Patent Description:
The problem of floating waste in surface water, such as plastic, cork, bottles, wood, etc., is well known in the art. This waste material is transported by the water flow, thereby damaging aquatic flora and fauna and in particular the corresponding ecosystem, especially in rivers, coastal lakes or lagoons. In fact, floating waste tends to agglomerate in masses of natural and anthropic material, thereby creating the so called floating litter, the size of which can only be reduced when reaching the open sea due to the action of chemical degradation carried out for example by the solar light or mechanical degradation carried out for example by the wave movement.

Since the waste collection in open sea and in rivers is a complex operation due to the large areas of interest and the employment of specific naval means, the actual solutions (such as manual collection from the banks of a river or from small boats in open sea) are not very effective. On the other hand, the employment of big naval units equipped with more sophisticated collection means would strongly affect the river or marine ecosystem due for example to the water and acoustic pollution.

For this reason, fixed barrier systems are also used to collect waste in surface water. Anti-pollution barrier systems are known for collecting hydrocarbons made of semi-submerged floating longitudinal elements extending about <NUM>-<NUM> above the surface of the water and extending about <NUM>-<NUM> below the surface of the water. An example of such a barrier system is disclosed by patent document <CIT>.

Although barrier systems allow to intercept the floating waste and conduct it to a collection area without excessively affecting the environmental ecosystem, these systems do not allow a selection of the collected waste. Furthermore, if these barriers are employed on a river bed, they could generate a dangerous "dam-effect" and a consequent overflow of the banks.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system that solves the abovementioned problems, in particular, to provide a system for the selective collection of floating material that is efficient, simple to use, not polluting and with almost zero impact on the environmental ecosystem.

This object is achieved by the system according to the independent claims. Further advantageous combinations and designs are given in the dependent claims therefrom.

The system for a selective collection of materials floating in surface water according to the present invention comprises an intercepting barrier made up of at least one longitudinal element for intercepting the materials floating and transported by the water flow and conducting the materials to a predetermined direction. The system also comprises a selecting barrier located downstream of the intercepting barrier and connected to said intercepting barrier, for selecting floating materials based on their geometry. In addition, the system comprises a collecting area located downstream of the selecting barrier and connected to said selecting barrier for collecting the materials selected by the selecting barrier.

In particular, the selecting barrier comprises a first longitudinal level staff, a second longitudinal level staff located downstream the first longitudinal level staff and two float members connecting the two level staffs. Advantageously, the first longitudinal level staff and the second longitudinal level staff are in the form of longitudinal rods and the height of the first level staff above the surface water is lower than that of the second level staff so that floating materials having a predetermined geometry are intercepted by the first longitudinal staff and are conducted to the collecting area, whereas the remaining floating materials go beyond the first longitudinal level staff and pass below the second longitudinal level staff and are conducted downstream of the collecting area.

This system is suitable to be employed for collecting floating (polluting) materials in natural and artificial water such as rivers, coastal lakes or lagoons, channels or open sea.

The different components of the system, i.e. the intercepting barrier, the selecting barrier and the collecting area, are configured in such a way to intercept the materials transported by the water flow and conducting the intercepted material to the selecting barrier and then possibly to the collecting area. For this purpose, these components are arranged in series and connected to each other by means of connecting joints. In particular, not all the intercepted material is conducted to the collecting area. In fact, the selecting barrier selects the floating material based on the geometry of this material. Specifically, materials with a limited emerged surface, such as twigs, sticks, canes, etc., are not conducted to the collecting area but are rather conducted downstream said area. On the other hand, materials with a greater emerged surface, such as plastic objects, bottles, etc., are conducted to the collecting area due to the particular configuration of the two longitudinal level staffs of the selecting barrier. The term "emerged surface" is intended here the surface of the object above the surface of water.

Specifically, the two longitudinal level staffs are two longitudinal rods parallel to each other and positioned at two different heights above the surface of the water. In particular, the first longitudinal level staff is at about <NUM> from the surface of the water and the second longitudinal staff is at about <NUM> from the surface of the water.

Each longitudinal level staff has a length of about <NUM> and a width of about <NUM>. Also, the two level staffs are arranged almost parallel to each other at a constant distance of about <NUM>. In addition, each float member has a length of about <NUM>.

It is noted that the selecting barrier comprises only two longitudinal staffs in the form of rods spaced apart on the surface of the water, wherein the distance between the two longitudinal staffs is determined by the lengths of the connecting floating members. In other words, the staffs do not form any type of grid structure and are two longitudinal rods at different height above the surface of water and the selection occurs based on the characteristics of the floating materials.

Due to the particular configuration and functioning, the present system has the advantage of not damaging the flora and/or fauna of the surrounding environment. In particular, the system according to the present invention reduces the formation of micro-plastics in open sea intervening for example upstream the river's mouth, before the micro-plastics are subjected to degradation phenomena and cannot be mechanically collected any more. In addition, the present system does not need external energy for the functioning since it takes advantage of the water flow to carry out the selection of the floating material.

