Movable in-water desilting system for cleaning irrigation canal

Abstract

The present invention discloses an efficient, multistage mobile desilting system for cleaning irrigation canals without stopping the water and without disturbing designed section of canal. The multistage desilting system includes sludge collector and a dewatering module assembled and further mounted on a four-wheel chassis or chain mounted type frame that moves over the canal in the direction of flow of water while progressing to clean the irrigation canal. The multistage desilting system operates without damaging the top layer of lining of concrete or brick, thereby increasing the shelf life of irrigation infrastructure.

Description

[0001] MOVABLE IN-WATER DESILTING SYSTEM FOR CLEANING IRRIGATION CANAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to field of cleaning water bodies including irrigation canals. More particularly, the present invention relates to desilting of the irrigation canals in running water without emptying them.

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Agricultural crops need irrigation, there are various method of irrigation. The major method of irrigation is flood irrigation done by providing water through water channels called canal irrigation. These canals are constructed above the NGL (Natural Ground Level) of farms to be irrigated and there are water outlets provided in on both right and left bank of irrigation canal through which water flows by gravitational flow into farms. These Irrigation canals are of 2 types, first is Lined canals and second is Unlined Canal. Lined canal means the water channels including top layer that touches the water made of civil construction material like Bricks, Concrete etc. Unlined Canal means water channel made of compacted earth only. In both cases certain fluid mechanics and civil engineering (lacey's theory) principles need to be maintained for proper working of canal for example maintaining right linear slope throughout the length of canal for maintaining gravitational flow and required velocity of water. There is term called designed section which is an ideal condition of canal at any point derived from mathematic calculations of fluid mechanics and civil engineering principles.

[0005] In Canal irrigation system there is network of large to small canals, where water by gravitational flow flows from (1) Main canal channel to (2) Distributary channel then to (3) Minor. There are Outlets on both right and left side of channels through which water enter into water courses which distributes water into farms are smallest water channels constructed within agricultural lands. Water flows into agricultural lands (the end destination of water) from network of water courses. Amount of water flowing is measured in a unit called Cusecs (Cubic meter per second). It is the amount of water (Volumetric measuring water in cubic meter) flowing at a particular point with a particular velocity. As surface runoff coefficient of only compacted earth made unlined canal is low as compared to lined canals. So, velocity of water in lined canal is more than earthen unlined canals. In Earthen unlined canals there is great amount of water seepage into earth via its bed, which is a process of ground water recharging but in turn lots of water is wasted and not reach to farm for irrigation.

[0006] On the other hand, lined canals have impervious layer of concrete and even Polythene sheet beneath it which increases the velocity of water and maximum utilization of water for flood irrigation with negligible loses through seepage. Lined canal system has more efficiency than a earthen unlined canal system due to which Govts across the world are lining the canals at rapid pace. So, this is the basic Canal irrigation water distribution system which is general same throughout the world where Canal irrigation system cease to exist.

[0007] Now comes the Running and Maintenance of this Canal irrigation system. As the source of water in Canal system is from rivers coming from mountain valleys, so during the yearlong running of water in Canals the water also carries sediments along with it that is called sediment transport, which results in accumulation of sediments like silt and sand etc in canal beds. This Sediment accumulation occupies the volumetric space on bed of canal resulting in reducing water carrying capacity of canal. Reduced water carrying capacity of canal directly reduce the discharge of outlets, which hence result reduction in water availability for crops. So, accumulation of sediment or silt in canal directly effects the capacity & efficiency of irrigation system.

[0008] To overcome it the irrigation regulating departments or Authorities do plan cleaning of canal by closing and emptying them. Desilting of canals done mechanically by manual labor and by excavators or backhoe machines. In case of lined canal, the bucket of hydraulically powered excavator machine could damage the top layer lining of concrete or brick which further result in depreciation of canal so generally desilting by manual labor is preferred but it costly and lengthy process. In case of unlined canals mechanically cleaned or desilted by excavators or backhoe machines could damage the designed section of canal, so a mixed approach or machine and labor is applied. The other adverse part of mechanically cleaning the both lined and unlined canal is that the water in canal have to be stopped for cleaning which effects the irrigation of crops. Further the process of lining an irrigation canal is the major expensive investment of government in building irrigation infrastructure which supports the agriculture economy of the country. Great deal of expenditure is being done by respective government for lining of canals. So, cleaning or desilting of lined canals kind of activity which crucially required but inevitable damaging the costly built infrastructure or it has to be done by manual labor which is costly and lengthy affair as canal closure period is limited.

