WO2004017724A1

WO2004017724A1 - Aquacultural container and components thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2004017724A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/003468
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Anthony Miles; Richard Angus Starke
Original assignee: Mark Anthony Miles; Richard Angus Starke
Priority date: 2002-08-22
Filing date: 2003-08-22
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Also published as: AU2003253142A1; WO2004017726A1; AU2003255879A1

Abstract

An aquaculture container element (1) in the form of a panel (2) having a surface suitable for the growth of aquatic organisms thereon is provided that can be assembled together with other similar elements to form a composite aquaculture container. The panel has, extending along two opposite side edges (3), an integral sidewall section (6) that has an opposite free edge (13) lying in a plane that is parallel to that of the panel, but spaced therefrom. The elements can be assembled with the free edges of the sidewall sections of one element engaged with another element in a series thereof to form a series of parallel panels held in spaced relationship by means of said sidewall sections that together define composite aquaculture container sidewalls. Various other attributes of the container elements are described as well as an assembled container and a method of using it in which elements can be added or removed during use.

Description

AQUACULTURAL CONTAINER AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an aquacultural container suitable for use in the culturing of aquatic and particularly marine organisms of a type that grow and develop on submerged surfaces and to components of such container. The invention also relates to the application of such equipment.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an aquacultural container that is especially suitable in application to the culturing of abalone but that may find application in the culturing of numerous other types of aquatic organisms.

It is to be noted that, because of its particular economic significance, the culturing of abalone will be mentioned in particular in the specification. It will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art that the equipment and application thereof discussed in this specification can be used for culturing numerous other aquatic organisms and the scope of this invention is not intended to be limited in any way by the particular reference to abalone.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The culture of abalone, in particular, has long been practiced to some extent and more recently to an appreciably increasing extent. The equipment used varies widely and one preferred system is conducted in tanks in which a series of removable aquaculture containers, often referred to as baskets, are positioned. Each aquaculture container has an assembly of a series of generally vertical, spaced, parallel plates located in the container and on the surface of which the abalone or other organisms grow. In an arrangement in which a biofilter is positioned in the tank beneath the containers, the containers have perforated bottom walls; are open at the top; and have impervious sidewalls. Water generally flows in at the top; over the plates that are fully submerged; through the perforated bottom wall of the container; through the biofilter; generally then to a protein skimmer and back to the tank. In my co-pending patent application of even date entitled "WATER RECYCLING AQUACULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND ITS APPLICATION" I describe a highly advantageous modification to the water circulation system wherein only part of the water is processed through the protein skimmer and the remainder is airlifted directly back to the water tank and distributed over the top of the containers, in instances in which they are present.

The aquaculture containers and assemblies of plates that are in present use are relatively costly. The container itself is usually of a plastic mesh or is an injection moulded or rotation moulded unit that, because of its size and accompanying manufacturing requirements, is inherently expensive. Not only that, but separate set-up costs such as mould costs need to be expended in respect of each size of container that is required. Added to this is the cost of the separate assembly of plates. The overall cost of a container and its associated assembly of plates is thus considerable.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an aquacultural container and components thereof that enables container and plate assemblies of the type indicated above to be more expeditiously produced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided an aquaculture container element in the form of a panel having a first face and a second face each with a surface suitable for the growth of aquatic organisms thereon, the panel being characterised in that it has extending along two opposite side edges of the first face an integral sidewall section each having one edge integral with the panel and an opposite free edge lying in a plane that is parallel to that of the panel, but spaced therefrom, the panel and sidewall sections being such that the free edges of the sidewall sections can be engaged with another container element in a series thereof to form a series of parallel panels held in spaced relationship by means of said sidewall sections that together define composite aquaculture container sidewalls.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for each aquaculture container element to have a perforated bottom wall section formed integral with the panel and adjacent sidewall sections; for the container element to have a plurality of apertures, preferably in the form of integral sleeves, each having an axis at right angles to the panel and being adapted to receive a common frame member passing therethrough whereby a series of container elements may be interconnected; for the second face of each element to have formations for cooperation with the free edge of a sidewall section of an adjacent element to locate such free edge relative to said second face, such formations conveniently being a groove formed between ridges moulded integral with the panel on the second face thereof with the width of the groove preferably being adapted to receive a reduced thickness edge formed by a rebate extending along the free edge of the sidewall or bottom wall, as the case may be; and for the integral sleeves to be provided with integral tubular spigot and sockets for cooperation with the socket or spigot of an adjacent container element.

Still further features of the invention provide for the container element to be of quadrilateral shape, typically a slightly tapering trapezoidal shape in which case an aperture or sleeve is conveniently provided at each of the four corners thereof; and for the panels either to be formed with a plurality of lines of weakening defining removable sections selected from a generally circular aperture in an operatively upper region of the panel, an operatively upper region of panel between the sidewall sections, a series of small holes through the panel in the lower region thereof and one or more openings in an operatively lower region of the panel, or to be produced by an injection moulding process in a die having removable inserts that permit of the moulding of elements having different selections of said sections present or absent.

The configuration of the removable sections, or the selected incorporation of inserts in the mould, enable a single container element or mould to be used to produce panels that serve different purposes, and in particular, two different forms of end wall and an intermediate internal panel providing surface area for the growth of the aquatic species and having an upper edge adapted to be located below the water level in use and that may optionally be used to support trays on which food for the aquatic species can be supported.

The intermediate panels also preferably have one or more removable or absent sections defining openings in an operatively lower region of the panel to provide an access way whereby the organisms can move from one compartment defined between two adjacent panels to another one defined between two other adjacent panels. The exact purpose and configuration of the removable or absent sections and the resultant different configurations of moulded panels, will become more apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the different aspects of the invention.

The invention also provides an aquaculture container and panel assembly comprising a series of container elements as defined above arranged in an assembly to form a composite aquaculture container having a series of internal panels spaced apart therein. Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for elements defining the internal panels to have an upper region of the panel removed or absent and one or more openings in the operatively lower region thereof with the elements forming the end walls being of full height; for the panels defining the end walls to have a series of small holes in the lower region thereof; and for the panel defining one end wall to have a generally circular aperture centrally in an upper region thereof.

The invention still further provides a method of conducting aquaculture utilizing a container and panel assembly as defined above in which, during the development of the organisms growing in the aquaculture container, container elements having unoccupied panels are introduced into the assembly, generally to replace container elements the panels of which are occupied, in order to provide additional growth space for some of the organisms as they become larger whilst simultaneously removing others for further development elsewhere.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment of container element and containers formed therewith will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of aquaculture container element according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the element illustrated in Figure 1 showing the lines of weakening or moulded edges that define various removable or optional sections of the panel of the element; Figure 3 is a similar elevation showing one section removed or absent to accommodate a water distribution pipe;

Figure 4 is a similar elevation showing the maximum number of sections removed or absent as is the case with an intermediate element (and showing an alternative opening in the lower region of the panel);

Figure 5 is a perspective illustration showing an assembly of container elements forming a composite aquaculture container using the three different panel forms illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail taken through a sidewall along line VI to VI in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail taken through a sleeve of a container element along line VII to VII in Figure 5; and,

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective illustration of an aquaculture tank employing, in this particular case, aquaculture containers made up of container elements according to the invention and as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, there is illustrated an Injection moulded plastics container element, generally indicated by numeral (1), in the form of a generally rectangular panel (2) having two side edges (3) that converge slightly from a top edge (4) to a bottom edge (5) to render it somewhat trapezoidal in shape. Moulded integral with each of the side edges is a side wall section (6) and moulded integral with the bottom edge (5) is a bottom wall section (7), as shown most clearly in Figure 1. Both the sidewall section and the bottom wall section extend from a first face of the panel. The bottom wall section is perforated with a multitude of perforations (7a) to allow for the free flow of water through it, in use, whilst retaining any abalone or other organisms therein.

Each operatively upper corner of the element has a sleeve (8) moulded integral with the sidewall, the sleeves defining the apertures referred to above. The operatively lower corners also have integral sleeves (9) moulded in the corner between the sidewall sections and bottom sections. These sleeves all have their axes at right angles to the plane of the panel and enable a series of elements to be located in juxtaposed positions relative to each other on tubular upper frame members (11) and lower frame members (12) with the free edges (13) of the sidewall and bottom wall sections of each element engaging, as a general rule, the opposite face of the panel of the next adjacent element. Such an assembly forms a composite aquaculture container, as illustrated in Figure 5.

In order to ensure proper alignment of the sidewall sections and bottom wall sections, the second face (40) of each element has an integral formation in the form of a groove (41) formed between ridges (42) moulded integral with the panel on the second face. The width of the groove is selected for cooperation with, in this instance, a reduced thickness edge (43) formed by a rebate (44) extending along the free edge of the sidewall or bottom wall, as a case may be. The reduced thickness edge fits neatly into the groove of the next adjacent element.

In similar manner, proper alignment of the sleeves is ensured by integral tubular spigots (45) and sockets (46) for cooperation with the socket or spigot of an adjacent container element to form a continuous tubular passage to receiving the frame members (11) or (12), as the case may be. In the case of the one end element (1a) the wall sections and bottom section can simply be directed outwards, as illustrated, or the element could be reversed in which case a double size chamber would be defined between the end panel and the next adjacent panel.

It will be understood that the length of the composite container, being defined by the number of elements employed, is adjustable according to requirements. The same container elements can thus be used to form any number of different sized containers of one particular cross-sectional shape.

A number of sections of the panel needs to be removed or absent depending on the position of the panels in the container. This is best achieved either by providing a series of lines of weakening that define removable sections, or, preferably, moulding the elements in an injection moulding die that has removable inserts that the enable those sections to be either present or absent.

The first of these removable or absent sections is a central circular section (14) towards the upper end of the element and this circular section is removed or absent in the case of an element (1a) to be used at one end of the composite container in order to accommodate a water delivery pipe entering the container in use. The other end of the composite container is defined by a container element (1b) that has no such section removed or absent and wherein the panel is thus continuous apart from possible drainage holes that are mentioned below.

The other removable or absent sections are relevant to the panels that define the intermediate container elements. In this embodiment of the invention, one line of weakening or insert moulded edge defines an upper panel section (15) (that includes the circular removable section (14)) so as to provide a lower profiled upper edge (15a) (see Figure 4 in particular) to the panels that is below the top of the container and adapted to be below the water level, in use.

In the case of the panels illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 two other lines of weakening or insert moulded edges define two rectangular openings (16) through the panels towards the lower end thereof that enable abalone or other organisms to move from one compartment defined between two adjacent panels to other compartments within the same composite container. As an alternative, and as shown in Figure 4, there may also simply be one such opening (16a), and it may also be elevated somewhat from the bottom of the panel.

For reasons of completeness the drawings also illustrate ribs (17) on the panels that serve, to some extent, to reinforce the panels, but are primarily present for purposes of enabling flow of plastics material to take place effectively during the injection moulding process.

One further possibility is for a series of small removable sections or holes (18) to be formed through the below the end of the panels that form the end walls to the container, as shown in Figure 5. These holes can be of the same size as those in the bottom wall section (7) so that movement of the organisms through the holes is prevented. The purpose to be served by these holes is simply that of drainage when the container is lifted out of its recipient tank and in order to enable water to drain from the container in the event that the holes through the bottom wall sections are blinded by solids of any nature, typically kelp or other food material.

Clearly, the container is a simply assembled by selecting the correct elements and threading them onto the frame members (11 , 12) whilst ensuring that their edges are properly received in the grooves and the spigots on the sleeves properly received in the sockets of adjacent elements. The aquaculture containers described above may be employed in a tank (20) that is designed to receive a series of composite containers that are indicated by numeral (21) in Figure 6. The containers are supported in position by a water delivery pipe or a coupling communicating therewith passing through the circular hole (14) in the one end wall (1a). The other end of each container is supported on the edge of the tank by extended upper frame members (11) interconnecting the upper ends of the container elements. The water level is maintained above the upper edges (15a) of the panels of the intermediate elements in known manner.

The tank is preferably operated on the basis described in my said co-pending patent application, but could be operated in any other desired manner.

It is to be noted that the configuration of the upper edges (15a) of the panels are specially adapted to enable such edges to be used for supporting feed for abalone or other organisms in a unique way. A central region (30) of the upper edge is lowermost and two further symmetrical steps (31) and (32) are provided between the central region and the top of the sidewalls. The corner of each step has a notch (33) that can be used to retain feed supporting plates (34) in a generally horizontal position as shown in Figure 4. These plates can be dipped downwards towards their centrelines and each can extend over only some, or over all of the length of the associated composite container. Alternatively, in the case that kelp or other relatively large food source is being used as feed, this can simply be laid on top of the upper edges in the central recessed region (30).

As indicated above the openings (16, 16a) enable the abalone or other organisms to move around within the composite container from one compartment to another.

It is also to be noted that it is envisaged that a composite container as described above can be used with great advantage in that it may be possible to avoid anaesthetizing abalone or other organisms in order to reduce their number in any particular aquaculture container as the necessity arises in consequence of insufficient space becoming available to accept the growth of the individual animals. It is envisaged that some container elements, even every alternate one, could be replaced by elements having unoccupied panels so that the animals could redistribute themselves and continue the growth process without an anaesthetizing step being necessary.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the different aspects of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An aquaculture container element (1) in the form of a panel (2) having a first face and a second face each with a surface suitable for the growth of aquatic organisms thereon, the panel being characterised in that it has extending along two opposite side edges (3) of the first face an integral sidewall section (6) each having one edge integral with the panel and an opposite free edge (13) lying in a plane that is parallel to that of the panel, but spaced therefrom, the panel and sidewall sections being such that the free edges of the sidewall sections can be engaged with another container element in a series thereof to form a series of parallel panels held in spaced relationship by means of said sidewall sections that together define composite aquaculture container sidewalls.

2. An aquaculture container element as claimed in claim 1 in which the aquaculture container element has a perforated (7a) bottom wall section (7) formed integral with the panel and adjacent sidewall sections.

3. An aquaculture container element as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the second face of each element has formations (41 , 42) for cooperation with the free edge (43) of an adjacent element to locate such free edge relative to said second face (40).

4. An aquaculture container element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the container element has a plurality of sleeves (8, 9) each having an axis at right angles to the panel and being adapted to receive a common frame member (11 , 12) passing therethrough whereby a series of container elements may be interconnected.

5. An aquaculture container element as claimed in claim 4 in which the integral sleeves are provided with integral tubular spigots (45) and sockets (46) for cooperation with the socket or spigot of an adjacent container element.

6. An aquaculture container element as claimed in either one of claims 4 or 5 in which the container element is of quadrilateral shape with a sleeve provided in the region of each of the four corners thereof.

7. An aquaculture container element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the panels are formed with a plurality of lines of weakening defining removable sections selected from a generally circular aperture (14) in an operatively upper region of the panel; an operatively upper region (15) of panel between the sidewall sections, a series of small holes (18) through the lower region of.the panel, and one or more openings (16) in an operatively lower region of the panel.

8. An aquaculture container element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the panel is produced by an injection moulding process in a die having removable inserts that permit of the moulding of elements having sections selected from a generally circular aperture (14) in an operatively upper region of the panel; an operatively upper region (15) of panel between the sidewall sections, a series of small holes (18) through the lower region of the panel, and one or more openings (16) in an operatively lower region of the panel either present or absent.

9. An aquaculture container element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one form of element for use in forming an intermediate panel is provided with an upper edge (15a) adapted to be located below the water level in use and that may optionally be used to support, indirectly on trays (34), or directly, food for the aquatic species.

0. An aquaculture container element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one form of element for use in forming an intermediate panel has removable or absent sections defining openings (16) in an operatively lower region of the panel to provide an access way whereby the organisms can move from one compartment defined between two adjacent panels to another one defined between two other adjacent panels.

11. An aquaculture container and panel assembly comprising a series of container elements as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 arranged in an assembly to form a composite aquaculture container having a series of internal panels spaced apart therein and common frame members (11 , 12) interconnecting same.

12. An aquaculture container and panel assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which elements defining the internal panels have an upper region (15) of the panel removed or absent and one or more openings in the operatively lower region thereof with the elements forming the end walls being of full height.

13. An aquaculture container and panel assembly as claimed in either one of claims 11 or 12 in which the panels defining the end walls have a series of small holes (18) in the lower region thereof.

14. An aquaculture container and panel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 in which the panel defining one end wall has a generally circular aperture (14) centrally in an upper region thereof.

15 A method of conducting aquaculture utilizing a container and panel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 in which, during the development of the organisms growing in the aquaculture container, container elements having unoccupied panels are introduced into the assembly to replace or supplement container elements the panels of which are occupied, in order to provide additional growth space for some of the organisms as they become larger whilst simultaneously removing others for further development elsewhere.