CA1303363C - Weeder for inland waterways - Google Patents
Weeder for inland waterwaysInfo
- Publication number
- CA1303363C CA1303363C CA000578744A CA578744A CA1303363C CA 1303363 C CA1303363 C CA 1303363C CA 000578744 A CA000578744 A CA 000578744A CA 578744 A CA578744 A CA 578744A CA 1303363 C CA1303363 C CA 1303363C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- weeds
- weeder
- edge
- grooves
- width
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Abstract
WEEDER FOR INLAND WATERWAYS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A weeder capable of removing large and small sized weeds from inland waterways is arranged for towing off the back of a row boat as well as for manul operation. The weeder is in the form of a rectangular expanded metal section pivotally attached to towing ropes at opposite ends. The sides of the expanded metal section are sheared to form a V-groove or slot configuration for trapping the weeds along the bed of the waterway where the roots meet the weed stalk. The expanded metal perforations allow the weeds to be carried to the surface of the water while allowing the water to escape between the perforations. One side of the expanded metal section is provided with an additional expanded metal section to form V-grooves of smaller width to remove the smaller weeds.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A weeder capable of removing large and small sized weeds from inland waterways is arranged for towing off the back of a row boat as well as for manul operation. The weeder is in the form of a rectangular expanded metal section pivotally attached to towing ropes at opposite ends. The sides of the expanded metal section are sheared to form a V-groove or slot configuration for trapping the weeds along the bed of the waterway where the roots meet the weed stalk. The expanded metal perforations allow the weeds to be carried to the surface of the water while allowing the water to escape between the perforations. One side of the expanded metal section is provided with an additional expanded metal section to form V-grooves of smaller width to remove the smaller weeds.
Description
3~3 WE13DER FOR :tNLAND WATERWAYS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Aquatlc weeds have long been a problem for persons ~nJoylng proper~y located on lnland lakes, ponds, and rivers.
The weeds grow uncontrolled to lengths in exces~ of ~everal feet to interfere wlth ~wlmmlng and boatlng usag~.
Earlier attempts to remove such weeds from along the shore out to some di~tance there~rom, have not heretofore proven successful. Hand-operated cutting tool~ in the form of slckles and hoe~ were limlted due to thQ poor vlslbllity through the water when the water wa~ dl~turbed. The cut weeds which float to the ~urfaGe are removed ln a separate operatlon either by hand or by means of a rak2 or simllar tool. The cut weeds whioh sink to the bottom regQnerate and form new growth.
Dredgers ln the form of chalns dragged along the water bed by means of a row boat to trap the wa~d~ were not as e~ective as tools that employed blade~ or blade-like edges to cut the weed~.
U.S. Patent 4,375,~99 entltled ~Aquatlc Weeder" de~oribe~
a hand held weeder u~e~ul ~or cutting weed~ growing beneath the surfac~ of quch lnland waterway~. The weeder i~ moved back and forth to cut the w~eds ln ~hallow water~ and r~mova them from the underwater 90il Yur~ca. The weed~ are later gath~red at the ~urface and taken to ~he shore for dlsposal.
V.S. Patent DES. 190, 822 entltl~d ~Underwat~r W~ed Cutter" ~hows a weeder device h~ving ~ plurallty of ~errat~d blades along one surface or cutting weed~ from the und~r~at~r ~oll surfaee with a screen~ 0 lmpl~ment ~or catchlng the weed~ and ~owlng the~ b~hlnd ~ bo~ r la~er dlspo~al.
