Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a barge having an aeration system incorporated therein. A floatatable barge unit containing multiple built-in aerators wherein the barge has a ballast system which makes its draft variable. The unit is designed to draw fluid water from virtually any depth below the barge. Incorporated at various locations in the barge is an aeration system that includes aerators having a concave surface at the top of a fluid intake chamber for diverting aerated fluid away from the enclosure of the aerator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to barges and, more particularly, is concerned with a barge having an aeration system incorporated therein. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Aeration systems related to barges have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,548 dated Jan. 25, 2011, McGuffin, the inventor of the present invention, disclosed a flotatable aeration system. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,689 dated May 15, 1984, Von Nordenskjold disclosed an apparatus for final clearing of wastewater. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,493, dated Apr. 21, 2009, Haldane disclosed a floating diffused air aerator. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,998 dated Jul. 20, 1993, DiClemente, et al., disclosed a floating biological contactor. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,873 dated Nov. 29, 2011, Kaw disclosed a floating bioreactor system. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,964 dated Nov. 12, 2002, Redmon disclosed a floating fine bubble aeration system. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,147 dated Feb. 19, 2002, Long disclosed a fluid flow system for floating biological contactor. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,819 dated Dec. 24, 2002, Baba, et al., disclosed a method and apparatus for treating wastewater. 
     While these aeration systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a barge having an aeration system incorporated therein. The present invention has a floatatable barge unit containing multiple built-in aerators wherein the barge of the present invention has a ballast system which makes its draft variable. The present invention is designed to draw water from virtually any depth. The aerators have a blower system for providing air to the aerators which blower system may be powered by an on-board portable diesel generator or powered by a diesel generator supplied by a small tugboat which may be used to maneuver the unit through the water. Incorporated in various locations in the barge is an aeration system that includes aerators having a concave surface at the top of a fluid intake chamber for diverting aerated fluid away from the enclosure of the aerator. 
     The aerators of the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,548 dated Jan. 25, 2011 to McGuffin, the inventor of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,548, in a broad sense, discloses a method and apparatus for a floatatable aerator system comprising a hollow chamber supported by floats, the chamber having a concaved rear surface, a fluid intake chamber having a fluid inlet and a top aerated fluid diverter created by the concaved rear surface; a fluid aerator assembly for injecting air into fluid received through the fluid inlet to form aerated fluid; and, a bank of lateral outlet ports for expelling the diverted aerated fluid funneled along the concaved rear surface. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an aerator disposed on a barge wherein the barge is an independently floatable unit. A further object of the present invention is to aerate the water under and around the barge. A further object of the present invention is to aerate the water around the barge so as to improve the water quality of the water in and about the barge. A further object of the present invention is to provide an aerated barge which can be easily used by an operator. A further object of the present invention is to provide an aerated barge which can be relatively easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
     Advantages of the present invention are that it is an environmentally friendly, green technology, non-invasive device/equipment using low pressure high volume air flow for maximum dissolved oxygen transfer in various water bodies. The present invention can be used in any body of water with a minimum depth of 48 inches, in which increased dissolved oxygen levels are required to mitigate environmental issues associated with poor water quality within our fragile ecosystem. Its mobile equipment/vessel/barge are scalable in size in order to accommodate virtually any size body of water and is designed to revitalize and restore all of our environmentally sensitive aquatic ecosystems that have been compromised by either man or mother nature. 