[0009] The present process requires emptying of canal by stopping water flowing into it from Headworks. Its takes 1-3 days for fully emptying the canal depending upon capacity of canal. Emptying the canal for maintenance is called closure of canal. There will be no irrigation of farm during Closure period of canal. The present process of cleaning of canal involves high numbered manual labor which is costly and lengthy affair as canal closure period is limited. Or using of a mechanical excavator machine of which bucket used to clean lined surface area of canal bed across the cross-section. The excavator stands on the either bank of canal and moves progressively along the canal. In case of machine either the cleaning is inefficient as machine operator will try to not to touch the lining to protect it but then somewhat quantity of silt will remain unremoved on bed. Or the operator does inversely which result in damaging the lining in pursual for max desilting as the hydraulically powered excavators possess massive force in its bucket. In case of unlined earthen canal using excavator, machine may do over cutting of bed in process of desilting. Over cutting damages correct with existing designed section comprising right hydraulic characteristics of canal which is most undesirable thing happen to gravitational flow canal.

[0010] So, precision skill of excavator is required to remove silt from lined bed of canal without damage the bed itself. As a little out of precision movement of bucket will damage or break the bed lining (made of concrete or brick) or do over cutting in case of unlined earthen canal. Water running in canal for irrigation always contains silt or sediments because the water comes from valleys of mountains through earthen rivers. Silting up of bed canal bed is natural phenomena so as its cleaning process that means routine cleaning of canals will result in gradual damaging of lining of canal which in turn result in routine repair of lining also and decrease in shelf life of lining of canal. It is a fact that lining of canal increases the efficiency of canal irrigation system but it is also a costly affair.

[0011] So, if the process of cleaning of canal is non damaging to the lining and designed suction hence the shelf life of lining of canal will increase drastically, which will be a very cost-effective affair for the Government or owner of canal. This invention overcomes above two drawbacks of present process of canal desilting as this invention don't requires emptying of canal that will work in running water of canal and cleaning of silt from bed in this invention is done by dredging or suction of silt or sediments from bed of lined bed of canal. The invented machine's part requires minimal & non forced physical contact with lining of canal, which will not damage the lining of canal. Hence longer shelf-life canal of achieved.

[0012] It is apparent now that numerous methods and systems are developed in the prior art that are adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these inventions may be suitable for the specific purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. Thus, there is a need to provide an efficient and mobile desilting system for cleaning the irrigation canals without damaging the top layer of lining of concrete or brick, without disturbing designed section of unlined canal by doing over cutting or undercutting and without stopping the water in canals, thereby increasing the shelf life of irrigation infrastructure.

[0013] OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0014] The objectives of the device are briefly described as follows:

[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a portable desilting machine for cleaning the lined canals without stopping the water in canals.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and mobile desilting machine for cleaning the lined canals without damaging the top layer of lining of concrete or brick, thereby increasing the shelf life of irrigation infrastructure. Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and mobile desilting machine for cleaning the unlined canals without disturbing its designed section (hydraulic characteristics) by either doing under cutting or over cutting of bed deposited silt or sediment.

[0017] An object of the present invention is to provides a desilting system for faster and efficient 30 desilting of the lined irrigation canals as well as unlined irrigation canals

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a multistage desilting machine that includes a sludge collector and a linear dewatering screen assembled and further mounted on a four-wheel chassis type frame that moves over the irrigation canal in the direction of flow of water while progressing the cleaning of the irrigation canal.

[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a desilting machine with longer shelf life that requires minimal and non-forced physical contact with lining of the irrigation canal.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective desilting machine that significantly cleans the canal bed faster, requires less fuel and less maintenance cost as compared excavator dredging process.

[0021] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art are substantially avoided by providing a multistage in-water desilting system for cleaning an irrigation canal. The multistage in-water desilting system includes a sludge collector unit for collecting sludge from the irrigation canal. The sludge collector unit includes a suction head for suctioning a desilted bed in the irrigation canal. Further, the suction head includes a couple of agitators for mixing sediments of the desilted bed with the water to form a homogenous mixture. Each of the one or more agitators includes a number of blades for extracting homogenous mixture from the desilted bed. Further, the suction head includes a centrifugal suction slurry pump positioned in between the couple of agitators for pumping out the homogenous mixture. Further, the sludge collector unit includes a sensing unit mounted at bottom of the suction head for sensing depth of the desilted bed and direction of flow of water in the irrigation canal. Further, the multistage in-water desilting system includes a control unit for controlling of the desilting system based on the reading of the sensing unit. Further, the multistage in-water desilting system includes an onboard linear dewatering unit which receives homogenous mixture from the suction head.

[0023] Further, the linear dewatering unit includes a vibrating sieving screen that includes one or more vibrating sieves stacked to each other. Further, each of the one or more vibrating sieves is of different sizes to filter out sediments from the homogenous mixture separates silt or sediment free canal water. Further, the linear dewatering unit includes a collection chamber positioned belowthe vibrating sieving screen, wherein the collection chamber collects the clean canal water and further transferring the clean canal water back to the irrigation canal via a pipe.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit includes one or more sonar sensors for monitoring the progress of desilting by sensing level of the silted and desilted bed. Further, the one or more sonar sensors includes sonar sensors positioned at upstream side and downstream side of suction head with respect to direction of flow of water to measure depth of the bed before and after desilting in real-time. The depth of the desilted bed is computed continuously by measuring difference in readings of the downstream sonar sensor and the upstream sonar sensor.

