CA2898255C - Ship for recovering ocean waste - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ship for recovering ocean waste. The invention aims to provide a means for recovering waste floating in the sea. Said aim is achieved by a ship (1) that recovers ocean waste, comprising at least two lateral hulls (2) which define a basin (3) therebetween. The ship according to the invention is characterised in that the basin (3) is open at the two ends thereof (6, 7) and comprises a plurality of consecutive sections (11, 12, 13) from the bow (6) to the stern (7) of the ship (1), each of which is provided with at least one collection device (21, 22, 23), the collection devices (21, 22, 23) of each section (11, 12, 13) being capable of collecting objects of different sizes, the sections (11, 12, 13) being arranged such that a device capable of collecting smaller objects is arranged behind a device capable of collecting larger objects.

Description

OCEANIC WASTE RECOVERY VESSEL
The present invention relates to a waste recovery ship oceanic.

[0002] Over a vast expanse of the North Pacific, most often evaluated at 3.5 million square kilometres, concentrates a soup that the experts value a several million tons of plastic debris accumulated and floating between of them waters, in a layer 10 to 30 meters thick.

[0003] This North Pacific aquifer is the largest landfill in the world, held in place by sea currents, whose growth projections dating from 2008 already suggested that it could double in size in the following decade.

[0004] In 2006, the oceanographer Charles Moore was the discoverer of this zone-garbage vortex consisting of non-biodegraded waste for some 50 years, not detectable by the satellites, because circulating under the surface of the waters, composed of 90/0 plastics, as for the overall volume of all waste floating in the oceans.

[0005] This threat is also evident for marine ecosystems, this polluted area of the Pacific is the manifestation of a phenomenon that affects effect all the oceans of the planet, because this waste floats in all the seas, including in the polar regions. In some places there would be more of plastic waste than plankton.

[0006] The inevitable cleaning of these polluted areas therefore ultimately represents a titanic project which can only be the responsibility of the community international at large. Ocean cleanup is inevitable and urgent. A
aggravation persistence of the situation would lead to a planetary catastrophe irreversible.
CONFIRMATION COPY

The object of the present invention is to provide a means for recovering them floating waste in the seas.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a ship recovering waste oceanic which comprises at least two lateral hulls which determine a bowl between them. Depending on the size of the vessel, it may also have more than two hulls lateral.

[0009] The vessel according to the invention is characterized in that the basin between them hulls is open at both ends and has several sections successive from the bow to the stern of the ship, each of which is equipped with at least one pick-up device. Each section is equipped with devices for pickup able to pick up objects of a specific size, or range of sizes specific. The sections are arranged so that a device capable of picking up smaller objects is placed behind a device capable of pick up larger objects.

[0010] The overall basin width of the ship according to the invention and its height can determine a treatment surface of the water layer in a plane vertical from the sea at least equal to 1000 m2, advantageously at least equal to 2000 m2 and preferably at least equal to 3000 m2, treated in its entirety by collection devices, whatever their design or arrangement.

[0011] The ship can be equipped with a bridge connecting the hulls which is equipped openings allowing the recovery of objects picked up by the devices pickup. This technical bridge may include superstructures allowing the processing, storage and/or transhipment of collected objects. The bridge technique can also be equipped with fixing devices and/or retraction attached to the collection devices.

[0012] A ship having these characteristics makes it possible to collect waste efficiently and economically. The ship is resisting at the limited progress which is reduced to the sum of the widths of the hulls. the vessel can therefore move relatively quickly and treat a surface considerable.

[0013] As it moves forward, the floating waste can enter the basin of the ship and will be picked up in the different sections by the device(s) of pickup provided in the respective section corresponding to the size of the object. The different pick-up devices are designed for picking up large objects different.
That is to say that each device is able to pick up objects of a size within a specific size range.

[0014] The different sections are arranged in such a way that a apt device to pick up smaller objects is arranged behind a device capable of pick up larger objects. This arrangement allows the collection of the largest objects in the forward part of the ship. The pickup devices of this section can be provided especially for picking up large objects. They are particularly stable but on the other hand allow objects to pass through size at below their size range. Successive sections are designed to be able to pick up objects of smaller sizes. The first section can by example be designed to be able to pick up the largest waste such as containers. The pick-up devices in the following sections are then protected against objects of this size and can be of a strength lesser but sufficient for smaller objects.

