fluidly coupled to at least one flooding port and selectively actuated to completely fill the main collection compartment with liquid from the body of water. At least one air discharge vent may be disposed at or proximate to the upper end of, and fluidly coupled to, the main collection compartment and be configured to selectively allow gases to be evacuated from the main collection compartment. At least one vacuum pump may be fluidly coupled to at least one air discharge vent(s) and selectively controllable to remove gases from the main collection compartment.
If desired, at least one sensor may be disposed at least partially within the main collection compartment and configured to indicate whether debris is at a particular height in the main collection compartment. At least a first sensor may be disposed inside the main collection compartment above the passageway(s) and water removal outlet(s) to indicate when debris should be removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and assist in avoiding more than minimal debris being sucked into the fluid discharge pump(s). At least a second sensor may be disposed on the vessel below the debris removal outlet(s) to indicate when debris should not be removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and assist in avoiding more than minimal water being removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s).
In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system useful for collecting debris and water from a body of water at or near the surface of the body of water onto a waterborne vessel, separating the collected debris from water on the vessel and separately off-loading the collected debris and water from the vessel. At least one intake opening is provided in the vessel at or near the front of the vessel and in fluid communication with at least a first area inside the vessel. At least one variable buoyancy IFR is disposed in the first area on the vessel aft of the intake opening and configured to at least partially float in liquid inside the first area. The IFR includes at least one variable buoyancy chamber and may be selectively actuated to vary its buoyancy by introducing air into or allowing air to escape from the buoyancy chamber. At least one fluid discharge pump is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to the first area. The discharge pump may be selectively actuated to draw debris and water from the body of water, through the intake opening into the first area and over the IFR and discharge recovered water to the body of water. At least one debris pump is fluidly coupled to the first area and configured to remove recovered debris from the vessel and offload it to at least one destination off the vessel.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves apparatus, methods and systems useful for collecting debris (and some water) from a body of water at or near the surface of the body of water onto a waterborne vessel. The vessel has front and rear ends and is positionable at or near the surface of the body of water. The vessel includes at least a first cargo compartment in fluid communication with the body of water and configured to contain water and debris. At least one bulkhead is disposed on the vessel between the first cargo compartment and the front end of the vessel. At least one intake opening is disposed adjacent to or formed in the bulkhead(s) and fluidly couples the first cargo compartment and the body of water. At least a first, at least partially buoyant, IFR is disposed at least partially in the first cargo compartment proximate to the intake opening(s). The IFR has a front end and a rear end and extends at least partially across the width of the first cargo compartment. The IFR is sufficiently buoyant so that when the first cargo compartment at least partially contains water, the front end thereof floats at or near the surface of the water in the first cargo compartment and limits the inflow of debris (and some) water from the body of water into the first cargo compartment to debris and water disposed at or near the surface of the body of water and which flows over the IFR during use of the system. At least one suction conduit is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to the first cargo compartment. At least one discharge pump is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to at least one suction conduit. When one or more discharge pumps are actuated during use of the system, it/they will create suction in at least one suction conduit to concurrently (i) draw debris and water from the body of water through the intake opening(s) over at least one IFR into the first cargo compartment and (ii) draw water from the first cargo compartment into at least one suction conduit.
In various embodiments, the present disclosure includes a system useful for collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water. The vessel includes at least one cargo compartment and at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the at least one cargo compartment with the body of water during debris collection operations. The system includes at least one discharge pump having sufficient pumping capacity both when the vessel is moving and stationary to concurrently (i) draw water and debris from the body of water, through the at least one intake opening and into the at least one cargo compartment and (ii) remove water and little or no debris from the at least one cargo compartment. At least one IFR can at least partially free-float at or near the surface of liquid in the vessel and limit the water and debris drawn from the body of water into the at least one cargo compartment to primarily debris and water that passes over the at least one buoyant portion during debris collection operations. The at least one IFR can also be selectively actuated to adjust the height of at least a portion thereof relative to the surface of liquid in the vessel during debris collection operations.
In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of collecting debris from a body of water onto a vessel moveable in the body of water and having at least one intake opening fluidly coupling at least one cargo compartment of the vessel with the body of water. At least one discharge pump on the vessel is selectively actuatable, both when the vessel is moving and stationary, to concurrently (i) draw water and debris from the body of water, through the at least one intake opening and into the at least one cargo compartment and (ii) remove water and little or no debris from the at least one cargo compartment. At least one buoyant portion of at least one IFR on the vessel free-floats at or near the surface of liquid in the vessel. The at least one IFR limits the water and debris drawn from the body of water into the cargo compartment to primarily debris and water that passes over the at least one buoyant portion of the at least one IFR during debris collection operations. The at least one IFR is selectively actuatable to adjust the height of the at least one buoyant portion thereof relative to the surface of liquid in the vessel during debris collection operations.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves an oil recovery vessel useful for collecting oil floating in a body of water in an oil spill area at or near the surface of the body of water. The vessel includes a plurality of distinct cargo compartments positioned adjacent to one another along at least part of the length of the vessel and arranged and adapted to contain sea water and oil. A front the cargo compartment is disposed closest to the front of the vessel and a rear the cargo compartment is disposed closest to the rear of the vessel. The front cargo compartment is separated from the front end of the vessel by at least one front vertical wall. Each adjacent pair of cargo compartments is separated by at least one other vertical wall. Each vertical wall includes at least one opening formed therein proximate to the upper end thereof. Each opening is arranged and adapted to allow the flow of liquid through the associated vertical wall and into the adjacent cargo compartment aft of the vertical wall.
These embodiments include a plurality of gates. Each gate allows and disallows liquid flow through at least one of the openings. Each gate is selectively movable between at least one open and at least one closed position. At least one suction conduit is fluidly coupled to each cargo compartment to concurrently allow water to be removed from, and oil to enter, any of them. The vessel also includes at least one at least partially floating, elongated, boom disposed proximate to the front of the vessel. Each boom is arranged and adapted to encourage oil to flow into the front cargo compartment from the body of water.
In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system for collecting oil on a waterborne vessel from an oil spill area at or near the surface of a body of water. The system includes at least three successively fluidly coupled cargo compartments configured to initially hold sea water and thereafter hold oil. A front cargo compartment is disposed closest to the front of the vessel and a rear cargo compartment is disposed closest to the rear of the vessel. At least one intermediate cargo compartment is disposed between the front and rear cargo compartments.
The system of these embodiments also includes a plurality of fluid passageways. At least a first fluid passageway fluidly couples the front cargo compartment to the body of water and is configured to allow the flow of liquid into the front cargo compartment from the body of water. At least a second fluid passageway fluidly couples the front and the forward-most intermediate cargo compartment and is configured to allow the flow of liquid from the front cargo compartment into the forward-most intermediate cargo compartment. If there is more than one intermediate cargo compartment, at least a third fluid passageway fluidly couples each pair of successively fluidly coupled intermediate cargo compartments in the direction of the rear end of the vessel and is configured to allow liquid flow from the forward-most of each such pair of intermediate cargo compartments to the aft-most of each such pair of intermediate cargo compartments. At least one other fluid passageway fluidly couples the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment and the rear cargo compartment to allow liquid flow into the rear cargo compartment from the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment.
The system of these embodiments also includes at least one suction conduit fluidly coupled to each cargo compartment and configured to allow each cargo compartment to be concurrently at least substantially emptied of sea water and at least substantially filled with oil, starting with the rear cargo compartment. At least one fluid discharge pump is fluidly coupled to the suction conduit(s) and arranged and adapted to concurrently draw sea water out of each cargo compartment through the suction conduit(s) and draw oil into that cargo compartment through at least one associated passageway until that cargo compartment is substantially full of oil, starting with the rear cargo compartment and ending with the front cargo compartment.
There are embodiments of the present disclosure that involve a method of collecting oil on a waterborne vessel from an oil spill area at or near the surface of a body of water. At least three fluidly interconnected cargo compartments on the vessel are at least substantially filled with sea water. A front cargo compartment is disposed closest to the front end of the vessel, a rear cargo compartment is disposed closest to the rear end of the vessel and at least one intermediate cargo compartment is disposed between the front and rear cargo compartments. The front end of the vessel is positioned in or adjacent to the oil spill area. At least a first fluid passageway allows oil and some sea water to enter the front cargo compartment proximate to the upper end thereof from the body of water. Additional fluid passageways allow oil and some sea water to pass from the front cargo compartment into each successively fluidly coupled cargo compartment proximate to the upper end thereof (in the direction of the rear end of the vessel), respectively. At least one fluid discharge pump concurrently pumps sea water out of the rear cargo compartment through at least one suction conduit and allows oil and some sea water to enter the rear cargo compartment from the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment.
After the rear cargo compartment is substantially filled with oil, the rear cargo compartment is fluidly isolated from the other cargo compartments. At least one fluid discharge pump concurrently pumps sea water out of the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment through at least one suction conduit and allows oil and some sea water to enter the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment from the cargo compartment fluidly coupled thereto on its forward side. After the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment is substantially filled with oil, the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment is fluidly isolated from the other substantially water filled cargo compartments. These acts are repeated for any additional intermediate cargo compartments and then the front cargo compartment. After the front cargo compartment is substantially filled with oil, it is fluidly isolated from the body of water.
Accordingly, the present disclosure includes features and advantages which are believed to enable it to advance debris recovery technology. Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure described above and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments and referring to the accompanying drawings.
The following figures are part of the present specification, included to demonstrate certain aspects of various embodiments of this disclosure and referenced in the detailed description herein:
Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and/or referring to the accompanying Figures. It should be understood that the description herein and appended drawings, being of example embodiments, are not intended to limit the claims of this patent (or any patent or patent application claiming priority hereto). On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and the relevant claims. Many changes may be made to the particular embodiments and details disclosed herein without departing from such spirit and scope.
In showing and describing preferred embodiments in the appended Figures, common or similar elements are referenced with like or identical reference numerals or are apparent from the Figures and/or the description herein. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the Figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
As used herein and throughout various portions (and headings) of this patent (including the claims), the terms “invention”, “present invention” and variations thereof are not intended to mean every possible embodiment encompassed by this disclosure or any particular claim(s). Thus, the subject matter of each such reference should not be considered as necessary for, or part of, every embodiment hereof, or of any particular claim(s), merely because of such reference.
Certain terms are used herein and in the appended claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Also, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used herein and in the appended claims in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ”. The use of “(s)” in reference to an item, component or action (e.g. “surface(s)”) throughout this patent should be construed to mean “at least one” of the referenced item, component or act. Further, reference herein and in the appended claims to components, feature, actions, aspects, etc. in a singular tense does not limit the present disclosure or appended claims to only one such component feature, action, aspect, etc., but should be interpreted to mean one or more and does not exclude a plurality, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in a particular claim hereof and only for such claim(s) and potentially those claim(s) depending therefrom. The use of expressions like preferably, in particular, especially, typically, etc. is not intended to and should not be construed to limit the present disclosure.
As used throughout this patent, the following terms have the following meanings, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise:
The term “and/or” as used herein provides for three distinct possibilities: one, the other or both. All three possibilities do not need to be available—only any one of the three. For example, if a component is described as “having a collar and/or a coupling”, some embodiments may include a collar, some embodiments may include a coupling and some embodiments may include both. Since the use of “and/or” herein does not require all three possibilities, a claim limitation herein that recites “having a collar and/or a coupling” would be literally infringed by a device including only one or more collars, one or more couplings or both one or more couplings and one or more collars.
The terms “coupled”, “connected”, “engaged” and the like, and variations thereof mean and include either an indirect or direct connection or engagement. Thus, if a first component couples to a second component, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other components or connections.
The terms “elongated” and variations thereof as used herein mean and refer to an item having an overall length (during the intended use of the item) that is greater than its average width.
The terms “operator”, “assembler”, “manpower”, “labor” and variations thereof as used herein refer to and include one or more humans, robots or robotic components, artificial intelligence-driven components/circuitry, other components and the like or the effort thereof.
The terms “rigidly coupled” and variations thereof mean connected together in a manner that is intended not to allow any, or more than an insubstantial or minimal amount of, relative movement therebetween as is expected during typical or expected operations. In other words, if components A and B are rigidly coupled together, they are not movable relative to one another (more than a minimal or insubstantial amount) during typical or expected operations.
It should be noted that any of the above terms may be further explained, defined, expanded or limited below or in other parts of this patent. Further, the above list of terms is not all inclusive, and other terms may be defined or explained below or in other sections of this patent.
Referring initially to
The exemplary vessel 10 may be arranged and adapted to be used in any type of body of water 30. For example, the body of water 30 may be any inland or offshore waterway, such as a sea or ocean, bay, sound, inlet, river, lake, canal, wetlands, swamp, as well as an on-shore or off-shore man-made areas or structures that contains water (e.g. pond, tank, tank farm, etc.) or the like. The nature and type of the body of water 30 is not limiting upon the present disclosure. For convenience, the water in the body of water 30 and/or in or on the vessel 10 is sometimes referred to herein as “sea water” 38, even though it may not actually be sea water, depending upon the type of body of water 30. For example, in some cases, the “sea water 38” as referenced herein may be fresh water, contaminated water, one or more other liquids or a combination thereof in an offshore (e.g. ocean) or inland body of water (e.g. lake) or a man-made area or structure (e.g. pond, tank, tank farm, etc.). In some instances, the body of water 30 may contain only, or primarily, liquids other than water. For example, when the body of water 30 is a tank farm 424 (e.g.
