US3628489A - Hull-cleaning brush - Google Patents

Hull-cleaning brush Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3628489A
US3628489A US875464A US3628489DA US3628489A US 3628489 A US3628489 A US 3628489A US 875464 A US875464 A US 875464A US 3628489D A US3628489D A US 3628489DA US 3628489 A US3628489 A US 3628489A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
base
obverse surface
hull
metal element
brush
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
Application number
US875464A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Randolph C H Michaelsen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Global Marine Inc
Original Assignee
Global Marine Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Global Marine Inc filed Critical Global Marine Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3628489A publication Critical patent/US3628489A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B59/00—Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels
    • B63B59/06—Cleaning devices for hulls
    • B63B59/08—Cleaning devices for hulls of underwater surfaces while afloat

Definitions

  • hull cleaning may be done by rotary disc brushes with bristles made of nylon or wire. If the hull is moderately fouled, as with algae or grass, it can easily be cleaned with a nylon brush. But, a nylon brush alone cannot remove barnacles. Moreover, a wire brush is capable of removing barnacles, but not without damaging the paint coating on the hull, which paint coating is provided to prevent corrosion and fouling, and is effective as a corrosion preventive only so long as it is intact.
  • Underwater vacuum cleaners may be used to remove grass and algae from the bottoms of small pleasure craft, but this equipment is likewise incapable of effectively removing barnacles.
  • Rotary brushes having wire bristles interspersed among slightly longer nylon bristles have been used to remove barnacles, but, as the nylon bristles wear out, the wire bristles eventually come into contact with the hull paint and remove such paint as well as hull fouling growths.
  • This invention provides a brush which is capable of removing barnacles from the hull ofa ship without damaging an underlying paint coating.
  • the brush can be easily stored aboard ship and requires a relatively small capital investment.
  • the invention is adaptable for cleaning all types of vessels, regardless of their service requirements, but it is particularly useful for cleaning drilling vessels because they generally experience acute hull fouling problems.
  • Drilling vessels tend to remain in one area of operation for extended periods of time before relocating. Since the accumulation of plant and animal life on hull surfaces depends upon the relative inactivity of the vessel (most fouling growths appear on a ship hull while the ship is inactive in port), drilling vessels are usually heavily fouled by the time they are ready to proceed to a new area of operation.
  • This invention allows the vessel to be cleaned while it is afloat and before it proceeds to its next location. As a result, no damage is done to the hull surface, transit time between jobs is minimized, fuel economy is maximized, and the necessity of drydocking the vessel to remove fouling growths is avoided.
  • the brush contemplated by this invention has a base with an obverse surface and a plurality of bristles extending away from the base obverse surface to free ends spaced from the obverse surface.
  • At least one metal element having a substantially straight working edge is secured to the base by mounting means positioning the working edge a selected distance toward the base obverse surface from the free ends of the bristles and substantially parallel to the obverse surface.
  • the preferred form of the invention includes means for rotating the base about an axis substantially normal to the obverse surface.
  • the metal element mounting means includes a resilient element disposed between the metal element and the base.
  • the mounting means is also preferably adjustable to vary the distance from the base obverse surface to the working edge of the metal element.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the hull-cleaning brush of this invention and drive unit therefor;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the hull-cleaning brush
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view of one embodiment of the brush
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional elevation view of the structure shown in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the brush
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a further alternative embodiment of the brush.
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation view of the structure shown in FIG. 6.
  • a rotary hull-cleaning brush l0 according to this invention comprises tufts of flexible bristles 12 projecting outwardly from a obverse surface 11 of a disc-shaped baseplate 14.