[0025] Further, the sensing unit includes a turbidity sensor positioned between the slurry pump and one or more agitators at vertical level same as of bottom of slurry pump for measuring the turbidity levels in real time of homogenous mixture of water and silt or sediment created by agitatorsfsoft agitators in case of lined canal and normal agitator in case of unlined canal). The high levels of turbidity mean there is silt or sediment present on bed of canal, similarly low levels of turbidity mean there is no silts or sediments present on bed of canal. This turbidity sensor is connected with slurry pump operation in real time. At certain fixed low levels of turbidity, the slurry pump will turn off as there is no silts or sediments present on bed of canal, to avoid unnecessary suction of only water which subsequently going to linear dewatering unit. And turning it on at certain fixed high levels of turbidity. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit includes a guiding unit for guiding movement of the suction head, so that the suction head have minimal and non-forced physical contact with bed of the irrigation canal. Thus, the suction head does not damage the lining of canal and do not disturb the designed section of the irrigation canal. The guiding unit includes a vertical laser guiding module and a horizontal laser guiding module for controlling movement of the suction head within the irrigation canal.

[0026] The vertical laser guiding module includes a laser transmitter fixed at tripod on bank of the irrigation canal for sending signals with respect to level of the bank of the irrigation canal. The vertical laser guiding module includes a laser receiver mounted on the desilting system to receive signals from the laser transmitter. Further, the vertical laser guiding module includes a control box mounted on the machine calculate the level difference between transmitter and receiver. Further, the vertical laser guiding module includes a hydraulic actuator connected to the control box. The hydraulic actuator regulates the suction head height distance from lined bed & designed bed level (in case of unlined canal) the control box is pre-fed with data of lower height limit. The control box mounted on top of the control unit is fed with existing designed section data of the irrigation canal and receives signals from the laser receiver, the downstream sonar sensor, the upstream sensor, the turbidity sensor, further wherein the control box processes the signals to generate processed signals with respect to level of the desilted bed in the irrigation canal. The control box processes and send signals to the actuator accordingly in real time so that a healthy distance is maintained between designed bed level and suction head to prevent any damage to the both. As the machine progresses in the direction water flow the control box for controls the operations of the suction head for extracting the homogenous mixture in real time.

[0027] As the irrigation canal turns and curves through its length, so to monitor and limit the movement of suction head to left and right canal bed edges, further there is horizontal guiding system that monitors horizontal movement of the suction head when the desilting machine mounted on a vehicle. The horizonal guiding system includes camera and screen monitor for live viewing of canal from its horizontal center, so that the operator can steer the vehicle left and right at turns and curves of canal. In one embodiment of the present invention, the linear dewatering system includes one or more vibrating sieves positioned on a plurality of the springs and further the one or more vibrating sieves are continuously vibrated at a high frequency by a high RPM motor rotating unbalanced weights mounted on a shaft of the high RPM motor.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the homogenous mixture includes a plurality of particles of different sizes, further wherein the plurality of particles of different sizes moves linearly in horizontal direction at the end of the one or more vibrating sieves vibrating at high frequency for transferring the plurality of particles to a bank of the irrigation canal. The plurality of the particles includes a sediment, heavy particles, sand, silt, small rock particles and mixture of the same.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, the collected clean canal water is transferred to the irrigation canal through a chute with a round opening. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is an onboard drive power unit for controlling operations of the desilting system

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the one or more agitators includes a body; a plurality of silicon rubber blades at bottom; and a motor at top of the body for mixing the sediments with the water to form the homogenous mixture. The plurality of blades is made up of either silicon, rubber and alike materials as it will be softer that lined bed, so even during operation the soft agitator touches the bed it won't damage it.

[0031] Other objectives and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way for example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0032] One should appreciate that although the present disclosure has been explained with respect to a defined set of functional modules, any other module or set of modules can be added or deleted or modified or combined and any such changes in architecture of the proposed system are completely within the scope of the present disclosure. Each module can also be fragmented into one or more functional sub-modules, all of which also completely within the scope of the present disclosure. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in which like numerals represent like components.

[0033] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES- It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0034] FIG. 1(A) illustrates a cross-sectional view of an unlined irrigation canal in accordance with the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 1(B) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a trapezoidal shaped lined irrigation canal in accordance with the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 1(C) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cup-shaped lined irrigation canal in accordance with the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 2(A) illustrates a perspective view of a multistage in-water desilting vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 2(B) illustrates a cross-sectional view of the multistage in-water desilting vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 2(C) illustrates a side-view of the multistage in-water desilting vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 3(A) illustrates a perspective view of a suction head for suctioning a desilted bed of an irrigation canal in accordance with the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 3(B) illustrates a top view of the suction head in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3(C) illustrates a front view of an agitator of the suction head in accordance with the present invention; FIG.3(D) illustrates a top view of the agitator of the suction head in accordance with the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a control unit for guiding and controlling operations of the multistage in-water desilting vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a linear dewatering unit in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart showing components and function of the components of the multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with the present invention.

