Automatic Retractable Float for Crab Net Line Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crab nets often experience tangling issues with their lines, leading to safety hazards, inefficiencies, and increased time and material losses, especially in commercial fishing, as existing solutions have not effectively addressed this problem.
Innovation Solution
An automatic retractable float with a built-in retraction and extension mechanism that keeps the line taut between the float and the crab net, using a spring-loaded system to prevent tangling and manage line length based on tidal changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long line is used to connect the float to the crab net, then the float can float higher on the surface and indicate the location of the crab net, but the line becomes loose and tangles with itself and other objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a spring mechanism that dynamically adjusts the line length between the float and crab net. The spring allows the line to extend when the float rises on incoming tide and retract when the tide recedes, maintaining optimal tension and preventing tangling through continuous adaptive adjustment rather than fixed length
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism changes the physical state of the line from loose to taut by altering its effective length and tension. The spring's elastic properties allow it to store and release mechanical energy, automatically adjusting the line parameter (length/tension) in response to tidal changes without manual intervention
2Ease of operation
If the line is left loose during deployment, then the crab net can be easily deployed, but the loose line causes safety hazards by tripping fishers or jamming propellers
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism provides dynamic tension control, keeping the line taut during deployment and operation. This eliminates the safety hazards of loose lines while maintaining ease of operation, as the spring automatically manages line tension without requiring manual adjustment or intervention from the fisher
3Ease of manufacture
If the line is manually untangled and wound up after retrieval, then the line can be organized for storage, but this process takes many minutes and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism performs the line organization function automatically through self-service. As the float is retrieved and rises to the surface, the spring automatically winds the line back onto itself or into a compact configuration, eliminating the need for manual untangling and winding operations and significantly improving fishing productivity
4Productivity
If multiple crab nets are deployed simultaneously, then fishing coverage is increased, but the lines from multiple nets tangle together creating more problems
Solution Approach 1:
Each crab net with the spring mechanism maintains independent dynamic tension control on its line. This prevents lines from multiple nets from tangling together, as each line remains taut and controlled by its own spring mechanism, allowing increased fishing coverage without the compounding tangling problems that would occur with multiple loose lines
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 automatic retractable float significantly reduces the time and effort required for deploying and retrieving crab nets, enhances safety by minimizing tangling risks, and improves operational efficiency for both hobby and commercial fishermen.
Implementation Method 1
an automatic retraction and extension mechanism associated with the body for automatically extending and retracting line from the body
Implementation Method 2
a body which floats in water
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an automatic retractable float for use with a crab net including a body which floats in water and an automatic retraction and extension mechanism for automatically extending and retracting line from the body. In use the line is attached to the crab net, the crab net deployed and the body floats when in water towards the surface of the water. The automatic extension and retraction mechanism causes the line to be extended and retracted between the body on the surface of the water and the crab net, substantially keeping the line taut to help prevent tangling. The invention also relates to a method of use.