The present lnv~ntion propo~e~ 1~ an underwa~er weed ~L3~3363 removal devlce that lg el~her hand-operated or boat-towad for engaglng and holding the weed~ ~t the Juncture of thelr root and qtalk assembly, removlng the root3 from the soil, and dragging the root~ and ~talks, i.e., the entire weeds, to the surface ln a Qingle operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention compri~ a ~lrst rectangular body of expa~ded metal haviny rope-enga~ing swivels a~tached to the opposlte corner~ ~hereof. A metal relnforcement bar ~g positloned along the body, parallel to the longer slde~. An addltional rectangular metal body of expanded matal of lesser width than the first body 19 attach~d to the first body between the metal relnforc~ment bar and a long$tudinal edge of ~he flrst body. The ed~ss of ~he expanded metal bodle provide a flrst edge having V-grooves o~ a f$rst w~dth for capturing larger weed~ and V-grcov~s of shorter wldth for capturing smaller ~lzed weed~. A pivoted handle support can be optlonally attached to the centsr of ~he support bar for hand-operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 1~ an exploded per~pectlve view of a waterway weeder in accordanc~ with the lnvention, wlth the component part~ ln isometrlc proJection;
Figure 2 1~ a top perspactlve view of an alternate embodiment of the weedar o~ Figur~ 1, wlth towing ropes attached;
Fi~ure 2A i~ a top per~pec~ivQ view o~ a fur~her embod~ment of the weeder o Flgure 1:
Figure 2B i~ a top persp~ctlve view of a ~urth~r embodiment of the weeder of Figur~ 2A:
Flgure 3 is ~ top per~p~atlv~ vlew o~ ~n altern~te embodiment of the weeder of Figur~ 1, wi~h a handle attached:
. ~ 2 ~3~?3~3 Flgure 4 ~ a top perspec~lve v18w of an alternative embodiment of the weeder depicted in Figure3 l and 2;
Flgure 5 i~ a p~rspective view of the weed~r of Figur~ 2 shown attached to the transom o a row boat; and Flgure 6 19 a front per~pectlve vlew of the weeder depicted ln Figure S belng wlthdrawn from the water.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFERRED EM~ODIMENTS
The waterway weeder 10 1~ ~hown in Figure 1 in exploded perspective, and compr~eQ a planar expanded metal body ll, metal support bar 12 and a pla~ar expanded metal body 13. The expanded metal bodies 11 and 13 have ~ plurallty of dlamond-shaped openings 8 between elements 22 and 23, respectlvely.
When the element~ 2~, 23 are cut edgewlse, a corresponding plurality of V-grooves 7 and 9 are defined along th~ cut edges 13A, and along edges llA and llB. The slgnlficance of the V-groove~ 7 and 9 wlll be d~scrlbad below ln greater detail.
metal bar 12 form~d from a carbon teel composltion i3 on top of the body 11 parallel to the edge~ llA, llB. The narrow expanded mstal body 13 having a plurallty of V-grooves 7 along one edge 13A i8 then attached to the bar 12 and ~o the body 11 by allgning llnk 22 in tha narrow chaln l~nk 13 and ln the body with ~he ~hru-hole ~4 ln the ~uppor~ bar 12. The chain bodle~ ~nd the bar 12 are fastened ~ogether by me~ns of bolt 18, washers 19, 20 and nut 21. Altornatlvely, body 11 and the bar 12 can be placed over both ~odle~ 11 and 13 before bolting. In high speed a~sembly operations, ~he narrow body 13 can be edg~-weld~d or brazed to body 11 a~ depicted at 6 ln Figure 2 or example1 Four S-~haped ~wivel hook~ or rings 14 are at~ached to the four opposln~ corn~rs o th~ b~dy 11 to ~cilltate the a~a~en~ of ropes or cor~ 28 a~ o ~hown ln Figur~ 2.
As ~hown in Figure 2, weed~r 10 is arranged fsr towin~ by ~3~33~53 the attachm~nt of two or more cords 2~ by means of connec~or 27 ~ttached to oppo~lte ends of th~ cord. In ths weeder 20, the bar 12 can also be edge-welded or brazed to the body 11 a~
shown at 25 ln a hlgh speed automated assembly process. When S the narrow body 13 19 attached to body 11, a plurality of narrow V-grooves S are dafined along the composite edge deined by ~he edge 13A of the narrow body 13 and the edge llA
of narrow body 11. ~he opposing sdge llB provide a plurallty of larger V~grooves 9 for engagln~, holdlng and extractlng larger-slzed weedq when the cord~ 28 are attached to swlvel hooks 148 and the rake 10 1~ towed in the diractian indlcated by arrow 8. When the cords 28 are at~ached to the oppo~ite swlve}~, one of whlch i8 lndicated ~t 14A and the other omitted for purpo~e~ o~ clarlty, and the rake 10 1 dragged in the direction indlcated by arrow A along the underwater -~olid surface, the smaller weeds are caught, held and pulled form the soil by the narrower V-groove3 S.
