Floating litter trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing large water cleaning systems for removing floating litter are expensive, making them impractical for deployment in small upstream water channels, leaving these areas without effective debris collection solutions.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, portable, and inexpensive floating litter collection system using a porous container with water-permeable materials, buoyant devices, mooring lines, and floating booms to collect debris from small water streams, allowing for easy deployment in multiple locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large water cleaning systems are implemented, then debris collection effectiveness is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water cleaning function into multiple simple, modular floating litter traps that can be deployed independently throughout a watershed. Each trap is a self-contained unit with a porous container, buoyant devices, and mooring lines, eliminating the need for single large complex systems while maintaining effective debris collection across multiple locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive, simple materials such as porous containers made from mesh or screen material, basic buoyant devices like floats or sealed chambers, and standard mooring lines. These components are easily replaceable and can be manufactured at low cost, allowing widespread deployment without significant financial investment.
2Productivity
If large water cleaning systems are deployed, then debris collection capability is improved, but portability and ease of deployment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cleaning function into multiple small, identical units, each trap becomes portable and easy to deploy individually. The modular design allows these units to be transported and installed in small upstream channels without requiring heavy equipment or complex installation procedures, unlike large centralized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating litter traps are designed to be dynamic and adaptable rather than fixed and rigid. The buoyant devices allow the containers to float and self-adjust to water levels, while the mooring lines provide flexible anchoring that accommodates natural water flow and movement, simplifying deployment in various locations.
3Productivity
If multiple collection systems are deployed throughout a watershed, then coverage and effectiveness are improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The watershed is divided into multiple deployment locations, with simple floating litter traps placed at strategic upstream points. This segmentation allows coverage of the entire watershed through numerous low-cost units rather than one expensive system, enabling comprehensive debris collection while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Each floating litter trap is constructed from inexpensive materials including porous containers made from mesh or screen, basic buoyant devices, and standard mooring lines. The low cost of individual units makes it economically feasible to deploy many traps throughout a watershed, achieving broad coverage without prohibitive total system cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective collection of floating debris in small water streams, addressing the limitations of expensive and limited large-scale systems by providing a scalable and maintainable solution for watershed cleanup.
Implementation Method 1
a first buoyant device secured to the first side of the container and a second buoyant device secured to the second side of the container, wherein the buoyant devices are operable to maintain the container at the surface of the water stream
Implementation Method 2
The rear end, top, bottom, first side, and opposing second side of the container are made of a water permeable material, such as a rigid wire mesh coated with plastic, to allow water flow therethrough
Implementation Method 3
a first floating boom secured to the first mooring line and a second floating boom secured to the second mooring line, wherein the floating booms are operable to direct debris floating on the surface of the water into the container
Implementation Method 4
The system may include a fin attached to the bottom of the container to orient the front end of the container in an upstream direction as water flows past the fin
Data Source
AI summary
A floating litter collection system for collecting floating debris from the surface of water flowing in a water stream, comprising a wire mesh container having an open front end, a first buoyant device secured to a first side of the container, a second buoyant device secured to the second side of the container, and a pair of mooring lines for anchoring the container to the water banks of the water stream. The system may include a pair of floating booms secured to the mooring lines to direct debris floating on the surface of the water into the container. The system may include a fin attached to the bottom of the container to orient the front end of the container in an upstream direction. The system may include a floating anchor to orient the front end of the container in an upstream direction.