FLOATING WASTE RECOVERY SYSTEM ON WATERCOURSES

Abstract

Title: Floating waste recovery system on waterways The floating waste recovery system is an autonomous mechanical system intended to partially resolve one of the problems linked to the anthropogenic pollution of waterways, seas and oceans. The system is designed to channel and collect floating solid waste up to 15 cm underwater on waterways (rivers, streams) before it ends up in the sea / ocean. To do this, a dam channels the floating waste from one bank to the other where a mechanical system recovers it and brings it up via a conveyor to dump it in a container on the bank.

Description

Title of the invention: System for recovering floating waste on waterways PROBLEM:

[0001] Our waste is diverse, numerous and is subject to leakage into the environment wherever humans go and many of them undeniably end up in our oceans.

[0002] Every year in the world, 237 million tons of waste are buried, burned or recycled, 31.9 million tons are mismanaged and 8.0 million tons end up in the ocean. The consequences? Plastics act like magnets with chemicals from urban and agricultural environments, all of different types, making them cocktails of contaminants, then ingested by living organisms. Autopsies are carried out very regularly by scientific organizations on marine animals ranging from anemones to sperm whales and are counting more and more tumors, particularly in the liver, because of the plastic they ingest. These plastics are already found in the stomachs of 25% of the fish and 33% of the oysters that we eat.

[0003] On the continental territory, most of this waste comes from the plastic packaging sector, which is light and is quickly dispersed by the wind and rain to end up in waterways, mainly on the outskirts of towns and cities that cross them. EXISTING :

[0004] Few initiatives exist to capture this pollution to date, among them we find one-off installations composed solely of floating barriers, used to divert and channel floating solids or liquids on a watercourse, most of the time quickly put in place by communities during a major leak within a short period of time (e.g. hydrocarbon leak).

[0005] A second type of installation better thought out for floating waste exists in different aspects, but operating on the same principles; capturing the waste in a cage-type receptacle, floating in the middle of the watercourse and attached to the bank by one or two floating barriers, guiding the waste into it. This waste trapped in the cage, must be recovered by an operator on a boat, often requiring a crane on the barge to unload it once the collection has been made on the installation. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION:

[0006] The development of this system aims to: 1. Channel waste efficiently with suitable floating barriers 2. Automate the lifting of waste directly into a container on the shore 3. Reduce human and material interventions 4. Position yourself on navigable and non-navigable waterways 5. Reduce associated costs 6. Conserve and protect the environment.

[0007] The floating waste recovery system according to the invention is a mechanical system which recovers floating waste less than 50 cm in length on waterways in complete autonomy. The system initially channels the floating solid elements dispersed on the waterway and up to 15 cm underwater with a floating barrier of our design, at a point close to a bank, where the barrier is attached to a floating system receiving a conveyor which recovers the waste to dump it into one or more containers on this same bank.

[0008] The floating waste recovery system consists of an assembly of different subsystems enabling its operation. These subsystems are listed and described below.

[0009] The invention will be better understood in view of the following non-limiting diagrams of the invention.

[0010] [Fig-1]: The entire system on the watercourse and its banks

[0011] [Fig.2]: Set of different subsystems

[0012] [Fig.3]: Subassemblies of the floating pipeline system

[0013] [Fig.4]: Subassemblies of a cylindrical float

[0014] [Fig.5]: Conveyor subassemblies.

[0015] [Fig.6]: Different conveyor modules

[0016] [Fig.7]: Mechanical connections of the mechanical system

[0017] [Fig.8]: Subassemblies of the foot.

[0018] The floating waste recovery system consists of a large floating dam with skirt (1) blocking the watercourse on a curved oblique trajectory and anchored on the opposite bank so as to convey the floating waste often dispersed over the entire width of the watercourse towards the floating pipeline system (2) downstream. The dams are of our design and alone are not claimed. They are subject to evolution.

[0019] [Fig. 1] is a schematic representation in top view showing the entire device on the watercourse and its banks.

[0020] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view showing the whole and the different subsystems.

[0021] The mechanical system allowing the collection of waste on the water at the outlet of the dam is the floating pipeline system (2) allowing the waste to be redirected towards the conveyor

[0022] (3) and supporting the main frame.

[0023] The floating pipeline system (2) is composed of different mechanical sub-assemblies comprising the elements cited below;

[0024] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view showing the subassemblies of the floating pipeline system (2).

[0025] A steel frame (2.1) ensuring the connection of the dams to the conveyor and the maintenance of the elements cited below: 1. Three floats (2.2)(2.3)(2.4) ensure the flotation of the system and the distribution of the masses by partially filling them with water. 2. The entire floating pipeline system is overlooked by metal gratings (2.5) (2.2.1) arranged so that two operators can intervene at any point of the floating mechanical structure for system maintenance or to clear blockages.

[0026] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view showing the subassemblies of a cylindrical float (2.2)

[0027] A trapdoor (2.6) retains the waste channeled by the floating pipeline system when closed before it is caught by the conveyor. The trapdoor is held in the closed position by leverage with a mass. It can be opened by the velocity of a logjam or by an operator to clear the latter.

