Apparatus, System and Method for Recovery of Artifacts And Eradication of Invasive Species in Aquatic Environments

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for recovery of artifacts and eradication of invasive species in aquatic environments. The structure may comprise an elongate flexible bladder blanket divider having first and second ends. The structure may have an open bore vertical support operably coupled to the first and second ends. Each end extends into the open bore vertical support and rests on at least one apron bladder of an apron bladder bundle. The at least one apron bladder is contained in the open bore vertical support and at least one apron bladder is between the end of the vertical support and the bottom of the body of water. A method of using the apparatus, comprising providing an apparatus having variable volume first and second compartments separated by a flexible bladder blanket divider; and introducing agents through openings in the bladder to control the growth of or kill the invasive organisms.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A plurality of apron bladder bundles ( 105 ,  106 ) for supporting an apparatus ( 100 ,  700 ) for recovering artifacts ( 76 ,  705 ) or eradication of invasive species ( 12 ,  13 ,  712 ,  713 ), or restoring plant life in contaminated bottoms ( 80 ) of a body of water ( 83 ), comprising:
 at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) of an apron bladder bundle ( 105 ,  106 ),
 wherein each vertical end ( 250 ,  750 , and  255 ,  755 ) of an elongate flexible bladder blanket divider ( 49 ,  749 ) rests on one of the apron bladder bundles ( 105 ,  106 ), so that the at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) is between the respective end of the elongate flexible bladder blanket divider ( 49 ,  749 ) and the bottom ( 80 ,  780 ) of a body of water ( 83 ,  783 ). 
   
     
     
         26 . The plurality of apron bladder bundles ( 105 ,  106 ) of  claim 25 , comprising a recirculating/heating/cooling tube bundle. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) of the apron bladder bundle ( 105 ,  706  and  106 ,  707 ) is a distensible, flexible membrane or sac having a solid, flexible shape 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus  claim 25 , wherein the at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) is an apron bladder bundle ( 105 ,  706  and  106 ,  707 ), wherein the bundle is configured into Frame Apron Bladder Bundles (FABBs), wherein the Frame Apron Bladder Bundles (FABBs) are selected from the group consisting of High Rise apron bladder bundles ( 80   a ,  80   f ), A-Frame apron bladder bundles ( 80   b ), A-Frame Mixed apron bladder bundles ( 80   c ), V-Framed apron bladder bundles ( 80   d ), and M-Framed apron bladder bundles ( 80   e ), adapted for “soft touching” the bottom ( 80 ,  780 ) of the body of water ( 83 ,  783 ). 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) is made of flexible material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane polymers, silicone polymers, polyester polymers, polystyrene polymers, natural or synthetic rubber, high or low density polyethylene, high or low density polypropylene, and polyamide polymers. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) contains an intercommunicating fluid having a density greater than the fluid in the body of water ( 83 ,  783 ). 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , the apron bladders ( 104 ,  704 ) comprising intercommunicating tubes ( 58 ,  610 , and  1155 ), so that the pressure within the apron bladders ( 104 ,  704 ) is self-equalizing, thereby enabling “soft touching” the bottom ( 80 ,  780 ) of the body of water ( 83 ,  783 ). 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein an interior ( 635 ) of the elongate flexible bladder blanket divider ( 49 ,  749 ) comprises an interlinking network of reinforcing bundles  640 . 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the interlinking network of reinforcing bundles ( 640 ) are solid tubular structures that form a honeycomb reinforcing structure ( 1110 ). 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the reinforcing bundles are hollow tubes ( 1105 ,  1096 , and  1056 ). 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the hollow tubes ( 1105 ,  1096 , and  1056 ) form concentric rings. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the hollow tubes ( 1105 ,  1096 , and  1056 ) are hollowed out by selective oxidation. 
     
     
         37 . A method for recovering artifacts ( 76 ,  705 ), eradicating invasive species ( 12 ,  13 ,  712 ,  713 ), or revegetating plant life in contaminated bottoms ( 80 ) of a body of water ( 83 ), comprising:
 providing an apparatus ( 100 ,  700 ) for recovering artifacts ( 76 ,  705 ), comprising:
 an elongate flexible bladder blanket divider ( 49 ,  749 ), the bladder blanket divider ( 49 ), comprising:
 first and second vertical ends ( 250 ,  750 , and  255 ,  755 ); and bladder sheets ( 50 ) having a plurality of layers ( 51 ) for reducing a quantity of water to be handled when recovering an artifact ( 76 ,  105 ); and 
 an open bore vertical support ( 110 ,  710 ) operably coupled to the first and second vertical ends ( 250 ,  750 , and  255 ,  755 ), and being characterized in that each vertical end rests on at least one apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) of an apron bladder bundle ( 105 ,  106 ), so that the apron bladder ( 104 ,  704 ) is between the respective end of the elongate flexible bladder blanket divider  749 ) and the bottom ( 80 ,  780 ) of a body of water ( 83 ,  783 ). 
 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 deflating the apron bladders ( 104 ) of the blanket bladder sheets ( 50 ) by removing the fluid via pipe ( 149 ) by opening valve ( 156 ).   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 equalizing the pressure within intercommunicating apron bladders ( 104 ) through intercommunicating tubes ( 58 ), enabling “soft touching” the bottom ( 80 ) of the body of water such as a sea bed.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 identifying the artifact or invasive species using a viewing device ( 105   a ,  105   b );   using the apron bladder bundle ( 105 ,  705 ,  106 ,  707 , and mechanical tools ( 116 ) to infiltrate, surround, and/or support the artifact ( 76 ) or invasive species.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 providing conduits ( 70 ) housing wiring to supply the viewing devices  105   a  and  105   b  with electricity and to provide a data highway over which pictures of a contained area ( 93 ) of artifacts ( 76 ) and/or invasive species ( 12 ,  13 ) may be projected to another location for remote viewing.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , comprising:
 illuminating the contained area ( 93 ) with lights selected from waterproof electric lights or chemiluminescent lights.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the invasive species ( 12 ) are selected from the group consisting of Zebra Mussels ( 13 ), Eurasian water milfoil, ruffe, Hydrilla, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 at least one step selected from the group consisting of drilling, coring, sawing, grinding, impacting, blasting, or jetting delivery techniques using air, gases, bubbles, chemicals, water and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 inserting one of at least one robotic caliper for recovering the artifact, at least one chemical injector for controlling the growth of invasive species, or a revegetating device for planting at least one growth packet in the bottom of the body of water.