Patent Publication Number: US-2018036692-A1

Title: Manure agitation vessel with remote power source

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/370,760, filed Aug. 4, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments disclosed herein relate to apparatus for agitating manure stored in reservoirs and, more particularly, to vessels having manure agitating apparatus adapted for use in earthen storage reservoirs, such as manure holding ponds, lagoons, and settling basins. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     Manure from livestock is an excellent source of fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients desirable for enrichment of soil. Manure is also an important source of organic matter which, when added to soil, helps to improve soil composition, aeration, water infiltration and moisture-retention capability. Livestock produce a large amount of manure. Manure is in constant supply and a means of storage and preservation is therefore required. 
     For this reason, earthen storage installations in the nature of holding ponds, lagoons and settling basins have been developed and successfully utilized for the storage of large quantities of manure. Manure from a livestock operation is pumped into a lagoon where anaerobic bacteria digest, liquefy, and convert a portion of the manure to carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The resulting supernatant contains nitrogen and calcium. The resulting solids form a sludge that rests on the bottom of the manure lagoon. 
     If the sludge layer is not periodically agitated and removed, it will eventually decrease the available volume of the storage installation area, thus leading to increased risk of overflows, economic, and environmental concerns, etc. To prevent an undesirable buildup of sludge the manure is agitated into suspension within the supernatant. 
     High-volume pressure pumps are typically used as agitators for manure ponds and lagoons. These pumps use the force of moving water to dislodge and mix the bottom sludge with other floating matter. While conventional agitators work reasonably well for their intended purpose, there are drawbacks. 
     Conventional methods of agitating the manure include attaching a shaft with a propeller or auger to the power takeoff of a tractor or other farm vehicle resting on the shore. The rotating propeller or auger forces the supernatant down into the sludge, causing the solids within the sludge to move upward into suspension within the supernatant in only a narrow area proximate to the tractor on the shore. 
     In response, floating vehicles have been developed to mix sludge at the center of the lagoon. These conventional vehicles may be equipped with a fluid intake, a supernatant pump, and a fluid nozzle to draw supernatant into the pump and force the supernatant at high speed downward toward the sludge. The conventional floating agitation vehicles may include heavy onboard engines and pumps, which may impact the flotation and maneuverability of the vehicle. Further, maneuvering the floating agitator in and out of a manure pond or lagoon can also pose a significant challenge. 
     In some cases, foreign material may be present in the storage installation. The storage installation may have open tops that are exposed to the atmosphere where blowing wind may blow material such as plastic, burlap bags, and wood from daily operations on the farm into the storage installation. Another troublesome material found in the storage installation is the afterbirth from cows giving birth. The presence of these materials in the storage installation may cause the onboard pump to plug up. When this happens, propulsion and steering on the conventional system is lost as the vessel depends on the onboard pump and engine to propel the vehicle and ultimately the vehicle is stranded in the lagoon. To fix, an operator boards the vessel and attempts to repair the onboard pump and engine. This practice exposes personnel to harmful gasses (such as carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide) that are associated with manure agitation. 
     Therefore, it is evident there is a substantial and unsatisfied need in the agricultural industry for a reliable and cost-effective solution to the drawbacks associated with conventional floating manure agitators. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to some embodiments, there is provided a system for agitating manure. The system includes a vessel shaped to be placed in a manure storage installation, a land based power source separated from the vessel, and a remote control for user control of the control system of the vessel. The vessel includes a vessel frame having floatation for providing floatation to the vessel, at least one outlet nozzle attached to the vessel frame for agitating the manure, and a control system attached to the vessel frame for controlling the direction of the at least one outlet nozzle. The land based power source includes a fluid pump for pumping fluid from a land based input nozzle to supply fluid to the at least one outlet nozzle on the vessel, and a fluid supply conduit connecting the land based power source to the at least one outlet nozzle. 
     The land based power source may further include a prime mover for providing power to the fluid pump, a fuel tank for storing fuel for the power source, and a pump control for controlling the fluid pump and the power source. 
     The prime mover may be exchangeable based on the power needs of the fluid pump without modifying the vessel. 
