Rough seas floating aqua pen and methods

Abstract

The disclosure relates to aqua pens for use in rough seas and oceans, especially aqua pens known in the industry as floating circular aqua pens, and more especially to apparatuses and methods facilitating the configuration, construction, deployment 5 and maintenance of aqua pens that provide for a lower carbon footprint in assembly and maintenance in comparison to known rough seas and oceanic aqua pens. A module is provided for forming a floating portion of a circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pen, the module comprising two curved pipes that preferably lie in the same plane and may be permanently fixed together, where plurality of the modules are 10 interconnected so as to form a circular floating aqua pen.

Description

[0001]Rough seas floating aqua pen and methods Technical Field The present disclosure relates to aqua pens for use in rough seas and oceans, especially aqua pens known in the industry as floating circular aqua pens, and more especially to apparatuses and methods facilitating the configuration, construction, deployment and maintenance of aqua pens that provide for a lower carbon footprint in assembly and maintenance in comparison to known rough seas and oceanic aqua pens. Background Art As shall readily be understood by those skilled in the art: Aqua pens used for fish farming in rough seas and oceans such as for example the North Sea and North Atlantic are known in the industry as circular aqua pens, it being understood that the term “oceanic aqua pen” and “circular aqua pen” mean the same thing and refer to an aqua pen having a floating structure comprising an anulus or donut shape, that may be referred to in the industry as a circular aqua pen, and that may be the term that shall be used herein. The circular aqua pen configuration may be the form that has proved to be capable of being configured to tolerate high waves and strong winds, and thus may be widely adopted in the industry for fish farming in rough seas and oceans. Rough sea and oceanic aqua pens have very different requirements in comparison to aqua pens used in calm seas and inland water bodies, with the oceanic aqua pens exposed to high waves and strong currents not present in calmer waters. Accordingly, while a plethora of configurations exist for aqua pens used in calm waters, the only widely accepted configuration for the floating portion of aqua pens used in rough seas and oceans may be the circular aqua pen referred to above. The term “floating aqua pen” as used in the industry does not mean that the entire aqua pen may be floating on the surface of the water body, but rather that the structure that retains the netting cage upright may be a floating structure from which the netting cage and anchoring system depends. Known oceanic and rough seas circular aqua pens suffer from the fact that they are difficult to transport, assemble and maintain, requiring significant use of machinery and manpower and a concurrent carbon footprint associated with the fossil fuel consumed operation the machinery. The present configuration for forming circular aqua pens may be to start with long lengths of plastic pipe, that can be greater than one hundred twenty meters in length, and by use of heavy machinery such as forklifts and other equipment force these very long straight lengths of straight plastic pipe into an oval configuration that may be temporarily held in place with high tension straps, and weld the cut ends of the pipes together using plastic welding equipment and methods, so as to form a closed loop from the plastic pipes. Prior to forcing the long straight lengths of straight plastic pipes into the oval shape, two or more, but preferably two long straight lengths of the plastic pipe are laid parallel, and connected together by brackets that connect the two plastic pipes together so as to retain them in parallel. Then, the two length lengths of plastic pipes together are bent into the oval. An oval may be used so that there may be a flat region to effect the welding of the cut ends of the pipes, that requires no bow in the pipes using presently preferred methods. After the plastic welding has been accomplished and the resultant weld permitted to cool, that can take hours, the entire apparatus, that may be the entire closed loop formed by the two parallel plastic pipes may be one way or another dragged into a body of water. Either before or after it may be floated onto water the straps retaining the oval shape are released and the memory in the plastic pipes creates the anulus or donut shape that the industry terms a circular shape and refers to as a circular aqua pen. It may be believed that the memory of the plastic pipes may be important to tolerating the rough seas found in oceans and rough seas, as it generates an outward directed spring force to dynamically counter the forces of high waves that are surging against the netting cage suspended by the floating circular formed pipes. The assembly usually happens on a beach (including shoreline) where delicate fauna and vegetation can be destroyed by the entire process and heavy machinery. Thus, it may be imperative to provide for a method for assembling circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pens that may be not damaging to shoreline, beach and beach head dwelling organisms. Furthermore, the known assembly methods include sawing of plastic pipes that results in microplastic pollution of the environment. Thus, it may be imperative to provide for a method for assembling circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pens that does not requiring sawing of plastic pipes at the assembly site with concurrent microplastic pollution of the environment. A method and apparatus for assembling and maintaining circular aqua pens for use in rough seas and oceans that may be easier to transport, easier to assemble, easier to maintain in comparison to known circular aqua pens for use in rough seas and in particular that does not inevitably damage beach and beach head dwelling organisms, that does not require sawing of plastic pipes with concurrent microplastic pollution of the environment, and that requires less energy and especially less fossil fuel to assemble, transport and maintain in comparison to known circular aqua pens for use in rough seas has not yet been proposed. Thus, it readily can be appreciated that a long felt need continues to exist in the industry for a method and apparatus for configuring, assembling and maintaining circular aqua pens for use in rough seas and oceans that are easier to transport, easier to assemble, easier to maintain and in particular that requires less energy and especially less fossil fuel to assemble, transport and maintain in comparison to known circular aqua pens and that does not require sawing of plastic pipes with concurrent microplastic pollution of the environment and that does not inevitably damage delicate beach and beach head dwelling organisms during assembly. It may be an object of the present disclosure to provide a solution for all the herein mentioned problems that all are long felt needs in the industry. It may be an object of the present disclosure to provide an apparatus and method for circular aqua pens for use in rough seas and oceans that are easier to transport, easier to assemble, and easier to maintain, and in particular that requires less energy and especially less fossil fuel to assemble, transport and maintain in comparison to known circular aqua pens, and that permits assembly of the circular aqua pen without inevitably damaging delicate beach and beach head dwelling organisms. While various configurations and methods for circular aqua pens are known, as of yet none have proposed a circular aqua pen and methods in accord with the teachings of the present disclosure. Definitions The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “have”, “having”, “includes”, and / or “including”, as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, process steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, process steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” and the symbol “ / ” are meant to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. An object and an effect of the present invention may be naturally understood or may become clearer from the following description, and the object and the effect of the present invention are not restricted only by the following description. In addition, in the description of the present invention, the specific descriptions of publicly known technologies that relate with the present invention will be omitted when it is determined that the specific descriptions may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention. Description Most broadly, the present disclosure may be based upon the surprising and unexpected discovery that a circular floating aqua pen for rough seas and oceans that may be formed without retaining and using the memory generated by bending very long lengths of straight plastic pipe may be viable for tolerating high waves and rough seas, that may be contrary to the state of the art, against the trend in the industry and against the widely held belief of those skilled in the industry. Briefly, the present disclosure comprises an individual module formed from lengths of plastic pipe that have been permanently formed into curves, preferably but not necessarily curves that are arcs of a circle, where two or more, but preferably two, curved lengths of plastic pipe are attached by two or more brackets so that the curved lengths of pipe have their convex-most shapes facing the same direction (and also have their concave-most shapes forming in the opposite direction as face their convex-most shapes), so that the lengths of pipe lie in the same plane. The present disclosure further comprises a circular floating aqua pen for rough seas and oceans that may be formed by connecting end to end a plurality of the modules described above. Possessing the preceding advantages, the disclosed modules and the disclosed floating aqua pens formed from such modules answers needs long felt in the industry. It can readily be appreciated that these and other features, objects and advantages are able to be understood or apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment including as illustrated in the various drawing figures. All examples disclosed in the present disclosure are prophetic examples and not working examples. Brief Description of Drawings The drawings and drawing elements may be not necessarily to scale. FIG.1 illustrates a top plan view of a module of the present disclosure. FIG.2 illustrates a top plan view of the floating portion of a circular floating aqua pen of the present disclosure for rough seas and oceans formed by connecting together a plurality of the modules of the present disclosure of FIG.1. FIG.3 illustrates a detailed and expanded view of the connection zone of two modules of the present disclosure of FIG. 1 having been connected end-to-end in order to form the aqua pen of FIG.2. FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment for a connection assembly 40 for connecting together sequential and / or opposing pipes of adjacent modules of FIG.1. FIG.1A illustrates a top plan view of a presently preferred configuration for a ready to ship embodiment of a module of the present disclosure formed by affixing to the module of FIG. 1 some of the connection hardware required to connect the module of FIG.1 to another and distinct module of FIG.1. FIG. 4 to FIG. 11 illustrate apparatuses useful for connecting together modules of the present disclosure as well as process steps for using the apparatuses to connect the modules. FIG. 12 to FIG. 15 illustrate yet other apparatuses useful for connecting together modules of the present disclosure as well as process steps for using the apparatuses to connect the modules. Best Mode for Carrying out the Disclosure and Detailed Description: As shall readily be understood by those skilled in the art: With reference to FIG.1, illustrated may be a top plan view of an individual module 1 of the present disclosure. The module 1 may be formed from lengths of plastic pipe 2 that have been permanently formed into curves. There may be a longer pipe 3 and a shorter pipe 4. The curved shapes of the pipe preferably but not necessarily correspond to arcs of a circle, where the longer pipe and the shorter pipe each comprise an arc of a different circle. Preferably, the longer pipe comprises an arc of a circle belonging to a circle that may be of greater diameter and radius in comparison a circle that the shorter length of pipe comprises an arc of. More than two lengths of pipe can comprise the module, each comprising a curve, but two lengths of pipe may be presently preferred. The two lengths of pipe may be attached together by two or more brackets 5 so that the curved lengths of pipe have their convex-most shapes facing the same direction (and also may have their concave- most shapes facing in a direction that may be opposite the direction faced by their convex-most shapes), and so that the lengths of pipe lie in the same plane. The brackets may be formed according to industry standard and include various features that are not shown in order to avoid cluttering the drawing and description, these features, briefly, include attachment points (not shown) such as ears (not shown) adapted to be connected to anchoring equipment and other attachment points adapted to be connected to the netting forming the cadge of the aqua pen and / or to the headline rope(s) attached to the netting forming the cadge of the aqua pen. The brackets also include receptacles (not shown) on the brackets top sides proximal the shorter length of pipe, such as sockets configured to receive the base of post pipes, to which may be attached rail pipes, to which may be attached jump nets. With reference to FIG.2, illustrated may be the floating portion of a circular floating aqua pen 9 for rough seas and oceans that may be formed by connecting end to end a plurality of the modules 1 taught in reference to FIG.1. In order to form the present disclosures modules, the following steps are taught: Two or more lengths of plastic pipe are provided. A presently preferred material may be a HDPE thermoplastic. The lengths of pipe may be of a pre-determined circumference and wall thickness, and their relative lengths may be calculated so that after being curved into a curve, such as arcs of circles, that several modules may be connected end to end and create a predetermined diameter anulus and / or donut shape, i.e. the floating portion of a “circular aqua pen”. Each of the lengths of pipe may be heated until the plastic reaches a temperature at which it may be bent without destroying the pipe. Each of the lengths of pipe may be bent into a predetermined curved shape. The longer length of pipe may be bent into a curve belonging to an arc of a circle having a greater radius than that of the arc of a circle to which may be bent the shorter length of pipe. The pipes may be allowed to cool after being bent. The two bent lengths of pipe may be now arranged so that the concave-most face of each pipe may be facing in the same direction and so that the entirety of both lengths of pipe lie in the same plane. The two bent lengths of pipe may be connected to one another by brackets 5 in such a fashion that they may be permanently fixed into position relative to one another, i.e the position described above, that may be “the concave-most face of each pipe may be facing in the same direction and so that the entirety of both lengths of pipe lie in the same plane”. Optionally, and less preferably, a connection sleeve 6 may be fixed onto one cut end of each pipe on the same end of the module, and in such a fashion that the cut end of each pipe may be inserted into its corresponding sleeve no more than half way through the long length of the sleeve. The sleeve preferably may be formed of a material that may be softer and more flexible in comparison to the material forming the pipe to which any sleeve may be attached. The module of the present disclosure now may be complete. In order to form the circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pens of the present disclosure: In further reference to FIG.2: a floating structure of a circular aqua pen 9 of the present disclosure may be formed by connecting end to end a plurality of individual modules 1 of the present disclosure. Pre-assembled connection plugs may preferably be used to connect the floating pipes and / or pipes of individual sequential modules 1 together, thus obviating the need to weld floating pipes and / or pipes together on an assembly site. This practice further eliminates the need to saw pipes on site and thus eliminates the potential of contamination of the environment with microplastics resulting from the sawing process. It may be understood in this text that the term “weld” may include the term “plastic welding”, and preferably refers to “plastic welding”. It may be understood in this text that the term “pipe” and / or “pipes” may include the term “floating pipe” and / or “floating pipes”. In further reference to FIG. 2, a floating structure of a circular aqua pen 9 of the present disclosure may be formed by connecting end to end a plurality of individual modules 1 of the present disclosure. Sleeves 6 may be used to facilitate the end to end connection of the cut ends of the pipes forming each module, and insert plugs 7 (see FIG.3) may be inserted into the cut ends of mating pipes from different modules so that a single insert plug 7 spans two different pipes from two different modules where such pipes mate at their cut ends, with the plug 7 configured so that it extends a sufficient length into the cut end of each pipe so that the pipe does not crack or break when flexing including during high waves and strong currents. The insert plug can either be a solid plug, or may be a cylindrically shaped plug. The insert plug 7 preferably may be configured to contact the inner wall of each pipe that it may be inserted into in such a fashion that its outer surface may be in contact with and / or may be flush with the inner wall of the pipe into which it may be inserted, where, optionally, the outer wall of the pipes contacted by the insert plugs may comprise clamps and / or clamp sleeves and / or portions of clamp sleeves. The insert plugs 7 may be formed of the same material as material forming the plastic pipes 2, 3 and 4, as may be HMPE or other plastic; or, may be formed of a material that may be softer than and more flexible than the material forming the plastic pipes 2, 3 and 4, so that the plastic pipes do not fracture or break when flexing including during high waves and strong currents, and polyurethane preferably may be anticipated useful, but some forms of PE might also be useful. The insert plugs may be cylindrical in outer form and / or cylindrical and / or tubular. The insert plugs may be threaded (including ribbed) where the threaded portion of the insert plugs may comprise spiral threads and where the ribbed portion of the insert plugs may comprise parallel lay threads (i.e. “ribs”). FIG. 3A illustrates a particular embodiment of a particular connection assembly 40 comprising: a connector plug 7X (shown in side plan view) comprising threaded ends 41 and 42 (that may be tapered, as shown, and where the taper may comprise a four degree slope); and at least one insert plug 7F (shown in a cross sectional view taken in a plane lying parallel to the centrally disposed axis of the alternative plugs 77 and / or of the pipes 2, 3 and 4) , and preferably two insert plugs 7F, where one of each of the two insert plugs 7F may be situated internal the open cut end of one pipe of the two pipes 2, 3 and 4 of adjacent modules forming the aqua pen 9 that the connection assembly 40 is configured to connect together (the open ends of the pipes 2, 3 and 4 shown in a cross sectional view taken in a plane lying parallel to the centrally disposed axis of the pipes 2, 3 and 4). Preferably, the connector plug 7X comprises a first and a second male end 41 and 42, respectively. Preferably, each of the male ends 41, 42, may comprise a spiraling thread 43, 44, that has an opposite lay from the spiraling thread of the other male end connection plug. Preferably, the male ends each may comprise a non-threaded and / or smooth surfaced nipple end 51 that has an exterior form that is cylindrical and / or tubular and configured to fit within a mating female cup end 52 situated at the distal end of each insert plug 7F. Preferably, the insert plugs 7F may be formed with an outer shape that mates to the inner shape of the wall of a pipe to which an insert plug 7F is situated. Preferably, an insert plug 7F is adhered to the interior wall of a pipe within which it is situated using an adhesive, that preferably is a flexible adhesive. The insert plugs 7F preferably may each comprise a female end 45 with spiraling threads 47, 48 configured to mate with and / or to mesh with the spiraling threads 43, 44 of the male ends 41, 42. The insert plugs 7F and / or the connector plug 7X may preferably be formed with a more elastic and / or more pliable synthetic substance in comparison to the synthetic substance forming the pipes that the insert plugs 7F and the connector plug 7X and / or the connection assembly 40 are configured to connect. To use the connection assembly 40 to connect together two pipes, the connector plug 7X is situated so that its male ends are positioned within the male ends of two insert plugs 7F, where each of the two insert plugs 7F is situated within the open cut end of a pipe, and then the connector plug 7X is rotated about its axis as may be done in the manner and fashion of a turnbuckle, thereby drawing the cut ends of the two pipes together. To disconnect the two pipes, the connector plug 7X may be rotated about its axis in a direction opposite to the direction it is rotated when drawing together the two pipes. While it is anticipated preferably that the insert plugs have female ends as shown, and that the connector plug 7X have male ends as shown, oppositely, but similarly, the insert plugs 7F may comprise male ends (not shown) in place of female ends, and the connector plug 7X may comprise female ends in place of its male ends 41, 42. Furthermore, the pipes 2, 3 and 4 may have the internal surface of their own pipe walls proximal the cut open ends of the pipes 2, 3 and 4 threaded with male and / or female threads in substitution of inserting and using insert plugs 7F into the cut open ends of the pipes 2, 3 and 4, however, such embodiment is not presently preferred. The central portion 99 of connector plug 7X (or any suitable portion of connector plug 7X) may comprise a “U Joint” and / or a “Ball and Socket Joint”; and / or may be formed of a substance that is more elastic and / or more pliable and / or more bendable that the substance comprising the substance comprising the insert plugs 7F and / or comprising the remainder of the connector plug 7X (such as its male and / or emale ends, depending upon which version is desired). The central portion 99 of connector plug 7X may comprise a hollow region indicated by the dashed lines, as may any suitable portion of connector plug 7X. In order to keep the modules from pulling apart, straps and / or tensioning straps and / or tensioning ropes (not shown) may be used to connect adjacent modules one to the other proximal the connection zone, such as by connecting neighboring brackets of adjacent modules with one or a plurality of straps and / or ropes, and ensuring that the straps and / or ropes are under sufficient tension to prevent the modules from separating. Preferably, straps exhibiting minimal and preferably less than one percent elongation under tension may be used, as may be formed from straps comprising UHMWPE fibers and / or filaments. Optionally, but less preferably, straps and / or ropes exhibiting greater than one percent elongation are anticipated useful, that may be contrary to the state of the art and against the trend of the industry. In all instances straps and / or ropes exhibiting no creep to a magnitude of creep that nonetheless results in the straps and / or ropes imparting sufficient tension to neighboring modules to prevent their separating during operating conditions may be preferred. In some cases, UHMWPE ropes may be used, especially when they are configured to exhibit constructional elongation. However, elastic ropes such as heat stretched and compacted PE ropes and HDPE ropes such as a rope sold by Hampidjan having the brand name KraftEX may be considered useful, especially when covered with an UV ray shielding cover. As long as the insert plugs 7 are sufficiently inserted in both ends of the pipes 2, 3 and 4 of adjacent modules forming the aqua pen 9, then some free play may be considered useful so as to allow for expansion and contraction of the plastic pipes as temperatures change from warmer to cooler, as such changes necessarily increase and decrease the lengths of the pipes 2, 3 and 4. In order to facilitate inserting the plugs 7 into the plastic pipes 2, 3 and 4 the correct distance as shall be empirically determined on a case by case bases, sealing plugs (not shown) may be inserted into the plastic pipes and welded and / or cemented and / or screwed or otherwise affixed in place. The sealing plugs (not shown) may be shaped and configured so as to create an impassable blockage in the hollow of the pipe into which the sealing plugs may be fit, so that the insert plugs 7 cannot be inserted any deeper into the pipe than may be positioned the a sealing plug. The sealing plugs also serve to seal the remaining portion of the plastic pipes in such a way that water cannot enter a plastic pipes hollow that may be located between two sealing plugs associated with the same pipe 2, 3 or 4. The sealing plugs (not shown) may be located at a location inside the hollow of any pipe 2, 3 or 4 at a location corresponding to where may be situated the distal end of any insert plug 7 that may be most interior said pipe. Optionally, a connection plug and / or a portion of a connection plug configured to mate with and / or to be coupled with another connection plug and / or a portion of a another connection plug may be welded onto the cut end and / or end of each of and / or one or a plurality of pipes (including “floating pipes”) comprising one or a plurality of modules, where the connection plug and / or a portion of a connection plug associated with one end of one pipe may be configured to be capable of mating with and / or being permanently affixed to and / or permanently connected to the another portion of the connection plug, where the connection plug and / or a portion of a connection plug associated with one end of one pipe that may be configured to be capable of mating with and / or being permanently affixed to and / or permanently connected to the another portion of a connection associated with the end of another pipe may be placed on opposite connecting pipes and / or opposite connecting and mating portions of one or a plurality of modules (such as may bhe the ends of pipes or, less preferably, as may be the brackets laterally connecting the pipes) before they may be permanently connected to one another, such as may be accomplished by securing them with bolts. When this has been done with two or a plurality of modules, the next step in this process may be joining of an additional two or a plurality of modules until the desired quantity of modules have been adjoined together into a form that may preferably be an annulus or a disfigured annulus. The connection plugs and / or the portions of connection plugs and the another portion of a connection plug and / or the another connection plug may preferably be made of the same material as the floating pipes and / or pipe. One presently preferred method for using the modules of the present disclosure to form aqua pens of the present disclosure is to form the aqua pens directly at sea and / or in the water environment beside a quay (including pier or the like), that may be nearby to where the pens are intended to be used and / or situated and / or stationed and / or moored (including “anchored”). It is anticipated that to accomplish this method of using the present disclosures modules to form the present disclosures aqua pens that a single crane situated on and / or besides the quay may be used in place of a boat, resulting in avoiding having to use large areas of land and two to three or more large machines such as forklifts to assemble the rings on land before they may be launched, thus avoiding all the environmental damage done by using such large machines to assemble known aqua pens using known methods. A plurality of individual modules formed according to the teachings of the present disclosure may be transported to a particular location where the circular aqua pen of the present disclosure is formed by connecting end to end a plurality of the modules, and the completed circular aqua pen then launched into the ocean or sea and towed to its final destination, where its associated netting cadge, anchoring equipment and other hardware and equipment may be attached to it. It may be anticipated that in most cases a plurality of the present disclosures modules shall be transported by being first packed into a forty foot shipping container. Accordingly, in order to accomplish goals of the present disclosure including reducing the carbon footprint of shipping the components for the aqua pens of the present disclosure, it presently may be preferred that each module be formed of a length so that when measured across from one end to the other of the convex- most side of longest pipe comprising each module, and including any sleeve 6 already attached to said longest pipe, that the distance be as close as feasible to forty feet and not greater. In this way, modules for forming an entire circular aqua pen suitable for rough seas and oceans can be transported with greatly reduced fossil fuel consumption and a greatly reduced carbon footprint in comparison to known methods for transporting components for circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pens. It presently may be preferred to include in the same shipping container containing the modules insert plugs 7 (see FIG. 2) as well as any other hardware needed to form the final floating structure of the circular aqua pen of FIG.2. In order to repair and maintain circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pens of the present disclosure: When a portion of a circular aqua pen of the present disclosure may be damaged to an extend that the integrity of a pipe 2, 3 or 4 may be damaged and it must be replaced, it may be not required to tow the entire aqua pen to shore as now required, along with all the fossil fuel consumed in such process, but rather the repair can be made without moving the aqua pen from its location. To accomplish the repair, the damaged module may be removed, and a new module of same or similar dimension and configuration may be put in its place. This requires very little fossil fuel, and avoids beaching the aqua pen, and also avoids using heavy machinery on beaches and beach heads, thereby precluding damaging delicate beach and beach head dwelling organisms. One presently anticipated method to remove a damaged module from an aqua pen of the present disclosure may be to first dislocate any of the netting cadge and anchoring equipment from the module to be removed; to also remove the tension from the tensioning ropes and / or to disconnect the tensioning ropes associated with the module(s) to be removed; and next to spread apart the two modules on either side of the damaged module or modules so as to separate the module and / or modules that may be desired to be removed and replaced from adjacent modules that are not intended to be removed or replaced. This can be accomplished in many ways. For example, boats may be used to tug the modules apart. Or, the modules may be spread apart by using a turnbuckle type device, such as a car jack turned sideways, to push apart a damaged module from an undamaged module by applying opposing force to each of adjacent modules such as for example by applying said opposing force to two neighboring brackets 5 where one of each of the two brackets 5 may be situated one on each of two distinct modules to be separated and most proximal the connection zone of the modules to be separated. Whichever method may be employed to spread apart and / or separate adjacent connected modules, once the adjacent connected modules and thus pipes comprising said modules are pushed far enough apart so that both insert plugs associated with each connection zone come out of at least one pipe for each of the mating pipe ends, or so as to permit removal of the insert plugs from at least one pipe from each of the two pipes at the connection that each one insert plug inserts into, and that may be done for both the longer and shorter pipe of the damaged module, the damaged module may be removed outboard of the aqua pen. Then, a new module may be put into its place; the freed ends of the insert plugs inserted into whatever pipe requires them to be reinserted into, and the turnbuckle reversed (when a turnbuckle may be used) thus forcing the modules together, and / or the modules may forced together by another means and methods, including using boats to pull the modules together. Likely, the forces acting on the netting cadge shall force the modules together and no need shall exist to use boats to pull the modules together. However, if not, the modules easily may be forced together without using boats to pull them together by reconnecting and re-tensioning the tensioning ropes connecting adjacent modules one to the next at the connection zone, such as by applying sufficient tension to ropes connecting neighboring brackets of adjacent modules, such as by using a turnbuckle inline with each of the tensioning ropes or by using a rachet apparatus to haul in the ropes onto the rachet device, so that the cut ends of the pipes slide onto the insert plugs and into the sleeves, completing the replacement of the damaged module(s) with a new module. Any equipment associated with reconnecting the netting cage and anchoring equipment may be then attached to the new module as needed. Alternative to using a turnbuckle device to spread apart the modules being separated, the turnbuckle device may be built into the system (not shown). This may be anticipated best done by configuring either the insert plug 7 to comprise opposite spiral threads so that one end of each insert plug 7 may be an “S” lay threaded end and the other end of the same insert plug 7 comprises a “Z” lay threaded end, and the region proximal the cut ends of the pipes 2, 3 and 4 comprises threaded inner walls or comprise cylindrical inserts that may be flush with the inner walls of the region of the pipes that may be proximal the cut ends of the pipes 2, 3 and 4, where the inner walls of the pipes or the inner walls of the cylindrical inserts may be threaded so as to mesh with the threads on the insert plugs’. The insert plugs then may be further configured with a handle such as a protrusion located midpoint between their distal ends. By turning the protrusion or handle, and / or otherwise turning the insert plugs so as to cause them to thread into and / or out of the cut ends of the pipes and / or the cylindrical inserts mentioned above, the cut ends of pipes may be brought together or forced apart, thus either bringing together or forcing apart adjacent modules. FIG.4 to FIG.11 illustrate other apparatuses useful for connecting together modules of the present disclosure as well as process steps for using the apparatuses to connect the modules. FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of apparatuses useful for connecting together modules of the present disclosure. Shown are: alternate plugs 77 comprising threads 21, that may be parallel laid such as ribs, as shown, or that may be spiral threads (not shown). Alternate plugs 77 also comprise face ends 23 that may be configured to abut the face end 23 of an opposing and mating alternate plug 23 in final assembled form, and may comprise a tapered portion 22, as shown, or may comprise a non-tapered portion (not shown) in place of tapered portion 22. Alternate plugs 77 may be connected to pipes 2, 3 and 4 at plastic welds and / or welds 24. Clamps and / or clamp faces 25 may be configured to be capable of being joined to one another in such a fashion as to enclose at least a portion of alternate plugs 77 thereby forming alternate sleeves 27 enclosing alternate plugs 77 as illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11. Clamps and / or clamp faces 25 may be permanently connected to one another by bolts that may be inserted into and situated in through- holes 26 that may include recessed external faces adapted to permit bolt heads and nuts and washers to be recessed into and below the external most surface of clamp faces and / or clamps 25. FIG.5 illustrates a cross sectional view of the apparatuses of FIG.4 taken in a plane lying parallel to the centrally disposed axis of the alternative plugs 77 and / or of the pipes 2, 3 and 4, where the plane may also lie in a plane parallel to the earth’s gravitational force vector. As shown in FIG.5, alternate plugs 77 may include hollow cavities 28, and clamp faces and / or clamps 25 comprise threads 21A that may be parallel laid threads and / or ribs, as shown, where the threads 21A of clamp faces 25 may be configured to mate with and / or mesh with the threads 21 of alternate plugs 77. FIG.6 illustrates a side plan view of the apparatuses of FIG.4 taken after the terminal ends 23 have been abutted together and / or when the alternative plugs 77 may be situated with respect to one another in a manner that permits them to be connected to the clamp faces and / or clamps. FIG.7 illustrates an alternative view of FIG.6 showing the clamp faces in their final and operational position. FIG.8 illustrates an alternative view of FIG.7 showing the clamp faces in their final and operational position and where bolts and washers and nuts have been employed to permanently affix together the clamp faces and / or clamps to one another and / or also to the alternative plugs 77. FIG.9 is a top plan view of the apparatuses of FIG.4. FIG.10 is a top plan view of the apparatuses of FIG.7. FIG.11 is a top plan view of the apparatuses of FIG.8. FIG.12 to FIG.15 illustrate yet another apparatuses useful for connecting together modules of the present disclosure as well as process steps for using the apparatuses to connect the modules. FIG. 12 illustrates a side plan view of apparatuses useful for connecting together modules of the present disclosure. Shown are: alternate plug bodies 77A that differ from alternate plugs 77 in that alternate plug bodies 77A may be formed integral with clamp face portions 25A. A Clamp face portion 25A associated with a particular alternate plug body 77A may project forward from the remainder of the body of the alternate plug body 77A with which is associated the clamp face portion 25A. Alternate plugs 77A comprise threads 21B, that may be parallel laid threads and / or ribs, as shown, or that may be spiral threads (not shown). The clamp face portions 25A also comprise ribs and / or threads 21C. Alternate plug bodies 77A may be configured in such a fashion that clamp face portions 25A of opposing and mating alternate plug bodies 77A overlap a portion of the opposing and mating alternate plug 77A especially a portion of an alternate plug body 77A where the threads or ribs 21B integral with the portion of an alternate plug body 77A not including threads and / or ribs 21C of the clamp face portion 25A integral with that alternate plug body 77A. The threads and / or ribs 21B associated with the portion of the alternate plug bodies 77A may be configured to mesh with the threads and / or ribs 21C of the clamp face portion of an opposing and mating alternate plug body 77A. Alternate plugs 77A also comprise face ends 23A that may be configured to abut the face end 23 of an opposing and mating alternate plug body 77A in final assembled connection effected by connecting together opposing and mating alternate plugs 77A, i.e. when opposing and mating alternate plug bodies 77A may be finally connected to one another. Alternate plug bodies 77A may comprise a tapered portion 22A, as shown, or may comprise a non-tapered portion (not shown) in place of tapered portion 22A. Alternate plugs 77A may connected to pipes 2, 3 and 4 at plastic welds and / or welds 24A. As stated above, the clamp face portions 25A also comprise ribs and / or threads 21C and may be configured to be capable of mating and / or meshing with adjacent alternate plugs 77A in such a fashion that the ribs and / or threads of both alternate plugs 77A, i.e. alternate plugs 77A attached to different pipes 2, 3 or 4, may be capable of being permanently joined to one another in such a fashion as to connect adjacent and subsequent pipes 2, 3 and 4. When finally attached together, the alternate clamp faces portions 25A enclose at least a portion of alternate plugs 77A thereby forming alternate sleeves 27A enclosing alternate plugs 77A as illustrated in FIG.14 and FIG.15. Clamp face portions 25A may be permanently connected to one another by bolts that may be inserted into and situated in through-holes 26A that may include recessed external faces adapted to permit bolt heads and nuts and washers to be recessed into and below the external most surface of clamp face portions 25A. FIG. 13 illustrates a cross sectional view of the apparatuses of FIG. 12 taken in a plane lying parallel to the centrally disposed axis of the alternative plug bodies 77A and / or of the pipes 2, 3 and 4, where the plane may also lie in a plane parallel to the earth’s gravitational force vector. As shown in FIG. 13, alternate plug bodies 77A may include hollow cavities 28A. FIG. 14 illustrates a side plan view of the apparatuses of FIG. 12 taken after the terminal ends 23A have been abutted together and / or when the alternative plugs 77A are situated with respect to one another in a manner that permits them to be permanently connected to one another, as may be accomplished using bolts situated in the apertures and / or through-holes 26A. FIG.15 illustrates an alternative view of FIG.14 showing two opposing and mating alternate plug bodies 77A in their final and operational position, that may include after situating bolts and nuts and washers into the apertures 26A so as to affix together the two alternate plug bodies 77A including their integral clamp face portions 25A. FIG.12A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the apparatuses illustrated in FIG. 12 where apertures and / or through-holes 26A are not present, and where grooves 55 are formed into the clamp faces, where the grooves 55 are configured to receive straps that are configured to be capable of being placed and situated around the entirety of the exterior of the clamp faces and thus about the exterior circumference of the alternative plug bodies 77A’. The straps may be tensed so as to retain the clamp faces in the closed position and thus retain the plug bodies 77A’ in their final and closed position, without the need for bolts and through-holes. FIG. 12B illustrates the alternative plug bodies 77A’ of FIG. 12A in the assembled and closed and final position. FIG.12C is a view of the alternative plug bodies 77A’ of FIG.12A, where straps 56 are situated within grooves 55, so as to constrict and compress together the alternative plug bodies 77A’, thus retaining the plug bodies 77A’ in their final and closed position without the need for bolts and through-holes. Whatever type of plug 7, 77, 77A or 77A’ is used to connect together individual models in order to form the circular aqua pen of the present disclosure, at least portions of the plug occupy space that: a) would have been internal the hollow cavity of a pipe had the pipes connected together by the plug not have been separate pipes but were one continuous length of pipe; and / or b) is in line with and / or coaxial with space internal adjacent pipes intended to be connected together by and / or that may be connected together by the plug. In further reference to alternate plugs 77 and alternate plug bodies 77A, the clamp faces and clamp face portions, respectively, can be affixed together by being bound together by straps rather than by using bolts. When straps are used, ratcheting strap assemblies are preferred. When straps are used, the alternate plugs 77 and alternate plug bodies 77A may be formed with grooves configured to retain the straps and prevent them from sliding laterally along the clamp faces and / or clamp face portions, and also a depressed zone may be formed into the clamp faces and / or clamp face portions that is configured to prevent the ratcheting mechanism associated with a ratcheting strap from contacting the plastic material of any portion of any sleeve 27 or 27A so as to preclude cracking the plastic. Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, itis understood that such disclosure may be purely illustrative and may be not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, various alterations, modifications and / or alternative applications of the disclosure are, no doubt, able to be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art upon having read the preceding disclosure. Accordingly, it may be intended that the following claims be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications or alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 4 February 2025 (04.02.2025)1. An individual module (1) for forming a floating portion of a circular aqua pen, the individual module (1) comprising two curved lengths of plastic pipe (2) that are permanently formed into curves, the lengths of plastic pipe further comprising a longer pipe (3) and a shorter pipe (4), wherein the curved shapes of the pipes correspond to arcs of a circle, wherein the longer pipe and the shorter pipe each comprise an arc of a different circle, wherein the longer pipe comprises an arc of a circle belonging to a circle of greater diameter and radius in comparison to a circle that the shorter length of pipe comprises an arc of, the lengths of pipe attached together by brackets (5) so that the curved lengths of pipe have their convex-most shapes facing the same direction and also have their concave-most shapes facing in a direction that is opposite the direction faced by their convex-most shapes, and so that the lengths of pipe lie in the same plane.

2. A circular floating aqua pen (9) for rough seas comprising a plurality of the modules 1 of claim 1 connected end-to-end.

3. A process for forming a circular floating aqua pen (9), the process comprising connecting end to end a plurality of the modules (1) of claim 1.

4. A process for forming an individual module (1) for forming a floating portion of a circular aqua pen (9), the process comprising steps of: providing two or more lengths of plastic pipe (2), the lengths of pipe having had their relative lengths calculated so that after being curved into a curve, several modules (1) can be connected end to end and create a predetermined diameter anulus comprising the floating portion of a circular aqua pen (9); heating each of the lengths of pipe until the plastic reaches a temperature at which it may be bent without destroying the pipe; bending each of the lengths of pipe into a predetermined curved shape, wherein a longer length of pipe is bent into a curve belonging to an arc of a circle having a greater radius than that of the arc of a circle to which is bent a shorter length of pipe;connecting the two bent lengths of pipe to one another by brackets (5) in such a fashion that they are permanently fixed into position relative to one another, so that the concave-most face of each pipe face in the same direction and so that the entirety of both lengths of pipe lie in the same plane.

5. The process of claim 4 further comprising forming a plurality of the individual modules (1) of a length so that when measured across from one end to the other of the convex-most side of the longest pipe (3) comprising each module, and including any sleeve (6) already attached to said longest pipe (3), that the distance be as close as feasible to forty feet and not greater.

6. The process of claim 5 further comprising transporting the plurality of modules (1) by being first packing them into a forty foot shipping container.

7. The process of claim 6 further comprising forming the aqua pen (9) from a plurality of modules (1) with a crane situated on and / or besides a quay rather than using a boat, resulting in avoiding having to use large areas of land and two to three or more large machines such as forklifts to assemble the floating aqua pen (9) on land before it is launched, thus avoiding all the environmental damage done by using such large machines to assemble known aqua pens using known methods.

8. A process for shipping and assembling a plurality of modules (1) for forming a floating portion of a circular aqua pen (9), each module (1) including only two curved pipes and at least two brackets (5), the process comprising: prefabricating each module (1); placing the prefabricated module (1) entirely within a shipping container of a predetermined size; transporting the shipping container, with the prefabricated module contained entirely within, from a first, prefabrication location to a second, assembly location; removing the module from the shipping container at the assembly location; andassembling a plurality of modules (1) into a floating portion of a circular rough seas and oceanic aqua pen (9) at the assembly location.

9. An apparatus for engaging a plurality of independent and distinct modules (1) for forming a floating ring shaped and / or circular shaped portion of an aqua pen (9), each of the independent and distinct modules including a first curved pipe (2) and a second curved pipe (2), the first and second curved pipes (2) attached together via at least one bracket (5) at a predetermined lateral spacing so that the two curved pipes lie within a same plane, each of the first and second curved pipes including first and second cut ends, the plurality of independent and distinct modules configured to be capable of being connected together in end-to-end series in a ring and / or circular configuration, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of connectors (7), each connector being: i) selectively engaged with a chosen first or second cut end of a corresponding curved pipe by being butted onto, and attached to, a rim thereof, by a plastic weld; and ii) configured to be capable of mating with another one of the plurality of connectors so as to form a connection between and joining in end-to-end fashion at least two pipes where each of the at least two pipes is associated with a different and distinct one of the plurality of independent and distinct modules configured to be capable of being connected together in end-to-end fashion; a connection sleeve (6) configured for selective engagement of at least two of the plurality of connectors (7) with each of the at least two of the plurality of connectors being associated with chosen first or second cut ends of corresponding curved pipes of adjacent ones of the plurality of independent modules in the end-to-end series.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the two curved pipes (2) are comprised of high density polyethylene ("HOPE").

11. The apparatus of either of claims 9-10, wherein the connectors (7) each include a tapered end and an oppositely facing, spaced-apart non-tapered end, the non-tapered end being configured for butting upon, but withoutinsertion into, the chosen first or second cut end of the corresponding curved pipe.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 9-11, wherein the connection sleeve (6) is a single-piece cylindrically tubular construct.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 9-11, wherein the connection sleeve includes at least two curved clamp face portions configured for selective mutual attachment into a cylindrical connection sleeve.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 9-13, wherein at least a portion of the connection sleeve is formed integrally with at least one of the first and second connectors.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 9-14, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is at least partially threaded for threadable connection to the connection sleeve.

16. The apparatus of any of claims 9-14, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is at least partially ribbed for suitable frictional connection to the connection sleeve.

17. The apparatus of any of claims 9-16, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is at least partially formed of at least one of high modulus polyethylene ("HMPE"), rubber, and an elastomeric material.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least two curved clamp face portions are configured for selective mutual attachment via at least one of adhesives, welding, straps, and bolts.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 9-11 and 13-18, wherein the connection sleeve includes at least two curved clamp face portions configured for selective mutual attachment into a cylindrical connection sleeve, each clamp face portion being integrally formed with a selected one of the first and second connectors.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 9-16, wherein each connector is selectively engaged with a chosen first or second cut end of a corresponding curved pipeby being welded onto a rim thereof without the connector entering a lumen of the curved pipe.

21. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connection sleeve includes a plurality of clamps configured to be capable of being joined to one another to enclose at least a portion of at least one connector.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the clamps are configured to be permanently connected to one another by bolts selectively inserted into and situated in through-holes including recessed external faces adapted to permit bolt heads and nuts and washers to be recessed into and below the external most surface of the clamps.

23. The apparatus of any of claims 21-22, wherein at least a portion of a selected connector is formed integral with a clamp face portion of a selected clamp, the clamp projecting forward from the remainder of a connector body with which is associated the clamp face portion.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the connector body of the selected connector is configured such that clamp face portions of opposing and mating alternate connector bodies overlap a portion of the opposing and mating connector.

25. A method for forming a main floating ring of a circular and / or ring shaped aqua pen, the method including connecting a plurality of distinct independent modules in end-to-end series to form the main floating ring of the circular and / or ring shaped aqua pen so that that main floating ring comprises serially adjacent modules, each module consisting of two curved pipes, the two curved pipes each comprising first and second cut ends, the method comprising: attaching via a butt joint comprising a plastic weld a cylindrically shaped inboard end portion of each of a first and second connector to the cut end of one of each of two oppositely disposed first and second cut ends facing each other of adjacent and aligned curved pipes of respective two of said modules situated serially adjacent to one another; and attaching an outboard end of each of the first and second connectors to one another by mating together their outboard ends where the first and second connectors are configured to have opposing mating ends configured to meshtogether so that threads and / or ribs forming the opposing end of at least one of the first and second connectors mate to and mesh with the opposing and mating end of the other connector.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a connection sleeve includes a plurality of clamps configured to be capable of being joined to one another to enclose at least a portion of at least one connector.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the clamps are configured to be permanently connected to one another by bolts selectively inserted into and situated in through-holes including recessed external faces adapted to permit bolt heads and nuts and washers to be recessed into and below the external most surface of the clamps.

28. The apparatus of any of claims 25-27, wherein at least a portion of a selected connector is formed integral with a clamp face portion of a selected clamp, the clamp projecting forward from the remainder of a plug body with which is associated the clamp face portion.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the plug body of the selected connector is configured such that clamp face portions of opposing and mating alternate plug bodies overlap a portion of the opposing and mating plug.

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