     Furthermore, the present invention is a floatable unit containing multiple built-in aerators and the water depth of the unit is controlled by a ballast system. The unit is designed to draw fluid from virtually any depth and can also be configured as a surface skimmer, removing and treating contaminants floating on or suspended within three feet of the fluid surface in which the unit is operating. The blowers which supply air flow to the aerators, can be powered by an on-board portable diesel generator or from power produced from generators supplied by a small tug boat which may be used to maneuver the unit through the water. The present invention may employ the use/injection of Ozone to further maximize oxygen transfer and to oxidize harmful elements found through the tainted water column. The present invention has the following uses: 1) environmental remediation; 2) coastal recovery; 3) increase of dissolved oxygen levels; 4) removal of heavy metals through oxidation; 5) reduction of BOD and COD; 6) enhance all aquatic life; and 7) de-stratification of large bodies of water. The benefits of the present invention are: 1) environmentally friendly; 2) no moving parts; 3) low maintenance; 4) mobile; 5) scalable in size; 6) can maneuver under its own power; and 7) can operate in water depths of four feet and deeper. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of portions of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is front elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is perspective view of one embodiment of an aeration unit of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of an aeration unit of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  barge     14  aerator     16  generator     18  blower     20  water intake     22  water discharge     24  diffuser air pipe     26  hull     28  first hull     30  second hull     32  middle hull     34  first tunnel-like space     36  second tunnel-like space     38  front end portion     40  rear end portion     42  first side portion     44  second side portion     46  water surface of water body     48  direction arrow     50  draft tube     52  bottom of water body     54  direction arrow     56  ballast     58  downward direction arrow     59  plate     60  curved portion of hull     61  upward direction arrow     62  deck     64  tank for fuel     66  rudder     68  clevis     70  axle     72  lock nut or gear drive     74   a  discharge port     74   b  discharge port     74   c  discharge port     76  chassis     78  aeration system     80  fluid     82  aeration diffuser     84  hollow chamber     86   a  top wall     86   b  front wall     86   d  bottom wall     88   a  end baffle wall     88   b  end baffle wall     88   d  interior baffle wall     90  fluid uptake chamber     92  arrow designating discharge water     94  air inlet port     98  central hollow chamber     100  concave back wall     102  baffle wall     104  wake or water discharge     106  ballast weight       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 7  illustrate the present invention wherein a barge having an aeration system is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number  10 . 
     The following written description makes reference generally to all the  FIGS. 1-7  and may reference specific Figures which will be indicated in the written description. Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the present invention  10  having a barge  12  having for illustration purposes only, a triangular shape, having mounted on each side thereof a plurality of aerators  14  (for more information see  FIGS. 6 and 7  and discussion related thereto) wherein each aerator is powered by electricity from generator  16  which may be powered by, e.g., liquid natural gas (LNG) or diesel fuel, which provides electricity to a plurality of blowers  18  spaced about the upper surface of the deck  62  of the barge wherein each aerator  14  has a lower water intake  20 , and an upper water outlet or discharge  22  wherein each aerator receives air from blowers  18  through interconnecting diffuser pipes  24 . The hull  26  of the present invention  10  is a tri-hull type having outer hulls  28 ,  30  on either outer side and central hull  32  which together provide a first tunnel-like space  34  between an inner and outer hull on one side and a second tunnel-like space  36  between the inner and outer hull of the opposing side. The aerators  14  are mounted in the interior space on the inside of hulls  28 ,  30 . It can be seen that each barge  12  generally has a front end portion  38  and rear end portion  40  along with a first side portion  42  and a second side portion  44 . Also shown are a plurality of fuel tanks  64  on deck  62  along with a plurality of rudders  66  having one end mounted on a clevis  68  and axle  70  mechanism or the lie so that the rudder can be angularly pivoted for steerage and locked in position in the wake or discharge outflow  104  (best seen in  FIG. 7 ) from an aerator  14  so as to steer the barge  12  through the water  46 . Due to the high volume of discharge produced by each aerator  14 , there is enough force to propel the barge  12  through the water  46 . The rudders  66  could be positioned at an operator chosen angle and locked in position using a lock nut or gear drive  72 , or the like, on one or both ends of an axle  70  as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. Note that while only two rudders  66  are shown for illustration purposes, additional rudders could be mounted on additional aerators  14  as deemed appropriate by the operator. The position of the rudder  66  with respect to the barge  12  can be controlled manually or by remote GPS. Also shown is the discharge  22  of each aerator  14  partitioned into three portions or discharge ports  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c . Also, a concave shaped portion  60  on each outer side of the middle hull portion  32  is shown which is used to affect the direction of water flow to and from the aerators  14 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown the present invention  10  having a barge  12  having mounted on each side thereof a plurality of aerators  14  wherein each aerator is powered by electricity from generator  16  which provides electricity to a plurality of blowers  18  spaced about the upper deck  62  of the barge wherein each aerator  14  has a water intake  20 , and a water outlet  22  and wherein each aerator receives air from blowers  18  by means of interconnecting air diffuser pipes  24 . It can be seen that each barge  12  generally has a front portion  38  and rear portion  40  along with a first side portion  42 . While the barge  12  shown in  FIG. 2  is rectangular in shape, it would be understood by one skilled in the art that the barge of the present invention  10  could have many other shapes. Also shown is barge  12  floating on the water surface  46  of the water body. Also shown are direction arrows  48  showing the direction of the water flowing upwardly through the water body toward each aerator  14 . Also shown are a plurality of optional downwardly extending draft tubes  50  through which water may be drawn directly into an aerator  14  from near the bottom  52  of the water body also showing a direction arrow  54  showing the water flowing upwardly through the draft tubes toward the aerator  14 . The aerators  14  of the present invention  10  may or may not be equipped with the draft tubes  50 . Also shown are discharge ports,  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c.    
