Patent Publication Number: US-2009218297-A1

Title: Water intake system filter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/044,708, filed Mar. 7, 2008, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/893,581, filed Mar. 7, 2007, both applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to water collection systems for ballast water, cooling water, and auxiliary service water on naval vessels. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for filtering water before reaching the vessel ballast, cooling, and auxiliary systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Naval vessels, such as cargo ships and cruise ships, have been used for years to transport cargo and/or people from port to port all over the world. The ports are typically located onshore near a body of water, and the ships are typically moored nearby to facilitate loading and unloading of the cargo or people. To provide for the operation of the vessel, there are provisions for the vessel to bring aboard surrounding water for the purposes of ballast, cooling, and other miscellaneous auxiliary services. Generally, surrounding water brought aboard a vessel falls into one of two categories, one being ballast water and the other being cooling or auxiliary service water. 
     Typically, naval vessels are configured to displace a specific amount of water in order to maintain stability and/or provide maneuverability in the water, among other factors, and ballast water may facilitate this displacement. Ballast water may be water which is gathered and retained aboard until discharged at, or enroute to, a different location or port. To facilitate displacement of the vessel, the vessel typically includes one or more integral ballast tanks configured to receive and store the water, and to expel the water when desired. The water used to fill the ballast tanks is typically gathered from the water around the vessel, and the ballast tanks may be filled or purged by an onboard system of pumps that are in communication with the ballast tanks on the vessel. 
     To provide for the operation of machinery and equipment on board the naval vessel, water is needed to perform any variety of duties. Cooling or auxiliary service water may be water brought aboard for the purposes of cooling equipment or machinery, or performing some other required duty aboard the vessel, and the water is generally discharged back into the surrounding water on completion of the duty. Typically, vessels will be provided propulsive and/or electrical power through diesel, steam, or gas turbine prime movers. In some cases, excess heat required to be removed from this equipment in the course of its operation is done through the transfer of heat to water that is taken from the surrounding area, put into the required service aboard the vessel, and thereupon returned by discharging the water back into the surrounding environment. In other cases, the water may be needed aboard the vessel to perform duties unrelated to power development. These activities could include providing sealing water for rotating equipment or other equipment, providing water for firefighting, supply water for reverse osmosis filtration or other types of distillation plants, and providing for sanitary water requirements, among other uses. 
     The water supplied for the purposes of use in ballast tanks, cooling water, and/or auxiliary services is typically gathered by inlet conduits or intakes, sometimes referred to as sea chest openings, that are integral to the vessel hull and in communication with the ballast tanks or other systems for which the water is required. While these inlet conduits may include a grating or mesh to filter large debris during operation, the gratings typically do not exclude smaller debris and/or marine life, such as aquatic species of plants and animals. The introduction of certain marine life into the vessel&#39;s water intake system, for example fish species inadvertently pulled into the inlet conduit, may injure or kill the fish irrespective of the duty the water will perform aboard the vessel. Moreover, in the case of water brought aboard for ballast service, any marine biota surviving transfer into a ballast tank will be locationally displaced. This injury, unintentional eradication, or locational displacement of the fish may negatively impact the ecological balance in the body of water in which the vessel is docked, and the possibility of negative environmental impact to fish may limit the docking or landing possibilities of the vessel. For example, estuaries, preserves, and other ecologically sensitive or protected marine areas may not be available as potential landing sites for the vessel. This limited docking potential may, in turn, prevent or minimize commercial ventures in certain areas, or may limit the availability of certain products in an area where the products may be used, thus requiring the products to be off-loaded at distant ports and transported to the area by alternate means. 
     As interest in ecologically sensitive areas grows, companies and other commercial interests desiring to create landing sites have become more cognizant of the fragile ecological balances in these areas. Some of these companies have made commitments to operating in these areas in a manner that not only maintains the ecological balance, but monitors and reacts to ecological shifts in these areas in an effort to enhance the ecosystem. Challenges exist for these companies as the typical vessel to be moored at the landing site may be an older vessel and/or is not equipped to limit impact to the area due to the age of the vessel, or the vessel is mechanically deficient of some apparatus that may limit environmental impact. For example, the companies that operate the landing sites often do not have a say in the age or manufacture of the vessel that is used to transport the cargo to the landing site. Thus, these companies have been challenged to make these vessels more ecologically friendly without major redesigns in the vessel itself. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a water intake filtering system that minimizes or eliminates intake of, and injury to, marine life while maintaining an acceptable flow of water to support vessel requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally provides methods and apparatus for marine vessel water intake systems. In one embodiment, a filter is described. The filter includes a frame, a plurality of movable legs, disposed around a perimeter of the frame, at least one motor coupled to each of the plurality of movable legs, a temporary connector coupled to each of the plurality of movable legs, each temporary connector being actuatable to couple to a hull of a marine vessel, and a covering coupled between opposing sides of the frame to define a surface area that is at least two times greater than an area defined by the opening in the hull. 
     In another embodiment, a filter configured to attach to a hull of a vessel adjacent to an opening in the hull, the opening having an surface open area configured to receive a volume of water at first flow velocity is described. The filter includes a frame and a covering attached to the frame having a surface area that is greater than the open area and defining an interstitial space between the hull and an interior surface of the covering, a perforated plate coupled between the hull and the covering, and a plurality of temporary connectors spaced along the perimeter of the frame, wherein the covering maintains the volume of water at a second flow velocity that is less than the first flow velocity. 