A less expen~ive variation of the weeder o~ tha inventlon, i~ provided by rake 10, hown ~n Figure 2A, which comprl3es an expanded metal body 11 having V-groove~ 9 on opposing sldes and 18 attached to the towlng rope~ 28 dlrectly wlthout u~lng any typ~ of swivel hooks. A reinforclng bar 12 i~ attachad to the body 11 for added s~abllity and weight to lnsure that it remains ln contact wlth the weed~ growlng along Z5 the bed of the watsrway. The reln~orcing bar 12 which ad~
strength and welght ~o the b~dy ll or slnking lt to the bottom underwater 9011 ~urfac~: however, bar 12 can be ~limlnated l the ~xpanded me~al o~ }~y 11 i~ o suicia~tly heavy gauge.
~nother ~imple and in6xpen~ivo ~bod~ment o~ the w~eder of the lnventlon i8 provlded by r~ke 10~ ~how~ ln Flyure 2B~
whereln an expa~ded metal ~ody 11 i8 directly welded as ~3~3;3~i~
lndicated at 16 to an expanded matal body 4 havlng cloqely spaced element~ 15 to deflne a plurallty of narrow V-groove~
5 on one edge. A plurality o~ ragular sized V-grooves 9 are formed on body 11 on the oppo~lte sld~ therefrom.
Baslde~ ~elng towed behlnd a row boa~ such as lndicated at 43 ln Fi~ure 5 for example, the weeder lO i9 also capable of being hand-operated as best ~ean by referring to Figure 3 and Figure 3A. A two part arcuate bracket 29 i~ attached to the support bar 12 ~y bol~s 50 through plate 34 of one part of la bracket 29. One end of the other part of bracket 29 1~
lnternally threaded a~ indicat~d a~ 51 to accept the threaded end 52 of a handle 33. The handlQ 33 comprlses a plurallty of sectlon-q 33', 33" whlch are lolned together to provlde any desired length.
lS A5 shown ln Flgure 3A, ~ post 38 extends upwardly from the plate 34, and has a hole 53 ~urrounded by a knurled surface: the other part of the brac~et 29 ha~ a plate 37 which ~s also knurled for engagement with the knurled surface of the post 38; a hole 54 thereln 1~ aligned wi~h ~he hole 53 and post 38, 30 that a bolt 36 may bo pa4sed through tham~ and secured by wln~ nut 32 and wa~her 35. A~ will be appasent, thl~ permlt~ the securing of the handle 33 at any de~lred anglQ, 80 that the angle of tha handle 33 can be adJusted to various angle~ aq lndlcated in phantom at 33A and itY
d~reation can be rsversed as indicated at 33~. This allows the angle of the weeder to be adJu~ted with re~pect to ~h~
oper~tor a~ well as the bottom of the waterway which in turn provide~ more po~ltiYa drag on tha weed roots. Thl~ al80 allows the weeder to be dr~wn ln the ~ dlrection ~or a~ample when the handl~ 18 l~c~ted at ~o~ltion 33A and ln the dlrection B when the operatln~ h~ndle 33 i5 located at 33B.
The opera~or can flrs~ remove the l~rger wee~ and then changa IL3~ 3i3 the posltion of the handle 33 and retrace his St~p3 to remove the s~aller weeds.
The weeder 10 is depicted in Figurs 4 w~th a pair of heavy compression spring~ 39, ~lmllar to those used wlth overhead garage door~, attached lntermedlate the S-~haped swivel hooks 14 and the cordY 28. One spring en~ 40 i9 attached directly to the S-shaped hook 14 and the other spring end 41 i~ attached to th~ connector 27 attached to the end of the cordq 28. The hQavy expansion springs 39 ~ssl~t in 1~ llftlng the weeder upwards through the water. ~he water resl~tance to the w~eder, when loaded wlth weeds, cau~Q~ the springs to elongate when the weeder ls llfted from the ~ottom of the water. The energy ~tored ln the springY alternately releases to asslqt the operator during upward motlon of the weeder toward the water surface.
The towlng operatlon of the weeder 10 1~ shown ln Flgure 5 whereln the weeder is towed by a row hoat 43 by mean~ of the palr of cords 28 that are attached to a corresponding pair of hook.Q 44 fastened to the boat tran~om 56. The weeder 1~ drawn along the underwater soil bed 47 ln a horizontal dlrection to capture tha weed~ 46 at the ~unctlon of the 8011 47 with the ~atar 4~ and to hold and remo~ th~m.
The multl-functional f~atura3 of the weed~r 10 can be seen by referr~ng now to Figure 6 wherein th~ weeder is deplcted carrylng a plurali~y of w~ed~ 46 of the type consisting of ~talks 42 and root~ 48. When the wePder 1~
drawn along the underwater soil ~urfaca, the ~talks 42 become captured within th~ V-gr~oves 9 such ~hat they lay along tha top 3urfacs 55 of tha weeder. When ~h~ weader 18 re~oved fro~
ths water by mean3 of cord~ 28, the water d~plcted a~ droplets 49 drains through th~ openln~ 8 whlls the we~ds 46 ramaln entrapped on ths top ~urfac~
~3~33~
An affectlve mean~ for removlng weed~ from lnland waterway~ has hsreln been descrlbed whareby the weed~ are engaged at the ~unction of the 9011 with the water and are held and removed by mean of a slmple, eff~cient and economical device. The weeds are removed in a ~ingle operat~on without addltional equipment or additional gathering step~.
The claims and the speclficatlon dsscribe the lnvention presented, and the term~ that are employed in the claim~ draw lQ thelr meanlng from the use of such term~ in the speciflcation.
Some terms employed ln the prior art may be broader ln meaning than speclfically employad herein. Whenever there i8 a question between the broader definition of such term a~ u~ed in the prior art and the more spa~iflc use of the term herein, the more specific meanlng ia meant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Aquatlc weeds have long been a problem for persons ~nJoylng proper~y located on lnland lakes, ponds, and rivers.
The weeds grow uncontrolled to lengths in exces~ of ~everal feet to interfere wlth ~wlmmlng and boatlng usag~.
Earlier attempts to remove such weeds from along the shore out to some di~tance there~rom, have not heretofore proven successful. Hand-operated cutting tool~ in the form of slckles and hoe~ were limlted due to thQ poor vlslbllity through the water when the water wa~ dl~turbed. The cut weeds which float to the ~urfaGe are removed ln a separate operatlon either by hand or by means of a rak2 or simllar tool. The cut weeds whioh sink to the bottom regQnerate and form new growth.
Dredgers ln the form of chalns dragged along the water bed by means of a row boat to trap the wa~d~ were not as e~ective as tools that employed blade~ or blade-like edges to cut the weed~.
U.S. Patent 4,375,~99 entltled ~Aquatlc Weeder" de~oribe~
a hand held weeder u~e~ul ~or cutting weed~ growing beneath the surfac~ of quch lnland waterway~. The weeder i~ moved back and forth to cut the w~eds ln ~hallow water~ and r~mova them from the underwater 90il Yur~ca. The weed~ are later gath~red at the ~urface and taken to ~he shore for dlsposal.
V.S. Patent DES. 190, 822 entltl~d ~Underwat~r W~ed Cutter" ~hows a weeder device h~ving ~ plurallty of ~errat~d blades along one surface or cutting weed~ from the und~r~at~r ~oll surfaee with a screen~ 0 lmpl~ment ~or catchlng the weed~ and ~owlng the~ b~hlnd ~ bo~ r la~er dlspo~al.
The present lnv~ntion propo~e~ 1~ an underwa~er weed ~L3~3363 removal devlce that lg el~her hand-operated or boat-towad for engaglng and holding the weed~ ~t the Juncture of thelr root and qtalk assembly, removlng the root3 from the soil, and dragging the root~ and ~talks, i.e., the entire weeds, to the surface ln a Qingle operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention compri~ a ~lrst rectangular body of expa~ded metal haviny rope-enga~ing swivels a~tached to the opposlte corner~ ~hereof. A metal relnforcement bar ~g positloned along the body, parallel to the longer slde~. An addltional rectangular metal body of expanded matal of lesser width than the first body 19 attach~d to the first body between the metal relnforc~ment bar and a long$tudinal edge of ~he flrst body. The ed~ss of ~he expanded metal bodle provide a flrst edge having V-grooves o~ a f$rst w~dth for capturing larger weed~ and V-grcov~s of shorter wldth for capturing smaller ~lzed weed~. A pivoted handle support can be optlonally attached to the centsr of ~he support bar for hand-operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 1~ an exploded per~pectlve view of a waterway weeder in accordanc~ with the lnvention, wlth the component part~ ln isometrlc proJection;
Figure 2 1~ a top perspactlve view of an alternate embodiment of the weedar o~ Figur~ 1, wlth towing ropes attached;
Fi~ure 2A i~ a top per~pec~ivQ view o~ a fur~her embod~ment of the weeder o Flgure 1:
Figure 2B i~ a top persp~ctlve view of a ~urth~r embodiment of the weeder of Figur~ 2A:
Flgure 3 is ~ top per~p~atlv~ vlew o~ ~n altern~te embodiment of the weeder of Figur~ 1, wi~h a handle attached:
. ~ 2 ~3~?3~3 Flgure 4 ~ a top perspec~lve v18w of an alternative embodiment of the weeder depicted in Figure3 l and 2;
Flgure 5 i~ a p~rspective view of the weed~r of Figur~ 2 shown attached to the transom o a row boat; and Flgure 6 19 a front per~pectlve vlew of the weeder depicted ln Figure S belng wlthdrawn from the water.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFERRED EM~ODIMENTS
The waterway weeder 10 1~ ~hown in Figure 1 in exploded perspective, and compr~eQ a planar expanded metal body ll, metal support bar 12 and a pla~ar expanded metal body 13. The expanded metal bodies 11 and 13 have ~ plurallty of dlamond-shaped openings 8 between elements 22 and 23, respectlvely.