[0015] The basin delimited by the hulls may comprise a floor. This floor can connect the hulls together and stabilize the structure.

The ship according to the invention is preferably of the ballasted type for power navigate with different drafts. The ballasts can be in the shells and/or in the floor. The advantage of ballasting is that the ship can navigate at different levels to be able to deal with a layer of waste less deep for example, or on the contrary a thicker layer.

[0017] The hulls can be based on the SWATH concept (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull). The side hulls can each have a keel ballasted, allowing the ship to float at different levels. A
SWATH is a ship with two hulls, each hull being deeply submerged. The central platform is connected to the hulls by thin junctions at the level of the flotation. The advantage of this configuration is to improve seakeeping by bad weather. The skittles ensure in this case by their location, their shape and volume, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic stability of the ship and makes the ship particularly stable and insensitive to the destabilizing effects of waves.
The hulls being deeply submerged and the flotation surface reduced, the ship is much less affected by the destabilizing effects of the waves. His movements are reduced by 20 to 50% compared to a monohull of the same displacement.
This system can be applied to the ship according to the invention.

[0018] The sections of the vessel according to the invention may have supports intended to hold and/or guide the pick-up devices. These supports may in particular be one or more longitudinal partitions. The dividers of the sections are spaced apart to allow the passage of objects from the size corresponding to the section concerned.

[0019] Preferably, the bow part of the ship is equipped with devices shock absorption, preferably over its entire submerged height less, in particular a coating of a material having a damping power such as a rubberized coating and/or a spring damping device and or hydraulic and/or hydropneumatic.

[0020] Advantageously, at least one pick-up device comprises one or several platforms or buckets or ascending shovels, integral or independent of the pick-up device, fixed or articulated, and/or comprises Where consists of mesh netting or trellis or filtration barriers, especially in textiles.

[0021] The collection devices, in particular of the first zone in the part bow of the ship can be made of large-mesh netting or trellis metal cable, or metal mesh, or any material having a solidity sufficient. At the bottom of the nets or trellis, a horizontal platform can be provided, constituting a projection connected to the bottom of the net or trellis, allowing to bring up floating waste at different depths. This platform perhaps consisting of an extension of the net or trellis, forks or a plateau metallic. In another version, the waste lift platform is independent of the net or the trellis.

[0022] The pick-up devices can also consist of dumpsters grids, rotary treadmills comprising in particular means of lifting integral or independent of the conveyor belt, in particular of the shovels of lifting mesh buckets or hooks, fixed or articulated.

[0023] The collection devices are preferably liftable and/or retractable and/or removable. According to one embodiment particularly advantage of the invention, at least one section is equipped with at least two successive collection devices. A device can in this configuration be reassembled, for example for maintenance reasons or because it is blocked by a picked up object, and the second device can perform the picking up in the meantime and can prevent waste of an unsuitable size from arriving in the next section.

[0024] The ship can be equipped with a device for detecting and location of objects floating or submerged under the surface of the sea, and being in the layer of water over the ship's course, to allow the ship to slow down sufficiently in advance for the collection of large waste.

[0025] The supports intended to maintain and/or guide the devices of pickup, such as for example longitudinal partitions, are advantageously laterally movable and/or removable. This makes it possible to increase or reduce the number, in order to be able to increase or reduce their spacing, or for allow the installation of different pick-up devices, for example more evolved in the event of a subsequent technical update.

[0026] At least some of the pick-up devices may have a inclination towards the rear of the vessel. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the devices can have a backward inclination forming a angle less than 45 with respect to the horizontal, in particular less than 30 and from preferably less than 15. This applies in particular to the devices of the sections which are adept at picking up smaller sized objects. These devices are more fragile because their mesh or trellis is finer. The inclination allows reduce the forces exerted by an object striking the device.

[0027] The pick-up devices preferably comprise means of collection such as conveyor belts, trellises, shovels or buckets mounted on a rotating system. These pick-up means thus move during the operation of the device along an inclined plane, preferably almost horizontal, aft while ascending at the same time towards the deck of the ship.

[0028] The operating speed of these devices can be regulated in order to to obtain the best possible compromise between the speed of movement relative means of collection, and the speed of movement of the vessel, which can also vary depending on multiple conditions. The more the speed of move to the rear of the pick-up means is high, the more the resistance to the advancement of these collection means, but the more one reduces the efficiency of the waste collection. It is therefore necessary to be able to regulate the speed of functioning collection devices according to the speed of movement of the ship and other factors present to obtain optimal efficiency.