  • the bristles preferably consist of nylon or some other nonmetallic filament material, but metal bristles may be used if desired; the degree of bristle stiffness may be adjusted depending upon many factors, including the nature of the materials to be removed from a particular ship hull.
  • the baseplate is constructed of marine grade plywood which has the desirable attributes of strength, buoyancy, and low cost; however, any structural material having these characteristics may be used, such as plastic, for example.
  • a plurality of spaced-apart resiliently mounted metal elements or impacting blades 16 are secured to obverse surface 11 of baseplate 14 adjacent to its outer periphery.
  • the impacting blades 16 are defined by suitable lengths of heavyduty angle iron segments defining a series of upper working edges 18 disposed outwardly from obverse surface ll of the baseplate 14 a selected distance inwardly of the unsupported ends of the bristles toward the obverse surface of the baseplate.
  • the blade working edges 18 are rounded to avoid unnecessary gouging of the paint on a ship hull in the event a blade happens to strike the hull surface during cleaning operations.
  • An elongated, transversely circular shaft projects outwardly from the lower (i.e., reverse) surface 21 of baseplate 14 along a line normal to base obverse surface 11.
  • shaft 20 is coupled to the output shaft of a pneumatic motor (not shown) for rotating the brush during hull-cleaning operations.
  • a buoyant casing 22 encloses the motor and any gearbox assembly associated with the motor.
  • Casing 22 has sufficient positive buoyancy to render the entire combination of the brush, the motor and the casing substantially neutrally buoyant and readily manipulated by a diver operator.
  • the casing is preferably hemispherical in shape to bring the center of buoyancy of the entire brush combination close to its center of gravity, thereby increasing the ease with which the brush is handled under water.
  • a pair of elongated handles 24 and 25 project laterally outward from the casing to provide means for manually applying the brush to the hull surface.
  • Handle 24 additionally provides a connection 26 for cooperation with the end of a compressed air supply base 27 via which compressed air is supplied from a compressor (not shown) to the motor for operating the motor. Exhaust air from the motor is led away from the motor by a second hose 28 connected to handle 24 adjacent to the motor casing; alternatively, exhaust motor air may be vented from the motor through the casing, but this arrangement is not preferred since direct venting of exhaust motor air through the casing reduces visibility of the work area for the diver operator.
  • the speed of the air motor is adjusted by a pneumatic pressure regulating device operated by a hand lever 30 mounted on a handle 24.
  • each impacting blade 16 is supported on obverse surface 1 l of baseplate 14 by mounting means in the form of a wedgeshaped rubber mounting block 34 and a plurality of flat removable shims 36.
  • a bolt 38 extends downward through the lateral base of the impacting blades, the rubber block, the shims, and the baseplate where it cooperates with a nut 40 to secure the blade to the base plate.
  • the nut is set in a recess 42 in the lower surface of the baseplate.
  • the working edges 18 of the impacting blades 16 are spaced about 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch inwardly toward obverse surface 11 of baseplate 14 from the tops of bristles 12. It is desirable to maintain this spacing during cleaning operations so that the bristles continuously contact the hull surface and serve to space the blades slightly from the hull.
  • the impact force of the blades shears off the barnacles at their base approximately l/l6 inch outboard of the hull surface.
  • a l/ l 6 inch thick dime is left on the hull surface and the hull paint is not damaged.
  • Shims 36 are removable as desired to maintain proper spacing between the blades and the bristle ends as the bristles wear during continued use of the brush.
  • the shims preferably are constructed of stainless steel in order to prevent rusting.
  • the rubber mounting blocks 34 are disposed on base 14 so that their upper surfaces, with which the blade bases are engaged, slant away from the direction of brush rotation.
  • the mounting blocks permit the blades to deflect angularly inward toward the baseplate and away from the direction of brush rotation in the event the blades strike a stationary object on the hull surface, such as a rivet head for example.
  • Each bolt 38 is disposed within a cylindrical metallic sleeve 44 which extends substantially concentric to the bolt shank through the blade base, the rubber block, and the shims to base 14. The space between each sleeve 44 and bolt 38 is filled with the rubber to allow the bolt to deflect laterally of its length, thereby reducing fatigue failure of the bolts during use of the brush.
