System and methods for bypassing an aquatic obstruction
AssigneeMead and Hunt, Inc.
InventorsRyan Greif, Stephen R. Sullivan, Gilbert Frank Ransley
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Abstract
The system and methods of the present invention selectively permit aquatic organisms to bypass an obstruction, such as a lock or a dam. Certain embodiments of the system include a container through which aquatic organisms and water may flow, a container pressurizer for pressurizing the container, and a pressure control mechanism.
Claims20
A system for selectively permitting aquatic organisms in a water flow to safely bypass an obstruction by controlled dissipation of pressure in the water flow, comprising:
- a primary container including a container wall constructed and configured to define a container space1 through which the water flow may pass, said container wall includes a first container opening configured as a first inlet and a second container opening configured as a first outlet;
- said primary container including a flow control element configured to gradually lessen rate of the water flow in said primary container;
- a container pressurizer functionally separate from and configured to permit pressurization of said container space;
- and
- a pressure control mechanism configured to permit control over pressure level in said container space and intended to prevent harm to the aquatic organisms in the water flow during transition through the container;
- said pressure control mechanism separated from the water flow containing the aquatic organisms by a separator, said separator configured to selectively prevent the aquatic organisms from coming into contact with at least said container pressurizer, said pressure control mechanism, and said first outlet during passage in the water flow through the system.
A method for moving organisms safely around an aquatic obstruction in a body of water, comprising the steps of:
- positioning relative to the body of water a system having a container including a container wall which defines a container space, said container wall including a first inlet having a first inlet valve and a first outlet having a first outlet valve, a separator between the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve, a container pressurizer configured to permit pressurization of the container space, and a pressure control mechanism configured to permit control over pressure level in the container space and to allow the organisms to safely move through the container;
- opening the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve to permit entry of water from the body of water and to establish flow of the water into and through the container to the first outlet valve;
- separating the organisms through the use of the separator to keep the organisms from passing through the first outlet valve;
- closing the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve to stop the water flow;
- activating the pressure control mechanism to decrease the pressure level in the container;
- deactivating the pressure control mechanism upon reaching the pressure level that is desired;
- releasing the organisms from the system;
- using the container pressurizer to introduce a new flow of water from the body of water into the container;
- and
- deactivating the container pressurizer once the desired pressure level is attained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.