[0028] Two mechanical fuses (2.7)(2.8) ensure the connection of the dams to the floating pipeline system. They break these connections in the event of high tensions, particularly in the event of a flood, to reduce the constraints of the forces of the current exerted on the assembly.

[0029] A conveyor (3) powered by an electric geared motor (3.1) then collects the waste in the enclosure of the floating pipeline system with a conveyor belt (4) by diving 40cm underwater to discharge it into a container on the bank.

[0030] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view showing the subassemblies of the conveyor (3).

[0031] The conveyor is divided into several sections, allowing a modular length according to the need as well as advantages relating to manufacturing and transport.

[0032] [Fig.6] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view showing the different conveyor modules (3).

[0033] The conveyor is held on the bank, independently of the flood shelter, in a double pivot connection by a flange (5.1) and its flange support (3.2) on a foot (5) which allows the conveyor and the pipeline system to move on the watercourse and to pivot on two axes to return parallel to the bank in the event of a flood.

[0034] [Fig.7] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view of the mechanical connections of the mechanical system.

[0035] [Fig-8] is a schematic representation in ISO perspective view showing the subassemblies of the foot (5).

[0036] The conveyor (3) is pivotally linked to the floating pipeline system (2) thus allowing the assembly to adapt to water height differentials.

[0037] The container is protected by a flood shelter (6) having a containment flap in the event of the system being submerged on the bank.

[0038] The flood shelter (6) is structured and arranged so as to protect the container from the current by deflecting its forces as best as possible. The shelter is not watertight.

[0039] A second, smaller, skirtless floating dam (7) is anchored on the same bank, adjusting and stabilizing the angular positioning of the floating pipeline system on the watercourse.

[0040] The sizing of the structures is subject to variation depending on the implantation points. The system operates autonomously using a computer program.

[0041] A communications and data capture system for collecting data from the system is installed on the system. It reports the data to at least one source.

[0042] A system for measuring the fill level of the bin, alerting operators via the internet network when it is almost full.

[0043] A probe analyzing and compiling information relating to the nature of the waste. A probe measuring the water height of the watercourse.

[0044] A remote control system manages the geared motor remotely from an operator interface on the Internet network.

[0045] A manual control interface and emergency stop are present for and under the geared motor. Maintenance access:

[0046] The floating pipeline system is provided with metal gratings arranged so that two operators can intervene at any point of the floating mechanical structure for maintenance of the systems or clearing blockages.

[0047] They access it by walking on the conveyor from the bank provided for this purpose. System security features:

[0048] The system in its operating configuration is vulnerable to rising water levels and its resistance is limited to a certain current speed, particularly in the event of a flood.

[0049] When the system resistance limit is reached, the mechanical fuses connecting the two dams to the floating pipeline system break to release the mechanical tension exerted on the entire system by these dams. The dams firmly anchored upstream position themselves in parallel with the current to provide the least possible resistance. The mechanical system, whose profiles are designed to redirect the forces on the water as best as possible, is also designed for this purpose by also positioning itself parallel to the current along the length of the conveyor.

[0050] A circuit breaker positioned high up and out of reach of the water supplies the system with electricity and cuts the power if the water rises.

[0051] The addition of an additional dam section is possible and envisaged for: • A first phase of piping thus avoiding more leaks. • Split the system to allow navigation. • Intelligently channel waste over a watercourse that is too wide for a single dam section.

Claims

Claims

1. System for recovering floating waste on any type of moving watercourse comprising two floating dams, characterized in that it comprises a floating dam with skirt (1) directing the waste to the surface of the watercourse and a second floating dam (7), these two dams being connected downstream to a floating pipeline system (2) by two mechanical fuses (2.7) (2.8), allowing the controlled breaking of the connection in the event of a flood in order to protect the recovery system.

2. Floating waste recovery system according to claim 1, characterized in that the floating pipeline system (2), overhung by metal gratings (2.5), (2.2.1), comprises a metal frame (2.1) where three floats (2.2), (2.3), (2.4) are fixed, an opening at the intersection of the latter being closed by a hatch (2.6) used for maintenance to evacuate the blockages.

3. Floating waste recovery system according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a modular conveyor (3) equipped with a conveyor belt (4), powered by an electric motor (3.1), and pivotally connected to the floating pipeline system for conveying the collected waste to a container positioned on the bank.

4. Floating waste recovery system according to claim 3, characterized in that the conveyor (3) is modular and made up of several assemblable sections, allowing its length to be adapted to the installation needs and facilitating its transport and manufacture.

5. Floating waste recovery system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modular conveyor (3) is retained on the bank on the side of the second floating dam, independently of a flood shelter, in a double pivot connection by a flange (5.1) and its flange support (3.2) on a foot (5) allowing the floating pipeline system and the conveyor to orient themselves parallel to the current in order to reduce the stress exerted by the force of the flow rate and the speed of the water in the event of an increase in these parameters.

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