Abstract:
A watercraft for reduces aquatic plant infestation by mulching or otherwise chopping plants growing on the surface of the water as the craft moves forward along a waterway. Specifically exemplified is an airboat having a hull with an intake port at the bow end of the craft whereby aquatic plant laden water enters the craft; an exhaust port whereby water and mulched aquatic plants are discharged; at least two vertically-oriented spindles having blades attached thereon, and at least one positionable and interchangeable blade assembly disposed in front of the intake port which may be raised, lowered and tilted as desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an improved water craft capable of efficiently reducing infestation in bodies of water by aquatic plants and the like. 
     2. Background Information 
     The present inventors have developed and patented a device disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,240, (“the &#39;240 patent”), which issued to patent on Aug. 6, 1996. The information and disclosure of that patent is hereby incorporated by reference, including the “Information Disclosure” and discussion of known patents and references found therein. 
     Essentially, the device disclosed according to the &#39;240 patent represented an operative embodiment of a prototype device. The features of the improvement of the present invention reflect refinements that have been developed in the course of the arduous task of manufacturing of a commercial embodiment of the device disclosed according to the &#39;240 patent. Thus, it is believed that the present invention represents a novel and non-obvious improvement to the device disclosed and claimed in the &#39;240 patent. 
     In addition to the references cited in the &#39;240 patent, since that date, the following additional references have come to the attention of the present inventors: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,856, which discloses a method and apparatus for cutting aquatic vegetation, including a cutter head of radially oriented rotatable cutting blades spirally mounted along a rotateable drum. Aquatic vegetation shredded by the device is diverted to a submersible pump for conveyance to a remote location. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,204, which relates to a device comprising two rotors arranged in a shallow V arrangement which directs shredded plant matter to an internal harvest location within the vessel. 
     It is believed that the present invention disclosure provides an improved water craft for reducing aquatic plant infestation, and that the improvements disclosed herein are new, useful and non-obvious in light of the references cited herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention represents an improvement over the water craft for reducing aquatic plant infestation disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,240. Accordingly, the improved device comprises: 
     (a) a hull having an intake port at the bow end of the craft whereby aquatic plant laden water enters the craft; 
     (b) an exhaust port whereby water and mulched aquatic plants are discharged; and 
     (c) at least one array of cutting blades, rotatably disposed between said intake and said exhaust ports for mulching solid matter in the water passing from said intake port to said exhaust port; 
     wherein the improvement comprises at least one vertically-oriented cutter spindle and none, one or more of the following features: 
     (i) a positionable, interchangeable blade assembly disposed at said intake port and which may be raised, lowered, and tilted, and which in addition may be interchanged in the water, by means of a floatation feature, for an alternate blade assembly; 
     (ii) a cutter blade design, including a staggered, angular configuration of cutter blades, an intermeshed horizontal blade configuration, and a horizontal, swivel-mounted configuration; 
     (iii) an hydraulic system used to operate the cutter blades, including efficient aquatic plant infestation reduction through: cutter blade rotation between 500 and 4000 rpm via hydraulic motors, and placement of hydraulic oil reservoirs on either side of the water craft to facilitate cooling of said fluid; 
     (iv) centralization of electrical and hydraulic controls at the operator interface facilitating efficient handling of the water craft and cutter blade assembly; and 
     (v) a funnel or “V” shaped cutter assembly housing. 
     These and other improvements will become apparent from a review of the full disclosure and claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a reproduction of FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,240, of which the present invention is an improvement. 
     FIG. 2A shows a side view of a first embodiment of the water craft of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B shows a top view of a first embodiment of the water craft of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3A shows a side view detail of the cutter blade assembly in a raised position. 
     FIG. 3B shows a side view detail of the cutter blade assembly in a lowered position. 
     FIG. 3C shows a side view detail of the cutter blade assembly in a raised and tilted position. 
     FIG. 3D shows a side view detail of the cutter blade assembly in the operation position. 
     FIG. 3E shows a frontal view of the cutter blade assembly in the operation position. 
