Bait timed release device for deep and far sea culture cage

Abstract

The invention relates to a bait timed release device for a deep and far sea culture cage, which comprises the deep and far sea culture cage and further comprises a culture platform, a feeding device is mounted on the culture platform, the feeding device comprises a bait conveying pipe and a reel machine for winding the bait conveying pipe, and the top of the bait conveying pipe is provided with a feeding port for being butted with a bait cylinder; the bait conveying pipe is connected with a throwing cavity through a transition connecting piece, and a throwing opening is formed in the throwing cavity. The deep sea culture cage is a rectangular cage composed of a top net, a side net and a bottom net, a round opening is formed in the top net, and the round opening is connected with a funnel-shaped beard door with the wide upper portion and the narrow lower portion. The device further comprises a cage rope, the top of the cage rope is connected with the breeding platform, and the bottom of the cage rope penetrates through the funnel-shaped beard door to be connected with the net rope intersection of the bottom net in a tying mode. A through hole for the bait conveying pipe to move downwards and penetrate through is formed in the breeding platform; the bait conveying pipe and the cage rope are arranged side by side through a guide structure. According to the invention, full-automatic and low-loss accurate feeding of baits in a deep and far sea environment is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea aquaculture cage technology, specifically a feed release device. Background Technology

[0002] Deep-sea areas possess inherent advantages such as vast space, clean water, and strong self-purification capabilities, making them ideal locations for environmentally friendly large-scale aquaculture. However, compared to nearshore areas, deep-sea environments also present extreme and harsh sea conditions, including strong winds, high waves, rapid currents, and frequent typhoons, posing unprecedented challenges to aquaculture cage equipment and technology. Deep-sea aquaculture cages are wave-resistant cage-raising equipment used for aquatic organism cultivation in open sea areas far from shore, at great depths, and in harsh environments. They can be integrated with deep-sea aquaculture platforms, suspended from them, to cultivate high-end aquatic organisms such as lobsters, tuna, and salmon. Against this backdrop, the lagging development of feed feeding technology, a core component of aquaculture, has become a key bottleneck restricting the large-scale development of the industry.

[0003] Currently, feeding operations in deep-sea aquaculture still heavily rely on traditional methods, and the following pain points urgently need to be addressed:

[0004] First, artificial feeding is costly and carries significant safety risks. Most deep-sea aquaculture operations still rely on traditional methods, specifically underwater feeding by divers. This method not only incurs high diver salaries but also has its operational window severely dependent on weather and sea conditions. Statistics show that in areas with average wave heights exceeding 1.5 meters, divers can only safely operate for less than one-third of the year. During periods of strong winds, waves, and currents that prevent divers from diving, feeding operations are forced to be interrupted for extended periods, directly leading to stunted growth and uneven size of farmed organisms, severely impacting the aquaculture cycle and economic benefits. Furthermore, the diving operation itself carries significant safety risks, including high pressure, low temperatures, low visibility, and attacks from marine life; a single accident can cause substantial loss of life and property.

[0005] Secondly, the loss of feed is severe, highlighting the conflict between utilization rate and ecological considerations. In open, strong-current sea areas, feed, whether manually released or transported through simple pipelines, undergoes a complex settling and diffusion process after entering the water. Studies have shown that in common deep-sea environments with current velocities exceeding 0.5 m / s, the feed loss rate of traditional feeding methods can reach 30% to 50%. This not only means direct economic waste and increases aquaculture costs, but uneaten feed also dissolves and decomposes in the water, releasing large amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to eutrophication in localized areas of aquaculture zones, triggering red tides, frequent disease outbreaks, and other ecological problems, thus creating a vicious cycle of "aquaculture-pollution."

[0006] Third, existing feeding equipment suffers from poor environmental adaptability and insufficient reliability. Most existing automatic feeders on the market are designed for land-based ponds or well-sheltered near-shore cages, and their core power and control units are typically electrically driven. In the harsh, corrosive environment of the deep sea—high salinity, high humidity, and strong ultraviolet radiation—the failure rate of their precision sensors, control circuits, and mechanical transmission components increases exponentially. Simultaneously, deep-sea aquaculture platforms or workboats often have limited and unstable power supplies, severely restricting the long-term, reliable operation of such electric equipment. Furthermore, these devices are designed for pelleted formulated feeds and cannot effectively feed irregular, easily sticky fresh feeds such as fish chunks, clams, and oysters, which are essential for farmed species like lobsters.

[0007] Fourth, the feeding strategy is severely mismatched with the feeding habits of specific farmed organisms. Taking the wavy lobster, a typical species targeted by this invention, as an example, it is a typical benthic organism, and its feeding behavior mainly occurs in the bottom area of ​​the cage. If the bait fails to sink quickly to the bottom and form a relatively concentrated feeding point in that area, it cannot be effectively consumed. Existing technologies lack specialized feeding devices tailored to the habits of such organisms, making it impossible to achieve precise feeding at "fixed points, fixed quantities, and fixed times," which is another important reason for low feed utilization.

[0008] Fifth, existing equipment has poor synergy with the main aquaculture facilities, posing a systemic risk. Most current feeding devices are deployed as independent units, without integrated wave-resistant design with the cages (such as wave-resistant cages). Under the impact of strong waves and currents, these independent devices are prone to displacement, overturning, entanglement with aquaculture netting, or even structural damage, not only losing their own function but also potentially posing a safety threat to the main aquaculture facilities.

[0009] Sixth, the existing cage ropes have poor overall performance and frequently break. The ropes used to suspend aquaculture cages are called cage ropes. Existing cage ropes are generally made of polyethylene ropes, which are prone to creep, fatigue and breakage under deep-sea aquaculture conditions, resulting in frequent safety accidents. However, those skilled in the art are helpless to solve this problem.

[0010] Although the industry has recognized the above problems and proposed some solutions, such as pneumatic feeding devices, these solutions have limitations. First, their structure cannot adapt to irregular baits such as fish chunks, oysters, and shellfish, which can easily cause pipe blockage. Second, their pneumatic feeding method is not suitable for deep-sea operations with strong currents, winds, and waves. In such environments, their efficiency drops sharply, and the problem of bait drifting is even more serious.

[0011] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a feeding technology solution that can simultaneously meet the requirements of irregular feed delivery, strong environmental adaptability, low feed loss, and integrated integration with aquaculture facilities. Currently, there is no mature solution that can solve the above-mentioned technical challenges. Summary of the Invention

[0012] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a feed timed release device for deep-sea aquaculture cages to solve at least one of the above technical problems.

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage, comprising a deep-sea aquaculture cage, characterized in that it further comprises an aquaculture platform located directly above the deep-sea aquaculture cage, wherein a feeding device is installed on the aquaculture platform, the feeding device comprising a feed pipe and a winding machine for winding the feed pipe, wherein the top of the feed pipe is provided with an inlet for connecting to a feed cylinder.

[0014] The feeding tube is connected to a feeding chamber via a transition connector, and the feeding chamber has a feeding port.

[0015] The deep-sea aquaculture cage is a rectangular cage, which includes a top net, a bottom net and side nets. A circular opening is provided on the top net, and the circular opening is connected to a funnel-shaped vent that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with the circular opening serving as the vent entrance.

[0016] It also includes a cage rope, the top of which is connected to the aquaculture platform, and the bottom of which passes through the funnel-shaped vent and is tied to the intersection of the bottom netting mesh.

[0017] The aquaculture platform has perforations for the feeding pipe to pass through as it moves downwards;

[0018] The feeding pipe and the cage rope are arranged side by side via a guide structure.

[0019] More preferably, the guiding structure is a guiding pipe, and the guiding pipes are connected side by side to the cage rope. The feeding pipe passes through the guiding pipe and extends downward through the funnel-shaped vent to the deep-sea aquaculture cage.

[0020] Alternatively, the guide structure is a detachable limiting ring, which is installed on the transition connector and sleeved on the cage rope;

[0021] The detachable limiting ring drives the feeding pipe to move back and forth along the cage rope.

[0022] More preferably, the cage rope includes a core layer, a skin layer, and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside;

[0023] The core layer is woven from HMPE fibers with a nominal diameter of 12mm and a breaking strength ≥110kN;

[0024] The skin layer is woven from para-aramid fibers and has a thickness of 1 mm;

[0025] The thickness of the thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath is 0.5 mm.

