GB1562044A - Grill and method of using it to collect oyster-brood - Google Patents

Description

(54) GRILL AND METHOD OF USING IT TO COLLECT OYSTER-BROOD (71) We, SOCIETE CIVILE G.M.

MAHEO-CONSEIL, a French Company of Pointe de l'Armor, 22740 Lezardrieux, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a bar grill for collecting oyster-brood.

Such collecting grills are already known, for example, from French Patent No.

1,360,273. These grills are generally plane grills with suitably spaced parallel bars. The oyster-brood which is fixed to the bars is gathered by means of blades in which grooves are provided which correspond to the bars of the grill and are displaced longitudinally in respect of these bars to loosen the brood. This method necessitates the disassembly of the grill units, then its re-assembly prior to re-use when the brood has been gathered. Although these operations can now be achieved in a largely mechanical manner, they nevertheless remain long and tedious and consequently impair the efficiency gained by using such grills.

It has also been proposed to detach the oyster-brood from the collectors by subjecting the latter to impacts. Another problem then arises. It is known in fact that the collectors of oyster-brood are covered with a lime coating, with a thickness of the order of 1mum., on which the young oysters become fixed. When the collectors are subjected to impacts, the coating and the oyster-brood become detached from the collectors as sections of variable dimensions, some of these sections often comprising several oysters.

However, it has been found that such sections were practically unusable in view of the subsequent breeding of the oysters on them.

In fact, these oysters are consequently hindered in their development and, moreover, frequently overlap each other.

Once the oyster-brood has been gathered, therefore, one cannot keep the sections on which several oysters have become fixed and this sometimes causes considerable losses.

According to the present invention there is provided a frame having a series of parallel bars attached to form a grill for collecting oysters; a series of ribs encircling at least some of said bars, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster and being raised with respect to the surface of said bars; and a lime coating formed over said bars and said ribs, the height of said ribs being substantially less than the thickness of said lime coating which is formed on said bars.

The spacing of the ribs from one another can thus be determined for the sections which separate from the grill. This dimension will be suitably chosen in dependence upon the dimension of young oysters. For example, in the case where the dimension of these oysters is of the order of 5 to 1 0mum., it will be possible for the space between the ribs to be between 5 and 10 mm. With regard to the height of the ribs, it will preferably be slightly less than approximately 1 mm. This height is generally sufficient for the coating to split at the level of the ribs when the grill is subjected to an impact.

When the bars are full profiles, for example with a substantially rectangular crosssection, this section is generally rather weak so that it is sufficient to cause splits in the transversal direction of the bars. In this case, said ribs are preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bars.

The time coating then splits, on the one hand, along the longitudinal edges of the bars and, on the other hand, at the level of the ribs.

However, in the case where the bars are formed from hollow profiles, such as cylindrical tubes, these bars preferably comprise a lattice of ribs parallel to their longitudinal axis and another lattice perpendicular to the first lattic.

These two lattices of ribs then determine splits in the coating according to substantially rectangular forms.

The present invention also provides a method of collecting oysters, the method comprising: providing a grill in the form of a frame with a series of parallel bars attached, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster and being raised above the surface of said bars, and ther being a lime coating formed over said bars and said ribs such that the height of said ribs is substantially less than the thickness of said lime coating which is formed on said bars; obtaining, by any known means, the formation of an oyster brood on said grill; and subjecting said grill to impact so as to cause the oysters to detach individually from said grill.

Compared with the prior art method which comprises using blades, as mentioned above, the method of this invention has the advantage of permitting the use of much more simple means, whilst ensuring the splitting of the oyster-brood into sections of smalldimensions. Thus, in particular, an entire assembly of grills disposed parallel to each other can be subjected to impacts.

For example, the impacts can be transmitted to the grill by placing this grill on supports and subjecting it to the action of a pneumatic hammer, or by placing it upon a vibrating table.

In any event, the invention will be well understood by means of the description which follows, given in a non-limiting manner by way of example, of some embodiments of the invention. In the schematic drawings attached: Figure 1 shows a grill according to the invention on which only a few ribs have been shown for the purposes of simplification, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a bar of the grill shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the bar shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV shown in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a variant embodiment of the bar shown in Figure 2.

The grill of Figure 1 comprises, in a manner known per se. an assembly of suitably spaced parallel bars 1 which are joined together by means of a frame 2 which may for example, be moulded from one single piece with the bars 1 if the grill is made of plastics material.

The frame 2, which preferably comprises four bars in the shape of a square comprises at its corners apertures 3 in which cylindrical bars (rods) can be inserted so as to obtain an assembly of grills.

As shown in Figure 2, the bars 1 are formed from profiles with a substantially rectangular, or preferably hexagonal very flat cross-section. These bars comprise at regular intervals annular ribs 4 which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar and completely surround this bar.

Figures 3 and 4 show the bar 1 covered with its lime coating 5. The ribs 4 extend beyond the surface by a height which is slighly less than approximately lmm., so that this height is substantially less than the thickness of the coating 5. The spacing between the ribs is of the same order of magnitude as the length dimension of the young oysters 6 which will be gathered, i.e. it is between approximately 5 and 10mm.

Figure 5 represents a variant embodiment for the bars 1. In this variant, the bar has substantially the form of a cylindrical tube but, to provide a resistance similar to that in the example shown with reference to Figure 2, its diameter must be greater. Consequently, if it is desirable to obtain fragments of oyster-brood of the same order of magnitude as above, it is necessary to add longitudinal ribs 4a to the transversal ribs 4 with the spacing between there longitudinal ribs 4a being slightly greater than the length of an oyster preferably subjected to vibrations.

For this purpose, they may be disposed on fixed supports 7 and subjected to the action of a pneumatic hammer at the points indicated by the arrows 8. The vibrations are then sufficient to detach the brood and reduce it to elementary fragments.

In one variant, the supports 7 are constituded by a vibrating table.

When the grill is subjected to impacts or vibrations, radial splits 9 are produced in the layer of the lime coating at the level of the angles formed by the section of the bars, in the case of an angular bar cross section such as is shown in Figure 5, and other splits 10 are produced at the sites of the ribs. The brood is thus gathered in the form of sections which each comprise at most one oyster.

In the case where the bars are made of plastics material, the ribs are preferably cast from one single piece with these bars.

