Marine Specimen Capture System Using Induced Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing invasive lionfish, such as spear fishing, often damage or destroy the specimen, making them unsuitable for mass market consumption, and existing systems are not designed for live capture or operation by a single diver or remotely operated vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A marine specimen capture system comprising a specimen capture assembly with a thruster assembly and actuation system, allowing for the live capture and transport of specimens like lionfish, featuring a capture member with an inlet, outlet, and conduit, and thruster units generating an induced flow to pull specimens into the system, which can be handheld by a diver or mounted on a remotely operated underwater vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional spear fishing or trident methods are used to capture lionfish, then the capture method is simple and direct, but the specimen is damaged or destroyed, making it unsuitable for mass market consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a capture assembly with a conduit and mesh as intermediary elements between the diver and the lionfish. The mesh acts as a mediator that allows water and light to pass through while containing the specimen, preventing direct contact that would cause damage. This intermediary structure enables live capture while maintaining specimen integrity for market consumption.
2Ease of operation
If a live capture system is designed to be handheld by a single diver, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for thruster assembly and capture mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The capture system is divided into distinct functional segments: a handheld handle portion for diver operation, a capture assembly with mesh and conduit for specimen containment, and a thruster assembly for generating water flow. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall portability and functionality for single-diver operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: the mesh contains the specimen while allowing water passage, the conduit directs water flow from the thruster, and the entire assembly can be operated manually or mounted on ROVs. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the capture system is designed for remote operation by ROVs, then accessibility to deep water specimens is improved, but device complexity increases due to mounting and actuation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The capture system incorporates dynamic elements including a movable capture assembly that can be positioned relative to the ROV body, adjustable thruster units that can be actuated independently, and flexible conduit connections that accommodate movement. This dynamic design enables the system to adapt to various operational scenarios in deep water while managing complexity through controlled adjustability rather than fixed rigid structures.
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
Enables the capture of marine specimens alive and intact, facilitating their transfer for consumption or further handling without physical trauma, and allows for operation by a single diver or remote actuation, addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of thruster units operative to generate an induced flow along an induced flow path into at least a portion of the specimen capture member through the capture member inlet, wherein the induced flow pulls a marine specimen into and through at least the capture member inlet of the specimen capture member
Data Source
AI summary
A marine specimen capture system for use in capturing a marine specimen alive and intact from an underwater environment includes a specimen capture assembly comprising at least one specimen capture member. The at least one specimen capture member having a capture member inlet and a capture member outlet. A thruster assembly comprising at least one thruster unit is interconnected to the specimen capture assembly. More in particular, the thruster assembly is operative to generate an induced flow along an induced flow path into at least a portion of the at least one specimen capture member through the capture member inlet, wherein the induced flow is sufficient to pull a marine specimen into and through at least the capture member inlet of the at least one specimen capture member.