Microdredging system

• US 10,329,735 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coolfish Robotics LLC
• Original Assignee: Akabotics LLC
• Inventors: Parks, III, Francis Newton
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutz, Jessica H
• Application Number:
  US15/148,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20160326713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/885 self propelled, e.g. ship
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/905 Manipulating or supporting suction pipes or ladders; Mechanical supports or floaters therefor; pipe joints for suction pipes for heave compensation E02F9/067 takes precedence; pipelines per se E02F7/10; joints for pipes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/907 Measuring or control devices, e.g. control units, detection means or sensors E02F3/902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/9256 Active suction heads; Suction heads with cutting elements, i.e. the cutting elements are mounted within the housing of the suction head E02F5/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/9262 with jets
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/9268 with rotating cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/04 Loading devices mounted on a dredger or an excavator loading devices in general B65G hopper dredgers, also equipment for unloading the hopper
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/065 mounted on a floating dredger
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/207 of the type electric propulsion units, e.g. electric motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

Microdredging systems comprising a pumping platform and loading platform are described. In certain embodiments, system operates autonomously and is adapted to allow the loading platform undock from the pumping platform for disposal of the removed sediment.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a buoyant pumping platform comprising at least one suction device adapted to deploy to a detected location below a surface of a body of water where sediment is located, and raise the sediment, and a locomotion system comprising wheels;

a location device adapted to determine the detected location; and

a buoyant loading platform adapted to dock and undock from the buoyant pumping platform through a docking system, said loading platform being further adapted to receive the raised sediment and discharge the raised sediment, said loading platform having a locomotion system comprising wheels,

wherein the locomotion systems of the buoyant loading platform and the buoyant pumping platform enable each of the platforms to independently travel about the surface of the body of water, and

wherein the buoyant loading platform and the buoyant pumping platform comprise a first controller and a second controller, respectively, such that locomotion of the buoyant loading platform is determined by commands received from the first controller, and locomotion of the buoyant pumping platform is determined by commands received from the second controller.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking system comprises one or more electromagnets.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the buoyant pumping platform is adapted to trigger operation of the at least one suction device upon the docking of the buoyant loading platform.

4. The system according claim 1, wherein the buoyant loading platform comprises a load sensor.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the load sensor comprises a weight sensor or a buoyancy sensor.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the load sensor is adapted to determine a capacity of the buoyant loading platform for the raised sediment received.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the buoyant loading platform is adapted to undock from the buoyant pumping platform upon reaching the capacity.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the locomotion system of the buoyant loading platform allows for the transport of the received sediment to a secondary site when undocked from the pumping platform.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the location device comprises at least one of an echo sounder, a remote controller, or a GPS locater.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one suction device comprises a compressor, a suction hose, and an air hose.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the suction hose is adapted to coil, retract, collapse, or telescope.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one suction device further comprises an auger spike adapted to loosen the sediment at the detected location via agitation.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pumping platform is adapted to deliver the raised sediment to the buoyant loading platform via a sediment exit tube in fluid connection with the at least one suction device.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the buoyant loading platform is adapted to discharge the raised sediment in an aquatic environment or a terrestrial environment.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one power source associated with the buoyant loading platform or the buoyant pumping platform, wherein the at least one power source is adapted to power at least one of the first controller or the second controller, wherein the at least one power source is selected from at least one of a battery, a generator, or a photovoltaic device.

16. The system according to claim 8, wherein the locomotion system of the buoyant loading platform is adapted to allow the loading platform to travel on a terrestrial surface.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system operates autonomously or semi-autonomously.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system is adapted to allow one or more commands to enable the system to deploy the suction device, raise the sediment, discharge the raised sediment, or allow the loading platform or the pumping platform to travel about the surface of the body of water, wherein the commands are received from at least one of the first controller or second controller in communication with one or more external sensors.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the buoyant loading platform is adapted to discharge the raised sediment by a clamshell mechanism.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the commands are provided to the first controller and/or the second controller via an offsite beacon controller.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the wheels of the buoyant pumping platform comprise tires.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the wheels of the buoyant loading platform comprise tires.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the wheels of the buoyant pumping platform comprise tires.

24. The system according to claim 8, wherein the wheels of each locomotion system comprise a paddle structure.