Technical field of the invention

The present invention refers to a device for purifying a body of water.

The term “body of water” means a water basin, such as, in an exemplifying and non-limiting way, a marina, a private marina, a municipal harbor, a lake harbor, a river harbor, a dockyard, or more generally, delimited portions of seas, lakes or rivers.

The term “purifying” broadly means eliminating, or at least reducing, agents polluting the body of water.

Prior art

The pollution of bodies of water is an extremely significant environmental problem. Such pollution is caused by many factors, such as particularly spillages caused by ships, shipyards, fish and pleasure boating activities. The pollutants can be of different types and can include, among the other things, hydrocarbons and derivatives thereof, wastewater, sewage, cargo residues, and seacocks. Moreover, in areas devoid of water recirculation, such as for example portions of harbors such as the initial part of piers or areas proximate to the coast, floating solid waste and concentrations of microplastics, apart from the abovementioned hydrocarbons, can build up.

In order to reduce such problem, devices adapted to eliminate at least partially these polluting agents from bodies of water have been proposed. For example, the international patent application WO 2018/102869 A1 describes a floating waste collecting device for bodies of water, comprising a container provided with an upper opening destined to be placed flush with the surface of the body of water and a removable basket for collecting waste. A pump, outside or inside the device, pumps water outside the container receiving the waste, which must be periodically manually removed from the basket by extracting this latter from the container. The device is fixed to a stationary body in the body of water, such as to a pier.

However, such known device is only suitable to collect macro-waste floating on the water surface. Moreover, the cleaning and, more generally, the maintenance thereof are very awkward for an operator which must lean forward from the pier and bend down to the opening at the same level of the water in order to get access to the basket, where the collected waste is contained.

Brief summary of the invention An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for purifying a body of water which is capable of eliminating, or at least reducing, the presence not only of macro-waste, but also of waste having smaller dimensions, such as hydrocarbons spilled in water, and preferably also micro-waste such as micro-plastics.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is easily integratable in the surroundings where it is installed, and which is user-friendly.

This and other objects are met by a device for purifying a body of water according to claim 1 .

Dependent claims define possible advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

In order to better understand the invention and appreciating the advantages thereof, some exemplifying non-limiting embodiments thereof will be described in the following with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a purifying device according to an embodiment;

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of the purifying device according to an embodiment;

Figures 3 and 4 are two perspective views of the portion of the purifying device of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a partially exploded perspective view, of a purifying device with associated means for fixing it to an external element according to an embodiment;

Figure 6 is a side view of a purifying device according to an embodiment in a condition of use, particularly in a configuration suitable for the maintenance.

Detailed description of the invention

For the objects of the present description and of the attached claims, all the numbers representing amounts, quantities, percentages, etc., must be understood as modified in all the instances by the term “about” unless otherwise stated. Moreover, all the ranges comprise any combination of the disclosed maximum and minimum points and include any intermediate range inside them, which could be specifically listed or not.

The present disclosure, according to at least one of said aspects, can be implemented according to one or more of the following embodiments, optionally combined with each other.

For the objects of the present description and of the attached claims, the term “one” should be understood as comprising one or at least one, and the singular comprises also the plural, unless it obviously means the opposite.

With reference to the attached figures, a device for purifying a body of water 100 is indicated by reference 1 . The device 1 is destined to be partially submerged in the body of water, with a submerged portion and a portion above the water. This latter being easily accessible by a user 200.

The device 1 comprises means 2 for removing macro-waste present in the body of water 100, particularly floating on it, such as micro-plastics (for example, plastic bottles). It is noted, in the present description and in the attached claims, the term “macro-waste” generally means macro-waste having such a size to be visible to a naked eye, such as for example macro-plastics of water plastic bottles.