In order to carry out an additional selection of the floating material, the system further comprises a deflecting barrier located upstream of the intercepting barrier. The deflecting barrier is made up of at least one longitudinal element submerged underneath the surface of the water at a predetermined depth from said surface. This barrier is configured for selecting floating or submerged materials based on their depth in water relative to the surface of the water. In this way, the intercepting barrier is configured to intercept the materials selected by the deflecting barrier.

According to one embodiment, the at least one longitudinal element of the deflecting barrier has a length comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and is ballasted to remain submerged at a depth comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> from the surface of the water. In this way, all the materials transported by the water flow having a submersion depth greater than <NUM>-<NUM> will be blocked by the deflecting barrier and will be deflected to a different direction and not intercepted by the intercepting barrier. This is the case of heavy and cumbersome materials, such as woods. On the other hand, plastic materials having a submersion depth lower than <NUM>-<NUM> are not blocked by the deflecting barrier and pass through said barrier and are conducted to the intercepting barrier. The term "submersion depth" is intended here as the deepest position of a floating material below the surface of water during the transportation by the water flow. It is clear that a material with a high density floats at a deepest distance from the surface of the water, thereby having a greater submersion depth compared to a material with a low density that floats very close to the surface of the water.

Advantageously, the deflecting barrier extends along a longitudinal direction forming an angle α < <NUM>°, preferably <NUM>° < α < <NUM>°, most preferably α = <NUM>°, with the direction of the water flow. In this way, the deflected materials can flow over the system without accumulating at the deflecting barrier.

In order to ensure a good interception of the floating material, the deflecting barrier extends along a longitudinal direction forming an angle <NUM>° < β < <NUM>°, preferably of <NUM>° with the longitudinal direction of the intercepting barrier. In this way, the material that is not deflected by the deflecting barrier is definitely captured by the intercepting barrier.

According to an embodiment, the deflecting barrier comprises a floating mechanism for maintaining constant the depth of the deflecting barrier from the surface of the water. In this way, even in the presence of an overflow or of high/low tide, the deflecting barrier remains always in position.

The at least one longitudinal element of the deflecting barrier and/or the at least one longitudinal element of the intercepting barrier can have a tubular form and can be made of polymeric material. For example, the material can be polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or the like.

In order to improve the capture of the floating materials, the deflecting barrier is separated from the intercepting barrier and the distance between the deflecting barrier and the intercepting barrier is two times the entire length of the intercepting barrier. In particular, the closest distance (as the crow flies) between the deflecting barrier and the intercepting barrier is two times the entire length of the intercepting barrier.

The deflecting barrier can comprise a plurality of longitudinal elements connected to each other by means of articulated joints. In this way, the deflecting barrier is not a monolithic piece but can be made longer or shorter based on the circumstances. Furthermore, the articulated joints allows the deflecting barrier to slightly adapt in shape to the different water flows.

According to an embodiment, the at least one longitudinal element of the intercepting barrier has a length comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and has a tubular shape with a diameter comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In order to facilitate the transport of the selected material to the collecting area, the system comprises a conveyor belt at the first longitudinal level staff of the selecting barrier. In one example, the system comprises a blade system located at the two float members to drive the conveyor belt. For its functioning, the blade system uses the force of the water flow. Therefore, no electric motors or other type of mechanical motors are required to actuate the conveyor belt. Alternatively or additionally, the conveyor belt can be driven by a different mechanism. Accordingly the system comprises a paddle wheel and a motion transfer system. In particular, the motion transfer system can comprise one or more couple elements, for example at least a spiroidal conic couple. Also in this case, the conveyor belt functions without the need of electric motors or other type of mechanical motors since using only the force of the water flow and/or eventually of the wind.

In one embodiment, the collecting area comprises a plurality of tubular elements each having a diameter comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and a length comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

These elements are disposed to form a fenced area, where the selected floating material is collected.

The collecting area is connected to the selecting barrier and the selecting barrier is connected to the intercepting barrier by means of articulated joints. In addition, the intercepting barrier can comprise a plurality of longitudinal elements connected to each other by means of articulated joints. In this way, the single elements of the system do not represent a monolithic pieces but can be made longer or shorter based on the circumstances. Furthermore, the articulated joints allows the intercepting barrier to slightly adapt in shape to the different water flows.

In order to avoid damages carried out by huge submerged or floating elements, the system can further comprise at least a sacrificial joint. In this way, the joint can be disengaged at any time to eventually free the system from said elements.