[0044] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The present invention provides an efficient, portable desilting system for cleaning an irrigation canal without stopping the water in the irrigation canals and without damaging the top layer of lining of concrete or brick, thereby increasing the shelf life of irrigation infrastructure. The desilting system with longer shelf life that don't requires physical contact with lining of the canal. Aprecise, efficient and cost-effective desilting system of canal that comprises overcoming the inevitable requirement of emptying the it before desilting, it in a novel way.

[0046] An irrigation canal are water channels that provides water for irrigation. These canals are constructed above the Natural Ground Level (NGL) of farmlands to be irrigated. The whole irrigation system of the irrigation canals works like blood veins of human body, in which blood from heart is distributed first in large veins into network of small veins. Water from hill valleys is stopped by making a manmade lake, through which a main Canal is off-takes and further a comparative small water channel called distributary off-takes from main canal and a minor off takes from distributary. There are water outlets provided in on both right and left bank of all type's irrigation canals through which water flows by gravitational flow into water courses constructed within farmlands for flood irrigation. Amount of water flowing is measured in Cusecs (Cubic meter per second). It is the amount of water (Volumetric measuring water in cubic meter) flowing at a particular point with a particular velocity. On the basis of material used in construction of canals, the irrigation canals are categorized as unlined irrigation canals and lined irrigation canals. FIG. 1(A) illustrates a cross-sectional view of an unlined irrigation canal (100A). The unlined irrigation canal (100A). Unlined irrigation Canal (100A) means water channel made of compacted earth only. As surface runoff coefficient of only compacted earth made the unlined irrigation canal (100A) is low as compared to lined canals. In Earthen unlined canals there is great amount of water seepage into earth via its bed, which is a process of ground water recharging but in turn lots of water is wasted and not reach to farm for irrigation. The unlined canals mechanically cleaned or desilted by excavators or backhoe machines has no adverse effect on canal that possess a lot of drawbacks.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 1(A), the unlined irrigation canal includes dowel (104) on a left bank (106) and further the unlined irrigation canal includes a right bank (108). The crops (102) are grown on sides of both the left bank (106) and the right bank (108). A layer of deposited slit (110) reduces the layer of water (112) of the irrigation canal that requires cleaning of the deposited slit (110) for using the depth of the unlined irrigation canal only for the water.

[0048] FIG. 1(B) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a trapezoidal shaped lined irrigation canal (100B) in accordance with the present invention. Lined irrigation canal (100B) means the water channels which have top layer (114) which touches the water made of civil construction material like Bricks, Concrete etc. The lined canals have impervious layer of concrete and even Polythene sheet (114) beneath it which increases the velocity of water and maximum utilization of water for flood irrigation with negligible wastage through seepage. Lined canal system (100B) has more efficiency than an earthen unlined canal system due to which Govts across the world are lining the canals at rapid pace. The FIG. 1(B) focusses on the trapezium shaped lined irrigation canals and the water level is reduced due to formation of a desilted bed (110) at bottom of the irrigation canals that reduces the layer of water (112) of the irrigation canal that requires cleaning of the deposited slit (110) for using the depth of the unlined irrigation canal only for the water.

[0049] FIG. 1(C) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cup-shaped lined irrigation canal (100C) in accordance with the present invention. Further the path for movement of a desilting machine or excavator is very narrow. However, the desilting machine disclosed is efficient enough to proper cleaning or desilting of the irrigation canals of any shape, type including unlined irrigation canals, trapezoidal shaped irrigation canals and a cup-shaped irrigation canal.

[0050] There is term called designed section of canal, applicable to both lined and unlined canals. This comprises a designed geometrical section with dimensions which are calculated arithmetically on certain principles of Fluid mechanics science and civil engineering. The designed This Geometry includes Full Supply Depth (FSD), Bed width (in case of trapezoidal section), Cup Radius (in case of cup shape), Side Slope, Free Board, Linear slope. For maintaining right velocity and amount of water to have efficient irrigation system the designed section has to be maintained throughout length of whole canal.

[0051] The source canal water is hilly valleys, which carries silt, small sediments along with it this natural phenomenon is called sediment transport. These sediments transported up to smallest canal (minor). So, this sediment deposition in canals disturbs it designed section which effects its functionality and efficiency, so to restore the canal to its original designed section regular cleaning or desilting is carried out.

[0052] FIG. 2(A) illustrates a top view of a multistage in-water desilting system (200) in accordance with the present invention. The multistage in-water desilting system (200) is mounted on a vehicle (202).The vehicle (202) includes a frame (204) that is a four-wheel or chain mounted chassis type frame that moves over the irrigation canal in the direction of flow of water while progressing the cleaning of the irrigation canal. The four-wheel chassis (202) includes two tyres (206A, 206B) and two tyres (206C, 206D) of the irrigation canal on a motorable bank in the direction of flow of water while progressing the cleaning or desilting of the irrigation canal.