     The land based input nozzle may pump liquid that is located proximate to the land based power source and remote from the vessel. 
     The at least one outlet nozzle may provide movement to the vessel and the at least one outlet nozzle steers the direction of the vessel. 
     The control system may include a hydraulic pump attached to the vessel frame for providing hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator and an onboard small engine attached to the vessel frame for providing power to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic actuators may be attached to the at least one outlet nozzles and manipulate the direction of the at least one outlet nozzles. 
     The control system may further include a hydraulic fluid reservoir attached to the vessel frame for storing the hydraulic fluid and a fuel tank attached to the vessel frame for storing a fuel supply for the onboard small engine. 
     The remote control may be operable to control the land based power source. The remote control may provide control instructions to the control system to control the direction of the outlet nozzles. The remote may include a remote transceiver for sending nozzle direction instructions to the control system and control inputs for receiving the nozzle direction instructions from a user. The control inputs may include a set up mode and a run mode. 
     According to some embodiments, there is provided a vessel shaped to be placed in a manure storage installation. The vessel includes a vessel frame having floatation for providing floatation to the vessel, at least one outlet nozzle attached to the vessel frame for agitating the manure, wherein the at least one outlet nozzle receives fluid from a land based power source via a fluid supply conduit, wherein the land based power source is separated from the vessel, and a control system attached to the vessel frame for controlling the direction of the at least one outlet nozzle, and wherein the control system receives control instructions from a remote control. 
     The land based power source may not be an integral part of the manure agitation vessel. 
     The manure agitation vessel may further include at least one outrigger attached to the vessel frame on either side of the manure agitation vessel to provide further stability to the manure agitation vessel. The at least one outrigger may be hydraulically actuated by an outrigger hydraulic actuator that is controlled by the control system. The outrigger hydraulic actuator hydraulically raises the at least one outrigger for transport and lowers the at least one outrigger when in use. The at least one outrigger may further include an outrigger frame for holding additional floatation. The outrigger frame is attached to the vessel frame by an outrigger arm at an outrigger hinge. 
     The at least one nozzle may include two nozzles, each positioned at either end of the vessel. 
     The manure agitation vessel may further include a downrigger attached to the vessel frame for articulating to engage with solid manure or the bottom of a storage installation. 
     The control system may include a hydraulic pump attached to the vessel frame for providing hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator and an onboard small engine attached to the vessel frame for providing power to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic actuators are attached to the at least one outlet nozzles and manipulate the direction of the at least one outlet nozzles. 
     The control system may further include a hydraulic fluid reservoir attached to the vessel frame for storing the hydraulic fluid and a fuel tank attached to the vessel frame for storing a fuel supply for the onboard small engine. 
     Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a manure agitation system, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a manure agitation vessel, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the manure agitation vessel of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the manure agitation vessel of  FIG. 2 , in a transport position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the manure agitation vessel of  FIG. 2 , in a transport position; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the manure agitation vessel of  FIG. 2 , in a transport position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a manure agitation vessel, in accordance with a further embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not covered by any of the claimed embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , illustrated therein is a manure agitation system  10 , in accordance with an embodiment. The manure agitation system  10  includes a manure agitation vessel  12  and a remote or land based power source  14  for providing pumped fluid to the manure agitation vessel  12 . 
     The manure agitation vessel  12  is sized and shaped to be placed in a manure reservoir or storage installation  16  such as a holding pond, a lagoon, or a settling basin. The storage installation  16  stores quantities of manure  18 . The manure  18  may be from, for example, a livestock operation where anaerobic bacteria digest, liquefy, and convert a portion of the manure  18  to carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The resulting supernatant contains nitrogen and calcium. The manure  18  includes solids that form a sludge that rest on the bottom of the storage installation  16 . The manure agitation vessel  12  mixes and agitates the settled solid and liquid manure  18 . The mixed manure  18  may be pumped onto fields as fertilizer. 