The illustrated vessel 10 is useful for recovering and/or collecting debris 34 floating in the body of water 30 in a debris field, or oil spill area, 36 or elsewhere at or near the surface 32 of body of water 30. For the purposes of the description below and the appended claims, the surface 32 of the body of water 32 may often be generally at sea level 33 (e.g.
In this embodiment, the vessel 10 includes a front or forward end 42, a rear or aft end 44, a left or port side 46, a right or starboard side 48 and is moveable across the surface 32 of the body of water 30 to, from and through the debris (e.g. oil) spill area 36. The front end 42 of the illustrated vessel 10 is shown having a curved shape, but could instead have a straight, rectangular or any other desired shape. The vessel 10 may be self-propelled, be propelled in a different manner or be stationary (e.g. moored platform, anchored barge, etc.). In this example, the vessel 10 is a ship-shape tanker barge 12 moved by a primary mover, such as a tug boat 14, in an integrated tug/barge arrangement. The illustrated tug 14 inserts into the barge 12 at a slot 50 at the rear end 44 of the barge 12. Other embodiments of the vessel 10 may be a self-propelled tanker or other ship, a barge moved by a tanker ship or any other type of waterborne vessel or structure. Furthermore, the vessel 10 may be a retrofit or a new vessel. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited by the nature and type of vessel 10 or whether or how it is propelled in the body of water 30.
Still referring to
Any desired number of one or more cargo compartments 60 may be included. In this example, a front, or first, cargo compartment 62 is closest to the front end 42 of the vessel 10, a rearmost, or sixth, cargo compartment 64 is closest to the rear end 44 of the vessel 10 and four intermediate cargo compartments 60 (e.g. the second 66, third 68, fourth 70 and fifth 72 cargo compartments) are positioned therebetween. However, there may be fewer (e.g. one) or more (e.g. 6, 7, 8, etc.) cargo compartments 60. Some embodiments may include cargo compartments 60 that are side-by-side, one above the other, and/or multiple rows of cargo compartments 60 or any combination thereof. The present disclosure is not limited by the number, size, location and configuration of cargo compartments 60.
The cargo compartments 60 may have any suitable size, shape and dimensions. For example, in some embodiments, the exemplary cargo compartments 60 each have a height of 45 feet, a width of 50 feet and a length of 75 feet.
If desired, the vessel 10 may have additional compartments. For example, the illustrated barge 12 is a double-hull tanker that includes outer compartments surrounding the cargo compartments 60, such as one or more side ballast tanks 80, a forward void 84 (e.g.
Still referring to the embodiment of
In this particular example, each opening 100 is formed in the corresponding vertical wall 90 proximate to its upper end 94 and the upper end 74 of the adjacent cargo compartment(s) 60. As will be described further below, the location of the openings 100 near the upper end 74 of the cargo compartments 60 may be provided, for example, to encourage primarily debris (e.g. oil and some oily water), and at time, only oil and/or other debris, to flow into the front cargo compartment 62 from the body of water 30 and then into each successive cargo compartment 66, 68, 7072 and 64 during debris recovery operations. It should be noted that to the extent that oil and/or other debris and sea water enter any cargo compartment 60, the lower density and/or buoyancy of the debris 34 (e.g. oil) and heavier density of the sea water 38 are expected, to a large extent, to cause the debris to ultimately float atop the sea water 38 therein.
The openings 100 may have any suitable size, configuration and orientation. For example, each vertical wall 90 of the illustrated debris recovery system 58 includes six square openings 100, each having dimensions of 6 feet high by 15 feet wide and spaced 6 feet from the top of the associated cargo compartment 60. However, there may be more or less openings 100 formed in each vertical wall 90, which may have any other desired dimensions and location. If desired, a removable hatch 93 (e.g.
Referring to
Still referring to
Still referring to
It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the gates 110 in the closed position may not provide a complete fluid-tight seal. Thus, when all gates 110 associated with all the openings 100 in one of the vertical walls 90 are in a closed position, the aft-most adjacent cargo compartment 60 is at least substantially sealed from the inflow of liquid from the other adjacent cargo compartment 60, or, in the case of the front cargo compartment 62, from the body of water 30. For example, when the gate(s) 110 associated with opening(s) 100 in the front vertical wall 92 are closed, the front cargo compartment 62 is at least substantially sealed from the entry of liquid from the body of water 30 through those opening(s) 100. As used herein and throughout this patent and the appended claims, the terms “substantial”, “substantially”, “primarily” and variations thereof mean generally more than 50% and depending upon the particular components involved and/or circumstances, may be more than 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and even may be more than 95%. However, in some instances of the use of the terms “generally”, “substantially” and variations thereof herein, the above definition may not apply, as should be apparent from the context of such use. For example, in some embodiments, such as upon completion of debris recovery operation and prior to transit of the vessel 10 to an off-loading location, all gates 110 may be 100% sealed.
The gates 110 may have any suitable form, construction, configuration and operation. Referring to
The gate actuator(s) 120 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. For example, the gate actuator 120 may be electronically and/or manually and/or remotely controlled. For another example, one or more gate actuators 120 may be used to control movement of one or more gates 110. For yet another example, the gate actuator 120 may be used to selectively move the associated gate(s) 110 between positions, such as between any among multiple different open positions and a closed position, based upon any suitable criteria. For example, any one or more of the gates 110 may be moved to an optimal partially-open position for encouraging mostly debris, such as oil, to flow thereby based upon the particular buoyancy, density, thickness and/or weight of the debris. Thus, the gate actuator(s) 120 may, if desired, be configured so that the position of one or more of the gates 110 may be varied throughout debris recovery operations.
Still referring to
Referring specifically to
Now referring to
The wave dampeners 140 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. Some embodiments of IFRs 140 are sometimes referred to herein as “sliding”-type IFRs 140 (e.g. gates 110,
Referring again to
In this particular embodiment, the elongated float 144 is a single tube 145 (e.g. hollow-pipe) coupled (e.g. by weld, mechanical connectors, etc.) to the end of one or more carrier 146. The illustrated carrier 146 is pivotably connected to the gate 110 associated with the openings 100, such as with one or more hinge pin 148. The exemplary carrier 146 and elongated float 144 extend across all of the openings 100 in the vertical wall 90. Depending upon the particular circumstances and arrangement, the carrier 146 may also assist in reducing the size of, or turbulence caused by, waves in the liquid passing through one or more of the openings 100, encouraging only the top layer(s) of liquid and debris (e.g. oil, oily water) to pass through the openings 100, and/or maintaining a steady flow of liquid through the openings 100. In this embodiment, the exemplary carrier 146 is a flat plate 150. When included, the carrier 146 and float 144 may be constructed of metal, plastic or any other suitable material or combination thereof. In other embodiments, the wave dampener 140 may include multiple elongated floats 144 and/or carriers 146. For example, multiple independent sets of carriers 146 with floats 144 may be side-by-side across the width of the cargo compartment 60 (e.g. to move at least partially independently relative to one another). Further, the wave dampener 140 may instead be coupled to the vertical wall 90 or other component(s).
Referring back to
The fluid removal system 158 may include any suitable components and operation. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
Referring now to
The size, number and location of the suction inlets 164 may be determined based on any suitable criteria, such as to provide the desired liquid flow rate in the associated cargo compartment 60. For example, the velocity of the liquid (e.g. sea water) being removed from the cargo compartments 60 may be determined or limited to control or limit the turbulence and mixing of the liquid (e.g. oil, oily water) entering the successive compartments 60 through the associated openings 100 and promote the separation of debris and sea water in the cargo compartments 60.
Still referring to
The valve(s) 174 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. For example, the valves 174 may be the presently commercially available Class 123, iron body, gate-type valves having an outside screw and yoke with a rising stem by Crane Co. If desired, the valves 174 may be remotely actuated, such as via an electronic controller or computer-based control system, as is and becomes further known.
Still referring to
The sensor 178 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. In this embodiment, the sensor 178 is an oily water sensor 180 disposed within each cargo compartment 60 proximate to each suction inlet 164 and configured to detect oil in the liquid entering the associated section inlet 164. For example, a distinct oily water sensor 180 may be fluidly coupled to each inlet pipe section 168 or the suction conduit 160. The illustrated oily water sensor 180 may, for example, be the presently commercially available Model EX-100P2/1000P2, in-line analyzer by Advanced Sensors. For another example, at least one oily water sensor 180 may be mounted elsewhere in the cargo compartment 60. An example of a presently commercially available oily water sensor 180 that may be mounted elsewhere in the cargo compartment 60 is the Model EX-100M/1000M side stream analyzer by Advanced Sensors. If desired, the debris recovery system 58 may be configured so that each sensor 178 may communicate with an electronic controller or computer-based control system, such as to provide control signals to the sensor 178 and/or for the sensor 178 to provide signals when the debris (e.g. oil) is detected in the sea water entering the associated suction inlet 164.
Referring back to
If desired, the fluid removal system 158 may include one or more fluid suction, or discharge, pumps 184 configured to assist in drawing fluid (e.g. sea water) from one or more cargo compartments 60 into the suction conduit 160 and discharge it from the debris recovery system 58, draw debris (e.g. and water) into the intake opening(s) 102 of the vessel 10 from the body of water 30, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. For example, the discharge pump(s) 184 may provide “active” removal of fluid from the cargo compartments 60, such as to expedite the debris recovery operation, eliminate the need to continuously move the vessel 10 through the debris field 36 during debris recovery operations, for any other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof.
The discharge pump 184 may have any suitable form, configuration, location, operation and purpose. In this embodiment, a distinct discharge pump 184 (e.g. suction pump) is fluidly coupled to the discharge pipe section(s) 182 on each side of the suction conduit 160 and configured to create suction in the fluid removal system 158 to draw liquid and debris into the vessel 10 from the body of water 30 (e.g. at the intake opening(s) 102) and from one or more cargo compartments 60 through the suction conduit 160 and out the associated discharge opening 181. In other embodiments, one or more banks of multiple discharge pumps 184 (e.g. two banks of five or six pumps each, or more or less) may be provided, such as to enhance the ability to control fluid removal during debris recovery operations, provide greater flexibility in fluid removal, reduce the potential for negative consequences caused by pump failure during operations, one or more other purposes, or a combination thereof. The illustrated discharge pump 184 may be any suitable pump capable of providing sufficient suction on one of its sides to draw debris into the vessel 10, and draw water from one or more cargo compartments 60 into the suction conduit 160 and discharge it through the associated discharge opening(s) 181. For example, the discharge pump 184 may be a presently commercially available Model 3498 double suction pump by Goulds Pumps. However, some embodiments may not include any discharge pumps 184.
Still referring to
However, the fluid removal system 158 may have any other desired components, configuration and operation. For example, the fluid removal system 158 may include multiple main suctions conduits 160. For another example, the suction conduit(s) 160 may not extend lengthwise through all the cargo compartments 60 and/or may discharge liquid at one or more intermediate location on the vessel 10. For still a further example, the suction conduit(s) 160 may deliver the drained liquid to any other desired destination (e.g. into another one or more compartments and/or other container(s) on the vessel 10, or to another vessel, such as via one or more hose, etc.). For yet another example, the fluid removal system 158 may not include any suction conduits 160 (or other components described above) and may remove liquid from only one or any combination of compartment, chambers or other locations. In some embodiments, the fluid removal system 158 may only include one or more discharge pumps 184. Thus the location, components and operation of the fluid removal systems 158 are not limiting upon the present patent and its claims or claims of any patents related hereto, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom.
Still referring to the embodiment of
In at least one deployed position, the exemplary booms 190 extend angularly outwardly from the vessel 10 away from the front end 42, the first elongated boom 192 being closer to the left side 46 of the vessel 10 and the second elongated boom 194 being closer to the right side 48 of the vessel 10. In some embodiments, for example, the booms 192, 194 may extend out into the body of water at an approximate 45-degree angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the vessel 10. In this embodiment, the deployed positions of the booms 190 are useful to form an overall funnel shape forward of the vessel 10 to allow or encourage floating liquid and debris, to flow or funnel into the front cargo compartment 62 during debris recovery operations. If desired, one or more cables or other connectors may be coupled between each boom 190 and the vessel 10, such as to provide support for the boom 190 in the deployed position(s), maintain the position of the boom 190 in the deployed position, prevent the boom 190 from moving back towards the vessel 10 from the deployed position, other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. For example, multiple cables or other connectors may extend between the vessel 10 and each boom 190 at different locations along the length of the boom 190.
The elongated boom(s) 190 may be movable between at least one stowed and at least one deployed position in any suitable manner. Referring to
If desired, the boom 190 may be configured to be moveable into and secured in more than one distinct deployed position. This may be desirable, for example, to form a wider or narrow outer reach of multiple booms 190, or any other purpose. Any suitable mechanism(s) may be used to provide multiple distinct deployed positions of the boom(s) 190. For example, the vertical pin 196 may be engaged with a ratchet-like mechanism to secure the boom 190 in multiple deployed positions. If desired, the movement of the boom(s) 190 between at least one stowed and at least one deployed position may be automated and/or automatically controlled, such as with an electronic controller or computer-based control system, as is and becomes further known.
Still referring to
Each boom 190 may be vertically moveable relative to the vessel 10 in any suitable manner. For example, the vertical pin 196 may be movable up and down relative to the upper and lower brackets 200, 202 within a desired range of motion. In this embodiment, the vertical pin 196 is movable up and down relative to the upper and lower brackets 200, 202 a desired distance 208. For example, if the distance 208 is 3 feet, the boom 190 and connected vertical pin 196 may move up to three 3 feet up and down relative to the brackets 200, 202 and vessel 10.
