FR2761044A1 - Device for cleaning of submerged part of boat hulls - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a floating structure which is held against the submerged surface (1). This structure is closed at one end by a retractable door (5) and contains cleaning components suspended in the water. The cleaning components have a greater density than the water and are covered with an abrasive substance. It also has several water and air injection nozzles which cause foaming of the water thus moving the cleaning components which rub on the submerged part.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for automatically cleaning the submerged part of a boat without the need or obligation to take it out of the water.

The protection of this part of the boat is usually done by applying a special paint. This paint releasing toxic agents, slowed the proliferation of algae and crustaceans. This paint having an efficiency limited in time still requires periodic cleaning of the hull, by scraping, brushing before applying a new paint.

This periodic maintenance is mandatory to keep a clean hull, ensuring the best performance of the boat. This cleaning can currently only be done by taking the boat completely out of the water.

The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback. According to a first characteristic, it comprises an immersed structure forming a basin provided with a retractable door and held on the surface by a floating structure. This basin in which the boat for cleaning is placed contains cleaning elements suspended in water made up of blocks of different sizes of a material with a density greater than water and covered with an abrasive material.

The water retained in the basin after closing the door is set in motion by injection of water and pressurized air by nozzles thus forming a bubbling bath around the boat. This bubbling involves the washing elements which by rubbing on the shell clean it.

According to particular embodiments:
- the door can be closed by inflating the air tank, its own weight
causing it to retract when the tanks are drained.

- the cleaning elements will be suspended in water or retained at the
structure immersed in flexible rods.

- the boiling water can be added with a current produced by
propellers stirring the water.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

- Figure 1 shows the device in side view
- Figure 2 shows the device in top view - Figure 3 shows the device in section along AA - Figure 4 shows a variant of the device in section
With reference to these drawings, the device comprises an immersed structure (Rep 1) forming a basin provided with numerous injection nozzles (Rep 4). This submerged structure (Rep 1) is held on the surface by a floating structure (Rep 2) and is fitted with a retractable door (Rep 5). In this structure are the cleaning elements (Rep 3) suspended in the water. The submerged structure will be made of light material and will have an oblong shape in the length direction and will have slopes in the height direction. The door will retract completely by pivoting on an axis and can be closed by filling air tanks or by a counterweight system. The setting in motion of the cleaning elements will be done by boiling water by injecting, into the structure forming a basin, water under pressure using pumps and compressed air by a compressor. added with a stream of water created by propellers stirring the water.

The cleaning elements will be formed from flexible water-permeable materials. They will therefore have a density just greater than this. They will be covered with an abrasive substance thus allowing the cleaning of the hull of the boat by friction.

Their densities just above water will allow them to fall back into the bottom of the submerged structure at the end of the cleaning cycle.

The floating structure will be made up of watertight boxes ensuring buoyancy and a metal structure ensuring the rigidity and support of the submerged structure.

By way of nonlimiting example, the assembly can receive for cleaning boats of a length of 9.00 m, a width of 3.00 m and a draft of 2.00 m.

Claims (8)

 1) Device for cleaning the submerged part of boat hulls without the need to remove them from the water, characterized in that it comprises a floating structure (Rep 2) retaining an immersed structure (Rep 1) on the surface. This structure is closed at one of its ends by a retractable door (Rep 5) and contains cleaning elements suspended in water (Rep 3). It is also equipped with numerous injection nozzles (Rep 4) causing water to boil, thus giving movement to the cleaning elements, which by rubbing on the submerged part of the boat hull cleans it completely.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the submerged structure (Rep 1) forms a basin.  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cleaning elements are formed of a material of density greater than water after immersion and covered with abrasive substance.  4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cleaning elements are set in motion by boiling water created by injection of water and air under pressure.  5) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that air and water are injected by nozzles into the submerged structure.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boiling of the water created by the air and by the water can be added with a stream of water created by propellers.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning elements are retained in the immersed structure by flexible rods.  8) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the opening and closing of the door is done by filling and purging of air reservoirs.