ES2981235T3 - Cleaning system for removing particles from an external surface of a water vehicle or a water structure and mobile transportation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning particles from an outer surface of a boat or a water structure, wherein the cleaning system has a floating system carrier device and a cleaning device that can float in water, wherein the system carrier device has a drive for moving in water and a suction pump and the cleaning device has at least one brush roller for moving and cleaning particles from the outer surface and the system carrier device and the cleaning device can be connected to each other via a detachable supply and disposal connection, and the at least one brush roller is arranged in and/or on a suction zone of the cleaning device and the system carrier device has a filter system for separating the cleaned particles from the water, so that the water with the particles cleaned by the at least one brush roller can be transported through the filter system through the suction zone, the supply and disposal connection due to a negative pressure generated by the suction pump and the particles can be separated by the filter system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a mobile transport device. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cleaning system for removing particles from an external surface of a water vehicle or a water structure and mobile transportation device

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning particles from an outer surface of a vessel or a hydraulic structure, the cleaning system having a floating system support device and a cleaning device suspendable in water, the system support device having a drive for movement in water and a suction pump and the cleaning device having at least one brush roller for moving and cleaning particles from the outer surface and the system support device and the cleaning device may be connected to each other via a detachable supply and disposal connection. The invention further relates to a mobile transport device.

[0002]Unwanted sedimentation of organisms (fouling) occurs on technical surfaces such as ship hulls and hydraulic engineering systems, especially under water. Conventional antifouling coatings are used to counteract fouling, which permanently release toxic substances (biocides) into the surrounding water. However, antifouling coatings are difficult to use on ships due to constantly changing routes, different levels of fouling in different waters and different regional legislation on antifouling coatings.

[0003]Especially in coastal waters and lakes, biocide-free, cleanable hard coatings are increasingly being used, thanks to which the hulls of ships and boats can be kept free of growth with additional mechanical assistance. On the one hand, these coatings are automatically cleaned when the ship moves regularly and quickly, during which the growth is largely eliminated due to the water resistance. However, in the case of stationary hydraulic structures and, in rare cases, sailing vessels, additional mechanical cleaning of the underwater area is necessary. Both in the case of biocide-containing antifouling coatings, especially with a high fouling intensity in sea water, and in the case of non-toxic, washable hard coatings, the growths must be mechanically cleaned at regular intervals.

[0004]For this purpose, divers are often used to clean the underwater hull using purely mechanical manual methods. When docking seagoing vessels or recovering smaller vessels on land, their underwater hulls can also be cleaned of vegetation residues on land, for example with a high-pressure cleaner.

[0005] Furthermore, a treatment system for underwater surfaces and for removing particles is known from WO 2019/012184 A1, which comprises a brush device, which is connected to a treatment unit via a drainage pipe and a pump, the treatment unit being able to be installed on a vessel. In the brush device, rotating brushes are arranged directly on the submerged surface for cleaning, and a drainage opening of the drainage pipe is attached to the brush side, which is surrounded by a skirt and a housing.

[0006] WO 2018/096214 A1 discloses a remotely controlled underwater vehicle (ROV), which moves by means of wheels on a continuous rail on a surface containing iron and has in its front area a brush unit for cleaning, which rests directly on the surface to be cleaned at the bottom.

[0007] WO 2018/147746 A1 describes a cleaning device for cleaning underwater structures, such as cage nets, with a nozzle attached to a remotely operated vehicle and connected via a suction line to an ejector, which is arranged on a floating platform or directly on a ship. The ejector and the ship are connected via a drive fluid channel for supplying the ejector with a drive fluid and a waste channel for directing waste water with clean material from the ejector to a treatment unit on board the ship.

[0008] WO 2019/203729 A1 discloses a cleaning machine for cleaning underwater vessels with retractable and extendable brushes. The cleaning machine is lowered into the sea by support cables, the support cables being connected to a crane or a launch and recovery system, the recovery system being provided by a service vessel. The cleaning machine is moved underwater by means of thrusters.

[0009]The objective of the invention is to improve the prior art.

[0010] The object is achieved by a cleaning system for cleaning particles from an outer surface of a vessel or a hydraulic structure, the cleaning system having a floating system support device and a cleaning device that can be suspended in water, the system support device having a drive for moving in water and a suction pump, and the cleaning device having at least one brush roller for moving and cleaning particles from the outer surface and the system support device and the cleaning device can be connected to each other via a detachable supply and disposal connection, wherein the at least one brush roller is arranged in and/or on a suction area, the cleaning device and the system support device have a filter system for separating the cleaned particles from the water, so that the water with the particles cleaned by means of the at least one brush roller passes through the suction area, the supply and disposal connection can be transported through the filter system due to a negative pressure generated by the suction pump and the particles can be separated by the filter system having the support device of the system an adapter unit to receive the cleaning device in such a way that the cleaning device can be used above a water pipe.

