Method and apparatus for moving substantial quantities of water

Abstract

A method and apparatus for slowing down or weakening a tropical storm such as a hurricane by using two scoops, each attached to opposite sides of a ship to force cool subsurface water to the surface so that the surface water temperature is reduced substantially over a relatively large area in front of the storm. The ship comprises a winch arrangement attached to a port scoop and a starboard scoop for lowering and raising the scoops. A second embodiment includes the addition of a port post and a starboard post each attached through a collar to a hinge on an upper portion of a port or starboard scoop and means for raising and lowering the posts. A third embodiment includes a refrigeration unit on the deck of a ship for further cooling of the subsurface water before returning it to the ocean surface.

1 . A method of moving a volume of ocean water from a cooler subsurface level to the ocean water surface to weaken a developing hurricane type storm comprising the steps of:
 mounting a scoop on each side of a ship wherein a first end of said scoop rotates about a mounting means attached to said ship;   stabilizing said scoop mounted on each side of said ship with bracing means between each scoop; and   lowering and raising a second end of said scoop on each side of said ship, to a predetermined ocean depth when lowering said scoop, with means attached to each scoop wherein ocean water enters at said second end of said scope and exits at said first end to cool said surface of said ocean water.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said step of lowering a second end of said scoop to a predetermined depth with means attached to each scoop comprises the step of attaching a first end of a cable between a first scoop and a winch on said ship and attaching a second end of said cable between a second scoop and said winch. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said step of stabilizing said scoop mounted on each side of said ship with bracing means comprises the step of providing a port brace attached to an upper portion of said port scoop, a starboard brace attached to an upper portion of said starboard scoop, and a horizontal bar attached to an upper end of said port brace and said starboard brace. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said step of stabilizing said scoop mounted on each side of said ship with bracing means comprises the step of providing a lower scoop bracing around the hull of said ship having a first end attached to a port scoop and a second end attached to a starboard scoop. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said step of lowering and raising said scoop mounted on each side of said ship comprises the steps of:
 providing a port post attached through a port collar to a hinge on an upper portion of said port scoop;   providing a starboard post attached through a starboard collar to a hinge on an upper portion of said starboard scoop;   connecting said port post to said starboard post with a bridge; and   securing said bridge to said ship when in a lowered position with locking means to stabilize said port scoop, said starboard scoop and said ship.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for moving a volume of ocean water from a cooler lower level to the ocean water surface to weaken a developing hurricane type storm comprising:
 a scoop mounted on each side of a ship wherein a first end of each scoop rotates about a mounting means attached to said ship;   means for stabilizing said scoop mounted on each side of said ship, said stabilizing means comprises bracing between each scoop; and   means for lowering and raising a second end of said scoop on each side of said ship, to a predetermined ocean depth when lowering said scoop, wherein ocean water enters said second end and exits at said first end to cool said surface of said ocean water.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein said mounting means comprises a hinge extending from the side of said ship for said first end of each scoop to rotate about said hinge. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein said lowering and raising means comprises a first end of a cable attached between a first scoop mounted on a port side of said ship and a winch on said ship and a second end of said cable attached between a second scoop mounted on a starboard side of said ship and said winch. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein said stabilizing means comprises a bar attached between two vertical sections, each of said vertical sections being attached to one of said scoops on each side of said ship. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein said stabilizing means comprises a lower scoop bracing arranged around a hull of said ship having a first end attached to a port scoop and a second end attached to a starboard scoop wherein said bracing follows the lowering and raising of said port scoop and said starboard scoop. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein said apparatus comprises a post on each side of said ship attached to a corresponding scoop on each side of said ship through a collar to a hinge on an upper portion of each scoop for lowering and raising each scoop. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus mounted on a ship for cooling ocean water to weaken a developing hurricane type storm comprising:
 means for cooling ocean water;   means extending into said ocean water for providing said ocean water to said cooling means;   means for discharging said cooled ocean water from said cooling means into said ocean.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein said cooling means comprises a refrigerator. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein said ocean water providing means extending into said ocean water comprises tubing to draw said ocean water into said cooling means. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein said refrigerator comprises means for forming pieces of ice.