Harvesters – Marine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-22
2001-02-20
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Harvesters
Marine
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189303
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to equipment for shredding, harvesting, destroying or otherwise processing aquatic vegetation. More specifically, the present invention concerns an improved aquatic vegetation shredder that is more effective in destroying troublesome vegetation and versatile than most conventional devices.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Aquatic vegetation can be devastating to both marine operations and the aquatic ecosystem. Unfortunately, most conventional expedients are ineffective in destroying or otherwise controlling such vegetation. These problems have previously been identified in our co-pending application for U.S. patent Ser. No. 08/993,072, filed Dec. 18, 1997, entitled APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING AQUATIC VEGETATION, assigned of record to the assignee ofthe present invention and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,920.
Our prior invention addresses these problems by providing, among other things, a design that is particularly successful in delivering vegetation to the shredding assembly. Accordingly, the vegetation is not simply pushed by the vessel as it moves through the body of water, nor does the vegetation pass around or under the vessel without being shredded. Our prior inventive design is also particularly useful in destroying aquatic vegetation without requiring removal ofthe vegetation from the body of water. That is to say, with our prior invention, the shredded vegetation is left in the body of water, with a minimum risk of regrowth. We have now determined that, in some instances, it would also be beneficial to have an aquatic vegetation shredder that is designed for shallow water, as well as deep water. It is also highly desirable to provide an aquatic vegetation shredder with means for shredding vegetation both generally at the water surface and well below the water surface to ensure that virtually all, or at least most, of the plant is shredded.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Responsive to these and other problems, an important object of the present invention is to eliminate the troubles presented by aquatic vegetation, as noted in our prior application. Particularly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a machine for destroying a dense, entangled mass of aquatic vegetation so as to improve marine navigation and reduce the risk of damage to the aquatic ecosystem. It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a machine for destroying aquatic vegetation that does not require the use of chemical or biological agents. Another important object of the present invention is to provide a machine that is particularly effective in presenting the vegetation to the shredder assembly and in destroying the vegetation without requiring removal of the vegetation from the water. In particular, it is an important object of the present invention to provide such a machine that is also designed for shallow water, as well as deep water. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an aquatic vegetation shredder with means for shredding vegetation both at the water surface and well below the surface.
In accordance with these and other objects evident from the following description of the preferred embodiment, the present invention concerns an aquatic vegetation shredder including a double hull watercraft, with a space being defined between the hulls. An aquatic vegetation shredding assembly is mounted to the watercraft adjacent the bow end, and a pair of propellers are rotatably mounted to the watercraft adjacent the stern end. More importantly, the propellers are configured to propel the watercraft through the water and draw water through the space defined between the hulls. Such a design causes the vegetation to be drawn toward the vegetation shredding assembly, while preventing the shredded vegetation from accumulating at the assembly; thereby eliminating the need for feeding devices for feeding the vegetation to the shredding assembly and discharge chutes for discharging the shredded vegetation away from the assembly. In addition, the propellers are operable to shred vegetation, thereby ensuring destruction of vegetation below the water surface and further commination of vegetation received from the shredding assembly. These features cooperatively provide a low displacement vessel that is particularly effective in shallow, as well as deep, water environments.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2739435 (1956-03-01), Wiser
patent: 3130531 (1964-04-01), Wholeslagle
patent: 3477213 (1969-11-01), Just et al.
patent: 3499271 (1970-03-01), Drigert et al.
patent: 5330639 (1994-07-01), Murphree
patent: 5542240 (1996-08-01), Snider et al.
patent: 5603204 (1997-02-01), HarveyRioux et al.
Harvey Gerald S.
Knapp Kenneth F.
Penny David M.
Basinger Sherman
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
The Master's Dredging Company, Inc.
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