FR2859699A1 - Pollutant or waste collecting system for use in catamaran, has drum with tubes for collecting pollutants and retaining them in thimble from which pollutants are filled in sack, and navigation system detecting polluted area - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a capturing and filling unit with a drum (7) embedded in a shell having two floats. The drum has horizontal tubes (8) for collecting pollutants through a catch system (9) and retaining them in a thimble (11). The pollutants in the thimble are filled in a sack (15). A propeller is associated to a fuel tank or battery for propulsion of the waste collecting system. A navigation system detects a polluted area.

Description

The present invention relates to a material recovery device

  pollutants in marine or aquatic environment, in all weather and independently.

  When an ecological disaster occurs, such as oil pollution at sea for example, weather conditions are generally disastrous, preventing immediate action at the scene of the disaster, if not endangering the life of the crews. 'intervention.

  The device described below allows, in all weathers, to recover pollutants by bagging them, thus making them inert and easily recoverable.

  The additional advantage of the invention is to intervene completely autonomously, thus avoiding any danger to the lives of others.

  The principle breaks down as follows: - an all-weather hull - A collection and bagging unit. 15 - a thruster - a navigation system The hull The hull must be catamaran, trimaran or any other form adapted to the intense weather conditions. The latter will have to be built so as to leave a passage, or tunnel, in its center for a catamaran (2) fig 1, on each side of the central hull for a trimaran (2) fig 2, in order to let the water pass to allow the system to be operational. This or these tunnels, depending on the shell chosen, will allow the installation, by tunnel, of an immersed catchment mouth, of the system of bagging and closing of the bags, and of a way of clearing for the bags made.

  On the other hand this hull can be designed in some cases, depending on the missions to which the invention will be intended, to be parachuted from a jumbo jet, or even helicopter, to be operational quickly on the area of intervention.

  To this end anchor points may be integrated with the floats (3) fig 1, 2, and traps containing one or more parachutes may also be arranged in said floats, (4) fig 1, 2 to allow the opening the parachutes, then, after the landing, their automatic storage in these hatches using a suitable system.

  This hull may be constructed of steel or composite materials, or even provided with floats (1) fig 1, 2 inflatable or not, and composed of one or more elements interconnected.

The capture and bagging unit.

  This autonomous unit (5) fig 1, 2 and shown in Figures 3, 4 is to be placed in the center for a catamaran, or on each side of the central hull, in case of trimaran, to allow free access to the pollutant collection mouth that it has in its front part.

  This unit works in three simultaneous times: - The collection of pollutants is done from the front. A collection mouth is located at the front of the system (9) fig 3, 4, 5. This mouth drops into the water at an adjustable depth depending on the products to be captured. On this mouth is fixed the opening of a sock, so that the captured products fit into this sock by the speed of displacement of the shell. (6) figl, 2.

  This sock should be long enough to ensure a proper autonomy to the system. To this end, a device for storing and automatically loading the sock or socks to fill is provided in various forms, by folding, threading on a tube, or in any other ways.

  The device described below is an original loading device "barrel" fig 3. It is as follows: A barrel (7) fig 3 is fixed on an axis (a) fig 3. This axis is secured to the hull by means of bearings (22) 5, 6 themselves fixed on a frame (24) fig 5, 6 forming an integral part of the hull and situated between the floats (1) fig 1, 2 5, 6 au- above the passage or tunnel (2) fig 1, 2.

  These bearings are connected to a motor (21) fig 5, 6, 7; electric or other, which allows them two essential functions in this configuration.

  - The first is to perform the descent and the lifting of the barrel. The descent of the barrel allows the capture phase of the system and the immersion setting of the capture mouth connected to the barrel, as described below, depending on the pollutants to be recovered. The raising of the barrel being done when the machine is cruising speed to go to an operational site in order not to slow its progression.

  - The second function is to rotate the barrel on its axis. . This barrel being provided with several loaders socks, when a charger is empty, this rotation will allow to present a full loader in front of the bag creation system.

  In this barrel (7) Fig 3 are inserted two or more tubes (8) Fig 3, depending on the size and autonomy required for the socks (I1) Fig 3 which are threaded on these 25 tubes and depending on the mission to perform.

  In this case, the barrel is fixed to the front of the system fig 1, 2. The holes of the cylinders on its front face serve as catching mouths (9) fig 3, 4 so that one of them is always immersed or semi-submerged below the waterline (10) fig 3, 4 during the capture phase depending on the products to be recovered.

  The sock (11) fig 3, 4 strung back and forth, in a ruffle or in any other manner_on the submerged or semi-submerged inner tube, takes place at the rear of the barrel depending on the inertia of the captured materials retained at its end and depending on the speed of the vessel in the direction of travel (6) fig 1, 3, 5.