     FIG. 4A shows a top view from a frontal aspect of one layout for the water craft cutter blades that comprises 6 spindles, four proximal and two distal with respect to the front of the water craft. 
     FIG. 4B shows a top view from a frontal aspect of one layout for the water craft cutter blades that comprises 6 spindles that are spaced apart. 
     FIG. 4C shows a top view from a frontal aspect of one layout for the water craft cutter blades that comprises 6 spindles, two proximal and four distal with respect to the front of the water craft. 
     FIG. 5 shows a detailed side view of the cutter spindles and cutter blades of one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a detailed side view of the cutter spindles and cutter blades of a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 shows a top detailed view of one embodiment of an horizontally oriented cutter blade according to this invention. 
     FIG. 8A-D provide representations of alternative cutter blade shapes and attachment means. 
     FIG. 9A-D provides a depiction of the vertically oriented cutter spindle of this invention. 
     FIG. 10 provides a schematic representation of one hydraulic circuit useable according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a reproduction of FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,240. The description or the reference numerals relating to that figure are hereby incorporated by reference, for purposes of defining the distinctions and improvements provided by the instant patent disclosure. As can be seen from that figure, reference numeral 1 (“ref. 1”) refers to an intake port, ref.2 refers to an exhaust port, ref. 9 refers to a mulching chamber disposed between two pontoons, ref. 21. In the patented device, the mulching chamber ref. 9 is formed by an upper platform, ref. 22, supporting hydraulic supports, ref. 23, for raising and lowering the mulching chamber, ref. 9. Optionally, the mulching chamber, ref. 9, may have been fixed in place, with biomass coming into contact with cutter blades, ref. 33, mounted on a series of horizontally arrayed cutter shafts, ref. 29, coupled via coupling means, ref. 28, to hydraulic motors, ref. 28, which cause the shafts and blades to rotate. 
     Referring to FIG. 2A, there is provided a side view of a first embodiment of the device  100  of the present invention, while FIG. 2B provides a top view of the first embodiment of the device  100 . The device  100  comprises: a hull  200 , formed from two connected but spaced-apart pontoons  201  and  202 , thereby forming an intake port  203  and an exhaust port  204  between the two pontoons  201  and  202 , whereby aquatic plant laden water enters the craft, and after being mulched, is discharged from the craft, respectively. The pontoons  201  and  202  may, but need not, extend all the way to the rear of the craft. In one embodiment, the pontoons  201  and  202  are buoyant extensions  201 ′ and  202 ′ to a continuous (as opposed to spaced apart pontoons) hull  200 . In this embodiment, and exhaust port  204 ′ is formed by the space that exists between the forwardly projecting pontoons  201 ′ and  202 ′, which in this embodiment are, in essence, affixed to the front  205  of a water craft  100 . The space between the pontoons  201 ′ and  202 ′ and the front surface  205  of the craft  100  defines an abutment against which mulched biomass is disgorged by the blade assembly  300 , and discharged via exhaust port  204 ′. The bottom  206  of the front surface  205  of the craft  100  defines the bottom terminal side of the exhaust port  204 ′. The incoming aquatic plants according to this embodiment of the disclosure are mulched by a positionable, interchangeable blade assembly  300 . In addition, the water craft shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B comprises a drive means  400 , preferably comprising a motor  410  and an air-propeller  420 , preferably enclosed in a protective cage  520 , such that no submersible propeller, which would be susceptible to tangling in plant-infested water, is required. Furthermore, an operator control station  500  is mounted on a platform  510 , which may extend part of the way or most of the way toward the front of the craft, or the platform  510  may be structured away from cage  520  anywhere between the front and rear of the craft. The operator control station comprises electrical and hydraulic controls of the water craft subsystems described herein, and may be enclosed within a cabin to reduce operator exposure to the elements, including noise and heat. Preferably, the cabin may be heated or cooled by an air conditioning unit. 
