Water and fish / seafood diverter

Abstract

A water and seafood diverter 1 for routing a flowable mass from a first location to a selected one of a second plurality of locations. The diverter 1 has a first tube 5 and a second bent tube 5' in communication with each other at a first end 8, 8' via a mass mover. The second bent tube 5' is rotatable about the first end 8' to displace a second end 9' along a circle 12'. A first conduit 10 is in communication with the first location and a plurality of second conduits 10' are in communication with respective ones of the second plurality of locations, the ends of the conduits being disposed along a circle 12' described by the second end 9' of the second bent tube 5'. The first and second conduits may be fluidly connected through the first and second tubes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a water and seafood flow distributor. The flow distributor is adapted, in particular, for the transfer and distribution of fluid substances between different locations, particularly water and live fish, between tanks or pens.

Background Art

[0002] When water and biomass are distributed, the flow can be sent through different pipes depending on which source the flow should be taken from and the intended destination. Conventionally, pipes are laid from the source to the destination. However, for this reason, if the source or the destination, or both, change, it is necessary to lay new pipes or rearrange the existing pipes.

[0003] As a result, valves have been developed that enable connecting various branches and selecting branches according to the valve settings. One such example is shown in Norwegian Patent No. 344973.

[0004] A major problem when designing valves for the transfer of water and live fish is that sharp bends and features that can catch or damage the fish must be avoided. Moreover, the valve has a limited selection range of pipes that can be selected. Usually, there is only one inlet and up to three or four outlets, or there may be three or four inlets and only one outlet. If more inlets or outlets are desired, several valves must be arranged in series.

[0005] In the field of pneumatic dispatch, there are known solutions that enable a wider range of inlets and outlets. Such systems, however, are not suitable for transferring water.

[0006] Several examples of pneumatic systems can be found in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20140356080(A1), German Patent No. 19712251(C1), U.S. Patent No. 3868071(A), European Patent Publication No. 2233414(A1), U.S. Patent No. 6074136(A), Chinese Patent No. 110217596(A), and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012051848.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 4,252,479(A) does not describe a pneumatic system, but it does describe a pneumatic arrangement for the transfer of particulate matter. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Norwegian Patent No. 344973 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20140356080(A1) [Patent Document 3] German Patent No. 19712251(C1) [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 3868071(A) [Patent Document 5] European Patent Application Publication No. 2233414(A1) [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 6074136(A) [Patent Document 7] Chinese Patent No. 110217596(A) [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012051848 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Patent No. 4,252,479(A) [Patent Document 10] Norwegian Patent No. 330892 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a water and fish / seafood diverter that avoids sharp bends and obstacles that could trap or damage the goods being transported, and that allows selection between a number of inlets and outlets. This is achieved by the features described in claim 1. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0011] The flow divider is particularly suitable for operation with a pump, as shown in Norwegian Patent No. 330892, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0012] Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic sketch of the principle of the current shunt device of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the current divider of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an isometric projection of the current shunt from the inlet side. [Figure 4] This is an isometric projection of the shunt from the outlet side. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of a current divider. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Figure 1 shows a principle sketch of the diverter 1 of the present invention. The diverter has an inlet side 2 and an outlet side 3. The two sides are, in principle, equivalent in this example but are shown as mirror images. The inlet side 2 and the outlet side 3 can be directly connected at 4, or can also be connected through a pump or other mass mover described below. The inlet side 2 and the outlet side 3 may be different. For example, the inlet side 2 may include only one pipe connected to the outlet side 3 at 4 or through a pump or mass mover.

[0015] The inlet side 2 includes a bent pipe 5 consisting of a first bend 5a, a straight pipe piece 5b, and a second bend 5c. The bend 5a, the bend 5c, and the pipe piece 5b can be an integral pipe. The bend has an angle of about 135 degrees in the illustrated example. However, the bend angle can be different from this, but should not be too acute. A bend angle close to 90 degrees should be avoided.

[0016] [[ID=⑦]] The two ends 8, 9 of the bent pipe 5 are arranged on different axes. The rotation of the bent pipe around the axis of the inner end 8 displaces the outer end 9 along the circle 12. The outer end 9 can thereby be arranged in alignment with one of several inlet pipes 10 arranged in a circle that coincides with the circle of the movement of the outer end 9 during the rotation of the bent pipe 5. By rotating the bent pipe 5 until it aligns with a selected one of the inlet pipes 10, the bent pipe 5 can be connected to the selected inlet pipe 10 so that the flow can be guided from the selected inlet pipe 10 through the bent pipe 5 towards the outlet side 3.

[0017] The outlet side 3 is designed similarly to the inlet side. The outlet side 3 has a bent pipe 5' including a first bend 5a', a straight pipe 5b', and a second bend 5c' having an inner end 8' and an outer end 9'. By rotating the bent pipe 5 around the axis of the inner end 8', the outer end 9' will describe a circle 12', and the outer end 9' can be connected to a selected one of a plurality of outlet pipes 10' whose ends are arranged along the circle 12'.

[0018] In the embodiment shown, there are 12 inlet pipes 10 and 12 outlet pipes 10'. Therefore, a total of 12 × 12 = 144 different flow routes are possible. If flow is possible in both directions, a total of 2 × 144 = 288 flow routes are possible.

