Self-spreading trawls having a high aspect ratio mouth opening
First Claim
1. An improved self-spreading trawl having a mouth that is disposed between a vessel that tows the trawl and a back-end of the trawl that is distal from the towing vessel, the trawl comprising:
- a first pair of panels which when the trawl is towed through a body of water become separated with portions of the first pair of panels forming portions of the mouth of the trawl; and
a second pair of panels which when the trawl is towed through a body of water become separated with portions of the second pair of panels forming portions of the mouth of the trawl which differ from the portions of the mouth of the trawl formed by portions of the first pair of panels; and
at least one of the panels of the trawl including at least one mesh cell having at least one mesh bar which includes at least a pair of product strands that form at least one cambered section, the pair of product strands forming the cambered section being selected from a group consisting of;
a. product strands wherein material of one of the product strands is less elastic than material of the other product strand;
b. product strands wherein material of one of the product strands is more hydrophobic than material of the other product strand;
c. product strands wherein at least one of the product strands is smoother than other portions of the cambered section;
d. product strands having differing constructions and one of the product strands is a compact twine;
e. product strands having differing constructions and one of the product strands has an elongate cross-sectional shape; and
f. product strands wherein one of the pair of product strands spirals around the other product strand of the pair and the spiraling product strand is included in a sheath formed by product strands which overbraid the other product strand of the pair, the spiraling product strand having a construction selected from a group consisting of;
i. a width for the spiraling product strand relative to combined widths for the other product strand of the pair and the sheath formed by product strands overbraiding the other product strand of the pair which is at least forty-five hundredths to one (0.45;
1);
ii. an elongate cross-sectional shape;
iii. a compact twine;
iv. a surface that is smoother than other portions of the cambered section;
v. material which is more hydrophobic than material of the other product strand of the pair; and
vi. material which is less elastic than material of the other product strand of the pair.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved self-spreading trawl (13) includes first panels (56T, 56B) which when towed through a body of water (12) separate on opposite sides of the trawl'"'"'s central axis (62). Portions of panels (56T, 56B) form portions of the trawl'"'"'s mouth (26). The trawl (13) also includes second panels (56P, 56S) which separate on opposite sides of the central axis (62) from the sides occupied by the panels (56T, 56B). Portions of panels (56P, 56S) form portions of the trawl'"'"'s mouth (26). Regions of panels (56P, 56S) generate more outwardly directed lift than corresponding regions of the panels (56T, 56B). When towed through the body of water (12): a) a distance separating the panels (56P, 56S) exceeds; b) a distance separating the panels (56T, 56B). Also a braided product strand which includes at least 3 plaits (76, 102), at least one (76) of which is larger than the others (102), advantageously exhibits less drag and vibration.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. An improved self-spreading trawl having a mouth that is disposed between a vessel that tows the trawl and a back-end of the trawl that is distal from the towing vessel, the trawl comprising:
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a first pair of panels which when the trawl is towed through a body of water become separated with portions of the first pair of panels forming portions of the mouth of the trawl; and
a second pair of panels which when the trawl is towed through a body of water become separated with portions of the second pair of panels forming portions of the mouth of the trawl which differ from the portions of the mouth of the trawl formed by portions of the first pair of panels; and
at least one of the panels of the trawl including at least one mesh cell having at least one mesh bar which includes at least a pair of product strands that form at least one cambered section, the pair of product strands forming the cambered section being selected from a group consisting of;
a. product strands wherein material of one of the product strands is less elastic than material of the other product strand;
b. product strands wherein material of one of the product strands is more hydrophobic than material of the other product strand;
c. product strands wherein at least one of the product strands is smoother than other portions of the cambered section;
d. product strands having differing constructions and one of the product strands is a compact twine;
e. product strands having differing constructions and one of the product strands has an elongate cross-sectional shape; and
f. product strands wherein one of the pair of product strands spirals around the other product strand of the pair and the spiraling product strand is included in a sheath formed by product strands which overbraid the other product strand of the pair, the spiraling product strand having a construction selected from a group consisting of;
i. a width for the spiraling product strand relative to combined widths for the other product strand of the pair and the sheath formed by product strands overbraiding the other product strand of the pair which is at least forty-five hundredths to one (0.45;
1);
ii. an elongate cross-sectional shape;
iii. a compact twine;
iv. a surface that is smoother than other portions of the cambered section;
v. material which is more hydrophobic than material of the other product strand of the pair; and
vi. material which is less elastic than material of the other product strand of the pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37-45. -45. (canceled)
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46. A method for assembling an improved self-spreading trawl having a mouth that is disposed between a vessel that tows the trawl and a back-end of the trawl that is distal from the towing vessel, the trawl comprising:
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a first pair of panels which when the trawl is towed through a body of water become separated with portions of the first pair of panels forming portions of the mouth of the trawl; and
a second pair of panels which when the trawl is towed through a body of water become separated with portions of the second pair of panels forming portions of the mouth of the trawl which differ from the portions of the mouth of the trawl formed by portions of the first pair of panels;
the method comprising the step of selecting a pair of product strands for forming a cambered section that is included in at least one mesh bar of at least one of the panels of the trawl from a group consisting of;
a. product strands wherein material of one of the product strands is less elastic than material of the other product strand;
b. product strands wherein material of one of the product strands is more hydrophobic than material of the other product strand;
c. product strands wherein at least one of the product strands is smoother than other portions of the cambered section;
d. product strands having differing constructions and one of the product strands is a compact twine;
e. product strands having differing constructions and one of the product strands has an elongate cross-sectional shape; and
f. product strands wherein one of the pair of product strands spirals around the other product strand of the pair and the spiraling product strand is included in a sheath formed by product strands product strands which overbraid the other product strand of the pair, the spiraling product strand having a construction selected from a group consisting of;
i. a width for the spiraling product strand relative to combined widths for the other product strand of the pair and the sheath formed by product strands overbraiding the other product strand of the pair which is at least forty-five hundredths to one (0.45;
1);
ii. an elongate cross-sectional shape;
iii. a compact twine;
iv. a surface that is smoother than other portions of the cambered section;
v. material which is more hydrophobic than material of the other product strand of the pair; and
vi. material which is less elastic than material of the other product strand of the pair. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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Specification