     As will be seen from the further detailed disclosure provided below of each of the aforementioned elements, the positionable, interchangeable blade assembly  300  may be positioned with respect to elevation and tilt, and may be interchanged with another blade assembly  300 ′, same or different, without the need for removing the craft from the water, by means of a unique flotation feature. It will also become apparent from the following disclosure, that the blade assembly comprises cutter blades having a staggered, angular configuration, an intermeshed horizontal blade configuration, or a horizontal, swivel-mounted configuration, and variations thereof. Additional improved aspects of this embodiment of the invention include an improved hydraulic system used to operate the cutter blades by providing enhanced cutter blade rotational rate, improvements in the main hydraulic motor and placement of the hydraulic oil reservoir. 
     Referring to FIG. 3A, there is shown a side view detail of the cutter blade assembly  300  in a raised position. This view shows a number of features relevant to operation of the device, including a front portion of the pontoon  202 ′ on the left side of the craft. The remaining features shown in this view contribute to an assembly that is positionable and interchangeable. 
     A lynch pin  301  provides for the stability of the mulching chamber or blade assembly  300  by keeping the chamber from shifting during the lifting and tilting operation. The pin  301  is desirably affixed in such a fashion as to make it secure but easily removable, so as to allow the chamber  300  to be interchanged, in situ, (i.e. with the water craft in the water). Once a new chamber  300 ′ is inserted, the pin  301  is replaced. Interchangement of the cutter blade assembly  300  is facilitated by the housing  340  thereof comprising a chamber  345  which is hollow and sealed against penetration by water. The chamber  345  provides buoyancy to the assembly  300 , thereby facilitating interchangement of the assembly  300  with a replacement assembly  300 ′, upon release of the lynch pin  301 . It will be appreciated that sides and top portions of the housing  340  may also or alternatively be hollow and sealed to provide buoyancy. 
     A prong assembly  302  provides support means, such as protruding arms, to enable lift and tilt of the blade assembly  300 . Spacers  303  provide support to the heads of bolts  304 , which optionally provide a means for attaching rollers  305 . The rollers  305  allow the chamber  300  to be slid into and out of engagement in the craft, while minimizing wear on the prong assembly  302 . The rollers  305 , in addition, facilitate removal of the chamber  300  in situ, while the chamber  300  floats due to the buoyancy of chamber  345 . Furthermore, the rollers  305  permit the prong assembly  302  to rise and fall when the lift and tilt mechanism is activated by means of the hydraulic cylinder  314 . A sideplate  306  comprises a sheath attached to the mulching chamber  300  in which the prong assembly  302  is housed and retained by the lynch pin  301 . Bolt  307  affixes prong assembly  302  to tilt frame  311  via a spacer  308 , a washer  309  and a roller  310 . The tilt frame  311  provides for assemblage of the remaining elements of the cutter blade assembly  300 , which rotates about a pivot pin  312 . A base frame  313  is connected to the tilt frame  311 , thereby providing a base element. Hydraulic cylinder  314  permits the tilt frame  311  to be tilted up or down by expanding or contracting relative to the tilt frame  311  and the base frame  313 , to which the hydraulic cylinder  314  is attached. Hydraulic cylinder  315  provides a means for raising and lowering the cutter assembly  300 . Housing  340  may have any number of shapes. However, in order to minimize the number of cutter spindles  321  required while maximizing the cutter surface area, we have found that a substantially funnel-shaped housing  340  is a preferred shape. As can be seen in the side view provided in FIG. 3A, and the detailed side view of FIG. 5, in one embodiment of this invention, the housing  340  may have essentially a “backward C shaped” profile, with both the forward end  330  and rear end  331  being open to allow water and biomass to enter and exit the housing, respectively. In one embodiment, viewed from the top in FIG. 4A, the housing  340  is “funnel-shaped”, having a wider entryway  330  than exitway  331 . Thin this embodiment, it can be seen that the housing has a left side wall  342 , a right side wall  341 , a top wall  344  and a bottom wall or panel  343 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, viewed from the top, the left sidewall  342  and right sidewall  341  slant inward from the front entryway  330  toward the rear exitway  331 , thereby forming a truncated “V” or funnel-shape. The upper wall  344  extends beyond the lower wall or panel  343 . In this manner, chopper blades mounted on rotating, vertically oriented forward spindles  321 , which are affixed to the upper wall  344 , extend beyond the confines of the housing  340  (see further description of the mulching hardware and vertically-mounted spindles below). 