Still referring to
Still referring to the embodiment of
If desired, one or more flexible, fluidly impermeable cover 230 may be coupled to the boom 190 over the cross pin 197 and/or hinge pin(s) 212. This may be useful in some embodiments, for example, to prevent floating liquid (e.g. oil) and debris, from escaping from inside the funnel area caused by the boom(s) 190 through the boom 190 at the location of the cross pin 197 and hinge pin(s) 212. The flexible cover 230 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. For example, the flexible covers 230 may be flaps, sheets or other arrangements of heavy, flexible neoprene rubber. In this embodiment, each flexible cover 230 is coupled to the boom 190 only on one side of the respective cross pin 197 or hinge pin 212 to allow the remainder of the cover 230 to slide relative to the boom 190 during shifting or movement of the boom 190 or articulating section(s) 210 during operations. For example, the cover 230 disposed over the cross pin 197 may be coupled to the boom 190 forward of the cross pin 197, and the cover 230 disposed over each hinge pin 212 may be coupled to the adjacent boom section 210 forward of the hinge pin 212. In other embodiments, the cover 230 may instead be coupled to the boom 190 or other component on both respective sides of the cross pin 197 and/or hinge pins 212. For example, the cover 230 may have a pleated, or accordion-like, configuration and be coupled to both sides of the boom 190 or boom sections 210 so that it gives, or bends along with the boom 190 and/or boom sections 210.
Referring back to
An exemplary method of removing debris from a body of water 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described. Referring initially to the embodiment of
After the exemplary cargo compartments 60 are at least substantially filled with water, the vessel 10 is moved to the debris field 36. Preferably at that time, each illustrated boom 190 is moved to a deployed position, such as described above. However, the boom(s) 190 may be moved into a deployed position at an earlier or later time. Once at the debris field 36, while all of the exemplary gates 110 are in an open position, sea water is removed from the rear cargo compartment 64. For example, one or more of the valves 188 are opened and all of the valves 174, except those in the rear cargo compartment 64, are closed. The exemplary valves 174 in the rear cargo compartment 64 are opened to remove sea water from the lower end 76 of the rear cargo compartment 64 into the suction conduit 160 and out one or more discharge opening 181 in the path of arrows 240 (
Still referring to the embodiment of
In accordance with this embodiment, since the intermediate cargo compartments 66, 68, 70 and 72 are substantially full of sea water, as the lower end 76 of the rear cargo compartment 64 is being emptied of sea water, the upper layers of liquid (e.g. oil and some oily water) and other floating debris entering the front cargo compartment 62 are preferably drawn across the surface of the sea water in the intermediate cargo compartments 66, 68, 70 and 72 through the openings 100 in each successive vertical wall 90 and ultimately into the rear cargo compartment 64, such as shown with flow arrows 244 in
If one or more exemplary wave dampeners 140 (e.g.
Referring now to the embodiment of
In this embodiment, to continue the debris recovery operations, the above process as performed with respect to the rear cargo compartment 64 is repeated for each successive aft-most cargo compartment 60. For example, referring to
If desired, the above exemplary process may then be repeated for cargo compartment 70 (e.g.
In this embodiment, the above process may then be repeated for cargo compartment 68 (e.g.
In accordance with many embodiments, debris 34 is separated from sea water 38 and collected as it moves across the vessel 10 and as sea water 38 is discharged from the vessel 10. For example, large amounts of floating debris (e.g. oil) may be relatively quickly collected and removed from practically any body of water 30.
Referring back to the embodiment of
If desired, the vessel 10 may be moved in a forward direction (e.g. arrow 16,
Also, during the debris recovery operations, if desired, the position of one or more of the exemplary open gates 110 may be varied as needed to affect or control the flow of liquid into the cargo compartments 60. For example, one or more of the gates 110 may be moved into one or another partially open position, such as to provide the optimal flow rate and/or liquid content (e.g. primarily oil or other floating debris) of the flowing liquid. If desired, the height of any of the open gates 110 relative to their associated openings 100 may be dynamically adjusted during debris recovery operations, such as via an electronic controller or computer-based control system. One or more variables, such as the weight, density and viscosity of the oil and/or other debris, substances or material in the sea water, may affect and be considered in varying the position of one or more gates 110 to achieve a desired flow rate and/or content of the liquid passing through the openings 100.
When debris recovery operations are completed, the exemplary fluid removal system 158 and all the cargo compartments 60 may be fluidly isolated from the body of water 30. For example, all the gates 110 and all valves 174, 188 may be closed and the discharge pumps 184 turned off. If desired, all the gates 110 and/or cargo compartments 60 may be substantially sealed. In some embodiments, all the gates 110 and/or cargo compartments 60 may be completely (100%) sealed. The exemplary elongated boom(s) 190 may be moved to a stowed position and the vessel 10 transported to a desired location for offloading the contents (preferably primarily debris) in the cargo compartments 60. If desired, one or more other compartments on the vessel, such as the ballast tanks 80, may be emptied, such as to raise the height of the vessel 10 in the body of water 30 as it leaves the debris field 36. This may be desirable, for example, to minimize further debris (e.g. oil) contamination of the exterior surface of the side shell of the vessel 10 and/or allow cleaning/removal of any debris (e.g. oil) adhered thereto.
The contents of the cargo compartments 60 may be offloaded in any suitable manner. For example, the contents of the cargo compartments 60 may be offloaded to containers on one or more other vessel or onshore. In some embodiments, the debris (and some water) may be offloaded through the openings 100 or other openings (not shown) in the cargo compartments 60, such as via one or more hose or other component. In other embodiments, the debris (and some water) may be offloaded through the debris recovery system 58 (e.g. the fluid removal system 158). If desired, the tug 14 used with a first vessel 10 as described above may be used to take a second similar vessel 10 to the debris field 36 to recover debris while the first vessel 10 is being offloaded.
It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of
Referring now to the embodiments of
To illustrate that the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may be configured to recover a wide (potentially unlimited) variety and size of debris, the debris shown being recovered includes both generally small-sized debris 40 (e.g. oil, other chemicals, particulate pollutants, small biological materials (e.g. algae bloom), small plastic material (e.g. micro plastics), other small trash particles, small floating metallic and/or wood objects, etc.) and generally large-sized debris 41 (e.g. large trash, cups, bottles, cans and other garbage, driftwood, large biological materials (e.g. deceased marine life, algae bloom), floating wood and metallic objects). Thus, the debris recovery system 58 is not limited by type of debris or contaminants being collected, except as may be explicitly provided or recited herein or in any particular claims and only for such claim and claims depending therefrom.
As shown in
Referring to
Generally, in many embodiments, the less water 38 that is drawn into the debris recovery system 58 from the body of water 30 during debris collection operations in a debris field 36, the quicker and greater the volume of the debris 34 that can be ingested, along with other potential benefits, such as less emulsification, more space onboard for debris, more efficient, effective, extensive and quicker debris collection. Likewise, the more debris 34 that is ingested can provide any or all the same benefits. These objective can often be achieved, for example, with efforts to limit ingestion to the uppermost layer(s) of the body of water 30 (where the floating debris resides) as much as possible, sometimes referred to herein as “inflow optimization”.
In accordance with an independent aspect of the present disclosure, one way to help regulate or limit ingestion to the uppermost layer(s) of the body of water 30 is by spreading-out the intake surface area via a long front edge(s) 142 of the IFR(s) 140 (or long of the intake opening(s) 102 when IFR's 140 are not included), in some cases, for example, extending at least substantially across the entire width of the cargo compartment 60, inflow chamber 310 or other chamber or area in which it is located (or to some desired lesser extent). In these embodiments, expanding, or spreading out, the intake surface area during debris recovery effectively spreads out, and thus generally decreasing, the pulling forces of the suction pressure of the system 58 at each point along the intake. Reducing the pulling forces at any point should reduce the amount (and thus depth) of water/debris being sucked in at each point. In most applications, the shallower the water/debris of the body of water 30 in a debris field 36 that is drawn in, the less water will be drawn in. At the same time, spreading such shallow intake across a wider or longer area expands the reach for ingesting more of the top layers (debris), helping optimize debris recovery.
Another feature to potentially help regulate or limit ingestion to the uppermost layer(s) of the body of water 30 is by providing a continuous and/or consistent front edge 142 of the IFR(s) 140 across an intake opening 102 (or continuous and/or consistent front edge of the intake opening 102 when no IFR's 140 are included). Continuity and consistency in such front edge(s) should remove at least some variability in the rate and volume (and thus depth and makeup) of water/debris that flows thereover. For example, a single IFR 140 extending across an entire intake opening 102 (e.g. from wall to wall) can provide one continuous and consistent front edge 142, whereas the inclusion of (i) one or more gaps between the IFR(s) 140 and any side wall(s) or (ii) two adjacent, side-by-side IFRs 140, each extending across part of the width of the intake opening 102, may provide undesirable variability in the rate and volume (and thus depth and makeup) of the intake. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the use of a single IFR 140 (e.g. extending wall to wall) across an intake opening 102 can help optimize debris recovery. These features (independently and collectively) are referred to herein as “inflow optimization” and can be applied to any embodiments of this patent.
Referring now to
It should be noted that, in other embodiments, more than one IFR 140 may be used (e.g. side-by-side and/or one forward of another or any other configuration). The exemplary IFR 140 will typically at least substantially regulate, or limit, inflow into the cargo compartment 60 to debris (and water) that passes over the IFR 140 and disposed at or near (or comes from) the surface 32 of the body of water 30 by providing resistance to the water/debris passing through the opening 100, constraining the amount of water/debris able to pass into the compartment 60 to the top layer(s) (e.g. the least dense or most buoyant liquid/debris) moving through the intake opening 102. This is sometimes referred to herein and in the appended claims as the “intake resistance”, “ability to constrain the inflow of fluid/debris into the cargo compartment(s) 60” and variations thereof.
In many embodiments, the (e.g. ideal) intake resistance and/or suction of the discharge pump(s) 184 will cause debris (e.g. oil) to rush or cascade over the front edge 142 of the exemplary IFR 140 and into the cargo compartment 60. In the case of oil and any other debris with similar relevant properties, the IFR 140 may use the cohesive property (intermolecular attractive forces) of the debris and/or overcome the adhesion of water and debris to facilitate or encourage the inflow (and even increased velocity) of mostly, or all, debris and little water. For example, the exemplary IFR 140 may be configured and used to act similarly as holding a ladle or spoon on the surface of soup having a layer of oil or grease on top and applying downward pressure sufficient to cause or allow (up to the entire volume of) oil or grease to rush or cascade into the ladle or spoon (referred to sometimes herein as the “ladle effect”). As the small-sized debris is drawn into the exemplary vessel 10, due to the cohesive property of the debris (e.g. oil), the debris passing over the IFR 140 will effectively pull the surrounding debris across the surface 32 of the body of water 30 into the vessel 10 (potentially pulling the entire body of debris into the vessel 10).
When the debris is thin, even as thin as just a sheen, the exemplary IFR 140 may be positioned to cause a very thin layer to pass over the front edge 142 thereof, increasing the volume and cascading movement (rushing, ladle effect) of the debris as it falls over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 (e.g. due to the cohesive nature of the small-sized debris and the condition caused by the suction of the discharge pump(s) 184 of at least slightly lowering the water level rearward of the IFR(s) 140 below the water level forward of the IFR(s) 140), which may accelerate the recovery of the small-sized debris and the amount of debris recovered. In fact, the use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may result in recovery of substantially all the small-sized debris on or near the surface of the body of water in the subject debris field(s) 36.
With regard to various embodiments of the present disclosure and appended claims, there may be configurations, applications or periods of use of the debris recovery system 58 during which only debris (and no water) is collected or drawn into the cargo compartment 60. Thus, any mention herein of both debris and water being collected or drawn into the cargo compartment(s) 60 is meant to include and includes use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58 to draw in only debris, only water or any combination thereof, unless expressly provided otherwise.
In many embodiments, the debris recovery system 58 will not at least substantially mix or emulsify the incoming debris and water (e.g. due to the intake resistance and/or wave dampening effect caused by the IFR 140, utilizing one or more controllable variables, provide and/or maintain a sealed liquid system, such as defined below, or other factors), allowing the debris to rise above the water in the cargo compartment 60. Often, the exemplary cargo compartment 60 will contain a defined layer of debris on top of the water and may include an intermediate layer of mixed debris and water (e.g.
With various embodiments of the present disclosure, on-board separation of debris and water may be easy, achievable and not overly onerous or time-consuming, allow substantial volumes of (acceptably clean) water to be discharged from vessel 10 (to the environment) and thus free up more on-board space for debris, allow the ultimate waste collected to have a high ratio of debris to water (e.g. 95 or more parts debris to 1 part water), other benefits or a combination thereof. For example, the less water that is ultimately included with the collected debris (collectively, the “waste”), (i) the more space will be available for collecting and storing the waste, and (ii) the less waste that needs to be stored, transported and dealt with, freeing up more space, effort and expense in storing, handling and treating debris.
