[Underwater vacuum and sterilization system]

Abstract

An underwater vacuum, cleaning, removal, and sterilization system that allows for the submersible cleaning and sterilization of interior surfaces of drinking water storage, treatment, and distribution facilities. The system allows for the cleaning and chemical sterilization of surfaces in an underwater environment while simultaneously removing the sterilization chemical to prevent the said sterilization chemical from impacting or increasing the optimum sterilization chemical concentration in the surrounding water. The underwater vacuum, cleaning, and sterilization system includes a housing 24 having an opening 46 which is positioned adjacent the surface to be cleaned and sterilized. The system also includes a containment chamber 55 inside said housing. The containment chamber is open on the top and bottom and more than one flexible member, seal or plurality of bristles or brushes thereby defining a circumferential seal 63 on the bottom which is fluidly connected to both the interior cavity and the interior of the vacuum housing for assuring that all of the cleaning and sterilization fluids and any other matter are removed from the cavity and do not leak therefrom. The system also includes a variable-pressure-fluid mechanism inside the housing and containment chamber for providing a variable-pressure fluid flow against the surface to be cleaned and sterilized. The mechanism includes pressure jets 53 or spray portals from which variable pressure water and sterilization chemical flow to remove debris or material from the surface being cleaned and sterilized. A turbine energized by water flow through the vacuum powers the rear wheels inside the housing. In addition the system includes vacuum or water suction for removing all of the cleaning fluid and sterilization chemical and coatings, debris, or any other matter from the cavity. The housing has a water outlet 42 which communicates with a pump or siphon at the surface of the water. The vacuum has two rear wheels that are adjustably attached to the interior of the housing with a rotable axle between each wheel and with a sprocket attached to a chain drive powered by said turbine motor, and two front wheels that are adjustably attached to the interior of the housing. The underwater vacuum, cleaning, removal, and sterilization system can remove sediment and other debris from a water storage reservoir while simultaneously sterilizing the surfaces without causing turbidity in or allowing the sterilization chemical to enter the water column. In one of the embodiments a rotable brush 32 is supported inside the housing, which is also powered by the turbine motor, which may assist the cleaning process for some applications. In some of the embodiments the system includes hand held water suction and variable pressure fluid jet tools that are not powered by a turbine and are held by hand against smaller surfaces, roof support column bases, in corners, wall to floor joints, or any other area not reachable by the large turbine powered embodiment for cleaning and sterilization of said surfaces. The hand held embodiments may or may not have wheels or brushes. In some additional embodiments air lift or fluid pressure driven water suction and variable pressure fluid flow tools are designed to clean and sterilize the exterior surfaces of roof support columns or pipes and the interior surfaces of pipes.

1 . An underwater system for cleaning and chemically sterilizing interior surfaces of drinking water storage, treatment, or distribution facilities comprising: 
 a vacuum housing having a suction opening at the bottom thereof and a vacuum housing outlet opening, and said vacuum housing having an exterior and an interior;    a variable-pressure-fluid mechanism fixed to the interior of said vacuum housing for providing a variable-pressure fluid flow against the surface to be cleaned and sterilized, said variable-pressure fluid mechanism being in communication with an exterior fluid supply line extending through the vacuum housing and connected to a fluid pump at the water surface,    a sterilization chemical and fluid source above the water fluidly connected to said variable pressure pump at the water surface,    an interior containment chamber adjustably fixed to the interior of said vacuum housing with four walls parallel to each wall of said vacuum housing having an opening on the top and bottom and having more than one flexible member, seal or plurality of bristles or brushes thereby defining a circumferential seal on the bottom edges of said four walls which is fluidly connected to both the interior cavity and the interior of the housing for containing said variable-pressure fluid flow from entering water on the exterior of said vacuum housing,    a turbine housing fixed to said exterior of said vacuum housing, said turbine housing having a turbine housing inlet and a turbine housing outlet, said turbine housing inlet being in fluid communication with said vacuum housing outlet opening;    a turbine rotatably supported within said turbine housing;    an outlet pipe supported by said vacuum housing, said outlet pipe having an outlet pipe inlet and an outlet pipe outlet, said outlet pipe inlet being in fluid communication with said turbine housing outlet;    a pair of front wheels rotatably supported by said vacuum housing proximate said suction opening, said plurality of wheels supporting said suction opening adjacent a surface to be cleaned, and allowing the underwater vacuum to be moved about the surface to be cleaned;    a pair of rear wheels and axle rotatably supported within said vacuum housing;    a means for transmitting rotational motion to said plurality of rear wheels from said turbine, whereby the underwater vacuum is self-propelled over the surface being cleaned;    whereby, when said underwater vacuum and sterilization system is supported adjacent a submerged surface to be cleaned by said plurality of wheels and when said outlet pipe outlet is connected to a pump via a hose and the pump is turned on, water being drawn through said vacuum housing will cause rotation of said turbine, which in turn causes rotation of said rear wheels;    whereby, when said variable pressure fluid pump is turned on said variable pressure fluid jets cause variable pressure fluid and sterilization chemical flow against said submerged surface to thereby dislodge matter from and sterilize the submerged surface, the water, fluid and chemical and the dislodged matter becoming entrained in water being drawn through said vacuum housing, the water and the dislodged matter being removed from proximity of the submerged surface via said outlet pipe.    
   