     In another embodiment, a method for filtering marine species from water surrounding a marine vessel is described. The method includes coupling a removable filter to the marine vessel over an opening in the hull, moving water through an area exterior to an outer surface of the removable filter at a first velocity, and moving the filtered water through the opening in the hull at a second velocity that is greater than the first velocity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary landing site. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a portion of the vessel from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is an isometric top view of one embodiment of a filter. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the filter and a hull taken along section  3 B- 3 B from  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is an isometric top view of one embodiment of a filter. 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded isometric detail view taken from  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric top view of another embodiment of a filter. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of another embodiment of a filter. 
         FIG. 6B  is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow diverter. 
         FIG. 6C  is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a flow diverter. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a portion of one embodiment of a covering. 
         FIG. 8A  is an isometric top view of another embodiment of a filter. 
         FIG. 8B  is an isometric detail view of a portion of the filter shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric detail view of one embodiment of an articulatable leg. 
         FIG. 10  shows one embodiment of a movement sequence for a filter. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of one embodiment of a filter positioned on a vessel hull adjacent an opening. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is also contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated on other embodiments without further recitation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention generally relates to water collection systems for filling intake water on naval vessels and may be exemplarily described for use on cargo ships, but embodiments described herein may be used on any vessel that requires intake water to perform required service or fulfill a need upon the vessel. Examples include cruise ships, submarines, personal watercraft, and any other marine vessel configured to gather, store, and expel ballast water, and/or gather, use, and discharge cooling and/or auxiliary service water. Although the invention is exemplarily described with respect to ballast, cooling, and auxiliary water systems aboard these vessels, embodiments described herein may also be adapted to filter incoming water used in other water intake systems aboard the vessels as well. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary landing site  100  having a vessel  105  in a body of water  110  adjacent a processing facility  115  located onshore. The vessel  105  is shown moored to a docking facility  120  that extends at least partially from the shore into the body of water  110 . The body of water  110  may be any body of water suitable for a landing site for the vessel  105  and the docking facility  120  may be between several feet to a thousand or more feet from the shore. In this example, the processing facility  115  may be a liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing facility configured to process LNG off-loaded from the vessel  105 . 
     The docking facility  120  provides a stable platform for loading and unloading cargo, such as LNG in this example. Conduits, such as pipes and hoses, to facilitate loading and unloading of the LNG to and from the processing facility  115  and the vessel  105  may be coupled to the docking facility  120  or in the body of water  110  between the vessel  105  and the processing facility  115 . Other supplies, such as fuel, food, and other items used on the vessel  105 , may be transferred to or from the vessel  105  by using the docking facility  120 . 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a portion of the vessel  105  shown in  FIG. 1 . The vessel  105  includes a hull  205  having an upper portion  215  above a waterline  210  and a lower portion  220  below the waterline  210 . The lower portion  220  includes one or more openings  230 , sometimes referred to as sea chest openings, that are spaced along the length of the hull  205  below the waterline  210 . Each of the openings  230  are in communication with a ballast tank or tanks (not shown) integral to the interior of the hull  205  and are configured to transfer water to the ballast tanks. In other applications, one or more of the openings  230  may be in communication with cooling systems or an auxiliary service system aboard the vessel and the opening is appropriately routed to support equipment or adapted for machinery cooling, or another auxiliary service requirement. While the openings  230  are shown as rectangular, the openings may be any shape, such as circular, oval, or square. 
     As mentioned above, the openings  230  may include a grating or mesh to minimize the introduction of debris into the openings  230 , but typically do not control the introduction of marine life, particularly fish species, into the water intake systems of the vessel. In this embodiment, each of the openings  230  include a filter  225  attached to the hull  205  and positioned over the openings  230  to minimize or eliminate the introduction of marine life into the openings  230 . The filter  225  is adapted to be at least partially flexible to conform to the shape of the outer surface of the hull  205  while maintaining sufficient rigidity and mechanical strength to act as a filter, and may be removably coupled to the hull  205  while the ship is docked by the use of coupling devices (described below). Each filter  225  may be positioned and attached over the openings  230  by a dockside or vessel crane, or divers may be employed to position and attach the filters  225 . Before the vessel leaves the port, each filter  225  may be removed by a crane or divers. 
     The filter  225  as described herein is adapted to decrease incoming water flow velocity at or near the outer surface of the filter  225  while maintaining volumetric flow to the opening  230 . In one embodiment, the surface area of at least the outer surface of the filter  225  is greater than the area of the opening  230 , thereby minimizing the flow velocity at the outer surface of the filter while maintaining a suitable volumetric flow at the opening  230 . In one application, the surface area of the filter  225  is at least two times greater than the area of the opening  230 , while in other applications, the surface area of the filter  225  is three, four, five, or six times greater than the area of the opening  230 . 
       FIG. 3A  is an isometric top view of one embodiment of a filter  225  attached to a base structure, which in this Figure is the hull  205 . The filter  225  includes a polygonal frame  305  having a covering  320  attached thereto. The covering  320  may be a mesh, a screen, a sieve, or any other suitable filtering device. For example, the covering  320  may be a perforated plate, a mesh or woven wire, or a plurality of filtering members as described below in reference to  FIG. 7 . The covering  320  is adapted to have at least about a 25% open area and includes openings that are preferably between about 0.05 inches to about 0.1 inches. The covering  320  may be made of polymers, such as plastic, elastomers, such as saturated or unsaturated rubbers, or may be made of metallic materials, such as brass, copper, aluminum, or stainless steel. 
