IE59339B1 - A framework for a fishfarming enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

A framework 1 for a fish-farming enclosure comprises interconnected longitudinal frame members 6,7,8 and transverse frame members 9,10,11,12. Frame elements of adjacent frame members are connected by a pivot joint means which permits relative angular movement between the frame members, in use. Each joint comprises a male spigot part 25 and a female socket part 26 and a pivot bolt extending therebetween.

Description

The invention relates to a framework for a fishfarming enclosure of the type comprising a least two longitudinal frame members and at least two transverse frame members extending between the longitudinal members, the frame members being interconnected by a pivot joint means to permit relative angular movement between the frame members, in use.

Various frameworks of this type are known. In one known arrangement of this type the frame members are connected to each other by a pivot joint means comprising pivot bearings extending laterally at the ends of the frame members and a pivot bolt extending between the pivot bearings. Such arrangements however suffer from the disadvantages that they are not easily assembled, are generally difficult to manipulate and are not robust, in use.

This invention is directed towards providing an improved framework for a fishfarming enclosure which will overcome at least some of these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a fishfarming enclosure framework of the type comprising at least two longitudinal frame members and at least two transverse frame members extending between the longitudinal frame members, the frame members being interconnected by a pivot joint means to permit relative angular movement between adjacent frame members, in use, about a generally horizontal pivot axis, the pivot joint means comprising a male spigot part on one frame member for engagement with a female socket part on another frame member and a pivot bolt extending between the spigot and socket parts, the pivot bolt having a non-metallic bushing provided over the bolt.

Preferably the spigot part comprises a pivot bolt receiving bushing mounted on one frame member and the socket part comprises a pair of side wings extending from another frame member to embrace at least a portion of the spigot part, the side wings each having a bolt receiving hole for alignment with the spigot bushing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a pivot bolt receiving bushing is mounted by a reinforcing strap to the frame member.

Preferably locking means are provided to secure the pivot bolt in position. Typically the locking means comprises a cotter pin extending transversely through the shank of the bolt.

Preferably the head of the cotter pin is provided with an enlarged portion for manipulating the bolt in use, and to prevent the pin being pulled through the shank of the bolt. ι In one embodiment of the invention each frame member comprises 5 at least a pair of spaced-apart frame elements having connecting elements extending therebetween. The elements are usually arranged to support a walkway which may be of expanded metal mesh or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention the framework is of 10 substantially rectangular configuration having a plurality of substantially rectangular sub-frameworks.

In one case the framework comprises a pair of spaced-apart outer longitudinal members, a central longitudinal member extending parallel to and spaced apart between the outer longitudinal members, and a plurality of transverse members extending between the longitudinal members.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a framework according to the I invention forming part of a fishfarming enclosure, also according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of portion of the framework of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another portion of the framework of Fig. 1, Figs. 4a and 4b are respectively elevational and plan view of a female socket part of a joint V in Fig. 3, Figs. 5a and 5b are respectively elevational and plan view of a male spigot pair of the joint V, Figs. 6a and 6b are respectively side elevational and 10 perspective views of a pivot bolt forming part of the joint, Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of the joint V, Figs. 8a and 8b are respectively plan and elevational 15 view of a joint VIII in Fig. 2, Fig. 9a is a plan view of a joint IX in Fig. 2, Fig. 9b is a cross section view on the line A-A in Fig. 9a, Fig. 9c is a cross sectional view on the line B-B in Fig. 9a, and Fig. 10 is a plan view of a joint X in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1 there is 5 illustrated portion of a fishfarming enclosure according to the invention including a framework also according to the invention, a portion 1 of which is illustrated in Fig. 1. The upper right-hand corner portion of the framework 1 of Fig. 1 is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Fig. 2 and the lower right-hand comer portion of the framework 1 of Fig. 1 is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Fig. 3. Various joints used for connecting parts of the framework 1 together are illustrated in Figs. 4 to 10.

The fishfarming enclosure is in this case of substantially rectangular shape and includes six substantially rectangular sub-frames 5, each of which defines a cage in which fish are reared. It will be appreciated that any suitable number of arrangement of sub-frameworks may be employed.

The framework 1 is formed from a number of interconnected longitudinal and transverse frame members, namely a pair of spaced-apart outer longitudinal frame members only one 7 of which is illustrated and a central longitudinal frame member extending parallel to and equi-spaced apart from the outer longitudinal frame members. Outer transverse members 9 and inner transverse members 12 extend between the longitudinal frame members to define the sub-frameworks 5. Walkways which may, for example, be of expanded metal sheet material, are provided on each of the frame members as are protective rails.

In more detail, each of the frame members 6 to 12 comprise at least a pair of frame elements indicated by the appropriate reference letters a and b and connecting elements 17 extending between elements. In this case the frame elements and connecting elements are all of box-section material however it will be appreciated that they may be of any suitable construction.

