Device for transferring liquids

Abstract

The present invention discloses a distribution unit for distributing a liquid flow to one of a plurality of selectable outlets, the distribution unit having a rotatable and positionable flexible element disposed thereon to direct the liquid flow to the selected outlet.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transferring a liquid from a first tank to a second tank, i.e., a device for distributing a liquid flow in a pipe system, in particular a liquid flow constituted by water containing marine life, preferably fish. The transport of large fish through pipes poses serious concerns for the conservation of the fish. The device of the present invention is particularly designed for the transport of large fish. [Background technology]

[0002] In aquaculture, transferring fish from one tank to another poses significant challenges. Fish, along with the liquid they inhabit, are transported from one tank to another through pipelines. Rapid changes in pipe direction can expose fish to harmful stress, and efforts are made to avoid such situations. The pipes are often large, requiring significant space for changes in direction, necessitating very large valves. Large valves present challenges because of the critical tolerances required to prevent leaks. Machining these large units is difficult, and the use of plastic materials can make it difficult to meet tight tolerance requirements. The present invention addresses some of these challenges.

[0003] Given the current environmental concerns in open-ocean aquaculture of marine organisms, the majority of production must take place in closed tanks on land. Demands for increased production and yields mean that tanks / containers are becoming larger, and to make the most of them, fish must be moved from one container to another as they grow. Fish are usually moved from tank to tank when they reach their largest size, e.g., when they are ready for consumption, or when they are dispersed into multiple tanks for further growth.

[0004] When transporting fish for consumption, the fish usually weigh 5 to 8 kg and are transported through pipelines with a diameter of 0.5 to 0.6 m. Manufacturing a distributing valve of this size is extremely difficult, especially when transporting live fish through a pipeline. Sharp corners and bends can easily injure the fish. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve-type device that can be used to transfer marine organisms such as fish, with the purpose of distributing the fish to various pipelines, i.e., there is one inlet to the valve, and the pipelines can be directed to a selected one of several outlets.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention that the valve will function under both negative and positive pressures in the pipeline and maintain such pressures without leakage. It is also an object of the present invention that the valve will have multiple alternatively selectable inlets, i.e., that liquids and marine life will be able to be transferred from one of multiple tanks to one tank (if the valve has only one outlet) or to a selected one of multiple tanks (if the valve has multiple selectable outlets).

[0007] Further, for the purposes of the present invention, a sorting unit may also be included where the valve separates fish based on size, and fish of different sizes may be delivered through a plurality of selectable outlets.

[0008] Negative pressure in a transport pipe poses a challenge for multi-way valves. If a leak occurs, air will enter the water flow, leading to a reduction in the water flow. For example, when using the siphon principle, a valve that leaks air will reduce the siphon effect when the air leaks into the water flow and flows into the receiver along with the water. Therefore, the present invention provides a concept that prevents air from leaking into a transport pipe when the pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] [Summary of the Invention] The solution of the present invention relates to a valve comprising a flexible piping element connecting one or more inlets and one or more outlets, said flexible piping element being positionable between selected inlets and selected outlets, and if said valve also comprises a sorting unit, said piping element preferably extends to two or more outlets (downstream of the sorting unit).

[0010] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a liquid from a first tank to a second tank, the apparatus comprising a distribution unit arranged in a pipeline system between the tanks, the distribution unit having one or more inlets and one or more outlets, the distribution unit having an external valve housing in which at least one internal rotating part is arranged, and a flexible piping element is connected to one of the inlets and one of the outlets, at least one of the inlets or outlets is connected to the rotating part, and the rotating part can be arranged at the desired inlet and / or outlet.

[0011] In one embodiment, the distribution unit includes one inlet and two or more outlets, and the flexible piping element is rigidly connected to a valve housing and a rotating part.

[0012] The rotatable portion can be rotated to direct the flow of liquid from the flexible tubing element to a selected outlet.

[0013] The valve housing may be filled with a liquid, preferably a marine life-free liquid, which is directed through the device.

[0014] A shut-off valve may be located at the outlet and / or the inlet of the valve housing.

[0015] Seals are disposed at the interfaces between the internal rotating portion, the flexible piping element, and the outlet or inlet of the valve housing.

