Submerged Net Cleaner Propeller Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aquaculture net cleaning methods, particularly high-pressure water jets, are inefficient and costly due to energy dissipation underwater, requiring large boats and high maintenance, and often fail to effectively clean the bottom of cages where biofouling is most severe.

Innovation Solution

A submerged net cleaner with a rotating propeller and elastomeric cleaning features, including torsion spring assemblies, knuckles, and fingers, that agitate the net to remove fouling, reducing power consumption by 80-90% and enabling efficient cleaning of both sides and bottom of cages without large boats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high-pressure water jets are used to clean nets, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy dissipation increases and system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the high-pressure water jet system with a mechanical cleaning system consisting of a rotating brush with cleaning elements (fingers, knuckles, or scrapers) mounted on the periphery. This mechanical system directly contacts and scrubs the net, eliminating the need for high-pressure water and associated energy losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent eliminates reliance on hydraulic systems (high-pressure water jets) and uses purely mechanical components (rotating brush with cleaning elements) to perform the cleaning function, thereby removing the energy dissipation problem inherent in hydraulic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If high-pressure water jets are used to clean nets, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex hydraulic systems (water jets, pumps, hoses) with a simple mechanical rotating brush system. The cleaning elements are mounted on a rotating periphery and driven by a single motor, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the complex hydraulic infrastructure (water supply systems, pressure regulation, hoses) from the cleaning device, retaining only the essential mechanical cleaning function performed by the rotating brush with cleaning elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Area of stationary object

If high-pressure water jets are used to clean cage bottoms, then cleaning coverage is improved, but mobility and portability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy high-pressure water jet systems with a lightweight mechanical rotating brush system. The cleaning elements mechanically scrub the net surface without requiring high-pressure water delivery infrastructure, dramatically reducing system weight while maintaining the ability to clean entire cage surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If high-pressure water jets are used to clean nets, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex hydraulic systems (pumps, valves, hoses, pressure regulators) with a simple mechanical rotating brush system that has fewer moving parts and no high-pressure water delivery components, significantly reducing maintenance requirements and improving ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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 system significantly reduces cleaning costs and energy consumption, effectively removes tough fouling like barnacles and kelp, and allows for smaller, lighter, more portable cleaning systems that can maintain net health without the need for high-pressure water jets.

Implementation Method 1

The rotation of the propeller provides thrust for positioning the cleaning head against a net

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrust: Force

Implementation Method 2

The elastomeric hooks enter into the holes of the net, contact and pull on the net from the back side, removing fouling from the back side and then wiping the front side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

cleaning features, including torsion spring assemblies, knuckles, and fingers, that agitate the net to remove fouling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsion spring: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentUS10918199B2Submerged net cleaner

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 LINDGREN PETER B

AI summary

An apparatus for cleaning nets underwater comprising a cleaning head formed from at least one propeller having a perimeter rim available for receipt of knuckles. The cleaning head is positioned against the surface of an underwater net wherein the cleaning features are constructed and arranged to remove growth from the nets.