[0053] The multistage desilting system (200) includes a sludge collector unit (208), a control unit (210) anda linear dewatering unit (212) works as multistage processes aligned in series to extract silt from bed of the canal and place it on the bank of the canal after dewatering. The sludge collector unit (208), the control unit (210) andthe linear dewatering unit (212)mounted on the frame (202) and the wheels of machine will be done electric motors powered by a compatible size of generator mounted on-board the machine. The capacity and size of machine is directly proportionate to the size of canal and its cleaning and the quantity silt needs to extracted or desilted. Bigger the canal bigger bed of it, smaller the canal smaller the bed of it. Generally, quantity of silt deposition is more in bigger canals. In one embodiment of the present invention, variable sizes of desilting machine can be manufactured by setting slabs of its capacity. The capacity of the desilting machine that is defined in volume of silt desilted in a particular unit of time for example 15 CFT / Minute.

[0054] Higher the capacity of machine has a higher horse power (HP) of slurry pump, bigger size of dewatering screen or linear dewatering unit. In case of very bigger capacity required slurry cam be replaced with high-capacity centrifugal suction pump used in dredging or screw centrifugal pump. The speed of the desilting machine depends upon the size of irrigation canal that is to be cleaned. The capacity of two major components i.e., Suction, Dewatering screen that is proportionately mounted according to the size of canal being cleaned.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the speed of machine moving progressively in the direction of flow of water must be less than the velocity of water in the canal. This is because the speed of sediment transport in water channel is directly proportionate to the velocity of water it carries, so if the speed of machine exceeds the velocity water, then it may miss some sediments / silt / sand deposited on the bed.

[0056] The suction head (208) includes a slurry pump (214)includes a couple of soft agitatorsfin case of lined canal) conventional agitatorsfin case of unlined canal) for mixing sediments of to be desilted bed with the water to form a homogenous mixture. Each of the one or more agitators includes a plurality of blades create turbulence for dissolution of consolidated deposit of silt over the bed of lined bed of canal to make a homogenous mixture of water and silt particles at cross-section area at the bottom of water and at the top of deposit of silt. Further, the suction head (214) includes a slurry pump positioned in between of the one or more agitators for pumping out the homogenous mixture. Further, the suction head includes a sensing unit (216) mounted at bottom of the suction head for sensing quantity of silts or sediment in terms of depth of to be desilted bed and direction of flow of water in the irrigation canal. The sensing unit (216) includes one or more sonar sensors for sensing level of the desilted bed. Further, the one or more sonar sensors (234) includes a downstream sonar sensor positioned in direction of flow of water to measure depth of the desilted bed in real-time.

[0057] Further, the one or more sonar sensor includes an upstream sonar sensor positioned on upstream side of the sonar head to measure distance between the downstream sensor and the desilted bed in real-time. A depth of the desilted bed is computed continuously by measuring difference in readings of the downstream sonar sensor and the upstream sonar sensor.

[0058] Further, the multi-stage desilting machine includes a control unit (210) for controlling operations of the suction head (214) based on the reading of the sensing unit (216). In preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (210) is an onboard vehicle power drive unit. The control unit (210) includes a guiding unit for guiding movement of the suction head (214) so that the suction head (214) have minimal and non-forced physical contact with bed of the irrigation canal. Thus, the suction head (214) does not damage the lining of canal and do not disturb the designed section of the irrigation canal. The guiding unit includes a vertical laser guiding module and a horizontal laser guiding module for controlling movement of the suction head within the irrigation canal. This system guides the suction head for vertical movement as per linear slope as per designed section of canal.

[0059] The control box mounted on top of the control unit (210) is fed with existing designed section data of the irrigation data and receives signals from the laser receiver, the downstream sonar sensor (234), the upstream sensor (234), the turbidity sensor (236). The control box processes the signals to generate processed signals with respect to level of the desilted bed in the irrigation canal. If the lined canal is of big capacity that means mouth width dimension is too high to operate tyre mount machine setup, then suction head and whole setup can be mounted on a boat with engine powered propellers or on a bridge crane mounted on tracks on both banks of canal, the movable desilting vehicle will move along the crane in the direction of water flow. Homogenous mixture from suction head to movable desilting vehicle will be transported via a flexible HDPE pipe.

[0060] In case of boat, it comprises an onboard conveyor system with one end lower than linear dewatering system and other end higher than banks of canal. This conveyor system carries dewatered silt / sediment from onboard dewatering screen and make it fall over the bank of canal. As the velocity of water will take the boat along with it, so to maintain speed of desilting machine is less than velocity of water the boat propellers that work in the direction of water flow to limit the speed of boat in water of canal figure. The whole cleaning, desilting process in this present invention, do not disturbany parameter of designed section of the irrigation canal.

[0061] FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the multistage in-water desilting vehicle (200) in accordance with the present invention. The vertical guiding module includes a laser transmitter (218) fixed on tripod on bank of the irrigation canal and a laser receiver (220) mounted on the control unit. Further, the vertical laser guiding module includes a control box (222) mounted on top of the control unit for receiving signals from the laser receiver (220). Further, the control box (222) processes signals to generate processed signals with respect to level of the desilted bed in the irrigation canal. Further, the vertical laser guiding module includes a hydraulic actuator (224) connected to the control box for controlling operations of the suction head (214) for extracting the homogenous mixture.

[0062] The cross-sectional view focusses on a hydraulic actuator (224) for controlling movement of the suction head (214) in both vertical and horizontal directions based on the guidance provided by the guiding unit. The hydraulic actuator (224) includes a boom and arm or dipper along with counter weight (226). The suction head (214) mounted on at end of the arm. In this desilting system, the boom and arm mechanism don't have much vertical movement but has horizontal movement left to right & right sweeping pattern movement over the bed of the irrigation canal to be desilted. Boom and arm (dipper) setup are chosen for this machine because as the desilting machine moves along the irrigation canal over its either left or right bank.

[0063] In this desilting machine, the boom and arm mechanism don't have much vertical movement but has horizontal movement left to right & right sweeping pattern movement over the bed of the irrigation canal to be desilted. Boom and arm (dipper) setup are chosen for this machine because as the desilting machine moves along the irrigation canal over its either left or right bank. The desilting machine includes a water return chute (228) through a round opening (230)to return the cleaned water back to the irrigation canal from the collection chamber positioned below a linear dewatering unit. The clean wateris sent back to the irrigation canal. Further, slits or sediments (234) deposited on bank of the irrigation canal.

[0064] FIG. 2C illustrates a side-view of the multistage in-water desilting vehicle (200) in accordance with the present invention. The suction head (214) is connected to a hydraulic actuator (224) for controlling movement of the suction head (214) in both vertical and horizontal directions based on the guidance provided by the guiding unit. As the desilting machine moves in direction of flow of water. The laser transmitter (218) at bank of the irrigation canal sends signals to a laser receiver (220) mounted onboard vehicle power or drive unit (210) with respect to the depth of slits.

[0065] Further, a laser driven hydraulic actuator (224) controls movement of the suction head (214) in vertical direction in realtime for suctioning the homogenous mixture. The laser driven actuator (224) works based on the level of the desilted bed. Further, the homogenous mixture is transferred to the linear dewatering unit (212) for separating sediments from the homogenous mixture to produce clean water from the water return chute (228) to the irrigation canals. Further, a plurality of dewatered slits or slits are released at bank of the irrigation canals. FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a suction head (214) for suctioning a desilted bed of an irrigation canal. The suction head (214) includes a couple of agitators (302) for mixing sediments of the desilted bed with the water to form a homogenous mixture. Each of the one or more agitators includes a plurality of blades (silicone rubber blades in case of lined canal and conventional blades for unlined canal) for extracting homogenous mixture from the desilted bed. The agitators create turbulence for dissolution of consolidated deposit of silt over the bed of lined bed of canal to make homogenous mixture of water and silt particles at cross-section area at the bottom of water and at the top of deposit of silt.

[0066] Further, the suction head (214) includes a slurry pump (308) positioned downstreamin between of the one or more agitators (302)to pump out the homogenous mixtureof water and silts or sediment particles created by the one or more the soft agitators (302) at cross-section area at the bottom of water and at the top of deposit of silt. If the layer of deposited silt is consolidated & thick then the soft agitators first dissolve the silt particles into water, then the slurry pump, in preferred embodiment, the centrifugal pump sucks the water along with silt particles. The slurry pump is a special kind of pump, its whole body is submerged in water. The slurry pump is designed for suction of mixture of water and hard particles like sand, silt, soil. The particle size varies with pump capacity. This mixture could be of 70:30 to 50:50 ratio of water:hard particles.

[0067] The slurry sewage pump (308) is specially designed for suction of water containing water mixed abrasive material particles like sand, mud, sewage, coal ash etc. In case of centrifugal dredging pump only its centrifugal pump will be used not dredge head as dredge head damages the lining of canal. After suction of water mixed silt either via Slurry Sewage pump or centrifugal pump the homogenous mixture is sent to the linear dewatering unit (212) for separating the sediments from the homogenous mixture. The Suction Head is attached to boom which moves left to right and right to left over bed of canal. The repeating left right movement length can customize as per width of bed of canal to be cleaned. FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of the suction head (214) in accordance with the present invention. In preferred embodiment of the present invention, the suction head (214) includes two agitators (302) for mixing sediments of the desilted bed with the water to form a homogenous mixture. Each of the one or more agitators (302) includes a plurality of blades (306) for extracting homogenous mixture from the desilted bed. The suction head (214) includes one or more sonar sensor (234) as illustrated in FIG. 2Cworks by emitting waves in water, waves return back after touching the solid bed surface of water body.