When the element~ 2~, 23 are cut edgewlse, a corresponding plurality of V-grooves 7 and 9 are defined along th~ cut edges 13A, and along edges llA and llB. The slgnlficance of the V-groove~ 7 and 9 wlll be d~scrlbad below ln greater detail.
metal bar 12 form~d from a carbon teel composltion i3 on top of the body 11 parallel to the edge~ llA, llB. The narrow expanded mstal body 13 having a plurallty of V-grooves 7 along one edge 13A i8 then attached to the bar 12 and ~o the body 11 by allgning llnk 22 in tha narrow chaln l~nk 13 and ln the body with ~he ~hru-hole ~4 ln the ~uppor~ bar 12. The chain bodle~ ~nd the bar 12 are fastened ~ogether by me~ns of bolt 18, washers 19, 20 and nut 21. Altornatlvely, body 11 and the bar 12 can be placed over both ~odle~ 11 and 13 before bolting. In high speed a~sembly operations, ~he narrow body 13 can be edg~-weld~d or brazed to body 11 a~ depicted at 6 ln Figure 2 or example1 Four S-~haped ~wivel hook~ or rings 14 are at~ached to the four opposln~ corn~rs o th~ b~dy 11 to ~cilltate the a~a~en~ of ropes or cor~ 28 a~ o ~hown ln Figur~ 2.
As ~hown in Figure 2, weed~r 10 is arranged fsr towin~ by ~3~33~53 the attachm~nt of two or more cords 2~ by means of connec~or 27 ~ttached to oppo~lte ends of th~ cord. In ths weeder 20, the bar 12 can also be edge-welded or brazed to the body 11 a~
shown at 25 ln a hlgh speed automated assembly process. When S the narrow body 13 19 attached to body 11, a plurality of narrow V-grooves S are dafined along the composite edge deined by ~he edge 13A of the narrow body 13 and the edge llA
of narrow body 11. ~he opposing sdge llB provide a plurallty of larger V~grooves 9 for engagln~, holdlng and extractlng larger-slzed weedq when the cord~ 28 are attached to swlvel hooks 148 and the rake 10 1~ towed in the diractian indlcated by arrow 8. When the cords 28 are at~ached to the oppo~ite swlve}~, one of whlch i8 lndicated ~t 14A and the other omitted for purpo~e~ o~ clarlty, and the rake 10 1 dragged in the direction indlcated by arrow A along the underwater -~olid surface, the smaller weeds are caught, held and pulled form the soil by the narrower V-groove3 S.
A less expen~ive variation of the weeder o~ tha inventlon, i~ provided by rake 10, hown ~n Figure 2A, which comprl3es an expanded metal body 11 having V-groove~ 9 on opposing sldes and 18 attached to the towlng rope~ 28 dlrectly wlthout u~lng any typ~ of swivel hooks. A reinforclng bar 12 i~ attachad to the body 11 for added s~abllity and weight to lnsure that it remains ln contact wlth the weed~ growlng along Z5 the bed of the watsrway. The reln~orcing bar 12 which ad~
strength and welght ~o the b~dy ll or slnking lt to the bottom underwater 9011 ~urfac~: however, bar 12 can be ~limlnated l the ~xpanded me~al o~ }~y 11 i~ o suicia~tly heavy gauge.