Depending on the particular type and conditions of use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58, the position (and movement) of each IFR 140 and its intake resistance, the rate of inflow and volume of incoming debris (and some water) and the debris-water ratio entering the vessel 10 may be regulated and varied as desired by selectively controlling one or more “controllable” variable. Some potential examples of controllable variables are the (i) height, width and length of the cargo compartment 60 and/or vertical trunk 372 (described below) (e.g. which can be predesigned or selectively adjustable, such as with one or more removable partitions), (ii) direction and speed of movement of the vessel 10, (iii) buoyancy of the exemplary IFR 140, (iv) use of one or more IFR variable buoyancy mechanisms (such as described below), (v) activity such as the amount of suction within the cargo compartment 60 or other part of the vessel (e.g. varying suction with the use of one or more variable speed discharge pumps 184 and/or multiple discharge pumps 184, manipulating one or more of valves (e.g. valves 174, 188) in the fluid removal system 158), (vi) off-loading of debris from the vessel 10 (e.g. through one or more debris pumps 380,
One or more “non-controllable” variables may also influence the position (and movement) of each IFR 140 and its intake resistance, the rate of inflow or volume of incoming debris (and some water) and the debris-water ratio entering the cargo compartment 60 or other part of the vessel 10 and can be factored in (e.g. in real-time, on an ongoing basis) when deciding on the manipulation or use of one or more controllable variable. Some potential examples of non-controllable variables include environmental factors (e.g. wind, rain, wave action, sea conditions, etc.), the type or nature (e.g. density, viscosity) of liquid in the cargo compartment 60 and body of water 30 (e.g. fresh verses salt water) and the type, thickness, composition and depth of the debris 34 in the body of water 30, as well as the size or varying sizes of debris 34 at the debris field, all of which may be changing on an ongoing basis during operations.
As mentioned above, the IFR 140 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation and some examples of IFRs 140 are a “pivoting”-type IFR (e.g. FIGS. 23-34, 40-46) and a “sliding”-type IFR (e.g.
In this embodiment (as well as other embodiments (e.g.
Still referring to
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the pivoting-type IFR 140 may not include any separate floats 144 or buoyancy chambers 152. Any other suitable component(s) may be included to provide the desired buoyancy of the IFR 140. For example, the carrier 146 may include one or more buoyancy sections, cavities or chambers, and may be at least partially inflatable. For another example, the IFR 140 (e.g. carrier 146) may include foam or other material with floatation properties to provide the desired buoyancy or uplift of the front end 140b or other portion thereof. For yet another example, the IFR 140 may be, or include, one or more bladder bags coupled to the vessel 10 proximate to the front end 42 thereof and configured to provide the desired intake resistance. If desired, the bladder bag(s) may be fixed buoyancy or variable buoyancy (e.g. similarly as described below).
Still referring to
In this embodiment, one or more seal members 155 (e.g. elongated gaskets 156) are also shown extending along the front edge 146c of the carrier 146 (see also
If desired, one or more seal members 155 (e.g. elongated gaskets 156) may be provided along the rear edge 146d of the exemplary carrier 146, such as to at least substantially seal any gap between the IFR 140 and the bulkhead 92 or other component, other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. One or more seal members 155 may instead or additionally be provided on the bulkhead 92, side wall(s) 82 of the cargo compartment 60 or other components of the vessel 10 to at least substantially sealing engage the IFR 140, any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. However, other embodiments may include fewer or no seal members 155 or different variations of sealing components.
Referring again to
Still referring to
Referring again to
Referring to
In
Now referring to
The sliding-type IFR 140 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. In this embodiment, as shown in
Similarly as described above, the sliding-type IFR 140 may not include any separate floats 144 or buoyancy chambers 152, but possess other suitable component(s) to provide the desired buoyancy. For example, the carrier 146 may include one or more buoyancy sections, cavities or chambers, and may be at least partially inflatable. For another example, the sliding-type IFR 140 (e.g. carrier 146) may include foam or other material with floatation properties to provide the desired buoyancy or uplift of the front end 140b or other portion thereof. For yet another example, the sliding-type IFR 140 may be, or include, one or more bladder bags coupled to the vessel 10 proximate to the front end 42 thereof and configured to provide the desired intake resistance. If desired, the bladder bag(s) may be fixed buoyancy or variable buoyancy.
Still referring to
Referring to
Referring specifically to
Referring now to
If desired, the illustrated sliding-type IFR 140 may be positioned within the cargo compartment 60 with the guide pins 288 inserted into the respective rails 290, 292 before the top deck 54 (or at least the foremost section of the top deck 54) is secured to the vessel 10. If the exemplary debris recovery system 58 includes a variable buoyancy system 250 (such as described below), the system 250 may be used to selectively position the front end 140b of the sliding-type IFR 140 as desired. Otherwise, the debris recovery system 58 can be used to provide the desired intake resistance, similarly as described above with respect to the pivoting-type IFR 140.
Referring now to
The variable buoyancy system 250 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. In this embodiment, referring to
The exemplary variable buoyancy system 250 includes at least one air exchange conduit 254 (e.g. flexible hose, steel pipe, etc.) fluidly coupled to the buoyancy chamber 152 and configured to allow the selective insertion and removal of air (and/or gas(es)) into the chamber 152. For example, one or more air compressors 258 may be provided on the vessel 10 for selectively suppling compressed air into the buoyancy chamber 152 via the air exchange conduit 254, such as through one or more risers 262 (e.g. steel pipe, flexible tubing, etc.). However, any other arrangement of components may be used to selectively provide air in the buoyancy chamber 152.
Still referring to
In this embodiment, the variable buoyancy system 250 also includes one or more discharge conduits 270 (e.g. to the atmosphere) fluidly coupled to the buoyancy chamber 152 to allow air to be selectively discharged therefrom. For example, the illustrated riser 262 is shown fluidly coupled to both the air compressor 258 (e.g. via air supply branch 260) and at least one air discharge conduit 270, such as at a T-connector 272. The illustrated variable buoyancy system 250 also includes at least one relief valve 276 and at least one fill valve 278 that may be actuated to allow/disallow air to be selectively supplied into the buoyancy chamber 152 from the air compressor 258 (or other source) and discharged out of the buoyancy chamber 152 via the discharge conduit 270. One or more check valves 280 may be included in the variable buoyancy system 250 (e.g. in the supply branch 260 and/or one or more discharge conduit 270), such as to allow only one-way air flow in desired sections of the variable buoyancy system 250.
Referring now to
Referring to
There may be various situations in which it is desirable to increase the buoyancy of the IFR 140 with the use of the exemplary variable buoyancy system 250. For example, as the cargo compartment 60 becomes more filled with oil (and/or other low density debris), the IFR 140 will tend to float lower in the cargo compartment 60 and it may be desirable to raise up the IFR 140 (e.g. to establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and/or optimal intake resistance). For other examples, it may be desirable to increase the buoyancy of the IFR 140 (e.g. to establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and/or optimal intake resistance) upon moving the vessel 10 forward from a stationary position, increasing the forward speed of the vessel 10, initiating or increasing suction pressure (e.g. via the discharge pumps 184 and/or in the relevant suction conduit(s) 160) in the cargo compartment(s) 60, increased wind or wave action (e.g. where fluid pressure provides increased push on the IFR 140), the occurrence of one or more other events, or a combination thereof.
To increase buoyancy of the exemplary IFR 140 using the illustrated variable buoyancy system 250, the relief valve 276 is closed, the fill valve 278 is opened and the desired volume of air is injected into the buoyancy chamber 152 from the air compressor 258 (or other source) to push out the desired volume of liquid from inside the buoyancy chamber 152 through the water exchange opening(s) 154. When the desired position of the IFR 140 is achieved, the exemplary valve 274 is closed.
In some embodiments, the variable buoyancy system 250 may be useful on an ongoing basis to continually, or as necessary, selectively adjust the position of the IFR(s) 140 in the cargo compartment(s) 60 to influence (e.g. improve) the efficiency and effectiveness of debris collection operations (e.g. collect as much debris as quickly as possible), establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and/or optimal intake resistance, other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. Further, the variable buoyancy system 250 may be used in conjunction with one or more other controllable or uncontrollable variables, as mentioned above. Any of the embodiments of the IFR 140 described or shown herein (or of any other embodiments of the debris recovery system 58) may be equipped to function as a variable-buoyancy IFR 140 in the manner described/shown herein or otherwise. Thus, the description herein of the variable-buoyancy IFR 140 and corresponding figures, for example, may be applied to the embodiments of
It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of
Now referring to
An example (small-sized) vessel 10 of various embodiments may have an approximate length of 32′, an approximate width of 10′ and an approximate depth of 4.75′ and be configured to effectively recover debris in waterways that may have up to approximately 12″ waves (e.g. inland waterways and shallow off-shore locations). As discussed above, the vessel 10 may be self-propelled or propelled by one or more other vessel or in any other manner. In some embodiments, the vessel 10 may be self-propelled with two propel units 19 powered by one or more power units. In some embodiments, two MJP Ultrajet 251 units sold by Marine Jet Power, Inc., each having a 250 mm diameter impeller and joy stick control may be used as the propel units 19 and be powered, for example, by a General Motors Marine Diesel VGT500 as the power unit.
In an independent aspect of the present disclosure, in various embodiments, a substantially, or completely, submerged flow path (e.g. liquid-only, entirely or substantially void of gas) can be provided at least from the intake opening(s) 102, one or more IFRs 140, and/or inflow chamber(s) 310, through the passageway(s) 100 and to the suction pumps 184 during debris collection operations, which is sometimes referred to herein as a “sealed liquid system”. In various embodiment, a substantially, or completely, submerged (liquid-only) flow path may also extend to the discharge port(s) 356 and/or debris pump(s) 380, when included. A sealed liquid system may be desirable, for example, to optimize the effort of the suction pumps 184, provide optimal or maximum suction at the intake openings 102 and/or IFRs 140 (when included), help provide and/or control a desired rate and velocity of incoming debris, optimize system performance and efficiency, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, with an exemplary sealed liquid system, the ratio of suction pressure (or liquid velocity) at the suction pumps 184 to suction pressure (or liquid velocity) at the intake openings 102 or IFRs 140 can be optimized, such as 1:1 minus the friction loss of fluid/debris travelling therebetween. This may be achievable, for example, by creating and maintaining a vacuum and/or one or more vacuum, or fluid, sealed spaces at, around or between the suction pumps 184 and passageways 100 (and possibly other components), so debris 34 flows substantially entirely through liquid and/or any gas entering the flow path during operations can be removed.
Referring still
In other examples, one or more fluid passageways 100 may comprise only a part of the space 101 formed or provided in or proximate to the lower end 91 of the exemplary vertical wall 90 (which may extend to the bottom 83 of the compartment 60, hull 55 or other component) or provided elsewhere. In yet other embodiments, the exemplary passageway(s) 100 between the cargo compartment 60 and inflow chamber 310 may be in one or more suction conduit(s) 160 (e.g. similarly as described above and shown in various appended figures (e.g.
Still referring to
In other embodiments, one or more intake openings 102 may, for example, comprise only part of the space 102a, or may be formed in a front bulkhead or vertical wall of the vessel 10 (e.g. similar to other embodiments described above, e.g.
The recessed front deck(s) 56, when included, may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. In this embodiment, the recessed front deck 56 is provided at or near the front 42 of the vessel 10 forward of the front IFR 140c. For example, the recessed front deck 56 may extend between (or near) the front edge 55a of the hull 55 and a front IFR support wall 320. If desired, the recessed front deck 56 may include a wave diminishing surface 57 that slants downwardly toward the front end 42 of the vessel 10 to assist in dampening or reducing the impact, size, action of waves/turbulence in the body of water 30 (e.g. like a beach) or otherwise caused by fluid/debris entering the inflow chamber 310, encourage only the top layer(s) of liquid/debris (e.g. oil 34, debris, algae, oily water) to pass through the intake opening(s) 102, limit the flow of sea water through the intake opening(s) 102, other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof. However, the recessed front deck 56 may have different features or not be included in various embodiments.
Still referring to
Referring now to
It should be noted that, in any desired embodiments, one or more debris processors (e.g. processors 550a, 550b,
Still referring
In at least one closed position, the exemplary doors 328 may be configured to substantially or fully, fluidly seal the intake opening(s) 102 and the mouth 43 of the vessel 10 (e.g. to prevent wave splash from entering the vessel 10 and/or debris from escaping from the vessel 10 therethrough during transit to a debris field, for one or more other purposes or a combination thereof). In at least one open position, the exemplary gates 330 allow sea water/debris flow into the inflow chamber 310 for debris recovery operations. If desired, the door(s) 328 may be configured to funnel or encourage debris to move towards the inflow chamber 310 during debris recovery operations. In fact, the door(s) 328 may have any of the compatible features, details or capabilities of the elongated boom(s) 190 as described above and/or shown in other figures appended hereto (e.g.
Still referring
The illustrated large-sized debris guard 334 is configured to be stowed atop the inflow chamber cover 316 (e.g. during transit and/or non-use of the debris recovery system 58) and deployable therefrom to one or more positions forward of the front 42 of the vessel 10. For example, the guard 334 may be pivotably coupled to the inflow chamber cover 316 (e.g. via one or more hinge pins 339) or other component of the vessel 10 and selectively pivotable (e.g. up, over and down, e.g. along arrows 341) relative to the vessel 10 (e.g. by electric or solar powered motor, hydraulic or pneumatic power source, manually or otherwise) between at least one stowed position (334a) and at least one deployed position (334b). However, any other components and technique may be used to deploy the large-sized debris guard 334, when included. For example, it may be coupled to one or more front doors 328, manually placed in at least one deployed position, etc.
