US 7,022,223 B2 · Methods and systems for removing floating solid waste from the surface of a watercourse

Abstract

A floating pond skimmer is coupled by a fluid conduit to a remote filter/aerating apparatus. The skimmer sucks a mixture of solids and water, grinds/chops the solids, and pumps the reduced solids and water through the conduit to the filter/aerating apparatus which separates the solids from the mixture and aerates the water from the mixture. The floating skimmer preferably includes a vortex chamber, an on-board pump with a grinding impeller, an adjustable ballast, and an anchor. The filter/aerating apparatus includes an inclined screen and a drain tray beneath the inclined screen coupled to a water discharge conduit. Optionally, an aeration pump is coupled to the discharge conduit. Also optionally, a removable solid waste hopper is located at the lower end of the inclined screen. Otherwise the solid waste simply falls into a compost pile at the bottom of the inclined screen.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A system for removing solid waste from the surface of a pond, comprising:

a) a floating pond skimmer having a skimmer inlet, a skimmer outlet, and a pump configured to draw water and solid waste from said skimmer inlet and direct the water and solid waste to said skimmer outlet;
b) a remote filter apparatus having a filter inlet and a water outlet;
and c) a conduit coupled to said skimmer outlet and said filter inlet, wherein said floating pond skimmer sucks a mixture of solids and water and pumps the mixture through the conduit to the filter apparatus which separates the solids from the mixture, wherein said pump has an impeller which reduces solids sucked by said pump.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and systems for removing floating solid waste from the surface of a watercourse

Life of this patent

Methods and systems for removing floating solid waste from the surface of a watercourse

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29