Such macro-waste removing means 2 comprise a water wheel 3 rotating about a rotation axis A, provided with one or more, for example three, water paddles 4 shaped so that they are adapted to withdraw the macro-waste floating on the surface of the body of water. The water wheel 3 is positioned so that, in conditions of use, its rotation axis A is substantially parallel to the surface 101 of the body of water 100, and a lower portion thereof is always submerged in the body of water, so that the water paddles 4, due to the rotation of the water wheel 3, alternatively enter and exit the body of water. During the immersion step, the water paddles 4 are capable of withdrawing the macro-waste and taking them out of the body of water during the surfacing step. Advantageously, the water paddles 4 are at least partially permeable, so that they do not take with them water, or at least an excessive volume of water, when they surface, and also in order to reduce the resistance of water during the submersion. For example, the water paddles 4 are drilled with holes having such a size to enable to discharge water without loosing the macro-waste. The means 2 for removing the macro-waste further comprise a removable container 5 adapted to collect and contain the macro-waste withdrawn by the water paddles 4 and transported, due to the effect of the rotation of the water wheel 3, to a fall-by-gravity position, where the macro-waste falls and is collected in the macro-waste container 5, which for this reason is open at the top thereof (with reference to the conventional conditions of use of the device). Once the container 5 is full, it is possible to remove it from the device 1 for emptying it.

The device 1 comprises a main supporting structure 7 rotatively supporting the water wheel 3 and shaped to receive the macro-waste container 5. Moreover, the device 1 comprises an actuator 8 for moving the water wheel 3, which is kinematically connected to a suitable transmission 9, for example to a gearmotor. Preferably, the actuator 8 is of an electric type, still more preferably suppliable both in a single-phase mode and in a three-phase mode. The actuator 8 can be supplied by an external source (for example an electric power source present in the piers of harbors), preferably at 220 V or 380 V. The actuator 8 and transmission 9 are selected so that the water wheel 3 has an angular speed preferably comprised between 6 and 10 rpm, still more preferably equal to 8 rpm.

The actuator 8 is associated, directly or indirectly, to the main supporting structure 7 and is placed in an upper position of the device 1 . According to an embodiment, the actuator 8 is directly or indirectly connected to an auxiliary supporting structure 10 movable, for example tiltable (preferably with a rotation axis coincident with the rotation axis A), with respect to the main supporting structure 7. In this way, it is possible to displace the actuator 8 from an operative position to a maintenance position when it is required to extract the macro-waste container 5 from the device. Preferably, between the auxiliary supporting structure 10 and the main supporting structure 7 one or more air springs 11 , making easy the movements from the operative to the maintenance positions, are interposed.

The main supporting structure 7 and the auxiliary supporting structure 10 preferably comprise tubular frames and/or made of metal sheets adapted to resist the corrosion caused for example by the sea water. Possible materials adapted for the main supporting structure 7 and auxiliary supporting structure 10 include stainless steel, aluminum, zincate carbon steel.

According to an embodiment, the auxiliary supporting structure 10 comprises a handle 6 for unlocking and moving the auxiliary supporting structure 10 by the user.

Moreover, the device 1 comprises means 12 for extracting hydrocarbons present on the body of water 100, for example oils spilled in the same. The hydrocarbon extracting means 12 comprise one or more disks 13 rotating with respect to the main supporting structure 7, around a rotation axis, preferably coincident with the rotation axis A of the water wheel 3, positioned so that a portion thereof is submerged in the body of water and a portion thereof is outside the body of water in the operative conditions of the device 1. According to an embodiment, the disks 13 are integrally connected to the water wheel 3, and preferably the number of disks is equal to two and circumferentially develope on the two sides of the water wheel 3, forming lateral containment walls for the water paddles 4 and also for the macro-waste moved by the latter. The disks 13 are made of or comprise a material apt to hold at least part of the hydrocarbons present in the body of water. Advantageously, such material is particularly an oleophilic material, for example polyethylene to which the hydrocarbons present in the body of water adhere due to the known coalescence principle. The means 12 for extracting the hydrocarbons further comprise one or more fixed scrapers 14 (for example, they are also supported by the main supporting structure 7), placed in contact with the disks 13, and particularly with the oleophilic material, in a position so that they are located in their emerged portion. The scrapers 14, due to the effect of the disks 13 rotation, scrape away the hydrocarbons adhering to the oleophilic material, which consequently drop by gravity in a hydrocarbon reservoir 16 placed in a suitable compartment of the main supporting structure 7, preferably conveyed in it, always by gravity, by a system of sloped channels. The hydrocarbon reservoir 16, as the container 5, can be removed to be emptied. The scrapers 14 can be made for example of low density polyethylene (LDPE) or polychloprene.