In a deployed position, the exemplary large-sized debris guard 334 extends angularly outwardly in front of the vessel 10 and between the open front door(s) 328 (when included) so that its bottom edge 336 is preferably typically submersed in sea water 38 during debris recovery operations. For example, the large-sized debris guard 334 may include a main (e.g. rectangular) panel 335 and side (e.g. triangular) wing panels 337 in order to extend fully between the open doors 328 and across the vessel mouth 43. In this embodiment, the side wing panels 337 are pivotably coupled to the main panel 335 between at least one folded (e.g. stowed) position and at least one open (e.g. deployed) position of the side wing panels 337, such as with hinge pins 342 or one or more other coupling devices.
If desired, the large-sized debris guard 334 may be selectively releasably coupled to the front door(s) 328 (e.g. gates 330), such as to increase the structural tolerance and/or strength of the doors 328 and/or guard 334, maintain the desired operating position(s) of the doors 328 and/or guard 334, other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, the side wing panels 337 are configured to be selectively releasably coupled at or near their respective side edges 338 to the open gates 330 with retractable or releasable pins, clamps or the like. However, the large-sized debris guard 334, when included, may have any other suitable arrangement of components and operation.
Referring back to
Multiple IFRs 140 (e.g. the front and rear IFRs 140c, 140d) may be used in the inflow chamber 310 to improve debris collection operations by directing or allowing mostly debris (more debris and less sea water) into the cargo compartment 60, dampening or reducing wave action and/or turbulence in water entering the vessel 10, providing for more consistent debris recovery operations during a project (e.g. by efficiently and effectively managing the impact of controllable and non-controllable variables to provide steady inflow of primarily debris (e.g. small-sized debris) into the cargo compartment(s) 60), for any other purposes or a combination thereof.
For example, in many use scenarios, the front IFR 140c may typically float primarily in sea water 38 in the inflow chamber 310 (e.g.
Still referring to
In at least some scenarios, the front IFR 140c of various embodiments may be characterized as being more likely to adjust position (e.g. pivot and/or be selectively pivoted in response to controllable and/or non-controllable variables) drastically in its unique environment and to achieve the desired objectives of the front IFR 140c, while the rear IFR 140d may be characterized as more being more likely to adjust position (e.g. pivot and/or be selectively pivoted in response to controllable and/or non-controllable variables) by slight adjustments due to its unique environment and in order to optimize debris recovery operations. For example, the front IFR 140c of a debris recovery system 58 designed to effectively recover debris in a body of water that may have up to approximately twelve inch (12″) waves (e.g. on inland bodies of water and shallow off-shore locations) may move (e.g. pivot) within an arc of up to approximately twelve-fourteen inches (12-14″) in response to the controllable and non-controllable variables acting upon it during operations. In that scenario, the exemplary rear IFR 140d, though capable of moving within the same range of motion, may be expected to and/or selectively manipulated to move within a smaller range of motion in response to the controllable and non-controllable variables acting upon it and the desired objectives.
As discussed above, in various embodiments, during use of the debris recovery system 58, the buoyancy of the variable-buoyancy IFRs 140 may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of air in the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 of the IFR 140. In some embodiments, such as shown and discussed elsewhere herein, the buoyancy may be increased, for example, by blowing air from a low-pressure air compressor through piping and/or flexible hoses (e.g. flexible hoses may accommodate the movement of the IFR 140) into the buoyancy chamber(s) 152. As air is introduced into the exemplary buoyancy chamber(s) 152, liquid is pushed out of the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 through one or more openings 154 in (e.g. the bottom of) the buoyancy chamber 152. The buoyancy of the exemplary variable-buoyancy IFR 140 may be decreased by releasing air from the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 through the same flexible hoses and/or piping (e.g. through one or more vent valves). In such instances, the hydrostatic pressure around the buoyancy chamber 152 (and/or a motor, gravity or other cause) may force water back into the chamber 152, resulting in increased weight of the IFR 140 and a tendency for the IFR 140 to be positioned lower, relative to the surface of the liquid it floats in. Letting water into a buoyancy chamber 152, such as described above, may be referred to herein as “ballasting” the IFR 140, while forcing water out of a buoyancy chamber 152 may be referred to as “de-ballasting” the IFR 140.
Referring again to
For another example, when conditions allow, the exemplary vessel 10 may be configured to collect debris while in transit (typically moving forward) through the debris field or fields. The transit motion of the exemplary vessel 10 may create head waves at the front 42 of the vessel 10 and intake opening 102. The head waves may, in many instances, be avoided, reduced or mitigated by increasing the suction of the exemplary discharge pumps 184 (e.g. one or more operators visually observing the water in front of the vessel 10 to see or anticipate head waves and ramping up the pumps 184 as needed). For example, the exemplary discharge pumps 184 may be configured to suck in sea water from the cargo compartment 60 at a rate or volume that is at least slightly greater than the rate or volume of water/debris entering the intake opening 102, reducing or eliminating the existence or effect of head waves. If the maximum suction capacity of the exemplary discharge pump(s) 184 is achieved and head waves are forming, it may be desirable to slow the forward velocity of the vessel 10 to avoid, reduce or mitigate the existence or effect of the head waves. In any case, an increase in the transit motion of the exemplary vessel 10 or suction of the discharge pump(s) 184 (and/or suction of the debris pumps 380 (described below), typically to a less extent than the discharge pump(s) 184), or the existence of head waves or other water turbulence forward of the vessel 10, or any combinations thereof, will typically apply increased forces and/or friction upon the IFRs 140, which may be offset by de-ballasting one or more of the exemplary IFR(s) 140 to a more buoyant position. For example, it may be desirable or necessary to (potentially significantly) de-ballast the front IFR 140c, and (typically) less necessary to de-ballast the rear IFR 140d (or de-ballast it to a lesser degree than the front IFR 140c) to counter increased friction and/or forces thereupon.
For still a further example, the thicker the small-sized debris 40 (e.g. oil 34) on the surface 32 of the body of water 30, the less buoyant the exemplary IFRs 140 (particularly the rear IFR 140d) may typically need to be in order to allow more debris to pass or cascade over it/them. Thus, it may be desirable to (potentially significantly) ballast the exemplary rear IFR 140d and potentially also ballast the front IFR 140c (or ballast it to a lesser degree than the rear IFR 140d) depending upon the thickness of the debris 40. In scenarios with thicker debris, it may also or instead be beneficial to increase the suction of the exemplary discharge pump(s) 184 and/or transit velocity of the vessel 10 to increase debris inflow. Thus, adjustments to the buoyancy of the IFRs 140 may benefit from consideration of the other controllable and non-controllable variables.
In use scenarios when the small-sized debris 40 (e.g. oil 34) on the surface 32 of the body of water 30 is thin (e.g. a mere sheen), it may be desirable to de-ballast the exemplary IFRs 140 (particularly the rear IFR 140d) to make them more buoyant and cause a very thin layer of debris to pass over the front edge 142 thereof. As used herein, the terms “sheen” and variations thereof mean a very thin layer of small-sized debris (e.g. oil), such as less than 0.0002-0.005 mm floating on the water surface. Finessing the position of the exemplary IFRs 140, particularly the rear IFR 140d, to cause a very thin layer (e.g. razor or paper thin, sheen) of the small-sized debris 40 to pass over it may increase the volume and cascading movement (rushing, ladle effect) of the debris being collected as it falls over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 (e.g. due to the cohesive nature of the small-sized debris (particles pulling other particles across the surface of the body of water 30 into the vessel 10) and/or suction of the discharge pump(s) 184 to at least slightly lower the liquid level rearward of the IFR(s) 140 relative to the liquid level forward of the IFR(s) 140) and cause the liquid forward of the IFRs 140 to move rearward and accelerate the recovery of small-sized debris and amount of debris recovered). In fact, the use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may result in recovery of substantially all the small-sized debris on or near the surface of the body of water in the subject debris field(s) 36.
Referring still to
The exemplary suction chamber 340 is shown separated from the cargo compartment 60 by at least one vertical wall 90 and fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment 60 by at least one fluid passageway 100 that allows fluid flow past the vertical wall 90. As shown in
Referring back to
In other examples, the passageway(s) 100 may comprise only part of the space 101, or one or more passageways 100 may be formed or provided in or proximate to the lower end 91 of the exemplary vertical wall 90 (which may extend to the bottom 83 of the cargo compartment and/or suction chamber 340, hull 55 or other component) or elsewhere. In other embodiments, one or more suction conduits 160 (such as described above and shown in the corresponding drawings) may also or instead extend between the cargo compartment(s) 60 and the suction chamber(s) 340 (and/or discharge pump(s) 184) and/or fluidly couple the cargo compartment(s) 60 with the suction chamber(s) 340 (and/or discharge pump(s) 184). Thus, the form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation of the passageway(s) 100 fluidly coupling the suction chamber 340 and cargo compartment(s) 60 are not limited or limiting upon the present disclosure, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom. If desired, a selectively moveable gate (e.g. gate 110,
Referring still to
The liquid captured by the exemplary discharge pump(s) 184 may be delivered to any desired destination, such as discussed above. For example, the discharge pumps 184 may discharge liquid (e.g. entirely or substantially pure sea water) from the cargo compartment 60 into the body of water 30 via at least one discharge opening 181. If desired, the fluid removal system 158 may include one or more discharge pipe (or hose) sections 182 extending from the discharge pump(s) 184 to the body of water 30 (or another vessel, storage tank, bladder bag etc.) for discharging the liquid. However, any other components and techniques may be used for moving or transporting the liquid removed from the cargo compartment(s) 60 by the discharge pump(s) 184 off the vessel 10.
Still referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the escape of air from the suction chamber 340 through the suction chamber vent 344 may, if desired, be selectively controlled with at least one suction chamber vent valve 346, cap or other component. When included, the suction chamber vent valve 346 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the suction chamber vent valve 346 (and suction chamber vent 344) may be selectively opened and closed manually (e.g. accessible by operators on the top deck 54) or electronically (e.g. via computer-based controller) as is and becomes further known. In some embodiments, the suction chamber vent valve 346 may, for example, be a suitable 3″, 300#, ball valve.
Still referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the flow of sea water into the cargo compartment 60 through the flooding port 354 may be selectively controlled with at least one flood valve 358. The flood valve(s) 358 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the flood valve 358 (and flooding port 354) may be selectively opened and closed via a manual flood valve handle 360 (e.g. accessible by operators on the top deck 54) or electronically (e.g. via computer-based controller) as is and becomes further known. In some embodiments, the flood valve 358 may be a suitable 3″, 150#, flanged ball valve. In other embodiments, a flood valve 358 may not be included (e.g. one or more remotely controllable cap, conduit, submersible fluid pump 376 (e.g.
Still referring to
Still referring to
When included, the air evacuator(s) 366 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. In this embodiment, the air evacuator 366 includes a vacuum pump 370 (e.g. 24-volt standard vacuum pump, hydraulic drive diaphragm pump (e.g. SELWOOD PD 75 positive displacement pump)) fluidly coupled to the discharge port 356 at at least one inlet 371 so that the vacuum pump 370 can be selectively actuated to draw air (and other gases) out of the cargo compartment 60 and exhaust it to atmosphere (or other desired destination). In other embodiments, the air evacuator(s) 366 may also or instead include at least one submersible fluid pump 376 (e.g.
Referring again to
In some embodiments, the debris pump 380 may be variable speed, or multiple independently controllable debris pumps 380 may be included, such as to serve as a controllable variable during debris recovery operations, provide greater flexibility in the speed of off-loading the debris, other purpose or a combination thereof.
In this embodiment, the inlet 382 to the illustrated debris pump 380 is fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment 60 (e.g. via the discharge port 356) at or near the upper end 74 thereof (e.g. to assist in ensuring that only (or primarily) debris that floats to the upper end 74 of the cargo compartment 60 is removed thereby and/or for any other purpose). In other embodiments, the inlet 382 to the debris pump(s) 380 may be fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment 60 at a location 382a (e.g.
Referring still to
Referring to
If desired, the inlet(s) 382 to the exemplary debris pump(s) 380 may be fluidly coupled to the vertical trunk 372 at or upwardly of the top (e.g. upper wall 81) of the cargo compartment 60, and the inlet(s) 371 to the vacuum pump(s) 370 may be spaced upwardly of the inlet 382 to the debris pump 380. With this exemplary arrangement, the vacuum pump 370, when included, may be configured to evacuate air, and other gases, 28 (e.g.
Still referring to
In the present embodiment, at least a first sensor 178a (e.g.
Some exemplary alternative or additional arrangements for detecting debris/water levels in the vessel 10, cargo compartment 60 or other location may include one or more water sensors 497 (e.g.
An exemplary embodiment of a method of debris recovery with the debris recovery system 58 of
Referring now to
Referring now to
However, any other method of and components for evacuating air/gas from the cargo compartment 60 or otherwise at least substantially flooding or filling the compartment 60 with liquid may be used. For example, in the embodiment of
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring again to
Now referring to
Referring back to
It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of
Referring now to
For another example, one or more intermediate walls, or other partial barriers, such as an enclosure or compartment containing the vessel engine or other equipment, (not shown) may extend into or occupy part of the cargo compartment 60 and contribute to one or more of the above purposes (e.g. discourage mixing or emulsification of water 38 and debris 34), such as by slowing the flow of water 38 and debris 34 in the compartment 60. For yet another example, the height, length or width of the cargo compartment 60 and/or vertical trunk 372 (when included) can be designed or varied to help achieve one or more of the stated objectives, such as by allowing more space for debris 34 to rise and/or separate from water 38. If desired, the vertical trunk 372 may be particularly shaped and/or configured (e.g. L-shaped, formed with a tall height or a wide, sloped or inverted-funnel shaped mouth) to achieve one or more such purposes, such as by providing increased space therein to allow a maximum volume of debris and minimal volume of water to be removed (e.g. via the debris pump(s) 380) and/or allow water 38 to drain off and leave primarily or only (e.g. highly concentrated) debris 34 therein. However, any additional or different features may be provided to contribute to the desired objectives.
