Marine anti-fouling system and method

• US 5,735,226 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SGP Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SGP Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McNeal, G. Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/643,422
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 114/222, 114/67 R, 367/175, 134/1, 181/140
• US Class Current: 114/222
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/04 Preventing hull fouling anti-fouling paints C09D5/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls

Abstract

A marine anti-fouling system and method for inhibiting the growth of marine life on a submerged surface includes a control box and a number of transducers. The control box further includes a ultrasonic driver board, a magna-polar filter, and a power source. The ultrasonic driver board generates an electrical signal having an ultrasonic frequency which continually varies between 25 KHz to 60 KHz. A portion of this continually varying electrical signal is passed through the magna-polar filter where the signal is enhanced. This enhanced signal is then returned to the ultrasonic driver board where it is combined with the electrical signal varying between 25 KHz and 60 KHz. This combined signal is then electrically communicated to a number of transducers which are mounted on the submerged surface to be protected. There, the electrical signal having combined frequencies is translated from electrical energy to acoustic energy which it transmitted to the submerged surface to inhibit the growth of marine life on the submerged surface.

Claims

1. A system for inhibiting growth of marine organisms on a submerged surface comprising:

a driver board, said driver board having an electrical signal output;

a magna-polar filter, said magna-polar filter having an electrical signal input and an electrical transducer output, said electrical signal input of said magna-polar filter being in electrical connection with said electrical signal output of said driver board, wherein said filter receives said electrical signal output from said driver board and generates an electrical signal having enhanced frequencies, said electrical signal having enhanced frequencies being electrically communicated to said driver board thereby enhancing said electrical signal output to an electrical signal output having enhanced frequencies;

a plurality of transducers, each said transducer having an electrical input, each said electrical input being electrically connected to said electrical signal output of said driver board to receive said electrical signal output having enhanced frequencies, each said transducer converts said electrical signal having enhanced frequencies to a first acoustic signal; and

wherein said transducers are firmly attached to said submerged surface to communicate said first acoustic signal to said submerged surface to inhibit growth of said marine organisms on said submerged surface.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said driver board further comprises:

a microcircuit, and

a plurality of passive components, said passive components configured with said microcircuit to generate said electrical signal output.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said electrical signal output having a continuously varying frequency varies between 25 KHz and 60 KHz.

4. A system as in claim 2 wherein said microcircuit is a dual timer microcircuit.

5. A system as in claim 2 wherein said microcircuit is a microprocessor microcircuit.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said magna-polar filter further comprises:

an elongated housing, said housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, said housing being formed with a resonance chamber;

an input transducer, said input transducer being disposed within said resonance chamber and against said first end of said housing, said input transducer being electrically connected to said electrical signal input, wherein said input transducer converts said electrical signal input to a second acoustic signal;

a collector grid, said collector grid being disposed within said resonance chamber and against said second end of said housing, said collector grid being in electrical connection with said electrical transducer output;

a conductive loop, said conductive loop being disposed within said resonance chamber between said input transducer and said collector grid;

a pair of magnets, each said magnet having a north pole and a south pole which create a magnetic field, said north pole of each said magnet being diametrically opposed against said outside surface of said housing such that said conductive loop is subjected to said magnetic field of each said magnet; and

wherein said second acoustic signal propagates from said input transducer to said collector grid passing through said conductive loop wherein said internal acoustic signal acquires enhanced frequencies.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein said housing is made from a non-ferrous material.

8. A system as in claim 6 wherein said housing is made from polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe.

9. A system as in claim 6 wherein said collector grid is formed from a fine brass screen.

10. A system as in claim 6 wherein said conductive loop is made of copper.

11. A system as in claim 6 wherein each said magnet is a neodymium magnet.

12. A system for inhibiting growth of marine organisms on a submerged surface comprising:

a driver board, said driver board having an electrical signal output;

a filter means, said filter means having an electrical signal input and an electrical transducer output, said electrical signal input of each said filter being in electrical connection with said electrical signal output of said driver board, said filter means generating an electrical signal having enhanced frequencies, said electrical signal having enhanced frequencies being electrically communicated to said driver board thereby enhancing said electrical signal output to an electrical signal output having enhanced frequencies;

a plurality of transducers, each said transducer having an electrical input, each said electrical input being electrically connected to said electrical signal output of said driver board to receive said electrical signal having enhanced frequencies, wherein each said transducer converts said electrical signal having enhanced frequencies to an acoustic signal; and

a means for attaching each said transducer to said submerged surface to communicate said first acoustic signal to said submerged surface to inhibit growth of said marine organisms on said submerged surface.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein said filter means further comprises:

an elongated housing, said housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, said housing being formed with a resonance chamber;

an input transducer, said input transducer being disposed within said resonance chamber and against said first end of said housing, said input transducer being electrically connected to said electrical signal input, wherein said input transducer converts said electrical signal input to a second acoustic signal;

a collector grid, said collector grid being disposed within said resonance chamber and against said second end of said housing, said collector grid being in electrical connection with said electrical transducer output;

a conductive loop, said conductive loop being disposed within said resonance chamber between said input transducer and said collector grid;

a pair of magnets, each said magnet having a north pole and a south pole which create a magnetic field, said north pole of each said magnet being diametrically opposed against said outside surface of said housing such that said conductive loop is subjected to said magnetic field of each said magnet; and

wherein said second acoustic signal propagates from said input transducer to said collector grid passing through said conductive loop wherein said internal acoustic signal acquires enhanced frequencies.

14. A system as in claim 12, further comprising:

a case, said case having an interior face and at least one sidewall extending perpendicular to said interior face so that said case is at least partially enclosed to form a resonance chamber, wherein said transducer is mounted on said interior face;

an adhesive sealant for application to an edge of said at least one sidewall for adhering said case to a selected area of said submerged surface so that said transducer is directed toward said selected area of said submerged surface.

15. A method for inhibiting the growth of organisms on a submerged surface located within a marine environment, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasonic driver board for generating a driving signal;

providing a power source for powering said ultrasonic driver;

providing a magna-polar filter for receiving a portion of said driving signal and generating an electrical signal having enhanced frequencies;

connecting an output of said magna-polar filter to a ground circuit of said driver board and conducting said electrical signal having enhanced frequencies to said driver board whereby said driving signal is enhanced;

positioning an ultrasonic transducer at at least one selected location on said submerged surface, said ultrasonic transducer having a radius of coverage; and

connecting an output of the driver board to said ultrasonic transducer so that said enhanced driving signal drives said ultrasonic transducer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one selected location comprises a plurality of selected locations, and the step of positioning comprises selecting adjacent locations of said plurality of selected locations so that, for a corresponding plurality of said ultrasonic transducers, the radii of coverage at least partially overlap to substantially cover said submerged surface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a magna-polar filter includes the steps of:

providing an elongated housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface;

disposing an input transducer adjacent said first end of said housing, said input transducer having an input for receiving said driver signal, said input transducer converting said driver signal to an acoustic signal;

disposing a collector grid adjacent said second end of said housing, said collector grid being in electrical connection with said magna-polar filter output;

disposing a conductive loop between said input transducer and said collector grid; and

disposing a pair of magnets on diametrically opposite positions of said outer surface of said housing in magnetic communication with said conductive loop, each said magnet having a north pole and a south pole which create a magnetic field, said pair of magnets being oriented so that said north pole of each said magnet is adjacent said outer surface;

wherein said acoustic signal from said input transducer is passed through said conductive loop to said collector grid to produce enhanced frequencies.