Finfish containment pens and polyhedral structures

• US 20060288950A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ocean Farm Technologies Inc. (Baja Aquaculture, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ocean Farm Technologies Inc. (Baja Aquaculture, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cartwright, Paul, Page, Stephen H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,683,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/223
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/60 Floating cultivation devices, e.g. rafts or floating fish-farms
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3276 Panel connection details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3294 with a faceted surface
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3583 using permanent tensioning means, e.g. cables or rods, to assemble or rigidify structures (not pre- or poststressing concrete), e.g. by tying them around the structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Abstract

A finfish aquaculture containment pen having a plurality of panels that when joined together form the majority of the exterior surface of the containment pen. The panels each comprise tension-bearing mesh material forming the exterior surface of the containment pen, a plurality of compression-bearing struts extending along the boundaries between panels, wherein the mesh material is attached to the struts along the lengths of the struts, and a plurality of hubs at which a plurality of struts and the corners of a plurality of panels abut each other. The panels can form a polyhedral structure. The mesh can comprise coated wire mesh. The struts can be curved members with convex curvature.

Claims

1. A finfish aquaculture containment pen, comprising

a plurality of panels that when joined together form the majority of the exterior surface of the containment pen,

the panels each comprising tension-bearing mesh material forming the exterior surface of the containment pen,

a plurality of compression-bearing struts extending along the boundaries between panels, wherein the mesh material is attached to the struts along the lengths of the struts, and

a plurality of hubs at which a plurality of struts and the corners of a plurality of panels abut each other.

2. The pen of claim 1 wherein the panels form a polyhedral structure.

3. The pen of claim 2 wherein the mesh material comprises wire mesh.

4. The pen of claim 3 wherein the mesh material comprises coated wire mesh.

5. The pen of claim 2 wherein the mesh material is a perforated two-dimensionally stable sheet material.

6. The pen of claim 2 wherein the struts are generally straight members, and the mesh generally extends in a plane between the struts.

7. The pen of claim 6 wherein the struts are configured so that when loaded in compression the struts tend to buckle outwardly from the interior of the pen, and wherein the mesh is attached to the struts in such a manner as to resist such outward buckling.

8. The pen of claim 2 wherein the struts are curved members with convex curvature.

9. The pen of claim 8 wherein curvature of the struts approximately matches the curvature of the polyhedral structure.

10. The pen of claim 9 wherein the polyhedral structure is approximately spherical.

11. The pen of claim 10 wherein the panels are approximately triangular with approximately triangular pieces of mesh material extending across each panel, some portions of the triangular pieces being approximately flat and some portions being developed surfaces.

12. The pen of claim 11 wherein the hubs are configured to be expanded in a direction away from the center line of the hub to apply compression loads to the struts and tension loads to the mesh material.

13. The pen of claim 12 wherein the curved struts form structural arches braced both laterally and vertically by the mesh material.

14. The pen of claim 8 wherein the struts carry primarily compression loads and the mesh material carries primarily tensile loads.

15. The pen of claim 14 wherein deformation of the struts is limited by the tensile loads applied to the struts by the mesh material.

16. The pen of claim 2 wherein the struts and mesh material are configured so that the mesh material is attached to the struts before the panels are placed in position in the polyhedral structure.

17. The pen of claim 2 wherein the struts and mesh material are configured so that the mesh material is placed in position in the polyhedral structure before the struts are installed.

18. The pen of claim 17 wherein the mesh material has formed edges having a shape configured to be received and locked within slots in the struts.

19. The pen of claim 18 wherein the mesh material and struts are configured so that a strut can be installed after the mesh material is placed in position by sliding the strut or a locking member relative to the formed edge of the mesh to lock the formed edge within the slot.

20. The pen of claim 19 wherein a single strut member receives the formed edges of two adjoining panels.

21. The pen of claim 20 wherein the slot is shaped to lock the two formed edges without insertion of a locking member.

22. The pen of claim 21 wherein the slot is shaped to lock the two formed edges following insertion of a locking member.

23. The pen of claim 2 wherein the hubs are configured to expand in a direction away from the center line of the hub to put compression loads on the struts extending between hubs.

