Patent ID: 7875123
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: B08B,E02B,E02F

Abstract:
1. A method for removing accumulated silt from the floor of a water percolation basin, utilizing a remotely controllable underwater terrain vehicle (UTV), wherein said UTV carries a silt cutting and/or lifting mechanism, and wherein said UTV carries an eductor driven water vacuum head, comprising the steps: moving said UTV along said basin floor, mechanically cutting and/or lifting accumulated silt from said basin floor to form silt fragments, without fluidizing or hydraulically agitating the basin floor, as said UTV moves along said basin floor, vacuuming and entraining said silt fragments in a water flowstream with said eductor driven water vacuum head carried by said UTV, without having to separate larger size particles from said entrained silt fragments and returning those larger size particles to said basin floor, moving said entrained fragments directly to a location outside said basin, continuously sensing the location of said UTV as it moves along said basin floor, and continuously guiding said UTV along said basin floor in a pattern of motion to efficiently remove said accumulated silt from all or a portion of said basin floor.