~nother ~imple and in6xpen~ivo ~bod~ment o~ the w~eder of the lnventlon i8 provlded by r~ke 10~ ~how~ ln Flyure 2B~
whereln an expa~ded metal ~ody 11 i8 directly welded as ~3~3;3~i~
lndicated at 16 to an expanded matal body 4 havlng cloqely spaced element~ 15 to deflne a plurallty of narrow V-groove~
5 on one edge. A plurality o~ ragular sized V-grooves 9 are formed on body 11 on the oppo~lte sld~ therefrom.
Baslde~ ~elng towed behlnd a row boa~ such as lndicated at 43 ln Fi~ure 5 for example, the weeder lO i9 also capable of being hand-operated as best ~ean by referring to Figure 3 and Figure 3A. A two part arcuate bracket 29 i~ attached to the support bar 12 ~y bol~s 50 through plate 34 of one part of la bracket 29. One end of the other part of bracket 29 1~
lnternally threaded a~ indicat~d a~ 51 to accept the threaded end 52 of a handle 33. The handlQ 33 comprlses a plurallty of sectlon-q 33', 33" whlch are lolned together to provlde any desired length.
lS A5 shown ln Flgure 3A, ~ post 38 extends upwardly from the plate 34, and has a hole 53 ~urrounded by a knurled surface: the other part of the brac~et 29 ha~ a plate 37 which ~s also knurled for engagement with the knurled surface of the post 38; a hole 54 thereln 1~ aligned wi~h ~he hole 53 and post 38, 30 that a bolt 36 may bo pa4sed through tham~ and secured by wln~ nut 32 and wa~her 35. A~ will be appasent, thl~ permlt~ the securing of the handle 33 at any de~lred anglQ, 80 that the angle of tha handle 33 can be adJusted to various angle~ aq lndlcated in phantom at 33A and itY
d~reation can be rsversed as indicated at 33~. This allows the angle of the weeder to be adJu~ted with re~pect to ~h~
oper~tor a~ well as the bottom of the waterway which in turn provide~ more po~ltiYa drag on tha weed roots. Thl~ al80 allows the weeder to be dr~wn ln the ~ dlrection ~or a~ample when the handl~ 18 l~c~ted at ~o~ltion 33A and ln the dlrection B when the operatln~ h~ndle 33 i5 located at 33B.
The opera~or can flrs~ remove the l~rger wee~ and then changa IL3~ 3i3 the posltion of the handle 33 and retrace his St~p3 to remove the s~aller weeds.
The weeder 10 is depicted in Figurs 4 w~th a pair of heavy compression spring~ 39, ~lmllar to those used wlth overhead garage door~, attached lntermedlate the S-~haped swivel hooks 14 and the cordY 28. One spring en~ 40 i9 attached directly to the S-shaped hook 14 and the other spring end 41 i~ attached to th~ connector 27 attached to the end of the cordq 28. The hQavy expansion springs 39 ~ssl~t in 1~ llftlng the weeder upwards through the water. ~he water resl~tance to the w~eder, when loaded wlth weeds, cau~Q~ the springs to elongate when the weeder ls llfted from the ~ottom of the water. The energy ~tored ln the springY alternately releases to asslqt the operator during upward motlon of the weeder toward the water surface.
The towlng operatlon of the weeder 10 1~ shown ln Flgure 5 whereln the weeder is towed by a row hoat 43 by mean~ of the palr of cords 28 that are attached to a corresponding pair of hook.Q 44 fastened to the boat tran~om 56. The weeder 1~ drawn along the underwater soil bed 47 ln a horizontal dlrection to capture tha weed~ 46 at the ~unctlon of the 8011 47 with the ~atar 4~ and to hold and remo~ th~m.
The multl-functional f~atura3 of the weed~r 10 can be seen by referr~ng now to Figure 6 wherein th~ weeder is deplcted carrylng a plurali~y of w~ed~ 46 of the type consisting of ~talks 42 and root~ 48. When the wePder 1~
drawn along the underwater soil ~urfaca, the ~talks 42 become captured within th~ V-gr~oves 9 such ~hat they lay along tha top 3urfacs 55 of tha weeder. When ~h~ weader 18 re~oved fro~
ths water by mean3 of cord~ 28, the water d~plcted a~ droplets 49 drains through th~ openln~ 8 whlls the we~ds 46 ramaln entrapped on ths top ~urfac~
~3~33~
An affectlve mean~ for removlng weed~ from lnland waterway~ has hsreln been descrlbed whareby the weed~ are engaged at the ~unction of the 9011 with the water and are held and removed by mean of a slmple, eff~cient and economical device. The weeds are removed in a ~ingle operat~on without addltional equipment or additional gathering step~.