     In one embodiment, the covering  320  is adapted to flex to accommodate the curvature of the hull  205  while maintaining structural rigidity of the covering  320 . For example, the frame  305  is adapted to flex or conform to the shape of the hull  205 , and is made of conformal materials, such as rubber, plastics, elastomers and the like. The frame  305  may also be made of metallic materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass and the like. The metallic materials may include a spring-like property or be made of sheet metal that may easily bend while retaining sufficient mechanical integrity to prevent permanent bends or creases in the frame, or may include a shape memory alloy (SMA). The frame  305  may also include flexible portions  330 A and  330 B to facilitate conformity of the frame  305  to the hull  205  by enhancing structural strength of at least the covering  320 , while facilitating flexibility of the frame  305 . The flexible portions  330 A and  330 B may be portions of the frame  305  material having a thinner, more flexible cross-section, or the flexible portions may be fasteners, such as hinges, springs, coupling devices, and the like, that are coupled between sections of the frame  305 . In one application, the flexible portions  330 A,  330 B may be a magnetic material to facilitate coupling of the frame  305  to the hull  205 , and in one embodiment, the magnetic material may be flexible or include a fastener coupled between the magnetic material and sections of the frame  305 . 
     The covering  320  is generally spaced apart from the hull  205  to define an intermediate area, shown as an interstitial area  380  in  FIG. 3B  below, that is defined between an outer surface of the hull  205  and the inner surface of the covering  320 . The intermediate area serves to transition the velocity of incoming water to the outer surface of the covering  320  relative to the velocity of the incoming water to the opening  230 . The intermediate area may be formed and maintained by the materials and construction of the filter  225 , such as the rigidity of the covering, and in some applications, the filter  225  may include one or more support members  350  configured to support the covering  320  and space the covering  320  apart from the hull  205  by a stand-off distance  360 . The support members  350  may also include openings  352 , such as slots or holes, configured to provide enhanced flow of water in the intermediate area and may also serve to lighten the weight of the filter  225 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the filter  225  and hull  205  taken along section  3 B- 3 B from  FIG. 3A . As an example, the curvature of the hull  205  is shown in this view, and the covering  320 , at least between the support members  350 , is spaced apart from and generally follows the curvature of the hull  205 . In one embodiment, an intermediate area  380 , that may be defined as the spacing between the hull  205  and the covering  320 , is between about 4 inches to about 12 inches, and is defined at least partially by the stand-off distance  360 . In one application, the intermediate area  380  may be at least partially defined by the volume defined between the hull  205  and the inner surface of the covering  320 . In this embodiment, the covering  320 , at least between the support members  350 , is substantially equally spaced away from the hull  205  and the covering  320 . In other embodiments (not shown), the spacing-apart of the covering  320  and the hull  205  may be different, which may be produced by varying the stand-off distance  360  of each of the support members  350 . For example, the stand-off distance  360  of a center support member may be a greater distance than the outer support members  350 , which may be provided by differing cross-sectional dimensions of the support members  350 . 
     In the example shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , each support member  350  is coupled to the frame and provides a suitable spacing between the hull  205  and the inner surface of the covering  320  to maintain the intermediate area  380  between the hull  205  and the covering  320 . The support members  350  are adapted to flex to facilitate conformity of the filter  225  to the hull  205  while maintaining structural integrity of the filter  225 . The support members  350  may be made of the same materials as the frame  305  and in some applications, the support members  350  may include one or more flexible portions  330 C that are configured similar to the flexible portions  330 A and  330 B described above. 
     To facilitate coupling of the filter  225  to the hull  205 , the frame includes a plurality of temporary connectors  325 , which may be magnetic members, suction devices, vacuum devices, and combinations thereof. In one application, at least a portion of the plurality of temporary connectors  325  are mechanically actuatable magnets that may be actuated manually or remotely by a switch or lever. In another application, electrically actuated magnets may be used, and the magnets may be actuated by a remote actuation system or manually by a diver. In another application where the condition of the hull allows, at least a portion of the temporary connectors  325  are suction or vacuum devices that may be configured to hold and release by a mechanical lever, or the vacuum device may include a hose coupled to a source of negative pressure to maintain suction and coupling of the filter  225  to the hull  205 . 
       FIG. 4A  is an isometric top view of another embodiment of a filter  225 . In this embodiment, the filter  225  includes a frame comprising two end caps  410 A,  410 B and one or more filter sections, which are shown as sections  420 A- 420 D, coupled therebetween. Each end cap  410 A,  410 B may be solid or include a tubular cross-section and is adapted to couple to a portion of a filter section, such as section  420 A and  420 D. Additional filter sections, such as  420 B and  420 C may be added to the filter  225 , as needed, such as by placing an additional section ( 420 A and/or  420 C) adjacent and between each end cap  410 A,  410 B. The filter sections  420 A,  420 D may be permanently or removably attached to respective end caps  410 A,  410 B, or may be held in position by temporary connector, such as a magnet, suction devices, and the like, or other fasteners, such as bolts or screws. In one embodiment, the filter sections  420 B and  420 C may be removably joined at an interface  430 . In this embodiment, the filter  225  is configurable as the filter sections  420 B- 420 C may be added or removed as needed, or additional filter sections (not shown) may be added as needed, to adjust the size of the filter  225 . In one embodiment, the filter sections  420 A and  420 D are adapted to attach to respective end caps  410 A,  410 B along the structural edges of the filter section to permit unimpeded flow of water through the covering  320 . 
     Each end cap  410 A,  410 B includes a housing  440  that may include a temporary connector, such as a magnet, a suction device, and the like, as described in reference to  FIG. 3A . In one embodiment, each end cap  510 A,  510 B may include an end section  435  having a housing  440  that provides a connection point for the end caps  510 A,  510 B. In some applications, the end section includes other temporary connectors (not shown) disposed in locations other than the housing  440 . In other applications, the filter sections may include housings  440  that may include temporary connectors (not shown) to facilitate attachment at points along the length L of the filter  225 . 