[0011]This provides an autonomous cleaning system, with which underwater vessels and underwater structures, as well as structures above the waterline, can be easily cleaned automatically of vegetation. It is particularly advantageous that the cleaning system for clearing vegetation does not require a person to dive or a vessel to be recovered on land.

[0012]Due to the two-part construction of the cleaning system with the system support device, which can float and move on the water surface, and the cleaning device, which can float in the water and can therefore be used underwater, a user-friendly cleaning system is provided without great technical effort. In addition to its easy handling, the cleaning system can also be used flexibly and mobile. In this case it is particularly advantageous that the cleaning device can be individually guided in the water to the desired cleaning location, such as an underwater vessel, a navigation sign or a lock, by means of the system support device and/or can be lowered directly into the water on site.

[0013]This means that antifouling paints containing biocides on ship hulls can be dispensed with and the cleaning system can be used individually and flexibly to clean mechanically cleanable hard coatings that do not contain biocides. The cleaning system thus contributes to reducing the burden on the respective body of water and the environment.

[0014]It is particularly advantageous here that the cleaned particles are not released into the surrounding water, as is the case in conventional mechanical underwater cleaning operations, but that the cleaned particles are retained in the suction area of the cleaning device and are sucked in via the supply and disposal connection by means of a suction pump, which is located in the support device of the system, like the filter system for separating the cleaned particles sucked in with the water. Due to this arrangement of the filter system on the support device of the system floating on the water surface, the cleaned particles can be easily removed from the filter system and disposed of, for example, on the ground. In addition, the actual filters and/or filter media of the filter system on the water surface can be more easily cleaned and/or backwashed.

[0015]Because the suction pump and the filter system for separating the clean particles from the water are arranged in space near the cleaning device, but spatially separated from the cleaning device in the support device of the floating system, the cleaning device itself is free of filter system and pump and therefore has a smaller size, is lighter and more flexible to maneuver.

[0016] An essential idea of the invention is based on the fact that, due to the configuration of the cleaning system, the cleaning device consists of at least two components which can be operated underwater and which only remove growth residues and thus particles at the location of the outer surface to be cleaned, and the system support device movable above water, which serves both to supply power to the cleaning device and, by means of the integrated filter system, to separate the cleaned particles from the sucked particles. in water, a flexible, easy-to-use and environmentally friendly cleaning system is provided. It is particularly advantageous in this case that all functions of the underwater cleaning device can be controlled and/or regulated automatically by the system support device and/or by an operator, without the latter having to dive. By using at least one cylindrical brush, which is largely impermeable to water when rotating on its bristles, on and/or in the suction area of the cleaning device, the particles cleaned by the cylindrical brush are retained directly within the suction area and via the disposal connection (e.g. a suction hose) with the water upwards to the support device of the system on the water surface and transported through the filter system to separate the cleaned particles from the water.

[0017]In addition, the cleaning device can also be used to clean surfaces of the vessel or hydraulic structure above water, for example to remove rust film from dispersed deck coatings or airborne particles from ship signs. To do this, simply adjust the brush roller accordingly.

The following terms are explained:

[0018] A "cleaning system" is in particular a device for cleaning particles and/or dirt from an external technical surface of an object, which in particular is partially or completely in water. The cleaning system is in particular composed of two parts consisting of a floating system support device and a cleaning device suspended in water, which can be connected by a detachable and/or pluggable supply and disposal connection. During operation, the system support device and the cleaning device of the cleaning system are constantly connected to each other via the supply and disposal connection.

[0019]"The system support device" (also called system support) is in particular a mobile and swimmable unit. The system support device can in particular be a boat. The system support device in particular has a voltage supply unit, such as an accumulator or a battery. However, the system support device can also have a power generator, such as a solar cell and/or a solar module. The cleaning system is in particular designed as a hybrid, which means that the energy can be supplied directly from an external electrical system or from a bridge, independently of the existing battery supply, so that unlimited energy can be available. In addition, the system support device in particular has the filter system, an operating system and/or an adapter system. In particular, the system support device has its own drive or several drives, so that it can be automatically moved by the user to the ships or hydraulic structures to be cleaned. A drive can be, for example, a transverse jet control system, such as a bow or stern thruster, a propeller and/or a motorised ship propeller. The system support device can, for example, have a main drive with two transverse drive units or with two rotating drive units. In the case of two rotating drive units, the supply to the system support device is optimally available in any position by rotating the two drive units each through 360°. This means that sufficient contact pressure of the cleaning device and/or the brushes can be guaranteed even when cleaning above the water level. In addition, the system support device has a special suction pump. For spatial alignment and stability, the system support device can have a ballast plate or several ballast plates on its outside, especially in the underwater area. Furthermore, the system support device can have a steering system and one or more wheels and/or can be operated by radio. Thus, the mobile cleaning system is specially designed in such a way that a person can load and unload the entire system from a trailer at any time via a ramp by radio. As soon as the cleaning system is in the water, the system support device can be moved by radio to a landing stage, from where the operator navigates to an operating station and/or a cockpit.

