Aquaculture mesh cage depth adjusting device

Abstract

The invention relates to an aquaculture mesh cage depth adjusting device, and belongs to the technical field of aquaculture. The device comprises a cable take-up and pay-off mechanism arranged on a ship body and a traction rope connecting the cable take-up and pay-off mechanism and a culture net cage, and the cable take-up and pay-off mechanism controls the depth position of the culture net cage in seawater by tightening or loosening the traction rope. The invention provides a depth adjusting device for an aquaculture net cage, and aims to meet the requirements of cultured organisms in different seasons and environment conditions by accurately controlling the depth of the aquaculture net cage in the sea, so that the culture efficiency and the product quality are improved. Specifically, by tightening or loosening the hoist rope, the aquaculture mesh cage can be adjusted to be located in water bodies of different depths, and then the growth environment of cultured organisms is adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a depth adjustment device for an aquaculture cage, belonging to the technical field of aquaculture. Background Art

[0002] During aquaculture, mainly aquaculture cages are used for stocking. During the aquaculture process, different marine environmental conditions, such as water flow, salinity, seawater temperature, wind force, etc., have a crucial impact on the growth and survival of aquaculture organisms. Many aquatic organisms have a suitable temperature range. By adjusting the position of the cage, the aquaculture organisms can be placed in a suitable water temperature environment. In summer, the surface seawater temperature is relatively high. Sinking the cage to a certain depth can enable the aquaculture organisms to avoid the high-temperature surface seawater. In winter, when the surface seawater temperature drops, raising the cage appropriately close to the water surface and using the relatively warm surface seawater helps the growth and survival of the organisms. When the wind force is large, sinking the cage to a certain depth in relatively calm underwater can reduce the impact of waves on the cage and protect the integrity of the cage and the safety of aquaculture organisms. Moreover, the fluctuations on the water surface will cause the cage to shake frequently, which may cause the aquaculture organisms to collide with each other and get injured. Suspending the cage at a suitable depth underwater can reduce this risk. In the prior art, the Chinese utility model patent application No. 201820660817.5 discloses a deep-sea aquaculture non-metallic fish cage device with adjustable buoyancy. The entire fish cage device is composed of a number of regular pentagon members, regular hexagon members and an internally rope-tied spherical fishing net; stoppers are installed on a certain number of triangular unit ventilation holes to adjust the buoyancy of the non-metallic fish cage device, so that the fish cage device floats on the water surface or hovers at a certain depth underwater, avoiding the harm of aquaculture organisms from typhoons and high sea conditions. This device adjusts the buoyancy of the non-metallic fish cage device to make the fish cage device float on the water surface or hover at a certain depth underwater, but there is no automatic adjustment mechanism, and it cannot be adjusted in real time according to environmental changes and cannot accurately control the specific depth in seawater. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To solve the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention proposes a depth adjustment device for an aquaculture cage, aiming to precisely control the depth of the aquaculture cage in the sea to meet the needs of aquaculture organisms under different seasons and environmental conditions, and improve the aquaculture efficiency and quality. Specifically, by tightening or loosening the towing rope, the aquaculture cage can be adjusted to be located in water bodies at different depths, thereby adjusting the growth environment of the aquaculture organisms.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is a depth adjustment device for an aquaculture cage, including a cable winding and unwinding mechanism arranged on a ship hull and a towing rope connecting the cable winding and unwinding mechanism and the aquaculture cage. The cable winding and unwinding mechanism controls the depth position of the aquaculture cage in seawater by tightening or loosening the towing rope.

[0005] Further, the cable retracting and deploying mechanism includes a driving component and a traction retracting and deploying component fixed on the mounting bracket. The driving component controls the start and stop of the traction retracting and deploying component, and the traction retracting and deploying component is used for winding or releasing the hoisting rope.

[0006] Further, the traction retracting and deploying component includes a gear steering box, a coupling, a rotating shaft, a first bearing seat and a drum. The gear steering box is connected to the coupling, and the rotating shaft passes through the first bearing seat and is respectively connected to the coupling and the drum at both ends.

[0007] Further, the traction retracting and deploying component is also provided with a rope presser for controlling the neat winding of the hoisting rope.

