US3541988A - Cleaning system for vessels afloat - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Henry J. Laney 2828 Regent St., Berkeley, California 94705 [21] Appl. No. 748,532 [22] Filed July 29, 1968 [45} Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [54] CLEANING SYSTEM FOR VESSELS AFLOAT 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 114/222, 15/183 [51] int. Cl. B63b 59/00; B60s 3/02 [50] Field of Search 114/222; 15/201,84,51,l83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 560,646 5/1896 Reilly 1 14/222 622,232 4/1899 lnglis 114/222 834,399 10/1906 McLellau et al 114/222 2,236,817 4/1941 Evans 15/183 3,010,420 11/1861 Glynn... 114/222 3,085,541 4/1963 Leach 114/222 3,227,124 1/1966 Campbell 114/222 3,296,643 1/1967 Fortune 15/201 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-James E. Pettenger Attorney- Flehr, l-lohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert ABSTRACT: A cleaning system for cleaning underwater hull portions of a vessel while afloat includes a cyclically operated flexible cleaning assembly and a support assembly for urging the cleaning assembly into conformity with various underwater hull configurations. Means for towing the vessel through the cleaning system exposes the underwater hull portions to the cleaning assembly as the hull moves past the cleaning assembly.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,988

' 'Sheet 1 of 6 I INVENTOR :l HENRY u. LANEY #JAAM' Ma f M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,988

' Sheet 2 of6 INVENTOR. HENRY J. LANEY #AQZM F/ a. 5

ATTORNEYS v Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR.

' HENRY J. LANEY M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet HENRY J. LANEY 14 W ATTORNEYS I Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR.

w) w CL J. fln fl W E H Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet 6 7 INVENTOR.

, HENRY J. LANEY CLEANING SYSTEM FOR V ESSELS AFLOAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS This inventionpertains to systems for cleaning the underwater hull portions of a vessel while afloat. The invention more particularly pertains to a system of the foregoing type characterized by means for arranging cleaning portions of a carrier in a flexible configuration which yieldingly conforms to widely varying underwater hull shapes.

As is known by those skilled in this art, fouling of the immersed portions of vessels by marine growth constitutes an important problem which requires that the bottoms and underwater side portions of hulls be cleaned. The method of cleaning which is selected by the owner of the vessel usually is dictated by the elapsed time since the hull was last cleaned and the method that was previously employed for the prior cleaning. Thus, the temporal sequence for marine growth usually first provides soft growth in the nature of a partially visible slime occurring in'the first few days of immersion. The growth then forms moss and grasses which are yielding in nature when being cleaned away. A further stage of growth develops shells and barnacles of a rigid nature adhering to the hull.

Obviously, by cleaning the early stage of marine growth at regular relatively short intervals, the full efficiency of the hull can be preserved. Thus, there is a need for a system which can quickly and inexpensively clean the underwater portions, both side and bottom portions, of a hull while afloat. This objective is, therefore, a general object ofthe present invention.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hull cleaning system which accomplishes the above general object for a wide variety ofunderwater hull shapes.

Other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description ofpreferred embodiments.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION In general, the cleaning system comprises a cleaning assembly and a support assembly. The cleaning assembly comprises a flexible carrier provided with portions to work alongside an underwater portion of the hull of the vessel being cleaned. The support assembly comprises means to yieldingly force the cleaning assembly into intimate contact with the immersed portions of the hull, regardless of their shape, preferably by means oflinked underwater floats.

The system further contemplates, in the usual instance, means for towing the vessel through the cleaning system whereby variously shaped underwater hull portions of the vessel being cleaned will be disposed for cleaning by the hull cleaning assembly.

