WATER-BORNE DEBRIS COLLECTION SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A novel water-borne debris collection system integrated into a waterborne vessel for collecting surface and near surface debris in a body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean. The apparatus may include a solid collection boom that projects laterally from a vessel and is partially submerged to act as a collection mechanism. The boom also facilitates the propulsion of the vessel by providing a barrier across which a differential water surface level may be created to drive the vessel forward. The apparatus may include a pumping system that draws water from the anterior side of the screen and for multiple purposes, including processing the collected water to remove plastics and other pollutant and debris material therefrom, and to transfer the water to the posterior side of the screen to create the differential water level for driving the vessel forward.

Claims

1. A waterborne debris collection apparatus for use with an aquatic craft, comprising: a) at least one deployable collection boom for collecting debris from a body of water having a proximal end positioned at a pivoting joint and a distal end operable to be moveable between a stowed position proximal to the hull and an extended collection position away from the hull; b) a boom deployment system which includes a tether system to which said at least one boom is mechanically connected, a rearward extending frame member, and a connection point at or near the bow of the aquatic craft; and c) a pumping system operable to collect debris-laden water from an area anterior to the at least one deployable collection boom and to dispose of the collected water on the posterior side of the at least one deployable collection boom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one deployable boom includes two deployable booms, each being pivotally connected to the aquatic craft at a position spaced from the stern, and the two deployable booms are bilaterally deployable from the aquatic craft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said two deployable booms are positioned bilaterally with respect to said aquatic vessel and both have a stowed position in which said two deployable booms are drawn in to proximity with a hull of said aquatic craft, and a deployed position in which the two booms are deployed bilaterally away from the hull of the aquatic craft.

4. (canceled)

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one debris collection conduit operable to collection said waterborne debris at or near a surface of the body of water.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a collection conveyor operable to collect coarse waterborne debris at or near a surface of the body of water.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sorting station for segregating said coarse waterborne debris, wherein pieces of said waterborne debris differ in material content and said sorting station segregates said pieces of said waterborne debris based on said material content.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a pyrolysis system.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tether system includes at least one forward spooling mechanism and at least one aft spooling mechanism for each of said deployable booms, said forward spool operable to gather and release a forward tether that is mechanically connected at or near a distal end of said deployable boom, and said aft spool being mounted on said rearward extending frame member and being operable to gather and release an after tether that is mechanically connected at or near said distal end of said deployable boom.

13. (canceled)

14. An aquatic vessel comprising: a) at least one deployable collection boom for collecting debris from a body of water having a proximal end positioned at a pivoting joint and a distal end operable to be moveably positioned proximal to the hull and at an extended collection position away from the hull; and b) a boom deployment system which includes a tether system to which said at least one boom is mechanically connected, a rearward extending frame member, and a connection point at or near the bow of the aquatic craft.

15. The vessel of claim 14, further comprising a debris collection system operable to collect debris-laden water from an area anterior to the at least one deployable collection boom and to dispose of the collected water on the posterior side of the at least one deployable collection boom, thereby creating a differential water level between the anterior and posterior sides of the deployable collection boom that results in a force applied to the posterior side of the deployable collection screen that propels the aquatic craft forward.

16. The vessel of claim 15, wherein said at least one deployable boom includes two deployable booms, each being pivotally connected to the aquatic craft at a position spaced from the stern, and the two deployable booms are bilaterally deployable from the aquatic craft.

17. The vessel of claim 16, wherein said two deployable booms are positioned bilaterally with respect to said aquatic vessel and have a stowed position in which said two deployable booms are drawn in to proximity with a hull of said aquatic craft, and a deployed position in which the two booms are deployed bilaterally away from the hull of the aquatic craft.

18. (canceled)

19. The vessel of claim 16, further comprising at least one debris collection conduit operable to collect said waterborne debris at or near a surface of the body of water.

20. The vessel of claim 16, further comprising a collection conveyor operable to collect coarse waterborne debris at or near a surface of the body of water.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A waterborne debris harvester apparatus for use with an aquatic craft, comprising: a) at least one collection boom for collecting debris from a body of water having a proximal end positioned near said stern; and b) a debris collection system operable to collect debris-laden water from an area anterior to the at least one collection boom and to dispose of the collected water on the posterior side of the at least one collection boom, creating a differential water level between the anterior and posterior sides of the collection boom that results in a force applied to the posterior side of the collection screen that propels the aquatic craft forward.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a pivoting joint that allows the at least one collection boom to be drawn in toward the hull to a stowed position.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a boom deployment system which includes a tether system to which said at least one boom is mechanically connected, a rearward extending frame member, and a connection point at or near the stern of the aquatic craft.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said at least one boom includes two deployable booms, each being pivotally connected to the aquatic craft at a position spaced from the stern, and the two deployable booms are bilaterally deployable from the aquatic craft.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said two deployable booms are positioned bilaterally with respect to said aquatic vessel and have a stowed position in which said two deployable booms are drawn in to proximity with a hull of said aquatic craft, and a deployed position in which the two booms are deployed bilaterally, away from the hull of the aquatic craft.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said two deployable booms collect waterborne debris and guide said debris toward a collection zone at or near the aquatic craft.

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43-65. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a vessel and debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of a vessel and debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of a vessel and debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of a vessel and debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of a vessel and debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 6 provides an overhead view of a vessel and debris-collection system in use, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 7 provides an cross-sectional view of a vessel and debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 8 provides a close-up view of the stern of the vessel and the extension frame of the debris-collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.

[0047] The present invention concerns a waterborne debris collection system integrated into a waterborne vessel for collecting surface and near surface debris in a body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean. The apparatus may include one or more solid collection booms that project laterally from a vessel and is partially submerged to act as a collection mechanism. The collection booms may comprise a solid screen operable to catch and collect debris at or near the surface of the water and facilitate the propulsion of the vessel by providing a barrier across which a differential water surface level may be created to drive the vessel forward. The apparatus may include a pumping system that draws water from the anterior side of the screen and for multiple purposes, including processing the collected water to remove plastics and other pollutant and debris material therefrom, and to transfer the water to the posterior side of the screen to create the differential water level for driving the vessel forward.

[0048] FIGS. 1-8 show an waterborne vessel 1000 that incorporates a debris collection system 1100 that is operable to collect waterborne debris. The debris collection system 1100 is mounted on the vessel 1000, which may be a conventional vessel outfitted with the features of the debris collection system 1100. In other embodiments, the vessel 1000 may be specially made for the debris collection function performed by the debris collection system 1100. The debris collection system 1100 may include two deployable booms 1101A and 1101B that each have a deployed condition in which the deployable booms 1101A and 1101B are bilaterally extended from the hull 1001 of the aquatic vessel 1000 and are operable to collect objects floating on or suspended near a surface of water.

[0049] Each of the deployable starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B is positioned and shaped such that it collects plastic debris and other pollutants at or near the surface of water within its length and funnels the debris and pollutants toward a central aspect of the boom near the stern 1002 of the aquatic craft 1000. The aquatic craft 1000 is operable to move along the surface of the water with the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B partially submerged allowing them to collect debris and floating material from the surface of the body of water and material floating near the surface. The starboard collection boom 1101A may have a curvature 1150A and portside collection boom 1101B may have a curvature 1150B with a forward concave face and/or may be obliquely angled toward the bow 1003 of the vessel 1000 such that material collected by the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B is funneled toward the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000. The starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may be symmetrically arranged in the deployed position, extending from the starboard side and port side of the vessel 1000, respectively. In some embodiments, the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may be constructed to have buoyancy to reduce stress on the connection between the booms and the vessel 1000. For example, each of the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may have a watertight surface and enlarged inferior submerged aspect that displaces sufficient water to provide buoyancy to each of the booms. In other embodiments, each of the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may have one or more buoys (e.g., metallic buoys) having a conical, circular, or cylindrical geometry to provide at the upper portion of the boom at the waterline, which may provide buoyancy to the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B and reduce stress on the vessel 1000.