Preferred embodiments of a system for the selective collection of floating materials in accordance with the invention will be explained herein below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> describes a system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the figure shows a top view of the system <NUM> positioned in a surface water (W) close to the banks or at the coast (C) of a river. The system <NUM> comprises an intercepting barrier <NUM> connected to a selecting barrier <NUM> and a collecting area <NUM> located with respect to the water flow F of the river in order to intercept, select and eventually collect floating materials. The figure also shows the presence of a deflecting barrier <NUM> located upstream the intercepting barrier <NUM> at a distance 2D that is the double of the length D of the intercepting barrier <NUM>. It is noted that the distance 2D is calculated between the closest points between the deflecting barrier <NUM> and the intercepting barrier <NUM>. The deflecting barrier <NUM> is submerged at about <NUM>-<NUM> below the surface of the water and positioned obliquely with respect to the stream of the river. In particular, the longitudinal direction of the deflecting barrier <NUM> forms an angle α with the water flow F, wherein α is comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

The particular configuration of the deflecting barrier <NUM>, i.e. the orientation of this barrier relative to the water flow F and the submersion depth of the barrier relative to the surface of the water, i.e. above the water surface, allows the barrier to deviate floating materials having a submerged part of almost <NUM> or more towards the central region of the river far away from the other components of the system <NUM> and particularly from the intercepting barrier <NUM>. On the other hand, the floating materials having a limited submersion depth (i.e. lower than <NUM>) can cross the deflecting barrier <NUM> and reach the intercepting barrier <NUM> to be conducted to the selecting barrier <NUM> for a selection and a possible collection.

As mentioned above, the deflecting barrier <NUM> is not arranged orthogonally to the water flow F, thereby forming an angle α with the flow F. In addition, the deflecting barrier <NUM> is arranged to form an angle β with the longitudinal direction of the intercepting barrier <NUM>, wherein β is preferably <NUM>°. This particular configuration allows the system to intercept only floating material having a certain density and a small submersion depth (light materials) and to deviate heavier materials with a greater submersion depth towards a different direction far away from the system <NUM>. As a matter of fact, floating plastics, basically comprising bottles and packaging, have a limited submersion depth of about <NUM>-<NUM>.

Once the plastic material, together with other floating material having a low density (a submersion depth lower than <NUM>), i.e. canes, aquatic vegetation, woods, twigs, etc., reaches the intercepting barrier <NUM>, it is conducted towards the selecting barrier <NUM> and eventually to the collecting area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the deflecting barrier <NUM> comprises a floating mechanism defined by two opposing float members <NUM> for maintaining constant the depth of the deflecting barrier from the surface of the water. In this way, even in the presence of an overflow or of high/low tide, the deflecting barrier remains always in position.

<FIG> shows a detail of the intercepting barrier <NUM> connected to the selecting barrier <NUM>. In particular, the intercepting barrier <NUM> comprises a plurality of longitudinal elements <NUM> connected in series by means of joints to form and articulated barrier. The selecting barrier <NUM> comprises a first level staff <NUM> and a second level staff <NUM> arranged parallel to each other and connected through two float members <NUM>. It is noted that the first level staff <NUM> represent a sort of prosecution of the intercepting barrier <NUM>, whereas the second level staff <NUM> is positioned behind the first level staff <NUM> at a predetermined distance determined by the length of the float members <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a detail of the selecting barrier <NUM> connected to the collecting area <NUM>. The selecting barrier <NUM> comprises two level staffs <NUM>, <NUM> in the form of longitudinal rods, preferably made of metal, for example of aluminum, that are arranged at different heights above the surface of water. The first level staff <NUM> is arranged very close to the surface of water and at a lower height compared to that of the second level staff <NUM>. It is noted that the height of the level staffs <NUM>, <NUM> can be varied and adjusted by means of the particular joint connections <NUM> of these level staff <NUM>, <NUM> with the corresponding float members <NUM>. The first level staff <NUM> is at <NUM> from the surface of water, whereas the second level staff <NUM> at about <NUM> from the surface of water. Furthermore, the joint connections <NUM> are at about <NUM> from the surface of water and the float members <NUM> at about <NUM> from the surface of water.

