US6083405A — Floating water purification free-running apparatu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 250 words

A floating water purification free-running apparatus comprising: a floating structure floating on a water area; a water purification section which is mounted on said floating structure and filters water in the water area by using at least one of a plurality of first pumps; a plurality of second pumps for injecting air into the water area; a drain outlet which communicates with said water purification section to drain treated water purified by said water purification section; a free-running section for moving said floating structure on the water area on the basis of a drain injection pressure from said drain outlet; a water quality sensor which is provided as a measuring section to detect water quality in the water area; a solar cell which is formed on an upper portion of said floating structure and receives sunlight to generate power; an inverter for converting the power generated by said solar cell into an AC voltage and applying the voltage as driving power to each pump; a sunshine recorder for measuring a sunshine intensity of sunlight; and a controller which is mounted on said floating structure, operates on the basis of the power generated by said solar cell, and controls the number of pumps to be driven on the basis of at least one of sunshine intensity information from said sunshine recorder and the AC voltage and output frequency of said inverter when making said water purification section perform water purification on the basis of an output from said water quality sensor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 250 words

A floating water purification free-running apparatus comprising: a floating structure floating on a water area; a water purification section which is mounted on said floating structure and filters water in the water area by using at least one of a plurality of first pumps; a plurality of second pumps for injecting air into the water area; a drain outlet which communicates with said water purification section to drain treated water purified by said water purification section; a free-running section for moving said floating structure on the water area on the basis of a drain injection pressure from said drain outlet; a water quality sensor which is provided as a measuring section to detect water quality in the water area; a solar cell which is formed on an upper portion of said floating structure and receives sunlight to generate power; an inverter for converting the power generated by said solar cell into an AC voltage and applying the voltage as driving power to each pump; a sunshine recorder for measuring a sunshine intensity of sunlight; and a controller which is mounted on said floating structure, operates on the basis of the power generated by said solar cell, and controls the number of pumps to be driven on the basis of at least one of sunshine intensity information from said sunshine recorder and the AC voltage and output frequency of said inverter when making said water purification section perform water purification on the basis of an output from said water quality sensor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 98 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a water purification section for adsorbing phosphorus contained in water in the water area by using at least one of a plurality of third pumps, and said controller controls the number of pumps to be driven, including said third pumps, on the basis of at least one of the sunshine intensity information from said sunshine recorder and the AC voltage and output frequency of said inverter when making said water purification section to perform water purification on the basis of the output from said water quality sensor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller drives said respective pumps in accordance with a predetermined priority order.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 122 words

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said controller drives said pump with the first priority when a sunshine intensity measured by said sunshine recorder becomes not less than a predetermined value, sequentially drives said pumps in accordance with the priority order when the output frequency of said inverter is not less than a first value after said pump with the first priority is driven, keeps driving each pump that has already been driven when the output frequency of said inverter is not more than the first value and not less than a second value, and sequentially stops said pumps in operation in accordance with the priority order when the output frequency of said inverter becomes not more than the second value.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 80 words

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said controller drives said pump with the first priority when a sunshine intensity measured by said sunshine recorder becomes not less than a predetermined value, sequentially drives said pumps in accordance with the output frequency of said inverter after said pump with the first priority is driven, and stops said pumps other than said pump with the first priority when an output voltage from said inverter becomes not more than a predetermined value.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 97 words

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drain outlet comprises a plurality of drain outlets arranged in radial directions, said free-running section comprises solenoid valves respectively arranged in said drain outlets to control drainage from said respective drain outlets, said measuring section comprises a plurality of infrared sensors arranged on an outer periphery of said floating structure to detect an obstacle in the water area, and said controller independently opens/closes each of said solenoid valves on the basis of an output from each of said infrared sensors to move said floating structure in the water area.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said controller opens/closes each of said solenoid valves on the basis of an output from said water quality sensor so as to move said floating structure in the water area.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 62 words

An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising at least two of an azimuth measuring device for obtaining azimuth information about said floating structure, a speedometer for obtaining speed information about said floating structure, and a GPS signal receiver for obtaining position information about said floating structure as devices for obtaining information required to move said floating structure in the water area.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said solar cell is formed on the upper portion of said floating structure in the form of a polyhedron.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said apparatus further comprises a battery charged with power generated by said solar cell, and one of the power generated by said solar cell and power from said battery is supplied to said controller.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 273 words

