Maryland's Defense Patent Database

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Underwater surface cleaning vehicle for integrated cleaning and effluent treatment system

Patent image
NSWCCD

A method and apparatus for the cleaning of an underwater surface, such as a hull. The method and apparatus enables cleaning to be conducted while mitigating the release of removed material into surrounding waters. The integrated apparatus includes a cleaning deck for removing fouling from the underwater hull surface, and a pre-processing deck with integrated components for the processing of cleaning effluents. According to the method and apparatus, materials removed by the shroud are sucked into the pre-processing deck, crushed, and separated into a separator effluent that may be recycled to the shroud, and a concentrate, which is discharged to a land treatment unit for further processing.

Inventors: 
Hertel III, William Martin; Ledda, Jeffrey Neal; Mccue, Thomas P.
Patent Number: 
Technical domain: 
Handling and Transportation
FIle Date: 
2007-11-05
Grant Date: 
2011-07-05
Grant time: 
1,338 days
Grant time percentile rank: 
24
Claim count percentile rank: 
5
Citations percentile rank: 
1
'Cited by' percentile rank: 
1
Assignee: 
US NAVY