System for removing floating waste and method for removing floating waste using the same system

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for removing floating waste which includes a storage filter support that has a conical shape and tapers to a lower end thereof when it is installed for use and a storage filter that is inserted into the storage filter support from above. The system further includes a pump and an internal impeller when the system is a model to be used in water with zero velocity. Alternatively the system further includes an internal impeller and a speed increaser when the system is a model to be used in water with a velocity that is not zero. The speed increaser is installed in the storage filter support and drives the internal impeller.

Claims

1. A system for removing floating waste, comprising: a storage filter support that has a conical shape and tapers from an upper end to a lower end thereof; and a storage filter received within the storage filter support and supported in an upper portion of the storage filter support, wherein, (a) the system further comprises a pump and an internal impeller in a case where the system is to be used in still water with zero velocity, the pump being installed in the storage filter support in order to discharge water, the internal impeller being installed inside the storage filter in order to move floating waste to a storage portion in the storage filter; or the system further comprises the internal impeller and a speed increaser, in a case where the system is to be used in moving water with a velocity that is not zero, the internal impeller being installed inside the storage filter in order to move floating waste to a storage portion in the storage filter, the speed increaser being installed in the storage filter support and driving the internal impeller; and (b) the pump or speed increaser is connected to the impeller and is located outside of the storage filter and within a lower portion of the storage filter support.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the water is still water and the flow velocity of the water is zero, the pump and the impeller are rotated, causing a vortex.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a linear anchor whose upper end is fixed to the storage filter support and whose lower end is fixed to the bed of a body of water.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the flow velocity of the water is moving water and the water is above zero, the internal impeller installed inside the storage filter is rotated by a driving force of the speed increaser which is a driving means, causing a vortex.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising an anchor whose upper end is fixed to the storage filter support and whose lower end is fixed to the bed of a body of water at two or more positions.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the anchor is a multi-leg anchor that is fixed to the bed of a body of water in at least three positions.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage filter comprises: an inlet that is positioned at the top of the storage filter and through which floating waste and debris in the water can pass; and a storage portion that is filled with water right after the storage filter is installed and floats to the surface of the water by buoyancy of the floating waste when it is filled with the floating waste.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a system for removing floating waste according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the system of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a system for removing floating waste according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the system of FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of floating-waste-removing systems according to one of the embodiments is installed in a river in which a large amount of floating waste is present;

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a large amount of floating waste flows into a storage filter in the floating-waste-removing system according to an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is a diagram that shows an operation process in which a storage filter is detached from a storage filter support and rises to the surface of water by buoyancy when the storage filter of the floating-waste-removing system is filled with floating waste;

(8) FIG. 8 is a diagram that shows an operation process in which a used storage filter is replaced with a new storage filter in the floating-waste-removing system according to an embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 9 is a diagram that shows an operation process in which a plurality of the floating-waste-removing systems according to an embodiment of the invention is tied using a towing rope so that the floating-waste-removing systems can be moved along the cleaning ship;

(10) FIG. 10 is a graph showing the amount of floating waste per year;

(11) FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for removing floating waste according to a related art; and

(12) FIG. 12 A is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for removing floating waste according to another related art.

(13) FIG. 12 B is a schematic diagram illustrating a different view of an apparatus for removing floating waste according to another related art as shown in 12 A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) Herein below, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear.

(15) Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, specific examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below, since the embodiments of the present invention can be variously modified in many different forms.

(16) While the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

(17) It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being coupled or connected to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, it should be understood that when an element is referred to as being directly coupled or directly connected to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other expressions that explain the relationship between elements, such as between, directly between, adjacent to, or directly adjacent to, should be construed in the same way.

(18) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprise, include, have, etc. when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations of them but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof.

(19) Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals will refer to the same or like parts.

(20) FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a system for removing floating waste according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the system of FIG. 1.

(21) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a system for removing floating waste (hereinafter, also referred to as floating-waste-removing system) 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a storage filter support 100L and a storage filter 100F. The storage filter support 100L has a conical shape and is tapered to a lower end thereof. The storage filter 100F is inserted into the storage filter support 100L from above. The system may further include a pump 150 and an internal impeller 130 when a flow velocity is zero. The pump 150 is installed in the storage filter support 100L and discharges water outside. The internal impeller 130 is installed inside the storage filter 100F and moves floating waste to a storage portion of the storage filter 100. Alternatively, the system may further include an internal impeller 130 and a speed increaser 150 when the flow velocity is above zero. The internal impeller 130 is installed inside the storage filter 100F and moves floating waste to a storage portion of the storage filter 100F. The speed increaser 150 is installed in the storage filter support 100L and drives the internal impeller 130. Rotation of the pump 150 or speed increaser 150 causes a whirling vortex in river Wa in which floating waste S is present. As a result, the floating waste S is removed.

(22) In the floating-waste-removing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the pump 150 draws in water of the river Wa, which is to be purified. At this time, a vortex is created due to gravity. Moreover, the internal impeller 130 rotates water in the to-be-purified river Wa, creating a vortex.

(23) That is, the present invention features use of the internal impeller 130 and pump 150. In other words, by drawing in the floating waste with use of low energy by using the internal impeller and pump, it is possible to create a vortex by which the floating waste S floating on the surface of water can be effectively removed.

(24) The floating-waste-removing system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a model to be used in a place where the flow velocity is zero. The floating-waste-removing system 100 includes the storage filter 100F, the storage filter support 100L, and a linear anchor 160 that is installed at a lower end portion of the storage filter 100L and that anchors the system 100 to the bed of the to-be-purified river Wa. The system 100 operates in this way to remove floating waste.

(25) Respective parts of the floating-waste-removing system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in brief below, and then a description on associations between the parts and operation/effect thereof will follow.

(26) In the floating-waste-removing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the storage filter support 100L serves as a support member to support the storage filter 100F. The storage filter 100F is inserted into the storage filter support 100L from above.

(27) The linear anchor 160 has an upper end that protrudes from the storage filter support 100L and a lower end that is fixed to the bed of the to-be-purified river Wa. That is, the linear anchor 160 serves as a fixing member.

(28) In the floating-waste-removing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the pump 150 operates to draw in the water from the river Wa. At this time, a vortex is formed by gravity, so that the floating waste S floating on the surface of water is effectively removed.

(29) Reference No. 140 is a buoyancy aid and a water-repelling portion that prevents water from entering into an operational portion. The buoyancy aid enables the system 100 to stably stand in place.

(30) That is, the floating force of the system attributable to the buoyancy of the buoyancy aid 140 and the anchor's fixing force are offset, so that the system can be afloat and stably stand in place.

(31) In the floating-waste-removing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the storage filter 100F includes an inlet 110, a storage portion 120 for storing collected floating waste, and the internal impeller 130.

(32) The inlet 110 is at the topmost portion of the storage filter 100F and is an opening through which surface water and the floating waste are introduced into the storage filter.

(33) The storage portion 120 is a space to store the floating waste. The storage portion 120 is filled with water right after the storage filter is installed. The floating waste S floats up by buoyancy and is then stored in the storage portion 120 of the storage filter 100F.

(34) The internal impeller 130 induces a vortex, and the floating waste S spirals down to the bed of the river, scattering in all directions at the bottom of the river.

(35) The internal impeller 130 creates a vortex at a place where the flow velocity is zero in order to scatter the floating debris in all directions. Meanwhile, the internal impeller may discharge water outside as well as create a vortex when the flow velocity is above zero.

(36) FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a system for removing floating waste according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the system of FIG. 3.

(37) The floating-waste-removing system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a model used in a place where the stream vortex is zero, but a floating-waste-removing system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention is used in a place where the stream vortex is above zero.

(38) As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the floating-waste-removing system 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention features a speed increaser 150 and a multi-leg anchor 160 compared with the floating-waste-removing system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(39) When describing the floating-waste-removing system 100, the description of the structure of the floating-waste-removing system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, which has been given above, will not be redundantly provided. Hereinafter, only the speed increaser 150 and multi-leg anchor 160 will be described.

(40) The speed increaser 150 increases the operation of the impeller by mechanically transferring the rotational force received from an external turbine.

(41) When the system 100 is installed in a place where the flow velocity is high, the multi-leg anchor 160 is structured such that the system 100 is kept standing in place even though there are the external forces attributable to the flow velocity and the rotational moment of a water turbine.