24. The pen of claim 23 wherein the hubs comprise a tapered block with faces abutting the ends of the struts at the hub, wherein the tapered block is attached in a manner that permits it to be moved radially inwardly or outwardly relative to the center of the containment pen to put the compression loads on the struts.

25. The pen of claim 1 wherein the panels are fastened to one another at the hubs by flexible elongated members extending from one panel to another panel.

26. A three dimensional space enclosing polyhedral structure, comprising

a plurality of panels that when joined together form the exterior surface of the structure,

the panels each comprising a two dimensionally stable sheet material forming the exterior surface of the structure,

a plurality of convexly curved struts extending along the boundaries between panels, wherein the sheet material is attached to the struts along the lengths of the struts, and

a plurality of hubs at which a plurality of struts and the corners of a plurality of panels abut each other,

wherein the curved struts serve as arches to carry compression loads and the panels provide tensile loading and serve as lateral and vertical bracing for the arches.

27. A multi panel structure, comprising

a plurality of panels;

and

flexible elongated members extending from one panel to another panel,

wherein the panels having panel corners,

wherein the panels abut at hubs at which multiple panel corners abut; and

wherein the panels are fastened to one another primarily by the flexible elongated members.

28. The structure of claim 27 wherein the flexible elongated members comprise line.

29. The structure of claim 28 wherein the panels comprise struts joined at the corners, and the struts of adjoining panels generally abut along the lengths of the struts.

30. The structure of claim 28 wherein the panels are cast or molded and are substantially one piece.

31. The structure of claim 28 wherein the panels are fastened to one another by line extending from one panel to another across the hubs.

32. The structure of claim 31 wherein the panels are also fastened to one another by line extending between abutting panels at locations between the hubs.

33. The structure of claim 32 wherein line is attached to at least some panels by passing through holes in struts of the panel.

34. The structure of claim 31 wherein the multi panel structure is a polyhedral structure.

35. The structure of claim 34 wherein the panels are triangular, and comprised principally of three struts joined at three corners.

36. The structure of claim 34 wherein the panels comprise pentagons and hexagons.

37. The structure of claim 31 wherein the multi panel structure is configured as a finfish aquaculture containment pen.

38. The structure of claim 35 wherein the multi panel structure is configured as a finfish aquaculture containment pen.

39. The structure of claim 31 wherein the line passes in a generally straight path across a hub.

40. The structure of claim 37 wherein the line passes in a generally straight path across a hub.

41. The structure of claim 31 wherein the line turns in the vicinity of a path and follows a generally circumferential path around a hub.

42. The structure of claim 37 wherein the line turns in the vicinity of a path and follows a generally circumferential path around a hub.

43. The structure of claim 41 wherein at least some lines crossing between panels at a hub are clamped at the hub.

44. The structure of claim 42 wherein at least some lines crossing between panels at a hub are clamped at the hub.

45. The structure of claim 31 wherein line is clamped at a location along a strut at a location between hubs.

46. The structure of claim 37 wherein line is clamped at a location along a strut at a location between hubs.

47. The structure of claim 34 in which the line is generally loaded in tension and the struts are generally loaded in compression.

48. The structure of claim 31 in which the structure is generally hemispherical and configured as a finfish containment pen with the hemispherical shape generally submerged, and the open side facing upwardly.

49. The structure of claim 29 wherein the struts are convexly curved members.

50. The structure of claim 29 wherein the struts are straight members.

51. A finfish aquaculture containment pen, comprising

panels that when joined together form a polyhedral structure,

wherein the panels are configured to be loosely connected to at least one neighboring panel and to be capable of being stacked compactly for transport, and

wherein the panels are configured to be assembled into the polyhedral structure on location.

52. The containment pen of claim 51 wherein the panels are configured to be joined by lacing line extending across hubs at which panel corners abut.

53. The containment pen of claim 52 wherein the panels are configured to be assembled on location by tightening the lacing line.

54. The containment pen of claim 53 wherein the tightening occurs at multiple locations around the containment pen.

55. The containment pen of claim 51 wherein the panels are joined by temporary lacing during transport.

56. The containment pen of claim 51 wherein the panels are joined in an apple peel configuration during transport.