NO20200376A1 - Device for handling aquatic organisms and other waterborne elements - Google Patents

Description

Device for handling aquatic organisms

Field of the invention

The invention relates to floating facilities for aquatic organisms and other water-borne elements, more specifically a device as stated in the introduction to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a method for capturing aquatic organisms, as stated in the introduction to claim 8.

The background of the invention

Flexible breeding cages usually comprise a net bag (notlin) attached to a floating ring on the surface of the water. The flexible net bag is kept unfolded in the desired shape by a lower ring (often referred to as a bottom ring) made of a rigid material, such as polymer or metal. The bottom rings are often placed in the transition between the cylindrical and cone-shaped parts of the net bag, and can be equipped with ballast elements. There is a need for a bottom ring that is easier to handle and easier to adapt to different areas of use.

There is also a need for an improved device and method for collecting fish from a breeding cage, for example in connection with the fish being slaughtered or moved to another cage or collection tank. Known technique includes pumping the fish out of the cage, either through a bottom opening in the cage or via a suction hose that is led down into the cage.

There is also a need for devices that can be placed in a body of water for the collection of aquatic organisms and other water-borne elements.

Summary of the invention

The invention is stated and characterized in the independent patent claim, while the non-independent patent claims indicate other characteristics of the invention.

There is hereby provided a device for handling aquatic organisms and other water-borne elements when the device is in an at least partially submerged state in a body of water, wherein the device comprises a flexible barrier element for an aquatic organism and an expansion element configured to maintain a specific geometric shape at least in a part of the flexible blocking element, characterized in that the expansion element comprises an internal cavity and a supply channel whereby the expansion element can assume an activated state where the expansion element is at least partially filled with a pressurized fluid, and a non-activated state where the expansion element's cavity is pressure-relieved.

In one embodiment, the deployment element comprises a hose body and is attached to at least a portion of the flexible barrier element. The unfolding element may extend around a circumference of the device.

In one embodiment, the device is a groove, such as a production groove or the like.

In one embodiment, the device is an deployable capture unit.

In one embodiment, the device is an deployable capture notch. In one embodiment, the deployable capture net comprises a lower part which, by means of a closing device, can be moved between an open position, where aquatic organisms can flow into the capture net, and a closed position.

A method has also been developed for capturing aquatic organisms in a water-filled container using the capture note according to the invention, characterized by the steps:

a) placing the capture note in a non-activated state at an upper portion of the container; b) activating the expansion element by supplying a pressurized fluid until the expansion element abuts the inner wall of the container around substantially the entire inner circumference of the container;

c) guide the unfolding element and the lower part of the capture note down into the water-filled container while the unfolding element is in contact with the wall of the container, until the lower part reaches a desired depth in the container; and

d) activating the closing device to close the lower portion; score.

In one embodiment, the method comprises that the capture note is pulled out of the container after step d), and that the unfolding element can then be in the non-activated position or in the activated position.

The deployable capture unit can be used to form an underwater air reservoir or to remove gases or other particles from a body of water.

Brief description of the drawings

The above-mentioned and other characteristics of the invention will be further explained in the following description of embodiments of the invention, presented as non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlargement of the section marked "A" in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of a section of the device according to the invention, and shows part of the unfolding element according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows the embodiment of the device according to the invention as shown in Figure 4, placed in a cage;

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, placed in an open state in a cage;

Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 6, but shows the third embodiment of the device according to the invention in a closed state;

Figure 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, installed in a submerged cage to form an underwater air reservoir; and

Figure 9 shows the fourth embodiment of the invention suspended in a body of water above a seabed to capture gases and other substances rising from the seabed.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

The following description will use terms such as "horizontal", "vertical", "sideways", "back and forth", "up and down", "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "forward" , "rear", etc. These terms mainly refer to the perspectives and positions shown in the drawings and which are associated with a normal use of the invention. The terms are only used to facilitate the reading of the description and should not be restrictive.

A first embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 shows a device for handling aquatic organisms, here in the form of a net 10a with a net line 11. Nota 10a can be a production net or a not for other use. In an upper part, the net line 11 can be attached to a float ring or other buoyancy element (not shown in figure 1) on the water surface via suspension lines or ropes 12, 13, so that the net line as shown in figure 1 hangs in a submerged state in a body of water W The net line is dimensioned and adapted so that it functions as an appropriate barrier for the aquatic organism (e.g. farmed salmon or other fish) that the net is to contain, and can therefore be referred to as a flexible barrier element 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the net includes 10a a cylindrical part 18 and a cone-shaped part 19, and an annular expansion element 20 is placed in the transition between the two parts. As the note 10a is flexible, the unfolding element 20 has an essential function to give the note the desired shape (here: circular). Such expansion elements are often referred to as bottom rings. In the illustrated embodiment, the expansion element 20 is a flexible, hollow ring, which can be filled with a pressurized fluid (liquid or gas) and thus expanded to take the desired shape. The flexible ring 20 is supplied with pressurized fluid through a supply channel, here in the form of a hose, 21, which is connected to a pump and necessary valves (not shown) and a fluid reservoir. The ring (expansion element) 20 can thus be brought between a non-activated (not fluid-filled) state and an activated (fluid-filled) state. In a practical application, the fluid is water, for example seawater which is obtained from the body of water W in which the billet is submerged. The extension element 20 thus gets an approximately neutral buoyancy in water, but ballasting elements (not shown) can be attached to the extension element or to the billet as required. In the embodiment shown (see Figure 3), the unfolding element 20 is suspended in the fixing sleeve 14 which is in turn suspended in the suspension lines 12 (which are fixed, e.g. sewn into the notched line). Opphalertau 22 is also attached to the fixing sleeve 14, so that the position of the expansion element 20 in the body of water can be regulated. The lifting rope 22 runs through rings 23 which are attached to the suspension line 12. It should be understood that the suspension lines can be attached to the unfolding element 20 in other ways.

During installation, the entire note 10a can be lowered into the body of water W while the unfolding element 20 is in a non-activated or partially activated state. Then, the expansion element 20 can be supplied with fluid under a pressure that is sufficient to expand the expansion element (ring) 20 to the desired stiffness. When the unfolding element 20 is to be emptied, e.g. in connection with lifting the bill, it can be emptied by sucking the fluid out via the hose 21 or by opening valves (not shown) on the expansion element 20.

A second embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, as well as Figure 3. Figure 4 shows a device for handling aquatic organisms, here in the form of an expandable capture unit 10b. In the embodiment shown, the collection unit 10b has the form of a funnel with a collection and emptying unit 15 at the lower end, and comprises notlin 11 and suspension lines or rope 13 as described above. All or parts of the knot line can be replaced by or supplemented with a dense or permeable cloth 17. The unfolding element 20 is attached and operated as described above with reference to figures 1-3. Suspension loops 16 (or equivalent suspension means) are attached to the expansion element 20. With the help of these suspension loops 16, the collection unit 10b can be placed at a desired location (e.g. depth) in the body of water. An example of such a location is shown in Figure 5, where the deployable capture unit 10b is placed inside a cage 30. The cage 30 can be of the type (e.g. a production cage) shown in Figure 1, or it can be a flexible cage of another type, or a cage with rigid walls, and/or an open cage or a closed cage. The reference number 31 indicates an upper floating ring or other buoyancy element which floats on the surface of the water and which carries the cage. The deployable collection unit 10b is suspended in a plurality of suspension elements (e.g. rope or chain) which extend between the suspension loops 16 and the float ring 31. In this way, the collection unit 10b can be placed at a desired depth in the cage 30, and used to collect e.g. dead or damaged fish, faeces, sludge and fallen feed. When supplying fish to the cage 30, e.g. via a hose (not shown) which is led down towards the collection unit 10b, dead, injured or weakened fish will fall into the collection unit 10b (where it can be removed via the collection and emptying unit 15), while healthy fish swim out into the cage 30.