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, the upper wall  344  extends forward, permitting a different arrangement of spindles  321  than that shown in FIG.  4 A. In this embodiment, the lower wall  343  terminates well aft of the upper wall  344  extension. In yet a further embodiment shown in FIG. 4C, it can be seen that the upper wall  344  is permitted to extend beyond the front edge of the lower wall  343 , by means of the lower wall  343  having a concave forward edge  343 ′. In this fashion, front spindles  321  extend beyond the confines of housing  340 , thereby making access to aquatic plant infestation more immediate. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the mulching hardware is represented by a novel arrangement of cutter motors  320 , which cause vertically-mounted cutter spindles  321  to rotate, upon application of hydraulic or other torque power to the cutter motors  320 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that motors other than hydraulic motors may be used without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed and claimed herein, but we have found that for efficiency purposes, hydraulic motors are preferred. The spindles are preferably made to rotate at about 500-4000, and preferably at about 3600 revolutions per minute, to achieve torque forces of about 66-100 foot-pounds. As will be appreciated, any number of spindles may be provided, within reason, given the constraints of space, power, weight and expense in construction of the craft. In various embodiments, it may be desirable to employ anywhere from one to ten spindles per cutter assembly  300 . In one embodiment, an arrangement of about six spindles  321  is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, as a top view oriented with the four adjacent spindles being at the front-most aspect of the cutter assembly  300 , such that plant matter first encounters that set of cutter blades whose sweep  322  is outlined. In FIG. 5, there is shown a side view detail of the cutter assembly  300 , a cutter motor  320 , a rear cutter spindle  321   r  and a forward cutter spindle  321   f . As can be seen, cutter blades  324  are affixed to the cutter spindles  321   r  and  321   f  by means of blade holders  325  to which the blades  324  may be bolted or welded. Bolting of the blades is preferred to facilitate replacement of dulled or damaged blades. As can be seen, any arrangement of blades that achieves efficient mulching of aquatic plant infestation is acceptable. However, we have found it advantageous to have the blades on the anterior spindle  321   f  arranged as a combination of horizontal blades  324   h  and diagonally arranged blades  324   d . The blades on the rear spindle  321   r  may all be arranged diagonally, and preferably include blades that extend above the water line during normal water craft operation, or which cut very close to the bottom surface of upper wall  344  of housing  340 . The angle of inclination of the diagonally oriented blades  324   d  is preferably between about 40 and 60 degrees from the vertical defined by the spindle  321 , and most preferably is about 50 degrees. For the diagonally oriented blades, and in fact for all of the blades, it is preferred that a hardened metal, such as through heat-treatment, is used to prevent buckling or easy damage. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the spindles  321 ′, shown in FIG. 6 as a side view of the vertically oriented spindles, provide a series of clamps  360  onto which are bolted intermeshed horizontal blades  370 . Also shown in FIG. 6 is an hydraulic motor  320 ′, motor mounting screws  361 , motor coupling  362 ′. One embodiment of a blade that may be used according to this aspect of the invention is shown in FIG.  7 . As can be seen, each such blade has two leading surfaces  371  machined to form a sharp cutting surface, preferably such as the serrated surface shown in this figure, which permits “gripping” and slicing of biomass brought into contact therewith. Each blade, in addition, has a pair of trailing surfaces  372 , which need not be adapted (but which could be so adapted) for cutting biomass. A pair of set screws  373  may be employed to affix the two halves of the blades to the spindles  321 ′ and screws  374  are provided for bolting the assembled blades to the clamps  360 . Naturally, those skilled in the art will be able to envision other cutter blade and assembly means based on what is disclosed and suggested here. Such variations come within the scope of this invention. 
     Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, blades  380  may be bolted or welded to “C-shaped” mounts  381  which are bolted  382  directly to the bottom of the spindle  321 . In addition, an ancillary, horizontally-oriented, cutter blade assembly  383  may be bolted to the base of the spindle  321 , between the prongs of the “C-shaped” mount  381 , to provide added cutting power. In a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 8B, angled blades  390  may be bolted directly to the bottom of the spindle  321 . As shown in FIG. 8C, blades  390  may be clamped to each other, and as viewed from the top, each blade has features similar to blade  370  shown in detail in FIG.  7 . However, blades  390  comprise a right-handed blade  391  and a left-handed blade  392 . Viewed from the side, as in FIG. 8D, it can be seen that the right-handed blade  391  is mounted above the left-handed blade  392 , and that blade  391  has diagonally upwardly oriented terminal blade portions, while blade  392  has diagonally downwardly oriented terminal blade portions, with the angle of orientation being about 30 degrees from the horizontal. Thus oriented, the blades should be mounted on the right front side of the craft, viewed looking from the operator station toward the front of the craft, for counter-clockwise rotation. In this way, plant biomass is drawn into the blade assembly  300 . For clockwise rotation of blades mounted on the left front side of the craft, blade  392  is affixed above blade  391 . 
     In yet a further embodiment of the cutter blade assembly, a substantially circular plate is mounted to the base of a cutter spindle  321 , and attached to the circumference thereof is a plurality of cutter blades, each of which is affixed by a rivet or bolt means, which permits the blade to swivel. In this fashion, the blades are forced into outward extension upon application of torque, and upon striking an unyielding surface, the blades are permitted to bounce off said surface. This embodiment is particularly preferred for applications wherein cutting of thick, sturdy or rock-infested biomass is required. 
     Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a detail of the vertically oriented spindles  321 . In FIG. 9A, spindle  321  is viewed from the top, showing sections A—A and B—B. As can be seen in FIG. 9A, each spindle  321  comprises a housing  322  comprising an outer tube  324  fitted into a flange  325  and welded thereto. The housing  322  comprises a top hole  322   a  for oil-filling, and a central bore  322   b , into which a spindle shaft is sealingly inserted and housed. Accordingly, the oil-filled housing provides an oil bearing within which the spindle shaft is free to rotate. Holes  322   c  provide a means for bolting the housing to cutter assembly housing upper wall  344 . In FIG. 9D, the spindle shaft  326  is shown, comprising a coupling  327  for linkage to any hydraulic motor, a shaft  328  which sealingly fits within spindle shaft housing central bore  322   b , and a base  329  to which cutter blades are bolted or welded. 
     In addition to variations in the cutter blade and spindle designs discussed above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that ancillary cutter means, including but not limited to use of compressed air, high-pressure water jets, and the like, may also be contemplated for use in conjunction with the cutter means described herein. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the cutter assembly  300  may be supplemented by mounting similar cutter assemblies on either or both sides of the water craft, to provide an expanded cutting width for the craft (i.e. to achieve remediation of a greater number of acres per hour of water craft operation). The side-mounted cutter assemblies are mounted at the approximate mid-point of the craft, may be lifted, tilted and exchanged out, as described for the forward cutter assembly  300  described above, and preferably operate by means of hydraulics, as described above. 
     It will also be appreciated that housing  340  may have no bottom wall  343  or that said bottom wall  343  may be significantly shorter than upper wall  344 . In addition, it will be appreciated that where deep cutting of submersed biomass is required, vertical spindle shafts  321  may be configured to extend well below the bottom of the water craft, such that cutting of deeply infested water and submerged cutting is thereby enabled. Raising and lowering of the cutter assembly  300  may be supplemented for such applications by means for raising and lowering a long spindle shaft  321 . 