[0050] The starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may be deployed by a deployment system that includes tethers 1104A, 1104B, 1104C, and 1104D positioned between bow 1003 of the vessel 1000 and an aft extension frame 1110 extending from the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000 to provide an anchoring point for the tethers 1104C and 1104D. The deployment system may include one or more forward spool mechanisms 1105A and 1105B at or near each side of the bow 1003 of the vessel 1000 and one or more aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B at the aft extension frame 1110. Each spool mechanism may be in mechanical communication with a tether such that it may be able to draw the tether in or let the tether out to facilitate the deployment and stowing of the starboard collection boom 1101A or portside collection boom 1101B. The tethers may be anchored at an opposite end at or near a distal end of one of the deployable collection booms. The tether may be routed through boom spools or fixedly connected to an anchor or other structure operable to engage with the tethers at or near the distal ends of each collection boom. For example, tethers 1104A and 1104C may be fixedly connected or otherwise mechanically connected to anchor point 1102A, and the tethers 1104B and 1104D may be fixedly connected or otherwise mechanically connected to anchor point 1102B. In some examples, the anchor points 1102A and 1102B may be large rod-like structure having a diameter in a range of about 5 inches to about 15 inches and may be comprised of rigid material, such as a steel, iron, or other rigid materials. In some examples the anchor points may have latching or hooking structures protruding therefrom for attaching the tethers to the anchor points.

[0051] The starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may be deployed by the rotation of the of the paired forward and aft spool mechanisms such that the tethers are pulled toward to the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B, thereby pulling the anchor points 1102A and 1102B toward the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B, respectively, thereby pulling the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B toward the rear of the vessel 1000. The starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may pivot on large pivoting joints 1103A and 1103B positioned near the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000 to allow the starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B to pivot outward away from the hull 1001 of the vessel 1000 and deploy laterally. The starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may be connected via the pivoting joints 1103A and 1103B to a central collection screen 1101C that is positioned behind the stern 1002. The boom anchors 1102A and 1102B positioned on or within the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B, respectively, may be moveably connected to the tethers 1104A, 1104C and 1104B, 1104D running between forward and aft spool mechanisms, such that as the tethers are pulled toward the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B. The spool mechanisms may be winches, such as electromechanical winches that are in electrical communication with a controller 1500, discussed below. In some embodiments, the anchors 1102A and 1102B may be spools that are stationary and unable to rotate, such that tension applied to the tethers by the rotation of the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B pulls the boom anchors 1102A and 1102B toward the aft spool mechanisms and applies sufficient tension to pivot and deploy the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B. As the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B are deployed the forward spool mechanisms 1105A and 1105B may rotate to let the tethers 1104A and 1104B out to prevent the application of tension to the tethers that opposes the tension applied by the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B to tethers 1104C and 1104D. The opposite stowing operation may be applied to draw the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B inward toward the hull 1001.

[0052] The collection booms 1101A and 1101B may be connected to an extended frame structure 1110 that extends posteriorly from the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000, and may be in alignment with the length (keel) of the vessel 1000. The extended frame 1110 may include a rigid metal frame structure, such as metal beams or pipes 1140A, 1140B that extend horizontally or substantially horizontally from the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000 to a pre-determined posterior distance from the stern 1002. The extended frame 1110 may also include a platform portion 1110A extending posterior from the collection screen 1101C, and a buoyant portion 1110B positioned on a bottom side of the extended frame 1110. The aft spooling mechanisms 1106A and 1106B may be positioned at or near the posterior end of the platform portion 1110A of the extended frame structure 1110. The flotation mechanism 1110B to aid in supporting the weight of the extended frame 1110. For example, the extended frame 1110 may include pontoons and/or other flotation structures. The central screen 1101C may be mechanically connected to the metal frame structure including metal beams or pipes 1140A, 1140B of extended frame structure 1110, providing an anchor point to the vessel 1000 for the starboard collection boom 1101A and the portside collection boom 1101B. The starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B may be connected to the central screen 1101C by pivoting joints 1103A and 1103B, respectively, that allow the tethers and forward and aft spooling mechanisms to pivot the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B between stowed and deployed positions.

