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US 8,522,705 B2Granted
Floating vessel for servicing air diffusers
OwnerFred Francis Escherinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catamaran type vessel for use in a wastewater facility for servicing submerged air diffusers is disclosed. The vessel has spaced apart pontoon having an A-frame spanning between the upper decks of the pontoon and connecting the pontoons. A hook connected to a winch is secured to a cross header above the space between the pontoons. The hook is lowered into water and lifts an air header, to which the air diffusers are connected. An air diffuser is then pulled on the pontoons and serviced. The vessel is then propelled to a position to service other air diffusers in the pontoon.
Claims25
A floating vessel, comprising:
- a pair of floatable spaced apart hulls, each hull having an upper deck;
- a frame assembly extending upwardly from upper decks of said hulls and spanning between the hulls, said frame assembly comprising a generally A-shaped forward frame section, an A-shaped aft frame section and a cross header connecting upper ends of the forward frame section and the aft frame section;
- a railing assembly secured to the frame assembly and mounted on the upper deck of each of the hulls;
- and
- a power means for propelling the vessel in water secured to at least one of said hulls.
2 more elements
A floating vessel, comprising:
- a pair of floatable spaced apart hulls, each hull having an upper deck;
- a frame assembly extending upwardly from upper decks of said hulls and spanning between the hulls, said frame assembly comprising a generally A-shaped forward frame section and an A-shaped aft frame section;
- a railing assembly secured to the frame assembly and mounted on the upper deck of each of the hulls said railing assembly comprises an elongated outside rail extending along an outer edge of the hull, a forward cross rail and an aft cross rail extending transversely to the elongated outside rail, a handrail extending above the outside rail, and a support plate extending along an inner edge of the hull transversely to the forward cross rail and the aft cross rail;
- and
- a power means for propelling the vessel in water secured to at least one of said hulls.
2 more elements
A floating vessel, comprising:
- a pair of floatable spaced apart hulls, each hull having an upper deck;
- a frame assembly extending upwardly from upper decks of said hulls and spanning between the hulls, said frame assembly comprising a generally A-shaped forward frame section and an A-shaped aft frame section;
- a railing assembly secured to the frame assembly and mounted on the upper deck of each of the hulls;
- a power means for propelling the vessel in water secured to at least one of said hulls, the power means comprising a rechargeable battery and a motor with a propeller operationally coupled to the battery;
- and further comprising a means for recharging the battery carried by the frame assembly.
2 more elements
A floating vessel for use in a wastewater plant when servicing submerged air diffusers connected to an air header, the vessel comprising:
- a pair of elongated floatable spaced apart pontoons, each pontoon having an upper deck;
- a frame assembly extending upwardly from upper decks of said pontoons and spanning between the pontoons, said frame assembly comprising a generally A-shaped forward frame section, a generally A-shaped aft frame section, and a cross header connected to upper ends of the forward frame section and the aft frame section;
- a railing assembly secured to the frame assembly and mounted on the upper deck of each of the pontoons, said railing assembly comprising a support plate extending along an inner edge of the pontoon and configured for supporting an air diffuser during servicing;
- a lifting assembly carried by the cross header and oriented above a space between the pontoons, said lifting assembly being configured to lift the air header above water;
- and
- a power means for propelling the vessel in water secured to at least one of said pontoons.
3 more elements
A method of servicing air diffusers at a water treatment lagoon, wherein the air diffusers are connected to an elongate air header, the method comprising the steps:
- providing a floating vessel having a pair of floatable spaced apart hulls, each hull having an upper deck;
- providing a frame assembly extending upwardly from upper decks of said hulls and spanning between the hulls, said frame assembly comprising a generally A-shaped forward frame section and a generally A-shaped aft frame section, the forward frame section and the aft frame section are connected by a cross beam secured to upper ends of the forward frame section and the aft frame section;
- providing a lifting assembly secured to the cross beam and oriented above a space between the hulls;
- providing a railing assembly secured to the frame assembly and mounted on the upper deck of each of the hulls, said railing assembly comprising a support plate extending along an inner edge of said hull;
- positioning the vessel in the wastewater lagoon such that the air header is located in the space between the hulls;
- activating the lifting assembly and lifting the air header from water;
- lifting at least one submerged air diffuser from water and positioning at least one air diffuser on support plates of adjacent hulls;
- servicing the at least one air diffuser and then returning the at least one air diffuser into water.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.