     In one embodiment, each filter section  420 A- 420 D may include a structural member  450  that is adapted to enhance the mechanical strength and rigidity of the covering  320  and/or the filter  225 . For example, each filter section  420 A- 420 D may include one or more structural members  450  that serve as an attachment point for the covering  320  while also adding mechanical strength to the filter section. In one application, filter sections  420 A and  420 D are coupled on one end to respective end caps  410 A,  410 B by any fastening device or method, such as welding, adhesives, clamps, screws, bolts, rivets, snaps, a hook and loop type fastener, or any other suitable fastening device or method. In one specific embodiment, each end cap  410 A,  410 B and/or section  420 A- 420 D includes a recess  412  formed therein that is adapted to receive a portion of a respective filter section. As an example, an extended member  460  on filter sections  420 A,  420 D, such as a rod or bar, may extend out of the respective section to be received in the recess  412  as shown in  FIG. 4B . The extended member  460  may be coupled to a respective filter section by fasteners  462 , which may be bolts, screws, rivets, hook and loop connectors, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the filter section adjacent each end cap may be attached by a plurality of fasteners (not shown), such as bolts, screws, clamps, and the like and at least a portion of the fasteners are configured to secure a portion of an extended member  460  to the respective end cap. 
     In this embodiment, the width “W” may be any desired width that may be determined before manufacture, and the length “L” may be configurable or modular. For example, each filter section  420 A- 420 D may be added as needed in order to increase the length L of the filter  225 , which increases the surface area of the filter  225 . Additional filter sections  420 B,  420 C may be coupled to the respective filter sections  420 A,  420 D at the interface  430  between the respective sections to adjust the length L. Each interface  430  may be a plurality of fasteners, such as bolts or screws, clamps, and the like, and is adapted to attach and detach easily. In one embodiment, one filter section may include an extended member  460 , such as a bar or rod, that is adapted to be received by an adjacent filter section, which may be fastened together as described above. In one embodiment, the interface  430  comprises a hook and loop fastener made of a corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel. The end caps  410 A,  410 B may be made of SMA&#39;s, elastomers or polymers, such as plastics, or corrosion resistant metals that may include a spring-like property to facilitate slight bends to conform to the shape of the hull (not shown in this view). Likewise, each interface  430  is adapted to bend slightly to facilitate conformation of the filter  225  to the hull  205 . 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric top view of another embodiment of a filter  225  that is similar to the filter  225  of  FIG. 4A  with the exception of differences in the end caps  510 A,  510 B and the addition of a conformal material  505  along the lower surface of the end caps  510 A,  510 B and filter sections  520 A,  520 B. In this embodiment, the end caps  510 A and  510 B include elongated ends that serve to provide additional mechanical strength to the filter  225  and include the covering  320  attached thereto. In one embodiment, each filter section  520 A,  520 B and/or end cap  510 A,  510 B may include one or more structural members  550  that are adapted to enhance the mechanical strength and rigidity of the covering  320 . The end caps  510 A,  510 B also include a plurality of housings  540  that may include temporary connectors, such as magnets, suction devices, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, each end cap  510 A,  510 B may include a center section  535  having at least one housing  540  for a temporary connector as described above. Each end cap  510 A,  510 B also includes one or more flexible interfaces  514 , as well as flexible interfaces  514  between end caps and filter sections  520 A,  520 B. The flexible interfaces  514  may include flexible materials or devices allowing flexibility. Examples include hinges, a flexible material, such as rubber, SMA&#39;s, hook and loop connectors, as well as other devices and materials that allow at least some flexibility in the filter  225 . 
     A conformal material  505  is also shown along a joining surface of the filter  225 , such as the surface of the filter  225  that faces the hull (not shown) and/or the surface(s) of each end cap  510 A,  510 B, and/or filter sections  520 A,  520 B. The conformal material  505  is configured to provide a flexible, conformal seal between the hull (not shown) and the filter  225  and facilitates sealing of irregularities in the hull, such as low spots and high spots, rough surfaces, fouling, among other surface irregularities. The conformal material  505  includes flexible materials, such as rubber, foams, silicone, and other flexible materials and may be coupled to the joining surface of the filter  225  by fasteners and/or adhesives. In one embodiment, the conformal material  505  is along the length L or the width W, but in other applications, the conformal material  505  is coupled to the entire joining surface of each end cap  510 A,  510 B, and filter sections  520 A,  520 B. Additionally, conformal material  505  may be disposed at each flexible interface  514  to provide a substantial seal between the hull (not shown) and the filter  225 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of another embodiment of a filter  225  attached to a portion of the vessel hull  205 . In this embodiment, the filter  225  includes a flow diversion device, such as a flow diverter  610 , positioned over an opening  230  (shown in phantom) in the hull  205 . The flow diverter  610  may be used in combination with the filters  225  as described herein and is adapted to equalize the flow velocity across an outer surface or a face of the filter  225 . The flow diverter  610  may be sized to equal the size of the opening  230  or be slightly larger than the opening  230 , and is configured to divert some water flow away from the center of the filter  225 . 
     The flow diverter  610  may be a rectangular or circular plate or corrugated member made of corrosion resistant materials, such as polymers, elastomers, metals, and the like. The flow diverter  610  may be a solid plate, a perforated plate, a mesh material, a plurality of angled plates, or any combination thereof. The flow diverter  610  may be integral to the covering  320  of the filter  225 , for example coupled to the inner surface or outer surface of the covering, or may be used to replace a portion of the covering  320  of the filter  225 . In one embodiment, the flow diverter  610  may include a plurality of orifices or slots (not shown) that may be angled to divert the flow path of the water as it passes therethrough. While the opening  230  is shown as rectangular, the opening may be any shape, for example round, oval, or square. Also, the flow diverter  610  is shown as rectangular but may comprise any shape regardless of the shape of the opening  230 . For example, the opening  230  may be round or circular and the flow diverter  610  may comprise a rectangular, a hexagonal shape, a triangular shape, or any other suitable shape. 
