Multi-Branch Net Box Trap for Efficient Fish Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing net box traps have low catching efficiency due to tight trap netting, leading to fish injury and death from low oxygen levels, and require labor-intensive installation with additional stiffening structures that disturb the environment.
Innovation Solution
A multi-branch net box trap design with symmetrically arranged branches, no additional stiffening structures, and a simpler anchor system, allowing the trap netting to be loose and reducing fish injury, while enabling efficient and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If additional stiffening structures (frames, stakes, support poles) are used to retain the shape of the trap body, then the trap structure stability is improved, but the device complexity and installation labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into multiple independent branches (at least three) arranged symmetrically around a common center. Each branch functions as an independent unit that can be assembled and deployed separately, reducing the complexity of installing a single large complex structure with numerous stiffening elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple trap branches are combined into a single multi-branch trap system that shares common components (anchors, floats, guide fences). This merging reduces the total number of stiffening structures needed compared to using multiple separate single-branch traps, while maintaining structural stability through the symmetric arrangement.
2Reliability
If the trap netting is tightened to retain fish, then the fish containment is improved, but the fish are injured and die due to low oxygen concentration and tight packing
Solution Approach 1:
The trap design incorporates a three-dimensional trap box volume that provides vertical and lateral space for fish movement. The symmetric multi-branch configuration creates a volumetric containment space rather than a flat two-dimensional net arrangement, allowing fish to distribute themselves in three dimensions and maintain better water flow and oxygen circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The trap box is nested within the multi-branch structure, creating a contained volume that is protected by the outer branches and guide fences. This nested configuration allows the netting to be arranged in layers that contain fish while maintaining internal space, rather than a single tight net layer.
3Device complexity
If a single branch trap is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the catching efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The trap system is segmented into multiple independent branches (at least three) that can function simultaneously to catch fish from different directions. Each branch acts as an independent catching unit, multiplying the overall catching efficiency while maintaining relatively simple individual branch structures that are easy to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-branch trap design creates a common fish court that serves all branches simultaneously, and uses shared components (anchors, floats, guide fences) that perform multiple functions. The symmetric arrangement allows the trap to effectively cover a larger area and intercept fish from multiple directions, enhancing productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Ease of operation
If guide fences and luminaires are used to attract and guide fish, then the fish guidance is improved, but the environmental disturbance increases and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaires (artificial light sources) are completely removed from the trap design. Instead of using artificial lighting to attract fish, the trap relies on passive geometric guidance structures (guide fences and wing configurations) that direct fish into the trap boxes through their physical arrangement, eliminating environmental disturbance from light pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide fences and wing structures serve as intermediary elements that passively redirect fish movement toward the trap entrances. These geometric intermediaries use the natural movement patterns of fish and the physical configuration of the water environment to guide fish into the traps without requiring active attraction mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
Present invention relates to a multi-branch net box trap (1) comprising a plurality of symmetrically arranged individual net box trap branches (2) radially extending from a common centre (C), wherein each net box trap branch comprises a trap body (9) comprising in said trap body a trap mouth (3), followed by at least one narrowing (6), a trap box (7) and a closure (8). Between the trap bodies of the box trap branches there are guide fences (10) directed in the direction of the common centre, and the trap mouths of the box trap branches face the common centre. The trap mouth wings (4) of the branches form a common fish court (11) between the branches. The common fish court is divided by the internal guide fences (12) radiating from the common centre into equal parts.