Apparatus and method for cutting and harvesting infestations of aquatic vegetation in shallow areas of water bodies
OwnerClarence W. Shonnardinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A harvester and method for cutting and harvesting bottom growing aquatic vegetation in shallow areas of water bodies, such as lakes. The harvester is manually operated. The harvester moves on wheels and is capable of being adjusted to cut the aquatic vegetation at a desired height that does not disturb the water bottom ecology. The vegetation is collected on the harvester, removed from the harvester, dewatered and used for compost in garden and agricultural activities.
Claims18
A manual mobile apparatus for harvesting bottom growing aquatic vegetation in shallow areas of water that does not disturb the water bottom ecology comprising:
- a perforated self-draining deck with wheels on a transverse axel;
- means for attaching aquatic cutting devices to either or both ends of said deck;
- means attached to said deck including a flexible plastic grid enclosed on all sides and by a top cover to collect the cut aquatic vegetation;
- means connected to said wheels to control minimal distance of said cutting devices above the bottom;
- and
- a manual push or pull handle attached to said deck with wheels with vertical mobility from front to back over the deck that can reverse direction of motion without turning the apparatus.
A manual harvester for cutting and harvesting bottom growing aquatic vegetation in shallow areas of water that does not disturb the water bottom ecology comprising:
- a deck;
- wheeled means connected to said deck for moving said harvester through said vegetation and for adjusting the cutting height above said water bottom;
- said wheeled means includes a handle for pushing or pulling said harvester and said handle is vertically moveable in an arc of up to 180 degrees so that said harvester can be pushed or pulled without turning said harvester;
- means for compacting said vegetation mounted on said deck;
- means for cutting said vegetation associated with said means for compacting and mounted on said deck;
- and
- means for collecting the cut said vegetation on said deck including a flexible plastic grid enclosed on all sides and by a top cover to collect the cut aquatic vegetation.
The method for cutting and harvesting bottom growing aquatic vegetation in shallow areas of water that does not disturb the water bottom ecology comprising:
- providing a harvester with a deck;
- wheeled means connected to said deck and means attached to said deck including a flexible plastic grid enclosed on all sides and by a top cover to collect the cut aquatic vegetation;
- moving said harvester through said vegetation at a set height above said water bottom;
- compacting said vegetation and wedging the vegetation against a cutting means for cutting said vegetation;
- cutting and collecting the cut said vegetation on said deck into said flexible plastic grid wherein said water bottom ecology is unaffected by the said cutting and harvesting;
- and
- removing said flexible plastic grid from said deck and disposing of the cut said vegetation from said flexible plastic grid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.