Trash removal system and method for removing trash from water bottom, and water vessel including the same

Abstract

A trash removal system for removing trash and debris from a water bottom is provided. The system includes a sled configured to ride along the water bottom, the sled including a jetting aeration system having nozzles which provide jets of pressurized air and water directed towards the water bottom; and a vacuum including a suction funnel adjacent the jetting aeration system which is configured to suck in trash and debris agitated by the jetting aeration system. The system further includes a conveyor configured at one end to receive the trash and debris sucked in by the suction funnel, and to transport the trash and debris to a surface above the water bottom.

1 . A trash removal system for removing trash and debris from a water bottom, comprising:
 a sled configured to ride along the water bottom, the sled including:
 a jetting aeration system having nozzles which provide jets of pressurized air and water directed towards the water bottom; and 
 a vacuum including a suction funnel adjacent the jetting aeration system which is configured to suck in trash and debris agitated by the jetting aeration system; and 
   a conveyor configured at one end to receive the trash and debris sucked in by the suction funnel, and to transport the trash and debris to a surface above the water bottom.   
     
     
         2 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , wherein the jetting aeration system includes an air manifold with a plurality of tubes extending from the air manifold and distributed in a widthwise direction along a bottom of the sled, with ends of the plurality of tubes being configured to serve as the nozzles which provide the jets of pressurized air. 
     
     
         3 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , wherein the jetting aeration system includes a water manifold with a plurality of openings distributed in a widthwise direction along the bottom of the sled, the openings configured to serve as the nozzles which provide the jets of pressurized water. 
     
     
         4 . The trash removal system according to  claim 3 , wherein the jetting aeration system includes an air manifold with a plurality of tubes extending from the air manifold and distributed in the widthwise direction along a bottom of the sled, with ends of the plurality of tubes being arranged within the openings of the water manifold and configured to serve as the nozzles which provide the jets of pressurized air. 
     
     
         5 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , further including an air hose and a water hose configured to deliver pressurized air and water to the jetting aeration system from the surface above the water bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction funnel includes a generally rectangular nozzle having a height of at least 1 foot and a width of at least five feet. 
     
     
         7 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum includes a Venturi pump which creates a Venturi flow that suctions and delivers the trash and debris to the conveyor. 
     
     
         8 . The trash removal system according to  claim 7 , further including a water hose configured to deliver pressurized water to the Venturi pump to create the Venturi flow. 
     
     
         9 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shaker grating arranged at an opposite end of the conveyor, the shaker grating being configured to receive the trash and debris transported by the conveyor and to separate trash and debris from smaller fish and/or shellfish sucked up by the vacuum. 
     
     
         10 . The trash removal system according to  claim 9 , wherein the shaker grating includes a plurality of bars arranged in a fan shape from one end to another, the fan shape comprising graduated spacing between adjacent bars. 
     
     
         11 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , further including a shock absorbing system which absorbs a shock associated with the sled colliding with an immovable object on the water bottom. 
     
     
         12 . The trash removal system according to  claim 11 , wherein the shock absorbing system includes a sensor for sensing when the sled collides with an immovable object, and for providing a control signal indicative of the collision. 
     
     
         13 . The trash removal system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an automatic bottom finder system for controlling a position of the sled relative to the water bottom. 
     
     
         14 . The trash removal system according to  claim 13 , wherein the automatic bottom finder system comprises a cable from which the sled is suspended and a sensor for sensing a relative weight of the sled exerted on the cable, and controls a depth of the sled by adjusting a length of the cable based on an output of the sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The trash removal system according to  claim 14 , wherein the automatic bottom finder system includes a winch which adjusts the length of the cable, the winch being controlled based on the output of the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The trash removal system according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a crane scale, pneumatic scale, spring hanger, air cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . A water vessel, comprising:
 the trash removal system according to  claim 1 ; and   a hull to which the trash removal system is attached.   
     
     
         18 . A water vessel, comprising:
 the trash removal system according to  claim 12 ;   a hull to which the trash removal system is attached; and   a propulsion control system which controls the propulsion of the water vessel, the propulsion control system being configured to at least one of reduce or stop propulsion of the water vessel in response to receipt of the control signal indicative of the collision.   
     
     
         19 . A water vessel, comprising:
 the trash removal system according to  claim 13 ; and   a hull to which the trash removal system is attached.   
     
     
         20 . A method for removing trash from a water bottom, comprising:
 moving a sled along the water bottom, the sled including:
 a jetting aeration system having nozzles which provide jets of pressurized air and water directed towards the water bottom; and 
 a vacuum including a suction funnel adjacent the jetting aeration system which is configured to suck in trash and debris agitated by the jetting aeration system; and 
   conveying trash and debris sucked in by the suction funnel to a surface above the water bottom.