Water vegetation removal system

• US 6,357,213 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark L. Dillingham
• Original Assignee: Mark L. Dillingham
• Inventors: Dillingham, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US09/593,387
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 56/9, 56/8, 56/1, 56/164.R, 37/57
• US Class Current: 56/8
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 44/00 Harvesting of underwater plants, e.g. harvesting of seaweed

Abstract

The water vegetation removal system includes a stationary barge and at least one motorboat equipped with a plow blade or vegetation rake for plowing vegetation on the surface of a body of water into the vicinity of the barge. The system includes a barge with a diesel engine mounted at one end and a pump box attached to the barge which provides a watertight chamber for housing a dredge pump powered by the engine. A hopper box with a spillway gate which may be lowered to admit water is attached to the pump box. A water tray is formed by a pair of walls hingedly attached to the hopper box to funnel vegetation into the hopper box. Vegetation is drawn into the water tray and hopper box by suction applied by an intake pipe from the dredge pump which extends into the hopper box. Vegetation is drawn into the pump and macerated, then discharged through a flexible discharge pipe to the shore for transport.

Claims

1. A water vegetation collection and disposal system for the collection and disposal of noxious weeds and aquatic vegetation from streams and bodies of water, the system comprising:

a) a stationary barge apparatus;

b) a dredge pump having an intake port and a discharge port, the pump being mounted on said barge apparatus;

c) a suction pipe attached to the pump intake port of said dredge pump, the suction pipe having an open end, a suction draw being produced at the open end when said dredge pump is activated;

d) a flexible discharge hose connected to the discharge port of said dredge pump;

e) at least one motorboat having vegetation collection means for collecting aquatic vegetation and moving the vegetation into the suction draw produced by said dredge pump; and

f) wherein aquatic vegetation is drawn into the suction pipe, macerated and chopped by said dredge pump, and discharged.

2. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 1, wherein said stationary barge apparatus further comprises:

a) a barge having a front end, a rear end, and a top deck;

b) a pump box having a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the pump box being attached to the front end of said stationary barge, said dredge pump being mounted in said pump box;

c) a hopper box having a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the hopper box being attached to the front end of said pump box, said suction pipe extending from said dredge pump into said hopper box through a watertight seal; and

d) a water flow enhancement tray attached to the front end of said hopper box.

3. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 2, further comprising an engine coupled to said dredge pump for activating said pump.

4. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 3, wherein said engine is mounted on the top deck of said barge.

5. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 3, wherein said barge has an engine compartment defined therein countersunk below the level of the top deck, said engine being mounted in said engine compartment.

6. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a) at least one engine pulley connected to said engine;

b) at least one pump pulley connected to said dredge pump;

c) at least one V-belt connecting said engine pulley to said pump pulley for driving said dredge pump.

7. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 3, further comprising a driveshaft directly connecting said engine to said dredge pump for driving said dredge pump.

8. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 2, wherein said pump box is a watertight chamber.

9. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 2, wherein said hopper box further comprises:

a) a pair of opposing side walls;

b) a pair of vertical tracks mounted on said opposing side walls adjacent the front end of said hopper box; and

c) a spillway gate slidably mounted in said vertical tracks, the position of said spillway gate being adjustable to admit water and vegetation into said hopper box.

10. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 2, wherein said water enhancement flow tray further comprises a pair of opposing side walls converging towards the front end of said hopper box for directing the flow of water and vegetation into said hopper box.

11. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 10, wherein said water enhancement flow tray further comprises a floor attached to the bottom edges of said sidewalls.

12. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 10, wherein said water enhancement flow tray further comprises a rubber gasket disposed between the floor of said water flow enhancement tray and said hopper box.

13. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 2, wherein said barge, said pump box and said hopper box are made from steel.

14. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 2, wherein said barge, said pump box and said hopper box are made from marine aluminum.

15. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 1, wherein said vegetation collection means comprises a plow attachment removably attached to a bow end of said motorboat.

16. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 15, wherein said plow attachment further comprises:

a) a plurality of rectangular frames connected end to end in a substantially U-shaped configuration;

b) wire mesh disposed in the center of each of said rectangular frames;

c) a least one mounting brace attached to said plurality of rectangular frames.

17. The water vegetation collection and disposal system according to claim 16, further comprising at least one C-clamp attached to a bow end of said motorboat for removably attaching said mounting brace to said motorboat.

18. A method of operating a water vegetation collection and disposal system for removing weeds and aquatic vegetation from streams and bodies of water, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an apparatus having a stationary barge, a watertight pump box attached to the barge and housing a dredge pump, a hopper box attached to the pump box and having the end of a suction pipe connected to the dredge pump opening into the hopper box, and a water flow enhancement tray having converging side walls defining a mouth of the apparatus and directing water flow to the hopper box;

b) using at least one motorboat to position said apparatus in a body of water;

c) attaching a discharge hose to said dredge pump;

d) positioning a free end of said discharge hose on a bank adjacent to said body of water;

e) plowing surface water vegetation towards the mouth of the apparatus using said at least one motorboat;

f) lowering a spillway gate on said hopper box to admit water into said hopper box;

g) activating said dredge pump to apply suction to said hopper box;

h) suctioning water and vegetation into said suction pipe;

i) macerating and chopping the vegetation in said dredge pump;

j) discharging macerated vegetation and water on the bank adjacent to the body of water for processing and transport.