Aquaculture water tank

Abstract

To provide an aquaculture tank capable of effectively discharging foreign matters from a drain port so as to reduce the foreign matters remaining around the drain port.SOLUTION: A drain port H is formed in a central part of a bottom part 2 of a water tank 1 used for culturing fishes and shellfishes. An upper surface 2A of the bottom part 2 includes an inclined surface E3 that descends as approaching the drain port H. The water tank includes: a rotary member 5 which is rotatably supported around a vertical center shaft A of the drain port H by a shaft receiving member B mounted on the drain port H and is rotated around the vertical center shaft A by a water flow F2 flowing down through the drain port H; and a radial extension member 6 which is mounted on the rotary member 5 and extends in a radial direction D orthogonal to the vertical center shaft A. The foreign matter on the upper surface 2A around the drain port H is floated in water by a radial extension member 6 which rotates together with the rotary member 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aquarium used for aquaculture of seafood.

Background Art

[0002] As an aquarium used for aquaculture of seafood, there is one that forms a polygon or a circle in plan view, is provided with a drain port (for example, see the drain port 2 in Patent Document 1) at the central portion of the bottom, and has an inclined surface on the upper surface of the bottom that descends as it approaches the drain port (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Such an aquaculture aquarium makes it easier to collect foreign matters in water, such as excrement, shed shells, and uneaten bait of the aquacultured seafood, toward the drain port by providing the inclined surface and generating a spiral water flow for promoting the growth of the seafood.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, just by making the upper surface of the bottom of the aquaculture aquarium an inclined surface that descends as it approaches the drain port and generating a spiral water flow, the foreign matters may remain on the inclined surface around the drain port.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an aquaculture aquarium capable of effectively discharging the foreign matters from the drain port so that the foreign matters remaining around the drain port are reduced.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The aquaculture water tank according to the present invention is a water tank used for aquaculture of fish and shellfish, and a drain outlet is formed at the central portion of the bottom of the water tank. The upper surface of the bottom includes an inclined surface that descends as it approaches the drain outlet. A bearing member attached to the drain outlet rotatably supports the drain outlet around its vertical central axis, and includes a rotating member that rotates around the vertical central axis by the water flow flowing down the drain outlet, and a radial extension member that is attached to the rotating member and extends in the radial direction orthogonal to the vertical central axis. The bearing member is a sliding bearing, and includes a first annular portion that supports the rotating member, a second annular portion that is spaced outward in the radial direction from the first annular portion, and a plurality of connecting portions that connect the first annular portion and the second annular portion and are spaced in the circumferential direction of the vertical central axis. The rotating member includes a rotating shaft that is loosely fitted in a through hole of the first annular portion, and a blade member that is attached to a lower end portion of the rotating shaft. The foreign matter on the upper surface around the drain outlet is floated in the water by the radial extension member that rotates together with the rotating member.

[0007] According to such a configuration, the radial extension member rotates together with the rotating member that rotates around the vertical central axis by the water flow flowing down the drain outlet, thereby floating the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface of the bottom of the water tank around the drain outlet in the water. The foreign matter floating in the water is guided to the drain outlet by the water flow toward the drain outlet, so that the foreign matter can be effectively discharged from the drain outlet.

[0009] According to such a configuration, the rotation axis of the rotating member is loosely fitted into a sliding bearing, and in a state where the rotation axis is supported by the sliding bearing, water flows down from the gap between the connecting portions adjacent in the circumferential direction of the sliding bearing to the drain outlet, and the blade member at the lower end portion of the rotation axis is rotated. Thereby, the rotation operation of the rotating member and the radial extension member is smoothed, and the rotation operation can be stabilized over a long period of time.

[0010] Further, the radial extension member is preferably composed of a substantially horizontal rod-shaped body and a hair-shaped body or a plate-shaped body protruding downward from the rod-shaped body, and the tip of the hair-shaped body or the plate-shaped body preferably slides on the upper surface of the bottom.

