Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Buoy
Patent
1998-05-29
2000-06-13
Swinehart, Ed
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Buoy
B63B 2200
Patent
active
060742593
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to refuse collection offshore and particularly to a device for collecting refuse from moored ships, the type of which comprises a partially submerged float topped by a refuse collection container.
PRIOR ART
Getting rid of refuse is a real problem for ships staying in a harbour, in a bay or, generally speaking, for ships at anchor close to the shore. Sailors must use a tender craft to go ashore and get rid off their refuse into special containers.
Some refuse collection devices have already been thought of, such as the one set forth in the patent FR-A-2,638,436. Such a device is made up of a truncated buoy open on top for refuse to be thrown in, and comprises two handles for towing the buoy. Unfortunately, this kind of device is not stable enough and, due to the list caused by the wind in case of bad weather, may be partially filled with water. Furthermore, this device must be towed and hauled ashore for tipping refuse out when full.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This is why the object of the invention is to provide a refuse collection device for moored ships, such device being stable even when weather is bad and to enable refuse removal with no need to move the collection device.
The collection device according to the invention is therefore composed of a float for providing stability, topped by a collection container comprising an opening on top for refuse to be thrown- in, and at least one compartment provided with an open bag for receiving refuse and having a hatch door in its lateral wall for removing the bag filled with refuse from a craft.
According to a preferred embodiment, the collection container is round and comprises an inner rotor with radial walls dividing the container into a plurality of compartments, each containing a bag for receiving refuse thrown into the open top of the container. The bags filled with refuse are removed from a craft, after opening of the hatch door and rotation of the rotor for giving sequential access to each compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects, features and other characteristics of the invention will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows the refuse collection device according to the invention anchored at sea by means of a mooring buoy.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the collection device according to the invention, and
FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the collection device that shows the inner rotor and the compartments formed by its walls.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The collection device according to the invention herein referred to as "sea garbage can" is a float shown on FIG. 1. This sea garbage can is made up of a partially submerged float 10 topped by a refuse collection container 12. The container 12 is open on top so that refuse from surrounding ships can be thrown into it. The device is provided with a central mast topped by a light 14 for signalling garbage can at night. The light is powered by a battery charged during the day by means of photovoltaic cells located at the lower part of the light (not shown on the figure).
The sea garbage can is anchored off-shore by means of a chain 16 hooked to a mooring buoy 18, the weight of which is determined from the assessment of the forces induced by the wind, sea streams and swell's action. For example, the weight of the mooring buoy may be 1000 kg. The chain 16, the length of which is about two times the water depth, is fixed to the garbage can by means of a central fastening device (not shown) located under the float 10 to facilitate ships' approaches. Furthermore, it is better to place a ballast 20 having a weight of about 100 kg on the chain with the aim, on the one hand, of keeping the chain vertically under the garbage can and, on the other hand, to ensure garbage can stability. Moreover, the ballast 20 helps prevent jolts that might occur on the fastening device of chain 20 to float 10 when the wind or the swell is strong.
The se
REFERENCES:
patent: 1700153 (1929-01-01), Bradley
patent: 3602925 (1971-09-01), Thompson
patent: 5388717 (1995-02-01), LeVasseur
patent: 5476187 (1995-12-01), Marisco
Colombani Gerard
Lastrajoli Frederic
Lucchesi Charles
Petit Emmanuel
Lydon James C.
SCP Embiu
Swinehart Ed
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