Device for conveying liquid

Abstract

A dispensing unit for dispensing a flow of liquid to one of a plurality of selectable outlets is disclosed. A variable element is arranged in the dispensing unit, which variable element can be rotated and positioned to direct a flow of liquid to a selected outlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transferring a liquid from a first box-like member to a second box-like member, i.e. for distributing a liquid flow in a pipe system, in particular a liquid flow comprising water with marine life, preferably fish. The challenges of transporting large fish through pipes constitute a major concern for the welfare of the fish. The device according to the present invention is specifically designed for the transportation of large fish. Background Art

[0002] In the aquaculture industry, moving fish from one tank to another is a significant challenge. The fish are transported from one tank to another along with the liquid they are in through pipelines. Sudden changes in the direction of the pipeline can expose the fish to potentially harmful pressures, and efforts are made to avoid this. Since the pipelines are typically of large size, a lot of space is required for the change in direction, and very large valves are required. Large valves present challenges and tolerances are critical to prevent leaks. Machining such large units is challenging, and using plastic materials can complicate meeting the tight tolerance requirements. The present invention addresses many of these challenges.

[0003] Given the current environmental challenges facing open sea aquaculture of marine life, more and more production must take place in closed cages on land. The need to increase production and yields means that the cages / containers are becoming larger, and in order to maximize the use of these cages / containers, the fish must be moved from one container to another as they grow. When fish are moved out of a cage, it is usually when the fish is at its largest, such as when ready for slaughter, or when the fish is to be divided among multiple cages for further growth.

[0004] When fish are transported to slaughterhouses, the size of the fish is usually in the range of 5kg to 8kg and the fish are transported through pipes with a diameter of 0.5 to 0.6 meters. Manufacturing a dispensing valve of this size is very demanding, especially when the fish are transported alive in the pipe. If there are sharp edges or bends, the fish can be easily injured.

[0005] Purpose of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a device in the form of a valve which can be used to move marine life such as fish etc. The purpose of the device is to distribute the fish to the various pipes, i.e. there is one inlet of the valve and the line can be directed to a selected one of a plurality of outlets.

[0007] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is that the valve should work under negative pressure as well as positive pressure in the pipeline and maintain the pressure without leakage. The object of the present invention is also that the valve can have multiple alternative inlets, that is, liquid and marine life can be moved from one of the multiple boxes to a box (where the valve has only one outlet) or to a box selected from the multiple boxes (where the valve has multiple selectable outlets).

[0008] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention that the valve further comprises a sorting unit for sorting the fish, for example based on size, and that fish of different sizes are guided out through a plurality of selectable outlets.

[0009] Transport pipes with negative pressure present challenges to multi-way valves. If a leak occurs, air will enter the water flow, resulting in a reduction in water flow. For example, using the siphon principle, when air leaking into the water flow must flow down with the water flow to the receiving container, a valve that leaks air will reduce the siphon effect. Therefore, the present invention provides a concept to prevent air from leaking into the transport pipe when the pressure is below atmospheric pressure. Summary of the invention

[0010] The solution of the invention relates to a valve having a variable conduit element connecting one or more inlets to one or more outlets. The variable conduit element can be positioned between a selected inlet and a selected outlet. If the valve further comprises a sorting unit, the conduit element preferably extends (downstream of the sorting unit) to two or more outlets.

[0011] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for conveying a liquid from a first box-like member to a second box-like member. The device comprises a distribution unit, which is arranged in a pipe system between the box-like members, wherein the distribution unit has one or more inlets and one or more outlets. Characterized in that the distribution unit comprises an external valve housing, in which at least one internal rotatable part is arranged, and wherein a variable conduit element is connected to one of the inlets and one of the outlets. At least one of the inlet or the outlet is connected to the rotatable part, and the rotatable part can be positioned at the desired inlet and / or outlet.

[0012] In some embodiments, the dispensing unit comprises one inlet and two or more outlets, wherein the variable conduit element is fixedly connected to the valve housing and the rotatable part.

[0013] The rotatable portion may be rotated to direct liquid to flow from the variable conduit element through a selected outlet.

[0014] The valve housing may be filled with a liquid, preferably the valve housing may be filled with the same liquid as that which is led through the device but without marine organisms.

[0015] The shut-off valve can be arranged at the outlet and / or the inlet of the valve housing.

[0016] Seals are arranged in contact surfaces between the inner rotatable part or parts, the variable conduit element and the valve housing outlet or inlet.

[0017] The pressure of the liquid in the valve housing can be adjusted to be higher or lower than the pressure in the variable conduit element. In one embodiment, the pressure in the valve housing is adjusted to be the same as the pressure in the variable conduit element, thereby ensuring that the seal does not press on the contact surface to allow the internal rotatable part to move easily.

