Break-away Release Link for Fishing Buoy Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial fishing gear buoy lines pose a significant threat to sea-going mammals, as they are too strong for creatures to break free, leading to entanglement and injury or death.
Innovation Solution
A break-away release link is introduced between the floating buoy and the fishing apparatus, featuring a section of rope with eye splices that break at a predetermined tensile strength, allowing entangled creatures to escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buoy lines are made stronger (250% stronger than before), then the fishing gear reliability is improved, but the harm to sea creatures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy line is segmented into multiple sections with break-away release links installed at predetermined intervals. Each release link acts as a independent failure point that can break at a predetermined tensile strength, allowing the line to segment and release if a creature becomes entangled, thus preventing harm while maintaining overall line strength for fishing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The break-away release link changes the tensile strength parameter at specific locations along the buoy line. The release link is designed with a lower tensile strength than the main buoy line, creating a controlled weak point that breaks at a predetermined force level, enabling the system to transition from high strength (for fishing) to low strength (for creature release) at critical moments
2Ease of operation
If a release mechanism is installed in the buoy line, then the escape ability for sea creatures is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The break-away release link is designed to automatically activate when a predetermined tensile strength is reached during creature entanglement. The system requires no external control, signaling, or complex activation mechanisms - the release link simply breaks when the force threshold is exceeded, allowing the creature to escape. This self-activating design maintains ease of operation while minimizing added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The break-away release link is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that may break during operation. Rather than using a complex reusable release mechanism, the system employs a straightforward broken link design that provides immediate release functionality and can be replaced if needed, minimizing both complexity and cost
3Productivity
If traditional strong ropes are used in commercial fishing, then the productivity is improved, but the injury to sea creatures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy line is divided into multiple sections with break-away release links positioned at predetermined intervals. This segmentation creates multiple potential release points along the line, increasing the probability that a creature can escape at some point rather than being completely entangled throughout the entire line, thus reducing injury while maintaining fishing productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The tensile strength parameter is changed at specific locations where break-away release links are installed. These localized strength reductions create controlled weak points that break at predetermined force levels, allowing the line to maintain high strength for productive fishing operations while providing escape opportunities for creatures through controlled failure points
Data Source
AI summary
A break-away release link that is used as an attachment to at sea fixed gear commercial fishing. The break-away release link is designed to break away at a designated tensile strength when undersea creatures become entangled with this type of commercial fixed fishing gear. The break-away release link attachment can be used in any commercial fishing industry such as lobster, crab, finfish, or other types whereas fixed gear, such as lobster traps or gillnets that are placed upon the ocean floor and are attached by a buoy rope to a surface buoy for retrieval at some later time by the fisherperson. The break-away release link is designed to break away at a tensile strength of between 600 and 3,000 pounds so that sea going creatures who becomes entangled with the buoy rope can easily part the rope and escape serious injury and or death when they are endangered.