     Turning to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , therein generally are shown various water flow patterns which can be created and used with the present invention  10 . These water flow patterns are generally indicated by direction arrows and are created by making structural modifications to the aerators  14  of the present invention  10  to cause water to flow in various directions through the aerators. The structural modifications include placement of an optional plate  59  on the lower end of the aerators  14  to close off a portion of the aerator and/or alternative placement or relocation of aeration diffusers  82  to force the flow of water in the user selected direction. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown the present invention  10  wherein each aerator  14  is being discharged outwardly at  22  shown on the first side  42  and the second side  44  with direction arrows  48  showing the water intake upwardly due to the force supplied by the air being emitted from the aeration diffusers  82  which causes water flow upwardly as shown by arrows  48 . The aerators  14  are mounted in the interior space inside the outer hulls  28 ,  30  of the barge  12 . Shown are the aerators  14  on each of the outward sides having a discharge outwardly away from the barge  12  with the discharge duct on the inside of the aerator forcing water to be discharged toward the central hull  32  and then downwardly due to the curved surface  60  which surface is formed into the central hull of the barge  12 . The central hull  32  also has a ballast tank  56  therein which may contain water ballast or other fluid to vary the depth of the barge  12  in the water body  46  or its draft. Note that the downward direction arrow  58  shows the water being discharged downwardly toward the bottom  52  of the water body. Tunnel-like spaces  34 ,  36  extend entirely from the front to the rear of barge  12  and each has a curved surface  60  on its inner wall for directing the flow of water. Also shown on the lower end portion of the central hull  32  is an optional conventional ballast weight  106  which may be attached to the hull to add ballast and may include a steel tube filled with concrete or the like. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein are shown the aerators  14  on the left and right sides  42  and  44  having the outer water intakes force the water in from near the upper surface  46  of the water body using the outer discharge duct  22  which occurs because its bottom intake is closed off with a plate  59  to force water to discharge from the inner discharge portion  22  toward the curved surface  60  and then downwardly toward the bottom  52  of the water body as shown by direction arrows  58  due to the curved hull  60 . The aeration diffusers  82  are disposed only in the interior fluid uptake chambers  90  which also helps produce the flow pattern shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown the present invention  10  having its aerators on the first side  42  and second side  44  of the barge  12  wherein an aerator  14  on the first side  42  has its bottom intake shut off with plate  59  so that water flows upwardly as shown by upward direction arrow  61  from the space or tunnel  34  to an inlet in its upper portion on the inside shown at  62  so that the water can discharge on the outside  42  away from the barge as shown by arrow  64 . The air diffusers  82  are disposed only in the exterior fluid uptake chamber  90 . On side  44  of the barge  12  the water flow is shown coming from the outer surface  46  toward the aerator  14  through and back up the aerators being discharged at its discharge  22  downwardly as shown by downward discharge arrow  58  which shows that the flow in the water is towards the bottom  52  of the water body. The air diffusers  82  are disposed only in the interior fluid uptake chamber  90 . 