   
       2 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction opening has a rear edge, a right edge, a left edge, and a front edge, and wherein said plurality of wheels includes a plurality of rear wheels and a plurality of front wheels, said plurality of front wheels being rotatably supported on said interior of said vacuum housing proximate said front edge, and said plurality of rear wheels rotatably supported on said interior of said vacuum housing and being connected by a connecting shaft or axle proximate said rear edge.  
   
   
       3 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for transmitting rotational motion to said plurality of rear wheels from said turbine, whereby the underwater vacuum is self-propelled over the surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       4 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said suction opening has a perimeter and said perimeter of said suction opening defines a plane, wherein each of said plurality of front wheels is attached to said vacuum housing by a respective one of a first plurality of adjustable attachment means such that the position of each of said plurality of front wheels can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening;    and wherein said plurality of rear wheels are coaxially fixed to a common shaft rotatably supported by said vacuum housing, there further being a second pair of adjustable attachment means, each end of said common shaft being attached to said vacuum housing by a respective one of said second pair of adjustable attachment means, such that the position of all of said plurality of rear wheels can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening simultaneously.    
   
   
       5 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a debris trap provided intermediate said vacuum housing outlet and said turbine housing inlet, fluid communication between said vacuum housing outlet and said turbine housing inlet provided via said debris trap.  
   
   
       6 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein said turbine is a first turbine, the underwater vacuum further comprising: 
 a second turbine;    and a common turbine shaft rotatably supported within said turbine housing, said first turbine and said second turbine being fixed in tandem to said common turbine shaft, whereby water rushing through said first turbine and said second turbine causes rotation of said common turbine shaft.    
   
   
       7 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of re-directional baffles provided intermediate said first turbine and said second turbine, said plurality of re-directional baffles straightening water flow from said first turbine before the water flow from said first turbine impinges upon said second turbine.  
   
   
       8 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum housing has a rear wall, the underwater vacuum further comprising: 
 a socket attached to said rear wall;    and a T-shaped handle having a gripping portion and a distal end distal from said gripping portion, said distal end of said T-shaped handle being inserted into said socket.    
   
   
       9 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction opening has a perimeter and said perimeter of said suction opening defines a plane, and wherein each of said plurality of wheels is attached to said vacuum housing by adjustable attachment means such that the position of each of said plurality of wheels can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening.  
   
   
       10 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , there further being a variable pressure sterilization chemical and fluid flow mechanism that said fluid flows against said surface with enough pressure to completely clean and sterilize all surfaces under said vacuum housing.  
   
   
       11 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , there further being an interior containment chamber within said vacuum housing, said chamber having more than one flexible member, seal or plurality of bristles or brushes thereby defining a circumferential seal on the bottom edges, that said fluid flow is contained inside said chamber and removed by suction through open top of said chamber, such that said variable pressure fluid flow can flow against said surface with enough pressure to remove all matter and sterilize said surface, such that none of the fluid can escape under said containment chamber and enter the water on the exterior of said vacuum housing.  
   
   
       12 . The underwater vacuum and sterilization system according to  claim 1 , there further being adjustable attachment means, said suction opening having a perimeter and said perimeter of said suction opening defining a plane, said containment chamber being attached to interior of said vacuum housing by said adjustable attachment means, such that the position of said containment chamber can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening.  
   