[0008] Further, the rope presser includes a connecting frame, a copper sleeve, a fixing plate, a lead screw, a turntable, a T-shaped nut, a guide shaft, a spring, a fixing frame and a pressing wheel. The copper sleeve is installed on the connecting frame, the guide shaft passes through the copper sleeve and is respectively fixed on the fixing frame and the fixing plate at both ends. The spring is sleeved on the guide shaft and is located between the connecting frame and the fixing frame. The T-shaped nut is fixed on the fixing plate, the T-shaped nut is sleeved on the lead screw, both ends of the lead screw are respectively connected to the turntable and the connecting frame, and the pressing wheel is movably connected to the fixing frame. By rotating the turntable, the distance between the pressing wheel and the drum is controlled.

[0009] Further, the driving component includes a motor, a fixing bracket and a clutch. The motor is installed on the fixing bracket, the motor is connected to the clutch, and the clutch is connected to the gear steering box.

[0010] Further, the cable retracting and deploying mechanism also includes a rope length control component. The rope length control component includes an encoder, a friction wheel, a PLC controller, a temperature sensor, a salinity sensor and a tension spring; the connecting plate is fixed on the connecting frame, the coding support plate is connected to the connecting plate through a fixing pin, the encoder is installed on the coding support plate, a friction wheel is installed on the encoder, connecting columns are installed on both the coding support plate and the fixing frame, both ends of the tension spring are respectively hooked on the connecting columns, the friction wheel is closely attached to the pressing wheel, and the PLC controller is respectively connected to the encoder, the temperature sensor, the salinity sensor and the driving component.

[0011] Further, the driving component includes a handwheel, a connecting shaft, a second bearing seat and a clutch. The connecting shaft passes through the second bearing seat and is respectively connected to the handwheel and the clutch at both ends.

[0012] Further, the hoisting rope includes a main rope and an adjusting rope. A plurality of fixed pulleys are arranged on the main rope, and a movable pulley is arranged on the aquaculture cage. One end of the adjusting rope is connected to the main rope, and the other end of the adjusting rope bypasses the movable pulley and the fixed pulley and is then connected to the traction retracting and deploying component.

[0013] Further, the main rope is connected with a mooring rope, and the other end of the mooring rope is connected with a wooden peg fixed on the seabed.

[0014] Further, the mounting bracket is mounted on the gunwale of the hull through a flipping assembly. The flipping assembly includes a bearing seat with bearings, a shaft rod, and a support plate. Both ends of the shaft rod penetrate through the bearing seat with bearings. Both ends of the support plate are respectively connected to the shaft rod and the gunwale. The bearing seat with bearings is mounted on the bottom surface of the mounting bracket close to the side where the turntable is located.

[0015] The present invention discloses an aquaculture cage depth adjustment device, and its beneficial effects are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the driving mechanism of the present invention drives the traction retracting and releasing assembly to operate, adjusts the depth of the aquaculture cage in the water to meet the needs of cultured organisms in different seasons and environmental conditions, and improves the aquaculture efficiency; the design of the PLC controller, temperature, salinity sensors, and encoder accurately controls the length of the retracting and releasing towing rope. The rope length control assembly can dynamically adjust the position of the cage according to the changes in water temperature and salinity to adapt to different seasons and environmental conditions, improving the survival rate and growth rate of cultured organisms and helping to enhance the aquaculture effect; by setting a rope compactor, it is ensured that the rope does not knot during the retracting and releasing process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0017] Figure 1 It is the schematic front view of the present invention applied to the sea;

[0018] Figure 2 It is the schematic side view of the present invention applied to the sea;

[0019] Figure 3 It is the three-dimensional schematic diagram of the mounting bracket of the present invention mounted on the hull;

[0020] Figure 4 It is the schematic top view structure diagram of the mounting bracket of the present invention mounted on the hull;

[0021] Figure 5 It is the schematic top view structure diagram of the cable retracting and releasing mechanism of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 It is the three-dimensional structure schematic diagram of the cable retracting and releasing mechanism of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 It is Figure 6 the schematic side view structure diagram in

[0024] Figure 8 It is Figure 6 the schematic front view structure diagram in

[0025] Figure 9 For Figure 3 Partial enlarged view of the middle tension spring;

[0026] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the pressure wheel and the reel of the present invention separated from each other.