  • FIG. 5 shows an alternative arrangement for resiliently mounting the impacting blades to the brush base.
  • an impacting blade 46 is comprised of an angle iron segment 48 having an elongated arcuately curved base flange 50.
  • Flange 50 is curved concave away from baseplate 14.
  • the blade is spaced from the baseplate by a plurality of removable shims 36.
  • a bolt 52 extends downward through flange 50, the shim stack, and baseplate 14 into a recess 54 in the reverse side of the baseplate where it cooperates with a washer 56 and a nut 58 to secure the blade to the base.
  • a coil spring 60 is disposed between the baseplate and the washer about the bolt shank.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the invention wherein an impacting blade 62 comprises a segment of heavyduty steel plate defining an upper working edge 64 rounded at one end to avoid gouging the hull paint during use; the rounded end of the blade preferably is located toward the circumference of baseplate 14 when connected to the baseplate.
  • a pair of elongated steel mounting plates 66 are integral with each of the opposite ends of the blade remote from working edge 64.
  • Each mounting plate 66 extends laterally of the generally planar blade.
  • the bottoms of the impacting blade and the mounting plates define a flat base surface 70, with the blade being disposed so that it slants upwardly with respect to base surface 70.
  • Each mounting plate defines an arcuately curved upper surface 72 curved convex away from base surface 70.
  • the blade and mounting plate combination is bonded to a rectangular rubber mounting block 74 by vulcanizing the lower portion of the impacting blade and substantially the entire portion of each mounting plate into the top of mounting block 74.
  • the exposed portion of the impacting blade slants away from the direction of rotation of base 14 in use of the device, upwardly relative to the upper surface of the mounting block, and the arcuate upper surfaces 72 of the mounting plates extend slightly above the upper surface of mounting block 74 as shown in FIG. 7.
  • Impacting blade 62 and rubber mounting block 74 are supported on obverse surface 11 of baseplate 14 by a plurality of removable shims 76.
  • each bolt 78 has an arcuately curved lower bearing surface 84 curved concave away from the cooperating curved upper surface 72 of mounting plate 66.
  • each bolt 78 is free to rock along the adjacent curved upper surface 72 of its respective mounting plate 66, thereby reducing fatigue failure of the bolts during use of the brush.
  • the configuration of mounting plates 66 provides means for securely bonding the blade to the block so that the possibility of blade separation therefrom is substantially reduced.
  • impacting blade 62 could be disposed in a position normal to baseplate 14 without departing from the scope of this invention, a slanted position relative thereto is preferred because it reduces the amount of inward deflection when the blade strikes a stationary object, thereby exerting less load on the blade and its mounting bolts and reducing the magnitude of vibration transmitted to the operator of the brush.
  • this invention provides an improved brush for use in efficiently and effectively cleaning the submerged surfaces of ship hulls and the like fouled by marine plant and animal growth.
  • the bristles of the improved brush function to remove plant and most animal growths, and the impacting blades function to remove barnacles and the like in a manner which is both effective in terms of hull smoothness and conserving of the integrity of the paint coat of the hull.
  • the resilient mounting of the impacting blades to the brush base minimizes the extent to which the impacting blades may scratch and remove hull paint; such mounting also reduces shocks and vibrations transmitted to the person operating the brush.
  • the brush is particularly useful in that it may be used by a diver to clean a ship hull while the ship is tied up at a dock working cargo. Thus, it is no longer necessary to drydock the vessel and thereby move the vessel from useful service, for the purposes of effectively cleaning the vessel of marine growths which produce economic loss to the vessel operators. Also, since the brush is constructed to preserve to the greatest extent possible the hull paint coating, the vessel need be drydocked for repainting at less frequent intervals.
  • a barnacle removing brush for use on ship hulls and the like comprising a circular base having an obverse surface and a reverse surface,
  • the mounting means includes a rubber element secured to the base and to which the metal element is connected.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
US875464A 1969-11-10 1969-11-10 Hull-cleaning brush Expired - Lifetime US3628489A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US87546469A 1969-11-10 1969-11-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3628489A true US3628489A (en) 1971-12-21