[0019] Figures 2 to 5 show different diagrams of the flow divider according to the present invention, combined with a mass mover such as a pump 11.

[0020] Figure 2 shows a side view of the flow divider and mass mover. In this case, the mass mover is a pump 11 that operates according to the principle of the Archimedes screw, but has a hose (not shown) arranged in a spiral shape from the inlet end to the outlet end. The rotation of the hose displaces the mass inside the hose from the inlet end to the outlet end. If the mass is a liquid, a suction force is generated at the inlet end that draws more liquid into the pump. This type of pump is sometimes called a coil pump, and its principle is shown in Norwegian Patent No. 330892 mentioned above. Pumps that follow this principle are sold by the applicant as the RID Fish Pump.

[0021] This type of pump gently moves the contents from the inlet to the outlet. Therefore, this type of pump is ideal for moving fragile objects such as live fish.

[0022] Figure 2 shows multiple inlet pipes 10 and multiple outlet pipes 10'. In this configuration, a total of 8 × 8 = 64 flow routes are possible, but when the pump 11 can pump in both directions, this number doubles to 128.

[0023] Figure 3 shows the shunt configuration as an isometric projection from one end, and Figure 4 shows the configuration as an isometric projection from the opposite end.

[0024] Pipes 5 and 5' can be rotated manually or by a motor (not shown) around their connection to the pump 11. Connection to the selected pipe 10 or pipe 10' can be made by having a sliding outer section at the outer end 9, 9' and a seal between the pipes, or by having a flexible section such as a short hose at the outer end 10, 10'. The ends of the outer end 9, 9' and pipes 10, 10' may also have flanges or quick-connect couplings.

[0025] Figure 5 shows a plan view of a diverter in which curved pipes 5 and 5' are connected to selected pipes 10 and 10'.

[0026] The described embodiment has an inlet pipe 10 and an outlet pipe 10' positioned close to each other to a certain distance from the rotatable pipes 5 and 5', and then bent outward through two relatively sharp bends, although pipes 10, 10' may extend from different directions toward the rotatable pipes 5, 5'. They may also pass through different shaped bends or may not be bent at all. The only requirement is that pipes 10, 10' have their ends along the respective circles 12, 12' drawn when the outer ends of the rotatable pipes 5, 5' are rotated.

[0027] The circles 12, 12' traced by the rotatable tubes 5, 5' can have different diameters. The diameter depends on how many inlet tubes 10 or outlet tubes 10' are attached.

[0028] The shunt can be designed to have a uniform cross-section along its entire length from the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit. Sharp bends, such as those with angles less than 135 degrees, can be avoided.

Claims

1. A water and fish diversion device (1) for routing water and fish from a first location to one selected from a plurality of second locations, wherein the water and fish diversion device (1) comprises a first pipe (5), a second curved pipe (5'), and a mass mover. The first pipe (5) and the second curved pipe (5') are in communication with each other at their respective first ends (8, 8') via the mass mover. The second curved pipe (5') is rotatable about the axis of its first end (8'), and the rotation displaces the second end (9') of the second curved pipe (5') along the circle (12'). At least one first conduit (10) is in communication with the first pipe (5) of the first location, and a plurality of second conduits (10') are in communication with each of the plurality of second locations, The second conduit (10') has its respective ends positioned along the circle (12') drawn by the second end (9') of the second curved pipe (5'), When the second end (9') of the second curved pipe (5') is aligned with the selected second conduit end, the second curved pipe (5') is able to connect to the flow to each of the selected second conduits (10'). The mass mover is a water and fish / seafood diverter (1) which is a coil pump type pump having at least one conduit that extends in a spiral shape from the inlet end to the outlet end.

2. The first pipe (5) is a first curved pipe that is rotatable around the axis of the first end (8) of the first pipe (5) such that the second end (9) of the first pipe (5) traces a circle (12), The water and aquatic life divider according to claim 1, wherein when the second end (9) of the first curved pipe (5) is aligned with a selected first conduit end, the second end (9) of the first pipe (5) is connectable to one of a plurality of first conduits (10) each having an end arranged along the circle (12).

3. The water and fish / seafood diverter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second curved pipe (5') is coupled to a motor for rotating the second curved pipe (5').

4. The water and fish / seafood diverter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second curved pipe (5') has a slidable outer section at the second end (9') that can be pushed in and coupled with the selected conduit.

5. The water and fish / seafood diverter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second curved pipe (5') has a flexible outer section at the second end (9').

6. The water and aquatic life divider according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the water and aquatic life divider has a uniform internal cross-section from the first conduit (10) to the second conduit (10').

7. A water and fish / seafood diverter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein all bends are at least 135 degrees.

8. The water and fish / seafood diverter according to claim 2, wherein the first curved pipe (5) is coupled to a motor for rotating the first curved pipe (5).

9. The water and fish / seafood diverter according to claim 2, wherein the first curved pipe (5) has a slidable outer section at the second end (9) that can be pushed in and coupled with the selected conduit.

10. The water and fish / seafood diverter according to claim 2, wherein the first curved pipe (5) has a flexible outer section at the second end (9).

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