Live Crustacean Storage With Segmented Bins and Air-Water Flow

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The live transport of decapod crustaceans faces significant welfare challenges, including stress, injury, muscle depletion, physiological and immunological disturbances, and high mortality rates due to inappropriate environmental conditions during handling and transport.

Innovation Solution

A storage system comprising a storage bin with integrated walls and bottom, an upper cage member, a water introduction component, and an air introduction component, along with a shelving assembly for multiple bins, to provide optimal environmental conditions and minimize morbidity rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional live transport methods are used, then animals can be transported, but high mortality rates and poor animal welfare occur due to stress, injury, and inappropriate environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvival rateVSAvoidstress and injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into multiple compartments with individual bins for each crustacean, preventing overcrowding and physical injury. Each compartment provides isolated environmental control, allowing tailored conditions for different species without mixing-related stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each storage bin is equipped with dedicated water introduction and air introduction components, providing localized environmental control. This ensures each crustacean receives appropriate water flow and oxygenation independent of others, addressing individual physiological needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If overcrowding occurs during transport, then more animals can be transported, but welfare deteriorates and mortality increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport capacityVSAvoidmortality rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses individual compartments within storage bins, each designed to hold a single crustacean or small group. This segmentation maintains low density per compartment while optimizing overall container utilization, preventing overcrowding stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The storage bins are stacked vertically on shelving units, transitioning from horizontal to vertical space utilization. This three-dimensional arrangement maximizes transport capacity without increasing horizontal crowding, maintaining welfare while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If inappropriate temperatures and poor water quality are present, then transport costs are reduced, but animal welfare and survival rates deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvival rateVSAvoidwater quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Water introduction components provide continuous or periodic water flow to each storage bin, maintaining constant water quality throughout transport. Air introduction components continuously supply oxygen, ensuring uninterrupted physiological support for crustaceans

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system design allows for monitoring of water quality parameters and adjustment of water flow rates and air introduction frequency based on crustacean needs, creating a responsive environmental control system that adapts to changing conditions during transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system significantly reduces crab mortality and maintains freshness by ensuring proper water and air distribution, thereby improving animal welfare during transport.

Implementation Method 1

a water introduction component that provides the necessary water to the interior volume of the storage bin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

an air introduction component that provides introduction of air into the interior volume of the storage bin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow:

Data Source

PatentUS12458002B2Live crustacean storage system

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 LE ANH NGOC

AI summary

A live crustacean storage system that is configured to maintain an environment that provides a significant increase in morbidity rate for crabs and other species while disposed in the storage bin of the present invention. The present invention includes a plurality of storage bins wherein the storage bins have an interior volume configured to have crabs disposed therein. The storage bins include an air and water hose assembly wherein the air and water hose assembly provides introduction of air and water into the storage bin proximate the bottom. A shelving assembly is included and is configured to receive and store the storage bins. A plurality of water pumps provide water to funnel members wherein the funnel members are operably coupled to the storage bins located a level below the funnel members. Each storage bin has superposed thereon a cage perimeter member and a removable cage member.