[0053] The process of deploying the starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B may include unlocking a transmission system (unlocking a spool or reel on which the tether is wound) at the forward spooling mechanisms 1105A and 1105B to allow for a controlled release of the tethers 1104A and 1104B therefrom. The force of the fluid acting on the anterior surfaces of the starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B may assist in deploying the booms to the open position. In some embodiments, the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1006B may each be in mechanical connection with one or more motors that may be in electrical communication with a tension sensor (e.g., strain gage) that is operable to communicate the cable tension to a controller 1500 and determine the specific torque necessary for the cable to draw the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B into the deployed position. Once the aft spool mechanisms have drawn the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B the deployed position, a locking mechanism (e.g., hook and pawl lock) may lock the spool mechanism in place and maintain optimal tension on the tethers to maintain the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B in the deployed position.

[0054] The starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B may be retracted to the closed position proximal to the hull 1001. In this operation, the aft spool mechanisms 1106A and 1106B may be unlocked, and a transmission system (unlocking a spool or reel on which the tether is wound) at the forward spool mechanisms 1105A and 1105B may be engaged to allow a motor to which the forward spool mechanisms 1105A and 1105B are mechanically connected to spin the forward spool mechanisms to reel in the tethers 1104A and 1104B. The tensions in the aft tethers 1104C and 1104D are reduced and the forward cable tension is increased to pull the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B into the stowed position. Once the starboard collection boom 1101A and portside collection boom 1101B have reached the stowed position proximal to the hull 1101, the tension on the aft and forward tethers may be fixed with the spool mechanisms 1105A, 1105B, 1106A, and 1106B locked in place, e.g., with a hook and pawl or braking system. Forward tethers 1104A and 1104B may be routed through a pulley system for directing the tethers to the boom anchors 1102A and 1102B. The pulley system may prevent fray and surface fatigue on the tethers. An accelerometer in electronic communication with a controller 1500 may be placed at a position at or near the upper surface of each of the starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B to communicate data to the controller. The accelerometer data may allow the controller 1500 to control both the forward and aft motors to release or hold a specific amount of cable line such that the starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B do not translate abrupt or jerky motion to the vessel 1000. The controller 1500 may adjust the motors of the forward and aft spooling mechanism pairs 1105A/1106A and 1105B/1106B to adjust the speed at which the tethers are reeled or unreeled based on accelerometer data and controller calculations. The starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B may also be utilized to turn the vessel 1000 by independent retracting or deploying the starboard boom 1101A and portside boom 1101B, e.g., to create differential drag on each side of the vessel 1000. The controller 1500 may be operable to activate and operate the motors connected to the aft and forward tethers may be fixed with the spool mechanisms 1105A, 1105B, 1106A, and 1106B on each side of the vessel 1000.

[0055] In some embodiments, the starboard boom and portside boom may be comprised of a plurality of collapsible boom sections with pivoting connections between the boom sections. FIGS. 4-5 shows an embodiment having starboard boom 2101A and portside boom 2101B that includes a plurality of collapsible sections 2200. Pivoting connections 2201 may provide the connections between the collapsible sections 2200. The pivoting connections 2201 may be offset to a posterior end (outside) and an inner end (surface collecting and directing plastic) in an alternating fashion to allow the collection surface 2300 to collectively extend together and form a uniform collection surface 2300. The opposing ends of the pivoting connections 2201 may have lip and groove mating surfaces to facilitate joining the ends of each section 2200 of the starboard boom 2101A and portside boom 2101B together. Each of the boom sections 2200 may have a rotatable member 2202 (e.g., an idler, pulley, or other rotatable structure) that receives a boom tether 2203A or 2203B that is used to retract the collapsible sections 2200 from a deployed condition as shown in FIG. 5. The frame 1110 may have a starboard spooling mechanism 2220A (e.g., a winch, or other spooling device) and a portside spooling mechanism 2220B (e.g., a winch, or other spooling device) that are each operable to deploy and retract the boom tethers 2203A and 2203B, respectively. In such embodiments, the closed position may configure the plurality of boom sections 2200 into a collapsed, scissor linkage configuration. The boom surface 2300 may be retracted to the closed position by the starboard spooling mechanism 2220A and the portside spooling mechanism 2220B reeling in the boom tethers 2203A and 2203B. Deployment of the starboard spooling mechanism 2220A and the portside spooling mechanism 2220B from the closed position includes the steps of releasing the starboard spooling mechanisms 2220A and a portside spooling mechanisms 2220B from a locked condition and allow the force of the water on the screen and/or the action of the forward and aft spooling mechanism pairs 1105A/1106A and 1105B/1106B drawing the tethers 1104A, 1104B, 1104C, and 1104D in to facilitate the movement the various sections to an open position as the boom sections are extended to the open position both the aft and forward tethers are extended to allow the boom sections 2200 to join in an extended fashion. An additional watercraft may be used to assist in the deployment of the boom sections to form the collection booms 2101A and 2101B, such as a tugboat or other motor-driven watercraft. A tow line may be attached to the distal boom section of each collection boom and the additional watercraft may pull the distal boom section in a lateral or substantially lateral direction away from the hull of the vessel 1000 to assist in deployment.