[0011] According to such a configuration, when the radial extension member rotates, the tip of the hair-shaped body or the plate-shaped body protruding downward sweeps the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface while sliding on the upper surface of the bottom of the water tank, so that the foreign matter on the upper surface around the drain outlet is more efficiently floated in the water, and the foreign matter can be more effectively discharged from the drain outlet.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the aquaculture water tank of the present invention, the rotating member and the radially extending member are rotated by the water flow flowing down the drain port, and the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface of the bottom of the water tank around the drain port is suspended in the water. Therefore, the foreign matter can be effectively discharged from the drain port so that the amount of the foreign matter is reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] In this specification, the direction perpendicular to the vertical central axis (see reference sign A in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the drain port formed at the center of the bottom of the aquaculture water tank is referred to as the "radial direction" (see arrow D in FIG. 1). The "circumferential direction" (see arrow C in FIG. 1) is defined based on the vertical central axis. A view of the aquaculture water tank seen from the outside in the radial direction of the aquaculture water tank is taken as a front view.

[0016] <Aquaculture water layer> As shown in the plan view of FIG. 1 and the longitudinal cross-sectional front view of FIG. 2, the aquaculture water tank 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is circular in plan view, has a bottom 2 and a side portion 3, and is used for aquaculture of fish and shellfish. A drain port H is formed at the center of the bottom 2 of the water tank 1, and the upper surface 2A of the bottom 2 includes inclined surfaces E1, E2, E3 that descend as it approaches the drain port H. The water W discharged from the drain port H passes through the drain pipe 8 and is purified in a filtration tank (not shown) and then returned into the water tank 1.

[0017] The planar shape of the aquaculture water tank 1 is not limited to a circular shape as shown in FIG. 1, and may be a polygonal shape, a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, a rounded rectangular shape, or the like, or other shapes.

[0018] In the water W in the water tank 1, for example, there is a swirling circulating water flow F1 generated by a water flow generating device (not shown) that supplies water or air or the like into the water tank 1. Due to the presence of the water flow F1, the growth of fish and shellfish cultured in the water tank 1 can be promoted. Foreign substances in the water such as excrement, shed shells, and remaining bait of the fish and shellfish to be cultured are easily collected toward the drain port H due to the presence of the inclined surfaces E1, E2, E3 and the water flow F1.

[0019] <Rotating member, and radially extending member> As shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional front view of FIG. 2, the enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the main part of FIG. 3, and the enlarged perspective view of the main part of FIG. 4, the water tank 1 includes a rotating member 5 and a radially extending member 6. The rotating member 5 is rotatably supported around the vertical central axis A of the drain port H by a bearing member B attached to the drain port H. The radially extending member 6 is attached to the rotating member 5 and extends in the radial direction D.

[0020] The rotating member 5 consists of a rotating shaft 5A and a blade member 5B attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 5A. As shown in FIG. 3, the blade member 5B rotates in the rotation direction R by the water flow F2 flowing down the drain port H, so the rotating shaft 5A and the radially extending member 6 also rotate in the rotation direction R.

[0021] The radially extending member 6 is composed of a substantially horizontal rod-shaped body 6A and a hair-like body protruding downward from the rod-shaped body 6A, and the tip of the hair-like body 6B slides on the upper surface 2A of the bottom portion 2. The hair-like body 6B is, for example, a wire such as synthetic resin or metal, or a twisted material of synthetic fiber or natural fiber, etc., and may be in the form of a brush. Alternatively, instead of the hair-like body 6B, it may be a plate-shaped body provided with a plurality of flat spatulas protruding downward from the rod-shaped body 6A. The hair-like body 6B or the plate-shaped body has the required flexibility and rigidity for sweeping foreign matter adhering to the upper surface 2A of the bottom portion 2.

[0022] <Bearing member> The bearing member B is the upper and lower sliding bearings 4, 4, and there is a spacer 7 between the upper and lower sliding bearings 4, 4. By supporting the rotating shaft 5A with the vertically spaced sliding bearings 4, 4, the support of the rotating shaft 5A rotating while receiving a moment load is stabilized.