[0018] The liquid in the box may include water and living marine life such as fish, etc. The structure of the variable conduit element may be constructed in such a way that when the variable conduit element is bent laterally, the variable conduit element applies a rounded lateral deformation so as not to harm the living marine life.

[0019] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for conveying a liquid from a first box-like member to a second box-like member using a device according to one of the above aspects. As part of a pipe system, a dispensing unit is arranged to guide the liquid from one of one or more inlets to one of a plurality of outlets. The dispensing unit comprises: an outer valve housing having one or more inlets and one or more outlets; and an inner rotatable part having a variable pipe element, which is rotated to the desired inlet and / or outlet.

[0020] The valve housing may be filled with a liquid similar to the liquid in the variable conduit element but without marine life.

[0021] The pressure in the valve housing can be adjusted to be higher and lower than the pressure in the variable conduit element.

[0022] In one embodiment, the pressure in the valve housing is adjusted to the same level as the pressure in the variable conduit element, thereby allowing the inner rotatable part to move easily.

[0023] The liquid in the tank may include a combination of a liquid such as water and live marine life such as fish. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 : Schematic representation of positioning a variable conduit element from an inlet to one of three selectable outlet positions. The left figure shows the conduit element positioned in outlet 30-3, while the right figure shows the conduit element positioned in outlet 30-a.

[0026] Figure 2 : Schematic diagram of the rod-like member that switches the position by pushing the rotatable part and the pipeline for pressurizing the valve housing.

[0027] Figure 3 : A valve with a stop valve on the outlet.

[0028] Figure 4 : How the rod-like member enables the rotatable part to rotate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The basic principle of the present invention involves reorienting the variable conduit element within the valve 12 to allow it to be positioned at various inlets or outlets. The specific challenges addressed by the present invention include transporting fish from a fish hold ship to a land-based facility. In this case, the fish are pumped from the ship to different boxes through large pipes, which typically have a diameter of 0.5m to 0.6m. Large volumes of water gently guide the fish through the pipes.

[0030] The invention relates to a valve 12 that directs water and fish into a conduit 14 that can selectively enter different boxes. Figure 1 Such a valve is shown in . Figure 1 The valve 12 in FIG. 1 has one inlet 20 and three outlets 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3. The variable conduit element 14 can be positioned to connect the inlet to any of the outlets 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3, thereby directing the fish and the liquid in which they are located to the outlets / outlets 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3. The valve is designed so that the variable conduit element 14 oscillates smoothly and gently within the valve housing 12 so as not to injure the fish. Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, an internally arranged rotatable part 16 can also be seen inside the valve. The rotatable part 16 can be pushed inside the valve housing, and the outlet of the variable conduit element 14 is attached to the rotatable part 16, which is configured so that: the displacement of the rotatable part 16 (relative to the valve housing) positions the variable conduit element 14 to one of the outlets 30-1, 30-2, 30-3. The unused outlet is closed. Figure 1 The middle figure in FIG. 1 also shows a portion of a rod 18 extending from the central axis of the rotatable part and extending out of the valve housing, thereby allowing the central part with the rotatable part 16 to be rotated (displaced) manually, pneumatically or hydraulically, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 as shown in .

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the valve 12 itself comprises a valve housing 12 a having an inlet 20 and a plurality of outlets 30 . Figure 1 Three outlets 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 are shown. Figure 1 The rotatable part 16 is shown inside the valve housing, wherein the variable conduit element 14 is attached at the rotatable part 16. A gasket (not shown in the drawings) is mounted on the rotatable part 16 to seal between the rotatable part 16 and the outlet 30 in the valve housing 12a. Figure 3 It is schematically shown that a stop valve 40 may be present individually on all outlets 30 of the valve housing 12. The stop valve 40 is used to prevent leakage of air that may be sucked into the valve in vacuum applications, for example, from an outlet pipe 30 without water flow.

[0032] The valve housing 12 is typically filled with the same liquid as that conveyed through the variable conduit element 14. The valve housing 12 may be pressurized. Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is shown that the valve housing 12 can be pressurized by pumping liquid from the inlet 42. This will cause the rotatable part 16 to press against the valve housing 12, because there is a lower pressure on the outlet side of the rotatable part 16. The pressure can be adjusted by placing the outlet 44 at a certain height above the valve housing 12. The height (H) of the liquid column 50 up to the outlet 44 will reflect the pressure in the valve housing 16. This will cause the gasket to tighten and form a tight connection in the pipeline system through the valve 12. In addition, providing a higher pressure to the inlet 42 will fill the valve housing 12 with pressurized liquid, and therefore, leakage means that liquid flows into the main liquid flow. The amount of liquid leaking from the valve housing 12 into the main liquid flow is negligible compared to the amount of liquid flowing in the main pipeline 14. If the pressure in the valve housing 12 is set to be equal to the pressure in the variable pipeline element 14, the gasket will be released and the central part with the rotatable element 16 can be easily moved to another position. Figure 2 Also shown is a supply line 46 for pressurizing the gasket.

[0033] Reference Figure 1It has been pointed out that in the present invention, the variable conduit element 16 is used to connect an inlet 20 to a selected outlet 30. Variable means that the conduit element can be bent to a certain extent, and preferably, the length of the conduit element 16 can be slightly adjusted so that the conduit element 16 can be easily positioned to one of the selected inlet 20 and outlet 30. In some embodiments of the present invention, the valve has a plurality of alternative inlets 20 and an outlet 30. In other embodiments, the valve has two or more inlets 20 and two or more outlets 30. The number of inlets 20 and outlets 30 that can be used is determined by the diameter of the pipelines in and out of the valve and the space that can be used to rotate the rotatable part 16 to the relevant opening (inlet / outlet). The rotatable part 16 has the shape of a "cake slice" and extends from the central axis to the inner periphery of the valve 12. The variable conduit element 14 is preferably firmly connected to the rotatable part, thereby allowing the rotatable part 16 to be displaced relative to the outer wall of the valve housing 12 so that the variable conduit element 14 can be positioned to the desired inlet / outlet. If there are a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets at the same time, preferably two rotatable parts 16 are arranged in the valve housing.

Claims

1. A device (10) for transferring a liquid from a first box-like member to a second box-like member, wherein: The device comprises a dispensing unit (12) which is arranged in a pipe system between the box-like elements, wherein the dispensing unit (12) has one or more inlets (20) and one or more outlets (30), characterized in that the dispensing unit (12) comprises an external valve housing (12a) in which at least one internal rotatable part (16) is arranged, and wherein a variable agitation element (14) is connected to one of the inlets (20) and one of the outlets (30), and wherein at least one of the inlets (20) or the outlets (30) is connected to the rotatable part (16), and wherein the rotatable part (16) can be positioned to a desired inlet (20) and / or outlet (30).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The dispensing unit (12) comprises an inlet (20) and two or more outlets (30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-n), wherein the variable agitation element (20) is firmly connected to the valve housing (12) and to the rotatable part (16).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The rotatable portion (16) is capable of being rotated to direct liquid to flow from the variable agitation element (14) through selected ones of the outlets (30-1, 30-2, 30-3).

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The valve housing (12) is filled with a liquid, preferably the same liquid as that passing through the device (10) but without marine organisms.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein: A shutoff valve (40) may be arranged on the outlet (30) and / or the inlet (20) of the valve housing (12).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein: A gasket is arranged in a contact surface between the rotatable part (16) having one or more inner portions of the variable conduit (14) and the outlet (30) or the inlet (20) of the valve housing (12).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The pressure of the liquid in the valve housing (12) can be adjusted to be higher or lower than the pressure of the liquid in the variable agitation element (14).

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein: The liquid pressure in the valve housing (12) is adjusted to be equal to the liquid pressure in the variable agitation element (14) so ​​that the gasket does not press on the contact surface, thereby being designed so that the rotatable part (16) inside can be easily moved.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid in the box-like member includes water and living marine life, such as fish.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The variable duct (14) is configured such that when the variable duct (14) is bent laterally, a rounded lateral deformation is applied so as not to harm the living marine life.

11. A method for transferring liquid from a first box-like member to a second box-like member using the device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: A dispensing unit (12) is arranged as part of a piping system, the dispensing unit (12) directing a liquid from one of one or more inlets (20) to one of a plurality of outlets (30), characterised in that the dispensing unit (12) comprises an external valve housing (12a) having one or more inlets (20) and one or more outlets (30), and an internal rotatable part (16) having a variable agitation element (14) which is rotated to the desired inlet (20) and / or outlet (30).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The valve housing (12a) is filled with a liquid similar to the liquid in the variable conduit (16) but without marine organisms.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The pressure of the liquid in the valve housing (12) can be adjusted to be higher or lower than the pressure of the liquid in the variable conduit (14).

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The liquid pressure in the valve housing (12a) is adjusted to the same level as the liquid pressure in the variable conduit (14), so that the rotatable part (16) inside can be easily moved.

15. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The liquid in the box-like member includes a combination of liquid and living marine organisms, wherein the liquid is, for example, water, and the living marine organisms are, for example, fish.

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