  On the sides of the tubes or on the barrel fig 3, 4, are placed spring-mounted pressers (13) fig 4, which intervene on the sock to regulate its movement and allow the homogeneous filling of the latter at the entrance of the pressing, sock cutting and closing system (14) fig 3, bags made (15) fig 3, 4.

  Happened by the immersible capture mouth immersion, pollutants passes into the tube on which is threaded the sock and fill the latter at its end. This then engages in a passage that leads to a pressing system; cutting and closing the sock (14) fig 3, 5, 6, 7 to form bags.

  The pressing system must be of sufficient pressure to perfectly pinch the sock by pressing its edges against each other fig 3., This pressure is sufficiently progressive not to explode the walls of the sock. For this purpose a funnel shape (c) fig 4 may be used in front of pressing shoes (D) fig 4, which intervene on the width of the sock.

  Integrated in pressing shoes or pressing blocks is the cutting system. A guillotine type cutting blade (E) fig 3, 4 occurs during the pressing operation of the sock over its entire width. This method allows a clean cut of the sock into segments for the production of bags filled with pollutants (15) fig 4.

  Simultaneously, this pressing and cutting system is associated with a closing device of the bag thus cut. This device is dual: inside the pressing blocks, on each side of the cutting blade is positioned a bag closure system (F) fig 3, 4.

  The first closure system, prior to the cutting blade is intended to close the bottom of the sock which will form the bottom of the new bag of pollutants.

  The second closure system, posterior to the cutting blade is intended to close the filled bag formed by the pinching and cutting of the sock.

  These closures, taking advantage of the squeezing of the sock which holds the lips of the bags thus formed edge to edge, may be obtained by sewing, lacing, ligation, stapling or heat sealing depending on the materials to be collected and the composition of the sock.

  On the one hand, this simultaneous pressing, cutting and closing device is actuated by cylinders, belt cams or the like (18), FIG. 5, 6, is driven by a motor, electric, atmospheric or by any other drive source. (23) Fig. 5, 6, 7.

  On the other hand, the entire device, pressing, cutting and closing, accompanies the capture operation by being mounted on slides (19) Fig 5, 6, to follow the progress of filling and training of the bag fig 6, fig 7.

  Upstream the system is open (14) fig 5 to let the sock (II) fig 5 which is filled with the product to be captured. Then it closes (14) Fig 6 to press, cut and close the bag made and close the bottom of the next bag. This operation is done by accompanying the bag to be closed and the filling of the following bag according to the speed of progression of the ship (6) fig 5, 6, 7, by sliding on the slide (19) fig 5, 6, 7, then returns to position itself, in open position, on the sock filling (14) Fig 6, and the cycle resumes Fig 6, 7.

  The whole of this pressing system, cutting, closure and its operating means, cylinders, cams and other slides will be made of materials adapted to withstand such forces and resistant to corrosion as well due to the aquatic environment as toxicity and corrosion of bagged products.

  the ship being autonomous, it is understood that when it is not in the course of capture, but in cruising speed to get to the scene of a mission quickly, the system is liftable with a motor (20 ) 5, 6, electrical or other, which intervenes on bearings (22) Fig 5, 6 so as not to hinder the progress of the ship.

  The size of the bags will be adapted to the product to bag and the recovery mode envisaged. If it is desired, for example, that a bag can be easily retrieved by one man, the length of the bag should be about 1 meter for a diameter of 60 to 80 centimeters.

  The filled bags thus formed are found released at the rear of the device located at the stern of the ship. These bags bagging pollutants, make them inert and avoid the emulsion of these materials, emulsion that would amount to fivefold or sixfold their masses, so the extent of pollution and their collection, or the dispersion of these pollutants, which would be damaging to the entire ecosystem.

  They can drift safely without waiting for the end of adverse weather conditions for any other intervention.

  These bags can be equipped with aluminum reflectors to be easily identifiable by any boat radars or recovery system. Thus aluminized transverse strips, for example, will favor the gaffing of the bags made and will allow the ships to be located easily.

  The advantage of these bags is also their size, to be easily identifiable and recoverable wherever they are: at sea, they can be recovered by any type of ship and if they fail, they can be recovered by one man and therefore requires only light means of recovery.

  The resistance of the bags will be studied according to the materials to be recovered and will be sufficient to avoid any tearing of the bag if it is precipitated on rocks or a rocky coast by the surf.

  The composition of the sock intended for making the bags will be adapted to the different collection missions to which the system will be destined and will vary according to the materials to be recovered.