[0016] The pressure of the liquid in the valve housing can be adjusted to be higher or lower than the pressure in the flexible tubing element. In one embodiment, the pressure in the valve housing is adjusted to be the same as the pressure in the flexible tubing element so that the seal does not press against the contact surface, allowing the internal rotating part to move easily.

[0017] The liquid in the tank can include water and live marine life, such as fish. The flexible piping element can be configured to bend laterally and provide a rounded lateral deformation that does not harm live marine life. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method according to any one of the above aspects for transferring liquid from a first tank to a second tank, comprising: a distribution unit arranged as part of a pipeline system to direct the liquid from one of one or more inlets to one of a plurality of outlets; the distribution unit comprising an external valve housing with one or more inlets and one or more outlets; and an internal rotating section with a flexible piping element that rotates to a desired inlet and / or outlet.

[0018] The valve housing can be filled with a marine life-free liquid, similar to the liquid in the flexible piping element.

[0019] The pressure in the valve housing can be adjusted to be higher or lower than the pressure in the flexible tubing element.

[0020] In one embodiment, the pressure within the valve housing is adjusted to the same level as the pressure within the flexible tubing element to allow easy movement of the internal rotating part.

[0021] The liquid in the tank may be a combination of a liquid such as water and live marine life such as fish. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a flexible piping element positioned from one inlet to one of three selectable outlet locations, the left illustration showing the piping element positioned at outlet 30-3 and the right illustration showing the piping element positioned at outlet 30-a. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a lever that switches positions by pressing a rotating part and a pipeline for pressurizing the valve housing. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 shows a valve with a shut-off valve at the outlet. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the lever enables the rotation of the rotating part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The basic principle of the present invention involves the orientation of flexible piping elements within a valve 12 so that they can be positioned at various inlets or outlets. A specific problem addressed by the present invention involves the transportation of fish from aquaculture vessels to land-based facilities. In this scenario, fish are pumped from the vessel to different tanks through large pipes, 0.5-0.6 m in diameter. A large volume of water gently guides the fish through the pipes.

[0024] The present invention relates to a valve 12 that directs water and fish through a pipe 14, allowing selective delivery to different tanks. The valve 12 of FIG. 1 has one inlet 20 and three outlets 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3. A flexible piping element 14 can be positioned to connect the inlet to any of the outlets 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3, directing the fish and the liquid containing them to the outlets 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3. The valve is designed to provide smooth, gentle rocking of the flexible piping element 14 within the valve housing 12 to prevent injury to the fish. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a rotating portion 16 located within the valve. The rotating part 16 can be pushed inside the valve housing, and the outlet of the flexible pipe element 14 is attached to the rotating part 16, and the flexible pipe element 14 is configured to be positioned at any of the outlets 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 by moving the rotating part 16 (relative to the valve housing). The central view of Figure 1 also shows part of a lever 18 extending from the central axis of the rotating part to the outside of the valve housing, which allows the central part to be rotated (moved) together with the rotating part 16 by manual, pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the valve 12 itself consists of a valve housing 12a with one inlet 20 and multiple outlets 30. Three outlets 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3 are shown in FIG. 1. Inside the valve housing, FIG. 1 also shows a rotating section 16 to which a flexible piping element 14 is attached. This rotating section 16 is fitted with a gasket (not shown) to seal between the outlets 30 within the valve housing 12a. FIG. 3 also shows, schematically, that each outlet 30 from the valve housing 12 can be fitted with an individual shut-off valve 40. The shut-off valves 40 are used to prevent air from escaping from the outlet pipe 30, for example, when no water is flowing through the outlet pipe 30, which may be sucked into the valve under vacuum conditions.