The disks 13 are also moved by the same actuator 8 moving the water wheel 3 and are preferably synchronous with it. According to an embodiment, the water wheel 3 comprises a gear rack having teeth 17 which, with a pinion 18 connected to the actuator 8 for example by a worm gearbox, forms the beforehand cited transmission 9.

According to an embodiment, the device 1 further comprises means 19 for filtering micro-waste present in the body of water, such as particularly micro-plastics. It is noted that, in the present description and in the attached claims, the term “microwaste” generally means waste having microscopic dimensions, which are not visible at naked eye.

Such micro-waste filtering means 19 comprise a hydraulic circuit 20 having an inlet 21 for suctioning the water containing micro-waste and an outlet 22 for draining the filtered water back into the body of water. The inlet 21 is positioned in the submerged portion of the device 1 , while the outlet 22 is preferably positioned in the emerged portion of the device 1 . According to an embodiment, the hydraulic circuit 20 further comprises a pump 23, preferably also driven by the actuator 8, which can be directly connected or by a further transmission. Advantageously, the pump 23 is also fixed to the auxiliary supporting structure 10. Preferably, it is observed the pump 23 is of a non-submerged type and therefore is not submerged in the body of water 100, so that it does not come in contact with the polluted water. For example, the pump 23 can be of a rotative paddle type. According to an alternative variant not shown in the figures, the pump 23 can be also of a submerged type and can be positioned in the lower portion of the device 1 , submerged in the body of water 100. The micro-waste filtering means 19 further comprise a filter 24, preferably of a cartridge type, apt to retain the micro-waste present in the suctioned water. Preferably, the filter 24 is arranged upstream the pump 23, if present, with reference to the direction of the water flow in the hydraulic circuit 20 from the inlet 21 to the outlet 22. The filtering capability of the filter 24 can be selected in dependence of the types of micro-waste present in the body of water which must be eliminated. For example, in case of micro-plastics, a suitable filtering level can be comprised between 8 and 12 micrometers, preferably is equal to 10 micrometers. The filter 24 is removable so that it can be replaced or cleaned. According to an embodiment, the filter 24 is fixed to the auxiliary supporting structure 10. According to a possible embodiment, the outlet 22 of the hydraulic circuit is shaped as a fountain, so that it can oxygenate the filtered water when it drops into the body of water.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises means 25 for fixing the device 1 itself to a supporting element 300 placed in the body of water (Figures 5-6). Preferably, such supporting element 300 is also floating or is part of an element floating on the body of water 100, such as for example a floating pier of a harbor. In this way, the device 1 , once fixed to the supporting element 300, floats as this latter, maintaining substantially constant the portion which remains submerged in the body of water 100, also in the presence of tides or swells. This prevents for example the device 1 from being completely submerged in the body of water 100 or from completely emerging from it.