A water purification method using a floating structure floating on a water area, a water purification section which is mounted on said floating structure and filters water in the water area by using at least one of a plurality of first pumps, a plurality of second pumps for injecting air into the water area, a drain outlet which communicates with said water purification section to drain treated water purified by said water purification section, a free-running section for moving said floating structure on the water area on the basis of a drain injection pressure from said drain outlet, a solar cell which is formed on an upper portion of said floating structure and receive sunlight to generate power, an inverter for converting the power generated by said solar cell into an AC voltage and applying the voltage as driving power to each pump, and a sunshine recorder for measuring a sunshine intensity of sunlight, comprising the steps of: driving a predetermined pump with a first priority when a sunshine intensity measured by said sunshine recorder becomes not less than a predetermined value; sequentially driving said pumps in accordance with a predetermined priority order when an output frequency of said inverter is not less than a first value after said pump with the first priority is driven; keeping driving each pump that has already been driven when the output frequency of said inverter is not more than the first value and not less than a second value; and sequentially stopping said pumps in operation in accordance with the priority order when the output frequency of said inverter becomes not more than the second value.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 273 words

A water purification method using a floating structure floating on a water area, a water purification section which is mounted on said floating structure and filters water in the water area by using at least one of a plurality of first pumps, a plurality of second pumps for injecting air into the water area, a drain outlet which communicates with said water purification section to drain treated water purified by said water purification section, a free-running section for moving said floating structure on the water area on the basis of a drain injection pressure from said drain outlet, a solar cell which is formed on an upper portion of said floating structure and receive sunlight to generate power, an inverter for converting the power generated by said solar cell into an AC voltage and applying the voltage as driving power to each pump, and a sunshine recorder for measuring a sunshine intensity of sunlight, comprising the steps of: driving a predetermined pump with a first priority when a sunshine intensity measured by said sunshine recorder becomes not less than a predetermined value; sequentially driving said pumps in accordance with a predetermined priority order when an output frequency of said inverter is not less than a first value after said pump with the first priority is driven; keeping driving each pump that has already been driven when the output frequency of said inverter is not more than the first value and not less than a second value; and sequentially stopping said pumps in operation in accordance with the priority order when the output frequency of said inverter becomes not more than the second value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 153 words

A method according to claim 11, using a water purification section for adsorbing phosphorus contained in water in the water area by using at least one of a plurality of third pumps, the method comprising the steps of: driving a predetermined pump with a first priority when a sunshine intensity measured by said sunshine recorder becomes not less than a predetermined value; sequentially driving said pumps in accordance with a predetermined priority order when an output frequency of said inverter is not less than a first value after said pump with the first priority is driven; keeping driving each pump that has already been driven when the output frequency of said inverter is not more than the first value and not less than a second value; and sequentially stopping said pumps in operation in accordance with the priority order when the output frequency of said inverter becomes not more than the second value.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of stopping said pumps other than said pump with the first priority when an output voltage from said inverter becomes not more than a predetermined value.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of moving said floating structure in the water area by independently opening/closing solenoid valves respectively arranged in drain outlets in radial directions on the basis of outputs from a plurality of infrared sensors arranged on an outer periphery of said floating structure.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of moving said floating structure in the water area by independently opening/closing each of said solenoid valves on the basis of an output from said water quality sensor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 70 words

A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of moving said floating structure in the water area by independently opening/closing each of said solenoid valves on the basis of at least two pieces of information including azimuth information about said floating structure from an azimuth measuring device, speed information about said floating structure from a speedometer, and position information about said floating structure from a GPS signal receiver.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 142 words

A method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of: calculating a difference distance to a predetermined target coordinate point upon reception of the position information from said GPS signal receiver, and calculating a moving distance per unit time upon reception of the speed information from said speedometer; calculating a time required for movement to the target coordinate point on the basis of the calculated difference distance and the moving distance per unit time; upon reception of an azimuth from said azimuth measuring device, calculating a first angle defined by the azimuth and a predetermined reference azimuth, and calculating a second angle defined by the reference azimuth and a target coordinate point; and controlling an opening/closing ratio and opening/closing time of each of said solenoid valves on the basis of the calculated moving time and the calculated first and second angles.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-04	2004-01-03	2004-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-04	2008-01-03	2008-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-04	2012-01-03	2012-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Floating water purification free-running apparatus and water purification method

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