[0026] The valve housing 12 is typically filled with the same liquid as the liquid transported through the flexible piping element 14. The valve housing 12 can be pressurized. Figures 2 and 3 show that the valve housing 12 can be pressurized by pumping liquid through the inlet 42. This reduces the pressure on the outlet side of the rotating part 16, forcing the rotating part 16 against the valve housing 12. The pressure can be adjusted by positioning the outlet 44 at a certain height above the valve housing 12. The height (H) of the liquid column 50 to the outlet 44 reflects the pressure inside the valve housing 16. This tightens the gasket and creates a tight connection in the piping system via the valve 12. Furthermore, applying a higher pressure to the inlet 42 fills the valve housing 12 with pressurized liquid, so that if a leak occurs, the liquid will enter the main liquid flow. The amount of liquid leaking from the valve housing 12 into the main liquid flow is negligible compared to the amount flowing through the main pipe 14. When the pressure in the valve housing 12 is set equal to the pressure in the flexible piping element 14, the gasket is released and the center section with the rotating element 16 can be easily moved to another position. Also shown in Figure 2 is a supply line 46 for pressurizing the gasket.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1 , the present invention illustrates the use of a flexible piping element 16 to connect one inlet 20 to one selected outlet 30. Flexibility means that the piping element can bend somewhat, and preferably the length of the piping element 16 can be adjusted slightly to facilitate easy placement at one of the selected inlets 20 and outlets 30. In some embodiments of the present invention, the valve has multiple alternative inlets 20 and one outlet 30. In other embodiments, the valve has both two or more inlets 20 and two or more outlets 30. The number of available inlets 20 and outlets 30 is determined by the diameter of the pipelines entering and exiting the valve and the space available to rotate the rotating portion 16 to the associated opening (inlet / outlet). The rotating portion 16 has a "cake slice" shape, extending from a central axis toward the inner circumference of the valve 12. The flexible tubing element 14 is preferably rigidly connected to a rotating portion 16 that allows displacement relative to the outer wall of the valve housing 12 and allows positioning of the flexible tubing element 14 at the desired inlet / outlet. If there are both multiple inlets and multiple outlets, it is preferable to have two rotating portions 16 located within the valve housing.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus (10) for transferring a liquid from a first tank to a second tank, the apparatus comprising a distribution unit (12) arranged in a pipe system between the tanks, the distribution unit (12) having one or more inlets (20) and one or more outlets (30), the distribution unit (12) having an external valve housing (12a) in which at least one internal rotating part (16) is arranged, and a flexible stirring element (14) is connected to one of the inlets (20) and one of the outlets (30), and at least one of the inlets (20) or the outlets (30) is connected to the rotating part (16), and the rotating part (16) can be arranged at the desired inlet (20) and / or outlet (30).

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distribution unit (12) has one inlet (20) and two or more outlets (30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-n), and the flexible stirring element (20) is rigidly connected to the valve housing (12) and the rotating part (16).

3. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating part (16) can be rotated to direct the flow of liquid from the flexible stirring element (14) outward through selected outlets (30-1, 30-2, 30-3).

4. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve housing (12) is filled with the liquid passing through the device (10), preferably the same liquid free of marine life.

5. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a shut-off valve (40) can be arranged at the outlet (30) and / or the inlet (20) of the valve housing (12).

6. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a gasket is arranged at the contact surface between the inner rotating part (16) with the flexible tube (14) and the outlet (30) or the inlet (20) from the valve housing (12).

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

8. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the liquid pressure in the valve housing (12) is adjusted to be equal to the liquid pressure in the flexible stirring element (14) so ​​that the gasket is not compressed at the contact surface, and the device is designed so that the internal rotating part (16) can move easily.

9. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid in the tank comprises water and live marine life, such as fish.

10. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible tube (14) is configured such that when bent laterally, it imparts a rounded lateral deformation that does not harm live marine life.

11. 11. A method for transferring a liquid from a first tank to a second tank according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a distribution unit (12) arranged as part of a pipe system, directing the liquid from one of one or more inlets (20) to one of a plurality of outlets (30), the distribution unit (12) comprising an external valve housing (12a) with one or more inlets (20) and one or more outlets (30), and an internal rotating part (16) with a flexible stirring element (14) rotating to the desired inlet (20) and / or outlet (30).

12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the valve housing (12a) is filled with a marine life-free liquid, similar to the liquid in the flexible tube (16).

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

14. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the liquid pressure in the valve housing (12a) is adjusted to the same level as the liquid pressure in the flexible tube (14) so ​​that the inner rotating part (16) can move easily.

15. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the liquid in the tank comprises a combination of a liquid, such as water, and live marine life, such as fish.

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