An automatic catching device for small crayfish
By designing an automated crayfish harvesting device, which utilizes enclosure nets and automated components to achieve rapid harvesting of crayfish, the problem of high labor intensity and low efficiency in traditional harvesting methods is solved, thereby improving harvesting efficiency and reducing economic losses.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FARM PROD PROCESSING & NUCLEAR AGRI TECH INST HUBEI ACAD OF AGRI SCI
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Traditional crayfish fishing methods are labor-intensive, inefficient, and economically wasteful, and cannot meet the needs of modern aquaculture.
Design an automated crayfish harvesting device, including components such as a net enclosure, suspension anchor piles, suspension track, winch, hoist, and electric lifting device, to achieve rapid harvesting of crayfish through automated operation.
It reduced labor costs, improved fishing efficiency, reduced the mortality rate of crayfish due to oxygen deficiency and equipment wear and tear, and met the needs of modern aquaculture.
Smart Images
Figure CN224440137U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of aquaculture, specifically relating to an automated crayfish harvesting device. Background Technology
[0002] Crayfish, scientifically known as *Procambarus clarkii*, are highly favored by consumers for their rich nutrition and delicious meat, and are widely farmed throughout my country. In 2023, my country's crayfish farming output reached 3.161 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 9.35%, accounting for 9.26% of the total freshwater aquaculture output in the country, ranking fourth among freshwater aquaculture species. The continued rapid growth in crayfish production has brought enormous challenges to crayfish harvesting. Traditional crayfish harvesting methods typically involve placing traps at the bottom of rice paddies and manually retrieving them within a specific timeframe to collect the crayfish. However, traditional crayfish harvesting methods still have a series of problems and shortcomings in practical application.
[0003] 1. Traditional fishing methods are labor-intensive. With the promotion of the new rice-shrimp intercropping farming model, 3-4 traps are needed per acre of paddy field. For a paddy field of 40 acres, 120-160 traps are needed. Each trap is about 10 meters long. Farmers need to manually go into the water or row a boat to complete the harvesting of all the traps around 3 a.m., which is a huge amount of work.
[0004] 2. Low harvesting efficiency. At a rate of one trap per 6 minutes, only 6 traps can be harvested per hour. Furthermore, due to the large area of the rice paddies and the uneven distribution of farmed crayfish, the number of crayfish in each trap cannot be effectively guaranteed. Consequently, the daily crayfish harvest is random, and the low harvesting efficiency cannot meet the needs of crayfish buyers.
[0005] 3. Significant economic losses. Due to the low collection efficiency of shrimp traps, the number of traps harvested each day is fixed, assuming a total of 120 traps. 20 traps are harvested daily, with a cycle of 6 days. The traps need to remain underwater for 5 days before being retrieved. Prolonged immersion in water accelerates their deterioration. Furthermore, the crayfish caught in the traps remain at the bottom for extended periods, leading to oxygen depletion and death, resulting in substantial economic losses. Utility Model Content
[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing an automated crayfish harvesting device.
[0007] This invention can replace the current method of manually setting and unloading shrimp traps, greatly reducing labor costs and increasing work efficiency. Through remote manual control or pre-programmed procedures, automated crayfish harvesting can be achieved. This method is convenient to operate and highly efficient.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided by this utility model is as follows: An automated crayfish harvesting device, characterized by comprising the following steps:
[0009] 1) Set up enclosure nets in the crayfish farming area. The height of the enclosure nets should be 10 cm above the water surface. The area of the enclosure nets should be set according to the size of the farming area. There should be a one-way channel every half meter on the enclosure nets to allow the crayfish to gather inside the enclosure nets. There should also be a partition inside the enclosure nets with a one-way channel every half meter on the partitions, so that the crayfish can be gathered into the designated capture area.
[0010] 2) Construct an automated fishing device. Set up suspension cable anchors on both sides of the designated crayfish catching area, and build a suspension cable track above the catching area. Install components such as winches, traction ropes, and hoists to construct an automated crayfish catching device.
[0011] 3) Make special shrimp traps. Based on the traditional shrimp traps, change the original long and narrow shrimp traps to cube shrimp traps with a side length of 1m. The overall frame of the shrimp trap is made of rust-proof metal and surrounded by netting. The top of the shrimp trap is equipped with a quick hoisting device for easy hoisting. One-way passages are set on the four sides of the shrimp trap netting so that the crayfish can only enter the shrimp trap and cannot escape from it.
[0012] 4) Crayfish fishing: The crayfish traps are transported to the designated fishing area by an automated crayfish fishing device. After a certain period of time, when the crayfish in the traps reach a certain density, the traps are automatically hoisted and transported to the shore, thus achieving rapid crayfish fishing.
[0013] In the above scheme, the height of the electric lifting device can be controlled by the hoist. The electric lifting device is equipped with an electromagnet. By starting and stopping the electromagnet, the opening and closing state of the electric lifting device can be controlled, thereby capturing the shrimp trap and realizing the automated transportation of the shrimp trap.
[0014] The rapid hoisting device is installed above the shrimp trap. The upper part of the rapid hoisting device is funnel-shaped and the lower part is cylindrical. It is hollow inside and has a Y-shaped cross-section, which makes it easy for the electric hoist to quickly reach the clamping position. After the electric hoist reaches the clamping position, the shrimp trap can be hoisted by changing the state of the electromagnet. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is the general layout diagram of the automated crayfish harvesting device.
[0016] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of an electric lifting device.
[0017] Figure 3 This is a diagram of a shrimp trap structure.
[0018] Attached reference numerals: 1. Enclosure net, 2. Pulley, 3. Suspension cable fixing pile, 4. Cable track, 5. Winch, 6. Electric lifting device, 7. Crane hoist, 8. Shrimp trap, 601. Electromagnet, 602. Top rod, 603. Clamping bar, 604. Lifting device housing, 801. Rapid lifting device, 802. One-way passage. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, an automated crayfish harvesting device operates as follows:
[0021] 1) Set up enclosure nets in the crayfish farming area. The height of the enclosure nets should be 10 cm above the water surface. The area of the enclosure nets should be set according to the size of the farming area. There should be a one-way channel every half meter on the enclosure nets to allow the crayfish to gather inside the enclosure nets. There should also be a partition inside the enclosure nets with a one-way channel every half meter on the partitions, so that the crayfish can be gathered into the designated capture area.
[0022] 2) Construct an automated fishing device. Set up suspension cable anchors on both sides of the designated crayfish catching area, and build a suspension cable track above the catching area. Install components such as winches, traction ropes, and hoists to construct an automated crayfish catching device.
[0023] 3) Make special shrimp traps. Based on the traditional shrimp traps, change the original long and narrow shrimp traps to cube shrimp traps with a side length of 1m. The overall frame of the shrimp trap is made of rust-proof metal and surrounded by netting. The top of the shrimp trap is equipped with a quick hoisting device for easy hoisting. One-way passages are set on the four sides of the shrimp trap netting so that the crayfish can only enter the shrimp trap and cannot escape from it.
[0024] 4) Crayfish fishing: The crayfish traps are transported to the designated fishing area by an automated crayfish fishing device. After a certain period of time, when the crayfish in the traps reach a certain density, the traps are automatically hoisted and transported to the shore, thus achieving rapid crayfish fishing.