As is obvious, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers, on the contrary, all the variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the following claims.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A frame having a series of parallel bars attached to form a grill for collecting oysters; a series of ribs encircling at least some of said bars, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster and being raised with respect to the surface of said bars; and a lime coating formed over said bars and said ribs, the height of said ribs being substantially less than the thickness of said lime coating which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. axis and another lattice perpendicular to the first lattic. These two lattices of ribs then determine splits in the coating according to substantially rectangular forms. The present invention also provides a method of collecting oysters, the method comprising: providing a grill in the form of a frame with a series of parallel bars attached, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster and being raised above the surface of said bars, and ther being a lime coating formed over said bars and said ribs such that the height of said ribs is substantially less than the thickness of said lime coating which is formed on said bars; obtaining, by any known means, the formation of an oyster brood on said grill; and subjecting said grill to impact so as to cause the oysters to detach individually from said grill. Compared with the prior art method which comprises using blades, as mentioned above, the method of this invention has the advantage of permitting the use of much more simple means, whilst ensuring the splitting of the oyster-brood into sections of smalldimensions. Thus, in particular, an entire assembly of grills disposed parallel to each other can be subjected to impacts. For example, the impacts can be transmitted to the grill by placing this grill on supports and subjecting it to the action of a pneumatic hammer, or by placing it upon a vibrating table. In any event, the invention will be well understood by means of the description which follows, given in a non-limiting manner by way of example, of some embodiments of the invention. In the schematic drawings attached: Figure 1 shows a grill according to the invention on which only a few ribs have been shown for the purposes of simplification, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a bar of the grill shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the bar shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV shown in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a variant embodiment of the bar shown in Figure 2. The grill of Figure 1 comprises, in a manner known per se. an assembly of suitably spaced parallel bars 1 which are joined together by means of a frame 2 which may for example, be moulded from one single piece with the bars 1 if the grill is made of plastics material. The frame 2, which preferably comprises four bars in the shape of a square comprises at its corners apertures 3 in which cylindrical bars (rods) can be inserted so as to obtain an assembly of grills. As shown in Figure 2, the bars 1 are formed from profiles with a substantially rectangular, or preferably hexagonal very flat cross-section. These bars comprise at regular intervals annular ribs 4 which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar and completely surround this bar. Figures 3 and 4 show the bar 1 covered with its lime coating 5. The ribs 4 extend beyond the surface by a height which is slighly less than approximately lmm., so that this height is substantially less than the thickness of the coating 5. The spacing between the ribs is of the same order of magnitude as the length dimension of the young oysters 6 which will be gathered, i.e. it is between approximately 5 and 10mm. Figure 5 represents a variant embodiment for the bars 1. In this variant, the bar has substantially the form of a cylindrical tube but, to provide a resistance similar to that in the example shown with reference to Figure 2, its diameter must be greater. Consequently, if it is desirable to obtain fragments of oyster-brood of the same order of magnitude as above, it is necessary to add longitudinal ribs 4a to the transversal ribs 4 with the spacing between there longitudinal ribs 4a being slightly greater than the length of an oyster preferably subjected to vibrations. For this purpose, they may be disposed on fixed supports 7 and subjected to the action of a pneumatic hammer at the points indicated by the arrows 8. The vibrations are then sufficient to detach the brood and reduce it to elementary fragments. In one variant, the supports 7 are constituded by a vibrating table. When the grill is subjected to impacts or vibrations, radial splits 9 are produced in the layer of the lime coating at the level of the angles formed by the section of the bars, in the case of an angular bar cross section such as is shown in Figure 5, and other splits 10 are produced at the sites of the ribs. The brood is thus gathered in the form of sections which each comprise at most one oyster. In the case where the bars are made of plastics material, the ribs are preferably cast from one single piece with these bars. As is obvious, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers, on the contrary, all the variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the following claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A frame having a series of parallel bars attached to form a grill for collecting oysters; a series of ribs encircling at least some of said bars, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster and being raised with respect to the surface of said bars; and a lime coating formed over said bars and said ribs, the height of said ribs being substantially less than the thickness of said lime coating which

is formed on said bars.

2. A grill according to claim 1, wherein said bars are hexagonal in cross section.

3. A grill according to claim 1, wherein said bars are sylindrical in cross section.

4. A grill according to claim 3, and further including a second seres of ribs, perpendicular to said series of ribs and parallel to the axis of said cylindrical bar, also spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster.

5. A grill according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ribs are spaced apart by a distance of between approximately 5 mm and 10 mm.

6. A grill according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ribs extend beyond the surface of the bars at a height of less than approximately 1 mm.

7. A grill according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein its bars are made of plastics material and the ribs of each individual bar are moulded from one single piece with this bar.

8. A method of collecting oysters, the method comprising: providing a grill in the form of a frame with a series of parallel bars attached, and a series of ribs encircling at least some of said bars, said ribs being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of one oyster and being raised above the surface of said bars, and there being a lime coating formed over said bars and said ribs such that the height of said ribs is substantially less than the thickness of said lime coating which is formed on said bars; obtaining, by any known means, the formation of an oyster brood on said grill; and subjecting said grill to impact so as to cause the oysters to detach individually from said grill.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said impacts are transmitted to the grill by placing this grill on supports and subjecting it to the action of a pneumatic hammer.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein said impacts are transmitted to the grill by placing this grill on a vibrating table.

11. A grill for collecting an oyster-brood, such grill being constructed and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of collecting an oysterbrood, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.