A WATER CRAFT, A PADDLE WHEEL FOR PROPELLING A CRAFT UPON WATER, A FLOATING HARVESTER AND A HARVESTER OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A CABLE MEANS WHICH IS ROTATED ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS FOR WINDING PLANT GROWTH THEREON

Abstract: A harvester (10) for plants and weeds, particularly aquatic plants, pulls the plants by winding them onto a rotating, endless cable (16). Tension in the cable (16) is controlled, and a operative portion of the cable (16) is positionable for varying its height and angle to the horizon­ tal. The harvester (10) is mountable on a boat (14) having an adjustable freeboard and multiple, individually driven, retractable paddle wheels (48, 50, 52) provide maximum maneuverability during use and compactness during transport.

Description: This invention relates to a floating plant harvester for harvesting aquatic plant growth from lakes, rivers, canals and the like. US-A-4,328,658 discloses apparatus for rotating a cable about its longitudinal axis and moving the cable through plant growth and winding it upon the cable and, in the process, pulling the roots of the plant for precluding or minimizing regrowth. The apparatus is disclosed as being useful with a pair of land vehicles, or one land vehicle and a boat, or with a pair of boats. In operation, a cable is moved through plant growth, the cable is rotated about its longitudinal axis, the plants, or weeds, are wrapped about the cable which is then drawn back into the apparatus, and cutters are provided for removing the plant growth from the cable. NL-A-7703176 discloses apparatus for removing plant growth in water which is provided with bouyancy air tanks and floats. The floats are divided into compartments into which water can be admitted and discharged via closable openings in the top of the floats in order to control bouyancy, stability and draught of the apparatus during use in water. Harvester means are carried for harvesting plant growth in water. DE-A-2004378 and its equivalent US-A-3596444 disclose an underwater weed-cutting device comprising a floating platform and a longitudinally adjustable shaft which depends from the platform and carries cutters at its bottom. A hollow submersible float is mounted on the shaft below the floating platform. The float has a hole in its bottom. A pump on the platform is connected to the interior of the float to supply it with compressed air and there is a vent pipe whereby the level at which the float floats is adjustable by varying the amount of air and water in the float. According to this invention there is provided a floating harvester as defined by claim 1. Preferred features of the harvester are defined by the subclaims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a harvester apparatus in which the present invention is embodied, the harvester apparatus being mounted upon a platform, i.e., the deck of a boat provided with a plurality of paddle wheels for providing mobility for the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the boat and harvester apparatus and illustrates adjustable features of the harvester apparatus and paddle wheels. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a boat, with the harvester apparatus removed, and illustrates a series of compartments in the hull thereof including a manifold for supplying pressurized air to adjust the freeboard of the boat. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and illustrates openings in the hull for allowing entry and egress of water to adjustably vary the freeboard of the boat. Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on line V-V of Fig. 4, and illustrates the introduction of air into compartments of the hull for varying the water contained within the compartments. Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a central portion of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end view, looking from the right of Fig. 1, and illustrates mechanisms for positioning the harvester cable and adjusting tension of the cable. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the harvester cable mechanism and illustrates the path of movement of the endless cable from an output guide tube and into a larger cable intake guide, and an adjustable framework for changing the spacing of the output guide and intake guide for adjusting tension in the cable. Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 8, and illustrates a sheave fixedly secured in a bight portion, or elbow, of the cable intake guide. Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken on line X-X of Fig. 9, and illustrates the harvester cable and plant growth wrapped therearound as the cable passes through the bight of the intake guide tube. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, elevational view, taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 1, and illustrates a tumbler mechanism for rotating the endless cable about its longitudinal axis, and also illustrates a drive capstan for pulling the cable along its longitudinal length, and a tightening or snubbing mechanism for tightening the cable about the capstan for providing a driving connection therewith. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary section, taken on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 11, and illustrates an adjustable drive mechanism for pulling on the cable to tighten the same about the capstan. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a pivotally mounted structure for carrying an individual drive motor for one of the paddle wheels and also illustrates a winch mechanism for moving the paddle wheels from an operative to an inoperative position. Fig. 16 is an exploded view and illustrates the manner of assembling a paddle wheel into position with its drive motor. Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view and illustrates the paddle wheel being mounted in operative position. Fig. 18 is a jump-section, taken on line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 16, and illustrates constructional details of the paddle wheel. Fig. 19 is a sectional view of another form of paddle wheel. Fig. 20 is a sectional view, taken on line XX-XX of Fig. 19, and illustrates details of construction for the second form of paddle wheel. Referring to the drawings, a plant or weed harvester assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 10, has the various components thereof mounted and arranged upon a platform 12, which is mounted upon a watercraft or boat 14. Harvester assembly 10 includes an endless cable 16 which is pulled by a capstan 18 in a generally rectangular path through an output guide tube 20, across a rear portion 22 of platform 12, through a cable intake guide tube 24 and back to capstan 18. In addition to being pulled along its longitudinal length by capstan 18, endless cable 16 is also caused to rotate about its longitudinal axis by a tumbler apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 26, which is somewhat similar to the tumbler apparatus disclosed in US-A-4,328,658. Specific details of tumbler apparatus 26 will be more particularly described later in this description. Harvester assembly 10 is useful for harvesting undesirable plant growth in shallow lakes, rivers and canals. The platform 12 comprises the deck of boat 14. As is evident from Figs. 1-6, boat 14 is comprised of a buoyant hull 28 which includes a series of hollow compartments 30, six such compartments being shown, and a plurality of baffle plates or partitions 32 are secured within and to the bottom of hull 28 and extend upwardly just short of deck or platform 12 to provide a series of air passageways 34 to distribute pressurized air throughout the series of hollow compartments 30. When boat 14 is operated in shallow water, it is not unusual to encounter submerged obstacles such as large roots, tree stumps, rocks and various types of debris. The underside of hull 28 is therefore protected by reinforced skid bars 36 and, in addition, while buoyant hull 28 is designed to have a shallow draft, boat 14 is equipped with a reservoir 38 which contains pressurized air that can be distributed through a manifold 40 and a network of air lines 42 to distribute pressurized air to each of the hollow compartments 30. A series of openings 44 are formed in each of the various compartments 30 to allow entry and exit of water in an amount determined by the pressurized air within the compartments 30. During stormy weather or rough water conditions, it is desirable to reduce the freeboard so that boat 14 rides low in the water, and this is readily accomplished by reducing the pressurized air in the hollow compartments 30 by allowing air to exit through an air valve or vent 46 included within manifold 40. As a result, water enters through the series of openings 44 in the bottom of hull 28. In very shallow water, or when the skid bars 36 encounter submerged obstacles, pressurized air from reservoir 38 is introduced through manifold 40 and air lines 42 to reduce the amount of water contained within the hollow compartments 30 and thereby increase the freeboard, to decrease the draft of boat 14 and allow the buoyant hull 28 to float high in the water. It will also be understood that this feature of adjusting the draft and freeboard of boat 14 is also useful for adjusting the underwater depth of endless cable 16 at the rear portion of platform 12 located at the stern of buoyant hull 28. Boat 14 is made to be highly maneuverable by providing a pair of paddle wheels 48 at the port and starboard sides, a third paddle wheel 50 at the stern and a fourth paddle wheel 52 at the bow. Each paddle wheel is independently driven and may be rotated in opposite directions; as a result, boat 14 may be moved forwardly, rearwardly, laterally, or rotationally. As is best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, endless cable 16 is moved lengthwise in a predetermined path. The operative portion of cable 16, i.e., that portion upon which weeds or other plant growth are wound and pulled by their roots, is that portion of endless cable 16 which extends between output guide tube 20 and cable intake guide tube 24. The operating depth and inclination of the operative portion of endless cable 16 are adjustable by raising and lowering guide tubes 20 and 24, as is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Output guide tube 20 is pivotally mounted in a pivot block 54 and may be raised and lowered by a port-side winch 56 which carries a cable or line 58. Likewise, cable intake guide tube 24 is pivotally mounted in a pivot block 60 for rotation in a substantially vertical plane and is movable by a starboard winch 62 which carries a cable or line 64. The individual depth of tubes 20 and 24 can be varied to dispose cable 16 horizontally