     In this embodiment, the filter  225  also includes a plurality of lighting devices  660  coupled to the frame of the filter  225 , and are configured to provide optical energy in a manner that repels at least a portion of any marine life adjacent the face of the filter  225 . In one embodiment, the plurality of lighting devices  660  are positioned and actuated to repel at least a portion of marine life from the vicinity of the filter  225 . In one embodiment, each of the plurality of lighting devices  660  may be a strobe light configured to flash intermittently or synchronously. The lighting devices  660  may be powered by a battery (not shown) coupled to, or integral to, the frame of the filter  225 . In some applications, the lighting devices  660  may be powered by a remote power source using cords or wires in communication with the lighting devices. The plurality of lighting devices  660  are directed outwardly (away from the hull  205 ) and are adapted to provide an irradiance of about 90 W/meter 2  at a distance of about 1.5 meters from the outer surface of the filter  225 , further described in reference to  FIG. 6B . In one application, the plurality of lighting devices  660  are strobe lights adapted to flash in a synchronous mode and in one specific application, the strobe lights are adapted to flash synchronously at a rate of about 250 to about 350 flashes per minute. 
       FIG. 6B  is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a flow diverter  610 . In this embodiment, the flow diverter  610  is coupled to the inner surface of the filter  225  and positioned in front of the opening  230 . The flow diverter  610  may be in contact with the inner surface of the covering  320 , or may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the covering  320  to provide a space between the inner surface of the covering and the face of the flow diverter  610 . The flow diverter  610  is shown as a corrugated member in this embodiment but may also be flat and may be coupled to the filter by fasteners, such as screws, bolts, rivets, mounting hardware, and the like. The flow diverter  610  may also be bonded by adhesives or welds to the filter  225 , or may be adapted to be detachable from the filter  225  by magnetic attraction. Spacers (not shown) may be coupled to the flow diverter  610  to maintain spacing between the inner surface of the covering  320  and the face of the flow diverter  610 , if needed. 
     In this embodiment, the filter  225  includes the lighting devices  660  as shown in  FIG. 6A . As described above, the lighting devices  660  may be integral to the periphery of the filter  225  and are directed outward and away from the hull  205 . In one embodiment, each of the plurality of lighting devices  660  are positioned to direct light at about a 45° angle from the plane of the covering  320  to define a light path  665  (shown as a dashed line). Each light path  665  may be configured to converge at about 1-2 meters in front of and at or near a geometric center of the filter  225 . In this manner, an irradiance of about 90 W/meter 2  at a distance of about 1.5 meters from the outer surface of the filter  225  may be provided. 
       FIG. 6C  is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a flow diverter  610 . In this embodiment, the flow diverter  610  includes a plurality of extensions  615  that serve as contact points and spacing devices between the backside of the flow diverter  610  and the hull  205 . Each of the extensions  615  may be adapted to include a connection member, such as a magnet or suction device as described above, and the flow diverter  610  may be coupled to the hull  205  independently from the filter  225 . For example, the flow diverter  610  may be positioned and attached to the hull  205  by a dockside or vessel crane, and/or divers may be used to position and attach the flow diverter  610  to the hull  205 . After the flow diverter  610  is coupled to the hull, the filter  225  may be attached to the hull as described above. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a portion of one embodiment of a covering  720  that may be used as the covering  320  in the filters  225  shown in  FIGS. 3-5  and  6 A- 6 C. The covering  720  includes a plurality of filtering members  705 . Filtering members may be profile bar, woven wire, perforated plate, or a layered combination thereof. In this embodiment the filtering members  705  are generally triangular or “V” shaped members having a flat side  715  opposing a point  725 . In one application, the point  725  is facing the vessel during attachment to the vessel, and the flat side  715  is on the incoming water side of the filter. The filtering members  705  may be coupled to a structural member  750 , which may be the support member  350  of  FIG. 3  or the structural members  450  and  550  of  FIGS. 4A and 5 , respectively. The structural member  750  may be integral or suitably joined to each of the filtering members  705  by bonding, such as by adhesive bonding or welding. The structural member  750  may provide rigidity and maintenance of spacing of the filtering members  705  at substantially equal intervals to define a plurality of openings  730  therebetween. In one embodiment, each of the openings  730  is substantially equal and include a width of about 0.25 inches or less. In another embodiment, each of the openings  730  includes a width of about 0.05 inches or less. 
     The filters  225  described herein are adapted to facilitate suitable flow of water to the opening in the hull of a vessel while decreasing the velocity of the water flow across the filter In one embodiment, the filters  225  described herein facilitate an approach velocity, which may be defined as the incoming water velocity at a point perpendicular to and approximately three inches in front of the outer surface of the covering  320  (i.e. the upstream side or area outside of or opposite the intermediate area), that is between about 0.1 feet per second (fps) and about 1 fps. In one specific application, the filters may be configured to have an approach velocity of about 0.2 fps or less. The increased surface area of the filters allows a suitable and sufficient volume of water to enter the opening  230  while minimizing the flow velocity and/or equalizing the velocity gradient across the face of the filter. 
