Automatic hull cleaning system

Claim 2

Apparatus for cleaning a ship''s hull comprising a pair of vertical piles spaced apart in the water for permitting the ship to pass between the piles independently of any propelling force applied to the ship by the apparatus, a pair of frames hingedly supported by the piles, the frames being arranged to swing toward each other about the piles, a plurality of rotary brushes rotatable about substantially vertical axes, means for supporting the brushes from the frames, the brushes being moved by the frames toward each other as the frames swing together, means interconnected between the frames for urging the rotary brushes into contact with a ship disposed between the frames with a force which is substantially constant and equal between opposite sides of the ship and which is not dependent upon the beam of the ship or upon the alignment of the ship between the piles, the ship pivoting the frames and forcing the brushes apart as it passes between the piles against the force of said urging means, and means for rotating the brushes to produce a scrubbing action against the sides of the ship.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the urging means includes a weight, and means including a cable connecting the weight and frames such that the pull of the weight by gravity forces the frames to swing together bringing the brushes into contact with the sides of the ship.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the frames are neutrally buoyant in water.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each frame has associated therewith a plurality of rotary brushes with the axes of the brushes substantially aligned with each other, and including drive means operable for imparting rotation to each of the brushes and linking the brushes together in a vertical string, the drive means being arranged to permit the space and angle between adjacent brushes in the string to vary while transmitting a rotary force to the brushes.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including jets associated with the brushes in the string, means for exhausting fluid under pressure through the jets, and means for keeping the jets pointed away from the center of the ship such that the reaction of the jets forces the string of brushes toward the sides of the ship.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein each frame has associated therewith a parallel pair of said strings of brushes, the brushes in the two strings being staggered so as to clean overlapping areas along the side of the ship.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the drive means rotates the brushes in the two parallel strings in opposite directions.

Claim 9

Apparatus for cleaning a ship''s hull comprising a pair of vertical piles positioned in the water at spaced apart locations for permitting the ship to pass between the piles, a pair of frames hingedly supported by the piles, the frames being arranged to swing toward each other about the piles, the piles and the frames extending to a greater depth in the water than the draft of the ship being cleaned, a plurality of rotary brushes, means for supporting the brushes from the frames, the brushes being moved by the frames toward each other as the frames swing together, means urging the frames and associated rotary brushes together, the urging means including a weight and means including a cable extending between the lower ends of the frames beneath the path of the ship and connecting the weight and frames such That the pull of the weight by gravity forces the frames to swing together bringing the brushes into contact with the sides of the ship, the ship pivoting the frames and forcing the brushes apart as it passes between the piles against the force of said urging means, and means for rotating the brushes to produce a scrubbing action against the sides of the ship.

Claim 10

Apparatus for cleaning a ship''s hull comprising a pair of vertical piles positioned in the water at spaced apart locations for permitting the ship to pass between the piles, a pair of frames hingedly supported by the piles, the frames being arranged to swing toward each other about the piles, the piles and the frames extending to a greater depth in the water than the draft of the ship being cleaned, a plurality of rotary brushes, means for supporting the brushes from the frames, the brushes being moved by the frames toward each other as the frames swing together, means urging the frames and associated rotary brushes together, the urging means including a weight and means including a cable extending between the lower ends of the frames beneath the path of the ship and connecting the weight and frames such That the pull of the weight by gravity forces the frames to swing together bringing the brushes into contact with the sides of the ship, the ship pivoting the frames and forcing the brushes apart as it passes between the piles against the force of said urging means, and means for rotating the brushes to produce a scrubbing action against the sides of the ship.