or at inclinations thereto in order to accommodate various slopes and terrain in the river, canal or lake bed. A tensioning frame 66 includes a pair of spreader arms 68 and 70 which are pivotally connected to guide tubes 20 and 24 and have their upper ends connected by a hydraulic cylinder 72 which extends or contracts to slacken or add tension to cable 16. Telescoping support members 74, preferably square or rectangular, are carrried by platform 12 and carry pivotally mounted sleeves 76 through which spreader arms 68 and 70 slide during raising and lowering of guide tubes 20 and 24 by winches 56 and 62, respectively. Referring to Figs. 7-10, the operative portion of endless cable 16 passes from the intake guide tube 20 and enters a funnel 78 fixed at the entrance portion of cable intake guide tube 24. As was previously noted, cable 16 is continuously rotated about its axis by tumbler apparatus 26, and weeds or other plant growth are wrapped about the cable 16 and pulled by their roots. As is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a sheave 82 is rotatably mounted within an opening 84 which is formed at an elbow or bight 86 of the guide tube 24. A pair of support brackets 88 are welded, at 90, to the guide tube 24 and carry the rotatably mounted sheave 82 on an axle 92. Sheave 82 includes a series of spaced ribs 94 which form a series of spaced grooves 96 therebetween. Tension in cable 16 causes the plant growth 80 wrapped therearound to be pressed into grooves 96 and provide a driving connection for rotating sheaves 82 about axle 92. As a result, cable 16 is moved through the elbow or bight 86 without causing any jamming or excessive wear on guide tube 24. Figs. 11-14 show a tumbler apparatus 26 which is somewhat similar to that shown in US-A-4,328,658. Capstan 18 is rotatably mounted upon a frame 100, on an axle 102 and rotatably driven by a drive motor 104 and is balanced by a series of counterweights 106. Frame 100 is rotatably mounted in a bearing block 108 by a sleeve 110 which is rotatably driven by a gear and chain 112 (connected to a drive motor, not shown) for rotating frame 100 and capstan 18 for imparting rotation to endless cable 16 about its axis. Cable 16 has several loops thereof wrapped about capstan 18, as is best shown in Fig. 12, and must be kept snug therewith to maintain a pulling action. As is best shown in Figs. 13 and 14, a friction drive roller 114 is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor 116 and provides a pulling action for tightening the wrapped portion of endless cable 16 into driving contact with capstan 18. Cable 16 is maintained in driving relationship with drive roller 114 by a pulley 118 which is rotatably mounted upon a sliding frame 120 carried by a fluid motor 122 for moving frame 120 and pulley 118 to force cable 16 into driving contact with drive roller 114. As can be seen in Fig. 1, cable 16 and plant growth 80 exits from guide tube 24 around a second sheave 82 and enters a cutter mechanism 124 which includes a rotating blade 126 for stripping plant growth 80 from the cable 16. Chopped plant growth 128 moves through a chute 130 into a conventional harvester machine 132 and out through a harvester chute 134. As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, harvester chute 134 may be pivotally mounted, at 136 to reduce its overall height during non-use and can be rotated to an outboard position by a motor 138 and rack 140 so that chopped plant growth 128, which has been stripped from cable 16 by cutter blade 126, can be loaded into an accompanying barge (not shown) maintained alongside and periodically driven to the shore and emptied. The port and starboard paddle wheels 48, the stern paddle wheel 50 and the bow paddle wheel 52 are each pivotally mounted so as to be movable from their operating position, as is shown in Fig. 1, to a stowed position when not being used to propel the boat 14 or when the boat is being moved over land, such as being transported on a truck. As is best shown in Figs. 15-17, a T-shaped mounting means, generally indicated by the numeral 150, includes a leg 152 secured to a stem 154 which is pivotally mounted in spaced bearing blocks 156 secured to the platform or deck 158 of the buoyant hull 28. A hydraulic drive motor 160 is fixedly secured to an end of leg 152 by a rigid mounting bracket 162 and rotates a drive plate 164. As is best shown in Fig. 15, a motor driven winch 166 is mounted upon a gin pole 168 and includes a cable or line 170 which is attached to leg 152. Thus, winch 166 can raise or lower hydraulic motor 160 by rotating the stem 154, of mounting means 150, in the bearing blocks 156. A shock absorber spring 172 is secured to gin pole 168 for engaging leg 152 when it is in the raised position. Mounting means 150 also includes a locking beam 174 which is welded or otherwise securely fastened to leg 152 and is locked to deck 158 by a pair of locking straps 176 and levers 178 which are pivotally fastened to a pair of spaced holddown blocks 180. Details of the various paddle wheels and mounting thereof are shown in Figs. 16-20. In Fig. 16, hydraulic drive motor 160 is shown locked in its operative position extending outboard of the hull 28. Paddle wheel 48 includes a hub 182 and a mounting plate 184 which is assembled with and secured to the drive plate of motor 160 by a plurality of bolts 186. Paddle wheel 48 includes a circular inboard end member 188 and an outboard end member 190 and a plurality of paddles or vanes 192 which are fixedly secured to the end members and to the central hub 182. A comparison of Figs. 16 and 17 will show that paddle wheel 48 is moved axially to locate hydraulic drive motor 160 within the hub 182 so that mounting plate 184 can be secured to drive plate 164 with the bolts 186. Central hub 182 terminates at a frustoconical end portion 194 which is closed by a circular end closure plate 196 attached thereto by bolts 198. It is preferable that a canopy or cover 200 be used to enclose the various paddle wheels for safety purposes. It will be understood that when the vanes 192 are rotated there is a tendency to pick up water and carry it upwardly with the vanes. This is particularly true when the boat 14 is riding low in the water because of flooding of the hollow compartments 30. As is best shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the hub 182 is provided with a plurality of radial openings 202 which allow any water carried upwardly by the vanes 192 to cascade across hydraulic motor 160 to provide a cooling action thereto. Vanes 192 are also provided with crescent shaped openings 204 in order to preclude water from being carried upwardly over the top and dumped in front of the paddle wheel 48. Thus, the radial openings 202 and crescent shaped openings 204 not only allow water to be vented but make use of such water to cool the motor 160. Water which is carried upwardly by the outboard vanes 192 cascades downwardly along the frustoconical end portion 194 of hub 182 and exits at the outboard end of paddle wheel 48. Paddle wheel 52, at the bow of boat 14, is smaller than the side paddle wheels 48 or stern paddle wheel 50. As is shown in Figs. 19 and 20, paddle wheel 52 includes a plurality of paddles or vanes 210 which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a central hub. Hub 212 is provided with a central mounting plate 214 so that paddle wheel 52 may be axially secured to motor 160 (as is indicated by the directional arrow 216 connecting Fig. 19 to Fig. 16). Hub 212 is provided with a series of radial openings 218, and vanes 210 are provided with crescent shaped openings 220 for allowing water to cascade therethrough for cooling the drive motor 160. Water can also escape through openings 222 (along arrows 224) which are formed in hub 212 outwardly of mounting plate 214. Finally, as will be seen in Fig. 1, all of the power requirements for operating the various equipment can be supplied by an engine 226, a fuel tank 228, and a hydraulic pump 230. All of the various necessary controls can be located adjacent to an operator's chair 232. From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been disclosed a preferred embodiment of a weed or plant harvester which provides advantages not heretofore found in the prior art; the spirit and scope of the invention is, however, not to be restricted by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment but only by the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

Claims: A floating harvester comprising a buoyant hull (28), said hull (28) including a plurality of independent compartments (30) for entrapping air independently therein, said compartments (30) containing openings (44) therein for allowing entry and egress of water for entrapping air in said compartments (30) for floating said hull (28) upon a body of water and for adjusting the freeboard of said hull (28), harvester means (10) carried by said hull (28) for harvesting plant growth (80) in said body of water and means carried on said hull (28) for varying the amount of water and air entrapped in said compartments (30), characterised by said means for varying the amount of water and air comprising a source (38) of pressurized air, means (40, 42 and 34) for connecting said source (38) of pressurized air to said independent compartments (30) for introducing pressurized air into said compartments (30) for increasing the freeboard of said hull (28) and simultaneously changing the operating depth of said harvester means (10), each of said compartments (30) including upright partition means (32) therein for damping transverse movement of water contained within said compartments (30), a top portion (12) of each of said compartments (30) being closed for preventing escape of air therefrom, and said upright partition means (32) being spaced below said top portion (12) for distributing said pressurized air in each of said compartments (30) while damping transverse movement of water within each compartment (30). A floating harvester according to claim 1, wherein the hull (28) has a bow, a stern, a port side and a starboard side, a plurality of paddle wheels(48, 50, 52), means for mounting individual ones of said paddle wheels (52, 50, 48) respectively at said bow, said stern, said port side and said starboard side, and independent drive means (160) for individually rotating each of said plurality of paddle wheels (48, 50, 52). A floating harvester according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of paddle wheels (48, 50, 52) includes mounting means (150) for pivotally connecting said paddle wheels (48, 50, 52) to said hull (28) for moving said paddle wheels (48, 50, 52) between a lower operating position and a raised inoperative position whereby said harvester may be selectively moved