[0068] Sonar equipment calculate the distance of return by measuring time taken by waves to return back. The progress and the quantity of desilting done and monitored by installing two sonar sensors (234) on the desilting machine. The difference reading of the first sensor and the second sensor is the depth silt that has been desilted. Further, the sensing unit includes a turbidity sensor (236) positioned below the slurry pump and in between the one or more agitators at bottom side that measures level and sizes of particles in the homogenous mixture along with the downstream sonar sensor.

[0069] FIG. 3C illustrates a front view of an agitator (302) of the suction head (214) in accordance with the present invention. The agitator (302) includes a body (304), a plurality of silicon rubber blades (306) at bottom for using it for lined canal, Conventional blades for using it for unlined canal and a motor (308) at top of the body for mixing the sediments with the water to form the homogenous mixture.

[0070] FIG. 3D illustrates a top view of the agitator (302) of the suction head (214) in accordance with the present invention focusses on the shape of silicon rubber blades (306). Further, the silicon rubber blades (306) are spaced apart.

[0071] FIG.4 illustrates an onboard vehicle power drive unit (210) for controllingthe multistage in-water desilting vehicle (200). The onboard vehicle power drive unit (210) controls movement of the suction head (214) within the irrigation canal. Further, the figure focusses on a laser transmitter (218) fixed at tripod on bank of the irrigation canal for sending signals with respect to level of the bank of the irrigation canal and a laser receiver (220) mounted on the desilting system to receive signals from the laser transmitter (218).

[0072] Further, the vertical laser guiding module (222) includes a control box (402) mounted on top of the onboard vehicle power drive unit (210) for receiving signals from the laser receiver. Further, the control box (402) processes signals to generate processed signals with respect to level of the desilted bed in the irrigation canal. The control box (402) mounted on top of the control u n it( 210) is fed with the existing designed section data of the irrigation canal. The control box (402) receives signals from the laser receiver, the downstream sonar sensor, the upstream sensor, the turbidity sensor. The control box processes the signals to generate processed signals with respect to level of the desilted bed in the irrigation canal.

[0073] A hydraulic actuator (224) in communication with the control box for controlling operations of the suction head for extracting the homogenous mixture Further, the hydraulic actuator (224) controls vertical movement of the suction head (214) when the desilting machine mounted on a vehicle. The horizontal guiding module includes a camera (402B) (not shown) on dipper of machine and a screen monitor (404) mounted in front of operator seat so that operator can track and limit left right horizontal movement of suction head up to canal bed only. The screen monitor (404) is a display screen of the control box (402).

[0074] Further, the screen monitor (404) in communication with the camera (402B) and the control box (402)for providing live feed of the irrigation canal and displaying the processed signals on a screen in real time in a graphical form with a timeto an operator for steering the system left and right at turns and curves of the irrigation canal; canal, further wherein the graphical form represents the time on a horizontal axis, a level of the desilted bed, and intensity of the suction head on a vertical axis; and FIG. 5 illustrates a linear dewatering unit (212) in accordance with the present invention. The liner dewatering unit (212) includes a fixed metal sheet (512) for receiving the homogenous mixture through a pipe (502). A vibrating sieving screen (504) is mounted over the fixed metal sheet (512) for separating the silt or sediments from the homogenous mixture to produce the purified water from the homogenous mixture. The vibrating sieving screen (602) includes multiple vibrating sieves of various sizes stacked on each other. The bigger size is on the top and smallest on the bottom.As the suction head pump out homogenous mixture of silt, sediments and water through a suitable via HDPE flexible pipe (502) to an onboard vibrating dewatering screen or vibrating sieving screen (504) that is capable of separating silt and water proportionate to slurry pump pumping out the mixture.

[0075] The dewatering screen (504) consists a filter sieve of small size which is continuously vibrated by high RPM moto rotating unbalanced weights mounted on its shaft. This whole dewatering screen (504) is mounted on springs (510) and fixed pads (508) to support very high frequency vibrations. Very high frequency vibrations filter the water through screen and flows down in a collection chamber (514) placed below the screen (504) and small silt particles moves linearly in horizontal direction toward end of screen where it falls down. The dewatering screen (602) is placed on the frame (606) of the desilting machine in such a direction that the end of vibrating screen is toward bank of the canal, so that the after dewatering small silt particles moving linearly falls down on the bank of canal.A motor (506) with unbalanced weight (524) creates vibrations for separating sediments (520) from the mixture (516).

[0076] Further, the liner dewatering unit(212) comprises a water container or collection chamber (514) at bottom for receiving filtered water.The filtered water from the collection chamber flows back into the canal through a round opening. All the machine components mounted on frame and powering the wheels of machine will be done electric motors powered by a compatible size of generator mounted on-board the machine. FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart (600) showing components and function of the components of the multistage in-water desilting system. At step (602), a layer of slits or sediments is deposited on a bed of the canal showing requirement to clean the irrigation canal. The slits or sediments mixed with water of the canal to form a homogenous mixture. Firstly, a multistage in-water desilting vehicle is deployed on a bank of irrigation canal. At step (604), a suction head of the multistage in-water desilting vehicle suctions out the homogenous mixture from the bed of the irrigation canal. Further, at step (606), the homogenous mixture is transferred to a linear dewatering machine. Further, the vibrations of the liner dewatering machine separate slits from the homogenous mixture to form a heap of dewatered slit or sediments at step (608). Further, clean water separated at step (610) by the liner dewatering machine. Further, at step (612), the heap of dewatered slit or sediments is collected at the bank of the canal. Lastly, at step (614), the clean water is transferred back to the irrigation canal, thus reducing wastage of the water.

[0077] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and / or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0078] Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

[0079] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

We claim1. A multistage in-water desilting system for cleaning an irrigation canal without disturbing designed section of the irrigation canal, wherein the multistage in-water desilting system comprising:a sludge collector unit, wherein the sludge collector unit includes:a suction head for suctioning a desilted bed from the irrigation canal, wherein the suction head includes:a couple of agitators, wherein each agitator includes a number ofblades for extracting homogenous mixture from the desilted bed; anda centrifugal suction slurry pump positioned in betweenthe couple of agitators, wherein the centrifugal suction slurry pump homogenous mixture; anda sensing unitmounted at bottom of the suction head for sensing depth of the desilted bed and direction of flow of water in the irrigation canal, wherein the sensing unit includes:one or more sonar sensors for sensing level of the desilted bed, wherein the one or more sonar sensors includes:a downstream sonar sensor positioned in direction of flow of water to measure depth of the desilted bed in real-time; andan upstream sonar sensor positioned on upstream side of the sonar head to measure distance between the downstream sensor and the desilted bed in real-time, further wherein a depth of the desilted bed is computed continuously by measuring difference in readings of the downstream sonar sensor and the upstream sonar sensor; and a turbidity sensor positioned below the slurry pump and in between the one or more agitators at bottom side, wherein the turbidity sensor measures level and sizes of particles in the homogenous mixture along with the downstream sonar sensor;a control unit for controlling the desilting system based on reading from the sensing unit, wherein the control unit includes a guiding unit for guiding movement of the suction head, wherein the guiding unit includes:a vertical laser guiding module, wherein the vertical laser guiding module includes:a laser transmitter fixed at tripod on bank of the irrigation canal;a laser receiver mounted on top of the control unit to receive signals from the laser transmitter;a control box mounted on top of the control unit, wherein the control unit is fed with an existing designed section data of the irrigation canal and receives signals from the laser receiver, the downstream sonar sensor, the upstream sensors, the turbidity sensor, further wherein the control box processes the signal to generate processed signals with respect to level of the desilted bed in the irrigation canal;a hydraulic actuator in communication with the control box for controlling movement of the suction head in vertical direction for extracting the homogenous mixture; and a horizontal guiding module, wherein the horizontal guiding module includes:a camera; anda screen monitor in communication with the camera and the control box for providing live feed of the irrigation canal and displaying the processed signals on a screen in real time in a graphical form with a time to an operator for steering the system left and right at turns and curves of the irrigation canal, further wherein the graphical form represents the time on a horizontal axis and a level of the desilted bed along with intensity of the suction head on a vertical axis; anda linear dewatering unit connected to the suction head to receive the homogenous mixture via a conveyor, further wherein the linear dewatering unit operates based on readings provided by the control unit, wherein the linear dewatering unit includes: a fixed non-vibrating sheet for collecting the homogenous mixture;a vibrating sieving screen mounted on the fixed non-vibrating sheet for generating vibrations for filtering out sediments from the homogenous mixture to produce clean canal water, wherein the vibrating sieving screen includes one or more vibrating sieves stacked to each other; anda collection chamber positioned below the vibrating sieving screen, wherein the collection chamber collects the clean canal water and further transferring the clean canal water to the irrigation canal.

2. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the in-water desilting system is mounted either on a frame with wheels or a bridge crane or boat with engine powered propellers.

3. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the screw conveyor is a pipe for receiving the homogenous mixture from the suction head and transferring the homogenous mixture to the linear dewatering unit.

4. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more vibrating sieves are positioned on a plurality of the springs, further wherein the one or more vibrating sieves are continuously vibrated at a high frequency by one or more high RPM motorfor creating high speed vibrations.

5. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe homogenous mixture includes a plurality of particles of different sizes.

6. The multistage in-water desilting machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of the particles includes a sediment, heavy particles, sand, rock particles and mixture of the same.

7. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein collected clean canal water is transferred back to the irrigation canal through a chute with a round opening.

8. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is an onboard drive power unit for controlling operations of the desilting system.

9. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades is made either silicon, rubber and alike materials.

10. The multistage in-water desilting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the each of the couple of agitator includes:a body;a plurality of silicon rubber bladesmounted at bottom of the body for creating turbulence for dissolving deposits over the desilted bed to form a homogenous mixture; anda motor mounted at top of the body for pumping out the homogenous mixture.

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