     Having described the cutter assembly  300  in considerable detail, it is noted that the means for providing the torque for the cutter assembly spindles  321  is preferably an engine which drives an hydraulic pump, which pumps hydraulic fluids, such as oil, through hydraulic lines, to the various hydraulically activated mechanisms: the hydraulic spindle motors, and the hydraulic lift and tilt mechanism for the cutter assembly. For this purpose, an oil-reservoir is preferably provided in a central location in the boat, or more preferably, is provided as a pair of hydraulic reservoirs disposed along the side and base of the craft, thereby permitting heat dissipation of the hydraulic oil through heat transfer to the water through which the craft is propelled. To supplement such cooling, preferably included in the hydraulic circuit is an air cooled radiator, or the like, through which the hydraulic fluid is pumped. In one embodiment of this invention, where the principal means for propulsion of the water craft is an air-propeller (i.e. where the water craft is a modified air-boat), the significant draught created by the air-propeller is put to use by abutting the hydraulic radiator to a cage  520  enclosing the air-propeller. In this way, as the propeller drives the craft forward, air that is drawn rearward by the propeller is forced to travel through the radiator. Where an in-water propeller is used, it may be necessary to provide supplemental air cooling, by means of a fan or the like. 
     As noted above, the water craft according to this invention comprises a drive means  400 , preferably comprising a motor  410  and an air-propeller  420 , such that no submersible propeller is required. The motor  410  is preferably a diesel engine. The engine is preferably cooled by a water-cooled or coolant-filled radiative means. In a particularly preferred embodiment of this invention, a single diesel engine is used to drive both the air-propeller and the remainder of the water-craft hydraulic systems. Particularly preferred is an arrangement wherein the air-propeller is likewise powered as a component of the hydraulic system employed for providing torque to the cutter spindles. Alternatively, a separate engine may be used for driving the hydraulics and the air-propeller, in which case each engine is preferably cooled by use of standard radiative means. In yet a further embodiment of this invention, either connected to the existing hydraulic systems or as a separate assembly, a motor and propeller means are provided to enable the water craft to reverse its direction. Optionally, this is achieved by providing an out-board motor at the rear or on either or both sides of the water craft, or by providing a means for reversing the direction in which the air-propeller drives the craft. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a schematic of one embodiment of an hydraulic circuit  600  useable in a craft as disclosed and claimed herein. For purposes of simplicity, the depicted circuit does not show outgoing and return lines. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that hydraulic systems operate through a circuit of pressure applied to hydraulic fluid, typically oil. The circuit shown in FIG. 10 comprises a representation of hydraulic motors  605  which are linked to chopper spindles  321 . These motors receive hydraulic torque power via proportioning, multiplexing and load sensing means  610 . Included in the circuit are hydraulic filters  615  which remove any debris that might enter the hydraulic system. Hydraulic pumps  620  pump the hydraulic fluid through said filters  615  and said proportioning, multiplexing and load-sensing means  610  to motivate said hydraulic motors  605 . The hydraulic pumps  620  are caused to operate through linkage to a diesel motor  625  or like power generating means. Also included in the circuit are proportioning, multiplexing and load sensing means  630  which control, via electrical linkage to the operator control station  500 , hydraulic tilt cylinder  635  and hydraulic lift cylinder  640  ( 314  and  315  respectively in FIG.  3 A). Hydraulic pumps  620  draw hydraulic fluid from a reservoir  645 , comprising an in-reservoir filter  650 , a level gauge  655 , a thermostat  660  and a breather  665 . On the return circuit, hydraulic fluid is cooled via transmission through a radiative means  670 . In the example shown in FIG. 10, radiator  670  is placed adjacent to air-propeller  675  which is drawing air through said radiator  670 , thereby cooling hydraulic fluid as it traverses through said radiator  670  on the way back to said reservoir  645 . 
     Each of the above-described subsystems, including the cutter assembly  300 , the hydraulics and the control of forward and reverse drive means, are controlled by an operator at an operator control station  500 . The operator control station  500 , optionally enclosed within a cabin, preferably provided with air conditioning. The cabin is preferably mounted on a platform  510  which provides a clear vantage point for navigation of the craft and for control of each of the water-craft subsystems. Central localization of the electrical and hydraulic controls enhances efficient handling of the water craft and cutter blade assembly  300 , both at the operator interface and at the hardware operational interface. 
     Having described the improved water craft of this invention in detail, it will be appreciated that the scope of the claims appended hereto define the novel and inventive aspects of the invention, including modifications, variations and equivalents thereof, disclosed, enabled and suggested by the instant disclosure.