Preferably, the foregoing general arrangement herein disclosed has been carried out by employing underwater float means having positive buoyancy which serves to yieldingly urge the cleaning assembly into their cleaning configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cleaning system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a cleaning system according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view taken transversely of the system shown in FIG. 2 and in enlarged detail showing a cleaning system according to the invention when no boat or vessel is being cleaned;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the condition of the system with a vessel present therein for cleaning;

FIG. 5 is an elevation section view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and in enlarged detail;

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5 partially broken away;

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment according to the invention in an elevation view similar to FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an end view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing another embodiment according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The cleaning system 10 is installed upon and in the water between a pair of opposed work platforms II which form a slip 12 for passage of a vessel 13 therebetween to be cleaned.

One or more pairs of cleaning assemblies I4 may be employed in system 10. Each cleaning assembly I4 includes a flexible carrier 16, cleaning units 17 and the drive mechanism 18 for cyclically operating carriers 16.

In the embodiments shown, the flexible carrier 16 com prises a linked conveyor or belt 19 powered by drive mechanism 18. Cleaning units 17 comprise brushes 21 attached to the outwardly facing side of carrier 16.

The pair of flexible carriers 16 are coupled together by weighted tension unit 22 which serves to draw the two carriers generally taut to their respective support assemblies 23.

Each flexible support assembly 23, for the embodiment shown, includes a series of linked floats 24 attached at one end to work platform 11 and to a float anchor assembly 26 at the other end. Float anchor assembly 26 couples the two support assemblies 23 and weights them downwardly by a proper amount as explained further below. i

A pincer float unit 27 cooperates with both anchor assembly 26 and a number or stretch" 28 of the linked floats 24.

Towing apparatus (FIG. 2) provides a relative movement between brushes 21 and vessel 13 as does the cyclic movement of brushes 21 as driven by mechanism 18. The towing apparatus (FIG. 2) may simply comprise a tow line 29, capstan 31 and winch 32.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that the buoyancy of that stretch" 28 of floats 24 which are drawn downwardly'by float anchor assembly 26 serve, in conjunction with the buoyancy of pincer float units 27, to counterbalance the submerged weight of float anchor assembly 26 and the downward pull of tension unit 22.

Accordingly, in the "no-boat condition as shown in FIG. 3, the disposition of carriers 16 will generally take a substantially right triangular orientation wherein the outer-tips of brushes 21 will meet and form an interface 33 extending from the surface 34 of the water downwardly to a depth defined by the support points 36 which carry tension unit 22.

It will be further apparent that float anchor assembly 26 and the weighted tension unit 22 each move up and down independently of the other as a vessel 13 enters slip 12 and commences separation of the two assemblies 14.

While it may be readily evident from the figures of the draw ing, each pincer float unit 27 includes a relatively large buoyant body 37 which is supported to the inside of the closed path defined by conveyor 19, by means of support arms 38, 39 which are each pivotally connected at their opposite ends. Thus, one end of each arm 38,39 is common to body 37 while the other end of each arm 38, 39 is coupled to the above defined "stretch" 28 of floats 24.

The bristles of brushes 21 are preferably of a suitable material whereby considerable stiffness to the bristle will remain even though it should be immersed in water for long periods. In addition, the bristles may be formed in a conventional style whereby they include an oval or other configuration to form the transverse cross section thereof with a configuration which serves to enhance the stiffness of the bristle for removing undesirable materials from the hull.

From inspection of the drawing, it will be relatively obvious that the underwater portions of vessels can readily include a reversecurvature whereby the linked conveyor l9 preferably flexes or articulates in each of two directions across a common plane drawn tangent thereto. Thus, each cleaning unit 17 further includes means for supporting the bristles of brushes 2] whereby they may travel in a truly flexible path. For example, battens 40 are connected to form the articulated leavesof the endless belt I9 in 'a manner whereby one leaf of each pair of battens 40 articulates across the plane of the other. The confronting side edges 45 of each adjacent pair of battens 40 have therefore been undercut.

Operation of the system proceeds as follows. As a vessel 13 to be cleaned enters the cleaning system, either under its own power or under the action of tow lines 29, it gently pushes aside the contacting portions of the cleaning units 17. The drive mechanisms 18 are suitably activated causing both conveyor belts 19 to move, preferably in a continuous cyclic path wherein portions of the cleaning units 17 move downwardly alongside the hull ofthe vessel.