     The manure agitation system  10  has at least two separated components: the manure agitation vessel  12  and the land based power source  14 , which is separated from the vessel  12 . When the manure agitation vessel  12  is in use and located in the storage installation  16 , the land based power source  14  is remotely located on land distant from the manure agitation vessel  12 . For example, the land based power source  14  is located at the side of the storage installation  16 , while the manure agitation vessel  12  is located in the storage installation. 
     The manure agitation vessel  12  has a vessel frame  20 , floatation  22 , and one or more outlet nozzles  24  that spray liquid out into the manure  18  so that the solid and liquid mix. The vessel frame  20  holds the components of the manure agitation vessel  12  together. The floatation  22 , such as a buoyancy tank, is attached to the vessel frame  20  and provides floatation to the manure agitation vessel  12 . 
     The manure agitation vessel  12  includes at least one outlet nozzle  24  attached to the vessel frame  20 . The outlet nozzle  24  sprays fluid to agitate and mix the manure  18 . The direction of the outlet nozzles  24  are controlled by a control system  30 , such as a hydraulic control system, attached to the vessel frame  20 . The outlet nozzle  24  receives fluid from an inlet nozzle  26  on the manure agitation vessel  12 . The inlet nozzle  26  is connected via a fluid supply conduit  28 , such as a hose, to the land based power source  14 . The fluid supply conduit  28  pumps liquid that is located proximate to the land based power source  14  and that is remote from the manure agitation vessel  12 . 
     The land based power source  14  includes a prime mover  32  such as a high power engine for providing power to a fluid pump  34 . The prime mover  32  can be exchanged based on the power needs of the fluid pump  34  without modifying the manure agitation vessel  12 . The fluid pump  34  pumps the fluid from the storage installation  16  via an intake conduit  36  through a land based input nozzle  38  to supply manure  18  to the fluid supply conduit  28 . The fluid supply conduit  28  provides fluid from the on land fluid pump  34  to the outlet nozzles  24  onboard the manure agitation vessel  12 . 
     The land based power source  14  also includes a fuel tank  40  for storing fuel for the prime mover  32 . The land based power source  14  also includes a pump control  42  for controlling the fluid pump  34  and the prime mover  32 . In an embodiment, the pump control  42  is a simple on/off mechanism or switch. In a further embodiment, the pump control  42  is remotely controlled by a remote control  56 . 
     The remote control  56  includes a remote transceiver  58  that sends (and receives) nozzle direction instructions to a vessel transceiver on the manure agitation vessel  12 . The user  60  inputs the nozzle direction instructions into the remote control  56  using control inputs  62  (such as buttons, touchscreen, or other input devices, as is known in the art). The control inputs  62  receive the user instructions and a processor  64  such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) processes the nozzle direction instructions for transmission by the remote transceiver  58 . The remote control  56  may also control the land based power source  14 , including the prime mover  32 . 
     In an embodiment, the control inputs  62  include a set up mode for setting up operation of the manure agitation vessel  12  and a run mode for use during operation of the manure agitation vessel  12 . The PLC enables the set up mode and the working mode. This allows for greater function control with the remote control  56 . 
     The control inputs  62  may also include an engine stop button, a start button, a throttle down button, and a throttle up button to steer the manure agitation vessel  12  floating in the storage installation  16 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , illustrated therein is a manure agitation vessel  12 , in accordance with an embodiment. The manure agitation vessel  12  includes two outlet nozzles  24 , each positioned at either end of the manure agitation vessel  12  with piping  66  connecting the two outlet nozzles  24 . The outlet nozzles  24  are mounted on the upper surface of the manure agitation vessel  12 , each of the outlet nozzles  24  being configured for directional movement beyond outer confines of the manure agitation vessel  12  and about multiple axes relative to the manure agitation vessel  12 . The outlet nozzles  24  are readily viewable above the upper surface of the deck for ease of managing agitation of the manure  18  and directional control of the manure agitation vessel  12 . 
     The outlet nozzle  24  provides movement to the manure agitation vessel  12 . In an embodiment, the outlet nozzles  24  can be directed to steer the direction of the manure agitation vessel  12 . The outlet nozzle  24  has hydraulic actuators  50  to manipulate the direction of the outlet nozzle  24 . For example, the hydraulic actuators  50  may be hydraulic cylinders. The manure agitation vessel  12  includes the control system  30  for controlling the hydraulic actuators  50  and therefore the direction of the outlet nozzle  24 . The hydraulically controlled actuators  50  are connected to each of said outlet nozzles  24  for controlling movement thereof about each of said multiple axes. 