[0029] The inclination of collection means such as skips and shovels must of course be adapted to the inclination of the pick-up devices of which they are part to keep their effectiveness.

[0030] Part of the pick-up devices can be movable in the direction opposite to the direction of the ship's motion. Collection devices for smaller objects are on the one hand more fragile because their mesh or trellis is finer, and on the other hand they have greater resistance to advancement in the layer of water. They can therefore be mobile in their section in the direction longitudinal, for example on rails. A device in the position of pickup can then move counter to the direction of the ship to reduce the speed of impact of an object on the device as well as to reduce the resistance to advancement. The effective velocity of an impact or the effective resistance exerted is the difference between the speed of the ship and the speed of displacement of device in the opposite direction. Arrived at the end of its section the device perhaps reassembled, transported to the front of its section and begins its journey again.

[0031] The ship can be equipped with a bridge allowing the storage, the treatment and/or transhipment of collected items to other vessels. The bridge may be equipped with cabins and galley and other premises for the crew that can go up to more than 100 people.

[0032] The ship can be equipped with diesel-electric propulsion means, of Flettner rotors and/or solar sails.

[0033] The main propulsion can be provided by propellers, water jets or pods or any other suitable technique. A propeller fairing will be advantageous for them protect against possible large waste.

[0034] The outer faces of the side hulls of the ship can be equipped supports or devices, fixed or removable, intended for the fixing of panels flexible or rigid, fixed or removable advertising. Such media or devices allow sponsors to have their billboard made individually.
Installing these panels takes very little time and does not immobilize the vessel. Installation can be carried out during regular maintenance of the vessel or even during a mission in calm weather.

The invention is explained more precisely below using the figures below attached which show embodiments of the invention in a manner schematic:

[0036] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a ship according to the invention in front perspective;

[0037] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a ship according to the invention in longitudinal section ;

[0038] Figure 3 illustrates a ship according to the invention schematically in horizontal cut.

[0039] It is specified that the figures show the invention purely schematic to explain its general mode of operation. The figures do are neither to scale nor complete but show schematically uniquely the elements that are necessary to appreciate the invention.

[0040] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a ship 1 according to the invention in front perspective. The ship 1 comprises three side hulls 2 which determine two basins 3 between them. Pools 3 are open to both ends whose front opening is visible in the figure. Basins 3 comprise a floor 4 and are each divided by a longitudinal partition 30.
Basins 3 have three successive sections in the direction of displacement D of the ship, each of which is equipped with several devices for collection which bring up the waste entered in the basins 3 towards the bridge-factory 5 of the ship.

The height of the hulls 2 of the ship 1 described here by way of example is of about 50m. Such a vessel can operate in a layer of water up to 35 m of depth. The hulls are ballasted to allow the ship to float at different levels.

[0042] The vessel is approximately 320 m long and is divided into several sections as described below. All measurements given here are given as indicative only. Depending on the planned area of intervention, the ship according to the invention may be larger or smaller, have more or fewer shells or more Where fewer sections.

[0043] The general principle of the configuration of the ship 1 according to the invention is that the 3 basins open at both ends allow the passage of the sea in limiting the forward resistance of the ship to the sum of the widths of the hulls 2 and longitudinal partitions 30 which are located between the shells 2 and which serve supports for waste collection devices not shown on the figure 1.

[0044] Above the hulls 2 is a factory deck 5 comprising all the equipment for the treatment of waste. It basically does the lenght of the ship.

[0045] In normal configuration, the floor of factory deck 5 is between 10m and 12 m above sea level to allow the vessel to continue to work in heavy seas or storms.

The first section 11 is intended for the collection of larger waste.

It is located in the first 50 m from the ship and includes the devices destined the collection of very large waste, such as containers or logs, which can weigh 20 tons or more, and generally of large dimensions.

[0047] The factory bridge 5 can include several transhipment stations for waste in order to be able to tranship simultaneously on the various posts, the waste in the various holds of a ship positioned on one of its sides. The transshipment means are in particular cranes 51, toboggans or treadmills.

[0048] The vessel is equipped with diesel-electric propulsion means. In more Flettner 9 type rotors, also called turbo-sails, are added in order to reduce the consumption of the ship by about 30%.