Family

ID=25365853

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US875464A Expired - Lifetime US3628489A (en) 1969-11-10 1969-11-10 Hull-cleaning brush

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3628489A (cs)
JP (1) JPS512747B1 (cs)
GB (1) GB1296586A (cs)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4011827A (en) * 1976-01-12 1977-03-15 Ben Fond Machine for cleaning the bottom of boats
US4060047A (en) * 1976-08-24 1977-11-29 Barney Sabella Device for cleaning bottom of a boat
US4074385A (en) * 1976-07-06 1978-02-21 Howard Lawrence F Carpet cleaning brush
US4102290A (en) * 1976-06-04 1978-07-25 David Weiss Underwater bottom cleaning system and apparatus
WO1986002612A1 (en) * 1984-10-31 1986-05-09 Boud Van Rompay Scraper for removing growths on flat or arched surfaces
EP0218286A1 (en) * 1985-09-17 1987-04-15 Gerrit Broersz A working method and a device for the removal of growth from constructions under the sea level
US4682558A (en) * 1984-10-06 1987-07-28 John Meade Underwater scouring apparatus
US20080216732A1 (en) * 2007-03-08 2008-09-11 Keith Doyle Automatic boat washing assembly
WO2012142364A2 (en) 2011-04-13 2012-10-18 Lindgren Peter B Fish cage screen and cleaning apparatus
WO2013126359A2 (en) 2012-02-24 2013-08-29 Lindgren Peter B Aquaculture cage screen and cleaning apparatus
US20140014143A1 (en) * 2012-07-10 2014-01-16 Riverside Custom Cleaning, Llc Construction mat cleaning machine and method of use thereof
US8747565B1 (en) 2008-06-03 2014-06-10 First-In, LLC Watercraft surface cleaning device and associated methods
WO2015031933A1 (en) * 2013-09-04 2015-03-12 Grd Franmarine Holdings Pty Ltd A marine cleaning system
US20180242726A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2018-08-30 Peter B. Lindgren Submerged net cleaner
US20190037815A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2019-02-07 Peter B. Lindgren Aquaculture net cleaning system
WO2020072936A1 (en) 2018-10-04 2020-04-09 Lindgren Peter B Aquaculture net cleaning system
US11445809B2 (en) * 2014-09-04 2022-09-20 Florida Institute of Technology, Inc. Vertically rotating grooming attachment brush and method of use
WO2024238082A1 (en) 2023-05-12 2024-11-21 Lindgren Peter B Propeller blade spacer for aquaculture net cleaning

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US894628A (en) * 1907-09-13 1908-07-28 Charles E Grant Paint and rust removing machine.
US1349167A (en) * 1920-03-23 1920-08-10 William J Pattosien Power ship-cleaning device
US1387027A (en) * 1921-04-09 1921-08-09 Isaac A Watrous Scraper for cleaning irregular surfaces
US2831451A (en) * 1956-10-26 1958-04-22 George Lawrence Salley Tool for knocking adhering barnacles and other anomalous growths from the hulls of boats and the like
US3008160A (en) * 1959-06-12 1961-11-14 Comar Plastics Inc Vacuum cleaner for swimming pools
US3398422A (en) * 1968-01-25 1968-08-27 Multi Clean Products Inc Rotary brush for carpet scrubbing machine

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US894628A (en) * 1907-09-13 1908-07-28 Charles E Grant Paint and rust removing machine.
US1349167A (en) * 1920-03-23 1920-08-10 William J Pattosien Power ship-cleaning device
US1387027A (en) * 1921-04-09 1921-08-09 Isaac A Watrous Scraper for cleaning irregular surfaces
US2831451A (en) * 1956-10-26 1958-04-22 George Lawrence Salley Tool for knocking adhering barnacles and other anomalous growths from the hulls of boats and the like
US3008160A (en) * 1959-06-12 1961-11-14 Comar Plastics Inc Vacuum cleaner for swimming pools
US3398422A (en) * 1968-01-25 1968-08-27 Multi Clean Products Inc Rotary brush for carpet scrubbing machine