[0056] The forward and aft spooling mechanism pairs 1105A/1106A and 1105B/1106B may be actuated by a motor in mechanical communication with a rotatable structure (e.g., an axel, sprocket, etc.) connected to or integrally formed in each spooling mechanism. The motor may be connected to the rotatable structure by a gearing assembly, chain, direct axle connection, or other mechanical connection such that the rotation of the motor drive shaft translates to the rotatable structure of the spooling mechanism. Each aft spooling mechanism 1106A, 1106B and forward spooling mechanism 1105A, 1105B may have its own motor or may be coupled by a transmission structure (e.g., gears, drive chains, etc.) to a shared motor. For example, the aft spooling mechanisms 1106A and 1106B may share a motor, and the forward spooling mechanisms 1105A and 1105B may share a motor. The one or more motors that are mechanically connected to the forward and aft spools may be controlled by the controller 1500 which may be in electronic communication with the one or more motors. The controller 1500 may measure the load on the booms 1101A and 1101B and collecting the surfaces 1300A and 1300B and display the loading measurements to a human operator on a graphical user interface. The controller 1500 may be in electronic communication with a torque sensor (e.g., a static or dynamic torque sensor) mounted monitor the torque on the motor and compare the torque to the tension of the tether tension sensor, and may adjust the one or more motors mechanically connected to the aft spooling mechanisms 1106A and 1106B and the forward spooling mechanisms 1105A and 1105B to provide a load equilibrium on the collection booms 1101A and 1101B. In some embodiments, the controller 1500 may be operable to autonomously determine necessary motor torque adjustments to provide stability and equalization of the tension on each of the tethers 1104A, 1104B, 1104C, and 1104D while maintaining boom loading in equilibrium. A central gyroscope may be positioned at the vessel's center mass, and the data may be processed by the controller 1500, and boom tether tension may be adjusted to provide vessel 1000 stability in rough water.

[0057] The collection booms 1101A and 1101B and the vessel 1000 may be of substantial size, with the vessel 1000 being a container ship or of similar size, and the collection booms 1101A and 1101B having a length substantially equal to the length of the vessel 1000 (e.g., about 500 feet to about 1000 feet). In some embodiments, the collection booms 1101A and 1101B may have a length that is equal to a substantial portion of the length of the vessel 1000 (e.g., about 200 feet to about 1000 feet). The height dimension of the collection booms 1101A and 1101B may be in a range of about 20 feet to about 80 feet, where the majority of the height dimension is submerged to collect materials that are suspended at shallow depths in the water column. The booms 1101A and 1101B and screen 1101C may also include a continuous collection surface (face) free or substantially free from gaps or perforations, such that fine debris are collected and retained by the collection booms 1101A and 1101B and screen 1101C. The collection booms 1101A and 1101B and screen 1101C may thus be of substantial size and mass, and must therefore be made of strong, robust materials. The collection booms 1101A and 1101B and screen 1101C may be comprised of rigid materials having some limited flexibility, as discussed herein.

[0058] The deployable collection booms 1101A and 1101B may have one or more curvatures. They may include a curvature along their lengths that bows the boom toward the bow 1003 of the vessel 1000 when the booms 1101A and 1101B are deployed, having a concave curvature facing in a forward manner. The boom 1101A may have a lengthwise curvature 1150A and boom 1101B may have a lengthwise curvature 1150B. The lengthwise curvatures may have the effect of pushing collected debris and material toward the stern of the ship where it may be collected. The booms 1101A and 1101B may also have a vertical curvature along their collection surfaces that results in a concave, forward oriented face that tends to push subsurface material upward toward the surface of the water. For example, the upper portion of the face may have a longer radius of curvature than the lower portion of the face. The boom 1101A may have a vertical curvature 1160A and boom 1101B may have a vertical curvature 1160B. The material pushed toward the surface of the water may then be pushed toward the stern of the ship by the lengthwise curvatures 1150A and 1150B.