The frame elements of adjacent frame members are interconnected by a pivot joint means which permits relative angular movement between the frame members in use to take account of movement of the waterway in which the enclosure is sited. Each of the joint means comprises a spigot part, a female socket part and a pivot bolt 27 extending between the parts. The differences between the various constructions of joint illustrated in Figs. 4 to 10 is in the mounting and reinforcement of the various joints means in accordance with its particular position in the framework 2.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 7 there is illustrated one construction of joint which corresponds to a straight joint between adjacent longitudinal or transverse frame members. The joint means comprises a male spigot part 25 illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b, a female socket part 26 illustrated in Figs. 4a and 4b, and a pivot bolt illustrated in Figs. 6a and 6b. A non metallic bushing 29 is provided over the bolt 27 to minimise noise, and to facilitate easy motion and replacement for wear. The spigot part 25 includes a bushing 30 which is attached at one end of the frame element 10A by a metal strap 31 which extends over the bushing 30 and is welded to the underside and top of the frame element 10A as illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b.

The female socket part 26 comprises a pair of side wings 35 which are welded on opposite sides of the respective frame member and extend outwardly to define a socket 28 for reception of the male spigot part 25. A bushing 36 is provided on each wing 35 and the bushings 36 are aligned in use with a bushing 30 of the male spigot part 25 for reception of the pivot bolt 27 which is retained in position by a cotter pin 42 extending through a hole 41 in the shank of the bolt 27. The pin 42 has an enlarged head portion 43 to prevent the pin 42 passing through the shank of the bolt and to assist manipulation of the bolt, in use.

Referring to Figs. 8a and 8b there is illustrated a female socket part 50 of another joint used in the framework 1. In this case the joint 50 is attached to a respective longitudinal or transverse member by reinforcing struts 51 arranged in a generally triangular configuration.

Referring to Figs. 9a, 9b and 9c there is illustrated another female socket part 55 which is of similar construction to the socket part of Figs. 8a and 8b except that in this case the socket part is provided at one comer of a longitudinal frame element and reinforcing struts 56 are arranged in a substantially right-triangular configuration.

Referring to Fig. 10 there is illustrated another male spigot part 60 which is similar to that described above with reference to Figs. 5a and 5b. In this case the joint is reinforced by diagonal reinforcing plates 61 extending between adjacent transverse and longitudinal members 10a, 8a.

We have found frameworks formed using the type of joint means described above are particularly robust in use while facilitating relative movement between adjacent longitudinal and transverse frame members to take account of variations in the flow of water in the waterway in which the fishfarming enclosure is mounted. The framework can also be readily assembled quickly and simply by inserting the male spigot parts into female socket parts, inserting a pivot bolt between the parts, manipulating the bolt into position and retaining it by a locking means such as a cotter pin.

Claims (12)

1. A fishfarming enclosure framework of the type comprising at least two longitudinal frame members and at least two transverse frame members extending between the 5 longitudinal frame members, the frame members being interconnected by a pivot joint means to permit relative angular movement between adjacent frame members, in use, about a generally horizontal pivot axis, the pivot joint means comprising a male spigot part on one frame member 10 for engagement with a female socket part on another frame member and a pivot bolt extending between the spigot and socket parts, the pivot bolt having a non-metallic bushing provided over the bolt.

2. A framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spigot 15 part comprises a pivot bolt receiving bushing mounted on one frame member and the socket part comprises a pair of side wings extending from another frame member to embrace at least a portion of the spigot part, the side wings each having a bolt receiving hole for alignment with the 20 spigot bushing.

3. A framework as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pivot bolt receiving bushing is mounted by a reinforcing strap to the frame member. 15 8

A framework as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein locking means are provided to secure the pivot bolt in position.

A framework as claimed in claim 4 wherein the locking means comprises a cotter pin extending transversely through the shank of the bolt.

A framework as claimed in claim 6 wherein the head of the cotter pin is provided with an enlarged portion for manipulating the bolt and to prevent the pin being pulled through the shank of the bolt, in use.

A framework as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein each frame member comprises at lease a pair of spacedapart frame elements having connecting elements extending therebetween.

A framework as claimed in claim 7 wherein the elements are arranged to support a walkway of expanded metal mesh or the like.

A framework as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the framework is of substantially rectangular configuration having a plurality of substantially rectangular sub-frameworks.

10. A framework as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the framework comprises a pair of spaced-apart outer longitudinal members, a central longitudinal member extending parallel to and spaced-apart between the outer longitudinal members, and a plurality of transverse members extending between the longitudinal members.

11. A framework substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A fishfarming enclosure including a framework as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.