The claims and the speclficatlon dsscribe the lnvention presented, and the term~ that are employed in the claim~ draw lQ thelr meanlng from the use of such term~ in the speciflcation.
Some terms employed ln the prior art may be broader ln meaning than speclfically employad herein. Whenever there i8 a question between the broader definition of such term a~ u~ed in the prior art and the more spa~iflc use of the term herein, the more specific meanlng ia meant.
Claims (17)
1. A weeder for engaging and removing aquatic weeds from the underwater soil at the bottom of waterways comprising:
a body for pulling weeds, said body being substantially planar and having at least one edge and a plurality of openings therethrough spaced from said edge, means attached to said body for causing said body to move through water with said body and said edge substantially parallel and at the surface of the underwater soil, and means at said edge of said body comprising V-grooves for engaging the portions of weeds above said soil and for removing the roots of the engaged weeds from said soil as said body is moved by said moving means, said openings being throughout said body and permitting water to pass through said body when said body and weeds engaged by said V-grooves are moved upwardly from the said underwater soil surface.
a body for pulling weeds, said body being substantially planar and having at least one edge and a plurality of openings therethrough spaced from said edge, means attached to said body for causing said body to move through water with said body and said edge substantially parallel and at the surface of the underwater soil, and means at said edge of said body comprising V-grooves for engaging the portions of weeds above said soil and for removing the roots of the engaged weeds from said soil as said body is moved by said moving means, said openings being throughout said body and permitting water to pass through said body when said body and weeds engaged by said V-grooves are moved upwardly from the said underwater soil surface.
2. The weeder of Claim 1, and a second body attached to said first mentioned body, said second body being of lesser width than said first body and having an edge thereof overlying said edge of said first body, said edge of said second body having V-grooves of different width than said V-grooves of said first body.
3. The weeder of Claim 2, said V-grooves of said second body being of lesser width than said V-grooves of said first body.
4, The weeder of Claim 1 wherein said means attached to said body comprise swivel hooks.
5. The weeder of Claim 4, wherein said body is rectangular and said swivel hooks are located at all four opposing corner of said body.
6. The weeder of Claim 1, and further comprising reinforcement bar means secured to said body for adding strength and weight thereto.
7. The weeder of Claim 1 wherein said means attached to said body comprise tow ropes.
8. The weeder of Claim 7, wherein said tow ropes have connectors at one end for attaching to said attachment means.
9. The weeder of Claim 7 and further comprising spring means attached to said tow ropes for assisting in lifting said body from said bottom.
10. The weeder of Claim 1, wherein said means attached to said body comprises a handle.
11. The weeder of Claim 10 and means for securing said handle to said body in any one of a plurality of angular positions.
12. The weeder of Claim 11, wherein said body is rectangular with longitudinal edges and said securing means comprises means for securing said handle so as to be positioned over either of said edges of said body.
13. The weeder of Claim 1 wherein said body is of expanded metal.
14. A weeder for inland waterways comprising:
a first rectangular substantially planar body of expanded metal having a plurality of first diamond shaped openings throughout said body, said body having a first set of V-grooves of a first width on said one edge, said first V-grooves being arranged for removing first sized weeds from a bottom of a waterway;
a second rectangular body of expanded metal having a plurality of second diamond-shaped openings throughout said second body, having a width less than the width of said first body and having V-grooves at the edges thereof having a width smaller than and overlying the V-grooves of said first body for removing second sized weeds from said waterway bottom, said second sized weeds being smaller than said first sized weeds; and means at opposing ends of said first body for moving said bodies substantially horizontally along a bottom of the waterways;
said first and second openings permitting water to pass through said body when said body and weeds removed thereby are moved to the surface of the water.
a first rectangular substantially planar body of expanded metal having a plurality of first diamond shaped openings throughout said body, said body having a first set of V-grooves of a first width on said one edge, said first V-grooves being arranged for removing first sized weeds from a bottom of a waterway;
a second rectangular body of expanded metal having a plurality of second diamond-shaped openings throughout said second body, having a width less than the width of said first body and having V-grooves at the edges thereof having a width smaller than and overlying the V-grooves of said first body for removing second sized weeds from said waterway bottom, said second sized weeds being smaller than said first sized weeds; and means at opposing ends of said first body for moving said bodies substantially horizontally along a bottom of the waterways;
said first and second openings permitting water to pass through said body when said body and weeds removed thereby are moved to the surface of the water.
