Aquatic planting process and related apparatus
AssigneeJames F. Anderson
InventorKenneth M. Cox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and apparatus for planting aquatic plants underwater on the bottom of estuaries whereby an aquatic plant which is ready for transplanting is positioned in a planting nipple having an angular groove in its upper portion. When the planting nipple is brought into contact with the estuary bottom, sea grass plants which are positioned on the angular groove, are planted on the estuary bottom. A plurality of planting nipples are incorporated on the periphery of a planting wheel. A watercraft is used to position the planting wheel with its planting nipples over an area to be planted is provided for. With the process and apparatus of this invention, sea grass plants can be planted on the bottom of an estuary in a semiautomated fashion.
Claims20
An underwater planter for planting aquatic plants comprising:
- a. a hull which has sufficient buoyancy for transporting and positioning the planter to an area where aquatic plants are to be planted underwater;
- b. a planting wheel which is supported by said hull and said planting wheel is adapted to roll underwater over the bottom of an estuary wherein spaced on the periphery of said planting wheel are planting nipples which are adapted to receive aquatic plants wherein said planting nipples incorporate a groove which is adapted to receive and retain at least one plant shoot;
- c. a means for varying the distance that the planting wheel extends below the waterline of said hull;
- d. a means for propelling the hull through the water thereby causing the wheel to roll along the estuary bottom causing the aquatic plants to be planted thereon as the planting nipples come into contact with the estuary bottom.
A process for planting sea grass in an estuary bottom, underwater, comprising the steps of placing at least one shoot of sea grass in a groove which is integral with a planting nipple, bringing the planting nipple into contact with an estuary bottom in a plane of motion which is parallel with an axis of said slot, thereby causing the shoot of sea grass to be removed from the planting nipple and secured in said estuary bottom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.