Rotating aqueous harvester
OwnerDoug Jacksoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aqueous harvester is disclosed that utilizes a rotating drum having a mesh surface to collect material from a body of water. The drum is operative to rotate, typically as the drum is propelled through water by a watercraft. Material collecting on the mesh surface below the water line is rotated out of the water. The material is removed from the mesh surface by spraying pressurized water through the mesh surface into a catch trough disposed within the drum. The material is then removed from the catch trough for further processing.
Claims19
An apparatus for extracting material from a body of water, comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical drum having a mesh surface configured to rotate when at least partially disposed in water, wherein a material to be extracted from the body of water adheres to the mesh surface;
- an actuator operative to rotate said drum;
- a catch trough disposed within said cylindrical drum and extending over at least a portion of a length of the cylinder between first and second ends of the cylinder;
- and
- a source of pressurized water, wherein said source is disposed outside of said cylindrical drum and is configured to direct a stream of water through said mesh surface and into said catch trough, wherein said stream of water removes the material from the mesh surface and deposits said material into said catch trough.
A method for extracting material from a body of water, comprising:
- rotating a partially submerged drum having a mesh surface in a body of water having a material to be extracted from the body of water;
- applying a pressurized stream of water to an outside surface of said drum on a portion of the drum above the water line;
- catching the stream of water and material removed from the mesh surface by the stream of water in a receptacle disposed within the drum, wherein the receptacle is above a water line of the body of water.
An apparatus for extracting material from a body of water, comprising:
- first and second rollers,
- a continuous mesh surface extending around the outside surfaces of the rollers and configured to rotate when at least partially disposed in water, wherein a material to be extracted from the body of water adheres to the mesh surface;
- an actuator operative to rotate at least one of said rollers to rotate said mesh surface;
- a catch trough disposed between said first and second rollers and between opposing surfaces of said mesh surface;
- and
- a source of pressurized water, wherein said source is disposed outside of said mesh surface is configured to direct a stream of water through said mesh surface and into said catch trough, wherein said stream of water removes the material from the mesh surface and deposits said material into said catch trough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.