[0020] A "suction pump" is in particular a pump which generates a negative pressure. The suction height of the suction pump is adjusted depending on the length of the discharge connection (suction hose). To overcome very high suction heights, a feed pump, for example a submersible pump for the discharge connection, can also be inserted. A suction pump is preferably a self-priming pump, such as a positive displacement pump. As a suction pump, for example, a self-priming bilge pump with a flow rate of 14,000 liters per hour can be used, which is located approximately 0.1 m below the water line in the system support device, while the cleaning device with the suction opening is located approximately 0.1 m below the water level. is approximately 2 m under water and the pressure line to the filter system is approximately 0.5 m above the water, so that with a height difference of 2.5 m maximum water flow rate into the filter system.

[0021] A "removable supply and removal connection" has in particular an electrical connection and a fluid connection between the system support device and the cleaning device. The removable supply and removal connection has in particular an electrical supply cable and a suction hose. In particular, the electrical supply cable for supplying the cleaning device via the system support device can be laid separately and/or bundled with the suction hose (removal connection). In addition, the removable supply and removal connection can also have other cables, such as signal cables for the transmission of information. The cables are particularly water-resistant. In particular, all cables and at least one suction hose can also be laid together in a flexible enveloping hose. The removal connection and thus the suction hose can be, for example, a conventional suction/pressure hose. The removable supply and removal connection and/or the respective cable and the suction hose can in particular be pluggably connected at their respective ends to the system support device and the cleaning device.

[0022] The "cleaning device" has at least one roller brush and a suction zone. The suction zone can be limited in particular by one roller brush or several roller brushes, baffles and/or float bodies. The float body or several float bodies serve to adjust and/or orient the cleaning device, which floats in particular in the water. The suction zone is partially or completely open, in particular at the bottom of the cleaning device, so that it is not filled with brushes. This means that the suction zone open at the bottom is located directly on this side of the technical surface to be cleaned. In addition to one roller brush or several roller brushes for cleaning and moving on the technical surface, the cleaning device can also have other wheels for moving and advancing it. For autonomous movement in the water, the cleaning device can also have a drive, such as a propeller or several propellers. In addition, for example, two propellers can also be arranged outside the actual suction space between the brush rollers and the float bodies, so that no cleaned particles can escape due to the flow of the propellers. In addition, one or more propellers provide the necessary contact pressure of the cleaning device on the surface to be cleaned under water. This ensures that the necessary contact pressure of the brush rollers is maintained, especially when the cleaning device is moved along a vertical surface.

[0023] A "cylindrical brush" is in particular a brush with a continuous cylindrical body which is provided with bristles on its outer surface. In particular the cylindrical body (roller) is not permeable to water. In particular, the brush roller has a shaft and/or an axis which runs centrally in the longitudinal direction. The shaft and/or the axis can be designed, for example, as a hollow shaft, in which a motor is arranged for the rotary drive of the brush roller. The cavity not occupied by the motor serves in particular as a float body. In particular the hollow shaft is made of plastic. Because the brushes are arranged only on the outer diameter of the roller according to the respective length of the brush fibers, the passage of water through the brush roller is advantageously reduced due to the solid cylindrical body. In addition, in particular, the bristles of the brush are substantially not permeable to water during its rotation. A brush roller can also be a knobbed roller and/or a rag roller or other cleaning equipment. For example, the brush edge can be made of alloy wire and/or plastic bristles. In particular, the cylindrical brush has a very high and almost complete set of brush fibres. Instead of two brush rollers arranged opposite each other, a belt brush can also be used, for example. In particular, the brush roller is replaceable and has, for example, a quick-release fastener. The brush roller(s) are optimally applied to the technical surface to be cleaned, in particular by means of a kinematics of brush rollers, which each have a tension spring and a pivot point. This means that even irregularly shaped structures such as submarine vessels, plank piles, lock gates, buoys, floating docks, marine components and the like can be optimally cleaned over the entire surface.

[0024] By specifically arranging one or more brush rollers on the cleaning device, the suction area is limited to the outside of the surrounding water and the escape of clean particles from the suction area is prevented. In particular, several cylindrical brushes laterally surround the suction area open at the bottom, so that the suction area is particularly closed and the escape of particles from the suction area is prevented. In contrast to cup brushes, cylindrical brushes have the advantage of gentle cleaning, since due to the rotation of the cylindrical brushes, no crustaceans, such as barnacles, rub against the painted surface of the object to be cleaned, whereas in cup brushes the bristle ends cover a much larger distance. The cleaning surface can come into adverse contact and therefore damage to the coatings is inevitable.

[0025] A "filter system" is in particular a device for removing growths and/or clean particles from water. A filter system comprises in particular a water filter or several water filters. The filter system may in particular comprise a surface filter and/or a depth filter. For example, the filter system may have two screen filters connected in parallel. In principle, however, the filter system may use any known filter that is suitable for removing the respective particle size. A filter in the filter system may also be an automatic backwash filter. The filter system preferably comprises in particular two easily removable sieve filter baskets. In particular, the filter of the filter system has a filtration fineness in the range of 10 µm to 2 mm, in particular 10 µm to 1 mm, preferably 50 µm to 500 µm.

[0026] The term "particle" refers to any shape, type and size of deposit, growth and/or encrustation found on the exterior of a technical surface. Particles may contain in particular inorganic and/or organic material. In addition to dispersions, particles may also be suspensions. Particles include, for example, algae, sand, barnacles, dust, but also dispersed colloidal proteins.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the cleaning system, the cleaning device has a second brush roller, a third brush roller and/or further brush rollers, with two brush rollers each being able to be driven in the same direction or in opposite directions to one another.

[0028] The cleaning performance is improved by arranging two or more rotating brushes. In addition, increasing the number of brush rollers also increases the protection of the cleaned particles from the surrounding water in the suction area and thus improves the suction. In particular, several brush rollers can be arranged side by side and/or one behind the other. Preferably, at least two brush rollers arranged opposite each other delimit the suction area from the outside.

[0029] The flow of the water with the cleaned particles can be influenced in particular by a counter-rotating or co-rotating drive of two opposing brush rollers. The cleaning device preferably has two brush rollers driven in opposite directions at the outer edge of the suction zone, so that the cleaned particles reach the centre of the suction zone and thus the immediate vicinity of the suction opening of the suction hose. In the case of a square or rectangular basic shape, the suction zone is limited, in particular at the other two side walls, by opposing float bodies. In addition, the flow direction in the suction zone can be influenced by means of specially arranged deflectors and the water with the cleaned particles can be guided to the suction opening of the suction hose.

[0030] A “second, third and/or other brush roller” is, in particular in terms of design and function, a brush roller defined above.

[0031] In order to clean and/or remove growth of varying thickness, the cleaning device has a pressure unit for pressing the brush roller or brush rollers onto the outer surface. In addition, technical depressions or elevations on the outer surface can also be optimally cleaned.

[0032] The "pressing unit" may be, for example, the brush kinematics described above or another pressure mechanism for the brush or the brush rollers.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the cleaning device, the cylindrical brush or the cylindrical brushes has or have a floating body.

[0034] By means of one or more flotation bodies of the cleaning device, the floating state of the cleaning device in the water and its position and orientation in the water can be selectively adjusted. For example, the roller of a cylindrical brush can also be designed as a flotation body, which can be advantageous when cleaning the underside of a building, such as a floating pontoon.

[0035] As an alternative or in addition to automatic control or remote control of the cleaning system, the system support device may have an operating system with an operating station for controlling and/or regulating the system support device and the cleaning device.

[0036] This allows an operator to be located directly on the system support device and to drive, control and/or regulate it and the underwater cleaning device.

[0037] For this purpose, the system carrier can have, for example, an open or closed cabin with a control station. The operator sitting in the system carrier controls, for example, the necessary movements of the cleaning device and the system carrier itself via a touch screen and a joystick. In particular, the operator can control all drives of both components of the cleaning system. In addition, the operator station can also be equipped with a video screen to control the cleaning activities to be performed. The control system also has a control cabinet that is arranged, for example, behind the backrest of the control station. To provide the necessary energy, for example, 24 V batteries can be placed on the floor of the cabin. To charge these batteries, a charger with a 220 V mains connection integrated in the system carrier can be used. The current status of the battery capacity is displayed digitally in the operating system. The system carrier also has an external power connection for the charger. In order to additionally clean horizontal surfaces, for example on ship decks, with the cleaning device, a control console can be provided, which is connected in particular via a spiral cable to a control cabinet of the operating system, the control console being placed on the cleaning device.

[0038] In principle, the operating system is designed in such a way that a user, after receiving appropriate instructions, can drive and operate the cleaning system independently in different locations.

[0039] According to the invention, the system support device has an adapter unit for receiving the cleaning device such that the cleaning device can be used above the waterline.

