Method and apparatus for removing biofouling from a protected surface in a liquid environment
First Claim
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1. A system for anti-biofouling a protected surface disposed upon an object configured to be immersed in water, comprising:
- an ultraviolet light source operable to generate ultraviolet light;
an optical medium disposed under the protected surface, the optical medium coupled to receive the ultraviolet light and configured to disburse the ultraviolet light; and
a degradable layer disposed over the protected surface, wherein the degradable layer is disposed to receive portions of the ultraviolet light that escape the optical medium, wherein the degradable layer is responsive to the ultraviolet light such that selected portions of the degradable layer are configured to change mechanical properties and to be removable in response to the ultraviolet light, facilitating removal of biological material on the degradable layer, and wherein the optical medium comprises a continuous optical coating over the object, wherein the optical coating is configured to provide a propagation path for the ultraviolet light.
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Abstract
A system includes a UV light source and an optical medium coupled to receive UV light from the UV light source. The optical medium is configured to emit UV light proximate to a surface from which biofouling is to be removed once the biofouling has adhered to the protected surface. A method corresponds to the system.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for anti-biofouling a protected surface disposed upon an object configured to be immersed in water, comprising:
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an ultraviolet light source operable to generate ultraviolet light; an optical medium disposed under the protected surface, the optical medium coupled to receive the ultraviolet light and configured to disburse the ultraviolet light; and a degradable layer disposed over the protected surface, wherein the degradable layer is disposed to receive portions of the ultraviolet light that escape the optical medium, wherein the degradable layer is responsive to the ultraviolet light such that selected portions of the degradable layer are configured to change mechanical properties and to be removable in response to the ultraviolet light, facilitating removal of biological material on the degradable layer, and wherein the optical medium comprises a continuous optical coating over the object, wherein the optical coating is configured to provide a propagation path for the ultraviolet light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for anti-biofouling a protected surface disposed upon an object configured to be immersed in water, comprising:
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an ultraviolet light source operable to generate ultraviolet light; an optical medium disposed under the protected surface, the optical medium coupled to receive the ultraviolet light and configured to disburse the ultraviolet light; and a degradable layer disposed over the protected surface, wherein the degradable layer is disposed to receive portions of the ultraviolet light that escape the optical medium, wherein the degradable layer is responsive to the ultraviolet light such that selected portions of the degradable layer are configured to change mechanical properties and to be removable in response to the ultraviolet light, facilitating removal of biological material on the degradable layer, and a penetrating structure configured to penetrate through the protected surface, wherein the penetrating structure comprises; a seal coupled between the penetrating structure and the protected surface; and
at least one of;an optical structure configured to generate the ultraviolet light and to communicate the ultraviolet light to the optical medium, or an optical structure coupled to receive the ultraviolet light and to communicate the ultraviolet light to the optical medium.
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10. A method of anti-biofouling a protected surface disposed upon an object configured to be immersed in water, comprising:
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generating ultraviolet light with an ultraviolet light source; providing an optical medium disposed under the protected surface, the optical medium coupled to receive the ultraviolet light and configured to disburse the ultraviolet light providing a degradable layer disposed over the protected surface; and receiving, with the degradable layer, portions of the ultraviolet light that escape the optical medium, wherein the degradable layer is responsive to the ultraviolet light such that selected portions of the degradable layer are configured to change mechanical properties and to be removable in response to the ultraviolet light, facilitating removal of biological material on the degradable layer, and wherein the optical medium comprises a continuous optical coating over the object, wherein the optical coating is configured to provide a propagation path for the ultraviolet light. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification