Floating Ensilation Float with Grinding and Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fish ensilation systems face challenges in efficiently processing large quantities of fish during emergency slaughtering, as they lack sufficient grinding and storage capacity, leading to issues with viscosity, stickiness, and the risk of infection, and require additional water and ensiling liquid, which increases costs and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A float for ensilation with closed compartments, a grinder inlet, and a dosing device for ensiling liquid, combined with a rough stirring propeller to prevent bone deposition and ensure thorough mixing, allowing for efficient grinding, storage, and acidification of fish mass, enhancing capacity and hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water is added to reduce stickiness of ground fish mass, then pumpability is improved, but processing costs and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepumpabilityVSAvoidprocessing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by dosing ensiling liquid to the ground fish mass during the grinding process itself, rather than adding water after grinding. This timing allows the ensiling liquid to be incorporated at the optimal moment, achieving proper consistency without requiring additional water that would later need evaporation or disposal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of liquid addition timing and type. Instead of adding water after grinding, it doses ensiling liquid during grinding, which simultaneously achieves the desired consistency and initiates the ensiling process. This parameter change eliminates the need for subsequent water evaporation and reduces overall liquid requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If water is added to improve pumpability, then flow properties are improved, but additional ensiling liquid and base are required, increasing costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow propertiesVSAvoidensiling liquid quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing device adds the correct amount of ensiling liquid during grinding, performing the liquid addition action in advance. This preliminary dosing ensures proper flow properties are achieved immediately, eliminating the need for subsequent water additions and the associated extra ensiling liquid and neutralization base.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the ensiling liquid itself to achieve proper flow properties, rather than using water as a separate step. The ensiling liquid serves dual purposes: it provides the necessary consistency for pumping and initiates the ensiling process, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating additional material requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If water is added without sufficient mixing, then viscosity is reduced, but fermentation risk increases in insufficiently ensiled parts

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidfermentation risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing device performs preliminary action by adding ensiling liquid during grinding, ensuring the liquid is distributed throughout the mass before pumping begins. This timing ensures proper mixing occurs during the grinding process itself, eliminating pockets of insufficiently ensiled material that could ferment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the mixing action with the grinding process. The grinder simultaneously performs size reduction and mixing functions, while the dosing device adds liquid during this combined operation. This merging ensures uniform distribution of ensiling liquid throughout the ground mass, preventing fermentation risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Volume of stationary object

If existing ensiling tank capacity is used, then storage is maintained, but emergency slaughtering capacity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidemergency slaughtering capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the ensiling system mobile through the floating platform. Instead of a fixed tank with limited capacity, the system can be positioned at different locations around the fish farm, effectively increasing the available processing capacity for emergency slaughtering while maintaining adequate storage volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the ensiling function from the fixed farm infrastructure by using a separate floating platform. This segmentation allows the ensiling capacity to be independently scaled and positioned, enabling emergency slaughtering operations without being constrained by the fixed tank capacity of the main farm facility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Ease of operation

If fixed feeding float is used, then feeding function is provided, but mobility for emergency response is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding functionVSAvoidmobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The floating platform performs multiple functions: it can conduct regular feeding operations when positioned at the fish farm, and it can be moved to different locations for emergency slaughtering and disease outbreak response. This multi-functionality provides both feeding capability and mobility, resolving the contradiction between fixed operation and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a fixed feeding float to a dynamic floating platform that can change position as needed. The platform maintains its feeding function while gaining the ability to move to different locations, providing both operational ease and adaptability for emergency responses throughout the fish farm area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The float effectively handles large fish quantities, prevents bone consolidation, reduces the need for additional water and ensiling liquid, and ensures efficient acidification, thereby improving processing efficiency and reducing the risk of infection and environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a grinder (5) arranged to receive and grind fish

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical grinding: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

A rough stirring propeller (8) arranged to stir and mix said ground fish mass and said ensiling liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical stirring: Stirring

Implementation Method 3

a dosing device (6) arranged to dose a desired amount of ensiling liquid from a ensiling liquid tank (7) to the ground fish mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcidification: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2667734B1Float for ensilation
Publication Date: 2015.03.04 HAVSTERK
  • EP2667734B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2667734B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2667734B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention is a float for ensilation, comprising the following features : - one or more hulls (1) with one or more closed tank rooms (3) in said hull (1), - with an inlet (4) to a grinder (5) arranged for receiving and grinding fish and for feeding the ground fish down into one or more of the tank rooms (3). The ensilation float further comprises a dosage apparatus (6) arranged for dosing a desired amount of ensilating liquid from an ensilating liquid tank (7) to the ground fish mass. Directly within the tank room (3) is arranged a coarse agitating propeller (8) arranged for agitating the ground fish mass in the tank room (3) for preventing settling or sedimentation of bone remains and other material in the bottom of the tank room (3), and for mixing the ground fish mass and the ensiling liquid to a sufficient degree.