forwardly, rearwardly, laterally and rotationally. A floating harvester according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each paddle wheel (48, 50, 52) comprises a central hub (182, 212), motor means comprising said independent drive means (160) mounted within said central hub (182, 212), vane means (192, 210) extending outwardly from said hub (182, 212) and openings (202, 204, 218, 220) formed in said hub (182, 212) for directing water from said vane means (192, 210) across said motor means (160) for cooling the same. A floating harvester according to claim 4, wherein each of said paddle wheels (48, 50) at said stern and sides includes an inboard end member (188) and an outboard end member (190), means for securing said vane means (192) between said inboard end member (188) and said outboard end member (190), and a central opening formed in said outboard end member (190) for directing water from said vane means (192) outwardly from said paddle wheel (48, 50). A floating harvester according to claim 5, wherein said mounting means (150) include pivot means for pivotally connecting said motor means (160) and said paddle wheel (48, 50, 52) to said harvester, and means (166 and 170) for raising and lowering said paddle wheel (48, 50, 52) about said pivot means between an operative position and a stowed position. A floating harvester according to claim 6 and further including locking means (174, 176 and 178) carried by said harvester for locking said paddle wheel (48, 50, 52) in said operative position. A floating harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 7, including a cable means (16) which is rotated about its longitudinal axis for winding plant growth (80) thereon, an intake tube (24) for receiving said cable means (16) and plant growth (80) carried thereby, said intake tube (24) having a bight portion (86), and guide means disposed at said bight portion (86) for guiding said cable means (16) past said bight portion (86) and out of contact with said intake tube (24). A floating harvester according to claim 8 including an opening (84) formed in said intake tube (24) at said bight portion (86), said guide means comprising a sheave (82), and means (88 and 92) for rotatably mounting at least a portion of said sheave (82) within said intake tube (24) at said opening (84). A floating harvester according to claim 9, wherein said sheave (82) includes rib means (94) on a surface thereof for receiving plant growth (80) carried by said cable means (16) for rotating said sheave (82) within said opening (84). A floating harvester according to any one of claims 8 to 10, including platform means (12) for supporting said harvester means (10) thereon; said cable means comprising an endless cable (16); and wherein a cable output guide (20) and said cable intake guide tube (24) define a path of movement for said endless cable (16); said endless cable (16) having an operative portion thereof extending between said cable output guide (20) and said cable intake guide tube (24); and means (56, 58, 62 and 64) for adjustably positioning said operative portion of said endless cable (16) by raising and lowering said operative portion relative to said platform (12). A floating harvester according to claim 11, wherein said platform means (12) comprises a deck portion of a boat (14). A floating harvester according to claim 11 wherein said means (56, 58, 62 and 64) for adjustably positioning said operative portion of said endless cable (16) comprises means (54, 60) for pivotally mounting said cable output guide (20) and said cable intake guide (24) relative to each other whereby said operative portion of said endless cable (16) can be oriented horizontally and at various angles to the horizontal. A floating harvester according to claim 11 including tensioning means (66) for tensioning said operative portion of said endless cable (16). A floating harvester according to claim 14 wherein said tensioning means (66) comprises adjustable means (68, 70, 72, 74, 76) connected to and between said cable output guide (20) and said cable intake guide (24) for varying the distance therebetween. A floating harvester according to claim 11 including a tumbler means (26) for rotating said endless cable (16) about its longitudinal axis, a capstan (18) mounted on said tumbler (26) for pulling said endless cable (16) along its length and through said cable output guide (20) and said cable intake guide (24). A floating harvester according to claim 16 wherein said endless cable (16) includes a portion thereof wrapped around said capstan (18), the improvement further comprising tightening means mounted adjacent to said tumbler means (26) and in contact with said endless cable (16), said tightening means including a drive roller (114), and means (116) for rotating said drive roller (114) for tightening the wrapped portion of said endless cable (16) into driving contact with said capstan (18). A floating harvester according to claim 17 wherein said tightening means further comprises a pulley (118) disposed in contact with said endless cable (16), and fluid motor means (122) for moving said pulley (118) toward said drive roller (114) for forcing said endless cable (16) into contact with said drive roller (114).

Inventors: DESROSIERS, JOSEPH ARMAND
Applicants: DESROSIERS, JOSEPH ARMAND
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01D44
IPC codes: A01D44, B63B35, B63H5