As the hull is drawn forwardly through the system, the support assembly 23 on-each side of the vessel causes its associated cleaning assembly 14 to yieldingly conform to the changing hull configuration, for example, taking a configuration as shown in FIG. 4. It is to be observed that the portions of the hull provided the increased hull displacement will serve to cause the float anchor assembly 26 and the weighted tension unit 22 to sink deeper into the water. It is further to be observed that the downward movement of these two units will be at a rate independent of each other so that throughout the downward movement of assembly 26 and unit 22 the brushes 21 will remain in intimate contact with the hull and further that floats 24 will not become bunchedand otherwise disorganized beneath the flexible carrier 16.

Throughout the transit of vessel 13 through the cleaning system 10, pincer float units 27 exert forces which insure that contact is maintained along the entire underside of the bull.

in order to drive the flexible carrier- 16, it will be readily evident that battens 40 are each interconnected to the next by means of conventional flat-top roller chain 41. Roller chain 41 is engaged by a drive sprocket 42. Lugs 43 carried on the ends of battens 40 provide means for retaining carrier 16 against its underlying support assembly 23.

The bristles of brushes 21 project on the order of about 12 inches outwardly from conveyor 19 in order to insure that the cleaning system does not damage or strike projecting elements and portions of the hull, such as propellers, speed indicators and discharge outlets.

It will be further evident that the floats 24 are formed as a water tight body preferably made oflightweight but sturdy and water compatible material, such as polyvinyl chloride plastic.

Floats 24 may be filled with a lightweight closed cellular material, such as Styrofoam, or other suitable material to further insure exclusion ofwater from entry into floats 24.

Roller elements 44 serve to insure that the conveyor battens 40 will be held down relatively tightly against the cylindrical floats 24. it is to be observed that the line of contact between rollers 44 and the lug portion 43 at each end of battens 40 lies in the plane of the roller chain pivot axis 46 in order that the adjacent confronting edges of lug portions 43 can be relatively closely spaced so as to minimize the gap between adjacent battens notwithstanding flexing of the adjacent battens. Gaps, if too large, could cause the rollers 44 to drop too deeply between adjacent battens during cyclic movement of same.

According to another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the carrier and support functions of the foregoing construction are combined. Accordingly, a flexible conveyor 51 provided with buoyant slats or battens 52 have been arranged in conjunction with a hold down assembly 53 which serves to prevent the lower returning portions of the rotating conveyor 51 from floating upwardly against the active cleaning conveyor portions-Hold down assembly 53 further includes a weighted downwardly acting tension linkage 54 which, though coupled to the lower end of hold down as sembly 53, can move independently thereof by means of the pivotally coupled arms 56.

It will be further evident that the hold down assembly 53 comprises an elongated strong back member in the form of a T-shaped beam 57 pivotally coupled at its upper end to the work platform 58 and at its lower end carrying via arms 56, the tension linkage 54.

In operation, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 functions in a manner whereby the returning portions of the cyclically driven conveyor 51 will be maintained safely below the downwardly moving active portions of conveyor 51. The

buoyancy of each of the slats 52 serves to cause them to carry the brushes 59 into'active engagement with the underwater hull portions schematically shown in the drawing.

Another embodiment of the invention can be provided by substituting elements of a type shown in FIG. 10 for portions of the arrangement disclosed in FlGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, the carrier and support functions as heretofore described are combined in a manner whereby the cleaning means 61 comprises brushes 62 disposed around the outside of a number of independent float elements 63. All floats 63 are rotated in unison via a series of drive chains 64 or other suitable means. The lowermost floats 63 of each opposing carrier are linked together by means ofa weighted cross link 66.