  As a general rule, socks will be made from braided materials to allow water to pass while recovering pollutants for bagging.

  The materials making up these socks may be made from vegetable fibers (flax, hemp, etc.) or synthetic fibers (nylon, polyethylenes, polypropylene, etc.) or any other suitable materials, preferably water-repellent, depending on the products to be made. recover and their resistance will be optimum in order to prevent any bursting or tear whatever the conditions of their uses.

  The mesh of these socks will vary depending on the materials to be captured.

  It will let the water pass while retaining the polluting elements.

The thruster.

  The hull will be equipped with a thruster adapted to the different types of missions as well as the extreme atmospheric conditions (16) fig 1, 2, 5, 6. It can be of the type air motor, turbine, hydrojet or atmospheric with propeller, in all the cases it will not have to hinder the catchment and will, if its means of propulsion is immersed, be deep enough not to work in polluting matters but below, ie in the depth of unsoiled water .

  To this thruster will be associated its energy storage unit (17) fig 1, 2, 5, 6 25 that is in the form of fuel tank, batteries or other depending on the mode of propulsion best suited for the mission to which the craft is intended.

The navigation system.

  If in rare cases the device can be maneuvered directly by a pilot, it is primarily intended to be autonomous. To this end, it will be equipped with a navigation device enabling it to reach a specific polluted area, to detect and recognize, thanks to equipment of radar types, sonars, probes, infrared cameras or other, the presence of pollutants. then to capture these pollutants without the need for personnel on board.

  This navigation system may be coupled to a GPS system, or to any other means of location or navigation, wave or other, to locate and remotely control if necessary the device.

  Sensors or probes will be placed at the front to lower the intake mouth when they have determined the presence of pollutants. They will also determine the trajectory of the system to optimize the collection of pollutants.

  In order to remotely monitor the operation and progress of the system, small cameras of the webcam type will be installed and will allow to visualize the progress of the operations and possibly to intervene remotely if necessary.

  The present invention has for application the recovery of waste or pollutants in the aquatic environment, whatever the climatic conditions and allows autonomous collection of these products without the need for human intervention. This last point allows the use of the invention to decontaminate an aqueous surface regardless of the time or the dangerousness of the product.

Claims (4)

9 Claims   1 1) _ Self-contained lightweight system for the recovery of pollutants in an aquatic environment in all weather, characterized by a system for collecting and bagging pollutants, embedded in an all-weather hull composed of at least two floats, constituting the means of floating system and located on both sides equidistant from the system.   2) _ Self-contained lightweight system for recovering pollutants in an aquatic environment in all weather conditions according to claim (1) characterized by a sensing system, at the front, in the form of a barrel (7). This barrel is formed of several horizontal tubes (8), the section of these tubes being sufficient to pass in their center pollutants. The front part of these tubes serves as a collection mouth (9). On each of the tubes is threaded, squeezing, a sock (11) previously closed at its end. These socks are woven mesh water repellent composition determined according to the nature of the material to recover. The materials enter through the catchment mouth and are retained in the sock which scrolls depending on the speed of the boat and the action of a presser (13). At its center, the barrel (7) has an axis (a) secured to the hull by means of bearings (22) fixed on a frame (24) connected to the hull between the floats (1). These motorized bearings allow rotation and lowering of the barrel. When a tube is emptied of its sock, the barrel rotates and a new tube loaded with a sock is put in place to capture pollutants.   3) Light autonomous system for recovering pollutants in water in all weather according to claims (1 and 2) characterized by a bagging device located at the rear of the collection system. At the exit of the tube (8), when the sock (11) filled to the sufficient length of a bag (15) defined according to the needs, a pressing and closing system composed of two masses (D), a superior and the other lower, are opposed on both sides of the sock (11) by pressing it progressively and accompanying the progression of the filling of 1 sock by the pressing system through its attachment to an articulated arm ( 18), connected to a motor, which provides the pressing force and slides on a slide (19) according to the scrolling of the sock and the speed of progression of the ship. At the center of the upper mass is a guillotine-shaped cutting blade (E). On either side of this cutting blade, two rows of closing tools are arranged by stapling, ligating, sewing or stamping (F). At the exit of the tube, when the filled sock has the sufficient length of a bag (15) defined as needed, or at the end of pressing the sock, the filled bag thus formed is cut by the blade and simultaneously the row closing tools posterior to the cutting blade closes the filled bag (15) and the row of closing tools prior to the cutting blade closes the bottom of the bag to be filled formed by the sock in the filling yard.   4) _ Self-contained lightweight system for the recovery of pollutants in the aquatic environment in all weather conditions according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the shell is provided as a carrier at its rear end with a propulsion means.