US3866396A

US3866396A - Removal of marine growths from lakes, waterways, and other bodies of water

Info

Publication number: US3866396A
Application number: US313114A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dorman A Meyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-05-10
Filing date: 1972-12-07
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel device for selectively removing various types of marine growths from lakes, rivers, canals and other waterways, including a rotary cutter operatively disposed in a housing closed except at its forwardmost portion, which cutter includes a rotatable drum having helically arranged cutter blades arranged to cut encountered growths into short lengths. At least a portion of adjacent cutter blades extend into the housing while the remaining portion of these blades are passing past the opening in the foremost portion of the housing. The housing is typically submerged below the water surface from a suitable floating structure such as a barge, with a suction pump mounted on the barge connected to the housing for bringing about a suction condition therein. The suction extends to the space between adjacent blades passing past the opening in the housing causing encountered growths to move and be held in contact with the blades, an optimum position for cutting, with the suction existing in the housing thereafter serving to remove the growths from the housing and to deliver them to a traveling screen belt disposed on the barge. There water is removed from the cut growths, and the growths, now semi-dried, are thereafter packaged in an appropriate manner.

Description

United States Patent [191 Meyer Feb. 18, 1975 REMOVAL OF MARINE GROWTHS FROM LAKES, WATERWAYS, AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER [76] Inventor: Dorman A. Meyer, 27 W. Third St.,

Apopka, Fla. 32703 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 313,114

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 141,539, May 10,

1971, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 56/9 [51] lnt. Cl .L A01d 45/08 [58] Field of Search 56/8, 9, 294;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,481,177 1/1924 Bayard et al 56/9 1,701,430 2/1929 Thurston 37/66 1,795,003 3/1931 Allen 56/9 3,181,289 5/1965 Patt 1 1 56/294 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 655,667 8/1951 Great Britain 56/9 a tag Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edwin E. Greigg [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a novel device for selectively removing various typesof marine growths from lakes, rivers, canals and other waterways, including a rotary cutter operatively disposed in a housing closed except at its forwardmost portion, which cutter includes a rotatable drum having helically arranged cutter blades arranged to cut encountered growths into short lengths. At least a portion of adjacent cutter blades extend into the housing while the remaining portion of these blades are passing past the opening in the foremost portion of the housing. The housing is typically submerged below the water surface from a suitable floating structure such as a barge, with a suction pump mounted on the barge connected tothe housing for bringing about a suction condition therein. The suct ion extends to the space between adjacent blades passing past the opening in the housing causing encountered growths to move and be held in contact with the blades, an optimum position for cutting, with the suction existing in the housing thereafter serving to remove the growths from the housing and to deliver them to a traveling screen belt disposed on the barge. There water is removedfrom the cut growths, and the growths, now semi-dried, are thereafter packaged in an appropriate manner.

27 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures SHEET 10F 9 O a/ 31 0m M IJ V PATENTED FEB] 8 I975 PATENTEU FEB] 81975 SHEET 2 Of PATEHTED FEB] 81975 'SHEET 0F 9 PAIENIEU FEB] 8 I975 SHEET 8 OF 9 PATENTEB FEB I 8 I975 sum 7 or 9 REMOVAL OF MARINE GROWTHS FROM LAKES, WATERWAYS, AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER cation, Removal of Marine Growths from Lakes, Wa- I terways, and Other Bodies of Water, Ser. No. 141,539, filed May 10, 1971, now abandoned.

INTRODUCTION This invention relates to an apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water, and more particularly to a highly advantageous and novel apparatus involving a drum type rotary cutter arrangement, which cutter means is disposed in a suction housing and designed to move in a circular path and to interact in a cutting relationship with a stationary cutter blade so as to out without substantial damage, the growths encountered by the blades.

In the past, a number of arrangements have been utilized for cutting marine growths, but in all known instances, a different modus operandi has been utilized for severing growths than is taught herein. Where the growths are useful, it may be desirable that they be cleanly severed at a location well above the bottom of the lake or other body of water in which the growths are growing, such that the root structures willnot be removed, thus preventing future growths from being interfered with. On the other hand, where the growths have little or no salvage value, or where they interfere with the flow of water, such as in waterways, it is desirable that the growths be removed as completely as possible, including as much of the root structure as is practical.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide an apparatus with which both of these functions can be selectively accomplished. This is principally brought about as a function of the direction of rotation of a power driven cutter movable in a circular path and designed to interact in a cutting relationship with a stationary cutter blade. By causing the rotary cutter to be movable in a downward circular path at the time it encounters the growths, the growths are severed and picked without any particular tendency for the root structures to be removed, whereas when the blade is caused to rotate in the opposite direction, which of course means that the blade is moving in an upward direction as it encounters the growths, the roots tend to be removed, thus making such an arrangement ideal for the clearing of waterways and other locations where marine growths are undesirable. In latter embodiment, a second blade is utilized in a form of tandem arrangement so that the blades operate in a complementary fashion.

Significantly, I utilize a suction housing around the rotary cutter, in which housing a lowered pressure is maintained, which causes encountered weeds to be drawn closely against the moving blades, and thus enhances the cutting action when such moving blades interact with the stationary cutting blade. I prefer to curve the blades in a generally helical fashion, such that the several blades, as mounted on a cylindrically shaped drum member, will define a helical array of blades, each interacting in turn in a cutting relationship with the stationary blade. A number of spaces are of course defined between the blades, in which the suction can be manifested. Because I prefer for each blade to wrap for'approximately one-half turn about the cylindrically shaped member, the suction manifested between any given pair of blades can be regarded as extending for approximately about the cylindrically shaped drum member. This of course means that as one end of each successive blade moves into an active, weed-contacting position, the other end of such blade is still back in the enclosed portion of the housing, where it is exposed to the lowered pressure. As a result, therefore, of using the helically configured blade array, there is at all times a considerable manifestation of lowered pressure at the location where each successive moving blade contacts the stationary blade, thus enhancing the weed-cutting action.

Preferably, the suction housing extends both above and below the rotary cutter, which means that except at the forwardmost portion of the housing, the blades, or more significantly, the spaces between the blades outside the drum are exposed to suction. This of course means that the suction responsible for drawing encountered weeds into a cutting relationship with the blades can in effect keep moving across the front of the housing, or actually, across the stationary blade. This is because as the one end of a given blade moves out into an open, weed-encountering position, the other end is still back inside the housing, where the blade spaces encounter the lowered pressure. Thereafter, as the other end of this same blade moves out into the open, weedencountering position, the one end by this time has passed back into the closed portion of the suction housing, with the result that suction can now be manifested at the so-called other end of the blades. Thus, as a result of this construction of the several components, including the suction housing and of course the substantial wrap angle associated with the blades, suction is manifested in the spaces between the blades on a con tinuous basis across the open portion of the suction housing, which serves to draw encountered weeds into a very effective position for being cut.

Other facets of my invention can include multiple cutter unit embodiments, with one of these being a side-by-side arrangement making it possible to cut a comparatively wide swath through an area where growths are located. Another multiple unit arrange ment can involve a tandem array in which one cutter unit is disposed substantially above the other, with preferably these cutters turning in opposite directions in such a manner as to cause encountered growths to be drawn again inwardly at a location between the cutter units. Suction means can be utilized for aiding the process of drawing in the growths and thereafter causing them to be removed to the surface of the body of the water for treatment and sale, or alternatively for disposal.

It should be noted that in accordance with this invention I may provide height adjustment means such that at the behest of the operator, the encountered growths will be cut at locations near the surface of the body of water, or alternatively cut at some distance below the surface, with the latter arrangement of course being utilized when removal of roots is being sought to be accomplished.

It is thus the primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus for harvesting marine growths by cutting them cleanly well above their root structure, leaving the root structure intact to encourage future growth, with the severed portions being cut into short lengths, which are then effectively removed by suction.

A secondary object of this invention is to provide a dual arrangement of my novel mechanism whereby a lifting effect can be applied to the growths close to their root structure, which pulls much of the growths out by the roots, with the purpose of this embodiment, in contradistinction to the primary object, being to inhibit and discourage future growths.

It is another important object of my-invention to provide a suction-augmented underwater cutting device that can cut underwater growths in a selective and highly effective manner and transport them to the surface for subsequent sale or disposal.

It is yet another important object of my invention to provide an underwater cutting device employing one or more rotatable blades, and being selectively able to operate as conditions may require, to either entirely remove aquatic plants such as from a waterway, or. alternatively to enable a weed crop to be harvested in a nondamaging manner, so as not to interfere with a later harvesting of growths from the same area.

It is still another object of my invention to provide an underwater harvesting device in the form of a rotary cutter interacting with a stationary blade with suction means being utilized so that the growths are drawn into position such that they can be out easily and effectively. Suction means also function to remove cut lengths of the weeds and growths to the deck portion of a barge or the like for subsequent processing.

It is yet still another object of my invention to use a rotary cutter arrangement that can be easily raised or lowered so that growths may be harvested from near the bottom or near the top in a selective manner.

It is still yet another object of my invention to provide a tandem type of underwater cutting arrangement in which the lower unit typically operates to drawn them downwardly, with the result being that the harvested plants are urged toward a channel or duct in the mid portion of the device, with suction being employed in such channel or duct in order to facilitate the harvesting procedure and to facilitate the transfer of the plants to the surface for treatment and sale or disposal.

It is yet still another object of my invention to provide a tandem type of cutting arrangement in which the lower unit is to some degree shielded or masked so that it does not serve to uproot encountered plants and growths, but rather is limited in its function to assisting the upper unit in moving the plants cut by the upper unit into the channel or duct in which suction is manifested in order that the. growths may be transported to the surface.

It is yet another object of my invention to use a rotary cutter operative underwater for cutting and removing underwater growths, in concert with the novel side cutter means on each end of the principal cutter so that growths of certain types can be dealth with effectively.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be more apparent from a study of the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical floating structure in accordance with my invention, having marine growth removal and processing equipment mounted thereon:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the novel device in accordance with FIG. 1, with certain portions in cross-section to reveal internal construction and operation;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIG. 2 of a means for removing water from the cut growths taken aboard the vessel;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of an alternate means for the storage of the growths aboard the vessel;

FIGS. 5 through 8 are related cross-sectional views, showing a typical sequence of events involved in the cutting or severing of underwater growths;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view to a larger scale, of the cylindrically shaped member I use, upon the periphery of which are secured the movable cutter blades, which are twisted so as to form a helical array;

FIG. 10 is a front view, to a smaller scale. of the bladed drum member;

FIG. 10A is a view taken of the left-hand end of FIG. 10 taken along line A-A thereof;

FIG. 10B is a view taken of the right-hand end of FIG. 10 taken along line 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the preferred spacing of the movable cutter blades from the inner surface of the housing, and also revealing how the suction manifested in the housing is responsible for drawing encountered weeds into an optimum position for being cut;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged showing of a portion of FIG. 11, revealing the cutting action;

FIG. 13 is a side-elevational view revealing a preferred arrangement for the lowering and raising of my cutting and severing mechanism, this view also showing means for cutting the growths in a vertical direction as well as in a horizontal direction;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the rotary cutter arrangement of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a top or plan view of a part of the structure of FIGS. 13 and 14, and the suction duct arrangement;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an embodiment of my invention in which two rotary cutter units are utilized in a so-called tandem arrangement;

FIG. 17 shows how the structure of FIG. 16 can be rotated to accentuate the downward cutting effect and minimize the upward effect;

FIG. 18 illustratesthe functioning of the reverse cutter arrangement in accomplishing complete growth removal, including roots;

FIG. 19 is a top view ofa multiple cutter arrangement showing how a plurality of cutter gangs can be utilized to cover much or all of the waterway bottom from which the growths and roots are to be removed; and

FIG. 20 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing how a reverse cutter arrangement is maintained in close proximity with the waterway bottom to facilitate complete growth and root removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to FIG. 1 it will there be seen that I have illustrated a plan view of a barge l or other controllable means of flotation, with this view revealing certain arrangements and constructional details in accordance with this invention, that make it possible for my device to remove various marine growths in an efficient and effective manner, so that they can be sold or otherwise disposed of at a remote location.

The barge l is controlled by an operator who, from a seat or platform 13, may manipulate various controls 71 which regulate the functions of my device. Propulsion means are provided typically comprising an engine or engines 16 with attached drive units 18, the latter preferably being of the type which are individually controllable and able to swivel through a wide 360 arc, thus enabling the operator to selectively control the thrust of the propulsion means to bring about a precise maneuvering of the craft in a desired direction.

On the forward end of the barge is disposed a vertically movable rotary cutter assembly which severs at a desired height, encountered growths and weeds in a manner to be hereinafter described.

By means of a suction pump 5 shown in FIG. 2, the severed growths are caused to pass from a collecting duct 12 (FIG. 1) through an associated conduction means comprising a lower pipe 6 and an upper pipe 7. The severed growths are thus raised a desired distance above the deck of the craft and the water removed therefrom. This is accomplished by any suitable means, such as by being spread as shown in an even layer upon a horizontally disposed conveyor belt 22 by operation of a spreader duct mounted on the upper portion of the aforementioned conduction means. FIG. 1 reveals the duct 20 and belt 22, as well as showing in phantom lines the motor 32 utilized for driving the rotor portion 4 of the pump 5.

FIG. 1 also shows located on the deck of the barge various auxiliary equipment such as an electric generator 37, a hydraulic pressure pump 38, and a vacuum pump 41.

Although any of several types of drive means could be employed, hydraulic motors are preferably used to drive the cutter assembly 10, these being designated in FIG. 1 as drive motors 31. I prefer to utilize a hydraulic fluid source 38 to provide controlled amounts of hydraulic fluid for the operation of these motors, as well as for use at any other location where the use of hydraulically driven units proves expedient. The hydraulic fluid source may, of course, comprise a pump driven by a gasoline engine or the like, or it may utilize some other suitable arrangement. The controls 71 make it possible for the operator to carefully and selectively control the operation of the cutter assembly 10.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, my cutting device may be suspended a desired distance below the surface of the water and above the bottom of the lake, basin or river in which it is being used. This particular view shows the cutters at a fixed location, but it is understood that their location can be made adjustable as shown in FIGS. 13 and 20. A vertical plate or shield 2 prevents the growths from bypassing the cutter head and further causes them to be essentially vertically aligned with the cutter assembly 10, thus insuring proper cutting action. The same member may in certain instances additionally serve as a visual depth indicator and may be appropriately marked to give the operator a quick and accurate indication of the depth at which the cutting unit is suspended.

It will be apparent to one observing the details of the rotary cutter assembly 10 that the growths are severed into lengths that are essentially determined by the number and spacing ofa plurality of cutter bars 24 mounted on a cylindrical mounting member 58 shown here in cross section. Once cut, the severed growths are caused to move inwardly and then upwardly along the previously mentioned lower pipe 6 by the suction supplied by means of the suction pump 5 disposed in the forward portion of the barge. Various pumping means may be used, but I prefer to employ a pump 5 of the so-called vortex type, utilizing a rotor 4. Latter pump causes suction to be applied to the lower pipe v6 while additionally forcing the combined water and cut growths upwardly through the second pipe 7 whose upper extremity is fashioned to form a spreader duct 20 as mentioned earlier. The function of the spreader duct 20 is of course to spread the severed growths upon the horizontally disposed conveyor belt 22 in an even and consistent manner. Preferably the vortex end of the suction pump 5 is fitted with an air strainer for removal of air contained in the growth stems. This air may be drawn off through a pipe 28 by means of any suitable suction pump, such as the pump 41 in FIG. 1.

The endless, traveling perforate screen or belt 22 is driven by hydraulic drive motor 30 in a clockise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, with the retention of growth on the conveyor being aided by the use of stationary retaining members 34, disposed along each edge of the belt; see FIG. 3. The conveyor belt is held aloft by vertical support members 36 that form the support for the drive rollers 39 around which the conveyor belt is disposed.

For more efficient removal of the water from the growths, a plurality of suction boxes 40 may be employed beneath the upper level of the belt 22, as shown in FIG. 3, these boxes being of an open top design where a minimum of suction is required, or alternatively, they may be provided with perforated covers over which the conveyor belt moves as shown in FIG. 2. A press roller 42, driven in rotation by a drive motor 33, may also be used in conjunction with the suction boxes with such being disposed over one or more of the suction boxes 40 to bring about more efficient water removal from the growths on the belt.

Thus, the removal of water from the growths by any of several suitable means may precede the packaging of the growths, which may be accomplished by forming the growths into a cohesive web or mat. This web or mat can be collected in any desired manner for transport to a desired location for use at some convenient time, and one procedure of collection, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is that of lap piling. As shown, a receiving or restraining member 44 is placed on top of a pallet 46, with the weight of the matted growths and motion imparted by the conveyor 22 being sufficient to cause an alternate layering of the processed material. The sides of member 44 aid in retaining the folds of the growths. When the piled growths reach a desired height the mat is cut, the restraining member 44 removed and a new pallet or other suitable container moved into position.

An alternate arrangement for the collection of the matted growths is shown in FIG. 4. This arrangement depends on the use of a take-up reel 48 being disposed adjacent the vertical support member 36 with the speed of the take-up reel 48 being suitably synchronized to match the speed of the conveyor belt 22, latter synchronization being necessary to insure a smooth and continuous collection of the growths. An end of the matted growths may for example be held by a worker against a hollow tube 50 or other suitable core until the end is lapped by another layer of material. Continuous lapping occurs, with the reel being driven in rotation until a desired amount of growths has been collected, at which time the mat is cut, the tube 50 removed, and another roll started.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 through 8, certain details pertaining to the construction and operation of my novel cutting device will be revealed in these related views. The severing and cutting mechanism is seen in FIG. to comprise a central shaft 52, and mounted thereon is a supporting member 54 comprising a plurality of spaced support arms 56. The supporting arms 56 contact the inner surface of the cylindrical mounting member 58, upon the outer surface of which member are disposed the previously mentioned plurality of cutter bars or blades 24, preferably arranged to spiral around the cylindrical member 58 in the general manner seen in FIG. 1.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is a stationary cutting blade 60 mounted below the rotating cutting member 70, thus to form with the cutter bars, an effective means for cutting the marine growths. The stationary blade 60 may be regarded as disposed on the lower portion of a suction pasage 72 defined in FIGS. 5 throughS by a lower wall 62 and an upper wall 64, with a second stationary cutting blade 66 preferably being mounted on the upper wall. The rotary cutter member 70 is disposed with respect to the

blades

60 and 66 so that the blades 24 contact the stationary blades and interact with them in highly satisfactory cutting contact in severing the growths. The upper wall of the suction passage is joined to a generally cylindrical outer housing 68, latter member partially surrounding the rotating cutting member 70 and being spaced therefrom, so that full suction is applied to the exposed cutter area.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the rotating cutter assembly 70 is shown as it moves to the right and encounters underwater growths and weeds. The rotary movement of the cutter blades 24 serves to draw the encountered growths downward toward the lower stationary cutter blade 60, but'this movement is aided by a suction arrangement discussed in more detail hereinafter. In FIG. 6 the cutter unit 70 is shown to have rotated a sufficient extent with respect to the growths, that one of the moving cutter blades 24 has just passed in cutting contact with the stationary blade 60, thereby in effect opening up a passage between the moving blade and the lower wall 62 of the suction passage 72. Continued rotary movement of the cutter unit 70 in conjunction with a suction force applied to the passage 72 by the suction pump 5 (FIG. 2) causes the growths to be drawn past the stationary blade 60 as shown in FIG. 7. As may be seen in FIG. 8, more growths are drawn into the space between the cutter blades 24 and the upper and lower stationary blades until the accumulated growths are completely severed from the standing growths encountered. It should be apparent that the growths severed by the interaction of the moving and stationary blades are cut into lengths substantially equal to the space between successive rotating cutter blades.

The collection of a maximum quantity of cut growths with a minimum amount of water is facilitated by the outer housing 68 which further serves to provide adequate suction for the removal of the growths and additionally provides some support for the vertical plate or shield 2. This plate promotes the proper alignment of growths with the rotary cutter 70. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 through 8, the growths are positioned in essentially a vertical manner by the plate 2.

Turning to FIG. 9, it will there be seen that I have revealed the prefeired form of rotary cutting device 70 in more detail. As will be noted, the moving blades 24 mounted on the surface of drum 58 are twisted with respect to the axis of rotation of the drum being disposed on the outer surface of latter member so as to define a helical array of blades. During drum rotation, these blades are each in touching contact with the stationary blades, thus to interact in cutting relation therewith in a highly satisfactory manner.

It will be seen from FIG. 9 that I prefer the suction housing 68 to extend about a substantial portion of the rotary cutter, in which housing a suction is maintained. Advantageously, this causes encountered weeds to be drawn closely against the moving blades, thus enhancing the cutting action when such helically configured blades interact with the stationary cutting blades. A number of spaces are of course defined between the blades, in which the suction can be manifested.

In FIG. 9 I have utilized the A to designate with regard to blades in the cutting relationship, the spacing of the blades, with the twist of the blades being such that the same blades are in the raised position at the other end of the cutter, as shown by the designation A. In other words, I prefer for each blade to wrap for approximately one-half turn about the cylindrically shaped member, so that the suction applied between any given pair of blades and the surface of drum 58 can therefore be manifested for approximately about the cylindrically shaped member. This of course means that as one end of each successive blade moves into an active, weed-contacting position, the other end of such blade is still back in the enclosed portion of the housing, where it is exposed to the suction. As a result, therefore, of using the helically configured blade array, there is at all times a considerable manifestation of suction at the location where each successive blade contacts the stationary blade, thus enhancing the weedcutting action.

Preferably, the suction housing 68 extends both above and below the rotary cutter 70, which means that except at the forwardmost portion of the housing, the blades, or more significantly, the spaces between the blades, are exposed to the suction. This of course means that the suction responsible for drawing encountered weeds into a cutting relationship with the blades can in effect keep moving across the front of the housing, or actually, across the stationary blade. This is because as one end of a first blade moves out into an open, weed-encountering position, the other end of that blade is still back inside the housing, where the blade spaces encounter the lowered pressure. Thereafter, as the other end of the first blade moves out into the open, weed-encountering position, the one end by this time has passed back into the closed portion of the suction housing, with the result that suction is now manifested at the so-called other end of the blades. Thus, as a result of this construction, and of course the substantial wrap angle associated with the blades, suction is manifested in the spaces between the blades on an almost continuous basis across the open portion of the suction housing, which serves to draw encountered weeds into a very effective position for being cut.

Turning to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the helically configured blades have for convenience and clarity been numbered 1 through 6, with related FIG. 10A revealing the left hand end of helical blade 2 to be in cutting contact with stationary blade 60. FIG. 10B reveals that at the same time, the right hand end of helical blade 5 is in contact with stationary blade 60, this arrangement of course resulting from the 180 blade wrap mentioned earlier.

It will be noted that shading has been utilized in FIGS. 10A and 108 to indicate the suction applied with regard to the blades as a result of the suction manifested in passage 72. Shading is also applied in FIG. to indicate the suction zone existing between blades 1 and 2, as they extend across the open face of the outer housing 68, with the suction of course having the effect of drawing the encountered weeds against the moving blades, with the weed portions between the moving blades extending inward toward the cylindrical member 58, as seen in FIG. 11 as well as in certain earlier figures. Actually, suction is applied in the space between each adjacent blade pair appearing in FIGS. 9 and 10, as a result of the twist of the blades into the above-described helical array, but shading has not been applied to the spaces between the other blades in order to avoid confusing the point made hereinbefore, in which the space between blades 1 and 2 was used as an example.

As will now be apparent, because of the use of suction in the manner described, the weeds are held closely contact the the moving. blades and stay in contact therewith as each blade successively comes into contact with the stationary blades, thus cutting the weeds in a thorough and highly advantageous manner, with the suction applied through duct or passage 72 thereafter causing the cut weeds to move along such passage as shown in FIG. 11, and thereafter through the duct 6 and pump 4 for processing; see FIG. 2.

FIG. 12, which is a fragmentary view to a larger scale, reveals in greater detail that portion of FIG. 11 associated with the stationary blades and the moving blades in contact therewith. Because each successive blade contacts the stationary blade 60 in a highly effective cutting relationship, the encountered weeds are very effectively severed.

In some instances where the growths are particularly heavy, tangled, or matted, it may be desirable to first vertically sever the upper portions of the growths thus to facilitate their being subsequently drawn downward by the action of the horizontal cutter blades 24. In accordance with this requirement, I provide a vertical cutter arrangement as shown in FIG. 13, typically comprising one or more generally circular rotary blades or side cutters 74, with a plurality of cutting teeth 76 being disposed around their periphery. Such rotary blades may be disposed at each end of my cutting device as seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, with the side cutters being supported in each instance by a mounting member 78 which supports the drive units of the rotary cutting member 70 and holds the side cutters 74 essentially in vertical alignment with each other at a preferred distance in front of the cutting member 70. As shown in FIGS. 13 through 15, hydraulic motors 75 of the type previously described may be used to power the vertical side cutters.

Also revealed in FIG. 13'is one arrangement for accomplishing the vertical raising and lowering of my various cutting devices. A rack and pinion type arrangement is preferred in the illustrated embodiment, involving an elongate member 80 upon which are disposed a series of evenly spaced teeth 82. The member 80 is attached to the outer frame of the rotating cutter assembly, and is movably engaged by a supporting member 84 which protrudes from the forward portion of the barge l. A drive gear (not shown) or other suitable means may be meshed with the teeth 82 of the member 80 to bring about vertical movement of the cutter assembly 10 in either direction desired. Preferably, a

drive motor 85 of the hydraulic type is disposed upon the supporting member 84 to bring about the desired movement of the rack member in the previously described manner.

A flexible hose 86 also shown in FIG. 13 extends to the suction pipes 88 mounted on the front portion of the barge 1 from the cutting device located beneath the craft. Joined to a collecting duct 12 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the flexible hose 86 delivers its contents to receiving means on the deck of the barge as previously described in relation to FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 14 it will be seen that the previously mentioned supporting member 84 is held in alignment with a second such member by a stabilizer bar 90. The drive motor disposed on the left supporting member as viewed in FIG. 14 is connected by means of a drive shaft 92 to a drive member 94 which meshes with the teeth of the right rack and pinion member 80 as viewed in FIG. 14. This arrangement transmits the rotary motion of the drive unit 85 to the drive member 94 thus facilitating the raising and lowering of the cutting device in a balanced manner, and insuring that the opposite ends of the double type rotary cutting member 70 are generally held in horizontal alignment.

FIGS. 14 and 15 thus reveal that a pair of cutting devices may be adjacently disposed along a common horizontal axis, thus to provide and make possible a wider cutting area than that of a single device. In FIG. 14 the outer housing has been removed to reveal that the ends of the individual cutting units are covered by circular end caps 96. These caps are beveled to provide a smooth surface which reduces the possibility of growths becoming entangled around the end regions of the rotary cutting members 70. Close inspection of FIG. 14 will also reveal that an approximately the center of the rotary cutting member the beveled end caps 96 meet to form a V-shaped groove 98. The groove 98 and the beveled end caps 96 may serve as bearing surfaces against which friction-reducing means such as a ball bearing race (not shown) may be disposed. Latter means of reducing friction and vibration of the rotary cutting member may be held in place by a supporting frame member 100 shown in FIG. 15. In further accordance with my invention, a separate collecting duct 12 with its associated suction means may be provided for each cutting member of the unit. Alternate arrangements are of course possible with, for instance, a single collecting duct and associated suction means being provided. 7 Normal growth removal where the growths are to be salvaged provides for the cutting or severing of growths well below the surface level but also above the bottom level to insure that the harvested growths are free of any of the bottom material in which they are growing and to also insure that regrowth of the plants takes place as rapidly as possible. As has been mentioned, the cutter arrangement previously described and shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 provides for cutting or severing the growths at a predetermined distance from the bottom area in which the growths are rooted.

There are instances, however, such as in certain waterways and drainage ditches, where it is desirable to remove the entire growth including as much of the root system as possible. In order to meet this latter requirement I provide the tandem cutter assembly 116 shown in FIG. 16. This assembly features two adjacently disposed rotary cutter members 70 whose respective central shafts 52 may be considered to lie in a common vertical plane. The two cutter members are rotatively driven in opposite directions, with the lower member turning in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 16, with this amounting to an arrangement causing the weeds and growths to be cut by the interaction of the rotary blades with the pair of stationary cutter blades shown at 104.

It will thus be apparent that the lower unit provides a lifting force near the root systems of the growths while the upper cutter experts a downward pulling force, thus causing the growths to be pulled both upwardly and downwardly in the manner shown in detail in FIG. 18. The lifting force supplied by the lower cutter member has the effect, due to that members close proximity to the bottom of the basin, lake or river, of dislodging and removing as much of the root structure as the strength of the growth stems will permit. The opposing motion of the cutter members has the additional effect of sweeping encountered growths toward the left as viewed in FIG. 18, which is toward the pair of stationary cutter blades 104 disposed between the two rotary cutter units. The ensuing interaction between the stationary cutter blades 104 and the rotary cutters 70 causes the growths to be severed in a manner similar to that described in relation to the so-called single unit cutter assembly, with suction applied to duct 12 draw I ing the weeds and growths upwardly and ultimately causing them to be deposited upon the belt 22.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the stationary cutter blades are held in place parallel with the rotary cutter members by means of a mounting member 106 which is of approximately the same length as the cylindrical mounting members of the rotary cutters. The mounting member may in turn be held by a frame member (not shown) or other suitable arrangement. To insure complete cutting of the growths, the rotary cutters may also interact with a second pair of stationary cutter blades 108 disposed on the upper and

lower walls

110 and 112 of a collecting duct 12, through which suction may be applied to withdraw the cut growths from the cutter assembly. The stationary blades 108 are in general alignment with one another and are preferably located at a distance which will promote a shearing or cutting interaction between the aforementioned moving cutter blades.

It should be noted that a pair of generally semicircular outer housing members 114 surround the upper and lower units of the cutter assembly. Latter housing members cause the suction force to be distributed around the peripheries of the rotary members 70. Both outer housing members 114 are configured so as to provide protection against damage by underwater obstructions, but the lower member 114 is especially intended to encircle the moving blades for an extent sufficient to prevent its associated rotary cutter 70 from picking up silt, sand, trash, or other bottom debris. I may wish to utilize an arrangement in which the extent or wrap of the lower member 114 can be easily changed at the behest of the operator. As should now be clear, the single cutter design of the earlier drawing figures is ideal for partial growth removal, while the tandem cutter arrangement of FIGS. 16 and I8 is typically used for complete growth removal.

As shown in FIG. 17, the tandem cutter assembly may on occasion be rotated so that the common plane of the two adjacently disposed rotary cutter members lies somewhere between a vertical and horizontal position, which enables this cutter arrangement to be adapted for cutting the upper portions of the growths. Such a deployment reduces the tendency of this design to lift the growths upwardly and ordinarily prevents the lowercutter from uprooting the plants. The lower cutter may utilize a housing member 118 of considerable wrap or extent, thus to restrict the possible cutting action of the lower unit, and making unlikely any pulling up of the growths by such unit.

Regardless of their respective types, my cutter units may be used singly or grouped together in various ways to provide a maximum width of cut. A preferred means of grouping a plurality of cutter units is illustrated in FIG. 19 and involves adjacently disposed cutter assemblies whose central shafts (not shown) are essentially in parallel alignment. An additional cutter unit may be disposed in front of the first pair of units in what may be regarded as an overlapping manner, thus serving to cut any growths which may be encountered in the central area between the adjacently disposed units. An overlapping arrangement may be employed in the event additional units are to be incorporated, thus to increase within the capability of the barge, the number of units utilized, and the width of the pathway or swath cut.

Considering this grouping arrangement of FIG. 19 in greater detail, each unit is preferably maintained at a desired distance from the bottom of the basin, lake or river by means of wheels 120. The collecting duct 12 'ofeach unit is connected to the suction pump 5 (FIG.

2) by means of a vertical discharge pipe 122, swivel pipe joints 124, and a horizontal discharge pipe 126; see FIG. 20. A branched connecting pipe 128 shown in latter figure may receive the pipes 126, thus to complete the connection to the suction pump used to withdraw the growth from the cutter assembly.

As shown in FIG. 20, the lower portion of each unit is held in position for forward movement by a linkage member 130 connected to each unit by a mounting bracket 132. The opposite end of the linkage member engages a second bracket 134 mounted on the lower front portion of the barge 1. This construction is repeated on the opposite end, with the result being that the cutter means can be caused on occasion to move vertically in an even, non-twisting manner. The raising and lowering of the cutter units is accomplished by means of cables 136 operating over pulleys 138 which are mounted on a supporting arm member 140, located in the forward portion of the barge l. A motor-driven winch may of course be utilized in conjunction with this arrangement to facilitate positioning of the cutter units at a desired depth.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising a dual cutter assembly including a first partially enclosed rotary cutter, with an unenclosed portion of such cutter arranged to move in a generally downward direction, a second partially enclosed rotary cutter disposed below said first cutter, with an unenclosed portion thereof being arranged to move in a generally upward direction, stationary cutter blades located near the bottom of the path of travel of said first rotary cutter, and near the top of the path of travel of said second rotary cutter, means for moving the dual cutter assembly into an area of marine growths, and suction means applied to the enclosures around said rotary cutters for drawing such encountered growths to the exposed portions of the dual cutter assembly, so that the encountered growths can be cut into short lengths by the coaction of said rotary cutters with the stationary blades, the upper rotary cutter drawing the growths downwardly and the lower rotary cutter drawing the growths upwardly, the suction means also serving to deliver to a remote location, the cut growths after they have been cut into short lengths by the coaction of the rotary and stationary cutters.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in'which the enclosure around said second rotary cutter is pf such a configuration as to exclude rubbish and other bottom material.

3. Apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising a partially enclosed rotary cutter, an elongate stationary cutter disposed for coaction therewith, for cutting encountered marine growths into short lengths, means for moving the exposed portion of the rotary cutter into an area of marine growths,

said rotary cutter being partially enclosed by a housing, pump means connected to said housing for the combined purposes of drawing the growths to the unenclosed portion of the rotary cutter, for thereafter removing the growths cut by said cutters, and for then delivering such cut growths to a traveling perforated conveyor, means for moving the perforated conveyor over a suction area, at which area suction is applied in order to remove water from the growths, means for smoothing the growths on the conveyor after the water has been removed, and means for packaging the smoothed mat of marine growths for disposal or shipment.

4. An apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising, in combination:

a. a submergible housing having a frontal opening;

b. means coupled to said housing to apply a suction thereto;

c. a drum having an exterior surface mounted for rotation within said housing and having a plurality of helically arranged cutter blades mounted on said exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said helically mounted blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frontal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in said space;

d. means for driving said drum in rotation; and

e. at least one stationary blade means positioned adjacent said frontal opening to cooperate with said helically arranged cutter blades for severing marine growths;

whereby as the apparatus moves through encountered marine growths the suction applied to the housing manifests itself in the space between adjacent ones of the helically arranged cutter blades serving to hold encountered growths in contact with these blades as the drum rotates to bring each of the helically arranged cutter blades one after another into cutting relationship with the stationary blade means.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for driving said drum drives the forwardmost portion of said drum contacting the growths in a generally downward arcuate path.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for driving said drum drives the forwardmost portion of said drum contacting the growths in a generally upward arcuate path.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising at least one additional drum having a further exterior surface, mounted for rotation within said housing and having a further plurality of helically arranged cutter blades mounted on said further exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said helically mounted blades of said further plurality of blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frontal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in this space; and wherein said stationary blade means includes a cutting edge positioned adjacent said frontal opening to cooperate with said further plurality of helically arranged cutter blades for severing marine growths, said means for driving including means for driving said additional drum.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for driving drives each of said drums in opposite directions of rotation.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said drums are positioned in a side-by-side relationship for providing a wide swath of cut.

10. An apparatus as defined in 7, wherein said drums are in a vertical tandem arrangement, with the forwardmost portion of the upper one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally downward arcuate path, the forwardmost portion of the lower one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally upward arcuate path, said stationary cutter blade means are located approximately midway be tween the upper and lower drums and are arranged to interact with said pluralities of helically arranged cutter blades for assuring that encountered growths can be effectively severed, and further including a suction passage disposed adjacent location of said stationary blade means in order that the severed growths can be drawn in and then transported to the surface of the body of water for distribution to a remote location.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for selectively adjusting height relationship of said drum with respect to the bottom of the body of water, whereby encountered growths may be selectively severed at various heights from their bottommost parts.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including side cutters positioned adjacent said drum for vertically severing upper portions of encountered growths at the lateralmost portions of the apparatus.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing includes a bottom configured for substantially isolating said drum from debris and other bottom material.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including a barge, means for supplying severed growths from said housing to said barge, and means on said barge for collecting severed growths on aflat, relatively slowly moving member in a substantially even distribution whereby the growths can be consolidated into a mat-like form.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, including wheel means for aiding in moving said housing along the bottom of a body of water.

16. An apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising, in combination:

a. a submergible housing having a frontal opening;

b. means coupled to said housing to apply a suction thereto;

c. a drum having an exterior surface mounted for rotation within said housing and having a plurality of cutter blades mounted on said exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frontal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in said space;

d. means for driving said drum in rotation; and

e. at least one stationary blade means positioned adjacent said frontal opening to cooperate with said cutter blades for severing marine growths;

whereby as the apparatus moves through encountered marine growths the suction applied to the housing manifests itself in the space between adjacent ones of the cutter blades serving to hold encountered growths in contact with these blades as the drum rotates to bring each of the cutter blades one after another into cutting relationship with the stationary blade means.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for driving said drum drives the forwardmost portion of said drum contacting the growths in a generally downward arcuate path.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for driving said drum drives the forwardmost portion of said drum contacting the growths in a generally upward arcuate path.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising at least one additional drum having a further excooperate with said further plurality of cutter blades for severing marine growths, said means for driving including means for driving said additional drum.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for driving drives each of said drums in opposite directions of rotation.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said drums are positioned in side-by-side relationship fo providing a wide swath of cut. 7

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said drums are in a vertical tandem arrangement, with the forwardmost portion of the upper one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally downward arcuate path, the forwardmost portion of the lower one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally upward arcuate path, said stationary cutter blade means are located approximately midway between the upper and lower drums and are arranged to interact with said pluralities of cutter blades for assuring that encountered growths can be ef fectively severed, and further including a suction passage disposed adjacent location of said stationary blade terior surface, mounted for rotation within said housing and having a further plurality of cutter blades mounted on said further exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said blades of said further plurality of blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frontal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in this space; and wherein said stationary blade means includes a cutting edge positioned adjacent said frontal opening to means in order that the severed growths can be drawn in and then transported to the surface of the body of water for distribution to a remote location.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising means for selectively adjusting height relationship of said drum with respect to the bottom of the body of water, whereby encountered growths may be selectively severed at various heights from their bottommost parts.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including side cutters positioned adjacent said drum for vertically severing upper portions of encountered growths at the lateralmost portions of the apparatus.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said housing includes a bottom configured for substantially isolating said drum from debris and other bottom material.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including a barge, means for supplying severed growths from said housing to said barge, and means on said barge for collecting severed growths on a flat, relatively slowly moving member in a substantially even distribution whereby the growths can be consolidated into a mat-like form.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, including wheel means for aiding in moving said housing along the bottom of a body of water.

Claims

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the enclosure around said second rotaRy cutter is of such a configuration as to exclude rubbish and other bottom material.

3. Apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising a partially enclosed rotary cutter, an elongate stationary cutter disposed for coaction therewith, for cutting encountered marine growths into short lengths, means for moving the exposed portion of the rotary cutter into an area of marine growths, said rotary cutter being partially enclosed by a housing, pump means connected to said housing for the combined purposes of drawing the growths to the unenclosed portion of the rotary cutter, for thereafter removing the growths cut by said cutters, and for then delivering such cut growths to a traveling perforated conveyor, means for moving the perforated conveyor over a suction area, at which area suction is applied in order to remove water from the growths, means for smoothing the growths on the conveyor after the water has been removed, and means for packaging the smoothed mat of marine growths for disposal or shipment.

4. An apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising, in combination: a. a submergible housing having a frontal opening; b. means coupled to said housing to apply a suction thereto; c. a drum having an exterior surface mounted for rotation within said housing and having a plurality of helically arranged cutter blades mounted on said exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said helically mounted blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frontal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in said space; d. means for driving said drum in rotation; and e. at least one stationary blade means positioned adjacent said frontal opening to cooperate with said helically arranged cutter blades for severing marine growths; whereby as the apparatus moves through encountered marine growths the suction applied to the housing manifests itself in the space between adjacent ones of the helically arranged cutter blades serving to hold encountered growths in contact with these blades as the drum rotates to bring each of the helically arranged cutter blades one after another into cutting relationship with the stationary blade means.

10. An apparatus as defined in 7, wherein saId drums are in a vertical tandem arrangement, with the forwardmost portion of the upper one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally downward arcuate path, the forwardmost portion of the lower one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally upward arcuate path, said stationary cutter blade means are located approximately midway between the upper and lower drums and are arranged to interact with said pluralities of helically arranged cutter blades for assuring that encountered growths can be effectively severed, and further including a suction passage disposed adjacent location of said stationary blade means in order that the severed growths can be drawn in and then transported to the surface of the body of water for distribution to a remote location.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including a barge, means for supplying severed growths from said housing to said barge, and means on said barge for collecting severed growths on a flat, relatively slowly moving member in a substantially even distribution whereby the growths can be consolidated into a mat-like form.

16. An apparatus for removing marine growths from a body of water comprising, in combination: a. a submergible housing having a frontal opening; b. means coupled to said housing to apply a suction thereto; c. a drum having an exterior surface mounted for rotation within said housing and having a plurality of cutter blades mounted on said exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frontal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in said space; d. means for driving said drum in rotation; and e. at least one stationary blade means positioned adjacent said frontal opening to cooperate with said cutter blades for severing marine growths; whereby as the apparatus moves through encountered marine growths the suction applied to the housing manifests itself in the space between adjacent ones of the cutter blades serving to hold encountered growths in contact with these blades as the drum rotates to bring each of the cutter blades one after another into cutting relationship with the stationary blade means.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising at least one additional drum having a further exterior surface, mounted for rotation within said housing and having a further plurality of cutter blades mounted on said further exterior surface, at least a portion of adjacent ones of said blades of said further plurality of blades extending at all times into said housing, while other portions of these blades are positioned in said frOntal opening, for effecting a fluid communication of space between these adjacent blades and the interior of said housing to assure existence of suction in this space; and wherein said stationary blade means includes a cutting edge positioned adjacent said frontal opening to cooperate with said further plurality of cutter blades for severing marine growths, said means for driving including means for driving said additional drum.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said drums are positioned in side-by-side relationship for providing a wide swath of cut.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said drums are in a vertical tandem arrangement, with the forwardmost portion of the upper one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally downward arcuate path, the forwardmost portion of the lower one of said drums having its said cutter blades moving in a generally upward arcuate path, said stationary cutter blade means are located approximately midway between the upper and lower drums and are arranged to interact with said pluralities of cutter blades for assuring that encountered growths can be effectively severed, and further including a suction passage disposed adjacent location of said stationary blade means in order that the severed growths can be drawn in and then transported to the surface of the body of water for distribution to a remote location.