Suction device for cleaning a bottom surface of a structure of at least 15,000 m 3

• US 8,070,942 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crystal Image Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crystal Lagoons Corporation, LLC
• Inventors: Fischmann Torres, Fernando Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci, Peter A
• Application Number:
  US12/884,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 210/167.15
• US Class Current: 210/167.16
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/00 Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F3/00 - C02F9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/40 Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46 by electrochemical methods
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/56 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/72 by oxidation C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/766 by means of halogens other than chlorine or of halogenated compounds containing halogen other than chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/007 Contaminated open waterways, rivers, lakes or ponds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/11 Turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 7/00 Aeration of stretches of water
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 1/003 Mechanically induced gas or liquid streams in seas, lakes or water-courses for forming weirs or breakwaters; making or keeping water surfaces free from ice, aerating or circulating water, e.g. screens of air-bubbles against sludge formation or salt water entry, pump-assisted water circulation moving sediments E02B3/023; for ice breakers B63B35/08; aerating or circulating water in fish-tanks A01K63/042; purification of waste water with addition of air C02F; distributing gases in liquids in general B01F23/20
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/00 Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites barrages or weirs E02B7/00; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/885 self propelled, e.g. ship
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8866 self propelled
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/9243 : Passive suction heads with no mechanical cutting means E02F5/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/00 : Swimming or splash baths or pools
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 : Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy

Abstract

A suction device is disclosed for thoroughly cleaning the a bottom surface of a structure, covered with a non-porous plastic liner, that contains a body of water larger than 15,000 m³ for recreational use, with color, transparency and cleanness characteristics similar to swimming pools or tropical seas, said device operating by suctioning impurities from the bottom surface by a pumping system of said the structure.

Claims

1. A suction device for thoroughly cleaning a bottom surface of a structure, covered with a non-porous plastic liner, that contains a body of water larger than 15,000 m³ for recreational use with color, transparency and cleanness characteristics similar to swimming pools or tropical seas at low cost, the device operating by suctioning impurities from the bottom surface by a pumping system of the structure, wherein the device comprises:

a structural frame,

a cover covering the structural frame and including at least one suction connection in fluid communication with the pumping system,

a propelling device to move the suction device around the bottom surface of the structure,

rollers or wheels operatively coupled to the structural frame for movement of the suction device over the bottom surface to be cleaned,

a fixed brush line operatively coupled to the structural frame to remove precipitated impurities from the bottom surface of the structure, and

bottom suction pipes, in fluid communication with the at least one suction connection, and arranged and configured to suction the impurities from the bottom surface of the structure.

2. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a resin material, and covers the structural frame, the rollers or wheels, the bottom suction pipes, and the brush line, and wherein the structural frame includes one or more supporting plates at its top for coupling with pulling rods or tensors, one or more handles for pulling, handling and lifting the suction device, and a lateral membrane flap extending downwards from the periphery of the cover.

3. A suction device according to claim 2, wherein the cover further includes one or more suction connection pipes extending through corresponding reinforcing collars along the top length of the cover, each suction connection pipe connected at one end to the at least one suction connection, and at the other end to the bottom suction pipes.

4. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the structural frame comprises a series of supporting plates and a perforated or slotted platen at a bottom section.

5. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are high density polyurethane rollers, and the wheels are auto-lubricated plastic wheels.

6. A suction device according to claim 4, wherein the supporting plates are used for supporting axles that serve as guide for the rollers or wheels.

7. A suction device according to claim 4, wherein the perforated or slotted platen is used to support the brush line that includes brushes having a plastic base and synthetic polyethylene bristles.

8. A suction device according to claim 7, further comprising end horizontal PVC tubes including closing caps at ends.

9. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom suction pipes comprise vertical PVC tubes and at least one T-shaped PVC tube that includes a down leg and two side legs.

10. A suction device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one vertical PVC tube is connected at one end to the at least one suction connection pipe, and at another end to the down leg of the at least one T-shaped PVC tube;

and horizontal PVC tubes are coupled by at least one end to each side leg of the at least one T-shaped PVC tubes, wherein the horizontal PVC tubes have suction openings facing downward through which the suctioned water carrying removed impurities enters, to be suctioned and taken out of the structure.

11. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the propelling device is a floating device on a water surface of the structure.

12. A suction device according to claim 11, wherein the floating device is a boat.

13. A suction device according to claim 12, wherein the boat has an engine.

14. A suction device according to claim 13, wherein the engine is a four-stroke engine.

15. A suction device according to claim 12, wherein the boat has a propeller.

16. A suction device according to claim 15, wherein the propeller has a protection.

17. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the suction device cleans the bottom of the surface at a rate of 0.69 m²/s.

18. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the propelling device is a remote mechanical traction system.

19. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the propelling device moves the suction device around the bottom surface of the structure continuously.

20. A suction device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one suction connection is in fluid communication with the pumping system with a hose.