Hydraulic Fish Feed Delivery to Prevent Wind-Blown Feed Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing feeding systems for offshore fish preserves face inefficiencies as feeds are easily blown away by wind and take a long time to blend with water, leading to insufficient supply to fish.

Innovation Solution

A feeding device that mixes feeds with water to form a liquid mixture, which is then conveyed under pressure through hoses to the fish preserve, ensuring efficient delivery and sinking of the feeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If feeds are sprayed by air flow onto water surface, then feeds can be delivered to fish preserve, but feeds are blown away by wind and lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding efficiencyVSAvoidfeed loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Water is introduced as an intermediary medium to transport feeds. The feeds are mixed with water to form a slurry that is pumped through hoses and discharged into the fish preserve, eliminating direct air flow spraying and preventing wind-blown feed loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from pneumatic (air flow) feed delivery to hydraulic (water-based) feed delivery. A pump mixes feeds with water and conveys the mixture through hoses under pressure, providing controlled and efficient feed distribution without wind interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If dry feeds are sprayed onto water, then feeds can reach water surface, but feeds take long time to blend and sink

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding efficiencyVSAvoidfeed sinking time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Feeds are pre-mixed with water in a mixing unit before delivery to create a slurry. This preliminary mixing ensures feeds are already wet and ready for immediate dispersion and sinking upon discharge, eliminating the delay associated with dry feeds needing to absorb water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The hydraulic delivery system discharges the feed-water mixture directly into the water column, where the pre-mixed feeds immediately disperse and sink due to their already-saturated state, significantly reducing the time required for blending and sinking compared to dry feed spraying

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If feeds are sprayed by air flow, then feeds can be distributed, but feeding efficiency decreases due to feed loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed distributionVSAvoidfeeding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces pneumatic spray distribution with hydraulic pump-based delivery through hoses. The pump conveys the feed-water mixture under pressure to designated locations, and the mixture is discharged to distribute feeds evenly and efficiently throughout the fish preserve, maintaining operational ease while significantly improving feeding efficiency by eliminating feed loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 system effectively suppresses feed loss due to wind and waves, ensuring timely and efficient supply of feeds to the fish.

Implementation Method 1

The pump device conveys mixed liquid of the feeds and the water under pressure to hoses for feeding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4656042A1Feeding device and feeding system
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4656042A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4656042A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4656042A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] Feeds are efficiently supplied into a fish preserve. [Solution] The feeding device 100 supplies feeds to fish in a fish preserve 600. The feeding device 100 includes a storage unit 1 storing the feeds E, a pump device supplying water W, and a mixing unit 2, 6. The mixing unit 2, 6 mixes the feeds E supplied from the storage unit 1 with the water W. The pump device 3 conveys the mixed liquid F of the feeds E and the water W under pressure to the hoses 4 for feeding.