DEVICE FOR UNDERWATER CLEANING OF SHIP'S HULL Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: shiprepairing; devices for cleaning underwater hulls of ships. SUBSTANCE: device used for cleaning underwater hulls and objects against fouling includes drive made in form of hydrodynamic apparatus with flexible water supply hose fitted with nozzles and working members which are formed by two impellers rotated in opposite directions by jet of water escaping from nozzle. Each impeller includes set of flat blades with working face inclined through angle of 45 deg. relative to axis of impeller for deflection of flow of water from impeller blades upward and forming reactive force which presses impeller to form clearance between lower plane of each impeller and surface being cleaned maintained by wheel-limiter which is mounted on member of impeller in its rear portion relative to direction of motion. It may move over surface being cleaned. Proposed device increases productivity of cleaning the hull against fouling keeping intact its paintwork. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency; reduced power requirements. 3 dwg