Device and method for guiding and conveying fish and liquids out of tank

Abstract

An apparatus and method for directing and transporting marine organisms, such as fish, from a fish tank using a suction system coupled to a central portion of a horizontally positioned guide grille that moves upward in a water space in the fish tank is disclosed. The fish will attempt to move downward and into the suction arrangement and then be conveyed to another box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for guiding and transporting marine life, such as fish, in a liquid in a tank. Preferably, the tank is circular, such as a breeding tank for marine life. Background Art

[0002] With the environmental challenges facing open-air farming of marine life today, more and more production will need to take place in closed tanks. The demand for increased production and profitability means that the tanks are getting larger and larger, and to maximize the use of these tanks, the fish need to be moved from one tank to another as they grow. Water, the liquid that inhabits the marine life, is precious, and such large tanks cannot be drained to relocate the fish. Therefore, the water and fish must be transferred to the new tanks while maintaining the water level. As facilities become larger, moving the fish is becoming an increasingly important part of fish farm operations, in order to maximize the tank capacity used for production and thus always have the highest possible biomass in the tanks.

[0003] Moving marine life, such as fish, can be divided into two stages: first, the fish must be guided to the appropriate location within a box, and then the fish must be moved or transported to another box. Guiding itself is a critical operation, as it triggers a stress response in the fish. This leads to increased oxygen consumption and the release of carbon dioxide, which are significant stressors for the fish. Fish tend to move downward within a box, as this is an instinctual habit of most fish. Therefore, this must be taken into account when designing the mechanism for guiding the fish in and out of the box.

[0004] Description of the Prior Art

[0005] There are various solutions for guiding fish, in which the fish are guided into a piping system that leads them further out of the box. In sea cages, herd nets are usually used to collect the fish into bags, from which they are sucked into fish pumps. This type of guidance system causes great stress to the fish and leads to a high mortality rate. In closed boxes, various methods are used, including draining water into various forms of guide dividers to force the fish into smaller and smaller areas, and then pumping the fish out of these areas. The best solution is to push the fish towards the bottom of the box and suck them out through holes in the box wall. Typical examples of the above solutions are shown in patent applications PCT / NO2021 / 050275 and NO324024.

[0006] In patent application number 324024, MMC Tendos AS describes a solution for guiding fish in a cylindrical box primarily used in wellboats for transporting fish. The problems associated with flow conditions and particle deposition in the boxes on such wellboats are not relevant to the present invention. The solution is based on upward-pointing profiles mounted on or near the bottom of the box, with a grating designed to roughly mirror the shape of the box lowered toward these upward-pointing profiles. When the grating reaches the same height as the upward-pointing profiles, one of the upward-pointing profiles rotates around the center of the box, pushing the fish into a small sector. The exit from the box is located in the wall of this sector, and the fish are eventually pushed out through holes in the wall to be transferred to a new container.

[0007] This solution has several disadvantages, particularly if the fish will remain in the box for a period of time and will also be fed there. The upward-pointing profiles at the bottom affect the flow pattern in the box, causing fish waste and feed residue to accumulate around these profiles. This is a significant disadvantage for boxes that produce large quantities of fish. Furthermore, removing the fish through holes in the box wall near the bottom presents cleaning problems, as the holes are often recessed into the ground, making them difficult to clean and resulting in stagnant water, which can easily produce hydrogen sulfide, which is highly toxic to fish. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Purpose of the Invention

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a system (device and method) for collecting fish and directing them into a piping system for transport to another tank. The present invention aims to achieve this gently, preferably more gently than known methods and devices. The present invention aims to take into account the natural reaction pattern of fish when they startle and seek the bottom. Furthermore, the present invention aims to prevent perforations in the tank wall from being located below the water level.

[0010] The applicant of this patent holds various patents and patent applications related to closed tank solutions, which emphasize the importance of a clean, smooth inner surface within the tank, free of objects that could disrupt flow patterns and cause particle deposits. A clean, cylindrical tank with no mountings on the inner surface, thus providing good tank hydraulics, is crucial for efficient aquaculture in closed tanks. Similarly, the mechanism for guiding the fish should be reliable and easy to operate, as guiding and transporting fish is a frequent occurrence. The solution should also be operable while water is circulating within the tank. The water velocity in the tank is typically around 0.5 m / s, which exerts significant forces on the objects used to guide the fish.

[0011] Summary of the Invention

[0012] The patented solution consists of a horizontally arranged guide grate in the form of a perforated cover that can be moved up and down around the central column of the tank. This grate is typically positioned at the bottom of the tank in its inactive position, before the marine life is transferred to the tank. The grate is perforated to allow water to flow through it and be drawn under it, then into the central column. This ensures that no particles accumulate beneath the grate. Dead fish accumulate above the grate and are periodically drawn toward the central column, where they enter and exit the facility.

[0013] When it is necessary to guide and transport fish out of the box, the guide grid is moved vertically upward from its inactive position at the bottom of the box. A suction arrangement is lowered into the box and positioned in the center, directly above the guide grid. The fish are gathered at this location and transported out of the box (to a new box) via the suction arrangement. Preferably, the suction arrangement is connected to a siphon via flexible piping, which lifts the marine life out of the box.

[0014] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for guiding and transporting live marine life from a box-like member, wherein the device includes at least one suction arrangement structure and a horizontally arranged perforated guide grid, wherein the suction arrangement structure is used to move liquid and marine life out, wherein the suction arrangement structure is centrally positioned directly above the horizontal perforated guide grid, and the guide grid is designed to be lifted from an inactivated position at the bottom of the box-like member and lifted vertically upwards to pull the liquid and marine life group out of the box-like member via the suction arrangement structure.

[0015] In one embodiment, the guide grid is raised in the box, while a constant flow of water is introduced into the suction arrangement and upwards through the suction arrangement.

[0016] In one embodiment, the guide grid moves vertically up and down in the box, the guide grid being movably attached to vertical guides along the central column and the box walls.

[0017] In one embodiment, the guide grate includes a channel in the central portion, the channel being configured to guide fish toward the channel when the guide grate is moved upward.

[0018] In one embodiment, the channel of the guide grid comprises a recess in at least one portion.

[0019] In one embodiment, the suction arrangement is positioned in said recess.

[0020] In one embodiment, the suction arrangement is positioned in said channel.

[0021] In one embodiment, the guide grid is constructed as a frame with an inner ring and an outer ring, wherein soft, flexible, plastic-like lamellae bear against the box walls and the central column.

[0022] In one embodiment, the guide grille is designed such that a central portion of the guide grille and the suction arrangement are positioned vertically lower than the outer edges of the guide grille.

[0023] In one embodiment, the guide grille is made of a mesh, grid or lattice material having openings tailored to the size of the marine organisms in the box, thereby allowing liquid to flow freely through the guide grille while preventing the organisms from passing through the openings of the grille.

[0024] In one embodiment, the suction arrangement is connected by flexible tubing to a siphon which lifts the marine life out of the tank.

[0025] In one embodiment, the stress level and location of marine life are monitored and this information is used to control the raising of horizontal guide grids.

[0026] In one embodiment, visual and acoustic methods such as cameras, hydrophones and / or radar are used to monitor stress levels and positions of marine life. If a fish is detected to be stressed or in the wrong position in the box, the movement of the guide grid is slowed or stopped.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for guiding marine life in a box. The method involves moving a horizontally arranged guide grid upward in a water column while simultaneously causing a suction arrangement located directly above the guide grid to suck water and marine life out of the box as the water and marine life migrate toward a central portion of the guide grid.

[0028] In one embodiment, the guide grid is moved from a low, inactive position in the box and moved upward in the box to direct marine life toward the center and into a position directly above the guide grid.

[0029] In one embodiment, the guide grid is provided with a channel in its innermost edge portion, and during clustering, the upward movement of the guide grid guides the fish towards the channel.

[0030] In one embodiment, the channel is provided with at least one recess, so that during guiding, the fish are guided into the recess and the suction arrangement is positioned in the recess. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 The box for cultivating marine life is schematically shown with the guide grid in a lower, inactive position. When it is necessary to guide the fish out of the box, the guide grid moves upwards and guides the fish towards the channel of the guide grid and towards the recess of the suction arrangement.

[0033] Figure 2 Schematically shows the Figure 1 The box-like piece shown in , but with the guide grille in a higher position.

[0034] Figure 3a A box-like member with a suction arrangement is shown, while Figure 3b A box with two suction arrangements is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The principle underlying the present invention is that the opening through which the marine life to be transported from the aquaculture tank 12 passes moves with the movement of the guide grille 16, i.e., the opening is positioned directly above the guide grille 16 and in the center of the guide grille 16 (outside the central column 18). The suction arrangement 14 is positioned near this opening.

[0036] like Figure 1As shown in FIG, the device for guiding and conveying fish (as an example of marine life) comprises a guide grid 16 and a suction arrangement 16 working together. Figure 1 In the drawing, the guide grid 16 is shown in its lower, inactive position and when the guide grid 16 is required to guide the fish for transferring them to a new box, the guide grid is moved upwards simultaneously with the suction arrangement 14. The suction arrangement 14 thus has a flexible conduit, such as a hose.

[0037] The guide grid 16 is permeable to liquids, which means that the water inhabited by the fish flows freely through the guide grid 16. The openings in the guide grid are small enough to prevent marine life from moving from one side of the grid to the other.

[0038] The guide grids are attached to the outside of the box wall 12a and the central column 18 via guide elements on the box wall 12a and the central column 18, respectively. These guides (guide elements) are not shown in detail in the drawings, but can be in the form of slots in which the pins on the grids move vertically up and down.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the guide grille 16 is vertically taller at the outer periphery than at the center, tilting the grille toward the center of the box. This arrangement guides fish toward the center during grouping. The guide grille preferably comprises an outer ring and an inner ring, with the outer ring being taller than the inner ring. When the grille is raised within the box 12, fish may feel threatened and move toward the grille, thereby being directed toward the center and drawn into the flexible conduit, which then transports them upward out of the box 12. This design also ensures that when the guide grille 16 is fully raised, the last remaining fish will be drawn toward the center and into the channel 16a, where they will be drawn upward.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the suction arrangement is connected to a siphon, so that the siphon principle is used to guide the fish out of the box 12. Alternatively or in combination, a pump may be used to suck the fish out of the box.

[0041] Preferably, the guide grid is provided with an annular channel 16a near the center. During guidance, the fish will be guided towards this channel 16a and attempt to enter it downwards. Preferably, the channel 16a is provided with one or more recesses 16b, and the suction arrangement is preferably positioned in one or more of these recesses 16b.

[0042] This solution allows the fish to be gently guided out of the box 12 by lifting the guide grid 16 in the box and transferred to a new box. This guidance causes the fish to gather directly above the guide grid 16 and the center of the box. The fish are then guided through the channel 16a, preferably through the recess 16b, to the suction arrangement 14, which guides the fish out of the box 12. Because this solution is very gentle on the fish, it is particularly suitable for boxes where the fish spend a short time, such as slaughter boxes.

Claims

1. A device (10) for harvesting and transporting living marine organisms from a box (12), characterized in that The device comprises at least one suction arrangement (14) and a horizontally arranged perforated guide grid (16), wherein the suction arrangement (14) is used to remove liquid and marine life, wherein the suction arrangement (14) is centrally positioned directly above the horizontal perforated guide grid (16), and the guide grid (16) is designed to be lifted from an inactivated position at the bottom of the box-like member (12) and lifted vertically upwards to guide the liquid and marine life out of the box-like member (12) via the suction arrangement (14).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide grid (16) is lifted in the box (12) while a constant flow of water is introduced into the suction arrangement (14) and upwards through the suction arrangement (14).

3. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide grid (16) moves vertically up and down in the box-shaped member (12), and the guide grid (16) is movably attached to vertical guides along a central column (18) and a box wall (12a).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide grid has a central channel (16a) configured to guide fish toward the channel (16a) when the guide grid (16) moves upward.

5. The device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that The channel (16a) of the guide grid (16) includes at least one recess (16b).

6. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that The suction arrangement (14) is arranged in the recess (16b).

7. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that The suction arrangement (14) is positioned in the channel (16a).

8. The device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that The guide grid (14) is constructed as a frame with an inner ring and an outer ring, wherein a soft, flexible, plastic-like sheet rests against the box wall (12a) and the central column (18).

9. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide grille (14) is designed such that the central portion of the guide grille (14) and the suction arrangement (14) are positioned vertically lower than the outer edge of the guide grille (16).

10. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The guide grille has a grille structure of a mesh, grid or lattice material having openings customized according to the size of the marine life in the box-like member (12), thereby allowing the marine life to pass through the openings of the guide grille (16) while the liquid flows freely through the guide grille (16).

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The suction arrangement (14) is connected to a pump which lifts the marine life out of the box (12) through a flexible pipe (14a).

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The stress level and location of the marine life are monitored and this information is used to control the raising of the horizontal guide grid (16).

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that Visual and acoustic methods, such as cameras, hydrophones and / or radar, are used to monitor stress levels and locations of the marine life.

14. A method for guiding marine life in a box (12), characterized in that A horizontally arranged guide grid (16) is moved upward in the water column, while a suction arrangement (14) located directly above the guide grid (14) sucks water and marine life out of the box (12) as the water and marine life migrate toward the center of the guide grid (16).

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The guide grid (14) is moved from a low, inactive position in the box (12) and the guide grid (14) is moved upward in the box (12) to guide the marine life toward the central portion and into a position directly above the guide grid (16).

16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The guide grid (16) is provided with a channel in an innermost edge portion of the guide grid (16), and during guiding, upward movement of the guide grid guides the fish toward the channel (16a).

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The channel (16a) is provided with at least one recess (16b), so that during guiding the fish are guided into the recess (16b), and the suction arrangement (14) is positioned in the recess (16b).

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