Method and apparatus of submersible intake equipment
First Claim
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1. A method of submerging and surfacing an apparatus having intake equipment in a body of fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing two flotation ballasts, arranged parallel with respect to each other and in a same horizontal plane, each having a ballast chamber, each of the two flotation ballasts further comprising a cylinder having an end cap on each end of the cylinder, thus forming the ballast chamber;
coupling a flotation platform to the two flotation ballasts;
coupling intake equipment to the flotation platform between the two flotation ballasts in essentially the same horizontal plane;
coupling at least one primary air line to the flotation ballasts, the distal end being coupled via at least one combiner to a plurality of subsidiary air lines at the apparatus, each respective subsidiary line being coupled to at least one inlet at each of the two flotation ballasts;
operating the at least one primary air line and subsidiary air lines as a conduit for the injection of a compressed gas into each ballast chamber of the two flotation ballasts;
displacing a fluid ballast there-from;
providing for an aperture on the bottom of each of the two flotation ballasts, the aperture operable to allow the ingress and egress of a fluid ballast into and out of the ballast chamber, the arrangement of the two flotation ballasts with respect to each other being such that, when placed on the surface of a body of fluid and prior to having fluid introduced into the respective ballast chambers, the center axis of each of the two flotation ballasts are parallel to each other, and the plane in which the center axes lie is substantially parallel to the surface of the body of fluid with the aperture respective apertures submerged.
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Abstract
An apparatus having flotation ballasts, a flotation platform and on the flotation platform, an intake equipment, such as a screen, check valve and/or pump intake and a coupling for a discharge pipe. In an embodiment of the present invention comprises, there are a plurality of substantially symmetrical flotation ballasts, each having a ballast chamber. The composition of the flotation ballast may be made of a material having a density appropriate for the fluid in which it is to be submerged. The method includes the steps of using an apparatus as herein described to ascend and descend intake equipment.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of submerging and surfacing an apparatus having intake equipment in a body of fluid, comprising the steps of:
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providing two flotation ballasts, arranged parallel with respect to each other and in a same horizontal plane, each having a ballast chamber, each of the two flotation ballasts further comprising a cylinder having an end cap on each end of the cylinder, thus forming the ballast chamber; coupling a flotation platform to the two flotation ballasts; coupling intake equipment to the flotation platform between the two flotation ballasts in essentially the same horizontal plane; coupling at least one primary air line to the flotation ballasts, the distal end being coupled via at least one combiner to a plurality of subsidiary air lines at the apparatus, each respective subsidiary line being coupled to at least one inlet at each of the two flotation ballasts; operating the at least one primary air line and subsidiary air lines as a conduit for the injection of a compressed gas into each ballast chamber of the two flotation ballasts; displacing a fluid ballast there-from; providing for an aperture on the bottom of each of the two flotation ballasts, the aperture operable to allow the ingress and egress of a fluid ballast into and out of the ballast chamber, the arrangement of the two flotation ballasts with respect to each other being such that, when placed on the surface of a body of fluid and prior to having fluid introduced into the respective ballast chambers, the center axis of each of the two flotation ballasts are parallel to each other, and the plane in which the center axes lie is substantially parallel to the surface of the body of fluid with the aperture respective apertures submerged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of submerging and surfacing intake equipment in a body of fluid, comprising the steps of providing two flotation ballasts each comprising a cylinder having an end cap on each end of each cylinder, thus forming a respective ballast chamber, the end caps coupled to the cylinders forming a substantially water proof and air tight seal between the outside thereof and each ballast chamber
arranging the two flotation ballasts in a substantially parallel manner in a same horizontal plane, each flotation ballast having a respective air line inlet coupled to an air line at a distal end thereof; -
coupling a flotation platform to the two flotation ballasts, the two flotation ballasts being arranged such that, when placed on a surface of a body of liquid and prior to having liquid introduced into the respective ballast chambers, the center axis of each of the two flotation ballasts is substantially parallel to the surface of the body of liquid; coupling intake equipment to the flotation platform between the flotation ballasts; injecting a source of compressed gas into the ballast chamber of each respective flotation ballast via a respective at least one air line having a proximate end coupled by a valve to said compressed gas source and a distal end coupled to at least one air line inlet at each flotation ballast, the air line inlets on each flotation ballasts operable to allow the egress of the compressed gas from the ballast chambers, where there are no valves controlling the flow of the compressed gas at the distal end of said air line; providing an aperture on the bottom of each of the two flotation ballasts, the aperture operable to allow the ingress and egress of a liquid ballast into and out of the ballast chamber; and coupling a discharge pipe to a port of the intake equipment. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification