US 12,403,997 B2
Apparatus for emissions reduction as a service (ERaaS)
Robert John Sharp, Camarillo, CA (US)
Assigned to STAX Engineering, Inc., Camarillo, CA (US)
Filed by Robert John Sharp, Camarillo, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/717,627.
Application 17/717,627 is a continuation of application No. 17/468,685, filed on Sep. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,345,455.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/075,632, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266196 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63H 21/32 (2006.01); B01D 53/92 (2006.01); B63B 1/04 (2006.01); B63B 35/00 (2020.01)
CPC B63H 21/32 (2013.01) [B01D 53/92 (2013.01); B63B 1/04 (2013.01); B63B 35/00 (2013.01); B01D 2221/08 (2013.01); B01D 2258/01 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for temporarily connecting to an exhaust pipe of an ocean-going vessel at berth or at anchor and reducing or removing impurities from exhaust gases emitted from the exhaust pipe, the system comprising:
a purification unit having an inlet port for receiving exhaust gases for purification and an outlet port for outputting gases in which impurities have been reduced or removed;
a plurality of duct sections cascaded together in series to form a cascading ducting system, wherein one or more of said plurality of duct sections comprises an exoskeleton, a plurality of insulated panels supported by the exoskeleton to form a duct internal volume, a pivot assembly and a flexible conduit section;
a connector for temporarily coupling to the exhaust pipe of the vessel to receive exhaust gases emitted from the exhaust pipe during purification processing, the connector having an outlet port connected to an inlet end of the ducting system;
one or more duct support structures, each configured to support at least one of the plurality of duct sections on a vessel structure;
an outlet end of the ducting system connected to either the inlet port of the purification unit or to an inlet port of a connecting duct system which is in turn connected to the inlet port of the purification unit;
wherein the system is free of use of a crane to support the ducting system during installation, purification operation and removal of the ducting system from the ocean-going vessel.