On the first level staff <NUM> is mounted a conveyor belt <NUM> driven for example by a blade system <NUM> using the water flow for its functioning. The blade system <NUM> basically comprises a blade (for example having an helicoidal shape) inserted in a tubular structure mechanically connected to the conveyor belt <NUM> for transforming the rotational movement of the blade to the translational movement of the belt <NUM>. It is noted that other systems can advantageously be used to drive the conveyor belt <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The conveyor belt <NUM> serves to conduct floating materials having a particular geometry (great emerged surface) toward the collecting area <NUM>. In fact, as shown in <FIG>, the final extremity of the first level staff <NUM> directly ends into the entrance <NUM> of the collecting area <NUM>. On the other hand, materials having a limited emerged surface, such as for example twigs or canes, cross and go beyond the first level staff <NUM>, thereby reaching the second level staff <NUM>. Since the second level staff <NUM> is arranged at a higher level above the surface of water compared to the first level staff <NUM>, the floating materials not intercepted by the conveyor belt <NUM> cross the region between the surface of water and the second level staff <NUM> passing below said level staff <NUM>, thereby exiting the system <NUM> and being conducted downstream the collecting area <NUM>. In other words, the selecting barrier <NUM> serves to carry out a further selection of the floating materials, once intercepted by the intercepting barrier <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a detail of the collecting area <NUM> connected to the selecting barrier <NUM>. In particular, the collecting area comprises at least four tubular elements <NUM> having a length of about <NUM> and a diameter of about <NUM>. The tubular elements <NUM> are arranged to form a closed structure with a single entrance <NUM> in order to contain the intercepted and selected material. It is noted that the entrance <NUM> of the collecting area <NUM> is defined by one of the float members <NUM> of the selecting barrier and by a second additional float member <NUM>. Also, the tubular elements <NUM> are arranged in pairs opposite to each other and are connected by a connection rod <NUM> representing end of the collecting area <NUM>. The floating material present in the collecting area <NUM> can be retrieved using terrestrial means or suitable boats comprising metallic containers located on the prow. Thereafter, the retrieved material can be transferred to suitable container, i.e. big bags of <NUM> meter cubed, and placed in storage areas for the delivery to authorized operators.

The system <NUM> according to the present invention represents a preventive approach to the problem of plastic present in open sea. In fact, the floating litter is intercepted before it reaches the open sea, thereby strongly reducing the employment of determined resources dedicated to the emergency of huge quantity of floating litter in open sea.

The system <NUM> is also configured to reduce the maintenance service and can be adaptable to different types of rivers having different dimensions and quantity of transported water.

The <FIG> show in detail the functioning of the conveyor belt <NUM> according to an example. The conveyor belt <NUM> is located at the first longitudinal level staff <NUM> in order to facilitate the conduction of the collected material, in particular floating material having a particular geometry (great emerged surface), towards the entrance <NUM> and then towards the collecting area <NUM>. The conveyor belt <NUM> is driven by a paddle wheel <NUM> located laterally on the barrier <NUM>. In particular, the paddle wheel <NUM> is fixed to a frame supported by one of the floating member <NUM> of the barrier <NUM> and by a second additional floating member <NUM>. In particular, the paddle wheel <NUM> is fixed at a certain height relative to the surface of the water so that it can freely rotate due to the water flow hitting and pushing the paddles. Through a motion transfer system <NUM>, located between the paddle wheel <NUM> and the conveyor belt <NUM>, the paddle wheel <NUM> can drive the movement of the belt <NUM>. The motion transfer system <NUM> is illustrated in more detail in <FIG> according to two different perspective views. As shown in these figures, the motion transfer system <NUM> comprises three spiroidal conic couples <NUM> formed by toothed elements and longitudinal rods that transfer the rotational movement of the paddle wheel <NUM> (through a rotational rod <NUM> extending from the center of the wheel <NUM>) to the translational movement of the conveyor belt <NUM> (through a dedicated toothed wheel). It is noted that the paddle wheel <NUM> can transfer the motion to the conveyor belt <NUM> using only the force of the water flow and/or of the wind.

Claim 1:
System (<NUM>) for a selective collection of materials floating in surface water (W), the system (<NUM>) comprising:
an intercepting barrier (<NUM>) made up of at least one longitudinal element (<NUM>) for intercepting the materials floating and transported by the water flow (F) and conducting the intercepted materials to a predetermined direction,
a selecting barrier (<NUM>) located downstream of the intercepting barrier (<NUM>) and connected to said intercepting barrier (<NUM>), for selecting floating materials based on their geometry, and
a collecting area (<NUM>) located downstream of the selecting barrier (<NUM>) and connected to said selecting barrier (<NUM>) for collecting the materials selected by the selecting barrier (<NUM>),
wherein the selecting barrier (<NUM>) comprises a first longitudinal level staff (<NUM>), a second longitudinal level staff (<NUM>) located downstream the first longitudinal level staff (<NUM>) and two float members (<NUM>) connecting the two level staffs (<NUM>, <NUM>),
characterized in that
the first longitudinal level staff (<NUM>) and the second longitudinal level staff (<NUM>) are in the form of longitudinal rods and the height of the first level staff (<NUM>) above the surface water is lower than that of the second level staff (<NUM>) so that floating materials having a predetermined geometry are intercepted by the first longitudinal staff (<NUM>) and are conducted to the collecting area (<NUM>), whereas the remaining floating materials go beyond the first longitudinal level staff (<NUM>) and pass below the second longitudinal level staff (<NUM>) and are conducted downstream of the collecting area (<NUM>).