     The outlet nozzle  24  includes at least one pivot  68  having a simple, rugged design to give maximum range of operation and longevity. The outlet nozzle  24  is positioned on a two stage nozzle arm  70  to provide an increased range and flexibility than the hydraulic actuator  50  with a limited stroke. Further, the two stage nozzle arm  70  may be in a visible location at all times, above the manure  18 . Having the two stage nozzle arm  70  above the manure  18  may avoid plugging issues, may improve safety, may reduce harmful gasses, and may be easier to unplug. In an embodiment, the outlet nozzles  24  are high pressure jet nozzles that are fully visible and capable of movement in multiple directions. The outlet nozzles  24  are angled to develop vortices of supernatant into the solids to further mix the manure  18  into a slurry. 
     For maximum versatility and reach, each outlet nozzle  24  is constructed for multi-axis rotational movement, capable of substantially 180 degree rotation about a generally vertical axis and vertical pivotal movement of more than 90 degrees about a horizontal axis. The outlet nozzles  24  are mounted atop the vessel deck and constructed and arranged for multi-axis pivotal movement. This facilitates maximum versatility and reach for agitating the manure  18 , and for maintaining directional control of the manure agitation vessel  12 . For optimum mobility, each outlet nozzle  24  is equipped with separate hydraulic actuators  50  to cause movement about multiple axes. Consequently, with the enhanced mobility of outlet nozzles  24 , the user  60  may effectively agitate the manure  18  and simultaneously maintain accurate and easy directional control of the manure agitation vessel  12  solely through the thrust of the readily visible above-surface high pressure jet outlet nozzles  24 . 
     In an embodiment, the outlet nozzle  24  can rotate from 60 degrees aft and 60 degrees stern, and most preferably at least about 45 degrees aft and 45 degrees stern. 
     The outlet nozzles  24  are controlled by the control system  30  on the manure agitation vessel  12 . The control system  30  includes an onboard small engine  44  attached to the vessel frame  20  for providing power to a hydraulic pump  46 . The hydraulic pump  46  is attached to the vessel frame  20  and pumps hydraulic fluid such as hydraulic oil from a hydraulic fluid reservoir  48  to the hydraulic actuators  50  on the outlet nozzle  24 . The control system  30  may also include a small fuel tank  52  or battery  73  for storing a fuel supply for the onboard small engine  44 . 
     The onboard small engine  44  may be considerably smaller (for example, 50 times smaller) than the land based prime mover  32 . For example, the onboard engine  44  may provide 10 to 15 horsepower and weigh between 50 to 60 pounds, with the fuel tank holding 2-5 gallons of gas. The land based prime mover  32  may provide 200 horsepower and weigh 2500 pounds, with the land based fuel tank  40  holding 150-250 gallons and weighing 2000 pounds. The land based fuel tank  40  will decrease in weight as fuel is used and where the fuel tank  40  is on the vessel  12 , the ballast weight of the vessel  12  would be impacted and affect the buoyancy and balance of the vessel  12 . By locating the prime mover  32  and land based fuel tank  40  off of the vessel  12 , the buoyancy and stability of the vessel  12  may be improved. 
     The onboard small engine  44  may be a 13 horsepower (HP) Honda gas engine that operates the hydraulic pump  46  on the manure agitation vessel  12 . The hydraulic pump  46  controls the hydraulic actuators  50  that direct the plurality of outlet nozzles  24 . The remote control  56  is used to activate the onboard small engine  44  and to guide the manure agitation vessel  12 . The direction of the outlet nozzles  24  may be controlled by the remote control  56  to agitate the manure  18  and to steer the manure agitation vessel  12 . 
     The control system  30  includes a control panel  72  that communicates with the remote control  56  (shown schematically in  FIG. 1 ). The remote control  56  provides control instructions to the control panel  72  to control the direction of the outlet nozzles  24 . The control panel  72  includes the vessel transceiver powered by a battery  73 , that allows the control panel  72  to operate wirelessly with the remote control  56 . 
