| 摘要 |
This invention represents an improvement over the water craft for reducing aquatic plant infestation disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,240. Accordingly, the improved device comprises: (a) a hull having an intake port at the bow end of the craft whereby aquatic plant laden water enters the craft; (b) an exhaust port whereby water and mulched aquatic plants are discharged; and (c) at least one array of cutting blades, rotatably disposed between said intake and said exhaust ports for mulching solid matter in the water passing from said intake port to said exhaust port; wherein the improvement comprises at least one vertically-oriented cutter spindle and none, one or more of the following features: (i) a positionable, interchangeable blade assembly disposed at said intake port and which may be raised, lowered, and tilted, and which in addition may be interchanged in the water, by means of a floatation feature, for an alternate blade assembly; (ii) a cutter blade design, including a staggered, angular configuration of cutter blades, an intermeshed horizontal blade configuration, and a horizontal, swivel-mounted configuration; (iii) an hydraulic system used to operate the cutter blades, including efficient aquatic plant infestation reduction through: cutter blade rotation between 500 and 4000 rpm via hydraulic motors, and placement of hydraulic oil reservoirs on either side of the water craft to facilitate cooling of said fluid; (iv) centralization of electrical and hydraulic controls at the operator interface facilitating efficient handling of the water craft and cutter blade assembly; and (v) a funnel or "V" shaped cutter assembly housing.
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