     The aerators  14  illustrated in this specification are described and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,548, dated Jan. 25, 2011, to Thomas R. McGuffin, the inventor of the present invention. However, it is expected that it would be possible to also incorporate other types of aerators into the design and embodiments of the present invention. The discussion related to  FIGS. 6 and 7  presents a more detailed discussion of the aerators  14 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ,  FIG. 6  shows aerators  14  having a single uptake  20  and a single discharge  22 , and,  FIG. 7  shows aerators  14  having double inlets  20  and double discharges  22 .  FIG. 7  shows the aerators  14  expected to be used with the present invention  10 , however,  FIG. 6  is necessary to more fully explain certain elements of the structure and function of the aerators  14 . Furthermore, the single uptake/discharge aerators  14  shown in  FIG. 6  may be used with the present invention  10  by placing the aerators in an alternating fashion longitudinally along the hull of the barge  12  so that the discharge  22  of one aerator is disposed in a first direction and then in an opposite direction on the next adjacent aerator. 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , therein is disclosed an aerator  14  having a single inlet or uptake  20  and a single discharge  22  which aerator is comprised of a floatatable chassis-like enclosure  76  having an aerating system  78  coupled thereto, the aerating system  78  aerating water or fluid  80  (best shown in  FIG. 7 ) flowing through the aerator chassis  76 . Also shown are the air diffusers or outlets  82 . The floatatable chassis  76  increases the buoyancy of the barge  12  of the present invention  10 , however, the extra buoyancy is not expected to be required because the barge is expected to have sufficient buoyancy independent of the chassis  76 . The air diffusers  82  have a plurality of apertures or outlets disposed thereon which have various diameters so that both fine (less than 3.5 mm) and coarse (greater than 4 mm) diameter air bubbles are produced. Also the present invention  10  can be used to inject ozone, hybrid ozone with hydroxyl radicals, carbon dioxide, and various other gases to accomplish various chemical reactions within the fluid stream or water body  46 , or, in a situation where by there is an anaerobic fluid body, we would inject carbon dioxide through the blowers instead of oxygen; also, ozone can be injected through the blowers to reduce BOD, COD, oxidize volatile organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, hydro-carbons, and many other compounds found through out the water body. By using a unique or varying combination of size and number of coarse and fine air bubbles the density of the water  80  inside of the aeration chamber  90  can be changed which allows the present invention  10  to retrieve or reject various materials or substances. By changing or varying the combination of air bubbles, the density of the water  80  inside the chamber  90  can be changed making it possible to, e.g., retrieve concentrated patches of oil located on the floor of the gulf. By incorporating the draft tubes  50 , the present invention  10  can operate in water depths over 1,000 feet and can target specific materials with specific gravity weights located beneath several feet or layers of e.g., waste water lagoon sludge. The present invention  10  can target these specific materials, process them within the chamber  90 , and neutralize them through oxidation either naturally aspirated or with the injection of hybrid ozone or by using advanced oxidation processing. 
     The floatable aerator chassis  76  has a side profile that resembles a “T”-shape (see  FIG. 6 ) and a top view that resembles a “U”-shape (see  FIG. 6 ). The flotatable aerator chassis  76 , which has its own floatatable characteristics independent of the barge  12 , comprises an upper hollow chamber  84  bounded by a top wall  86   a , front wall  86   b , a concaved back wall  100 , (elements  86   b  and  100  are best seen in  FIG. 7 ) and a bottom wall  86   d . The hollow chamber  84  is supported by a plurality of baffle walls  88   a ,  88   b ,  88   c  and  88   d . The two end baffle walls  88   a ,  88   b  serve as side walls for the hollow chamber  84  and extend past both the length and depth of the hollow chamber  84 . The interior baffle walls  88   c ,  88   d  extend the length of the hollow chamber  84 . Additional means for flotation (not shown), in the form of air cavities or flotation material, is disposed on the inside of the chassis  76 . 
     The aerator chassis  76  further includes a fluid uptake chamber  90  having a fluid intake port or inlet  20  for intaking fluid  80  from beneath the chassis and a discharge port or outlet  22  located between baffle walls  88   a ,  88   b . The opening of the fluid uptake chamber  90  is displaced approximately 90 degrees with respect to the openings of the discharge  22  which is further divided into apertures or ports  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The discharge port  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c  shares the concaved back wall  100  of the hollow chamber  84  to funnel or divert water between the two end baffle walls  88   a ,  88   b . The concaved back wall  100  provides approximately a 90 degree elbow for the flow of aerated water in the uptake chamber  90  directly to the bank of discharge ports  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c . Arrows  104  show the wake or water discharge. As can be readily seen the extended end baffle walls  88   a ,  88   b  create a semi-enclosed area or pool wherein aerated water collects thereinbetween. 
     The aerator system  78  comprises an air inlet port or conduit  94 . The inlet port  94  is adapted to be coupled to a flexible hose which is coupled to an air or other oxygen source  18  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. The air inlet conduit  94  conveys air to the plurality of air diffusers  82  inside and near the lower end of fluid uptake chamber  90  forming air jets which force air directly in the path of fluid  80  so that the rising air bubbles create a forceful pattern of fluid flow from beneath the chassis  76  upwardly and out the discharge apertures or ports  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c.    