[0059] The deployable collection booms 1101A and 1101B may be connected to and supported by the extension frame 1110. The extension frame may include a posterior extension 1110A that extends posteriorly to the central screen 1101C and horizontal beams 1140A and 1140B on the starboard side and horizontal beams 1140C and 1140D on the port side that run between the stern 1002 and the central screen 1101C. The posterior extension 1110A may have one or more flotation devices 1110B (e.g., a pontoon) to lend mechanical support to the extension frame 1110 and reduce shearing stress on the extension frame 1110 and loading on the vessel 1000. The collection pipes may be mounted on or otherwise connected to the horizontal beams 1140A, 1140B, 1104C, and 1104D. As shown in FIG. 8, collection pipe 1141A may be mounted to horizontal beam 1140B and run along the horizontal beam 1140B to the central screen 1101C and to an intake port 1107 that has a submerged or partially submerged opening on the forward side of the central screen 1101C. The collection system 1100 may include a second collection pipe 1141B on the port side of the vessel 1000 that may be mounted to horizontal beam 1140D and run along the horizontal beam 1140D to the central screen 1101C and to an intake port 1107.

[0060] The collection system 1100 of the present invention may include multiple collection mechanisms. A liquid collection mechanism may be incorporated into and/or form part of the extension frame 1110. Water and debris up to a pre-determined size limit may be drawn from the area of the stern 1002 by the intake ports 1107 and 1143A and 1143B on the distal ends of intake pipes 1141A and 1141B—See FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the intake port 1107 may be fitted with a coarse filter have a perforation size in a range of about 1 cm.sup.2 to about 10 in.sup.2 (e.g., about 1 in.sup.2 to about 4 in.sup.2, or any value or range of values therein). The surface water and debris collected by the intake port 1107 may be drawn in by a fluid pump 1410 in fluid communication with the collection pipes 1141A and 1141B. The water and debris pumped through the collection pipes 1141A and 1141B may be routed to a filtering system 1175 operable to filter and collect the debris and material from the collected water. The debris and material are then transferred to a processing unit 1170 to be converted into usable fuel through a pyrolysis process, or other material conversion process. The processing unit 1170 may include a cleaning bath, densifier, and/or other systems for preparing the collected debris for pyrolysis. The water from which the debris and particulate waste material has been filtered may be returned to the rear of the vessel 1000 on the posterior side of the central screen 1101C for use in propulsion of the vessel 1001, as discussed in further detail below.

[0061] The debris collection system 1100 may also include at least one coarse debris collector 1160 positioned at or near the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000 to collect large objects and material in the water (e.g., fishing nets, large plastic objects such as bottles, packaging, etc., large pieces of Styrofoam, etc.). The coarse debris collector 1160 may include a partially submerged conveyor operable to collect coarse objects at or near the surface of the water at the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000. The conveyor may include a cycling belt that includes protrusions 1160A that aid in collecting coarse materials. The collected large debris and materials may be deposited through a collection port 1161 and transferred into a grinding station 1165 to be reduced to a size in a predetermined range: a range of about 0.25 cm.sup.2 to about 1 cm.sup.2. The materials recyclable for fuel (“pyrolyzable materials”, e.g., Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polymethylmethacrylate, etc.) may be segregated from the rest and ground separately from the remaining material. The processed output material of the grinding station 1165 that may be deposited on a conveyor 1162 for delivery to a processing system 1170.

[0062] In some embodiments, the coarse materials may be sorted prior to grinding into different batches of pyrolyzable material and non-pyrolyzable material. For example, the vessel 1000 may include a sorting system that uses optical analysis to identify material properties in the collected coarse materials using a near infrared (NIR) scanner to identify the pyrolyzable material and non-pyrolyzable material. The system may also include automated sorting techniques such as using selective gate that applies high pressure air blasts to the pyrolyzable low-density materials in order to remove them from the conveyor to separate them form the non-pyrolyzable material. The removed pyrolyzable material may be received in a catchment in proximity to the conveyor. An exemplary separation system that may be integrated into the vessel 1000 is a TOMRA™ auto-sorting system, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,259,298. In some embodiments, the materials may be sorted by human operators positioned at a conveyor between the collection port 1161 and the grinding station 1165. The two different batches may be put through separate grinding apparatus in the grinding station 1165. The grinding station 1165 may include one or more industrial grinding apparatus operable to grind a wide range of materials Grinder types may include granulators, hammermills, shear shredders, using abrasion with compression to pulverize materials, usually to produce granular products.

[0063] The ground pyrolyzable materials may be sent via conveyor 1162 to the processing system 1170. The non-pyrolyzable material may be collected in a waste storage area in the vessel 1000. The processing system 1170 may include a bath to which the ground pyrolyzable materials may be delivered. The bath may contain water or a washing solution and the pyrolyzable materials may be agitated in the bath in order to remove residues and unwanted surface contaminants thereon, such as oils, organic particulates or other debris. The pyrolyzable materials may then be removed from the bath and transferred to a densifier within the processing system 1170 that compresses materials and removes water or solution from the bath. The densifier may be an agglomerator or plastic granulator operable to refine the shredded materials into chunks or small granular for easy transportation into a pyrolysis chamber.

[0064] The water collected through the intake port 1107 and transported through collection pipes 1141A and 1141B may be transferred to a filtering system 1175 for removing microplastics and other particulates from the collected water. The filtering system may have a series of screen filters of different pore sizes, and the collected water may be passed through the filters in series from the largest pore size filter to the smallest. The filters may have a pore size in a range of about 5 μm.sup.2 to about 1 cm.sup.2. In some embodiments, the water passed through the screen filters may be further filtered by an additional process, such as reverse osmosis in order to remove additional microplastics and smaller particulates, such as nanoplastics. The filtered water may then be collected and passed to the pumping system 1410 via a return pipe 1142.

[0065] A pyrolysis system 1180 may convert the pyrolyzable materials into one or more fuels. The densified pyrolyzable material may be transferred to the pyrolysis chamber from the processing system 1170, and the chamber may then be sealed to form a pressure vessel. Once the pyrolyzable materials are delivered into the pyrolysis vessel 1180, the pyrolysis system 1180 may perform the steps of the application of a partial vacuum and heat to the vessel to boil and separate the materials into different hydrocarbon components, separation of the hydrocarbon components, and transferring the pyrolyzed material into a fractioning system 1180 for a separation process to recover hydrocarbon fuels. The vacuum applied to the pressure vessel may remove oxygen, nitrogen, and other air components from the pressure vessel, which would serve as contaminants to the pyrolysis process. The temperature in the pressure vessel may be increased to an operation range of about 300° C. to 900° C. The specific temperature of the pressure vessel may be varied depending on the temperature required to melt a particular combination of pyrolyzable materials present in the chamber. The controller 1500 may determine the ideal temperature and pressure settings for the combination of recyclable materials collected and prepared for the pyrolysis process. The pyrolysis process may utilize one or more catalysts, such as zeolite minerals (e.g., ZSM-5, zeolite, Y-zeolite, MCM-41 zeolite, and/or other zeolite catalysts), HZSM-5, mesoporous SiO.sub.2—Al.sub.2O.sub.3, or other catalysts to facilitate the conversion of the pyrolyzable material to usable hydrocarbon fuels.

