Removable Fish Containers with Displacement Valves for Continuous Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pet stores face inefficiencies and high costs in displaying and managing large quantities of live fish, as current methods require manual handling and regular upkeep, making it cumbersome for customers to purchase fish without disrupting the water flow and requiring employee assistance.
Innovation Solution
A fish display apparatus with a multi-shelf array and reservoir tank system that continuously circulates water through individually removable containers, using displacement or rocker valves to ensure uninterrupted water flow, allowing customers to select and purchase fish without staff intervention, and featuring self-closing valves to manage water flow when containers are removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fish are housed in multiple separate tanks, then individual fish can be displayed and purchased, but employee time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the aquarium into multiple individual compartments or sections, each capable of housing a single fish or small group of fish. These segmented sections are arranged in a grid-like structure with dividers that create separate display areas, allowing customers to view and purchase individual fish while maintaining a unified water circulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The water circulation system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides continuous water flow to all individual fish sections, enables automated feeding through distributed dispensing mechanisms, and facilitates easy cleaning through centralized drainage. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate systems for each tank.
2Productivity
If manual handling and netting is used to transfer fish, then fish can be packaged for purchase, but labor time and customer service requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables customers to directly select and purchase fish without requiring employee intervention. Each individual fish section is clearly visible and accessible, with pricing and identification information displayed. Customers can approach the aquarium, select their desired fish, and complete the purchase through an automated or self-service checkout process.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated identification and tracking system serves as an intermediary between the fish display and the sales process. Each fish or section is equipped with visible identification markers or tags that can be scanned or recognized by the point-of-sale system, automatically retrieving pricing and purchase information without requiring manual lookup or employee knowledge.
3Reliability
If standard aquariums are used, then fish can be displayed, but regular upkeep requires employee man-hours
Solution Approach 1:
The water circulation system operates continuously, providing constant water flow and oxygenation to all fish sections without interruption. This continuous operation maintains optimal water quality and fish health automatically, eliminating the need for manual water changes or quality monitoring that would require employee time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and monitoring mechanisms that continuously detect water quality parameters such as temperature, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen. When parameters fall outside acceptable ranges, the system automatically adjusts circulation rates, activates heating or cooling elements, or alerts maintenance personnel, reducing the frequency and intensity of manual interventions.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If fish are isolated in separate containers, then aggressive fish like Betta can be displayed safely, but water flow management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The aquarium is divided into physically separated compartments using dividers or partitions that prevent aggressive fish from contacting other fish. Each compartment is independently designed to house single aggressive fish or compatible groups, with the physical separation being the primary method of conflict prevention rather than relying on complex flow control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
While individual fish sections are physically separated, the water circulation system merges all sections into a unified flow network. A single centralized pump and filtration system serves all compartments simultaneously, with water flowing through each section in sequence or in parallel, simplifying the overall water management infrastructure.
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 efficient and cost-effective display and sale of live fish by maintaining continuous water circulation, reducing employee involvement, and allowing customers to easily select and purchase fish while ensuring the health and well-being of the fish through automated water management.
Implementation Method 1
a reservoir tank (10) containing a water pump (11) to deliver water into and through the individual fish containers (30)
Implementation Method 2
Individual containers are arrayed in rows beneath the transverse supply conduits or troughs in association with displacement valves positioned on the undersides of the transverse supply conduits or troughs
Implementation Method 3
The water is supplied to the individual containers through a vertically oriented supply conduit in fluid communication with multiple horizontally oriented transverse supply troughs
Implementation Method 4
An outflow opening or conduit delivers excess water from each container into one of multiple horizontally oriented transverse return troughs or conduits
Implementation Method 5
Excess water from the transverse supply troughs and the water from the transverse return troughs enters a vertically oriented return conduit and is delivered back into the reservoir tank
Data Source
AI summary
A fish display apparatus continuously circulating water through a plurality of removable live fish containers, whereby a large number of individual containers containing one or more fish may be easily displayed to customers and whereby any single container may be removed by the customer for purchase of the fish contained therein without stopping or interfering with the flow of water passing through the remaining containers.