US3878669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical elimination of aquatic growths
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-02
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for eliminating upstanding, floating and other aquatic growths from lakes, rivers and streams, including much of their root structure, comprising mechanically moving the upstanding and floating aquatic growths generally downward to a zone automatically controlled as to its position relative to the root structure of the growths, where suction is applied to draw the growths and roots through a cutting zone where the growths and roots are cut into short pieces, and into a vacuum chamber where entrained air and growths juices are removed from their stems and leaves, and the growths structure collapsed. The cut and collapsed growths and roots may then be subjected to a second cutting operation, with or without pressure, to further destroy their growth identity, and reduce the growths and roots to a finely divided inert mass, which may then be spread as a blanket on the water bottom from which the growths and roots were originally removed, or delivered to a remote location.
Inventors
- 👤 Merle P Chaplin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:40
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B9/00; A; A01; A01D; A01D44/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
The method of eliminating upstanding and floating aquatic growths from a body of water comprising the steps of moving upstanding and floating growths generally downward to a zone adjacent to their root structure while allowing water in which the growths float to pass substantially free of downward movement by contacting upstanding and floating growths with a downwardly moving open mesh belt, cutting the growths into short pieces in said zone by bringing the growths in said zone into contact with a moving cutter in a housing in the zone to advance still upstanding growths and those brought into said zone by the moving step using the downwardly moving mesh belt into an entry in the housing, and thence removing hydraulically the growths which have been cut into small pieces and their roots from said zone via conduit means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
The method of eliminating upstanding and floating aquatic growths from a body of water comprising the steps of moving upstanding and floating growths generally downward to a zone adjacent to their root structure while allowing water in which the growths float to pass substantially free of downward movement by contacting upstanding and floating growths with a downwardly moving open mesh belt, cutting the growths into short pieces in said zone by bringing the growths in said zone into contact with a moving cutter in a housing in the zone to advance still upstanding growths and those brought into said zone by the moving step using the downwardly moving mesh belt into an entry in the housing, and thence removing hydraulically the growths which have been cut into small pieces and their roots from said zone via conduit means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
138 words
The method of eliminating upstanding and floating aquatic growths from a body of water comprising the steps of moving upstanding and floating growths generally downward to a zone adjacent to their root structure while allowing water in which the growths float to pass substantially free of downward movement by contacting upstanding and floating growths with a downwardly moving open mesh belt, cutting the growths into short pieces in said zone by bringing the growths in said zone into contact with a moving cutter in a housing in the zone to advance still upstanding growths and those brought into said zone by the moving step using the downwardly moving mesh belt into an entry in the housing, and thence removing hydraulically the growths which have been cut into small pieces and their roots from said zone via conduit means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
138 words
The method of eliminating upstanding and floating aquatic growths from a body of water comprising the steps of moving upstanding and floating growths generally downward to a zone adjacent to their root structure while allowing water in which the growths float to pass substantially free of downward movement by contacting upstanding and floating growths with a downwardly moving open mesh belt, cutting the growths into short pieces in said zone by bringing the growths in said zone into contact with a moving cutter in a housing in the zone to advance still upstanding growths and those brought into said zone by the moving step using the downwardly moving mesh belt into an entry in the housing, and thence removing hydraulically the growths which have been cut into small pieces and their roots from said zone via conduit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, including the further step of subjecting the cut growths and roots to a vacuum to remove entrained air and growth juices therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the further step of re-cutting the growths and roots into smaller pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the further step of re-cutting the growths and roots under pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the further step of spreading the process growths and roots in the form of a blanket back on the bottom of the body of water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1795003A
Cited
US3468106A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |