Autonomous sea surface cleaning system

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface cleaning system (10) connected to a main body (20) with at least one collecting port (21) opening into a chamber where the waste is collected, to collect waste from the sea surface. It is characterized in that it contains at least one movable arm (30) extending outward from said main body (20) on the sea surface, and said movable arm (30) is connected with at least one guiding mechanism (321) to be activated on the sea surface in order to surround the wastes on the sea surface and after surrounding them, to pull the wastes towards said collecting port (21) by a sweeping motion.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION AUTONOMOUS SEA SURFACE CLEANING SYSTEM

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a surface cleaning system connected to a main body with at least one collecting port opening into a chamber to collect waste from the sea surface.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Surface pollution in the seas is an important part of environmental problems today. This pollution is increasing due to human activities, especially the release of plastic waste, oil, chemicals and other harmful substances onto sea surfaces. The release and accumulation of plastic wastes in the seas poses a serious threat to sea creatures, and due to the degradation of these wastes, the microplastics leak into ecosystems and spread over a wide area. Pollution from oil spills, marine traffic, and industrial facilities also negatively affect marine ecosystems, thereby increasing the danger to habitats for fish, seabirds, and other marine life.

[0006] Pollution in the seas has serious effects not only on marine ecosystems, but also on human health and economic activities. Pollution in the seas poses a food security risk to millions of people who feed on fish and seafood. In addition, marine waste poses a threat to the tourism industry. Pollution affects beaches and holiday destinations, causing economic losses. In order to solve this problem, global cooperation and effective policies are implemented. Water surfaces are cleaned when deemed necessary to reduce the pollution problem. However, in the present art, cleaning water surfaces is a laborious process, the existing systems developed therefor do not function efficiently enough and may clean a very limited area.

[0007] Consequently, all the above-mentioned problems have made it necessary to make an innovation in the relevant technical field. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention relates to a surface cleaning system in order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and provide the relevant technical field with new advantages.

[0009] An object of the invention is to provide a surface cleaning system to remove waste from the sea surface.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a cost-effective surface cleaning system which may operate without interruption.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a surface cleaning system which may operate autonomously.

[0012] In order to achieve all the objects mentioned above and that will be appreciated from the detailed explanation below, the present invention is a surface cleaning system connected to a main body with at least one collecting port opening into a chamber where waste is collected, to collect waste from the sea surface. Accordingly, its novelty is that it contains at least one movable arm extending outward from said main body on the sea surface, and said movable arm is connected with at least one guiding mechanism to be activated on the sea surface to surround the wastes on the sea surface and after surrounding them, to pull the wastes towards said collecting port by a sweeping motion. Thus, a system is provided, which has a compact structure and may effectively clean large areas from waste.

[0013] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said guiding mechanism is located at a guide end of the movable arm away from the main body, and the guiding mechanism contains at least one float which may float in the water and at least one drive element to enable the guide end to be activated on the sea surface.

[0014] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the guide end contains two floats. A further possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises two movable arms.

[0015] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that at least one of the movable arms contains at least one hook to enable two movable arms to be interlocked at the guide ends of the movable arms away from the main body.

[0016] A further possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it contains at least one cable extending from the main body to the drive element in order to transmit energy from the movable arm to the drive element which is located in the guiding mechanism of the movable arm and drives the guide end of the movable arm away from the main body to move on the sea surface.

[0017] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it contains at least one pulley around which a flexible body of the movable arm is wound, and said pulley is connected with at least one rotation motor which enables it to be rotated around itself in order to wrap the flexible body therearound and unwrap it therefrom, and the flexible body is a hose through which the cable passes and contains at least one anti-entanglement bearing to prevent damage to the cable during the wrapping and unwrapping of the hose around the pulley.

[0018] A further possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said antientanglement bearing contains at least one movable bearing rotating with at least one pulley and at least one fixed bearing positioned to surround said movable bearing, the fixed bearing and the movable bearing are connected in such a way that they have a freedom of rotation relative to each other, and the cable is connected to the fixed bearing.

[0019] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it contains at least one image detection unit capable of detecting the distribution of wastes on the sea surface.

[0020] Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it contains at least one control unit controlling the movement of the movable arms, said control unit is associated with said image detection unit to direct the moving arms to surround the wastes depending on the distribution of the wastes.

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a representative isometric view of the surface cleaning system of the invention.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a representative zoomed-in isometric view of the guiding mechanism of the surface cleaning system of the invention.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a representative zoomed-in isometric view of the pulley portion of the surface cleaning system of the invention.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows a representative zoomed-in isometric view of the anti-entanglement bearing of the surface cleaning system of the invention.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In this detailed description the subject matter of the invention are described with examples only for a better understanding of the subject in a non-limiting sense.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a representative isometric view of the surface cleaning system (10) of the invention. Said surface cleaning system (10) is configured to collect waste on the sea surface. To achieve this, the surface cleaning system (10) is connected to a main body (20) with at least one collecting port (21 ) opening into a chamber where the waste is collected. Said main body (20) may be a body floating in water, a body of a watercraft, or any other body close to the seashore or similarly, sea surface. The figures show said surface cleaning system (10) of the invention as it is integrated into a main body (20) which may move in water and has its own motor. In this embodiment, the main body

[0029] (20) is an autonomous marine vessel which may be controlled remotely.

[0030] The surface cleaning system (10) includes at least one movable arm (30). Said movable arm (30) serves to direct the waste from the sea surface to the collecting port

[0031] (21 ). Therefore, the movable arm (30) surrounds the waste on the sea surface and pulls it towards the collecting chamber. The movable arm (30) contains a guide end (32) with at least one guiding mechanism (321 ) to provide this motion. The guide end (32) is the end of the movable arm (30) away from the main body (20). Fig. 2 shows a representative zoomed-in isometric view of the guiding mechanism (321 ). Said guiding mechanism (321 ) enables the movable arm (30) to be activated on the sea surface with at least one drive element (322) located therein, so that the movable arm (30) may surround the wastes on the sea surface. The drive element (322) may be a propeller in a possible embodiment. The surface cleaning system (10) preferably includes two movable arms (30). In this way, a larger area on the sea surface may be reached.

[0032] The movable arm (30) contains at least one flexible body (31). Said flexible body (31 ) allows the movable arm (30) to move freely and surround the wastes due to the elastic structure thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible body (31 ) is a hose. However, the flexible body (31) may be any flexible material (a net, etc.) which may move the wastes when it is moved by contacting the wastes. The drive element (322) is connected to the guide end (32) of the flexible body (31) away from the main body (20) to allow the movable arm (30) to be easily moved to the desired area.

[0033] The movable arm (30) contains at least one hook (323). Said hook (323) allows the movable arms (30) to be interlocked with each other after surrounding the waste. The hook (323) is positioned at the guide end (32) of the movable arm (30). The hook (323) is connected to at least one locking motor (324), which activates the hook (323) to be coupled with the opposite movable arm (30) and allows the hook (323) to be opened and closed.

[0034] The movable arm (30) is connected to at least one float (325). Said float (325) allows the movable arm (30) to float on the surface of the sea. The float (325) is also connected to the guide end (32) of the movable arm (30), ensuring the entire flexible body (31 ) to remain in line with the sea surface.

[0035] The surface cleaning system (10) includes at least one pulley (35). Fig. 3 shows a representative zoomed-in isometric view of the pulley (35) portion. The flexible body (31 ) of the movable arm (30) may be rolled up by being wrapped on said pulley (35) and may be unwrapped to reach the sea surface. The pulley (35) is connected to at least one rotation motor (351 ). The rotation motor (351 ) serves to rotate the pulley (35) around itself. Accordingly, when the pulley (35) rotates in one direction, the movable arm (30) unwraps and extends on the sea surface, and when it rotates in the other direction, the movable arm (30) is wrapped around the pulley (35) and rolled up. There is at least one shaft (36) between the pulley (35) and the rotation motor (351), which transmits the motion in the rotation motor (351 ) to the pulley (35).

[0036] In the surface cleaning system (10), the movable arms (30) are controlled by means of the cables (33). The cables (33) extend together with the movable arm (30) and provide energy for the drive element (322) which activates the movable arm (30). The wired (33) control of the surface cleaning system (10) eliminates the need for additional batteries for the movable arms (30) and prevents power cuts.

[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the flexible body (31 ) is a hose, and the cables (33) pass through the hose. There is at least one anti-entanglement bearing (34) to prevent the cables (33) from becoming entangled during the rotation of the pulley (35). The antientanglement bearing (34) includes at least one movable bearing (342) and at least one fixed bearing (341 ). The movable bearing (342) is fixed on the shaft (36) and makes a rotational motion with the shaft (36). The fixed bearing (341) is positioned around the movable bearing (342). The movable bearing (342) and the fixed bearing (341 ) are connected in such a way that there is a freedom of rotation therebetween relative to each other around the extension direction of the shaft (36). The cables (33) are connected to the fixed bearing (341 ). Accordingly, although the shaft (36) rotates, the parts of the cables (33) outside the hose do not rotate, thus preventing the cables (33) from becoming entangled with each other.