[0026] Further preferably, the bottom netting is made of HMPE multi-core three-strand braided rope with a nominal diameter of 16mm. This improves the safety and stability of the connection between the cage rope and the bottom netting.

[0027] More preferably, the diameter of the circular opening is 50 cm;

[0028] The funnel-shaped slats are made of basalt fiber woven mesh with a mesh size of 1.5mm and a wire specification of 2.0mm.

[0029] This design ensures the smooth passage of the feeding tube while effectively preventing the escape of farmed organisms (such as lobsters) from the cage.

[0030] More preferably, the chamber body of the dispensing cavity is integrally molded using a polyphenylene sulfide (PPSU) material that is resistant to seawater corrosion and has a density greater than that of seawater (density ≥ 1.25 g / cm³), and the wall thickness of the dispensing cavity is 4 mm.

[0031] More preferably, the feeding tube is a flexible hose with a three-layer composite structure, the length of the feeding tube is 15-50m, and the inner diameter is 80mm;

[0032] The feeding tube comprises an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside;

[0033] The inner layer is a high-strength, high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) wear-resistant layer with a thickness of 1.5 mm and a friction coefficient of less than 0.15;

[0034] The middle layer is a composite reinforcing layer made of E-glass fiber and epoxy resin, with a thickness of 2.0 mm and a tensile strength of not less than 450 MPa;

[0035] The outer layer is a modified high-density polyethylene layer with added ultraviolet absorbers and organosilicon antifouling agents, and has a thickness of 1.5 mm.

[0036] The inner layer of bait allows for smooth passage and prevents sticking.

[0037] The middle layer ensures the morphological stability of the tube body at a flow rate of 1.5 rpm.

[0038] The outer layer contains 2% UV absorber and 3% silicone antifouling agent by weight. It effectively resists UV aging and marine organism adhesion.

[0039] More preferably, the transition connector is injection molded from polyphenylene sulfide (PPSU) engineering plastic, with one end being cylindrical with an inner diameter of 80 mm for connecting to the feed tube; and the other end being a flange with an annular groove and an outer diameter of 95 mm.

[0040] More preferably, the delivery chamber is equipped with a video monitoring system for monitoring the bait condition inside the bait storage bin, the video monitoring system including an image sensor and a built-in light source.

[0041] The image sensor is a 2-megapixel CMOS image sensor, with an integrated 850nm wavelength infrared LED array for illumination. It can provide clear imaging at an illuminance of 0.1 Lux, enabling clear monitoring of the bait in the bait storage tank in completely dark underwater environments. Video data is compressed using H.265 encoding and uploaded via the control system's communication module.

[0042] More preferably, the delivery cavity includes a transparent inner layer and an outer shell disposed inside and outside, and the video monitoring system is located between the transparent inner layer and the outer shell.

[0043] It facilitates observation of the contents of the feeding chamber without affecting material feeding.

[0044] More preferably, the delivery cavity is also equipped with a control system, an environmental sensor module, a timing module, and a wireless communication module;

[0045] The control system is connected to an environmental sensor module, a timing module, and a wireless communication module;

[0046] The environmental sensor module includes a water temperature sensor (measurement range: 0℃-+40℃, accuracy ±0.1℃), a salinity sensor (measurement range: 0-50PSU, accuracy ±0.1PSU), and a miniature acoustic Doppler current profiler (measurement range: 0-3m / s, accuracy ±0.05m / s).

[0047] The wireless communication module supports dual-mode transmission of 4G / 5G and BeiDou satellite communication.

[0048] The timing module uses a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator.

[0049] More preferably, the dispensing chamber is equipped with a control valve for controlling the opening and closing of the dispensing port.

[0050] Alternatively, a weighing platform is installed on the breeding platform, and a bracket is installed on the weighing platform. The bracket is used to support a metering bucket, and the metering bucket is connected to a feed bucket through a pipeline.

[0051] The feeding tube is detachably connected to the bottom of the metering tank via a valve.

[0052] More preferably, the deep-sea aquaculture cage also includes a bait-blocking structure, which covers the bottom net and includes four triangular bait-blocking nets. The four triangular bait-blocking nets are joined together to form a mesh structure that matches the outer contour of the bottom net. The vertices of the four triangular bait-blocking nets are fixedly connected to the center of the bottom net by stitching lines.