Referring still to
The water sensor(s) 497 may have any suitable form, components, construction, location and operation. The illustrated water sensor 497 is a guided wave radar level sensor 498. In this embodiment, the guided wave radar level sensor 498 reads the elevation of the “top of water” relative to the height of the collection chamber 60. For example, the guided wave radar level sensor 498 may be installed at the top of the vertical trunk 372 (or other location) with its elongated probe 499 extending down into the cargo compartment 60 to a desired depth (e.g. proximate to the bottom 83, at a desired height above the rear passageway 100 or elsewhere). One presently available exemplary guided wave radar level sensor 498 is the VEGAFLEX 81, 4 . . . 20 mA/HART, two-wire, rod and cable probe and TDR sensor for continuous level and interface liquid measurement by VEGA Grieshaber KG (www.vega.com). If desired, VEGA's VEGADIS 81 external, digital display and adjustment unit may be used with it. However, any number of these and/or other types of sensors 178 (e.g. oily water sensors 180, gas or air sensors, multi-medium sensors) or techniques may be used to help determine, measure or gage the nature, height, location or volume of the contents of the cargo compartment 60.
Still referring to
In this embodiment, the debris pump 380 (and/or other components) may include fittings for at least one return line 381 and at least one debris disposal hose 386, both fluidly coupled to one or more valves (not shown) to allow selection of the desired path. For example, when pulling the vacuum on the exemplary cargo compartment 60, the first sign of water (debris or other substances or materials) in, or exiting from, the return line 381 may provide verification that all air has been extracted from the compartment 60, a sealed liquid system has been established and debris separation operations may commence. The exemplary return line 381 may then be closed and the debris pump 380 used to remove debris from the collection chamber 60. However, any other configuration of components and techniques may be used to direct the output of the debris pump(s) 380 (or other components) during or after the creation or maintenance of a vacuum in the cargo compartment 60, help determine when a sealed liquid system has been established and/or debris separation operations may commence or for any other purpose, if such features are included.
Referring now to
Any suitable components and techniques may be used to help prevent debris from entering the exemplary discharge pump(s) 184 and/or suction chamber(s) 340, such as by encouraging only water flow to the pump(s) 184, help slow or calm the velocity of liquid/debris moving through the chamber(s) toward the pump(s) 184, prevent formation of a current (e.g. arrows 364), reduce downward flow and encourage upward flow of debris in the chamber(s), help lessen turbulence and the potential for emulsification of debris and water therein or a combination thereof. For example, one or more barriers may be positioned or selectively positionable in that flow path 364, such as one or more intermediate walls (not shown) and/or enclosures or compartments containing the vessel engine or other equipment (not shown) extending up from the bottom 83 of the compartment 60 or otherwise into the flow path 364.
Still referring to
In some embodiments, the suction diffuser plate 504 may extend across a large area of the chamber 60 to assist in reducing the velocity and thus calming the flow water/debris moving through the chamber 60 (e.g. across flow path 364), equalizing water/debris flow across the desired length of the chamber 60, reducing emulsification, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. For example, the plate 504 may extend across approximately the entire width, and approximately ⅗ the entire length, of the chamber 30. In other embodiments, one or more plates 504 may extend across any other portion(s) of any chamber, such as across less than the entire width (e.g. ⅓, ¼, ½, ¾, ⅗, etc.), or across more or less than ⅗ the entire length (e.g. ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, ¾, ⅘, etc.), of the subject chamber(s) and be secured, positioned and arranged in the debris recovery system 58 in any other suitable manner. For example, multiple suction diffuser plates 504 may be piggybacked together, side-by-side or spaced-apart in the desired chamber(s).
Referring still to
In some embodiments, the total combined open area of all the perforations 510 in the suction diffuser plate 504 may be greater than the space 101 below the lower end 91 of the rear vertical wall 90 by any desired multiple (e.g. 5-10×). This may, for example, cause the effect of dispersing out and increasing the size of the inlet(s) to the suction chamber 340 and/or discharge pump(s) 184, helping reduce turbulence and the velocity of flow into the suction chamber 340 and/or discharge pump(s) 184. If desired, the perforations 510 may be formed in the plate 504 in a specific pattern and/or configuration to help equalize, or balance, the flow of water through and below the suction diffuser plate 504 during operations and/or for any other purposes. In this embodiment, greater restriction on the flow of water through the plate 504 is provided (e.g. via smaller sized perforations 510 and/or wider spaces therebetween) closer to the discharge pumps 184 where the suction may be the strongest, while fluid flow restriction is continually reduced along the length of the plate 504 (as the perforations 510 increase in size and are spaced closer and closer together) from its rear end 506 to its front end 507, where suction pressure from the discharge pumps 184 should be weakest. However, the suction diffuser plate 504 may have any other arrangement of perforations 510 and/or other features.
Still referring to
When included, the face plate 508 may have any suitable form, configuration and location. For example, the face plate 508 may be a non-perforated, downwardly extending part of the suction diffuser plate 504 or a separate component. In this embodiment, the face plate 508 extends between the suction diffuser plate 504 (e.g. at its front end 507) and the bottom 83 of the chamber 60. For example, the face plate 508 may be integral with the suction diffuser plate 504 or bottom 83 of the chamber 60 or be coupled thereto (e.g. with bolts, rivets, weld, epoxy, etc.). However, the face plate 508 may have a different configuration (e.g. partially perforated) and be associated with these or any other components in any manner. Moreover, the gap 504a may be fully, or only partially blocked, at any desired locations (e.g. at the rear end 506, or one or more mid-points, of the suction diffuser plate 504) and in any suitable manner. For example, at or proximate to its front end 507, the suction diffuser plate 504 may instead abut or be coupled to a partial vertical wall (see e.g. wall 90a,
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the filter(s) 514 may be (e.g. slightly) raised above the plate 504, such as to maximize flow of water through the filter 514, help prevent clogging of the perforations 510, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, additional and/or different types of filters 514 may be strategically placed at any desired locations in the debris recovery system 58.
Referring now to
When included, the floating debris processing system 530 may be configured reduce the size of incoming debris in any manner and with any suitable components. For example, one or more debris conveyors 534 (e.g. conveyor belt) may extend (or be extendable) from, or over, the front 42 of the vessel 10 and into the body of water 30 forward, or in the path, of one or more intake openings 102. When included, the conveyor(s) 534 may have any suitable form, construction, configuration and operation. In this embodiment, the conveyor 534 can be positioned to dip below the surface 32 of the body of water 30 directly forward of the intake opening 102 and generally in the path of the water/floating debris being drawn into the vessel 10 (e.g. inflow chamber 310). Thus, at least some of the water 38 and floating debris 34 coming into the vessel 10 should encounter the exemplary conveyor 534 and, when the conveyor 534 is turned on, will be drawn up onto it and conveyed to one or more destinations (e.g. debris processor 550).
Still referring to
The exemplary conveyor 534 may deliver debris conveyed thereon (e.g. large-sized debris 41) to one or more destinations in any suitable manner. In this embodiment, the conveyor 534 is angled upwardly over at least part of the front 42 of the vessel 10 so that it will drop debris 34 carried thereon into a debris processor 550, which will process (e.g. fragment) the incoming debris 34 and discharge it onto the vessel 10. Thus, the size and type of debris that can be accepted on the exemplary conveyor 534 may be dictated by the capabilities of the debris processor 550.
Still referring to
If desired, multiple similar, or different types of, debris processors 550 can be provided at any desired locations, such as back-to-back, side-by-side or at different stages in the debris recovery system 58. In this embodiment, a stage-1, or first, debris processor 550a is positioned to receive debris 34 from the conveyor 534, such as described above, and a stage-2, or second, debris processor 550b is positioned proximate to the discharge port(s) 356 in the cargo compartment 60. The illustrated first debris processor 550a is configured for heavy-duty processing of large-sized debris 41 into smaller fragments, while the second debris processor 550b is configured for more fine fragmenting of debris 34, such as to help ensure the size of its output debris pieces are within the acceptable limits of the debris pump(s) 380 and/or other subsequent parts or components in the debris recovery system 58.
Still referring to
The illustrated second debris processor 550b may be the same or similar as the first debris processor 550a or a different unit capable of reducing debris to even smaller, or finely ground, particles acceptable by subsequent components in the debris recovery system 58 (e.g. less than 1″ for processing by the debris pump(s) 380). Some examples of presently commercially available grinders that can be used in some embodiments as the first debris processor 550a are the EZstrip™ TR Munchers, Models CT201 or CT203/CT205 by NOV Process & Flow Technologies of the United Kingdom (See e.g. https://www.mono-pumps.com/mono+muncher), or the 30K & 40K In-line Muffin Monster sewage grinders by JWC Environmental® (See e.g. https://www.jwce.com/product/30k-40k-inline-muffin-monster/).
If desired, any on-board debris processors 550 (or debris pumps 380) could include a “clean-out” to collect debris items that are too big to be processed or otherwise rejected thereby. The exemplary debris processor(s) 550 may be coupled to the vessel 10 and operable in any suitable manner. For example, the debris processor(s) 550 may be pinned to vessel 10 to facilitate easy installation and removal and/or for any other purpose. The illustrated debris processors 550 are hydraulically actuated, but could be powered in any other manner and controlled via electronic controller, remote control (e.g. with AI, circuitry, software) or in any other suitable manner.
In some embodiments, one or more mechanical feeders (not shown) or other components (e.g. robotic handler) could be strategically positioned to help feed debris into one or more exemplary debris processor 550. In the present embodiment, a feeder (e.g. funnel) could be positioned over the first debris processor 550a to help align or orient and feed extra-large, or odd-shaped, debris (e.g. a log, chair, fence post, miscellaneous debris entangled in fishing net, rope) into the unit 550a. Also or instead, one or more operators could be on-site to help feed large or odd-shaped debris items or conglomerations into the debris processor 550a and/or remove anything too big or not suitable (e.g. marine life or other animals) for processing in the debris recovery system 58.
Referring now specifically to
When included, the debris transport barge(s) 560 may have any suitable construction, configuration, components and operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the debris transport barge 560 includes multiple transport containers 566 for holding debris offloaded from the vessel 10. For example, each transport container 566 may be a removable box positioned on the deck 562 of the barge 560 and fluidly coupled to one or more debris disposal hoses, or pipes, 386 extending from the debris pump(s) 380 (or other components) of the debris recovery system 58. In this embodiment, the debris disposal hose 386 extends over each transport container 566 and drops, or pours, the debris therein via a fully open top of the container 566 or one or more windowed cover or other passageway. One or more valves (not shown) may be used to selectively access each transport container 566, if desired.
Still referring to
Referring now to
Any suitable components and techniques may be used to provide a closed-loop variable buoyancy system 250. For example, the buoyancy chamber 152 may not utilize water exchange openings (e.g. openings 154,
Still referring to
In an exemplary operation, the buoyancy of the IFR 140 may be increased by selectively injecting compressed air into the buoyancy chamber 152 via one or more air compressors 258 (or other sources), similarly as described above with respect to other embodiments, but in this case to push water (or other liquid) out of the buoyancy chamber 152 and into the holding tank(s) 502 (or other destination). To decrease buoyancy of the exemplary IFR 140, for example, air (or other gas) can be selectively vented out of the chamber 152, allowing the desired volume of water or other liquid to passively drop (e.g. via gravity) or be driven (e.g. via pump, motor, etc.) into the buoyancy chamber 152. However, any other arrangement of components may be used to selectively provide liquid and gas into and out of the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 of one or more variable buoyance IFRs 140.
It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of
One exemplary operational sequence for the direct use of the vessel 10 (e.g.
The exemplary discharge pump(s) 184 (e.g. two submersible process discharge pumps) may be activated, drawing water from the bottom of the cargo compartment 60 and typically causing debris 34 (e.g. oil) and typically some additional sea water 38 to be drawn into the intake opening 102 of the vessel 10 and into forward part of the cargo compartment 60 (or inflow chamber 310). The debris and water (with minimal emulsification or mixing, hopefully) will be drawn into the exemplary collection chamber 60, wherein the debris 34 will rise to the top while water is drawn out from the bottom.
In various embodiments, one or more sensors in the collection chamber 60 with read and communicate the level of debris or water in the chamber 60, which information can be used to vary operations. Whenever desired (e.g. when the debris has accumulated in the chamber 60 to a desired depth), debris can be drawn out of the cargo compartment 60 and directed to any desired destination. For example, one or more debris (e.g. crude oil) pumps 380 (e.g. fluidly coupled to one or more vertical trunks 372) at or proximate to the top of the cargo compartment 60 can be activated to remove debris 39 from the chamber 60 and direct it to the desired destination(s) (storage tank or cavity, barge, bladder bag, etc.). Likewise, whenever desired (e.g. when the lower level of debris in the chamber 60 is up at a desired height), the removal of debris can be slowed or stopped to allow more debris to accumulate and build up in the chamber 60, and so on. For example, one or more debris pumps 380 can be slowed or de-activated.