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4011827A (en) * 1976-01-12 1977-03-15 Ben Fond Machine for cleaning the bottom of boats
US4102290A (en) * 1976-06-04 1978-07-25 David Weiss Underwater bottom cleaning system and apparatus
US4074385A (en) * 1976-07-06 1978-02-21 Howard Lawrence F Carpet cleaning brush
US4060047A (en) * 1976-08-24 1977-11-29 Barney Sabella Device for cleaning bottom of a boat
US4682558A (en) * 1984-10-06 1987-07-28 John Meade Underwater scouring apparatus
WO1986002612A1 (en) * 1984-10-31 1986-05-09 Boud Van Rompay Scraper for removing growths on flat or arched surfaces
EP0181310A1 (en) * 1984-10-31 1986-05-14 Boud Van Rompay Scraper for removing growths on flat or arched surfaces
AU587996B2 (en) * 1984-10-31 1989-09-07 Boud Van Rompay Scraper for removing growths on flat or arched surfaces
EP0218286A1 (en) * 1985-09-17 1987-04-15 Gerrit Broersz A working method and a device for the removal of growth from constructions under the sea level
NL8502532A (nl) * 1985-09-17 1987-04-16 Gerrit Broersz Werktuig voor het verwijderen van aangroeiingen op constructies beneden de zeespiegel.
US20080216732A1 (en) * 2007-03-08 2008-09-11 Keith Doyle Automatic boat washing assembly
US7748337B2 (en) * 2007-03-08 2010-07-06 Keith Doyle Automatic boat washing assembly
US8747565B1 (en) 2008-06-03 2014-06-10 First-In, LLC Watercraft surface cleaning device and associated methods
WO2012142364A2 (en) 2011-04-13 2012-10-18 Lindgren Peter B Fish cage screen and cleaning apparatus
US8881683B2 (en) 2011-04-13 2014-11-11 Peter B. Lindgren Fish cage screen and cleaning apparatus
WO2013126359A2 (en) 2012-02-24 2013-08-29 Lindgren Peter B Aquaculture cage screen and cleaning apparatus
US20140014143A1 (en) * 2012-07-10 2014-01-16 Riverside Custom Cleaning, Llc Construction mat cleaning machine and method of use thereof
AU2018205126B2 (en) * 2013-09-04 2020-10-01 CleanSubSea Operations Pty Ltd A marine cleaning system
US9550552B2 (en) 2013-09-04 2017-01-24 Grd Franmarine Holdings Pty Ltd Marine cleaning system
WO2015031933A1 (en) * 2013-09-04 2015-03-12 Grd Franmarine Holdings Pty Ltd A marine cleaning system
US11445809B2 (en) * 2014-09-04 2022-09-20 Florida Institute of Technology, Inc. Vertically rotating grooming attachment brush and method of use
AU2016261907B2 (en) * 2015-05-12 2020-10-15 Peter B. Lindgren Submerged net cleaner
US20190037815A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2019-02-07 Peter B. Lindgren Aquaculture net cleaning system
US10918199B2 (en) * 2015-05-12 2021-02-16 Peter B. Lindgren Submerged net cleaner
US11116188B2 (en) 2015-05-12 2021-09-14 Peter B. Lindgren Aquaculture net cleaning system
US20210392861A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2021-12-23 Peter B. Lindgren Aquaculture net cleaning system
US20180242726A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2018-08-30 Peter B. Lindgren Submerged net cleaner
US11523595B2 (en) * 2015-05-12 2022-12-13 Peter B. Lindgren Aquaculture net cleaning system
WO2020072936A1 (en) 2018-10-04 2020-04-09 Lindgren Peter B Aquaculture net cleaning system
WO2024238082A1 (en) 2023-05-12 2024-11-21 Lindgren Peter B Propeller blade spacer for aquaculture net cleaning
US12250930B2 (en) 2023-05-12 2025-03-18 Peter B. Lindgren Propeller blade spacer for aquaculture net cleaning

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS512747B1 (cs) 1976-01-28
GB1296586A (cs) 1972-11-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3628489A (en) Hull-cleaning brush
US5048445A (en) Fluid jet system and method for underwater maintenance of ship performance
US6425340B1 (en) Apparatus and method for removing coatings from the hulls of vessels using ultra-high pressure water
US6595152B2 (en) Apparatus and method for removing coatings from the hulls of vessels using ultra-high pressure water
US3922991A (en) Apparatus for cleaning metallic surfaces
US4909173A (en) Scrubbing device for submerged surfaces of boat hulls and the like
US5431122A (en) Apparatus for cleaning the submerged portion of ship hulls
KR101774925B1 (ko) 수중청소로봇
US12201211B2 (en) Vertically rotating grooming attachment brush and method of use
US4843995A (en) Automatic boat bottom cleaner
US4649849A (en) Tool for cleaning propeller shafts
KR101589098B1 (ko) 선저 청소용 케이블 기반 병렬형 로봇
US20130000058A1 (en) Marine growth removal device
US4011827A (en) Machine for cleaning the bottom of boats
US20160068240A1 (en) Vertically rotating grooming attachment brush and method of use
US2831451A (en) Tool for knocking adhering barnacles and other anomalous growths from the hulls of boats and the like
US4337716A (en) Marine growth wiper
GB2142525A (en) Cleaning equipment
KR20220047012A (ko) 오손 방지를 위한 선박 청소장치
AU2019351954B2 (en) Device for the cleaning of vessels
Akinfiev et al. A brief survey of ship hull cleaning devices.
CN203094410U (zh) 一种藤壶清除装置
CN116215788A (zh) 水下清洁装置和水下清洁系统
US3760448A (en) Rotatable cleaning brushes
CN202169532U (zh) 一种圆盘刀片