[0049] Figure 2 illustrates a ship 1 according to the invention so schematic in longitudinal section. We can clearly see basin 3 which extends over the entire length of ship and which is divided into three sections 11, 12, 13. Each section is equipped with several collection devices 21, 22, 23 of waste. Pool 3 has a opening at the bow 6 and stern 7 of the vessel to allow sea water of cross sections 11, 12, 13. Collecting devices 21, 22, 23 go back the waste entering basin 3 towards factory bridge 5 to be processed, stored and/or transhipped to other vessels.

[0050] The pick-up devices 21 of the first section 11 are intended at pick up the biggest trash. The first section 11 has a length of about 50m. It includes the devices 21 intended for the collection of very large waste, such as containers lost by a container ship or logs, which can weigh 20 tons or more, and usually large dimensions.

The first section 11 has two pick-up devices 21 successive. They consist of large-mesh nets or trellises, in cable metal, or in metal mesh, or of any material having a solidity sufficient.
At the bottom of the nets or lattices, a horizontal platform 211 constituting a advance connected to the bottom of the net or trellis, allows waste to be brought up floating at different depths. This platform 211 is constituted by a extension netting or mesh, pitchforks, a metal tray or any other medium adapted.

[0052] The waste from the first section 11 is brought up on the foredeck from ship which constitutes a large handling surface. The bridge has them openings required for waste to be lifted by means of safety devices pickup. Handling and storage surfaces with winches or cranes can be provided and trolleys on rails can be arranged to allow the movement, then the storage of this large waste, at the back of the vessel.

[0053] The first section 11 comprises two rows of pickup 21, such that when a row of devices is in phase of waste lift on factory deck 5, at least one other continuous row of collect the waste by preventing it from reaching the second section 12.

[0054] The bow 6 of the ship 1 is equipped with detection devices and location 8 of floating objects in the layer of water lying on the road to ship, in order to allow the ship to slow sufficiently in advance in sight from collection of large waste.

The second section 12 of the vessel has a length of approximately 50 m. She is designed to recover medium-sized waste, ranging from the size of one plastic bottle to debris of the order of 5 cm.

In the configuration shown in the figure, the second section includes three rows of 22 pick-up devices. The pick-up devices pickup 22 are virtually identical to those of the first section, updated apart from the size of the equipment and the mesh allowing collection, since them waste to be picked up in this section 12 is much smaller. Both first rows are equipped with 221 platforms, the last with 222 forks on a rotating treadmill. Conveyor belt platforms and forks rotary present a technical equivalence and can freely be replaced by by each other.

[0057] The pick-up devices open directly into the factory bridge through openings 52 in the factory deck floor provided for this purpose, through which waste is collected for processing and storage.

The third section 13 of the ship has a length of approximately 200 m. She uses the finest mesh or trellis, so nets or trellises metallic the most fragile, because of their greater resistance to progress in the layer of water.

[0059] In order to enable the vessel to maintain a high speed, the devices collection 23 of the third section 13 are movable in the opposite direction I
of the direction D of movement of the vessel. Thus, when the ship is moving forward speed of 40 km/h, the speed of the pick-up devices 13 can be 20 or 30 kph in the opposite direction I, which reduces the effective speed of movement of the devices collection at 20 or 10 km/h.

[0060] The third section 13 is much longer than the first and the second section 11, 12, because the reduction in the effective speed of the devices collection must allow the treatment of all the waste arriving in this third section 13, which is made possible thanks to a number of devices sufficient constituting a train constantly moving towards the rear of the basin 3, each device 23 being retracted or raised at the end of its travel to allow the recovery of waste and the return of device 23 to the front of the train for carry out a new collection cycle.

The number of devices 23 shown in this figure is only used for illustration. In this configuration, an active train of at least four devices will be required on the operational basin length 3 of the train. Whether the number of passive devices returning to the front of the train is taken into account operational, each mobile train should include a total of at least eight to ten devices, regularly spaced, and advantageously twelve to twenty devices.

[0062] Figure 3 is a view of a ship 1 according to the invention in section horizontal.
Pick-up devices 21, 22, 23 are only partially shown and of purely schematically.

[0063] We see the three hulls 2 of the ship which delimit two basins 3 which cross the ship along its entire length. Pools 3 are open to ends 6, 7 and are divided into three pickup sections 11, 12, 13.

[0064] The first section 11 has collection devices 21 for the more large waste up to the size of a container.