[0040] In addition to cleaning growths above the water line and/or the water passage by means of the cleaning device housed in the adapter unit, the cleaning device can also be moved specifically to hard-to-reach places by means of the system support device and these can be cleaned. Because the adapter unit is arranged on the system support device, the adapter unit with the attached cleaning device is located directly in the operator's field of vision. For this purpose, the adapter unit is preferably arranged on the outside, in the arc of the system support device, in accordance with the orientation of the control station in front of the operator in the direction of travel.

[0041] The "adapter unit" is in particular a separate unit which can be arranged on the outside of the system support device. The adapter unit is in particular vertically movable, rotatable, tiltable and/or movable on the system support device. In addition to a receptacle for the cleaning device, the adapter unit can also have an additional drive, for example a transverse drive. However, preferably only one transverse drive unit is arranged in and/or on the system support. The adapter unit is preferably arranged on the front side of the system support device.

[0042] A "waterline" is in particular the line resulting from a stretch of water surface with the side of a ship or a hydraulic structure. The waterline also includes a water passage as a colored stripe on the construction waterline.

[0043] In order to prevent a collision of the support device of the system with the object to be cleaned and to bring the cleaning device to hard-to-reach places on the surfaces to be cleaned, the adapter unit has an adapter housing, in particular an extendable and/or a rotatable adapter housing for receiving the cleaning device.

[0044] The adapter housing can be rotated in a horizontal direction, in particular in an angular range of 0° to 180°, in particular up to 120°, preferably up to 90°, from its basic position.

[0045] To facilitate removal of the cleaning device from the water, the adapter housing may preferably be extended and retracted. In addition to firmly holding the cleaning device during cleaning above and below the waterline, the adapter bracket of the adapter unit also serves to keep the cleaning device stationary during transport of the cleaning system.

[0046] In a further embodiment, the adapter unit has an adjustment device for moving the adapter unit and/or the cleaning device.

[0047] In this way, the position and/or spatial orientation of the adapter unit and/or the cleaning device relative to the support device of the system and/or the cleaning device relative to the adapter unit can be changed. In this way, a wide variety of structures, such as an underwater vessel, a sheet pile wall, a floating dock and/or a navigation sign, can be optimally cleaned by specifically adjusting the cleaning device and/or the brushes.

[0048] For flexible spatial alignment, the adjustment device has a vertical lifting device with a drive for moving the cleaning device vertically, in particular over a waterline, a rotating device for rotating the adapter unit and/or the cleaning device, a rotating device for rotating the cleaning device and/or a retraction and/or dispensing device for moving the cleaning device horizontally.

[0049] In this way, all movements, such as turning, rotating, vertical lifting and horizontal retraction and/or extension, are possible by means of the adjustment device in order to be able to move the cleaning device correspondingly within and above the waterline. For this purpose, the vertical lifting device with the drive for moving the cleaning device up and down can be arranged within the adapter unit. Furthermore, the adapter unit itself can be moved up and down on a vertical surface of the system support device by means of a vertical lifting device and thus the housed cleaning device can be moved vertically up and down accordingly.

[0050] The floating cleaning device can be introduced into the water by means of the introduction and/or distribution device, for example by means of a cable puller, at the end of which there is a cable hook. The cleaning device is manually suspended in the water and placed on an adjustment bolt in the adapter unit and positioned.

[0051] The floating cleaning device can be introduced into the water by means of the introduction and/or distribution device, for example by means of a cable puller, at the end of which there is a cable hook. The cleaning device is manually suspended in the water, placed on an adjustment bolt on the adapter unit and positioned.

[0052] In order to allow visualization of the status of the underwater vessel and/or the underwater structure as well as video surveillance, the cleaning system has a camera system and/or a lighting system to monitor the cleaning of the exterior surface and/or to inspect the cleaned exterior surface.

[0053] The cleaning system preferably has two camera and lighting systems, with one camera and one lighting system being arranged in the adapter unit and the second camera and one lighting system in the cleaning device. By means of one or more cameras in the cleaning device, for example, the condition of the underwater vessel can be displayed directly on the video screen integrated in the cockpit and the entire cleaning process can be controlled and adjusted, especially if there is sufficient visibility under water. By means of the underwater camera and the lighting system, the success of the cleaning can be assessed based on the condition before and after cleaning and, after cleaning, damage to the coating or structure of the vessel can be identified directly on the screen in the cockpit of the system support device without the need for divers. Via the operating system, the user can directly influence the cleaning result and directly identify weak points under water, with the support of the visualization.

[0054] In another aspect, the object is solved by a mobile transport device, in particular a motor vehicle trailer, with a handling unit for introducing a cleaning system into a body of water and/or for removing the cleaning system from the body of water, the mobile transport device having a cleaning system described above.