     In an embodiment, the manure agitation vessel  12  includes at least one outrigger  74  on either side of the manure agitation vessel  12  to provide further stability. The outrigger  74  can be hydraulically raised ( FIGS. 4-6 ) when not in use and in transport and lowered ( FIG. 3 ) when in use. The outrigger  74  includes an outrigger frame  76  holding additional flotation  78 . The outrigger frame  76  is attached to the vessel frame  20  by an outrigger arm  80  at an outrigger hinge  82 . The outrigger arm  80  and outrigger hinge  82  are hydraulically actuated by an outrigger hydraulic actuator  84  that is controlled by the control system  30  and the remote control  56 . The outrigger hydraulic actuator  84  hydraulically raises the at least one outrigger  74  for transport and lowers the at least one outrigger  74  when in use 
     The outriggers  74  may fold up to a transport position to meet width and height requirements of transport regulations (e.g. department of transport (DOT)), for ease in road travel and passage through tight areas, such as gates, or for improved storage. When in the storage installation  16 , the outriggers  74  fold down to give stability and maneuverability to the manure agitation vessel  12 . In certain cases, the outriggers  74  are not necessary for buoyancy of the manure agitation vessel  12  but rather provide stability. 
     In an embodiment, the manure agitation vessel  12  includes a downrigger (not shown) attached to the vessel frame  20  for articulating to engage with solid manure  18  or the bottom of the storage installation  16 . The downrigger may provide operation similar to an anchor on a boat. The downrigger may enable the manure agitation vessel  12  to be positioned to increase agitation capabilities without moving the manure agitation vessel  12  away from desired location in the storage installation  16 . 
     During operation of the manure agitation vessel  12  in the storage installation  16 , it is also possible for the user  60  to use the downrigger as a tool to help determine whether there is accumulated sludge at the bottom of the storage installation  16  that requires agitation and mixture with the remaining pond liquids. By lowering the downrigger within the storage installation  16 , the downrigger extends downward, thus probing the bottom of the storage installation  16  to determine the existence of undue sludge accumulation in the immediate area of the manure agitation vessel  12 . If significant accumulation exists, the aft end of the manure agitation vessel  12  will rise due to the downrigger engaging the floor of the storage installation  16 , thereby signaling the user  60  of the need to agitate that area of the storage installation  16  more aggressively. 
     The downrigger may be configured to elevate a portion of the manure agitation vessel  12  relative to an upper surface of the storage installation  16  when sludge build-up is detected at the bottom area of the storage installation  16  being probed. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the manure agitation system  10  advantageously does not locate the heavy fluid pump  34  and prime mover  32  that powers the outlet nozzles  24  on the manure agitation vessel  12 , which makes the manure agitation vessel  12  more stable and easier to move. Further, the action of the outlet nozzle  24  agitation may cause the manure agitation vessel  12  to tip, so reducing the weight on the manure agitation vessel  12  may be advantageous. 
     The remote prime mover  32  provides the input energy to give the manure agitation vessel  12  propulsion and agitation capabilities. The prime mover  32  can easily be exchanged since it is not on the manure agitation vessel  12 . As the prime mover  32  is on land, the prime mover  32  is not an integral part of the manure agitation vessel  12 . Where different viscosity of manure  18  or where greater flow is needed, the prime mover  32  can be swapped out for a higher power motor  32 . The prime mover  32  can be easily replaced to provide more horsepower to the fluid pump  34 . Further, if there is a problem with the prime mover  32 , the prime mover  32  can be disconnected and removed from the manure agitation system  10 . The prime mover  32  can be unplugged or serviced and then be reinstalled in the manure agitation system  10 . With the manure agitation system  10 , it may be unnecessary for the user  60  to board the manure agitation vessel  12 . This eliminates the possibility of the user  60  being exposed to harmful manure gasses, such as carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide. 