[0066] The pyrolyzable materials may be boiled in the chamber to form distinct components, which may include oil, gas, and black carbon slag. The reaction may be carried out for a period in a range of about 10 minutes to about 80 minutes, (e.g., about 30 minutes to about 45 minutes, or any value therein), which may be sufficient time to convert the plastic waste (organic polymers) into hydrocarbon monomers under the reaction conditions. Components of the pyrolyzed mixture may be separated for use as fuel. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel may be in communication with a fractioning unit 1185, which may be operable to separate both gaseous and liquid fractions of the hydrocarbon fuel produced by the pyrolysis system 1180. A nozzle may draw the gases to a condenser in the fractioning system 1185 through an oil and gas line. The condenser may cool the gases from the pressure vessel and route them to a fractioning unit 1185. The fractioning unit 1185 may utilize fractional distillation to separate the hydrocarbon fractions of the harvested pyrolysis output. The hydrocarbon fractions may then be stored and/or transferred via conduit systems 1186 to storage tanks 1187 (e.g., a diesel tank, a gasoline tank, etc.) for engine fuel. A portion of the hydrocarbon material produced by the fractional distillation process may include pyrolytic liquid oil, which may be used as a fuel without further refinement. It may be optimized by mixing with a refined fuel, such as diesel. Such mixtures can be used in the engine 1001 of the vessel 1000 (e.g., a diesel engine) or generators 1188 for providing electrical power for the fluid pumps 1410.

[0067] The water pumping system 1410 of the vessel 1000 functions in both the collection of the waterborne debris by drawing surface water through the collection pipes 1141A and 1141B at the stern 1002 and in the propulsion of the vessel 1000. The water may be drawn through the collection pipes 1141A and 1141B, through a filtering system 1175 and to the pyrolysis system 1180. The filtering system 1175 catches the plastic particulate matter collected by the intake port 1107 and removes it from the collected water. The particulate matter may be delivered to the pyrolysis system 1180 and the water may be piped back through a return pipe 1411 to the pumping system 1410 to the stern 1002 of the vessel 1001 and to the exterior of the vessel 1001 through return pipes 1142A and 1142B that extend beyond the collection booms 1101A and 1101B such that the return pipes 1142A and 1142B are operable to deliver the water to the aft (posterior) side of the central screen 1101C.

[0068] The return pipes 1142A and 1142B may have open ends 1144A and 1144B positioned to the aft of the collection booms 1101A and 1101B—See FIG. 8. The rate of water flow from the stern 1002 to the aft side of the central screen 1101C and collection booms 1101A and 1101B may be sufficient to create a height differential between the water on the aft side and the forward side of the collection booms 1101A and 1101B to cause the raised water to apply a force to the aft side of the collection booms 1101A and 1101B. The gravity acting on the raised surface level of the water generates a force applied to the aft side of the central screen 1101C and collection booms 1101A and 1101B, pushes them in a forward direction, and thereby propels the vessel 1000 forward. The rate of water flow may be in the range of about 1000 GPM to 1500 GPM (e.g., about 60,000 GPH to 90,000 GPH, or any value therein).

[0069] The pump system 1410 may be a high flow rate pump operable to move such high volumes of water, such as large centrifugal pump having an impeller with a radius in the range of about 8 inches to about 24 inches operable to spin at a rate in a range of about 1000 rpm to about 4000 rpm, a suction flange having a diameter in a range of about 12 inches to about 24 inches, and a discharge flange having a diameter in a range of about 8 inches to about 15 inches. The motor may be electrical and powered by an onboard generator powered by hydrocarbon gases (e.g., butane, propane, and/or other hydrocarbon gases) and/or liquid fuels (e.g., diesel, gasoline, pyrolytic liquid oil, etc.) generated through the pyrolysis process.

[0070] The propulsion created by the water displacement is sufficient on its own to drive the vessel 1000 forward during a debris collection operation. The collection operation is shown in FIG. 7, which shows the direction of travel with directional arrows. The water transfer to the posterior side of the central screen 1101C and collection booms 1101A and 1101B may provide a velocity in a range of about 0.5 knots to about 3 knots. This relatively slow pace is adequate and preferred for the collection process as time is needed to funnel debris caught by the lateral areas of the collection booms 1101A and 1101B toward the stern 1002 of the vessel 1000 where they can be collected by the intake port 1107 or the collection conveyor 1160. During the collection operation, the engine 1001 of the vessel 1000 can be shutdown, and fuel for the engine 1001 F1140 can be saved. Additionally, the pyrolysis system 1180 can produce additional fuel for the engine 1001 that can be added to the fuel supply for the engine. As a result, the vessel 1000 may sustain a debris collection operation for periods of time far longer than if the vessel 1000 needed to run its engine 1001 continuously and/or the vessel 1000 was not equipped with a pyrolysis system 1180 for generating hydrocarbon fuel from the collected polymeric waterborne debris.

[0071] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.