Ropeless Fishing Gear Buoyancy Release for Reliable Trap Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ropeless fishing gear relies on thermal fuse devices that require electricity, leading to incomplete disconnection during power shortages, resulting in low recovery rates, mechanical failures, and high costs due to complexity and non-reusability, posing a threat to marine ecology and fishermen's livelihoods.
Innovation Solution
A buoyancy adjustment device that includes a casing, buoyancy changing mechanism, power-supplying device, and controller, allowing the device to sink to the seabed with traps and float to the surface for retrieval, eliminating the need for ropes and enhancing reusability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermal fuse device is used to disconnect the connecting line, then the float ball can be released and float to the sea surface, but the device requires electricity and may fail to completely fuse during power shortages, resulting in low recovery rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal fuse device (which requires electrical energy) with a mechanical release mechanism that uses a weight and spring system. The weight falls under gravity to trigger the spring, which then releases the connecting line, eliminating the need for electricity and ensuring reliable operation regardless of power supply conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The release mechanism is designed to be self-activating through gravitational force. The weight automatically falls when the trap is closed, triggering the spring without requiring external power or control systems, making the device self-sufficient and reliable in marine environments where power may be insufficient.
2Reliability
If a thermal fuse device is used to release the float ball, then the connecting line can be disconnected, but the device is complex, expensive, and non-reusable, posing a great burden for fishermen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive mechanical release mechanism using a weight and spring system that can be easily replaced if needed. This straightforward design eliminates the complexity and high cost of thermal fuse devices while maintaining reliable disconnection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex electrical and thermal components from the release system, retaining only the essential mechanical elements (weight and spring) needed to achieve disconnection. This simplification reduces both complexity and cost while maintaining the core function.
3Ease of operation
If conventional fishing gear with main ropes is used, then traps can be positioned on the seabed, but large fishes are easily entangled by the main rope when swimming therethrough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the main rope from the fishing gear system entirely. Instead of using a continuous rope connecting floats to traps, the invention uses individual connecting lines attached to floats that can be independently managed, eliminating the harmful entanglement risk while maintaining trap positioning capability through the anchor and weight system.
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 device achieves high actuation yield and cost-effectiveness by ensuring complete disconnection and retrieval of traps without ropes, protecting marine ecology and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The buoyancy changing device includes an upper seat, a lower seat, multiple fixing rods, a driver, and at least one piston. The driver is mounted in the casing. An end of the at least one piston is connected to the driver. An accommodation space is formed between another end of the at least one piston and the bottom cover, and the accommodation space fluidly communicates with the at least one through hole.
Data Source
AI summary
A ropeless fishing gear retracting-and-releasing device has a casing, a buoyancy changing device, a power-supplying device, and a controller. The casing has a top cover mounted on a top opening, a bottom cover, and a through hole through the bottom cover. The buoyancy changing device has an upper seat and a lower seat in the casing, multiple fixing rods, a driver, and a piston. Two ends of each of the rods are respectively mounted on the upper seat and the lower seat. The driver is mounted in the casing. An end of the piston is connected to the driver. An accommodation space is formed between another end of the piston and the bottom cover and fluidly communicates with the through hole. The power-supplying device is mounted in the casing and electrically connected to the driver. The controller is mounted on the casing and electrically connected to the power-supplying device.