Abstract A method for harvesting and transporting large quantities of aquatic vegetation. The apparatus includes a harvesting barge provided with paddle wheels and rudders for increased control in currents and wind and a series of longitudinally extending conveyors for moving the cut weeds onto a transport barge which is coupled in tandem with the harvesting barge. To compact the weeds and eliminate the need for a transport barge operator, the transport barge has a live bed controlled by a load sensor which activates the live bed to inch the weeds aftward on the transport barge as the weeds accumulate to a predetermined height in the hold. The transport barges are moved between the harvesting site and shore unloading site by a tugboat. The apparatus also includes a high capacity portable shore conveyor assembly which is adapted for all types of shore sites and which utilizes a first conveyor which can be supported by posts on the bottom of the lake or supported by a float and which includes coupling pins for connection with the couplers of the transport barge. A wheeled second conveyor is positioned on shore under the discharge end of the first conveyor, for conveying the weeds into a truck or pile. The second conveyor may be barge mounted.
Inventors
👤 Charles Brate Bryant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-02 03:31
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D44/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of harvesting aquatic vegetation comprising the steps of cutting vegetation with a self-propelled harvesting barge and filling the hold of the harvesting barge with cut vegetation, moving the harvesting barge to an anchored transport barge having a loading bin with an automatically controlled live bed, coupling the harvesting barge to the transport barge and transfering the vegetation complement of the harvesting barge into the transport barge, accumulating the weeds on the live bed of the transport barge until they attain a pre-determined height, progressively moving the accumulated weeds rearwardly on the transport barge by automatic actuation of the live bed in response to attainment of said predetermined height, and moving the filled transport barge to a shore conveyor using a selfpropelled vessel, and recommencing cutting with the harvesting barge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of harvesting aquatic vegetation comprising the steps of cutting vegetation with a self-propelled harvesting barge and filling the hold of the harvesting barge with cut vegetation, moving the harvesting barge to an anchored transport barge having a loading bin with an automatically controlled live bed, coupling the harvesting barge to the transport barge and transfering the vegetation complement of the harvesting barge into the transport barge, accumulating the weeds on the live bed of the transport barge until they attain a pre-determined height, progressively moving the accumulated weeds rearwardly on the transport barge by automatic actuation of the live bed in response to attainment of said predetermined height, and moving the filled transport barge to a shore conveyor using a selfpropelled vessel, and recommencing cutting with the harvesting barge.