Sediment suction sink and method for sediment control in rivers, streams, and channels
OwnerJohn A. Tesvichinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods, and systems for removing sediment from waterway bottoms and pumping the sediment through pipelines. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatuses, methods, and systems for sediment control and altering the average effective depth in a section of rivers, streams and channels for maintaining the navigability of waterways and coastal restoration. The apparatus and method of the present invention including a means for preventing and removing blockages of water flow in the pipelines.
Claims21
An apparatus for removing sediment from a bottom of a waterway and pumping the sediment through pipelines, comprising:
- a) a platform positionally fixed above a water surface of the waterway;
- b) a central vessel having an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and an interior, wherein the central vessel is connected to the platform at the upper end portion and anchored in the bottom of the waterway at the lower end portion;
- c) one or more water jets mounted on the lower end portion of the central vessel for liquefying or slurrying sediment;
- d) one or more vents at the lower end portion of the central vessel for filtering said slurried or liquefied sediment;
- and
- e) a pump positioned in the central vessel interior for removing said slurried or liquefied sediment from the central vessel interior via an outflow pipeline.
A method of removing sediment from a waterway bottom and pumping the sediment through pipelines, comprising:
- a) positionally fixing a central vessel in the bottom of the waterway, said central vessel having a top, a lower portion and an interior, and mounting a platform on said top of the central vessel and above a water surface;
- b) slurrying or liquefying sediment with one or more water jets on the lower portion of the central vessel;
- c) filtering said slurried or liquefied sediment into said central vessel via one or more vents at the lower portion of the central vessel;
- and
- d) pumping the sediment out of the central vessel and away from the water bottom via an outflow pipeline.
An apparatus for removing sediment from a bottom of a waterway comprising:
- a) a platform positionally fixed above a water surface of the waterway;
- b) a central vessel connected to the platform and anchored in the bottom of the waterway, the central vessel having an upper end portion, a lower end portion, an exterior wall and an interior;
- c) a flow control valve and a water pump are housed on said platform;
- d) one or more vents positioned on the lower end portion of the central vessel used to filter the sediment into the central vessel interior;
- d) one or more water jets mounted in the central vessel interior and positioned above and below the vents, said water jets fluidly connected to the water pump and used to slurry or liquefy the sediment entering said vents;
- e) a sediment pump positioned in the central vessel interior and next to the vents, said sediment pump fluidly connected to an outflow pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.