[0038] The surface cleaning system (10) includes at least one control unit. The control unit provides the control of the elements in the surface cleaning system (10). However, the surface cleaning system (10) includes at least one image detection unit (40). Said image detection unit (40) is associated with the control unit. The image detection unit (40) analyzes an area where the wastes are located in the area to be cleaned and detects the spread of the wastes there. Therefore, the image detection unit (40) may contain at least one camera. The control unit, on the other hand, ensures the movable arms (30) are to have the appropriate opening depending on the information received from the image detection unit (40). Thanks to this embodiment, the surface cleaning system (10) of the invention ensures the wastes on the sea surface to be collected effectively with a compact structure. In order to achieve this, the movable arms (30) are unwrapped by the rotation of the pulley (35) and extend to the area where the waste is located, and when they surround the area by being guided by the drive elements (322), the locking motor (324) locks the hook (323) on one arm to the other. Thereafter, the pulleys (35) start to rotate in an opposite direction. Consequently, the interlocked guide ends (32) move towards the main body (20) and the collecting port (21 ). Meanwhile, the wastes between the collecting port (21 ) and the movable arms (30) are pushed by the flexible body with a sweeping motion, and the wastes enter the chamber through the collecting port (21 ).

[0039] In the surface cleaning system (10), the flexible bodies (31 ) of the movable arms (30) may be advanced to the desired area on the sea surface smoothly, thanks to the structure with drive elements (322) and floats (325) at the guide end (32). The floats (325) hold the guide end (32) on the sea surface, while the drive elements (322) guide the guide end (32). As shown in the figures, in the preferred embodiment, each movable arm (30) contains two floats (325). In this way, the guide end (32) may stand and be advanced more stable on the sea surface.

[0040] The image detection unit (40) allows the surface cleaning system (10) to operate autonomously, while the wired (33) drive structure reduces the cost of the system and provides an uninterrupted, efficient guidance. The anti-entanglement bearing (34), which prevents the cables (33) from becoming entangled, prevents the cables (33) from being damaged during the operation of the pulleys (35).

[0041] The scope of protection of the invention is specified in the attached claims and cannot be limited to what is explained in this detailed description for the exemplary purposes. That is because it is clear that a person skilled in the art may represent similar embodiments in the light of what has been explained above without departing from the main spirit of the invention.

[0042] REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE FIGURE

[0043] 10 Surface Cleaning System

[0044] 20 Main Body 21 Collecting Port

[0045] 30 Movable Arm

[0046] 31 Flexible Body

[0047] 32 Guide End 321 Guiding Mechanism

[0048] 322 Drive Element

[0049] 323 Hook

[0050] 324 Locking Motor

[0051] 325 Float 33 Cable

[0052] 34 Anti-Entanglement Bearing

[0053] 341 Fixed Bearing

[0054] 342 Movable Bearing

[0055] 35 Pulley 351 Rotation Motor

[0056] 36 Shaft

[0057] 40 Image Detection Unit

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A surface cleaning system (10) connected to a main body (20) with at least one collecting port (21 ) opening into a chamber where the waste is collected, to collect waste from the sea surface, characterized in that it contains at least one movable arm (30) extending outward from said main body (20) on the sea surface, and said movable arm (30) is connected with at least one guiding mechanism (321) to be activated on the sea surface in order to surround the wastes on the sea surface and after surrounding them, to pull the wastes towards said collecting port (21 ) by a sweeping motion.

2. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said guiding mechanism (321) is located at a guide end (32) of the movable arm (30) away from the main body (20), and the guiding mechanism (321) contains at least one float (325) which can float in the water and at least one drive element (322) to enable the guide end (32) to be activated on the sea surface.

3. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide end (32) has two floats (325).

4. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it includes two movable arms (30).

5. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the movable arms (30) contains at least one hook (323) to ensure two movable arms (30) to be interlocked at the guide ends (32) of the movable arms (30) away from the main body (20).

6. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it contains at least one cable (33) extending from the main body (20) to the drive element (322) providing actuation in order to transmit energy to the drive element (322) which is located in the guiding mechanism (321 ) of the movable arm (30) and drives the guide end (32) of the movable arm (30) away from the main body (20) to move on the sea surface.

7. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that it contains at least one pulley (35) around which one flexible body (31 ) of the movable arm (30) is wrapped, said pulley (35) is connected to at least one rotation motor (351 ), which enables it to be rotated around itself in order to wrap the flexible body (31) therearound and unwrap it therefrom, the flexible body (31 ) is a hose through which the cable (33) passes, it includes at least one anti-entanglement bearing (34) to prevent damage to the cable (33) during the wrapping and unwrapping of the hose around the pulley (35).

8. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said anti-entanglement bearing (34) contains at least one movable bearing (342) rotating with at least one pulley (35) and at least one fixed bearing (341 ) positioned to surround said movable bearing (342), the fixed bearing (341 ) and the movable bearing (342) are connected in such a way that they have a freedom of rotation relative to each other, and the cable (33) is connected to the fixed bearing (341 ).

9. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it contains at least one image detection unit (40) which may detect the distribution of wastes on the sea surface.

10. A surface cleaning system (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it contains at least one control unit controlling the movement of the movable arms (30), said control unit is associated with said image detection unit (40) to direct the movable arms (30) to surround the wastes depending on the distribution of the waste.

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