[0065] Each section 11, 12, 13 is equipped with longitudinal partitions 31, 32, 33.
The sides of the shells 2 and of the partitions 31, 32, 33 serve as a support for the devices 21, 22, 23 of each section 11, 12, 13 of the vessel. These supports can be mobile slides actuated by winches and cables, means hydraulic, hydropneumatic or other, or oscillating arms, articulated, telescopic, or any other technique allowing horizontal mobility and or vertical waste collection devices required.

[0066] The longitudinal partitions 31, 32, 33 are fixed on supports which them make them removable and laterally movable, in order to be able to increase or in reduce the number, so that their spacing can be increased or reduced, or for allow the installation of different or more pick-up devices evolved. The possibility of removing or storing the partitions temporarily to obtain a big basin or to arrange them differently, makes it possible to use the vessel also for other apps. The ship could for example be converted into a ship aquaculture.

[0067] In the second section 12, the longitudinal partitions 32 are more numerous, thinner and closer together, to serve as supports for collection devices including finer and less solid meshes, would support hardly a large pick-up width. The constraints more important due to the increase in the resistance to advancement of the devices pickup 22 therefore involve collection devices 22 that are less wide in order to dispose of sufficient strength.

[0068] The third section 13 comprises a number of partitions 33 supporting them pick-up devices 23 even larger than the second section 12.

[0069] The collection devices 23 of the third section 13 are mobile in the opposite direction I of the direction of movement D of the ship as already previously described.

Claims (17)

14 1. Vessel (1) recovering oceanic waste comprising at least two side shells (2) which determine a pool (3) between they, characterized in that the basin (3) is open at its two ends (6, 7) and comprises several successive sections (11, 12, 13) from the bow (6) to the stern (7) of the ship (1) each of which is equipped with at least one pick-up device (21, 22, 23), the pick-up devices (21, 22, 23) of each section (11, 12, 13) being able to pick up objects of different sizes, the sections (11, 12, 13) being arranged such that a device apt to pick up smaller objects is arranged behind a device capable of pick up larger objects. 2. Vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that its width overall basin (3) and its height determine a treatment surface of the layer of water in a vertical plane of the sea at least equal to 1000 m2, advantageously at least equal to 2000 m2 and preferably at least equal to 3000 m2, treated in its 'entirety by collection devices. 3. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ship (1) is equipped with a bridge (5) connecting the hulls (2), equipped with openings allowing retrieving objects picked up by the pick-up devices (21, 22, 23), and in that it comprises superstructures allowing the treatment, the storage and/or transhipment of collected objects. 4. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in this that the hulls (2) delimiting the basin (3) are also connected by a floor (4). 5. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in this the ship is ballasted. 6. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in this that the sections (11, 12, 13) have supports intended to maintain and/or guiding the pick-up devices (21, 22, 23), in particular with one or several longitudinal partitions (31, 32, 33). 7. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in this that at least the submerged bow part (6) of the ship is equipped with shock-absorbing devices over its entire height, in particular a coating of a material having a damping power, in particular a rubberized coating and/or a spring damping device and/or hydraulic and/or hydropneumatic. 8. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in this that at least one pick-up device (21, 22) comprises one or more lift platforms or buckets or shovels (211, 221). 9. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in this that at least one pick-up device (21, 22, 23) has or is consisting of netting or mesh netting or filtration barriers, especially in textiles. 10. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in this that at least one pick-up device (21, 22, 23) comprises mats rotating rolling wheels, comprising in particular lifting means integral or independent of the conveyor belt, in particular of shovels (222), skips grids or hooks, fixed or articulated. 11. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pick-up devices (21, 22, 23) can be raised and/or retractable and/or removable. 12. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the ship is equipped with a detection and/or localization device (8) objects floating or submerged under the surface of the sea, and being on the ship's route. 13. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the supports, in particular the longitudinal partitions (31, 32, 33), are laterally movable and/or removable. 14 Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least a part of the pick-up devices has a inclination towards the stern of the ship, preferably forming a lower angle at 45° relative to the horizontal, advantageously less than 30°, and more advantageously less than 15°. 15. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the pick-up devices (23) are movable in the opposite direction (l) the direction (D) of movement of the ship. 16. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the vessel is equipped with diesel-electric means of propulsion, Flettner rotors (9) and/or solar sails. 17. Vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the outer faces of its side shells are equipped with supports or devices, fixed or removable, intended for the fixing of panels flexible or rigid, fixed or removable advertising.