Abstract Biological and geological specimens are collected from the water, floor, or sub-floor of a waterway by the use of a surface craft carrying a water tank which is open to atmosphere and which is mounted for downward movement into partial submergence in the waterway, the water tank having an intake opening adjacent its bottom and an exhaust conduit which is in adjacent but spaced relationship with respect thereto. Both the intake opening and the exhaust conduit communicate with the water at a level which is lower than the normal level of the surface of the water therein when the water tank is in its lowered position. A flexible conduit extends downwardly from the intake opening of the water tank to a point which is at or adjacent the locale of the specimens to be collected. The intake port of a suction pump carried on the surface craft communicates with the exhaust conduit of the water tank. The foregoing arrangement permits the establishment of a head in the water tank which is of sufficient magnitude to enable water to continuously flow upwardly through the flexible conduit and into the water tank and out of the exhaust conduit of the latter. An upwardly inclined perforate endless belt conveyor is disposed with its lower end between and below the intake opening of the water tank and the adjacent end of the exhaust conduit therefor. The upper end of the upwardly inclined perforate endless belt conveyor projects upwardly beyond the upper end of the water tank; and a collection device on the surface craft collects specimen which are retained on the upper flight of said conveyor as it approaches or arrives at the upper limit of its travel.
Apparatus for collecting biological and geological specimens from a waterway comprising, in combination, a surface craft including a hull having an opening in its underside the hold in said hull having a well which communicates with the opening in the underside thereof a water tank having a top which is open to atmosphere the periphery of said water tank being smaller than, but generally conforming to, the periphery of the interior of said well said water tank being disposed in said well and mounted for downward movement into partial submergence in the waterway and for upward movement therefrom said water tank having an intake opening adjacent its bottom and an exhaust conduit which communicates with the interior of said water tank and which is in adjacent but spaced relationship with respect to said intake opening both said intake opening and said exhaust conduit communicating with the water tank at a level which is lower than the normal lever of the surface of the water therein when said water tank is in its partially submerged position a flexible conduit having one end communicating with the intake opening of sAid water tank the other end of said flexible conduit extending downwardly into the waterway to a point which is at or adjacent the locale of the specimens to be collected a suction pump carried by said surface craft and having intake and exhaust ports a third conduit establishing communication between the intake port of said suction pump and the exhaust conduit of said water tank the foregoing construction and arrangement being such that the surface of the body of water in the water tank will be maintained at a level which is below the surface of the waterway; and the application of the suction pump will create a head of sufficient magnitude to enable water to continuously flow upwardly through the flexible conduit and into the water tank an upwardly inclined perforated endless belt conveyor disposed with its lower end between and below the level of the intake opening of said water tank and the adjacent end of said exhaust conduit said upwardly inclined perforate endless belt conveyor projecting upwardly beyond the upper end of said water tank and the well in the hold of said hull when said water tank is in its lowermost position and a collection device on said surface craft for receiving specimens which are retained on the upper flight of said perforate endless belt conveyor as it approaches or arrives at its upper limit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
417 words
Apparatus for collecting biological and geological specimens from a waterway comprising, in combination, a surface craft including a hull having an opening in its underside the hold in said hull having a well which communicates with the opening in the underside thereof a water tank having a top which is open to atmosphere the periphery of said water tank being smaller than, but generally conforming to, the periphery of the interior of said well said water tank being disposed in said well and mounted for downward movement into partial submergence in the waterway and for upward movement therefrom said water tank having an intake opening adjacent its bottom and an exhaust conduit which communicates with the interior of said water tank and which is in adjacent but spaced relationship with respect to said intake opening both said intake opening and said exhaust conduit communicating with the water tank at a level which is lower than the normal lever of the surface of the water therein when said water tank is in its partially submerged position a flexible conduit having one end communicating with the intake opening of sAid water tank the other end of said flexible conduit extending downwardly into the waterway to a point which is at or adjacent the locale of the specimens to be collected a suction pump carried by said surface craft and having intake and exhaust ports a third conduit establishing communication between the intake port of said suction pump and the exhaust conduit of said water tank the foregoing construction and arrangement being such that the surface of the body of water in the water tank will be maintained at a level which is below the surface of the waterway; and the application of the suction pump will create a head of sufficient magnitude to enable water to continuously flow upwardly through the flexible conduit and into the water tank an upwardly inclined perforated endless belt conveyor disposed with its lower end between and below the level of the intake opening of said water tank and the adjacent end of said exhaust conduit said upwardly inclined perforate endless belt conveyor projecting upwardly beyond the upper end of said water tank and the well in the hold of said hull when said water tank is in its lowermost position and a collection device on said surface craft for receiving specimens which are retained on the upper flight of said perforate endless belt conveyor as it approaches or arrives at its upper limit.