     The configuration of the covering  320  as described herein prevents marine life of a certain size from entering the opening  230 , and the decreased approach velocity facilitated by the filters prevents or minimizes entrainment and impingement of the marine life against the outer surface of the covering. This, in turn, minimizes or eliminates introduction of the marine life into the opening in the hull while also minimizing or eliminating the possibility of injury or locational displacement to the marine life. In the event that debris and marine life may clog the openings in the covering, the filters may be cleaned periodically by personnel, either dockside by removing the filters from the hull, or in the water while the filters are coupled to the hull. In some applications, a flow of water or other suitable medium may be applied from the opening  230 , or through external means to the interior of the filter  225  and/or covering  320 , periodically, such that the flow is reversed through the filter and/or covering in order to remove the debris and/or marine life from the filter and/or covering, as needed. Once the covering has been cleared of debris and marine life, the pumping of incoming water may be resumed and/or maximized. In one embodiment, a bypass system is provided when excessive differential pressure is detected within the filter  225 , which may indicate a clog at one or more filter sections or portions of the covering  320 . In this embodiment, one or more filter sections or portions of the covering are adapted to allow water to bypass the obstructed filter portion in order to prevent potential damage to shipboard systems using the intake water. 
       FIG. 8A  is an isometric top view of another embodiment of a filter  225  that is similar to the filter  225  of  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, the filter  225  includes a plurality of articulatable legs  805  coupled to a perimeter of the frame  305 . Each of the articulatable legs  805  include a temporary connector  325  coupled thereto. In this embodiment, each of the temporary connectors  325  include a suction device or a magnetic material, such as an electromagnetic device. Additionally, the filter  225  includes one or more remote vision devices  810 , which may be a camera and a lighting device that is coupled to the frame  305  or other portion of the filter  225 . Each of the one or more remote vision devices  810  are adapted to provide operator feedback during deployment, retrieval and/or operation of the filter  225 . The one or more remote vision devices  810  may be coupled to a motor providing rotation and/or movement relative to the frame  305 , or may be fixed to the frame  305  in a position to view the vessel hull (not shown) during a deployment or retrieval exercise. 
     In this embodiment, the filter  225  includes one or more sensors  826  coupled to or within the filter  225 . Each of the one or more sensors  826  may be disposed external or internal to the covering  320  in a manner that exposes each sensor to fluid flow during a water intake process. Each of the one or more sensors  826  may be a pressure sensor or transducer adapted to provide a metric of pressure across the entire filter or local pressure within the filter. In one aspect, the sensors  826  are adapted to provide a metric of pressure drop at local points within each filter section and provide a determination of the pressure drop across the entire surface area of the filter  225 . In addition, one or more sensors  826  may be a velocity transducer to provide a metric of water velocity at the sensor location. The filter  225  also includes a control head  815  coupled to the frame  305 . The control head  815  functions as a power and sensor control distribution panel and as an attachment junction for at least one umbilical cable, which provides power and input/output functions to and from the filter  225 . At least one umbilical cable is coupled to a control module  850  that provides environmental and positional information to an operator. The filter  225  also includes a suitable number of attachment junctions on the frame  305  for at least one tether. The tether additionally provides support for the umbilical cable. 
     The filter  225  also includes a flow diverter  610  coupled to the frame  305 . In this embodiment, the flow diverter  610  is coupled to the interior of the frame under the covering  320  and is adapted to function as a distribution plate to distribute and/or spread flow volume across the covering  320 . While not shown, the flow diverter  610  in this embodiment spans the inside length and width of the frame  305  below the covering  320 . 
       FIG. 8B  is an isometric detail view of a portion of the filter  225  shown in  FIG. 8A . In this view, a portion of the covering  320  is removed to show the flow diverter  610  in greater detail. The flow diverter  610  is configured as a perforated sheet having a plurality of orifices or openings  822  formed therethrough. Ridges or corrugated portions  823  may be provided to add structural rigidity to the flow diverter  610 . Also shown is a plurality of sensors  826  that may be positioned between the covering  320  and the flow diverter  610  and below the flow diverter  610  in order to gauge pressure drop, water velocity, or a combination thereof. 
     In one aspect, the flow diverter  610  is adapted to spread out the concentrated fluid flow into the opening  230  ( FIGS. 2-3B ) across the entire area of the covering  320  during a water intake process. For example, if the filter  225  is applied to opening  230  with a water intake rate of 3,000 m 3 /hour and where the effective surface area of the covering  320  is 13.94 m 2 , the flow volume is evenly spread across the entire 13.94 m 2  surface area of the covering  320 . In this example, the linear velocity at points perpendicular to and approximately three inches in front of the outer surface of the covering  320  (i.e. the upstream side of the covering  320 ) is approximately 0.061 meters/second. Thus, the function of the flow diverter  610  is to reduce velocity gradients across the outer surface of the covering  320  by providing resistance to the localized concentration of fluid flow downstream of the covering  320 . The pattern of openings  822  provide a flow restriction by directing concentrated flow to adjacent openings  822  with lower velocities, which spreads the intake flow across the entire area of the covering  320  and minimizes the velocity gradients across the covering  320 . 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric detail view of one embodiment of an articulatable leg  805 . The articulatable leg  805  includes at least three movable segments  905 A,  905 B and  905 C that are adapted to move independently relative to each other. The segment  905 C includes a temporary connector  325  coupled thereto that may be magnetic device, a suction devices, or a vacuum device adapted to couple the filter  225  to the vessel hull  205  (not shown). In one embodiment, the temporary connector  325  is an electromagnetic device adapted to be remotely activated and deactivated to provide a desired coupling and decoupling to and from the vessel hull  205  in a deployment, intake, or retrieval process. 
     In one embodiment, the segments  905 A,  905 B and  905 C include a hinged connection, such as a revolute joint, providing at least rotational movement in axes A′, A″, A′″ and A″″. The segments  905 B and  905 C are connected by linking members  910  that allow the segment  905 C to be raised (in the Z direction) relative to the segment  905 B. The segment  905 A includes a movable joint that couples the frame  305  to a first actuator  915 A. The segment  905 B includes a movable joint that couples the first actuator  915 A to the linking members  910 . The segment  905 C includes a movable joint that couples the linking members  910  to a second actuator  915 B. The segment  905 C also includes the temporary connector  325 . 