15. A weeder for inland waterways comprising:
a first rectangular body of expanded metal of predetermined length and width and having a plurality of first diamond-shaped openings, said first body at one edge thereof having V-grooves of a first width for removing first sized weeds from a bottom of a waterway;
a second rectangular body of expanded metal having a plurality of second diamond-shaped openings attached to one surface of said first body, said second diamond-shaped openings being of smaller size than said first diamond-shaped openings; and said second rectangular body having an edge overlying said one edge of said first body and having at said edge V-grooves of a second width, said second V-grooves being of a smaller width than the width of said first V-grooves.
a first rectangular body of expanded metal of predetermined length and width and having a plurality of first diamond-shaped openings, said first body at one edge thereof having V-grooves of a first width for removing first sized weeds from a bottom of a waterway;
a second rectangular body of expanded metal having a plurality of second diamond-shaped openings attached to one surface of said first body, said second diamond-shaped openings being of smaller size than said first diamond-shaped openings; and said second rectangular body having an edge overlying said one edge of said first body and having at said edge V-grooves of a second width, said second V-grooves being of a smaller width than the width of said first V-grooves.
16. A method for removing weeds from soil underlying inland waterways comprising the steps of:
providing a substantially planar body having an edge with a plurality of V-grooves extending therealong and openings through said body;
moving said body along a bottom of an inland waterway with said body and said edge adjacent the said waterway bottom and engaging and holding weeds thereon by said V-grooves at a junction of said weeds with said bottom and removing the roots of said weeds from said soil by pulling on said weeds by said movement of said body; and lifting said body together with said weeds, including said roots, through said water with water passing through at least some of said openings, whereby said weeds remain on said body for subsequent removal therefrom and disposal.
providing a substantially planar body having an edge with a plurality of V-grooves extending therealong and openings through said body;
moving said body along a bottom of an inland waterway with said body and said edge adjacent the said waterway bottom and engaging and holding weeds thereon by said V-grooves at a junction of said weeds with said bottom and removing the roots of said weeds from said soil by pulling on said weeds by said movement of said body; and lifting said body together with said weeds, including said roots, through said water with water passing through at least some of said openings, whereby said weeds remain on said body for subsequent removal therefrom and disposal.
17. A weeder for engaging and removing aquatic weeds from the underwater soil at the bottom of waterways comprising:
a body for pulling weeds, said body having at least one edge and a plurality of openings therethrough spaced from said edge, means attached to said body for causing said body to move through water with said body and said edge substantially parallel to and at the surface of the underwater soil, and means at said edge of said body comprising V-grooves for engaging the portions of weeds above said soil and for removing the roots of the engaged weeds from said soil as said body is moved by said moving means, said body being constructed to provide, rearwardly of said edge, minimal resistance to being pulled through the water with said edge at the front of said body, said openings being substantially throughout said body for permitting water to pass through said body when said body and weeds engaged by said V-grooves are moved upwardly from the said underwater soil surface.
a body for pulling weeds, said body having at least one edge and a plurality of openings therethrough spaced from said edge, means attached to said body for causing said body to move through water with said body and said edge substantially parallel to and at the surface of the underwater soil, and means at said edge of said body comprising V-grooves for engaging the portions of weeds above said soil and for removing the roots of the engaged weeds from said soil as said body is moved by said moving means, said body being constructed to provide, rearwardly of said edge, minimal resistance to being pulled through the water with said edge at the front of said body, said openings being substantially throughout said body for permitting water to pass through said body when said body and weeds engaged by said V-grooves are moved upwardly from the said underwater soil surface.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US23806088A | 1988-08-30 | 1988-08-30 | |
| US238,060 | 1988-08-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1303363C true CA1303363C (en) | 1992-06-16 |
Family
ID=22896335
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000578744A Expired - Lifetime CA1303363C (en) | 1988-08-30 | 1988-09-28 | Weeder for inland waterways |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1303363C (en) |
-
1988
- 1988-09-28 CA CA000578744A patent/CA1303363C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |