UNDERWATER SOUND DEVICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF MOLLUSC FARMING FIELDS

Description

PERAZZOLO Giacomo PASSARELLA Roberto TITLE UNDERWATER SOUND DEVICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF FIELDS 5 OF MOLLUSC CULTURE DESCRIPTION This patent is relevant to the sector of mollusc farming and cultivation and in particular concerns a protection device for the cultivation area of molluscs against the attack of Callinectes sapidus, commonly called 10 blue crab. Recently the lagoon areas of north-eastern Italy have been invaded by colonies of blue crabs, which is an alien species that feeds mainly on clams and other molluscs that are grown in shallow waters, causing huge environmental and economic damage. 15 The systems implemented so far involve the use of sheets or fences that are placed on the culture medium to protect the molluscs during growth and development. Mollusc production is seriously compromised by the presence of this alien, non-native species, which causes significant damage to the entire sector and related industries concerned with agriculture, fishing, trade, catering and transport. 20 The known solutions have not led to optimal results as they can be applied in a small scale with particular economic burdens and consequent costs of breeding without often giving the desired results. These blue crabs are particularly aggressive and voracious and multiply very quickly. quickly thanks to their colonies formed mainly by females that 25 lay thousands of eggs exponentially increasing the number of specimens present, both globally and in a restricted context. The purpose of the new device is to protect the crop and sowing field with a device that does not allow the blue crab to enter the said fields of culture. 5 The new device fulfills the task of preventing the approach towards the cultivation field and to cause the removal of the alien blue crab species from areas intended for the aquatic culture of molluscs in the sea and in particular in the Adriatic Sea. Another aim is to be able to protect a cultivation area even far from the 10 shore. Another purpose is to allow the easy removal of the said device. protection and at the same time allow access to the various stages of sowing, harvesting and cultivation in general. Another aim is to have a device that allows all the various operations 15 with a limited expenditure of self-produced electricity. Another aim is to exploit solar energy through photovoltaic panels for provide all the energy necessary for the operation of the system or device. Another goal is to create a device that is easy to build and economically inexpensive to operate. 20 Another aim is to have a device that is easy to use and easily removable. Another goal is to have a device that does not get damaged over time in a highly aggressive environment due to the salinity of the sea. Another aim is to have a device that has no moving parts 25 that could harm operators. The new device comprises in its main parts a first, external part water-based, comprising a photovoltaic panel and a watertight box containing electronic components and at least one battery. The photovoltaic panel, preferably monocrystalline, to generate energy 5 electric is suitable to be installed on a support placed above the water, It is placed in an inclined position of approximately 30° in order to make the most of the solar radiation, while the watertight box is preferably placed under the photovoltaic panel. This box comprises a watertight container or case, which may be in 10 plastic and / or metal material, which contains a charge regulator that manages the production of current and automatically directs the voltage towards one or multiple sound systems or to one or more batteries to ensure operation during during the night hours and on less sunny days. Inside the box there are also the command and control cards of the 15 sound diffusion system. The device also includes a second part electrically connected to the first through electrical conductive cables. This second part is positioned in immersion, preferably near the bottom and is fixed or placed on the seabed and including one or more piezoelectric sound systems 20 generally at cyclic and continuous rotation frequencies between 2400 and 2750 MHz and where each of said piezoelectric sound devices is contained in boxes or hermetic sound boxes in stainless steel or plastic material. Following experimental tests, the device has demonstrated particular effectiveness as it was possible to observe a notable decrease in the number of crabs present in 25 proximity of said sound systems. Thanks to specific verification tests it was possible to ascertain how the present invention, when activated, it keeps predators away, for a distance of the order of a few dozen meters, while with the new device deactivated they are predators found in the usual quantities. 5 Using photovoltaic panels of adequate size it is possible to connect more boxes containing said piezoelectric sound devices placed at an appropriate distance in order to create a cultivation field, that is, an area protected from predators, of a few thousand square meters. Considering that a piezoelectric sound system can have a range 10 useful of 30 m and having 4 sound sources placed at an appropriate distance you can to obtain the protection of approximately 1 hectare of seabed for the cultivation of molluscs. Preferred solution is that the photovoltaic panels have a sealing box watertight, whether the sound sources or devices are fixed to a support or pole 15 vertical suitable to be supported or fixed in the aquaculture soil. Not external electrical connections are required, no power grids are required protection, special and daily checks and surveillance are necessary. It is possible to foresee the positioning of said poles in such a way as to constitute protected areas alternating with runners not subject to the influence of the device 20 sound. In this way, protected and crab-free areas are created for the shellfish cultivation and the areas or corridors where they go to crowd together blue crabs making it easier to capture and / or eliminate them. There has recently been a gastronomic interest in blue crabs which they can then in turn become a source of income derived from the supply 25 of edible products. There is also the possibility of using the energy source of the solar panel for mounting warning or protection signal devices such as lights, alarms, calling devices with appropriate cell phones via suitable apps. In particular positions it is possible to connect the control unit and the sound devices to 5 a fixed power supply network. The attached tables show, by way of example and not as a limitation, a practical realization of the invention. Figure 1a and Figure 1b show a top and bottom view of the device, in its schematic form, which includes a photovoltaic panel (1) to which is 10 connected to a watertight box or container (2), made of plastic and / or metallic, suitable for containing at least one charge regulator for managing the production of electricity that can supply, via cable, various sound systems piezoelectrics (3) placed close to or even tens of metres away. These piezoelectric sound systems are placed underwater near the 15 ground and remain permanently underwater, in this way only one photovoltaic panel (1) is able to protect and safeguard a surface of very large crop. These photovoltaic panels (1) generate a power of at least 50 watts in the correct position. Said watertight box or container (2) made of plastic and / or metal material 20 contains at least one battery and a charge controller that manages the production of the electric current and automatically directs the voltage towards the underlying sound system (3), comprising a piezoelectric device generating cyclic and continuous rotation frequencies between 2400 MHz and 2750 MHz. Each sound device (3) comprises a wall (3.1) made of elastic material 25 for the emission of sound waves that propagate in the water. Both the panel photovoltaic (1) that the container is watertight (2) that the containers or cases (3) they are attached to a vertically placed rod or pole (4) whose lower part includes a tip or a support surface (5) on the ground. This rod or pole (4) can be telescopic and adjustable according to the 5 water depths. The length of the rods or poles (4) is foreseen according to the variation of the tide, that is, as a function of the maximum and minimum values ​​of the tide, in to ensure that the photovoltaic panel (1) and the watertight container (2) they are always out of the water and are also suitable for weather resistance as 10 wind and cloudbursts. In this case each pole (4) is independent and autonomous. Only one sound system (3) can be applied to the base of each pole (4) comprising piezoelectric device or two, three, or can be applied four sound devices (3) in different directions. Figure 2 shows a solution where a photovoltaic panel is expected 15 (1), of suitable dimensions, is placed on a support device (4) or on a floating body. This panel, generally larger in size, is connected to various sound devices (3) placed spaced apart so as to increase the size of the predator-free zone. These are the schematic methods sufficient for the expert person to realize 20 Consequently, in concrete application there may be some variations of the invention without prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept. Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and the enclosed tables, express the following claims.

Claims

1. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields characterised by the fact that it comprises: • at least one source of electrical energy, • a watertight box or container (2) made of plastic and / or metal material connected to said source of energy capable of containing devices for managing the electrical energy, • one or more sound systems (3), connected to the devices of said container (2), capable of emitting sound waves into the water capable of disturbing and driving away predators.

2. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per claim 1, characterised by the fact that said energy source is a photovoltaic panel (1) and that said watertight box or container (2), made of plastic and / or metal material, contains at least one battery and at least one charge regulator for managing the production of electrical energy and automatically directs the voltage towards said one or more sound systems (3) connected to and powered by said photovoltaic panel (1).

3. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per claims 1,2, characterised in that said photovoltaic panel (1), said hermetic container (2) and said sound systems (3) are integral with a pole, or rod or support (4) fixed or resting on the ground.

4. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per claims 1,2, 3, characterised in that said sound emission systems (3) are positioned in different directions.

5. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per 10 / 09 / 2024 previous claims, characterised in that said photovoltaic panel (1) is supported by a floating platform.

6. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per previous claims, characterised in that said photovoltaic panel (1), placed in a horizontal position, or alternatively in an inclined position, powers other warning or protection devices, such as lights, alarms, calling devices with appropriate mobile phones via suitable apps.

7. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per previous claims, characterised in that said sound system (3) comprises a piezoelectric device generating cyclic and continuous rotation frequencies between 2400 MHz and 2750 MHz.

8. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per previous claims, characterised in that said sound system (3) comprises a 304 stainless steel container measuring 150x150x200mm or semi-spherical with a diameter of 200-250mm, inside which said piezoelectric sound system is present.

9. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per previous claims, characterised in that each sound device (3) comprises a wall (3.1) made of elastic material for the remission of sound waves which propagate in the water.

10. Device for the protection of mollusc cultivation fields, as per previous claims, characterised by the fact that it comprises, for each source of electrical energy, several sound boxes or containers (3) connected to each other via a cable of a length greater than the sound wave emission capacity of each of said sound boxes (3).