Peripheral Crossbar for Fish Cage Feeding and Bird Net Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fish farming in circular cages faces challenges such as fodder loss due to water currents and wind, labor-intensive manual feeding, safety hazards, inefficient cleaning processes, and conflicts between feed dispensers and bird nets, leading to suboptimal feeding and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a crossbar system that supports a feed dispenser and underwater camera, allowing for controlled feeding and monitoring, while eliminating conflicts with bird nets by positioning the bird net above the crossbar and enabling remote cleaning of the fish cage without the need for ROVs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a central tower is used to support bird nets, then birds are kept away from the fish cage, but the tower obstructs fodder distribution and competes with the feed dispenser for the central position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the central tower structure from the fish cage and replaces it with a peripheral support structure that runs along the outer perimeter. This extraction of the obstructing element eliminates the conflict between bird net support and feed dispenser operation, allowing fodder to be distributed freely across the entire cage area without obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The bird net support is repositioned from a central vertical tower to a peripheral structure that follows the outer circumference of the cage. This dimensional repositioning moves the support function to the boundary, freeing up the central area for optimal feed dispenser operation and improved fodder distribution patterns.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a central tower supports the bird net, then bird protection is achieved, but the feed dispenser cannot achieve optimal positioning and fodder is crushed
Solution Approach 1:
The central tower is completely removed from the system. Instead, bird net support functions are distributed along the peripheral structure, eliminating the physical obstruction that prevented optimal feed dispenser positioning and caused fodder crushing in the central area.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than having the bird net support structure intrude into the cage interior from the center, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the support structure on the outer perimeter, allowing the feed dispenser to occupy and operate from the central position without interference.
3Productivity
If manual feeding is performed to reach small fish at the periphery, then all fish receive adequate fodder, but labor requirements and safety hazards increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The feed dispenser is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing it to move freely along rails mounted on the peripheral structure. This enables the dispenser to reach any location around the cage perimeter, automatically delivering fodder to small fish at the edges without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining comprehensive feeding coverage while eliminating labor-intensive operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service feeding where the automated feed dispenser independently navigates to different positions around the cage and distributes fodder as needed. Small fish at the periphery receive adequate feeding through the dispenser's ability to reach them, eliminating the need for human operators to manually feed fish in hard-to-reach areas.
4Productivity
If expensive ROVs are used for cleaning the fish cage, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but operational costs increase and fish are disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces cleaning equipment that is suspended from and integrated with the peripheral support structure, using this structure as an intermediary platform. This eliminates the need to import expensive ROVs from outside the cage, as the peripheral structure itself serves as the mounting platform for cleaning operations, reducing operational costs while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral support structure serves multiple functions: it supports the bird nets along the perimeter, provides mounting for the feed dispenser, and serves as the suspension platform for cleaning equipment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate expensive ROV systems, reducing operational costs while maintaining comprehensive cleaning effectiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
Device for holding and positioning equipment at fish cage (1) having mainly circular, horizontal cross-section comprising at least one buoyant ring (7) and a seine (8) attached directly or indirectly to the buoyant ring (7). The device comprises a crossbar (2) arranged diametrically across the fish cage (1), the crossbar comprising at each end a support structure (10 resp. 11) equipped with wheels (26) running on a rail (3) arranged to the buoyant ring (7) of the fish cage (1). The crossbar (2) is arranged to be rotated over the fish cage (1) by simultaneously moving the support structures (10, 11) along the rail (3), the crossbar (2) being provided with an automatically adjustable bearing arm (29) to compensate for deviations from prefect circularly shape of the fish cage (1) when the crossbar (2) is rotated.