Patent ID: 6584709
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: E02B,E02F,Y02A

Abstract:
An inexpensive compact system of simplified construction and operation for maintaining the operational readiness of a body of water by removing a pre-specified amount of material while minimizing impact on the characteristics of the water in said body of water, said system capable of operation and maintenance by existing operations crews, comprising:open structure, having a long dimension along which said structure is symmetric, a width perpendicular to said long dimension and a depth shorter than said width, incorporating scoops affixed to said structure so as to extend from each end of said long dimension to near the center of said structure, said scoops having a bottom inclined upwards towards said center of said structure and a central pump chamber affixed to said frame approximately central to said long dimension and said width and in operable communication with each said scoop, wherein each said scoop first captures said material and transfers said material to said central pump chamber by the action of being pulled across said material;at least one pump in operable communication with said central pump chamber; at least one hose in operable communication with said at least one pump and a remote repository; at least one float affixed to said open structure via at least one float connector; at least one connection for affixing to a cable for pulling said structure; at least one winch, each said at least one winch located at opposing ends of said body of water, said at least one winch incorporating said cable in operable communication with said structure for pulling said structure in a direction parallel to said long dimension; and ground-anchored cables, at least one each of said ground-anchored cables located at each of two opposing ends of said body of water, and with which said at least one winch is in operable communication, said ground-anchored cable facilitating anchoring and positioning said at least one winches along said opposing ends of said body of water, wherein said system is used to remove said pre-specified amount of material from the bottom of said body of water by dragging said open structure along said bottom at a pre-specified velocity that directs said material into one said scoop for further transfer to said central pump chamber while operating said pump to direct said material from said central pump chamber to said remote repository via said hose, and wherein said system may be operated in a reverse direction without having to turn said open structure due to said symmetry along said long dimension.