A third embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7, as well as Figure 3. Figures 6 and 7 show a device for handling aquatic organisms, here in the form of an extendable capture groove 10c. Nota 10c can be used when fish or other aquatic organisms are to be caught from a container, such as a production cage. The illustrated embodiment of the device 10c comprises a flexible barrier (e.g. notlin) 11, pick-up and suspension lines 22, 24 as described above with reference to Figure 3, and an unfolding element 20 as described above. The capture notch 10c comprises an upper part 25 and a lower part 26, and the unfolding element 20 is fitted to the notch at the transition between the two parts. Figure 6 shows the capture note 10c in an open state, i.e. it is open at the upper and lower ends. At the lower end (the lower end of the lower part 26) a closing mechanism 27 is mounted which can be operated in a manner known per se to close (close) the lower end of the lower part. The closing mechanism can, for example, be a rope that can be pulled to close the lower end. Figure 7 shows the capture note 10c in such a closed state. The lower end of the lower part 26 is preferably provided with ballast elements (not shown), such as lead solder or the like.

Figures 6 and 7 show the capture note 10c installed in a container 40 for aquatic organisms, for example a production or storage cage. The container 40 can be an open or a closed cage. Only the wall of the container is shown, with dashed lines, as well as a floating element 41. The container 40 has a cylindrical wall, which can be rigid or have a limited elasticity. The wall can be deformable or non-deformable. In the configuration shown, capture note 10c is used to capture e.g. fish staying in the container 40. Initially, the capture note 10c is placed on top of the container. In this phase, expansion element 20 is in a non-activated (not fluid-filled) state and capture note 10c can be wrapped as a ring and fixed at the top of the container. The capture note 10c is then lowered a short distance (preferably a short distance from the water surface) into the container 40 and the expansion element 20 is pressurized as described above until the expansion element 20 presses with a selected force against the wall of the container. In this way, a barrier is formed between the capture note 10c and the wall of the container. The capture note 10c is then guided – in an open state – downwards into the container, as indicated by the arrow in figure 6. The unfolding element 20 can be handled with the aid of the hauling ropes 22 as mentioned above. Fish and other organisms in the container 40 will thus be introduced into the capture note 10c without getting pinched between the container's wall 40 and the capture note 10c. The downward movement can be provided by gravity (and the above-mentioned ballast elements) and/or by means of other means of movement (not shown). When the capture net 10c has been moved sufficiently far down into the container 40, and the fish is in place inside the capture net 10c, the closing mechanism 27 can be activated to close the lower opening (see figure 7), and the capture net can be lifted out of the container 40. A reversed procedure can be used to gently place fish in the container 40.

This device 10c is particularly suitable for collecting fish in connection with slaughter or transfer to other containers.

A fourth embodiment of the device 10d according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. This embodiment corresponds fundamentally to the second embodiment, i.e. a deployable capture unit 10b.

The unfolding element 20 is operated in the same way as described above, e.g. via the hose 21. However, in this embodiment 10d, the opening of the unit faces downwards into the body of water when installed and in use, and the collection and discharge unit (reference numeral 15 in figures 4 and 5) is replaced with a valve connection 54 at the top of the unit (i.e. in the unit's /bottom of the funnel). The notline is replaced with a dense canvas 17 or other dense and flexible material.

In Figure 8, the deployable capture unit 10d is suspended inside a cage 60, here a submerged cage, via a liner 53 or the like which is fixed in a float 50 on the surface S. A hose 51 runs between the valve coupling 54 and a control module 52 on the float. The control module 52 contains power supply, control systems, and an air reservoir (e.g., a compressor; not shown) so that pressurized air can be pumped down into the funnel-shaped space inside the deployable capture unit 10d. In this way, an air reservoir can be formed and maintained inside the collection unit, which the fish in the cage will be able to make use of.

In Figure 9, the deployable capture unit 10d is suspended in a body of water W, above a sea bed B. Liner 53 or the like attaches the unit to a float 50 on the surface S. A hose 51 runs between the valve coupling 54 and a control module 55 on the float.

The control module 55 contains power supply, control systems, and pump systems (not shown) so that gas and other substances rising from the seabed can be captured in the funnel-shaped space inside the expandable capture unit 10d and brought to the surface through hose 51. In this way, gases (such as methane) that are released from the seabed (e.g. in connection with activities on the seabed) are captured without escaping into the environment. Although Figure 9 shows that the capture unit 10d is carried by a float 50 on the surface S, it should be understood that the unit 10d can also be carried by other structures and devices, on, above or below the surface of the water, such as an ROV or an installation on a bottom below the body of water.

Common to the embodiments of the device 10a, 10b, 10c; 10d is that the expansion element 20 comprises an internal cavity and a supply channel 21 whereby the expansion element can assume an activated state where the expansion element is at least partially filled with a pressurized fluid, and a non-activated state where the expansion element's cavity is depressurised. The unfolding element may take the form of a ring-shaped hose. Although the cavity and necessary valves, couplings, pumps, etc. are not shown, the person skilled in the art will know how the expansion element can be filled, pressurized, and emptied. The professional will also know how the expansion element should be dimensioned and which fluid pressures are required in each individual case.

Although the collection unit 10b, 10d has been described and illustrated above as a funnel-shaped unit, it should be understood that it can also take other forms.

Although the flexible expansion element 20 is shown and described above as a continuous ring, it should be understood that the expansion element can comprise a plurality of ring segments, each of which is attached to the barrier element. The unfolding element 20 can also have shapes other than circular, such as oval, rectangular, square.

It should be understood that the various embodiments described above can be combined. Unless otherwise stated, the individual embodiments include the features described with reference to the other embodiments.

Claims (10)

Patent claims 1. Device (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) for handling aquatic organisms and other water-borne elements when the device is in an at least partially submerged state in a body of water (W), where the device comprises a flexible barrier element (11) for a aquatic organism and an expansion element (20) which is configured to maintain a certain geometric shape at least in a part of the flexible barrier element, characterized in that the expansion element (20) comprises an internal cavity and a supply channel (21) whereby the expansion element (20) can assume an activated state where the expansion element is at least partially filled with a pressurized fluid, and a non-activated state where the expansion element's cavity is depressurised. 2. Device as stated in claim 1, where the unfolding element (20) comprises a hose body and is attached to at least a part of the flexible barrier element. 3. Device as stated in any one of claims 1-2, where the unfolding element (20) extends around a circumference of the device. 4. Device as stated in any one of claims 1-3, where the device is a groove (10a), such as a production groove or the like. 5. Device as stated in any one of claims 1-3, where the device is an extendable catch unit (10b). 6. Device as stated in any one of claims 1-3, where the device is an extendable capture notch (10c). 7. Device as stated in claim 6, where the unfoldable capture note (10c) comprises a lower part (26) which, by means of a closing device (27), can be moved between an open position, where aquatic organisms can flow into the capture note (10c) , and a closed position. 8. A method for capturing aquatic organisms in a water-filled container (40) using the capture note (10c) as stated in claim 7, characterized by the steps: a) placing the capture note (10c) in a non-activated state at an upper part of the container; b) activating the expansion element (20) by supplying a pressurized fluid until the expansion element (20) lies against the inner wall of the container (40) around substantially the entire inner circumference of the container; c) guide the unfolding element (20) and the capture note (10c) lower part (26) down into the water-filled container while the unfolding element (20) is in contact with the wall of the container, until the lower part reaches a desired depth in the container; and d) activating the closing device (27) to close the lower part; score. 9. Method as stated in claim 8, where the capture note (10c) is pulled out of the container after step d), and that the unfolding element (20) can then be in the non-activated position or in the activated position. 10. Application of the device as stated in claim 5, to form an underwater air reservoir or to remove gases or other particles from a body of water.