[0053] The mesh size of the triangular bait net is 1-5mm;

[0054] The mesh size of the bottom mesh is 2.5-5.5cm;

[0055] It also includes four wave-proof nets, which are connected to the four sides of the aquaculture platform respectively, and the bottom of the four wave-proof nets are connected to anchoring structures.

[0056] Each wave-breaking net is connected to the side of the triangular bait net away from the center of the bottom net by at least two pull ropes.

[0057] This invention utilizes a wave-proof net to protect the area where deep-sea aquaculture cages are located. Simultaneously, when waves act on the wave-proof net, they deform the triangular bait-blocking net, causing the bait to fall between the bottom net and the triangular bait-blocking net. When there are no waves, the falling bait is supported by the triangular bait-blocking net, temporarily storing it and increasing the probability of it being consumed.

[0058] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0059] 1. The device achieves fully automated, low-loss, and precise feeding. Through the cage rope guide system, feeding pipe, and built-in design, it enables closed-loop, point-to-point feeding from the platform to the bottom of the cage. Combined with a gradually narrowing flow guide structure and a purely mechanical release mechanism, it effectively avoids feed scattering and loss in the water, reducing the feed loss rate from 30%-50% in traditional methods to below 5%, increasing feed utilization efficiency by more than 20%, and significantly reducing aquaculture costs. Field tests show that the average feed loss rate is only 4.2%.

[0060] 2. Significantly reduces labor costs and operational safety risks. The device of this invention can achieve unattended automatic feeding for several weeks or even months, completely eliminating the dependence on underwater feeding operations by divers, reducing the frequency of manual feeding from once a day to once a week, greatly reducing high labor costs and high-risk diving operations, and making large-scale and intelligent management of deep-sea aquaculture a reality.

[0061] 3. The device achieves integrated and synergistic effects with aquaculture facilities. Through protective fasteners and an innovative cage rope guide system, it is firmly integrated with the deep-sea aquaculture cage, becoming a built-in functional component. This integrated, wave-resistant design not only avoids the extra work, relocation, and entanglement risks associated with separately deploying the feeding device, but also does not occupy additional aquaculture space. The cage rope enables smooth movement and precise positioning of the timed feed release system between the deep-sea aquaculture platform and the cage, enhancing the overall system's systematic nature, safety, and ease of operation.

[0062] 4. Provides intelligent upgrade paths and status monitoring capabilities. The device of this invention can be optionally equipped with an intelligent control system integrating high-precision environmental sensors, a highly stable timing module, and a dual-mode wireless communication module, providing a powerful technical interface for achieving adaptive feeding and remote control based on environmental perception. Combined with a video monitoring system with infrared illumination and automatic bait level identification, users can remotely monitor the bait level in the storage bin and the equipment status in real time, providing strong support for precise management and troubleshooting, and enabling dynamic optimization of feeding strategies based on machine learning algorithms.

[0063] 5. The innovation of new materials and processes has produced unexpected technical effects. The hoisting rope of this invention innovatively applies high-performance new materials such as HMPE fiber, carbon fiber, aramid, or LCP, combined with a core-sheath composite structure and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath. Through the functional composite of different materials, a perfect combination of ultra-high strength of the core layer, excellent wear resistance / creep resistance of the sheath layer, and superior flexibility of the outer sheath is achieved. This synergistically solves the core problems of excessive creep elongation of single matrix fiber materials under long-term constant loads and significant strength loss under alternating ultraviolet radiation and marine humid heat. Practical application results show that this invention has produced unexpected technical effects—the hoisting rope created by this invention has more than twice the wear resistance, creep resistance, and overall durability of traditional polyethylene ropes, fundamentally eliminating instability and breakage accidents in the hoisting system. Furthermore, the technical solution of this invention innovatively applies new material technologies in the engineering plastics of the bait storage bin, the composite material of the bait delivery pipe, and the antifouling coating of the protective belt, all of which produce unexpected synergistic enhancements, greatly improving the creativity and practicality of this invention.

[0064] 6. A win-win situation for both ecological and economic benefits, with broad application prospects. This invention significantly reduces feed waste, lowering the nutrient load on aquaculture water bodies from the source, mitigating the risk of eutrophication and water quality deterioration in localized areas, resulting in significant ecological benefits. Simultaneously, the significantly improved feed utilization rate and direct reduction in labor costs effectively enhance the economic benefits of deep-sea aquaculture, increasing the uniformity of aquaculture organism growth by approximately 25%, and shortening the investment payback period. Attached Figure Description

[0065] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to a specific embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the lower end of the feeding tube in a specific embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of specific embodiment 6 of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a specific embodiment 6 of the present invention.

[0070] In the diagram: 1 is the transition connector, 3 is the delivery chamber, 4 is the cage rope, 5 is the feed pipe, 6 is the aquaculture platform, 7 is the detachable limiting ring, 8 is the circular opening, 9 is the control system, 11 is the video monitoring system, 12 is the deep-sea aquaculture cage, 13 is the deep-sea aquaculture cage mooring system, 14 is the wave-breaking net, 15 is the pulling rope, 16 is the triangular bait-blocking net, 17 is the anchoring structure, and 31 is the delivery port. Detailed Implementation

[0071] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072] See Figures 1 to 3 Specific Embodiment 1: A timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage, comprising a deep-sea aquaculture cage 12, and an aquaculture platform 6 located directly above the deep-sea aquaculture cage 12. A feeding device is installed on the aquaculture platform 6, comprising a feed pipe 5 and a winding machine for winding the feed pipe 5. The top of the feed pipe 5 is provided with an inlet for connecting to a feed cylinder. The feed pipe 5 is connected to a dispensing cavity 3 via a transition connector 1, and the dispensing cavity 3 has a dispensing port 31. The marine aquaculture hanging cage 12 is a rectangular cage composed of a top net, side nets, and a bottom net. A circular opening 8 is provided in the top net, and the circular opening 8 is connected to a funnel-shaped vent that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with the circular opening 8 serving as the vent entrance. It also includes a hanging cage rope 4, the top of which is connected to the aquaculture platform 6, and the bottom of the hanging cage rope 4 passes through the funnel-shaped vent and is tied to the intersection of the netting of the bottom net. The aquaculture platform 6 has perforations for the feeding pipe 5 to pass through. The feeding pipe 5 and the hanging cage rope 4 are arranged side by side through a guide structure.

[0073] The bottom of the aquaculture platform 6 is equipped with a floating pipe.

[0074] The four corners of the deep-sea aquaculture cage 12 are connected to mooring structures 13. The mooring structures include tow ropes and counterweights.

[0075] The cage rope 4 includes a core layer, a skin layer, and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath arranged sequentially from the inside out; the core layer is woven from HMPE fibers with a nominal diameter of 12mm and a breaking strength ≥110kN; the skin layer is woven from para-aramid fibers with a thickness of 1mm; and the thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath has a thickness of 0.5mm.

[0076] The guiding structure is a guiding tube, with parallel guiding tubes connected to the cage rope 4. The feeding tube 5 passes through the guiding tube, extends downwards through the funnel-shaped vent, and enters the deep-sea aquaculture cage 12. The thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath is figure-eight shaped and has two parallel inner holes. One inner hole is the inner hole of the guiding tube, and the other inner hole contains the skin layer and the core layer. Alternatively, the guiding structure is a detachable limiting ring 7, which is installed on the transition connector 1 and sleeved on the cage rope 4. The detachable limiting ring 7 drives the feeding tube 5 to move back and forth along the cage rope 4. At least three detachable limiting rings are connected to the feeding tube 5. The detachable limiting rings are also known as locks.

[0077] The bottom netting uses HMPE multi-core three-strand braided rope with a nominal diameter of 16mm to improve the safety and stability of the connection between the cage rope 4 and the bottom netting of the cage 12.

[0078] The diameter of the circular opening 8 is 50cm; the funnel-shaped vent is made of basalt fiber woven mesh with a mesh size of 1.5mm and a wire specification of 2.0mm. This ensures the smooth passage of the feeding pipe 5 and effectively prevents the escape of farmed organisms (such as wavy lobsters) in the hanging cage 12.

[0079] The body of the inlet chamber 3 is integrally molded using a polyphenylene sulfide (PPSU) material that is resistant to seawater corrosion and has a density greater than that of seawater (density ≥ 1.25 g / cm³). The wall thickness of the inlet chamber 3 is 4 mm.

[0080] The bait delivery tube is a flexible, three-layer composite structure, ranging in length from 15-50m with an inner diameter of 80mm. It comprises an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer, arranged sequentially from the inside out. The inner layer is a 1.5mm thick, high-strength, high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) wear-resistant layer with a friction coefficient below 0.15. The middle layer is a 2.0mm thick composite reinforcing layer made of E-glass fiber and epoxy resin, with a tensile strength of not less than 450MPa. The outer layer is a 1.5mm thick modified high-density polyethylene layer with added UV absorbers and silicone antifouling agents. The inner layer ensures smooth bait passage and prevents sticking. The middle layer ensures the tube's morphological stability at a flow rate of 1.5 knots. The outer layer contains 2% UV absorbers and 3% silicone antifouling agents by mass percentage, effectively resisting UV aging and marine organism attachment.

[0081] The transition connector 1 is injection molded from polyphenylene sulfide (PPSU) engineering plastic. One end is cylindrical with an inner diameter of 80 mm, used to connect to the feed tube 5; the other end is a flange with an annular groove and an outer diameter of 95 mm.

[0082] In Specific Embodiment 2, based on Specific Embodiment 1, the delivery chamber 3 is equipped with a video monitoring system 11 for monitoring the bait condition inside the bait storage bin. The video monitoring system 11 includes an image sensor and a built-in light source. The image sensor is a 2-megapixel CMOS image sensor, and the built-in light source is an 850nm wavelength infrared LED array supplementary light source, capable of clear imaging at an illumination of 0.1 Lux, allowing for clear monitoring of the bait condition inside the bait storage bin in a completely dark underwater environment. Video data is compressed using H.265 encoding and uploaded through the control system's communication module. The delivery chamber 3 includes a transparent inner layer and an outer shell, with the video monitoring system located between the transparent inner layer and the outer shell. This facilitates observation of the conditions inside the delivery chamber 3 without affecting the feeding process.

[0083] In specific embodiment 3, based on specific embodiment 1, the delivery chamber 3 is further equipped with a control system 9, an environmental sensor module, a timing module, and a wireless communication module; the control system 9 connects the environmental sensor module, the timing module, and the wireless communication module; the environmental sensor module includes a water temperature sensor (measurement range: 0℃-+40℃, accuracy ±0.1℃), a salinity sensor (measurement range: 0-50PSU, accuracy ±0.1PSU), and a miniature acoustic Doppler current profiler (measurement range: 0-3m / s, accuracy ±0.05m / s); the wireless communication module supports dual-mode transmission of 4G / 5G and BeiDou satellite communication; the timing module uses a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator.

[0084] In specific embodiment 4, based on specific embodiment 1, a control valve for controlling the opening and closing of the dispensing port is installed on the dispensing cavity.

[0085] In specific embodiment 5, based on specific embodiment 1, a weighing platform is installed on the breeding platform, and a bracket is installed on the weighing platform. The bracket is used to support the metering bucket, which is connected to the feed bucket through a pipeline. The bottom of the metering bucket is detachably connected to the feed delivery pipe through a valve.

[0086] See Figure 4 as well as Figure 5In specific embodiment 6, based on specific embodiment 1, the deep-sea aquaculture cage further includes a bait-blocking structure. This bait-blocking structure covers the bottom net and includes four triangular bait-blocking nets 16. The four triangular bait-blocking nets 16 are joined together to form a mesh structure that matches the outer contour of the bottom net. The vertices of the four triangular bait-blocking nets 16 are fixedly connected to the center of the bottom net via stitching. The mesh size of the triangular bait-blocking nets is 1-5mm; the mesh size of the bottom net is 2.5-5.5cm. It also includes four wave-breaking nets 14, which are connected to the four sides of the aquaculture platform. Anchoring structures 17 are connected to the bottom of each wave-breaking net 14. Each wave-breaking net is connected to the side of the triangular bait-blocking net 16 away from the center of the bottom net via at least two pull ropes 15. This invention achieves wave protection for the area where the deep-sea aquaculture cage is located through wave-breaking nets. Meanwhile, when waves act on the wave-breaking net, they deform the triangular bait net, causing the bait to fall between the bottom net and the triangular bait net. When there are no waves, the bait is supported by the triangular bait net after falling, temporarily storing it and increasing the probability of it being eaten. Floating straps are attached to the wave-breaking net to attract fish and create a disturbance. Seaweed is attached to the wave-breaking net to enhance the disturbance effect. A counterweight chain is attached to the bottom of the wave-breaking net. The width of the windproof net is greater than the length of the side where the triangular bait net connects to the pull rope.

[0087] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A timed feed release device for deep-sea aquaculture cages, comprising deep-sea aquaculture cages, characterized in that, It also includes an aquaculture platform located directly above the deep-sea aquaculture cage, on which a feeding device is installed. The feeding device includes a feeding pipe and a winding machine for winding the feeding pipe. The top of the feeding pipe is provided with an inlet for connecting to the feed cylinder. The feeding tube is connected to a dispensing chamber via a transition connector, and the dispensing chamber has a dispensing port. The deep-sea aquaculture cage is a rectangular cage composed of a top net, side nets and a bottom net. A circular opening is provided on the top net, and the circular opening is connected to a funnel-shaped vent that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with the circular opening serving as the vent entrance. It also includes a cage rope, the top of which is connected to the aquaculture platform, and the bottom of which passes through the funnel-shaped vent and is tied to the intersection of the bottom netting mesh. The aquaculture platform has perforations for the feeding pipe to pass through as it moves downwards; The feeding pipe and the cage rope are arranged side by side via a guide structure.

2. The feed timer release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guiding structure is a guiding tube, and the guiding tubes are connected side by side to the cage rope. The feeding tube passes through the guiding tube and extends downward through the funnel-shaped vent to the deep-sea aquaculture cage.

3. The feed timer release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guiding structure is a detachable limiting ring, which is installed on the transition connector and sleeved on the cage rope. The detachable limiting ring drives the feeding pipe to move back and forth along the cage rope.

4. The feed timer release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cage rope comprises, from the inside out, a core layer, a skin layer, and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath; The core layer is woven from HMPE fibers with a nominal diameter of 12mm and a breaking strength ≥110kN; The skin layer is woven from para-aramid fibers and has a thickness of 1 mm; The thickness of the thermoplastic polyurethane outer sheath is 0.5 mm.

5. A timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom netting uses HMPE multi-core three-strand braided rope with a nominal diameter of 16mm.

6. The feed timer release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the circular opening is 50cm; The funnel-shaped slats are made of basalt fiber woven mesh with a mesh size of 1.5mm and a wire specification of 2.0mm.

7. A timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The chamber of the dispensing cavity is integrally molded using a polyphenylene sulfide material that is resistant to seawater corrosion and has a density greater than that of seawater. The wall thickness of the dispensing cavity is 4mm.

8. A timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding tube is a flexible hose with a three-layer composite structure, and the length of the feeding tube is 15-50m, with an inner diameter of 80mm. The feeding tube comprises an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside; The inner layer is a high-strength, high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) wear-resistant layer with a thickness of 1.5 mm and a friction coefficient of less than 0.15; The middle layer is a composite reinforcing layer made of E-glass fiber and epoxy resin, with a thickness of 2.0 mm and a tensile strength of not less than 450 MPa; The outer layer is a modified high-density polyethylene layer with added ultraviolet absorbers and organosilicon antifouling agents, and has a thickness of 1.5 mm.

9. A timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transition connector is injection molded from polyphenylene sulfide engineering plastic. One end is cylindrical with an inner diameter of 80 mm, used to connect the feed tube; the other end is a flange with an annular groove and an outer diameter of 95 mm.

10. A timed feed release device for a deep-sea aquaculture cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The delivery chamber is equipped with a video monitoring system for monitoring the bait condition in the bait storage bin. The video monitoring system includes an image sensor and a built-in light source. The delivery cavity includes a transparent inner layer and an outer shell, with the video surveillance system located between the transparent inner layer and the outer shell.

Images