US3752109A

US3752109A - Ecologically controlled ship's hull reconditioner

Info

Publication number: US3752109A
Application number: US00191669A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Seiple
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-22
Filing date: 1971-10-22
Publication date: 1973-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-14

Abstract

A floating platform is ballasted and trimmed to allow the passage of a ship through a U-shaped channel. A plurality of cylindrically shaped brushes is brought to bear against the ship''s hull and interconnected motors rotate the brushes to clean fouling from the ship''s hull as it traverses the length of the channel. Locating the platform outside of a harbor permits the cleaning of outgoing ships prior to transoceanic voyages to reduce fuel consumption while incoming ships are cleaned before entry to eliminate the possibility of harbor pollution. Incorporating a suction-pump filter unit in the close vicinity of each rotating brush ensures the collection of removed marine organisms to avoid contamination of surrounding waters. Additionally, a paint roller assembly is included to coat the scrubbed and cleaned surfaces with a new layer of anti-fouling paint to complete preventative maintenance of the hull and to recondition it.

Description

United States Patent [191 Aug. 14, 1973 Seiple ECOLOGICALLY CONTROLLED SHIP'S HULL RECONDITIONER [76] Inventor: Ronald L. Selple, 1060 Koohoo Pl.,

Lanikai, Hawaii 96734 [22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 191,669

[52] US. Cl. 114/222 [51] Int. Cl B63b 59/00, B63b 35/44 [58] Field of Search 114/222, 219; 15/2465, 1.7, DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,561,391 2/1971 Locati 114/222 3,568,231 3/1971 Carroll.... l5/DlG. 2 3,594,843 7/1971 Sesia l5/DIG. 2 3,324,492 6/1967 Myers 15/l.7

702,965 6/1902 Kaucher 114/222 3,627,562 12/1971 Hammelmann.... 114/222 2,098,262 11/1937 Temple 114/222 3,227,124 l/l966 Cambell 114/222 3,338,206 8/1967 Motter 114/219 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. O'Connor Attorney-Richard S. Sciascia et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A floating platform is ballasted and trimmed to allow the passage of a ship through a U-shaped channel. A plurality of cylindrically shaped brushes is brought to bear against the ships hull and interconnected motors rotate the brushes to clean fouling from the ship's hull as it traverses the length of the channel. Locating the platform outside of a harbor permits the cleaning of outgoing ships prior to transoceanic voyages to reduce fuel consumption while incoming ships are cleaned before entry to eliminate the possibility of harbor pollution. Incorporating a suction-pump filter unit in the close vicinity of each rotating brush ensures the collection of removed marine organisms to avoid contamination of surrounding waters. Additionally, a paint roller assembly is included to coat the scrubbed and cleaned surfaces with a new layer of anti-fouling paint to complete preventative maintenance of the hull and to recondition it.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENI'EB ms 1 4 ms INVENTOR. RONALD L. SEIPLE THOMAS GLENN KEOUGHE ERVIN F. JOHNSTON ATTORNEYS cat/52,109

PATENIED AUG 1 M973 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. RONALD L. SEIPLE THOMAS GLENN KEOUGH ERVIN F. JOHNSTON ATTORNEYS FIG.4

ECOLOGICALLY CONTROLLED SHIP'S HULL RECONDITIONER STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, ships needing their hulls cleaned of excessive amounts of marine organisms are dry docked and sand blasted only when the cost of dry docking the vessel is partially justified when the ship must undergo a major overhaul or extensive structural modifications. As a result, the hulls are fouled continually slowing the ships speed and requiring a consequent greater fuel consumption. One attempt at remedying this undesirable situation calls for divers going over the side and scraping away the organisms with hand tools or small, hydraulic rotary brushes. This approach is only nominally effective for a large area work and is usually resorted to only when spot maintenance is called for. Aside from the fact that this method of hull cleaning is time consuming and of questionable effectiveness, safety considerations mandate that diver cleaning be performed only while the ship is in port. Obviously, the removed organisms additionally pollute the harbor and, for this reason, this approach is ruled out. Another contemporary hull cleaning method relies on mounting rotary brushes on tug-like boats and pulling the brushes along and under a ships hull as the tug moves along its length. Again, the hull cleaning attempt is only marginally effective and large areas, particularly on the bottom of the hull, usually are missed. Another attempt relies on holding a pair of motor driven rotary brushes against the hull by at least one line reaching from either side and beneath the keel. By merely pulling the brushes from one water line to the other, via the keel, a strip of marine fouling is removed. After cleaning one strip, the supporting lines are longitudinally moved a short distance to place the brushes in line with another fouled strip and the process is repeated. Unfortunately, a number of personnel are required to reposition this device and a complete hull cleaning operation is quite lengthy. Additionally, when this technique is employed in a harbor, removed organisms add pollutants. No quick reliable method exists for removing marine organisms from a ships hull which does not aggrevate pollution problems. Since 100 percent fouling from these organisms occurs in as little as 60 days, most ships are permanently fouled and cannot perform as designed. The greater fuel consumption used to achieve and maintain an acceptable cruising speed consequently creates more exhaust gas pollutants in our atmosphere. A need currently exists for a hull reconditioner not requiring expensive dry docking for allowing a periodic cleaning of hulls to reduce pollution in our environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to providing an apparatus for permitting preventative maintenance and for reconditioning the -hull of the ship including a semisubmerged platform having a channel sized to accommodate the lateral area of a ship. On internal opposing sides of the channel, a plurality of hydraulic rams is displaced to bring the bristles of a plurality of cylindrically shaped brush elements in contact with the ships hull. Motor elements impart rotational motion and the bris tles scrape marine organisms from the hull as the ship passes by. An appropriate suction unit is carried in the near vicinity of the brushes and a fluidily connected filter unit screens the removed organisms from the drawn-off mixture to avoid pollution of the surrounding water.

It is a prime object of the invention to provide a hull reconditioner for removing drag-inducing marine foul- Another object of the invention is to provide a hull reconditioner introducing no pollutants in a marine environment.

Still another object is to provide a hull reconditioner having the capability to accommodate variously configured hulls over a wide range of sizes.

Still another object is to provide a portable hull cleaning device for removing marine organisms in the open ocean to avoid accidental pollution of a harbor.

A further object is to provide a hull reconditioner ensuring reduced fuel consumption and a lessening of air pollution.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specifications when taken with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric depiction of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention.

FIG. 3 isa schematical cross-sectional representation of the cylindrical brushes conforming to the hulls configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective showing of a modification of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the supporting vehicle forming an integral portion of the hull reconditioner is most suitably a concrete platform 10 provided with a longitudinally extending U-shaped channel 11. The depth and width of the U-shaped channel is adequate to accommodate the deep draft and wide beam of large oceangoing vessels and a sufficient number of ballasting chambers with an appropriate pumping and conduit network is provided to raise or lower the platform to receive the vessels. The overall configuration and manner of construction of the platform generally follows the construction scheme of a conventional dry dock. Optionally, a suitable power train is added to allow selfpropulsion from one location to another although suitable towing cleats and fenders are provided to lower the initial cost of the invention.

If the platfonn is fabricated from welded steel plates or other structurally equivalent materials, care must be taken that adequate safeguards be included to prevent or minimize corrosion. It logically follows that all the elements of the invention described below be noncorrosive or corrosion resistant to assure long life and reliability.

A pair of fenders l2 and 13 are mounted along the leading edge of platform's entrance for mutual protection of the vessel and the platform as the vessel enters the hull reconditioner. A keel cushion 14 covers the bottom of the channel entrance to guard against damcleats l6 and block and tackle arrangements permit a more precise guiding of the vessel should there be particularly fouled areas on the ships hull needing prolonged brushing or rebrushing.

Cleaning of the hull is performed by three sets of rotary brush combinations, bow-

stern brush combinations

17 and 18, a keel brush combination l9, and sidehull combinations of brushes and 21. Each of the brush combination sets includes a plurality of cylindrically shaped, high-speed rotating

brushes

17a, 18a, 19a, 20a or 21a respectively. The brushes have hard or soft nylon bristles to ensure long life and are modifiable to include wire bristles to remove heavy fouling or paint.

lndividual brushes 17a and 18a in the bow-stern combinations are journaled at opposite ends in a rigid member which in turn extends from a panel 17b or 18b. These brushes are oriented in an attitude preselected to conform to the lateral contour of the bow and stem sections of ships. The brushes carried on the panels are brought in contact with these contours by one of a pair of

swing arms

17c or 180. The swing arms pivotally support the panels to allow bidirectional rotation as the brushes contact the leading edges of the bow and trailing edge of the stern as the ship bypasses the bow-stern combination.

Rotary scrubbing action of the brushes bristles is imparted by appropriately connected watertight electric motors 17d or 18d. These motors preferably being high-speed, high-torque prime movers capable of being responsively controlled to scrub hulls having varying amounts of fouling.

As the ship enters the concrete platform, a shaft l7c or 18c is rotated and an gularly displaces the swing arms to put the brushes 17a and 18a in gontact with the bow portion of the ships hull. Electrically or mechanically coupled feelers 17a or 18a" are carried in each brushs close proximity and to monitor the pressure exerted by the brushes as they contact the hull. The exact electromechanical linkage of these feelers is well known and further elaboration on the exact configuration and interconnection is unnecessary at this point.

Following the bow-stern combination, a keel combination 19 is carried by a plurality of hydraulic rams 19b and extends along a sufficient lateral reach to cover the breadth of the hull. The rams are arranged in pairs journaled at opposite ends of individual ones of cylindrically shaped brushes 19a and vertically displace the brushes a distance governed by a suitably interconnected sensor 19a. Although not specifically depicted in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, suction devices are included to draw-in the removed fouling in much the same manner as described with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 4. As each brush is being brought in forceful contact with the bottom of the ship's hull, a coaxially mounted motor 19a" rotates it and cleaning begins. The design of the hydraulic rams, sensors, and motors is consistent with contemporary, commercially available models and structural novelty is not alleged at this point. Although the rams are shown to extend from a protective compartment 10a housing a single hydraulic actuator 19 b, the entire combination alternately is completely exposed to facilitate maintenance.

The last two sets of brush combinations, the side-

hull combinations

20 and 21, are mounted in the concrete platform in an opposed relationship. Each of these combinations is maintained as an integral unit in a laterally traversing

enclosure

20b or 21b. A plurality of wheels riding in a lateral track provides vertical support for the enclosures and responsive reciprocal travel in the track is ensured by a pair of hydraulically actuated

push rods

20b and 21b.

The push rods laterally position the enclosures in the close proximity of the ships hull an additional plurality of hydraulic rams 20c and 210 actuated by

hydraulic actuators

20c and 21c laterally displaces the individually connected

brushes

20a and 21a to forcefully abut the side of the ship when interconnected sensors 200" and 21a" so indicate. Similarly to the aforedescribed coaction,

motors

20a and 21a rotate the brushes and clean the fouling from the hull as the ship bypasses the brush combinations. Attention should be drawn to the fact that the bottom ones of these hydraulic rams have a longer reach than do some of the upper ones to bring the rotating bristles in contact with rounded portions of the bulls as they merge with the flatter keel area.

An improved modification of the invention appears in FIG. 4 and additionally calls for inclusion of a suction mechanism 24 for drawing off removed fouling. The mechanism consists of properly oriented fairings and ducts carried adjacent the rotating brushes to draw off the removed fouling and to channel it, via appropriate ducts, to a suitable filter trap for screening out the fouling. A pair of control stations 25 optionally is provided in this embodiment to provide vantage points from which operating personnel have opportunity for a visual inspection of the hull cleaning process-and to adjust the rotating brushes accordingly. Following the rotating brushes, paint applicators, schematically shown by rollers 26, complete a hull reconditioning cycle by applying a coating of anti-fouling paint after the hull has been cleaned.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings, and, it is therefore understood that within the scope of the disclosed inventive concept, the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus for reconditioning the hull of a ship comprising:

an integral semi-submerged platform provided with an elongate U-shaped channel sized to accommodate the longitudinal and lateral dimensionx of said ship, said platform is adapted to be raised and lowered to receive ships having different drafts;

a plurality of cylindrically shaped brush elements having radially outwardly reaching bristles arranged in a first set of opposed brushes oriented for cleaning the bow and stem of said ship, a second set of brushes oriented for cleaning the keel of said ship and a third set of brushes oriented for cleaning the sides of the hull of said ship;

a motor element joined to a source of power and mounted on each brush element for imparting rotational motion thereto;

