ES2758823A1 - DEVICE FOR CLEANING SEA WATER (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for cleaning sea water characterized by comprising an autonomous unmanned floating support, a set of purification elements that include first submerged filters, some venturi-effect vacuum cleaners associated with blowers to force an aspiration of seawater through of said first filters, and the corresponding ducts, and a control unit associated with the blowers. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR CLEANING SEA WATER

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning sea water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The contamination of marine waters by plastics is an undeniable fact, which is causing enormous damage to life as it enters the food chain by being broken down into smaller and smaller plastics and microplastics and being ingested by fish, chelonians and mammals marine, in such a way that even the use of plastics by administrations is being limited and / or prohibited.

Despite this ban, a large number of plastics are already at sea, and require removal. The problem is that adequate means are not available for this, a drawback that is solved with the device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for cleaning seawater of the invention comprises:

-an autonomous unmanned floating mount,

-a set of purification elements that comprise some first submerged filters, some aspirators by venturi effect associated with some blowers to force an aspiration of the sea water through said first filters, and the corresponding ducts), and

-a control unit associated with the blowers.

In this way the floating support can be sailing or anchored autonomously (without crew) in areas known to be contaminated with plastics and microplastics, carrying out continuous cleaning and purification in the area near the surface, which is precisely where it is most They accumulate these residues and where they are most ingested when they are confused against the light with dams. It also filters any other type of contaminating residues. The aspiration by venturi effect is carried out by blowing the blowers, which also improves its oxygenation and purification, achieving an additional unexpected effect consisting of a gentle aspiration of sea water, much softer than that performed by any pump, which is more selective with microplastics, preventing small fish from being aspirated or any other fauna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a side view of the device of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a rear top perspective view of the device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The device (1) for cleaning seawater of the invention comprises:

-an autonomous unmanned floating support (2),

-a set of purification elements comprising first submerged filters (5a), venturi-type vacuum cleaners (66) associated with blowers (44) to force a suction of seawater through said first filters (5a), and the corresponding pipes (45) (which include a return (45a) of the purified water to the sea), and

-a control unit (10) associated with the blowers (44).

In addition to the above, the device (1) may (or may not) comprise pumps (6), suction intakes (3) and discharge intakes (4) for seawater, to direct the water to a few second filters (5b), which are on board the floating support (2), to work in waters with a higher degree of plastic contamination.

The invention has also envisaged the provision of rechargeable batteries (8) to supply the control unit (10), blowers (44) and pumps (6) if applicable, and photovoltaic plates (11) for recharging the batteries (8), increasing their autonomy.

The floating support (2) may lack propulsion, and may be anchored or sail at the mercy of currents, or it may comprise an unmanned autonomous vehicle, with autonomous means of movement and navigation; The control unit (10) then comprising a navigation control associated with said autonomous means of movement and navigation. Autonomous means of movement and navigation can include, at the less, an electric propeller (7), and rudders (9) or elements of directional flow variation fed from the batteries (8). The navigation control of the control unit (10) can comprise a satellite navigation device (100) to program a route and that can follow it autonomously, and in addition or alternatively to a signal receiver (101) of a remote control (102 ) management.

The different interior elements of the floating support (2) can go under a canvas (20), the photovoltaic plates (11) being on the outside of it.

Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, as well as the way of carrying it out in practice, it should be noted that the provisions previously indicated and represented in the attached drawings are subject to detailed modifications as long as they do not alter the fundamental principle.

Claims (7)

1. -Device (1) for cleaning seawater characterized by comprising: -an autonomous unmanned floating support (2), -a set of purification elements comprising first submerged filters (5a), venturi-type vacuum cleaners (66) associated with blowers (44) to force a suction of seawater through said first filters (5a), and the corresponding ducts (45), and -a control unit (10) associated with the blowers (44). 2. The device (1) for cleaning of sea water according to claim 1 comprising a pump (6), a vacuum inlets (3) and a discharge outlets (4) of sea water, to convey water to a few second filters (5b), which are shipped on the floating support (2). 3. The device (1) for cleaning of sea water according to any of the preceding claims comprising a battery (8) and a rechargeable photovoltaic panels (11) of recharging the batteries (8). 4. -Device (1) for cleaning seawater according to any of the preceding claims where the floating support (2) comprises an autonomous unmanned vehicle, with autonomous means of movement and navigation; the control unit (10) comprising a navigation control associated with the autonomous means of movement and navigation. 5. -Device (1) for cleaning seawater according to claim 4 where the autonomous means of movement and navigation comprise at least one electric propeller (7), and rudders (9) or elements of directional flow variation. 6. -Device (1) for cleaning seawater according to any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the navigation control of the control unit (10) comprises a satellite navigation device (100). 7. -Device (1) for cleaning seawater according to any of claims 4 to 6 where the navigation control of the control unit (10) comprises a signal receiver (101) of a remote control (102) of driving.