Angle-Based Filling Ratio Indicator

• US 20090133313A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henning Skjold-Larsen
• Original Assignee: Henning Skjold-Larsen
• Inventors: Skjold-Larsen, Henning
• Application Number:
  US12/087,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133313A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/9.300
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 73/10 Determining the quantity of the catch, e.g. by the pull or drag on the lines
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 75/00 Accessories for fishing nets; Details of fishing nets, e.g. structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling ratio indicator for a trawl, Danish seine or a similar towable seine device with a net, comprising a main body arranged to be located on the surface of the net and with attachment devices for attachment to the net. The invention is characterised in that it comprises at least one angle sensor for measuring the angular position of the main body and thereby the angular position of an area of the net in the immediate vicinity of the sensor and a processing unit for providing, based on the said measurement, an indication of the filling ratio of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device. The invention also relates to a method and a system for providing an indication of the filling ratio of a seine device.

Claims

1. Filling ratio indicator for a trawl, Danish seine or a similar towable seine device with a net, comprising a main body arranged to be located on the surface of the net and with attachment devices for attachment to the net, the indicator comprising at least one angle sensor for measuring the angular position of the main body and thereby the angular position of an area of the net in the immediate vicinity of the sensor,

characterised in that the indicator comprises a processing unit for providing, based on the said measurement, an indication of the filling ratio of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device.

2. Indicator according to claim 1,

characterised in that the angle sensor is a one, two or three-axis accelerometer.

3. Indicator according to claim 1,

characterised in that it is arranged to be placed along or round the circumference of the trawl'"'"'s, the Danish seine'"'"'s or the seine device'"'"'s bag.

4. Indicator according to claim 1,

characterised in that it is arranged to measure the pitch and/or roll angle.

5. Indicator according to claim 1,

characterised in that it is arranged to provide an indication of twist of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device.

6. Method for providing an indication of the filling ratio of a trawl, Danish seine or similar towable seine device with a net comprising:

mounting at least one angle sensor on the surface of the net in such a manner that the position of the angle sensor'"'"'s main body corresponds to the position of an area of the net in the immediate vicinity of the angle sensor,

measuring by means of the sensor the position of the said area of the net, based on the measurement, in order to provide an indication of the filling ratio of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device.

7. Method according to claim 6,

characterised by mounting several angle sensors along the seine device and/or at several points round the opening of the seine device.

8. Method according to claim 6,

characterised in that it further comprises providing an indication of the filling ratio of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device.

9. System for providing an indication of the filling ratio of a trawl, Danish seine or a similar towable seine device with a net comprising:

at least one angle sensor arranged for mounting on the surface of the net in such a manner that the position of the angle sensor'"'"'s main body corresponds to the position of an area of the net in the immediate vicinity of the angle sensor,

a processing unit for providing, based on the measurement signals from the angle sensor, an indication of the filling ratio of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device and

a display unit for displaying the indication.

10. System according to claim 9,

characterised in that it comprises several angle sensors along the seine device and/or at several points round the opening of the seine device.

11. System according to claim 9,

characterised in that the processing unit is arranged to provide an indication of twist of the trawl, Danish seine or seine device.