6 means pivotally interconnecting said first set of opremove fouling from the entire wcttcd surface of posed brushes to said platform for ensuring the said hull. placement on and the cleaning of the bow and stem 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further includof said ship by the opposed brush elements of said i first Set Of 5 a suction element carried in the near proximity of at one hydraullc mount! on the upwardly said brush element for drawing off removed said facing base of the elongate U-shaped channel confouling; and nefited to Vemcauy dlsplace each brush element 9 means for filtering out said removed said fouling cousaid second set of brushes to the keel of said ship pled to each said suction element for preventing and at least two other hydraulic rams mounted on 10 pollution of said body of waer. mtemany opposmg Surfaces m said elongate U- 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 further includshaped channel, each of the two rams are sized to ing inwardly laterally displace and position its Interside-hull fenders and a keel cushion disposed at the connected said brush element adjacent a lateral contour of said hull and all the hydraulic rams configured for mechanical cooperation to place their respectively interconnected said brush element for cleaning a discrete peripheral portion of said hull;

a sensor element operatively associated with each of the sets of brushes to ensure an operative engagement with respect to said hull as said ship passes mouth of said channel for protecting said apparatus and said ship and wheel-and-track means carried on the upwardly facing base of the elongate U-shaped channel for positioning said second set of brushes in the close proximity of the hull of said ship.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which at least through i h and one of the hydraulic rams is longer than the other hya hydraulic owe source connected t9 each aid hydraulic rams connected to brush elements in the second draulic ram for positi nin ll id br h elements set of brushes to allow placing of its interconnected to ensure a continuous contact of said bristle brush on the rounded contour of the hull lying between along the lateral contour of said hull, upon passing the sides and keel of said ship. said ship through said channel, the rotating bristles t

Claims

1. An apparatus for reconditioning the hull of a ship comprising: an integral semi-submerged platform provided with an elongate Ushaped channel sized to accommodate the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of said ship, said platform is adapted to be raised and lowered to receive ships having different drafts; a plurality of cylindrically shaped brush elements having radially outwardly reaching bristles arranged in a first set of opposed brushes oriented for cleaning the bow and stern of said ship, a second set of brushes oriented for cleaning the keel of said ship and a third set of brushes oriented for cleaning the sides of the hull of said ship; a motor element joined to a source of power and mounted on each brush element for imparting rotational motion thereto; means pivotally interconnecting said first set of opposed brushes to said platform for ensuring the placement on and the cleaning of the bow and stern of said ship by the opposed brush elements of said first set of brushes; at least one hydraulic ram mounted on the upwardly facing base of the elongate U-shaped channel connected to vertically displace each brush element of said second set of brushes to the keel of said ship and at least two other hydraulic rams mounted on internally opposing surfaces in said elongate Ushaped channel, each of the two rams are sized to inwardly laterally displace and position its interconnected said brush element adjacent a lateral contour of said hull and all the hydraulic rams configured for mechanical cooperation to place their respectively interconnected said brush element for cleaning a discrete peRipheral portion of said hull; a sensor element operatively associated with each of the sets of brushes to ensure an operative engagement with respect to said hull as said ship passes through said channel; and a hydraulic power source connected to each said hydraulic ram for positioning all said brush elements to ensure a continuous contact of said bristles along the lateral contour of said hull, upon passing said ship through said channel, the rotating bristles remove fouling from the entire wetted surface of said hull.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further including: a suction element carried in the near proximity of said brush element for drawing off removed said fouling; and means for filtering out said removed said fouling coupled to each said suction element for preventing pollution of said body of water.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 further including: side-hull fenders and a keel cushion disposed at the mouth of said channel for protecting said apparatus and said ship and wheel-and-track means carried on the upwardly facing base of the elongate U-shaped channel for positioning said second set of brushes in the close proximity of the hull of said ship.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which at least one of the hydraulic rams is longer than the other hydraulic rams connected to brush elements in the second set of brushes to allow placing of its interconnected brush on the rounded contour of the hull lying between the sides and keel of said ship.