(42) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of floating-waste-removing systems according to one of the embodiments is installed in a river in which a large amount of floating waste is present. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a large amount of floating waste flows into a storage filter in the floating-waste-removing system according to one of the embodiments.

(43) FIG. 7 is a diagram that shows an operation process in which a storage filter is detached from a storage filter support and rises to the surface of water by buoyancy when the storage filter of the floating-waste-removing system is filled with floating waste. FIG. 8 is a diagram that shows an operation process in which a used storage filter is replaced with a new storage filter in the floating-waste-removing system according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram that shows an operation process in which a plurality of the floating-waste-removing systems according to the present invention is tied using a towing rope so that the floating-waste-removing systems can be moved by the cleaning ship.

(44) As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9, a method of removing floating waste (hereinafter, also referred to as floating-waste-removing method) using the floating-waste-removing system 100 or 100 includes: a step S110 of preparing the floating-waste-removing system 100 or 100 by inserting the storage filter 100F into the storage filter support 100L; a step S120 of tying more or more floating-waste-removing systems 100 or 100 to a cleaning ship Sh using towing ropes Wi to; a step S130 of towing the floating-waste-removing systems 100 or 100 using the cleaning ship Sh; a step S140 of anchoring the floating-waste-removing systems 100 or 100 to the bed of the river Wa using the linear anchor 160 or multi-leg anchor 160; a step S150 of allowing water and floating waste S to be introduced into the storage filter 100F through the inlet 110 by driving the pump 150 or speed increaser 150; a step S160 of detaching the storage filter 100F from the storage filter support 100L when the storage filter 100F is filled with the floating waste after long hours of operation of the system 100 or 100; and a step S170 of replacing the detached storage filter 100F with a new storage filter 100F and recovering the used storage filter 100F.

(45) The storage filter 100 has a separate storage portion 120.

(46) When the storage portion is embodied in a module according to the kind of floating waste, the module may be used to effectively remove various kinds of floating waste as well as to remove solid floating debris.

(47) The rest of the module except for a storage space is configured such that surface fluid can be effectively absorbed.

(48) The storage portion may be embodied in a floating-waste-storing module suitable for removal of oil, green algae, red algae, etc.

(49) The system and method for removing floating waste according to the present invention has an advantage of effectively removing floating waste while solving problems occurring in the related art.

(50) The system for removing floating waste according to the present invention is embodied in a water purification robot that uses natural phenomena. The system uses the internal impeller 130 and the pump 150 or the speed increaser 150 to flexibly deal with various kinds of pollutants in water. Since the system can be anchored to the bed of a river Wa in which a large amount of floating waste is present on the surface of water by the anchor 160 or 160, the system can be installed wherever a large amount of floating waste S is present. Therefore, floating waste can be easily and effectively removed.

(51) According to the system and method for removing floating waste according to the present invention, aside from the fact that the systems can be anchored to the bed of the river Wa in which a large amount of floating waste S is present and that the internal impeller 130, the pump 150, or the speed increaser 150 is used, the systems can be tied to an additional cleaning ship Sh using towing ropes so as to be moved by the cleaning ship Sh. Therefore, the system and method are effectively used to remove floating waste even when floating waste S is scattered over a large area.

(52) According to the system and method for removing floating waste according to the present invention, aside from the fact that multiple systems 100 can be moved by the cleaning ship Sh, the following is possible. That is, when the systems are operated for long hours while being anchored to the bed of a river and thus the storage filters 100F, each of which is made up of the inlet 110, the internal impeller 130, and the storage portion 120, are filled with floating waste; the storage filter 100F is detached from the storage filter support 100L and floats by buoyancy. The used storage filters 100F are replaced with new storage filters and recovered to the cleaning ship Sh. Therefore, the used storage filters 100F can be reused many times after being cleaned. Therefore, cleaning of the river can be continuously performed using the systems.

(53) The system and method for removing floating waste according to the present invention are also useful in removing green or red algae that occur in rivers or oceans, and that are social issues needing to be solved. Therefore, the system and method according to the present invention have an advantage of maintaining and sustaining a healthy ecological system.

(54) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in different forms, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

(55) Therefore the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

(56) The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than in the above description above, and it is to be construed that various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.