     The aerating system  78  receives fluid or water  80  up through the inlet port  20  (as shown by arrows at  80 ) where the fluid is subjected to air jet streams from a plurality of air diffusers  82 . The fluid or water  80  is thus aerated and forced upward through the chassis  76  where the fluid diverter in the form of concaved back wall  100  funnels or diverts the aerated fluid out through discharge port  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c . In one embodiment, the uptake chamber  90  is approximately in the center of the length of the two end baffle walls  88   a ,  88   b . The flotatable aerator  14  is disposed in the water so that an upper portion of the hollow chamber  84  remains above water and, preferably, the inlet port  20  remains above the subterranean earth disposed on the bottom  52  of a pond, reservoir, bay, river or like water body. 
     By way of general explanation, the aerators  14  require an anchoring system for attachment to the barge  12  of the present invention  10  as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art so as to maintain their position relative to the surface of the water, otherwise they could move in the water. Suitable mounting means could include brackets, flanges and/or straps, or the like. The floating capability of aerator  14  may be due to lightweight floatatable PVC, top hollow chamber, or other similar flotation devices. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment for an aerator  14  expected to be used with the present invention  10  having oppositely disposed or directed double water discharges  22 , however, in most other respects this embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  of aerator  14 . Also shown are centrally disposed hollow chamber  98 , fluid  80 , two concaved walls  100 , two baffle walls  102 , two inlet ports  20 , two fluid uptake chambers  90 , two aerating systems  78  and multiple sets of air diffusers  82 . Also shown on aerator  14  in phantom line are an exemplary rudder  66 , axle  70 , clevis  68  and lock nut or gear drive  72  along with plate  59  disposed on only one intake  20  and the draft tube  50  disposed on both intakes  20 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , therein is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention  10  wherein the barge  12  is a conventional flat bottom barge, e.g., a work barge, not being of the tri-hull type. The aerators are mounted in the interior space inside the barge  12  hull  26  on the outer edges of the sides  42 ,  44 . Each aerator  14 , which is of the type illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is being discharged outwardly at  22  shown on the first side  42  and the second side  44  with direction arrows  48  showing the water intake upwardly due to the force supplied by the air being emitted from the aeration diffusers  82  which causes water flow upwardly as shown by arrows  48 . Shown are the aerators  14  on each of the outward sides having a discharge outwardly away from the barge  12 . Other previously disclosed elements are also shown. 
     The present invention  10  can be further summarized generally as a device for aerating a body of water  46  being a barge  12  adapted for floating on the body of water having a hull  26  having a portion disposed below a waterline in the conventional manner with a concave surface  60  extending longitudinally along the hull so that the concave surface has a portion disposed below the waterline; at least one aerator  14  disposed on the barge for aerating the body of water wherein the aerator has an upper portion and a lower portion with a water inlet  20  disposed on the lower portion of the aerator for receiving water from the water body, a water outlet  22  disposed on the upper portion of the with an air diffuser assembly  82  for injecting air into the water received through the water inlet to form aerated water  104 ; wherein the water outlet diverts aerated water away from the aerator in substantially a horizontal plane after the water leaves the aerator; and, wherein the concave surface and the aerator are disposed an effective distance from each other so that the concave surface is capable of directing a flow of water toward or away from the aerator. Further, a plurality of aerators may be spaced apart the barge. Further, there is a system for supplying air  16 ,  18 ,  24 ,  78 , and  94  to the air diffuser assembly, wherein the system for supplying air to the air diffuser assembly is disposed on the barge. Also, there may be at least one draft tube  50  disposed on the water inlet of the aerator having a lower end portion that receives water from a point remote to the water inlet. Further, the aerator may have comprises first and second water inlets  20  and first and second water outlets  22  wherein the first and second water outlets divert aerated water in opposite directions relative to each other. Also, the air diffuser assembly is adapted to provide both fine and coarse air bubbles. Further, the water outlet diverts aerated water away from the barge with sufficient force to propel the barge through the body of water. Also, a rudder is disposed on the barge for steering the barge through the body of water wherein the rudder is disposed in the water discharge  104  of the aerator for steering the barge through the body of water. Also, there is a ballast tank disposed in the hull of the barge to vary the draft of the barge. Further, the hull is substantially a tri-hull having a centrally disposed hull  32  and first and second outer hulls  28 ,  30  so that the concave surfaces  60  are disposed on the first and second outer side portions of the central hull.