     In an embodiment, the fluid pump  34  can easily be changed. A larger or smaller fluid pump  34  can be used, simply by connecting the fluid supply conduit  28 . If a mechanical failure is encountered at the fluid pump  34 , the fluid pump  34  can easily be removed and an alternate source can be used, for example, by changing a tractor or by using an alternate pump. 
     In contrast, conventional vessels may be limited by the installed input energy source. If the input energy source is not desirable (too big or too small) it cannot easily be changed because it is an integral part of the vessel. Also if the input energy source has a mechanical failure (such as engine failure or pump failure), the vessel is not functional until it is repaired and may be stranded in the manure lagoon. 
     A further drawback with conventional vessels is the physical size of the units. As the input energy source is located on the vessel, the size and weight of the unit is increased. In order for conventional units to have a floating buoyancy, the conventional units must be a large dimension to accommodate the unit&#39;s weight. This size requirement may necessitate additional equipment, such as a large crane, for installing and removing the vessel from the manure storage facilities. 
     In the present embodiment, having the remote prime mover  32  be land based, the weight of the manure agitation vessel  12  is greatly reduced, and therefore buoyancy can be achieved with a smaller overall dimension of the manure agitation vessel  12 . This also means that the manure agitation vessel  12  may be installed and removed from the storage installation  16  without using an expensive crane (depending on the design of the facility). Further, this also facilitates easier transportation of the lighter and smaller manure agitation vessel  12 . Further, the smaller manure agitation vessel  12  can also be used in smaller storage installations  16  where a larger vessel would be impractical. 
     Further, conventional vessels have the intake for the input energy located near or above the spot where the solids are being suspended in the liquid. The input power source then intakes this material that is composed of liquid with saturated solids and reuses it to agitate more solids. This causes rapid wear of the input energy source (pump) and is inefficient because the thick viscosity of the liquid is already saturated. This may cause rapid wear facture with the input energy source. The reason for this is that the floating vessel is positioned in the manure storage facility where there is a large volume of solid material. 
     In contrast, the input nozzle  38  and prime mover  32  of the present embodiment are remotely located away from the manure agitation vessel  12  at another location of the storage installation  16 . The fluid pump  34  pumps liquid that is proximate to the fluid pump  34 , which may be predominantly or pure liquid effluent. This provides the input nozzle  38  with liquid that is not heavily saturated. This allows the manure agitation vessel  12  to directly agitate the solids into suspension using unsaturated liquid. The solids will also suspend more efficiently using less input energy with a thinner viscous liquid. Using the predominantly or pure liquid effluent to agitate unsaturated liquid may provide a more efficient pump and reduce pump wear. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , illustrated therein is a manure agitation vessel  112 , in accordance with a further embodiment. As with the manure agitation vessel  12 , described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the manure agitation vessel  112  may be operate in a similar manner and be used in the manure agitation system  10 , described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     The manure agitation vessel  112  includes, a frame  120 , floatation  122 , and two outlet nozzles  124 . The outlet nozzles  124  are each positioned at either end of the manure agitation vessel  112  with piping  166  connecting the two outlet nozzles  124  to an inlet nozzle  126 . The outlet nozzle  124  has hydraulic actuators  150  to manipulate the direction of the outlet nozzle  124 . The manure agitation vessel  112  includes the control system  130  for controlling the hydraulic actuators  150  and therefore the direction of the outlet nozzle  124 . The control system  130  includes an onboard small engine  144  attached to a vessel frame  120  for providing power to a hydraulic pump  146 . The hydraulic pump  146  is attached to the vessel frame  120  and pumps hydraulic fluid such as hydraulic oil from a hydraulic fluid reservoir  148  to the hydraulic actuators  150  on the outlet nozzle  124 . The control system  130  also includes a control panel  172  that communicates with the remote control  56  (shown schematically in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The manure agitation vessel  112  includes at least one outrigger  174  on either side of the manure agitation vessel  112  to provide further stability. The outrigger  174  is shown raised for transport or when not in use. The outrigger  174  includes an outrigger frame  176  holding additional flotation  178 . The outrigger frame  176  is attached to the vessel frame  120  by an outrigger arm  180  at an outrigger hinge  182 . 
     While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will be appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.