[0025] The overall diagram of the automated crayfish harvesting device in the above scheme is as follows: Figure 1As shown, a net enclosure 1 is set in the aquaculture pond, with multiple one-way channels 802 for attracting crayfish. Suspension anchor piles 3 are installed on both sides of the pond to form a cableway track 4. A hoist 7 is mounted on the cableway track 4 via pulleys 2. A winch 5 is located at one of the suspension anchor piles 3 on the bank side to control the horizontal movement of the hoist 7. An electric lifting device 6 is installed on the hoist 7's sling and controls its vertical movement via the hoist 7. Multiple sets of crayfish traps 8 are installed along the cableway track 4 inside the net enclosure 1. Each trap 8 has a rapid lifting device 801 at its top for quick grabbing by the electric lifting device 6. Multiple one-way channels 802 are set around the trap 8 for catching crayfish. After the crayfish enter the crayfish trap 8, they are lifted vertically by the electric hoist 7 under the grip of the electric lifting device 6. The winch 5 transports the hoist 7 and the crayfish trap 8 to the shore together, realizing the automated collection of crayfish. Then, the crayfish trap 8 is placed in the enclosure net 1 in the same way. Through the cycle, the automated crayfish harvesting operation is realized.
[0026] In the above scheme, the electric lifting device 6 is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the electric lifting device 6 consists of an electromagnet 601, a top rod 602, a locking bar 603, and a lifting device housing 604. The electromagnet 601 is located on the upper part of the top rod 602. When the electromagnet 601 is not working, the lifting device housing 604 and the top rod 602 move relative to each other under the action of gravity. The locking bar 603 moves outward under the action of the top rod 602 and is pressed against the inner wall of the quick lifting device 801. Due to the increased weight of the shrimp trap 8, the component force on the locking bar 603 increases, forming a self-locking state, thus lifting the shrimp trap 8. When the electromagnet 601 is working, the electromagnet 601 and the lifting device housing 604 are connected under the action of magnetic force. The lifting device housing 604 and the top rod 602 do not move relative to each other, and the locking bar 603 is in a state of no pressure, which allows it to be easily released from the quick lifting device 801, realizing the placement of the shrimp trap 8.
[0027] Working Principle: This invention involves setting up a net enclosure in a crayfish farming pond, with a one-way channel within the net. When crayfish are active in the pond, they gradually gather in a designated area, forming a high-density crayfish zone. A specially designed crayfish trap is placed in this zone. A winch, controlling a motorized hoist on a suspension track, transports the trap directly above it. The hoist lowers an electric lifting device onto the trap, which then grabs it. The hoist lifts the trap again, and the winch transports it to the shore, harvesting the crayfish. The winch is then used again to transport the trap to the high-density crayfish zone for placement, repeating this process to achieve automated crayfish harvesting.
Claims
1. An automated crayfish harvesting device, comprising a crayfish trap, suspension anchor piles, suspension track, winch, traction rope, pulley, crane hoist, electric lifting device, and rapid lifting device: characterized in that: The shrimp trap is a square stainless steel structure made of fishing net sewn together to form a trap that allows entry but not exit. A rapid hoisting device is installed on top of the shrimp trap. Each of the four sides of the shrimp trap has a shrimp trap opening that allows entry but not exit. A cableway is installed above the rapid hoisting device, and a pulley is installed on the cableway to connect to an electric hoist. The electric hoist is controlled by a winch to move on the cableway. The hoist is connected to the lower end of the electric hoist via a traction rope. The hoisting of the shrimp trap can be remotely controlled manually.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The shrimp trap is equipped with a suspension track above it, which is controlled by a winch to control the position of the electric hoist on the suspension track.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The shrimp trap has one-way channels on all four sides. These one-way channels are located in the middle of the four sides of the shrimp trap and are funnel-shaped with a wider outer side and a narrower inner side. Crayfish can only be caught through the one-way channels of the shrimp trap, thus achieving the shrimp-catching effect.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein: The shrimp trap is equipped with a rapid lifting device; the electric lifting device is coupled to the rapid lifting device; the hoist is connected to the electric lifting device via a traction rope; the winch drives the electric lifting device and the hoist to move along the suspension track via the traction rope.
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The upper part of the rapid hoisting device is funnel-shaped to guide the electric lifting tool to dock, and the bottom is a hollow cylinder to facilitate clamping of the electric lifting tool.
6. The automated crayfish harvesting device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electric lifting device consists of an electromagnet and a mechanical clamp. When the electromagnet is activated, the clamp is in a relaxed state, and when the electromagnet is deactivated, the clamp is in a clamped state.