WO2007074182A1

WO2007074182A1 - Self-supporting, floating, transportable opaque tray

Info

Publication number: WO2007074182A1
Application number: PCT/ES2006/000678
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Antonio Vilán Vilán; Abraham Segade Robleda
Original assignee: Metal-Marine-Punt. S.L.
Priority date: 2005-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-11
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: ES2258935A1; ES2258935B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-supporting, floating, transportable opaque tray which consists of large surfaces that cover most of the area thereof, thereby rendering same opaque to sunlight and considerably increasing mussel growth. The inventive tray is formed by independent modules which are dynamically stable on water and which can be transported in standard vehicles. The aforementioned modules are joined using commercial elastic couplers, such that the structure can adapt to the condition of the sea, thereby preventing overpressure and breakages in adverse weather conditions. The elastic couplers can be quickly mounted and removed and, as such, can be quickly removed for maintenance and repair. The invention does not require a support structure or independent floats since the modules are self-supporting and can float in a stable manner. The culture media can be positioned on the edge of the module and in a longitudinal groove, said media being fixed in holes provided in the upper plate.

Description

a) TITLE OF THE INVENTION.

Bat opaque, transportable, self-supporting and self-floating.

b) DOMAIN OF THE TECHNIQUE. It has application in the marine resource exploitation sector. c) PREVIOUS LATÉCNICA STATE.

The type of structure dedicated to the most widespread marine culture currently is ancestral and is out of period, maintaining a series of characteristics that today are unnecessary and counterproductive. The current bats consist of a rigid structure supported by a series of floats. The structure is usually made of wood and consists of large solid eucalyptus beams. The main drawback it presents is its extreme rigidity, which at one time was necessary because a booth was installed on its surface where sowing, collection and cleaning of the product were carried out, but these tasks are currently performed on the ship or on land. Excessive rigidity will create a brittle structure, which in the face of the continuous wave movement of the sea breaks through fatigue, either in the beams themselves or in their joints. Likewise, this stiffness generates high tension in the ropes, and up to 40% of the load due to shedding can be lost in the event of a storm.

The use of rigid modules joined by elastic couplings is well known and used for decades in pantalanes and other marine structures. d) EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention, as expressed in its own title, refers to a novel marine structure that can be used for the cultivation of mollusks or other marine species. As indicated, the structure consists of a series of modules formed by flat elements that as a whole intends to be opaque to sunlight, thereby increasing mussel production as indicated by several international publications. The assembly consists of a system of modules (A) transportable by conventional means and dynamically stable at sea, which are assembled together by means of commercial flexible couplings (B) arranged at the ends thereof. Being modular greatly facilitates construction and maintenance:

• The modules are the same. Great automation and cost reduction in manufacturing can be achieved. Each structure carries a large number of equal modules.

• Economic transportation from the factory. The maximum dimensions of each module will be those necessary to be able to transfer it by road in conventional means to a port near where the bat is to be located. • The modules can be thrown into a port, and their assembly can be carried out directly in it or inside the river. In addition, since each of the modules on the water is dynamically stable, its assembly is facilitated.

• It also appears the possibility of releasing the modules independently to perform repair or maintenance work in port.

The set could have several possible dispositions, according to needs, as long as the current legislation allows it. This versatility is achieved thanks to the symmetry of the modules and repeatability of their anchors, so that it is possible to assemble a set of different shapes, according to needs. In the preferred embodiment one of them is described, which is believed to be more effective, without prejudice to the other possibilities.

To hold the commercial couplings (B) between modules, two supports (C) will be available on each side of the module (A) on which said elements will be placed. The couplings (B) allow small displacements and also turns between modules, adapting the structure to the state of the sea and reducing the efforts that appear on it.

To facilitate the berthing of the vessels on the floating structure, proceed as follows:

• Without modifying the structure of the module described, cover the support brackets of the couplings with rubber so that a boat can approach and not suffer damage to the structure or the boat.

• Optionally on the modules (A), protections (F) can be mounted that are fixed on the support brackets (C) of the couplings. These protections when they are covered with rubber form a safe separator.

As indicated in the title each module (A) is self-supporting, since it is constructed with flat surfaces that aim to protect the crop from sunlight and not with profiles or other structural elements as is the usual way. In turn, each module is waterproof and self-floating, not requiring the use of floats, a common feature in all current equipment.

Culture media, be they cages ropes, trays, etc. (D) they will be arranged vertically by their own weight, being tied over holes (E) made in the contours of the upper plate and subsequently protected to reduce friction with the rope or cable. The location of these means will be in said holes located around each self-floating module and in an interior slot that allows easy access to each of the points. The anchoring of this floating structure to the sea floor is carried out in the same way as in the current ones, one or two dead located in the bow area tied by chains. e) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENT OF THE DRAWINGS.

As an example, the accompanying drawings show a preferred embodiment according to:

Drawing 1: Plan view of the marine structure with all its modules arranged according to the preferred embodiment.

• A. Self-floating module that by association configures the structure.

• B. Elastic commercial coupling that allows the union between modules. Drawing 2: Three-dimensional view of one of the self-floating modules (A) with all its parts:

• A. Self-floating module that by association configures the structure. • C. Coupling support brackets.

. D. Culture media.

• E. Holes for fixing the culture media.

Drawing 3: Three-dimensional view of one of the modules with the lateral protections for docking ships. • A. Self-floating module.

• C. Support for clamping the modules.

• F. Lateral protection for docking ships on the structure.

f) PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

As illustrated in the drawings, the bat presented in this invention is constituted by a series of self-floating modules (A) dynamically stable on the water that are articulated with each other to configure a marine structure. The association of modules can be carried out in different ways, according to needs, the one shown in drawing 1 being preferable, where 28 modules of 2.5x7.5 meters are associated. The layout of the modules is faced two by two and all arranged in battery. In this way, clear work units are defined, since the collection and planting of mollusks is carried out in an orderly manner and from the outside of the structure to the interior. The worker can load and unload the production of each module in a simple, effective and systematic way, presenting the product of each unit a very similar development.

The articulation between modules is achieved with commercial elastic couplings (B) that allow small displacements and also turns between modules, adapting the structure to the state of the sea and reducing the efforts that appear on it. The modules are built using flat plates welded, glued or folded. As for the material thereof, it can be:

1. Steel plates welded and / or folded so as to ensure the tightness of the assembly.

2. In aluminum sheets. 3. In composite (for example, fiberglass or carbon fiber with polyester, epoxy or other polymers).

4. In plastic, wood or other materials.

The interior of the modules can be filled with a low water absorption foam to ensure that the module does not sink in case of loss of tightness. The upper part can be constructed in non-slip sheet to facilitate the work on the structure, and a relevant feature is that the holes needed to hang the culture media are already made on it, without the need for flanges or any type of anchor. These holes will be covered with special attention in fiber and / or with a rubber to reduce friction and also the wear of the rope. The modules will be equal to each other and symmetrical. The culture media will be hung by means of knots or hooks in two zones of each module (A), an interior hole and the entire contour thereof in the holes made on the upper plate.

To protect the modules from corrosion in case of being constructed in steel or aluminum, it is possible to proceed to paint them with two-component paint or to cover the structure with fiber, in the same way that the floats of the current trays are covered, thus ensuring great durability of them.

Claims

CLAIMS: The ownership and exploitation of:

1. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, AUTOPORTANT AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, constructed using surfaces to be opaque as a whole and protect the crop from sunlight, increasing productivity, and not as a profile structure that will allow the passage of light.

2. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, AUTOPORTING AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, according to the preceding claim, characterized by being formed by a series of independent, equal modules, transportable by road in conventional vehicles, coupled by commercial flexible joints.

3. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, AUTOPORTING AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, according to claims one and two, characterized in that it is possible to disengage any of the modules that constitute it independently for its drag to port and subsequent maintenance or repair.

4. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, AUTOPORTING AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, according to claims one, two and three, characterized in that each module is defined as a self-floating unit, dynamically stable on the sea, without the need for floats, since the structure itself acts as such.

5. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, AUTOPORTING AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, according to claims one, two, three and four, characterized in that each module is defined as a self-supporting unit without the need for a support structure. The module itself is a rigid self-floating structure and on which the culture media are hung.

6. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, SELF-PORTABLE AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, according to claims one, two, three, four and five, characterized in that holes on the upper part are included where the culture media will be hung, without the need for flanges or welding of any type and without exceeding the upper height.

7. OPACA, TRANSPORTABLE, SELF-PORTABLE AND SELF-FLOATING BATEA, as described in the body of this report and claims consisting of 6 pages written on one side and three figures.