This exemplary process can be repeated until the debris field 36 has been acceptably mitigated. Depending upon the embodiment, to assist in debris recovery, throughout recovery operations the vessel 10 may be moved, sped-up, slowed and stopped, the discharge pumps 184 and or debris pumps 380 may be turned on, off and varied in speed, the buoyancy and position of any variable buoyancy IFRs 140 (if included) can be varied, as desired.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the remote debris recovery arrangement 420 includes at least one floating debris collection, or ingestion, head 440 carrying one or more intake openings 102, IFRs 140 and inflow chambers 310, and which is associated with and remote from at least one collection system 460. The exemplary ingestion head 440 is configured to be disposed in the body of water 30 to receive or ingest debris (and/or water, other liquid, substances, materials, etc.) therefrom and transmit it to the collection system 460. For the reader's convenience, whatever debris 34, water, other substances, chemicals, materials, solids, etc. that is ingested by the ingestion head 440 is sometimes simply referred to herein as the “intake” of the ingestion head 440.
Still referring to
The exemplary collection system 460 receives output from the ingestion head 440 and may store and/or separate ingested substances/materials, direct the debris, water and/or other substances or materials to one or more desired locations, perform other functions, or a combination thereof as desired. For example, the collection system 460 may be coupled to the ingestion head 440 only by one or more transmission conduits 480 and include one or more collection chambers 60, a fluid removal system 158 and a debris separation system 350. However, in other embodiments, the collection system 460 may include other or different components and be coupled to the ingestion head 440 or otherwise associated therewith in any other manner. For example, the collection system 460 may merely consist of one or more pits, tanks, cavities, containers, bladder bags or other suitable structures or areas for the storage, processing or other disposition of water, debris, other substances, etc. from the ingestion head 440.
It should be noted that those components and features of the remote debris recovery arrangement 420 described or shown herein with respect to
In various embodiments, the remote debris recovery arrangement 420 may be used at onshore (e.g.
Still referring to
The illustrated debris recovery site shows an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement 420 used in connection with a tank farm 424 having multiple product storage tanks 426 surrounded by the berm 428. However, multiple remote debris recovery arrangements 420 can be used at the same location and the tank farm 424 could have different or other components. Thus, the present disclosure and appended claims are in no way limited by the characteristics, contents or any other details of the tank farm 424 or the type or the nature, type and characteristics of the debris (e.g. product) 34, water 38 and intake of the ingestion head 440, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom. Moreover, the remote debris recovery arrangement 420 is not limited to use at tank farms 424, but may be used at any other onshore or offshore location. Accordingly, the location of the remote debris recovery arrangement 420 is not limiting upon the present patent and its claims or claims of any patents related hereto, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom.
Referring now to
At least one IFR 140 is shown provided in the exemplary ingestion head 440 proximate to each intake opening 102 and pointing inwardly toward the inflow chamber 310 to help control the inflow of debris 34, water, other liquids, substances and/or materials through the associated intake opening(s) 102 and into the inflow chamber 310, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. Any desired number (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and so on) of any combination of pivoting-type, sliding-type, fixed-buoyancy or variable buoyancy IFRs 140 (e.g. having any of the features and capabilities described above), and/or any other form of IFR 140, may be included in the ingestion head 440. All features, variations, components, capabilities, purposes and other details associated with the IFRs (a/k/a wave dampeners) 140 provided in other parts of this patent are applicable with respect to the IFRs 140 of
Referring again to
The exemplary ingestion head 440 may include multiple intake openings 102 and/or IFRs 140 to allow debris to be collected from select or multiple sides of the ingestion head 440 (e.g. without moving the ingestion head 440) to assist in rapid ingestion of debris 34, allow debris collection to be selectively focused in the debris field or body of water 30, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, five intake openings 102 and associated IFRs 140 are provided around the entire perimeter of the ingestion head 440, allowing concurrent collection from any direction up to 360 degrees around the perimeter of the ingestion head 440.
Referring still to
Referring to
Referring again to
When included, the ballast cavities 454 may have any suitable form, configuration, location and operation. For example, one or more ballast cavities 454 may include foam or other floating material, air or a combination thereof. If desired, one or more of the ballast cavities 454 may be selectively controllable (e.g. by insertion and/or removal of water, air, other fluids, etc.) to ensure the desired ballasting of the ingestion head 440 during operations, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, for example, it may be necessary or desirable to adjust the buoyancy of the ingestion head 440 during operations, such as when the contents of the transmission conduit(s) 480 changes.
Additional or different ballasting components (e.g. floats, air jets, etc.) may be included in the ingestion head 440 or associated therewith (e.g. by tether) at any desired location. For example, one or more ballast cavities 454 may instead or also be provided on the underside of the ingestion head 440. Accordingly, additional, different or no ballast cavities 454 may be provided, and when the ingestion head 440 is configured to float, any suitable form, configuration and operation of components may be used. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited by the nature, type, configuration, components, location, operation or inclusion of ballast cavities 454 or other ballasting components associated with the ingestion head 440, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom.
Referring now to
If desired, the ingestion head 440 may be selectively moveable (e.g. via gravity, electric motor, hydraulic or pneumatic control systems, etc.) between multiple positions. For example, the ingestion head 440 may be moveable generally up and down between at least one stowed position (e.g.
Referring still to
In some embodiments, one or more transmission conduits 480 and/or other components (e.g. arms, guides, etc.) may be configured to allow, cause or assist in the desired movement of the ingestion head 440 between positions. For example, the ingestion head 440 may be pivotably coupled to one or more stationary distal transmission conduits 480b (or other components) to allow the ingestion head 440 to move between positions. In this embodiment, the ingestion head 440 is pivotable relative to a single exemplary distal transmission conduit 480b shown anchored in position, such as by being buried in or otherwise secured to the earth.
Still referring to
To cause, allow or accommodate the desired movement of the ingestion head 440, the exemplary transmission conduit(s) 480 may, for example, include rigid, flexible, spooled, telescoping or otherwise expandable/contractable tubing or hose. However, other embodiments may include any other desired number, type and configuration of transmission conduits 480 or other components configured to allow, cause or assist in the desired movement of the ingestion head 440 in any suitable manner. Thus, the inclusion, type, configuration and operation of components useful to assist in moving the ingestion head 440 are not limiting upon the present patent or its claims or the claims of any patents related hereto, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom.
Referring to
If desired, the ingestion head 440 may be configured to maintain the exit ports 450 therein submerged in liquid during debris collection operations, such as to assist in providing a sealed liquid system and/or for any other purposes. The exit port(s) 450 may be retained submerged in liquid during operations in any suitable manner. For example, the ingestion head 440 may include at least one at least substantially sealed, substantially liquid-filled, vacuum cavity 496 extending around the exit port(s) 450 and which can maintain the exit port 450 submersed in liquid during operations. In this embodiment, the vacuum cavity 496 is formed between one or more inflow chamber covers 316 and the exit port 450, at least one inner (e.g. ring-shaped) wall 492 surrounding the exit port 450 and extending upwardly from the bottom surface 488 of the inflow chamber 310 to a desired height therein below the inflow chamber cover 316 and at least one outer (e.g. ring-shaped) wall 494 extending downwardly from the inflow chamber cover 316 radially outward of the inner wall 492 to a desired height below the upper edge 492a of the inner wall 492 and above the bottom surface 488 of the inflow chamber 310. However, the vacuum cavity 496 may be formed in any other manner. (See also
Still referring to
The exemplary vacuum cavity 496 could also or instead serve as a fire snuffer 490 that will submerge virtually all debris 34 flowing into the exit port 450 in liquid and may extinguish burning debris 34 (or have any other purposes). In the illustrated embodiment, the only passageway into the illustrated vacuum cavity 496 is the space 496a extending below the lower edge 494a of the outer wall 494. Thus, the incoming debris 34 must pass through that space 496a (e.g. void of air or other gas) along its intake flow path 500 to the exit port(s) 450. As long as the liquid level in the exemplary vacuum cavity 496 remains above the upper edge 492a of the inner wall 492 during operations, such as described above, the lower edge 494a of the outer wall 494 and (liquid-only) space 496a will remain submerged in liquid, forcing the incoming debris 34 to be submerged and (hopefully) extinguishing any incoming burning debris 34 (even if the entire vacuum cavity 496 is not void of gas). (See also
Still referring to
Referring now to
An example of inflow optimization can be shown with respect to
Referring now to
The exemplary inflow chamber cover 316 may be integral to the ingestion head 440, or temporarily or permanently coupled thereto (e.g. by weld, adhesive, mechanical connectors, any other technique or a combination thereof). If desired, the inflow chamber cover(s) 316 may be removable or openable, such as to provide access into the inflow chamber 310, allow repair and/or replacement, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. However, the inflow chamber cover(s) 316 could have any other form, shape, configuration (e.g. be perforated) and operation. Thus, the present patent and its claims, or the claims of any patents related hereto, are not limited to the inclusion of, or form, configuration, construction, orientation and operation of the inflow chamber cover 316, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom.
Referring back to
Now referring briefly back to
Referring back to
Referring now to
Still referring to
The illustrated vessel 10, such as any of the embodiments described above, is equipped with one or more IFR's 140 for direct debris collection and is easily adaptable to (e.g. even concurrently) receive intake from the ingestion heads 440. The vessel 10 may receive intake from the ingestion head(s) 440 in any suitable manner. For example, the vessel 10 may be fluidly coupled to the ingestion heads 440 with one or more transmission conduits 480 or other components. In this embodiment, one or more couplings 436 is provided to secure at least one transmission conduit 480 extending from the ingestion head(s) 440 to the vessel 10. The illustrated couplings 436 are retractable flanges that releasably secure the transmission conduit(s) 480 (e.g. hose) to the vessel 10 so that intake from the ingestion head 440 can flow through one or more fluid passageways 100 in the conduit(s) 480 onto the vessel 10. However, the couplings 436 and/or other components for assisting in coupling one or more ingestion heads 440 with a vessel 10 could take any other form.
Still referring to
Now referring to
In some instances, the exemplary vacuum manifold 580 may be releasably coupled (e.g. with fastener(s)) to one or more surfaces forming the inflow chamber 310 to secure its position during use and seal the portion(s) 310a and be removable for stowage during non-use. In other embodiments, the vacuum manifold 580 may be movable between one or more operating and stowed positions, permanently mounted in an operating position or integral with the vessel 10. If desired, the vacuum manifold 580 may be at least partially transparent, or see-through, to allow the use of cameras or visibility to operators on the vessel 10 to observe one or more conditions in the fluid-sealed portion(s) 310a or for any other purposes. The exemplary manifold 580 may have any other compatible features of the inflow chamber cover 316 described and shown elsewhere.
Referring now to
Still referring to
Referring now to
The collection tank 462 may, for example, simply store the inflow from the ingestion head(s) 440 in the collection chamber(s) 60, such as for later disposal or to route the inflow to one or more desired locations. In the present embodiment, the collection tank 462, at its front end 42, includes at least one inflow chamber 466 that receives the intake arriving from the ingestion head 440. The inflow chamber 466 may have any suitable form, configuration, components, operation and purpose (e.g. such as those of the inflow chamber 310). For example, the inflow chamber 466 may be provided to help decrease the velocity of the incoming inflow, allow the settling and separation process of water/debris to begin before entering the cargo compartment 60, allow, discourage reduce, or prevent emulsification of water and debris as it enters the collection tank 462, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. If desired, one or more other surfaces or components, such as vertical walls 90 (e.g. that directs the inflow upward, downward or in any other tortuous path) may form, or be provided in, the inflow chamber 466 for any such purpose(s).
Still referring to
If desired, the fluid passageway(s) 100 between the inflow chamber 466 and cargo compartment(s) 60 may be typically fully submerged in liquid during operations (e.g. to allow a sealed liquid system), for one or more other purposes or a combination thereof). However, in other embodiments, any desired number, form, configuration and location of, or no, inflow chambers 466 and associated vertical walls 90 and passageways 100 may be included.
Referring now to
Referring back to
The exemplary suction chamber 340 is shown separated from the cargo compartment 60 of the collection tank 462 by at least one vertical wall 90 and fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment 60 by at least one fluid passageway 100 that allows fluid flow past the vertical wall(s) 90. During debris recovery operations, the exemplary discharge pump(s) 184 are configured to create suction in the suction chamber 340, cargo compartment 60, inflow chamber 466 (if included) and the transmission conduit(s) 480 to (ideally concurrently) (i) draw debris (and typically some water) from the body of water 30, through the intake opening 102, over the IFR(s) 140 (if included) and into the inflow chamber(s) 310 of the ingestion head 440 (e.g.
Referring still to
While the exemplary passageway(s) 100 between the inflow chamber 466 and/or suction chamber 340 (if included) and cargo compartment(s) 60 of this embodiment effectively serve at least one common or similar purpose as the “suction conduit(s) 160” described above and shown in various appended figures (e.g.
In some embodiments, one or more IFRs (e.g. IFRs 140,
Referring again to
At least one exemplary suction chamber vent and related components (not shown) may be included to allow the suction chamber 340 to be selectively at least partially vented of air to allow flooding and/or liquid-sealing of the exemplary cargo compartment 60, transmission conduits 480 and ingestion head 440, formation of a sealed liquid system and/or for any other purposes. At least one flooding port and related components (not shown) may be included to allow the cargo compartment 60 to be selectively filled with liquid and/or for any other purposes. If desired, a vacuum may be formed in the compartment 60 so that all or a desired lesser amount of air therein may be removed therefrom and the entire cargo compartment 60 (or a desired lesser amount) filled with water, debris, other substances or a combination thereof. For example, at least one air evacuator 366 (or other components) configured to encourage flooding, filling and/or air evacuation of the cargo compartment 60 may be included. One or more debris pumps 380 configured to remove small-sized debris 40 from the cargo compartment 60 (e.g. during or after debris recovery operations) may be included.