[0055] By means of the mobile transport device, the cleaning system can be transported to different docks, marinas and shipyards and can be removed and/or introduced directly from land into the water by means of the manipulator integrated in the mobile transport device. A manipulator can be, for example, a crane or a sliding device. In this way, by means of the mobile transport device, an overall system is provided by means of which the user can independently introduce and remove the cleaning system from a body of water, drive the cleaning system to the object to be cleaned in the water, carry out the test and cleaning activities above and below the water and the cleaned particles can be disposed of on land in an environmentally friendly manner.

[0056] Additionally, a photovoltaic system can be installed on the roof of the trailer to charge an on-board battery of the cleaning system and/or the system support device when changing between uses.

[0057]The invention is explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments. Figures:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a cleaning system with a system support device connected to a cleaning device,

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the cleaning device in a top view of its underside, Figure 3 shows a side view of the cleaning device on a ship wall with two internal cuts of a brush-roller kinematics,

Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional representation of an adapter system on the system support device at the end of the system support device, three-dimensional representation of a sheet,

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional representation of a filter system on the rear of the system support device,

Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a vertical lifting device of the adapter unit on the system support device,

Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a main unit at the rear of the system support device,

Figure 8 is a three-dimensional representation of a lower section of the adapter system with a transverse thruster,

Figure 9 shows a three-dimensional representation of the rear part of the system support device with a transverse thruster, and a schematic representation of the upper part,

Figure 10 shows a view of a car trailer with the cleaning system mounted and the cleaning system removed by crane shown with dashed lines.

[0058] A cleaning system 101 has a system support device 103 and a cleaning device 105 (in FIG. 1 a plan view of the bottom of the cleaning device 105). The system support device 103 and the cleaning device 105 are connected to each other via a pluggable suction hose 107 and a pluggable power supply line 109. The suction hose 107 and the power supply line 109 are routed individually but are connected at several places.

[0059]The system support device 103 has a filter system 111 at the rear. The system support device 103 has an internal cabin 121 with a seat 123 for an operator in line with the bow. A charger 127 for charging batteries 129 is arranged on the floor of the cabin 121 behind the seat backrest. Furthermore, a power supply 131 with a 220 V mains connection for the charger 127 is arranged in the upper part of the bow of the system support device support device 103 in order to charge the batteries 129 for charging if necessary.

[0060] An adapter system 161 is arranged on two guide rails 177 at the bow of the system support device 103 and is movable vertically in the lifting direction 172 on the system support device 103. By means of a rotating device, which is not visible in FIG. 1 and which is arranged within the adapter system 161, the adapter system 161 can be rotated in a rotational direction 162 relative to the system support device 103. The adapter system 161 has an adapter rod 163 for receiving the cleaning device 105, which has a corresponding counter-adapter receiving at the top, not shown in FIG. 1. When used in water 193, the system support device 103 with the adapter system 161 is designed for a waterline 191 that corresponds to the construction waterline. The distance from an upper edge of the system support device 103 to the waterline 191 is approximately 0.45 m. The system support device 103 with the adapter system 161 connected has a width of 0.70 m, a length of 2.30 m and a height of 1.10 m. The system support device 103 has a total weight (including internal components and ballast plates) of approximately 400 kg.

[0061]The adapter rod 163 of the adapter system 161 can be extended horizontally in a retraction and extension direction 164 and can be rotated in a rotation direction 165 to receive and move the cleaning device 105. The adapter rod 163 can be rotated horizontally by 90° in the rotation direction 165. A lighting and camera system 167 is arranged on both sides of the adapter rod 163 (see Figure 4).

[0062] The adapter system 161 is movably held on the two guide rails 177 by means of a vertical lifting device 170. By means of the vertical lifting device 170, the adapter system 161 can be moved in the lifting direction 172 in an up and down movement 201. For this purpose, the vertical lifting device 170 has a direct current motor as a drive 171, which is mounted on the bow-side front wall of the system support device 103. Since the drive 171 is arranged above the waterline 191, it does not have to be sealed by a waterproof housing. A cable drum 169 is mounted on an output shaft of the drive 171. Depending on the lifting height of the adapter system 161, a wire rope 173 is wound onto or unwound on the cable drum 169. In addition, the adapter system 161 has guide rollers 175, which prevent it from getting stuck in the guide rails 177. The maximum stroke length of the vertical lifting device 170 is limited by means of a sensor 179. A cross drive 207 is arranged below the vertical lifting device 170 in the adapter system 161 (see Figure 8).