     Each of the segments  905 A,  905 B and  905 C are capable of movement in at least one degree of freedom. The segment  905 A provides rotational movement along axis A′ allowing the segments  905 B and  905 C to move laterally (in the X direction). The segment  905 B provides rotational movement along axis A″. The segment  905 C provides rotational movement along axis A′″ and A″″. The combination of the rotational or pivoting movement provided by the segments  905 A,  905 B and  905 C allows the articulatable leg  805 , specifically the temporary connector  325 , to move linearly in the X, Y and Z directions relative to the frame  305 . 
     In one aspect, each of the movable segments  905 A,  905 B and  905 C include actuators  915  adapted to provide motive force to each segment and move each segment relative to one another. The segments  905 A and  905 B may share a single actuator  915  adapted to provide movement in at least two axes or directions. Each of the actuators  915  may be electrically operated, hydraulically operated or pneumatically operated to provide motive force to each segment  905 A,  905 B and  905 C. 
     In one embodiment, a remote vision device  810  is coupled to the articulatable leg  805 . The remote vision device  810  may be a video camera and light adapted to provide operator feedback during deployment, operation, or retrieval of the filter  225 . The remote vision device  810  may be coupled to a linking member  910  and may also include a motor (not shown) providing rotation and/or movement relative to the linking member  910 . Alternatively, the remote vision device  810  may be fixed to the linking member  910  in a position to view the temporary connector  325 , the screen surface and/or the vessel hull (not shown) during operations, a deployment or retrieval exercise. Each of the actuators  915  are configured for remote operation to allow an operator to move the filter  225  relative to the vessel hull  205  in a deployment or retrieval process, and position the filter  225  relative to the opening  230  in the vessel hull  205 . 
       FIG. 10  shows one embodiment of a movement method  1000  for a filter  225  having a plurality of articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  that are similar to the articulatable leg  805  described in  FIG. 9 . The movement sequence of the filter  225  described herein is provided to move the filter  225  relative to the vessel hull  205  and may be used in a deployment or retrieval exercise. In this embodiment, the movement sequence is described in a deployment mode but the movement sequencing of the filter may be adapted in a retrieval process as well. 
     In deploying the filter  225 , the filter  225  may be positioned adjacent the vessel hull  205  by personnel on the docking facility (not shown) or positioned adjacent the vessel hull  205  from a deployment vessel (not shown), such as a boat or platform positioned alongside the vessel hull  205 . The personnel on the docking facility or the deployment vessel may use a crane or lifting device to facilitate positioning of the filter  225  adjacent the vessel hull  205 . 
     One or both of the deployment vessel and docking facility includes a control station having a control module  850  ( FIG. 8A ) to monitor and control the filter  225 . In one embodiment, each filter  225  is in communication with a control module that includes control inputs, sensor readouts and monitors, alarm indicators and camera feeds. An operator receives directional orientation through real-time camera feeds displayed at the control module  850 . 
     Sequence step  1010  includes decoupling the filter  225  from the crane or lifting device in a position adjacent the vessel hull  205  and then coupling the filter  225  to the vessel hull  205  with one or more of the temporary connectors  325  coupled to the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6 . In one embodiment, the adjacent position may be a position where the horizontal plane of the filter  225  is substantially parallel to or substantially equidistant to the general plane of a surface of the vessel hull  205 . Substantially parallel or equidistant is understood as a parallel relationship equidistant relationship between a general plane of the vessel hull and the general plane of the filter  225  and includes curved surfaces of the vessel hull  205  and/or curved shapes of the filter  225 . When the filter  225  is positioned relative to the vessel hull  205 , the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  are oriented orthogonally relative to the frame (in the Y direction) and in a coplanar orientation (Z direction) relative to the plane of the filter  225  such that the temporary connectors  325  are substantially coplanar with the plane of the filter  225 . 
     Sequence step  1010  also includes moving at least one articulatable leg on one side of the filter  225  and at least two articulatable legs on an opposing side to position the respective temporary connectors  325  coupled to the actuated articulatable legs to a position adjacent the vessel hull  205 . When the respective temporary connectors  325  are adjacent the vessel hull  205 , the temporary connectors  325  are actuated to fasten to the vessel hull  205 . Moving the temporary connectors  325  may include actuating the respective articulatable legs toward the vessel hull  205  and out of the coplanar orientation with the filter  225  (in the Z direction). In one example of sequence step  1010 , the temporary connectors  325  disposed on the articulatable legs L 1 , L 3  and L 5  are actuated to fasten to the vessel hull  205 , thus suspending the filter  225  relative to the vessel hull  205 . In another example of sequence step  1010 , all of the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  may be moved to a position adjacent the vessel hull  205  and each temporary connector  325  may be actuated to fasten the filter  225  to the vessel hull  205 . 
     Sequence step  1020 , includes pivoting the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  out of the orthogonal orientation with the frame  305  with the articulating legs remaining attached to the vessel hull  205  by the respective temporary connectors  325 . The pivoting motion of the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  cause the filter  225  to move laterally (X direction) relative to the vessel hull  205 . 