I claim:

1. in a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, characterized by a positioning system for disposing cleaning means adjacent to a hull to be cleaned, said cleaning system being supported independently ofthe vessel to be cleaned and comprising an untensioned flexible carrier, adapted to freely displace laterally with respect to the hull, to be disposed in the water and having a portion disposed to extend upwardly alongside the underwater portion of the hull, cleaning means arranged in a substantially continuous belt distributed along the upwardly extending carrier portion for cleaning said hull portion, means serving to dispose said cleaning means into a configuration defined by the configuration of said hull portion abreast of said cleaning means, and means serving to operate the carrier to develop relative movement between said cleaning means and said hull in cleaning underwater portions of the hull positioned alongside said cleaning means.

2. in a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, said system being supported independently ofthc vessel to be cleaned and comprising an elongated, untensioned flexible carrier, adapted to freely displace laterally with respect to the hull, to be disposed in the water, said carrier including portions disposed to extend alongside an underwater portion of the hull, cleaning portions arranged in a substantially continuous belt distributed along the carrier for engaging hull portionsmeans including underwater float means having positive buoyancy disposed and arranged to urge said cleaning portions laterally into a cleaning configuration defined by the hull configuration, and means for driving said cleaning portions along the carrier for cleaning the hull.

3. Ina cleaning system according to claim 2 further including means for moving said hull to travel relatively adjacent said cleaning portions in engagement therewith, the penultimate named means yieldingly responding to movement of said hull thereagainst to vary said cleaning configuration in response to variations in the configuration of the underwater portions of the hull, and wherein said carrier forms a closed loop.

4. In a cleaning system according to claim 2 wherein said cleaning portions comprise a number of articulated brush elements coupled together to form said belt thereof.

5. In a cleaning system according to claim 4 wherein said belt forms an endless loop, and further including means for driving said loop cyclically in a predetermined direction to provide a relative movement between said belt and said hull portion for cleaning the latter.

6. in a cleaning system according to claim 4 wherein the brush elements include pairs of leaves, means serving to couple the leaves of each pair to permit one leaf of the pair to articulate across the plane ofthe other.

7. [n a cleaning system according to claim 3 further including a second said carrier'disposed opposite the first, said hull moving means further serving to draw said hull between said confronting carriers and to yieldingly wedge the carriers apart during passage therebetween.

8. in a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel. while afloat, an elongated, flexible carrier to be disposed in the water, said carrier including portions disposed to extend alongside an underwater portion of the hull, cleaning portions distributed along the carrier for engaging hull portions, and means including underwater float means having positive buoyancy serving to urge said cleaning portions laterally into a cleaning configuration, said underwater float means including a buoyant body and a stretch of connected buoyant elements underlying the cleaning portions of said carrier. first and second arm members respectively coupled at one oftheir ends to said body, the other one of their'respective ends being pivotally coupled to said stretch of elements, and tensioning'means serving to continuously draw said stretch of buoyant elements downwardly to cause said body to tend to move said stretch and the cleaning portions of said carrier toward the hull.

9. In a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, said system being supported independently of the vessel to be cleaned and comprising an elongated, untensioned flexible carrier, adapted to freely displace laterally with respect to the hull, to be disposed in the water, said carrier including portions disposed to engage upwardly extending underwater side portions of the hull,cleaning portions arranged in a substantially continuous belt distributed along the carrier for engaging said hull portions, means including underwater float means having positive buoyancy disposed and arranged to urge said cleaning portions into a cleaning configuration defined by said hull portions. the last-named means yieldably responding to movement of said hull thereagainst to vary said cleaning configuration in response to variations in the configuration of said hull portions.

10. In a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, said system being supported independently of the vessel to be cleaned and comprising an elongated, untensioned flexible carrier belt, adapted to freely displace laterally with respect to the bull, to be disposed in the water, cleaning means arranged in a substantially continuous train carried by said belt laterally adjacent to underwater hull portions, buoyant means to be disposed underwater for urging a stretch of said belt and cleaning means into yielding conformity with said bull to vary the belt a configuration in response to variations in the underwater configuration of the hull, and means serving to develop relative movement between said cleaning means and said hull to clean underwater portions of the hull.

Images