   
       13 . An underwater vacuum and sterilization system comprising: 
 a vacuum housing having a suction opening at the bottom thereof and a vacuum housing outlet opening, said suction opening being substantially rectangular and having a rear edge, a right edge, a left edge, and a front edge, said suction opening having a perimeter and said perimeter of said suction opening defining a plane, said vacuum housing having an exterior and an interior, said vacuum housing having a base portion and a cap portion, said cap portion having a rear wall and a front wall spaced apart from said rear wall, said cap portion having a closed top and an open bottom, said open bottom being smaller in area than said suction opening, said cap portion being joined to said base portion at said open bottom of said cap portion, said cap portion having lateral walls that extend between said front and rear wall, said cap portion having a decreasing cross sectional area in sections parallel to said plane of said suction opening, said cross sectional area of said cap portion decreasing from a maximum where said cap portion joins said base portion to a minimum at said closed top of said cap portion;    said base portion having a curved front wall extending from said front edge of said suction opening to said front wall of said cap portion, a rear wall extending perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening from said suction opening rear edge to said rear wall of said cap portion, a right sidewall extending from said curved front wall of said base portion to said rear wall of said base portion and from said right edge of said suction opening to said cap portion, and a left sidewall extending from said curved front wall of said base portion to said rear wall of said base portion and from said left edge of said suction opening to said cap portion, said front and rear walls of said base portion, said left sidewall, said right sidewall, and said cap portion cooperatively forming a concavity which opens to said suction opening;    said vacuum housing outlet opening being formed in said front wall of said cap portion, said vacuum housing outlet opening being as wide as said closed top of said cap portion and extending from said closed top of said cap portion to said curved front wall of said base portion;    a turbine housing fixed to said exterior of said vacuum housing said turbine housing having a turbine housing inlet and a turbine housing outlet, said turbine housing inlet being in fluid communication with said vacuum housing outlet opening;    a turbine rotatably supported within said turbine housing;    an outlet pipe supported by said vacuum housing, said outlet pipe having an outlet pipe inlet and an outlet pipe outlet, said outlet pipe inlet being in fluid communication with said turbine housing outlet; a brush rotatably supported within said vacuum housing, said brush having a plurality of bristles, said brush being positioned within said vacuum housing such that a predetermined number of said plurality of bristles project beyond said suction opening to the outside of said vacuum housing and contact the surface to be cleaned;    a plurality of front wheels rotatably supported on said exterior of said vacuum housing proximate said front edge of said suction opening;    a plurality of rear wheels rotatably supported by said interior of said vacuum housing intermediate said rear edge of said suction opening and said brush, said front and rear plurality of wheels supporting said suction opening adjacent a surface to be cleaned and allowing the underwater vacuum to be moved about the surface to be cleaned;    and means for transmitting rotational motion from said turbine to said brush;    a variable pressure fluid mechanism fluidly connected to variable pressure pump at water surface for transmitting chemical sterilization chemical and fluid to the interior of the vacuum housing to sterilize and additionally clean surface;    whereby, when said underwater vacuum is supported adjacent a submerged surface to be cleaned by said plurality of wheels and when said outlet pipe outlet is connected to a pump via a hose and the pump is turned on, water being drawn through said vacuum housing will cause rotation of said turbine which in turn causes rotation of said brush to thereby dislodge matter from the submerged surface, the dislodged matter becoming entrained in water being drawn through said vacuum housing, the water and the dislodged matter being removed from proximity of the submerged surface via the outlet pipe;    whereby, when said variable pressure pump is turned on the sterilization chemical and fluid will flow against the submerged surface behind said brush, the said chemical and fluid sterilizing said submerged surface, the water, dislodged matter, sterilization chemical and fluid becoming entrained in water being drawn through said vacuum housing the water and the dislodged matter being removed from proximity of the submerged surface via the outlet pipe.    
   
   
       14 . The underwater vacuum according to  claim 13 , further comprising a debris trap provided intermediate said vacuum housing outlet and said turbine housing inlet, fluid communication between said vacuum housing outlet and said turbine housing inlet provided via said debris trap.  
   
   
       15 . The underwater vacuum according to  claim 13 , wherein said turbine is a first turbine, the underwater vacuum further comprising: 
 a second turbine;    and a common turbine shaft rotatably supported within said turbine housing, said first turbine and said second turbine being fixed in tandem to said common turbine shaft, whereby water rushing through said first turbine and said second turbine causes rotation of said common turbine shaft.    
   
   
       16 . The underwater vacuum according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of re-directional baffles provided intermediate said first turbine and said second turbine, said plurality of re-directional baffles straightening water flow from said first turbine before the water flow from said first turbine impinges upon said second turbine.  
   
   
       17 . The underwater vacuum according to  claim 13 , wherein said vacuum housing has a rear wall formed by said rear wall of said base portion and said rear wall of said cap portion, the underwater vacuum further comprising: 
 a socket attached to said rear wall of said vacuum housing;    and a T-shaped handle having a gripping portion and a distal end distal from said gripping portion, said distal end of said T-shaped handle being inserted into said socket.    
   
   
       18 . The underwater vacuum according to  claim 13 , there further being adjustable attachment means, each of said plurality of front and rear wheels being attached to said vacuum housing by said adjustable attachment means, such that the position of each of said plurality of front and rear wheels can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening.  
   
   
       19 . The underwater vacuum according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 each of said plurality of front wheels is attached to said vacuum housing by a respective one of a first plurality of adjustable attachment means, such that the position of each of said plurality of front wheels can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening;    and wherein said plurality of rear wheels are coaxially fixed to a common shaft rotatably supported by said vacuum housing, there further being a second pair of adjustable attachment means, each end of said common shaft being attached to said vacuum housing by a respective one of said second pair of adjustable attachment means, such that the position of all of said plurality of rear wheels can be adjusted in a direction approximately perpendicular to said plane of said suction opening simultaneously.    
   
   
       20 . A hand held underwater vacuum and sterilization system comprising: 
 a water suction pipe connected to a hand held tubular vacuum head;    a variable pressure fluid mechanism fluidly connected to variable pressure pump at water surface for transmitting chemical sterilization chemical and fluid to the interior of the vacuum head, and supported to the interior of said vacuum head, to sterilize and clean the surface;    a flexible member, seal or plurality of bristles or brushes thereby defining a circumferential seal on around the inlet edge of the vacuum head;    whereby when the hand held vacuum and sterilization system is placed adjacent to a submerged surface the variable pressure fluid flow from the interior of the vacuum head dislodges matter from the surface and sterilizes the surface. The water suction from inside the vacuum head removes all dislodged matter and sterilization chemical immediately from the area being cleaned and sterilized thereby preventing turbidity or sterilization chemical from entering the surrounding water column.