     Sequence step  1030  includes moving or raising (in the Z direction) at least one articulatable leg on one side of the filter  225  and at least two articulatable legs on an opposing side of the filter  225 . Sequence step  1030  also includes then pivoting at remaining articulatable legs on each side of the filter  225 . One example of sequence step  1030  includes de-actuating the temporary connectors  325  disposed on the articulatable legs L 2 , L 4  and L 6  while the temporary connectors  325  disposed on the articulatable legs L 1 , L 3  and L 5  are energized and holding the filter  225  on the vessel hull  205 . In this example, the articulatable legs L 2 , L 4  and L 6  are pivoted to move the temporary connectors  325  disposed thereon laterally (in the X direction) relative to the vessel hull  205 . Once the articulatable legs L 2 , L 4  and L 6  are pivoted about the Z-axis, the articulatable legs L 2 , L 4  and L 6  lower (in the Z direction) to position the temporary connectors  325  disposed thereon adjacent the vessel hull  205 . When the temporary connectors  325  are in position, the temporary connectors  325  disposed on the articulatable legs L 2 , L 4  and L 6  are energized to fasten the filter  225  to the vessel hull  205 . The final orientation of the articulating legs L 2 , L 4  and L 6  following this step is shown in the illustration of sequence step  1030 . 
     Sequence step  1040  includes de-energizing the temporary connectors  325  disposed on the articulatable legs L 1 , L 3  and L 5  and raising (in the Z direction) the temporary connectors  325  disposed thereon away from the vessel hull  205 . When the temporary connectors  325  disposed on the articulatable legs L 1 , L 3  and L 5  are positioned away from the vessel hull  205 , the articulatable legs L 1 , L 3  and L 5  are pivoted about the Z-axis to move the temporary connectors  325  laterally (in the X direction) relative to the vessel hull  205 . The final orientation of the articulating legs L 1 , L 3  and L 5  following this step is shown in the illustration of sequence step  1040 . 
     Sequence step  1050  includes pivoting the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  while the respective temporary connectors  325  remain attached to the vessel hull  205  to move the filter  225  laterally (in the X direction) relative to the vessel hull  225 . The sequence steps  1010 - 1050  provide movement of the filter  225  relative to the vessel hull by a travel distance TD. The sequence steps  1020 - 1050  may be repeated as needed to move the filter  225  to a desired location on the vessel hull  205 . In one embodiment, the travel distance TD is about 1 meter. Other movement sequences of the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6  may be used to move the filter  225  vertically (in the Y direction) relative to the vessel hull  205 . Diagonal movement may also be provided by manipulation of the articulatable legs L 1 -L 6 . Thus, desired lateral, vertical and diagonal positioning of the filter  225  may be provided to deploy the filter  225 , retrieve the filter  225 , and position the filter  225  relative to an opening  230  in the vessel hull  205 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of a filter  225  positioned on the vessel hull  205  adjacent an opening  230  (shown in phantom). When the filter  225  is positioned adjacent the opening  230  as desired, the temporary connectors  325  on each articulatable leg  805  are actuated. Each articulatable leg  805  may be locked or biased toward the vessel hull  205  to securely position the conformal material  505  against the vessel hull  205 . The conformal material  505  provides a flexible, conformal seal between the vessel hull  205  and the frame  305 . The conformal seal provides for the sealing of the conformal material to hull contours as well as facilitating sealing of irregularities in the vessel hull  205 , such as low spots and high spots, rough surfaces, fouling, among other surface irregularities. The conformal material  505  includes flexible materials, such as rubber, foams, silicone, and other flexible materials and may be coupled to the joining surface of the filter  225  by fasteners and/or adhesives. Another function of the conformal material is to transfer and distribute any load forces from the screen to the hull. In one embodiment, the conformal material  505  includes a bladder  1100  adapted to facilitate sealing between the frame  305  and the vessel hull  205 . In this embodiment, the bladder  1100  is coupled to a compressed fluid source, such as an air compressor, to facilitate inflation of the bladder  1100 . The bladder  1100  is coupled to a valve  1103  to facilitate pressure regulation and/or deflation of the bladder  1100 . 
     In one embodiment, each of the temporary connectors  325  includes a shaft  1104  and a positioning device  1105 . The positioning device  1105  may be a swivel, a gimbal mechanism, a threaded member, or an actuator adapted to provide movement toward or away (in the Z direction) from the vessel hull  205 . Thus, in one embodiment, the positioning device  1105  provides a fine adjustment of the filter  225  relative to the vessel hull  205 . The assembly consisting of positioning device  1105 , shaft  1104  and temporary connector  325  additionally provides for rotation about the A″″ axis. Also shown is a plurality of remote vision devices  810  coupled to the frame  305  and articulatable legs  805 . In this embodiment, each of the remote vision devices  810  include a video camera  1110  and a lighting device  1115 . 
     One or more sensors  826 , such as a pressure sensor or a transducer, are in communication with the conformal material  505 . In one embodiment, the one or more sensors are transducers that are adapted to provide a metric of the pressure inside the bladder  1100 . Additionally other sensors  1126  may be coupled to other portions of the frame  305  and/or the articulatable legs  805 . In this embodiment, each sensor  1126  includes a pressure sensor or transducer, or a proximity sensor that is adapted to provide a metric of distance between the frame  305  and other objects, such as the vessel hull  205 . In one embodiment, each sensor  1126  disposed on the articulatable legs  805  is a transducer that is used to provide pressure metrics at points on the respective articulatable leg  805 . Although articulatable legs are shown coupled to the filter  225  to provide motive force for moving the filter  225 , other mechanisms may be used, such as wheels, tracks or other motive devices. 
     The apparatus and method described herein is adapted to protect certain fish species and other marine life in areas that may be protected, and also maintains the status quo in areas that are not currently protected by minimizing or preventing accidental injury, eradication, and dislocation of these species. This provides less of an environmental impact in an area that may be protected and may open up the possibilities for landing sites for commercial ventures. Also, the apparatus and method provides a smaller ecological footprint in areas where the vessel is docked or moored, as the marine population will not be significantly reduced or affected in the area around the docking facility. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.