Submersible intake equipment with air filled bladders

Abstract

An apparatus having flotation ballasts or tanks, a flotation platform having a frame, and on the frame and flotation platform, intake equipment, such as a screen, check valve and/or pump intake and a coupling for a discharge pipe. An embodiment comprises a plurality of substantially symmetrical flotation ballasts, each having a ballast tank forming a chamber with an internal bladder therein, or in lieu of the ballast chamber, at least one exposed bladder coupled to the frame and flotation platform. The method includes the steps of using an apparatus as herein described to ascend and descend intake equipment.

1 . An apparatus for use in a body of fluid, comprising:
 at least one flotation ballast comprising a ballast tank forming a chamber, the flotation tank comprised of a cylinder having an end cap on each end thereof, the ballast tank having located therein a water-tight bladder;   a flotation platform having a frame coupled to the at least one flotation ballast;   intake equipment coupled to the flotation platform;   at least one primary pneumatic control line, the distal end being coupled to an intake to the bladder via the flotation ballast; and   the flotation ballast having an aperture or port hole operable to allow the ingress and egress of a fluid ballast into and out of the chamber of the ballast tank.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressed air source coupled to a proximate end of the at least one pneumatic control line. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intake equipment comprises at least one from the group consisting of a screen, check valve and submersible pump. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising a plurality of submersible pumps coupled to the flotation platform. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pumps are arranged side-by-side. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pumps are a main pump and a jockey pump. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for use in a body of fluid, comprising:
 at least one water-tight bladder;   a flotation platform having a frame coupled to at least one bladder;   intake equipment coupled to the frame and flotation platform; and   at least one primary pneumatic control line, the distal end being coupled to an intake on the bladder.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a compressed air source coupled to a proximate end of the at least one pneumatic control line. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the intake equipment comprises at least one from the group consisting of a screen, check valve and submersible pump. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a plurality of submersible pumps coupled to the flotation platform. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pumps are arranged side-by-side. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pumps are a main pump and a jockey pump arranged vertically. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for use in a body of fluid, comprising:
 two flotation tanks arranged parallel with respect to each other and in a same horizontal plane, each flotation tank comprised of a cylinder having an end cap on each end thereof, the ballast tank having located therein a water-tight bladder;   intake equipment coupled to the flotation platform between the two flotation tanks in essentially the same horizontal plane;   at least one primary air line, the distal end being coupled via at least one combiner to a plurality of subsidiary air lines at the apparatus, each respective subsidiary line being coupled to at least one inlet at each of the two flotation ballast tanks, the at least one primary air line and subsidiary air lines operable as a conduit for the injection of a compressed gas into each bladder of the two flotation tanks so as to displace a fluid ballast from the flotation tanks;   each of the two flotation tanks having an aperture on the bottom thereof, the aperture operable to allow the ingress and egress of a fluid ballast into and out of the ballast tank, the arrangement of the two flotation tanks with respect to each other being such that, when placed on the surface of a body of fluid and prior to having fluid introduced into the respective ballast tanks, the center axis of each of the two flotation tanks are parallel to each other, and the plane in which the center axes lie is substantially parallel to the surface of the body of fluid with the respective apertures submerged.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a compressed air source coupled to a proximate end of the at least one air line. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the intake equipment comprises at least one from the group consisting of a screen, check valve and submersible pump. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the intake equipment includes a vertically positioned screen. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the intake equipment includes a horizontally positioned screen. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the intake equipment comprises:
 a screen;   a check valve having a first end and a second end opposite the first open end, the first end coupled to the screen; and   a discharge pipe having a distal end and proximate end, the distal end of the discharge pipe being coupled to the second end of the check valve.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , in combination with a pump coupled to the proximate end of the discharge pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the intake equipment comprises:
 a screen;   a submersible pump having a first open end and second open end opposite to the first open end, the first open end coupled to the screen so as to filter material having a predetermined size from entering the submersible pump;   a check valve having a first open end and second open end opposite thereto, the first open end of the check valve being coupled to the second open end of the submersible pump; and