[0063]The cleaning device 105 has two float bodies 141 as side walls (FIG. 2). A rubber wheel 143 is inserted into the respective underside of the two float bodies 141 for a forward movement of the cleaning device 105. Two brush rollers 145 are each rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the float bodies 141. The cleaning device 105 has a brush roller kinematics 122 for each brush roller 145 inside, each of which includes a tension spring 153 and a pivot point 155 for pressing the brush roller 145 onto a surface to be cleaned (see FIG. 3). The opposing brush rollers 145 and the opposing float bodies 141 form a suction area 145 inside the underside of the cleaning device 105 (FIG. 2). In this suction zone 147, the end of the suction hose 107 inserted into the cleaning device 105 ends openly. A propeller 149 is arranged at the lower edge of the suction zone 147. In addition, the cleaning device 105 has a lighting and camera system 151 on its front side. The cleaning device has a width of 0.50 m, a length of 0.70 m and a height of 0.35 m and a weight of approx. 23 kg.

[0064]The filter system 111 arranged at the rear of the system support device 103 has two filter baskets 113, which can be used in a filter basket housing 115 to filter the sucked water with the cleaned particles (see Figure 5). The two filter baskets 113 each have a filter fineness of 200 µm. The filter system 111 is connected via a pipe to a suction pump 117 and then to the suction hose 107, which leads to the cleaning device 105.

[0065]A main drive 203 and a rear transverse propeller 205 are also arranged at the rear of the system support 103 (see Figures 7 and 9).

[0066]The cleaning system 101 with the cleaning device 105 coupled to the adapter system 161 has been loaded onto a car trailer 183. The car trailer has a slewing crane 185.

[0067]The following work steps are carried out with the car trailer 183 and the cleaning system 101:

[0068] Using the car trailer 183, the cleaning system 101 loaded with the system support device 103, the connected adapter system 161 and the cleaning device 103 supported thereon is transported to a dock 187. Using the jib crane 185, the cleaning system 101 is moved onto the dock 187 craned out on the water side and drained into the water 193, so that the craned cleaning system 181 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 10 and hereinafter referred to as cleaning system 101) floats on the water. An operator, not shown, enters cabin 121 from dock 187 and sits in seat 123. The operator drives the cleaning system 101 via main drive 203 and the two transverse thrusters 205 and 207 of system support device 103 to a ship wall 195 to clear vegetation in the vicinity of ship wall 195. The cleaning device 105 is automatically raised by adapter rod 163 of adapter system 161 above waterline 191, disengaged, and lowered into the water.

[0069]The cleaning device 105 then sinks in a floating manner and moves up to the ship wall 195 using its propeller 149, which is controlled by the operator in the cockpit 121. By the movement of the propeller 149, the bottom of the cleaning device 105 is pressed against the ship wall 195. The cleaning device 105 moves along the ship wall 195 via the driven rubber wheels 143. Here, vegetation is cleaned from the ship wall 195 by the counter-rotating brush rollers 145, the cleaned particles accumulating in the suction zone 147 due to the opposite direction of rotation and being transported with the water to the filter system 111 via the suction opening of the suction hose 107 due to a negative pressure from the suction pump 117. Due to a screening effect of the filter baskets 113 of the cleaning device 105, the cleaning device 105 is then moved along the ship wall 195 via the driven rubber wheels 143. Filter system 111, the cleaned particles are retained in the filter baskets 113 according to the fineness of the filter, while the filtered water returns to the surrounding water 193 due to gravity. Once cleaning is complete, the filter baskets 113 are manually removed by the operator when the cleaning system 101 returns to the dock 187 and the cleaned particles are disposed of on land. Since the ship wall 195 is a biocide-free coated underwater surface, the cleaned and filtered particles can be composted on land.

[0070]By means of the attachments 197 and the recesses 199 in the ship wall 195, each brush roller 145 is optimally positioned on the ship wall 195 by means of the brush roller kinematics 152 via the respective pivot point 155 and the respective tension spring 153 for thorough cleaning. Opposite brush rollers 145 are pressed against the ship wall 195 to be cleaned by the tension springs 153 and the supporting float bodies 145. This brush roller kinematics 152 ensures that the brush rollers 145 bear against convex surfaces, attachments 197 and recesses 199 of the ship wall 195 with the required contact pressure. This ensures that the ship wall 195 is optimally cleaned of growth.

[0071]All work processes described above are visually monitored by the operator and controlled accordingly via the lighting and camera system 151 of the cleaning device 105 and a video screen in the cabin 121.