According to an embodiment, the fixing means 25 comprise a track 26, preferably a rectilinear one, connectable to the external element, and a slider 27, fixedly connected to the device 1 , particularly to its main supporting structure 7 (for example, by threaded connecting members 39, such as bolts), and sliding along the track 26, which it can be locked to by a plurality of predefined positions. The track 26 can be fixed to the external element 300 so that it maintains its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertical position. For example, the external element 300 can comprise a beam of a pier floating on the body of water. Fixing the track 26 to the external element 300 can be done for example by two L plates 28 fixable to the back of the track 26 on one side and to the external element 300 on the other side, for example by threaded connecting members 38, such as bolts 38. Once the track 26 is positioned on the external element 300, the slider 27 can be inserted from the top into the track 26 and it is made to slide along it until the device 1 has reached the desired level from the body of water 100, a portion thereof being submerged, and a portion thereof being emerged. Locking the slider 27 into the track 26 can be done for example by threaded connecting members 29, such as bolts, which are inserted into lateral holes 30 of the track 26 and screwed in the slider 27 on both the sides of the same.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a control unit commanding the actuator 8, and a user interface device 32 connected to the control unit enabling the user 200 to transmit instructions to the device 1 , and to receive information about the operation of the same.

According to an embodiment, the device 1 comprises sensors adapted to detect the reaching of the maximum capacity of the macro-waste container 5 and/or of the hydrocarbon reservoir 16 and to provide the control unit with signals representative of such condition. In turn, the control unit is configured to stop the actuator 8 once receiving at least one of such signals and is preferably connected to the user interface device 32 so that it delivers visual and/or sound signals representative of such condition. In this way, the user can perform the required maintenance of the device 1 . Optionally, the sensors can also measure the filling level of the container 5 and/or of the reservoir 16, and such measurements can be supplied by suitable indicators of the user interface device 32.

The user interface device 32 can also comprise one or more among: an emergency stop button, a starting key, an indicator showing that the connection to the power grid is closed.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a casing 33 receiving inside the main supporting structure 7 (which the casing 33 is connected to), the auxiliary supporting structure 10, the macro-waste removing means 2, the hydrocarbon extracting means 12, and the micro-waste filtering means 19, where provided. The casing 33 can comprise two opposite half-shells 33’, 33” connected to each other and separable from each other. The shape of the casing 33 can be modified according to the requirements, also for promoting a better integration of the device 1 in the surroundings where is present. Possible materials suitable for the casing 33 include high density polyethylene (HDPE) and glass fibers.

The casing 33 comprises one or more openings 34 in the lower portion for enabling the water to enter inside the former. Such openings 34 have dimensions such to enable the macro-waste to enter and then intercepted by the water paddles 4 of the water wheel 3 according to what was herein before described. Preferably, the outlet 22 of the hydraulic circuit 20 is placed at a wall of the casing 33, while the inlet 21 is preferably arranged inside the casing 33, for example materialized by a suction strainer which can in turn be supported by a bulkhead 40 integral with the main supporting structure 7. The bulkhead 40 also acts as a stop for the macro-waste, preventing this latter from escaping the water wheel 3. The bulkhead 40 can also act as a support for the outlet 22, in the shape of a fountain.

According to an embodiment, the casing 33 comprises an openable or removable cover 35, preferably arranged above the casing itself, so that a user can easily have access to it. Upon opening/removing the cover 35, it is possible to have access, through an upper opening 36 of the casing 33, to the auxiliary supporting structure 10 for taking it from the operative position to the maintenance position, wherein the actuator 8, the pump 23 and the filter 24 are at least partially outside the casing 33 and therefore they can be more easily handled by the user (such condition is shown in Figure 6). Moreover, in such configuration, it is possible to extract and reinsert the macro-waste container 5 and the hydrocarbon reservoir 16 because the size of the upper opening 36 of the casing 33 is adapted to allow the passage of the macrowaste and hydrocarbons.

According to an embodiment, the user interface device 32 is positioned on the cover 35.

Advantageously, a rope 37 is fixed to the cover 35 for easily opening the latter.

According to an embodiment, the casing 33 comprises a cable duct for introducing the electric supply cables, preferably arranged laterally so that it faces the pier, for example.

A person skilled in the art in order to meet specific contingent needs could introduce many additions, modifications, or substitutions of elements with other operatively equivalent ones to the described embodiments of the device for purifying a body of water, without falling out of the scope of the attached claims.