Still referring to
In some embodiments, one or more vertical trunks 372 may be associated with (e.g. provided over) the discharge port(s) 356 in any desired manner. For example, the vertical trunk 372 may extend upwardly from (e.g. and above the upper wall 81 of) the cargo compartment 60 and/or may start inside the chamber 60, extend at least partially sideways or have any other configuration. If desired, the inlet(s) 382 to the exemplary debris pump(s) 380 may be fluidly coupled to the vertical trunk 372 upwardly of the top (e.g. upper wall 81) of the cargo compartment 60. With this exemplary arrangement, the air evacuator 366 (or other components) could be configured to evacuate air from the cargo compartment 60 sufficient to allow water/debris in the cargo compartment 60 to then fill the compartment 60 and extend up into the vertical trunk 372. In such instances, floating debris (e.g. small-sized debris 40) may be able to rise all the way to the top of the exemplary cargo compartment 60 and into the vertical trunk 372 (e.g. providing for a maximum volume of debris collected in the compartment 60 and removed therefrom). However, the vertical trunk(s) 372, when included, may have any other configuration and operation.
Still referring to
Referring back to
Referring briefly to
Referring again to
Referring now to
Still referring to
It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of
Different exemplary remote debris recovery arrangements 420 may be purpose-designed or equipped for recovering primarily or only liquid or solid (e.g. plastic) debris, for on-shore or waterborne operations, for use in small or large bodies of water 30 or any combination thereof. Likewise, different exemplary vessels 10 may be designed for only direct waterborne debris recovery operations or for use with ingestion heads 440 as part of a remote debris recovery arrangement 420, for recovering only liquid (e.g. oil) debris or solid (e.g. trash) debris, for use in small (e.g. inland) or large bodies of water 30 or any combination thereof. For example, an exemplary small-version vessel 10 may be configured for direct recovery of liquid (e.g. oil) debris in small bodies of water and easily, quickly configurable to also or instead accommodate solid debris and used in a remote debris recovery arrangement 420 to receive debris intake from one or more ingestion heads 440. For another example, the vessel 10 or other collection system 460 may be a combination model for handling both liquid and solid debris. Yet another example may be a vessel 10 or other collection system designed specifically for continuous solid trash collection.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the debris recovery system 58 in able to recover, or ingest, and store (or dispose of) large amounts of debris (e.g. oil) on the vessel 10 or other collection system 460 without causing any or significant additional mixing, or emulsification, of the debris with water on the vessel 10 or other collection system 460. By so avoiding further emulsification, the need to separate the debris and water on the vessel 10 or in the collection system 460 is minimized or reduced, reducing the need for extensive separation equipment, allowing for the discharge of a high volume of water or high ratio of water to debris, allowing for the collection of debris accompanied with minimal contaminated water, reducing the time and cost of operations and storage and transport of the recovered debris before final disposal or recycling, producing a water output that is sufficiently contaminant free to be exhausted to the environment, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In many embodiments, a sealed liquid system and/or inflow optimization features may be provided to enhance performance during debris collection operations.
In typical oil recovery operations, an oleophilic collection process is often used followed by the use of dispersants. After the dispersants are used, however, the typical oleophilic collection processes cannot be restarted for further debris collection. Thus, it is often difficult to know when to switch over (guess at the extent of the debris field) to dispersants. The oleophilic collection process may be terminated prematurely to the detriment of thorough and effective debris recovery operations. Since the exemplary debris recovery systems 58 and methods of use thereof do not rely upon or use any oleophilic collection process, the debris recovery systems 58 can be used before and after the use of dispersants, providing great flexibility in determining when to utilize dispersants and likely improved effectiveness in debris recovery operations.
The present disclosure includes many different independent facets, such as the debris recovery system 58, fluid removal system 158, debris separation system 350, vessel 10, remote debris recovery arrangement 420, collection system 460, collection tank 462 and injection head 440, each of which can include any one or more of the components, features, details and uses described or shown herein with respect to any embodiments herein, and each of which is not limited to or by the particular form, configuration, construction, components, location, operation and other details relating thereto as described above and shown in the appended figures. Thus, the details of the debris recovery system 58, fluid removal system 158, debris separation system 350, vessel 10, remote debris recovery arrangement 420, collection system 460, collection tank 462 and injection head 440 as provided and shown herein are not limiting upon the present patent and its claims or claims of any patents related hereto, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom. Further, each such facet and its components and uses can be a stand-alone product or service and thus a unique invention in its own right, separate and distinct from other facets, components and uses.
It should be noted that the form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation of the components mentioned above are not limited or limiting upon the present disclosure or any claims of any patents related hereto, unless and only to the extent as may be expressly provided in a particular claim and only for that claim and claims depending therefrom.
Any of the components described above or shown in the appended figures may be automated or electronically or remotely controlled, such as with a computer-based controller, artificial intelligence, computer software and circuits, robotics and otherwise as is and becomes further know, to the extent that electronic control is desired and compatible for use with such component(s).
Each embodiment described herein or shown in the appended figures and any other embodiments of the debris recovery system 58 may have any one or more of the features described herein, shown in the appended figures or apparent therefrom. Thus, the exemplary embodiments, for example, do not require all of the features presented herein or shown in the appended figures for such embodiments or other embodiments. Accordingly, all of the above components are not required for every or any particular embodiment of the debris recovery system 58 and/or any other components may be used. In fact, it should be clearly understood that the debris recovery system 58 may consist of merely one or more tanks, containers, bladder bags, or any other suitable structure or area for the storage, processing or other disposition water, debris, other substances and materials, or a combination thereof.
Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure thus offer advantages over the prior art and are well adapted to carry out one or more of the objects of this disclosure. However, the present invention does not require each of the components and acts described above and is in no way limited to the above-described embodiments or methods of operation. Any one or more of the above components, features and processes may be employed in any suitable configuration without inclusion of other such components, features and processes. Accordingly, different embodiments of the present disclosure may have any one or more of the features described or shown in, or which may be apparent from, this patent. Moreover, the present invention includes additional features, capabilities, functions, methods, uses and applications that have not been specifically addressed herein but are, or will become, apparent from the description herein, the appended drawings and/or claims.
The methods described above or claimed herein and any other methods which may fall within the scope of the appended claims can be performed in any desired or suitable order and are not necessarily limited to any sequence described herein or as may be listed in the appended claims. Further, the methods of various embodiments of the present disclosure may include additional acts beyond those mentioned herein and do not necessarily require use of the particular components shown and described herein, but are equally applicable with any other suitable structure, form and configuration of components.
While exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, many variations, modifications and/or changes of the system, apparatus and methods of the present disclosure, such as in the components, details of construction and operation, arrangement of parts and/or methods of use, are possible, contemplated by the patent applicant(s) hereof, within the scope of any appended claims, and may be made and used by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit, teachings and scope of this disclosure and any appended claims. Thus, all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative, and the scope of the disclosure and any appended claims should not be limited to the embodiments described or shown herein.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/110,014 filed on Nov. 5, 2020 and entitled “Systems, Apparatus & Methods for Collecting Floating Debris”, and is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/899,200 filed on Jun. 11, 2020 and entitled “Systems, Apparatus & Methods for Collecting Debris from a Body of Water”, which is a continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/052,045 filed on Aug. 1, 2018, entitled “Systems, Apparatus & Methods for Collecting and Separating Floating Debris and Water From a Body of Water” and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,683,627, which is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/492,724, filed on Apr. 20, 2017 and entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Recovering One or More Contaminants from a Body of Water”, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,526,055 and is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/881,394 filed on Oct. 13, 2015 and entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Recovering Oil from a Body of Water”, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,643,692 on May 9, 2017 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/064,776, filed on Oct. 16, 2014 and entitled “System, Apparats and Methods for Collecting Debris from a Body of Water”, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1591024 | Dodge | Jul 1926 | A |
| 2891672 | Veld et al. | Jun 1959 | A |
| 3667235 | Preus et al. | Jun 1972 | A |
| 3688506 | Marcocchio | Sep 1972 | A |
| 3701430 | Tuttle | Oct 1972 | A |
| 3708070 | Bell | Jan 1973 | A |
| 3762256 | Frantz | Oct 1973 | A |
| 3847816 | DiPerna | Nov 1974 | A |
| 3923661 | Crisafulli | Dec 1975 | A |
| 3926812 | Neal | Dec 1975 | A |
| 3970556 | Gore | Jul 1976 | A |
| 3983034 | Wilson | Sep 1976 | A |
| 4033876 | Cocjin et al. | Jul 1977 | A |
| 4054525 | Propp | Oct 1977 | A |
| 4120793 | Strain | Oct 1978 | A |
| 4211659 | Nyfeld et al. | Jul 1980 | A |
| 4264444 | Bronnec | Apr 1981 | A |
| 4308140 | Pierson, Jr. | Dec 1981 | A |
| 4372854 | Szereday | Feb 1983 | A |
| 4381994 | Ayers | May 1983 | A |
| 4545315 | Becherer | Oct 1985 | A |
| 4554070 | Jordan | Nov 1985 | A |
| 4851133 | Rymal | Jul 1989 | A |
| 4921605 | Chastan-Bagnis et al. | May 1990 | A |
| 4959143 | Koster | Sep 1990 | A |
| 5043065 | Propp | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5047156 | Sullivan | Sep 1991 | A |
| 5102540 | Conradi et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
| 5108591 | Hagan | Apr 1992 | A |
| 5194151 | Broussard | Mar 1993 | A |
| 5215654 | Karterman | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5292430 | Sullivan | Mar 1994 | A |
| 5308510 | Gore | May 1994 | A |
| 5378376 | Zenner | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5688075 | Gradek | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5893978 | Yoda et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
| 8318012 | Dragna | Nov 2012 | B2 |
| 9643692 | Covington | May 2017 | B2 |
| 10293895 | Covington | May 2019 | B2 |
| 10526055 | Covington | Jan 2020 | B2 |
| 20030132154 | Morin | Jul 2003 | A1 |
| 20030180604 | Zenger | Sep 2003 | A1 |
| 20060008865 | Cote | Jan 2006 | A1 |
| 20100314329 | Prior | Dec 2010 | A1 |
| 20130032524 | Dragna | Feb 2013 | A1 |
| 20140165894 | Gastaldi et al. | Jun 2014 | A1 |
| 20170197689 | Covington | Jul 2017 | A1 |
| 20190338481 | Covington | Nov 2019 | A1 |
| 20200208368 | Milanovich | Jul 2020 | A1 |
| 20220056655 | Covington | Feb 2022 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 206327542 | Jul 2017 | CH |
| 202931787 | May 2013 | CN |
| 108179774 | Jun 2018 | CN |
| 109267551 | Jan 2019 | CN |
| 208897281 | May 2019 | CN |
| 112389596 | Feb 2021 | CN |
| 0005411 | Nov 1979 | EP |
| 2287000 | Sep 1995 | GB |
| 100877213 | Jan 2009 | KR |
| 1020150101653 | Sep 2015 | KR |
| 101556558 | Oct 2015 | KR |
| 9521764 | Aug 1995 | WO |
| WO-9919204 | Apr 1999 | WO |
| 2014158391 | Oct 2014 | WO |
| WO-2020099713 | May 2020 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Machine-generated English translation of CN 202931787, generated on Feb. 17, 2024. |
| Machine-generated English translation of KR-100877213, generated on Oct. 24, 2024. |
| Ecooceane Products, http://ecooceane.com/products/, 7 pp. no date. |
| Oil Spill Recover Europe Ltd., YouTube video demonstration page and company information, 7 pp. no date. |
| Patzek, Tad W., “Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee Jun. 9, 2010 Briefing”, Jun. 8, 2010, 16 pp. |
| “Oil Skimmer ‘The Big Gulp’”, 2 pages, News Item Reported by Fox News 8, John Snell, Anchor, http://ladcompanies.com/index.php/home/news/101-oil-skimmer-qthe-big-gulpq.html, 2 pp.no date. |
| “Oil Whale How it Works”, Copyright 2016 by Oilwhale Oy, http://www.oilwhale.fi/how-it-works/, 5 pp. |
| ELASTEC Weir Skimmers, https://www.elastec.com/products/oil-spill-skimmers/weir-oil-skimmers/, 11 pp. No date. |
| ABASCO Wier Skimmers, https://www.abasco.com/weir-skimmers.html, Copyright 2005-2022 Abasco, 3 pp. |
| Lamor, Weir Skimmer LWS 800/GTA . . . , https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5964221/Weir%20skimmer%20LWS%20800%7B2%7DGTA%20115%7B2%7DGTA%20140%20-%20226633.pdf, 1 p. No date. |
| Lamor, Weir Skimmer LWS 500 . . . , https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5964221/Weir%20skimmer%20LWS%20500%20Suction%20-%20213366%3B%20Weir%20skimmer%20LWS%20500.pdf, 2pp. No date. |
| Lamor User Friendly Weir Skimmer 500/800, https://www.lamor.com/equipment/weir-skimmer-500/800, Copyright 2020 Lamor Corp PLC., 5 pp. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220056655 A1 | Feb 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63110014 | Nov 2020 | US | |
| 62064776 | Oct 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16052045 | Aug 2018 | US |
| Child | 16899200 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16899200 | Jun 2020 | US |
| Child | 17517430 | US | |
| Parent | 15492724 | Apr 2017 | US |
| Child | 16052045 | US | |
| Parent | 14881394 | Oct 2015 | US |
| Child | 15492724 | US |