[0027] As shown in the figure: 1. Hull; 2. Aquaculture cage; 3. Main rope; 4. Adjusting rope; 5. Fixed pulley; 6. Movable pulley; 7. Anchor rope; 8. Wooden stake; 9. Screw hole; 10. Mounting bracket; 11. Gear steering box; 12. Coupling; 13. Rotating shaft; 14. First bearing seat; 15. Reel; 16. Encoder; 17. Friction wheel; 18. Tension spring; 19. Connecting plate; 20. Coding support plate; 21. Fixed pin; 22. Connecting column; 23. Fixed frame; 24. Connecting frame; 25. Copper sleeve; 26. Fixed plate; 27. Lead screw; 28. Turntable; 29. T-nut; 30. Guide shaft; 31. Spring; 32. Pressure wheel; 33. Motor; 34. Fixed bracket; 35. Clutch; 36. Handwheel; 37. Connecting shaft; 38. Second bearing seat; 39. Bearing seat with bearing; 40. Shaft rod; 41. Support plate; 42. Connecting rod. Detailed implementation manners

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and in no way limits the present invention and its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] To further understand the content of the present invention, this technical solution will be further elaborated below in combination with the specific implementation manners.

[0030] Embodiment 1: As Figures 1 to 9 shown, this embodiment provides an aquaculture cage depth adjustment device, including a cable winding and unwinding mechanism arranged on the hull 1 and a towing rope connecting the cable winding and unwinding mechanism and the aquaculture cage 2. The cable winding and unwinding mechanism controls the depth position of the aquaculture cage 2 in seawater by tightening or loosening the towing rope. The cable winding and unwinding mechanism includes a driving component fixed on the mounting bracket 10 and a traction winding and unwinding component. The driving component controls the start and stop of the traction winding and unwinding component, and the traction winding and unwinding component is used for winding or releasing the towing rope.

[0031] As a specific implementation manner of this embodiment, the traction winding and unwinding assembly includes a gear steering box 11, a coupling 12, a rotating shaft 13, a first bearing seat 14, and a drum 15. The gear steering box 11 is connected to the coupling 12. The rotating shaft 13 passes through the first bearing seat 14 and is respectively connected to the coupling 12 and the drum 15 at both ends.

[0032] As a specific implementation manner of this embodiment, the driving assembly includes a motor 33, a fixed bracket 34, and a clutch 35. The motor 33 is installed on the fixed bracket 34. The motor 33 is connected to the clutch 35. The clutch 35 is connected to the gear steering box 11. The motor 33 drives the gear steering box 11 to operate through the clutch 35. The gear steering box 11 drives the drum 15 to rotate forward or backward through the coupling 12 and the rotating shaft 13. One end of the traction rope is tied to the drum 15, and the traction rope is wound or released as needed, so as to adjust the position of the aquaculture cage 2 in the sea water.

[0033] In order to accurately control the winding and unwinding length of the traction rope, the cable winding and unwinding mechanism further includes a rope length control component. The rope length control component includes an encoder 16, a friction wheel 17, a PLC controller, a temperature sensor, a salinity sensor, and a tension spring 18. The connecting plate 19 is fixed on the connecting frame 24. The coding support plate 20 is connected to the connecting plate 19 through a fixing pin 21. The encoder 16 is installed on the coding support plate 20. A friction wheel 17 is installed on the encoder 16. Connecting columns 22 are installed on both the coding support plate 20 and the fixing frame 23. Both ends of the tension spring 18 are hooked on the connecting columns 22. The friction wheel 17 is closely attached to the pressure wheel 32. The PLC controller is respectively connected to the encoder 16, the temperature sensor, the salinity sensor, and the motor 33. According to the environmental data of the underwater aquaculture organisms fed back by the temperature sensor and the salinity sensor, the PLC controller controls the length of the traction rope to be tightened or lowered through the motor 33 and the encoder 16.

[0034] The traction rope includes a main rope 3 and an adjusting rope 4. Two fixed pulleys 5 are arranged on the main rope 3. A movable pulley 6 is arranged on the aquaculture cage 2. One end of the adjusting rope 4 is connected to the main rope 3. According to the design requirements, multiple aquaculture cages 2 are taken as a group. The other end of the adjusting rope 4 sequentially bypasses the movable pulleys 6 and fixed pulleys 5 in the group and is connected to the drum 15 of the traction winding and unwinding assembly. In this embodiment, every three adjacent aquaculture cages 2 are taken as a group. The aquaculture cages 2 in each group are connected together through a connecting rod 42. Each group of aquaculture cages 2 uses the same adjusting rope 4 to ensure the synchronous lifting and lowering of each group of aquaculture cages 2 and avoid the problem of asynchronous lifting and lowering of each aquaculture cage 2. The main rope 3 is connected with a mooring rope 7, and the other end of the mooring rope 7 is connected with a wooden stake 8 fixed on the seabed, so as to prevent the aquaculture cage 2 from being impacted by the strong current and moving, and increase the safety protection of the aquaculture organisms.

[0035] Embodiment 2: As Figures 1 to 10As shown in the figure, on the basis of Embodiment 1, the traction retraction assembly in this embodiment is further provided with a rope presser for controlling the neat winding of the traction rope.

[0036] As a specific implementation manner of this embodiment, the rope presser includes a connecting frame 24, a copper sleeve 25, a fixing plate 26, a lead screw 27, a turntable 28, a T-shaped nut 29, a guide shaft 30, a spring 31, a fixing frame 23 and a pressing wheel 32. The copper sleeve 25 is installed on the connecting frame 24. The guide shaft 30 passes through the copper sleeve 25 and is fixed to the fixing frame 23 and the fixing plate 26 at both ends respectively. The spring 31 is sleeved on the guide shaft 30 and is located between the connecting frame 24 and the fixing frame 23. The T-shaped nut 29 is fixed on the fixing plate 26. The T-shaped nut 29 is sleeved on the lead screw 27. The two ends of the lead screw 27 are respectively connected to the turntable 28 and the connecting frame 24. The pressing wheel 32 is movably connected to the fixing frame 23, that is, the pressing wheel 32 can rotate under the action of force. By rotating the turntable 28, the distance between the pressing wheel 32 and the drum 15 is controlled. When winding is required, at this time, the adjusting rope 4 fixed on the drum 15 is untied. The operator rotates the turntable 28 forward. At this time, the pressing wheel 32 will contact the drum 15 under the elastic force of the spring 31. The pressing wheel 32 will press the drum 15. The function of the pressing wheel 32 is to make the adjusting rope 4 neatly arranged on the drum 15 during the retraction and release process. The pressing wheel 32 will rotate as the drum 15 rotates. Therefore, the linear velocity of the pressing wheel 32 is the same as that of the adjusting rope 4 wound on the drum 15. Since the friction wheel 17 is fixed on the encoder 16, the encoder 16 is fixed on the coding support plate 20, and the coding support plate 20 makes the friction wheel 17 closely contact the pressing wheel 32 under the tension of the tension spring 18. Therefore, the linear velocity of the friction wheel 17 is consistent with that of the pressing wheel 32. The length of the retraction and release of the adjusting rope 4 can be calculated through the signal fed back by the encoder 16 by the PLC controller, and then the depth of the aquaculture cage 2 in the sea can be determined. The PLC controller adjusts the appropriate aquaculture depth according to the temperature sensor or the salinity sensor. After adjusting the depth, fix the adjusting rope 4 on the drum 15 and rotate the turntable 28 in reverse. The fixing frame 23 slowly lifts up, separates the pressing wheel 32 from the drum 15, then removes the drum 15 from the rotating shaft 13, and fixes the drum 15 on the main rope 3.

[0037] Embodiment 3: As Figures 1 to 9 shown, different from Embodiment 1, the drive assembly includes a handwheel 36, a connecting shaft 37, a second bearing seat 38 and a clutch 35. The connecting shaft 37 passes through the second bearing seat 38 and is connected to the handwheel 36 and the clutch 35 at both ends respectively. The clutch 35 is connected to the gear steering box 11; by manually rotating the handwheel 36 by the operator, the rotation of the drum 15 is controlled through the gear steering box 11, so as to realize the winding or release of the traction rope.

[0038] Embodiment 4: As Figures 1 to 10As shown, on the basis of any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, the mounting bracket 10 is mounted on the gunwale of the hull 1 through a flipping assembly, that is, the mounting bracket 10 is rotatably connected to the hull 1. The flipping assembly includes a bearing seat 39 with bearings, a shaft rod 40, and a support plate 41. Both ends of the shaft rod 40 penetrate through the bearing seat 39 with bearings. Both ends of the support plate 41 are respectively connected to the shaft rod 37 and the gunwale. The bearing seat 39 with bearings is mounted on the bottom surface of the mounting bracket 10 on the side close to the turntable 28. When it is necessary to adjust the aquaculture depth, the operator manually flips the mounting bracket 10, and the mounting bracket 10 rotates around the shaft rod 40, so that the mounting bracket 10 rotates out of the hull 1; when not in use, the mounting bracket 10 is rotated back into the hull 1 to facilitate the docking and transportation of the ship. To ensure the stability of the mounting bracket 10, screw holes 9 are provided on the mounting bracket 10, and reserved holes are provided on the hull 1. When the mounting bracket 10 rotates out of the hull 1, the mounting bracket 10 is temporarily fixed on the hull 1 by bolts passing through the screw holes 9 and the reserved holes. When not in use, the bolts are first unscrewed and then the entire mounting bracket 10 is rotated back into the hull 1.

[0039] In the actual application process of the present invention, the driving assembly controls the winding or releasing of the towing rope connected to the aquaculture cage 2 through the traction retracting and releasing assembly, drives the up and down movement of the aquaculture cage 2 in the water, and realizes the precise adjustment of the aquaculture environment to improve the aquaculture effect. The driving assembly adopts automatic driving or manual driving to operate the traction retracting and releasing assembly, and can flexibly meet the requirements in different situations.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the depth of an aquaculture cage, characterized in that: It comprises a cable retracting and releasing mechanism arranged on a hull (1), and a towing rope connecting the cable retracting and releasing mechanism and a culture cage (2); the cable retracting and releasing mechanism controls the depth position of the culture cage (2) in seawater by tightening or loosening the towing rope.

2. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable retracting and releasing mechanism comprises a driving component and a traction retracting and releasing component fixed on a mounting bracket (10); the driving component controls the start and stop of the traction retracting and releasing component; and the traction retracting and releasing component is used to wind or release the traction rope.

3. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The traction and retracting assembly comprises a gear steering box (11), a coupling (12), a rotating shaft (13), a first bearing seat (14) and a reel (15); the gear steering box (11) is connected to the coupling (12); the rotating shaft (13) passes through the first bearing seat (14) and has two ends respectively connected to the coupling (12) and the reel (15).

4. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The traction and retracting assembly is also provided with a rope tightener for controlling the neat winding of the traction rope.

5. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rope tightener comprises a connecting frame (24), a copper sleeve (25), a fixing plate (26), a lead screw (27), a rotating disk (28), a T-shaped nut (29), a guide shaft (30), a spring (31), a fixing frame (23) and a pressure wheel (32), wherein the copper sleeve (25) is mounted on the connecting frame (24), the guide shaft (30) passes through the copper sleeve (25) and the two ends are respectively fixed on the fixing frame (23) and the fixing plate (26), the spring (31) is sleeved on the guide shaft (30) and is located between the connecting frame (24) and the fixing frame (23), the T-shaped nut (29) is fixed on the fixing plate (26), the T-shaped nut (29) is sleeved on the lead screw (27), the two ends of the lead screw (27) are respectively connected to the rotating disk (28) and the connecting frame (24), the pressure wheel (32) is movably connected to the fixing frame (23), and the distance between the pressure wheel (32) and the reel (15) is controlled by rotating the rotating disk (28).

6. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving assembly comprises a motor (33), a fixing bracket (34) and a clutch (35); the motor (33) is mounted on the fixing bracket (34); the motor (33) is connected to the clutch (35); and the clutch (35) is connected to the gear steering box (11).

7. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable retracting and releasing mechanism also includes a rope length control component, which includes an encoder (16), a friction wheel (17), a PLC controller, a temperature sensor, a salinity sensor and a tension spring (18); a connecting plate (19) is fixed on a connecting frame (24); an encoding support plate (20) is connected to the connecting plate (19) through a fixing pin (21); an encoder (16) is installed on the encoding support plate (20); a friction wheel (17) is installed on the encoder (16); a connecting column (22) is installed on the encoding support plate (20) and a connecting column (22) is installed on the fixing frame (23); two ends of the tension spring (18) are respectively hooked on the connecting column (22); the friction wheel (17) is tightly attached to the pressure wheel (32); and the PLC controller is respectively connected to the encoder (16), the temperature sensor, the salinity sensor and the driving component.

8. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving assembly comprises a hand wheel (36), a connecting shaft (37), a second bearing seat (38) and a clutch (35); the connecting shaft (37) passes through the second bearing seat (38) and has two ends respectively connected to the hand wheel (36) and the clutch (35).

9. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The traction rope comprises a main rope (3) and an adjusting rope (4). The main rope (3) is provided with a plurality of fixed pulleys (5). The breeding net cage (2) is provided with a movable pulley (6). One end of the adjusting rope (4) is connected to the main rope (3). The other end of the adjusting rope (4) is connected to the traction and retracting assembly after passing through the movable pulley (6) and the fixed pulley (5).

10. The aquaculture cage depth adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting bracket (10) is mounted on the side of the hull (1) through a flip assembly, the flip assembly comprising a bearing seat (39) with a bearing, an axle (40), and a support plate (41), both ends of the axle (40) pass through the bearing seat (39) with a bearing, and both ends of the support plate (41) are respectively connected to the axle (37) and the side of the hull, and the bearing seat (39) with a bearing is mounted on the bottom surface of the mounting bracket (10) close to the turntable (28).

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