[0072] After the boat wall 195 has been completely cleaned, the operator moves the cleaning device 105 in the cabin 121 to the water surface to the adapter system 161 and there is engaged by the adapter system 161 via the adapter rod 163 extended to the top of the cleaning device 105. The adapter rod 163 is then moved back into the adapter system 161 so that the cleaning device 105 is against the outer wall of the adapter system 161. The operator now moves the cleaning system 101 to the boat wall 195 above the waterline of the boat, not shown, and cleans the boat wall 195 above the waterline using the now laterally aligned brush rollers 145 of the engaged cleaning system 105. For this purpose, the cleaning device 105 coupled to the adapter system 161 is moved up and down correspondingly due to the movement of the vertical lifting device 170. These work processes are monitored and adjusted by the operator by means of visualization using the lighting and camera system 167 of the adapter system 161. After the cleaning of the ship wall 195 above the ship's waterline, not shown, has been completed, the operator drives the cleaning system 101 back to the dock 187 using the main drive 203 and the transverse thrusters 205 and 207. The cleaning system 101 is then moved using the slewing crane 185 of the car onto which the car trailer 183 was loaded and placed on the car trailer 183. The cleaning system 101 can then be driven directly to the next location by the operator using the car trailer 183.

List of reference symbols

[0073]

101 cleaning system

103 system support device

105 cleaning device

107 suction hose

109 feed duct

111 filter system

113 filter basket

115 filter basket housing

117 suction pump

121 cabin

123 seat

127 charger

129 accumulators

131 power supply

141 flotation bodies

143 rubber wheel

145 brush roller

147 suction zone

149 propellers

151 lighting and camera system.

152 brush roller kinematics

153 tension spring

155 turning point

161 adapter system

162 direction of rotation

163 adapter rod

164 retraction and extraction direction

165 direction of rotation

167 lighting and camera system.

169 cable drum

170 Vertical lifting device

171 drive

172 lifting direction

173 wire rope

175 guide roller

177 guide rail

179 sensor

181 crane cleaning system

183 car trailer

185 slewing crane

187 dock

191 waterline

193 water

195 ship wall

197 fixings

199 notch

201 up and down movement

203 main drive

205 transverse thruster (stern)

207 transverse thruster (bow)

Claims (10)

1. A cleaning system (101) for cleaning particles from an outer surface (195) of a vessel or a hydraulic structure, wherein the cleaning system (101) has a floating system support device (103) and a floating cleaning device (105) in water, wherein the system support device (103) comprises a main drive (203) for moving in water and a suction pump (117) and the cleaning device (105) comprises at least one brush roller (145) for moving and cleaning particles from the outer surface (195) and the system support device (103) and the cleaning device (105) can be connected to each other via a removable feed and removal conduit (107, 109), wherein the at least one brush roller (145) is arranged in and/or on a suction zone (147) of the cleaning device (105) and the system support device (103) and the cleaning device (105) are ... (103) comprises a filter system (111) for separating the cleaned particles from the water, so that the water with the cleaned particles by means of at least one brush roller (145) can be transported through the filter system (111) through the suction zone (147), the feed and removal line (107, 109) due to a vacuum generated by the suction pump (117) and the particles can be separated by means of the filter system, characterized in that the system support device (103) comprises an adapter system (161) for accommodating the cleaning device (105) at such a distance that the cleaning device (105) can be used above the waterline (191). 2. Cleaning system (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device (105) comprises a second brush roller (145), a third brush roller and/or other brush rollers, two brush rollers being able to be driven in the same direction or in opposite directions to each other, respectively. 3. Cleaning system (101) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning device (105) comprises a contact pressure unit (152) for pressing the brush roller or the brush rollers (145) against the outer surface (195). 4. Cleaning system (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (105), the brush roller or the brush rollers (145) comprise or comprise a flotation body (141). 5. Cleaning system (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system support device (103) comprises an operating system with a cabin (121) for controlling and/or regulating the system support device (103) and the cleaning device (105). 6. Cleaning system (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter unit (161) has an adapter rod (163), in particular an extendable and/or rotatable adapter housing (163), for receiving the cleaning device (105). 7. Cleaning system (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter system (161) has an adjustment device for moving the adapter system (161) and/or the cleaning device (105). 8. Cleaning system (101) according to claim 7, characterized in that the adjustment device comprises a vertical lifting device (170) with a drive (171) for moving the cleaning device (105) vertically, in particular over a waterline (191), a rotating device for rotating the adapter system (161) and/or the cleaning device (105), a pivoting device for pivoting the cleaning device (105) and/or a retraction and/or extension device for moving the cleaning device (105) horizontally. 9. Cleaning system (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning system (101) comprises a camera system and/or a lighting system (151, 167) for monitoring the cleanliness of the outer surface (195) and/or for inspecting the cleaned outer surface. 10. Mobile transport device (183), in particular a motor vehicle trailer, with a slewing crane (185) for introducing a purification system into a body of water and/or for removing the purification system from the body of water, characterized in that the mobile transport device (183) comprises a cleaning system (101) according to one of claims 1 to 9.