[0023] As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5 and the plan view of FIG. 6, the sliding bearing 4 is composed of a first annular portion 4A, a second annular portion 4B, and a connecting portion 4C. The second annular portion 4B is spaced outward in the radial direction D from the first annular portion, and the first annular portion 4A and the second annular portion 4B are connected by the connecting portion 4C. There are a plurality (three in this embodiment) of the connecting portions 4C spaced in the circumferential direction C of the vertical central axis A. There is a gap G between the connecting portions 4C, 4C adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction C. There is a through hole I inside the first annular portion 4A in the radial direction D.

[0024] Since there is a gap G in the sliding bearing 4, as shown in FIG. 3, water can flow down the drain port H, and the blade member 5B rotates in the rotational direction R by the water flow F2 flowing down the drain port H. The rotating shaft 5A is loosely fitted in the through hole I of the first annular portion 4A of the sliding bearing 4. The inner peripheral surface of the sliding bearing 4 that forms at least the through hole I of the first annular portion 4A is, for example, a resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or a ceramic such as silicon carbide, etc., and has self-lubricity.

[0025] <Function and effect> According to the aquaculture water tank 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the radial extension member 6 rotates together with the rotating member 5 that rotates around the vertical central axis A by the water flow F2 flowing down the drain port H, thereby floating the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface 2A of the bottom 2 of the water tank 1 around the drain port H in the water. Since the foreign matter floating in the water is guided to the drain port H by the water flow toward the drain port H, the foreign matter can be effectively discharged from the drain port H.

[0026] Further, the rotation shaft 5A of the rotating member 5 is loosely fitted in the through hole I of the sliding bearing 4, and in a state where the rotation shaft 5A is supported by the upper and lower sliding bearings 4, 4, the water W flows down from the gap G between the connecting portions 4C, 4C adjacent in the circumferential direction C of the sliding bearing 4 to rotate the blade member 5B at the lower end of the rotation shaft 5A. Thereby, the rotation operation of the rotating member 5 and the radial extension member 6 becomes smooth, and the rotation operation can be stabilized over a long period of time.

[0027] Furthermore, when the radial extension member 6 rotates, the tip of the hair-like body 6B or the plate-like body protruding downward sweeps the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface 2A while sliding on the upper surface 2A of the bottom 2 of the water tank 1, so that the foreign matter on the upper surface 2A around the drain port H can be more efficiently floated in the water, and the foreign matter can be more effectively discharged from the drain port H.

[0028] The descriptions of the above embodiments are all illustrative and not restrictive. Various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0029] 1 Aquaculture water tank 2 Bottom 2A Upper surface 3 Side portion 4 Sliding bearing 4A First annular portion 4B Second annular portion 4C Connecting portion 5 Rotating member 5A Rotation shaft 5B Blade member 6 Radial extension member 6A Rod-like body 6B trichome 7 spacer 8 drain pipe A vertical central axis B bearing member C circumferential direction D radial direction E1, E2, E3 inclined surface F1, F2 water flow G gap H drain outlet I through hole R rotation direction W water

Claims

1. An aquarium used for aquaculture of seafood, a drain opening is formed at the center of the bottom of the aquarium, the upper surface of the bottom includes an inclined surface that descends as it approaches the drain opening, a rotating member that is rotatably supported about the vertical central axis of the drain opening by a bearing member attached to the drain opening and rotates about the vertical central axis by the water flow flowing down the drain opening; and a radially extending member that is attached to the rotating member and extends in a radial direction orthogonal to the vertical central axis, comprising: the bearing member is a sliding bearing and includes a first annular portion that supports the rotating member, a second annular portion that is spaced outward in the radial direction from the first annular portion, and a plurality of connecting portions that connect the first annular portion and the second annular portion and are spaced in the circumferential direction of the vertical central axis, the rotating member includes a rotating shaft that is loosely fitted in a through hole of the first annular portion and a blade member that is attached to a lower end portion of the rotating shaft, the radially extending member that rotates with the rotating member floats foreign matter on the upper surface around the drain opening in the water, an aquaculture aquarium.

2. the radially extending member is composed of a substantially horizontal rod-shaped body and a hair-shaped body or a plate-shaped body that protrudes downward from the rod-shaped body, the tip of the hair-shaped body or the plate-shaped body slides on the upper surface of the bottom, the aquaculture aquarium according to claim 1.

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