CENTER SPAR FISH PEN
First Claim
1. A fish pen for aquaculture comprising:
- an elongate center spar buoy having an upper spar portion and a lower spar portion;
a reserve buoyancy buoy attached to a top end of the center spar buoy;
a lower connection plate attached to the lower spar portion;
an upper connection plate adjustably attached to the upper spar portion;
a lower rim having a plurality of flange members;
an upper rim having a plurality of flange members;
a plurality of first tension members having a first end attached to the lower connection plate and a second end attached to a corresponding one of the lower rim flange members;
a plurality of second tension members having a first end attached to one of the plurality of lower rim flange members and a second end attached to a corresponding one of the upper rim flange members;
a plurality of third tension members having a first end attached to one of the upper rim flange members and a second end attached to the upper connection plate;
a netting assembly defining an enclosed volume and comprising (i) a floor portion attached to the lower rim and the center spar buoy, (ii) a wall portion extending up from the floor portion, and (iii) an upper portion extending inwardly from the wall portion and attached to the upper rim and the center spar buoy;
a first interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge engaging the center spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the netting assembly wall portion; and
a second interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge engaging the center spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the netting assembly wall portion;
wherein the first and second interior panels are configured to define a smaller operable volume within the netting assembly.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fish pen (100) includes an elongate spar buoy (110) and a reserve buoyancy buoy (120) disposed over a top end of the spar buoy. Lower and upper rim assemblies (130, 140) are attached to the spar buoy and each other with tension members (150, 152, 154). An adjustable upper connection plate (114) on the spar buoy provides a means for tensioning the tension members. A docking station (190) and portal (185) provide easy access to the fish pen. A deployable panel system (180, 182) allows for crowding fish into a smaller portion of the pen. The panel system may be nonporous and include additional panels (184) such that a portion of the pen can be substantially isolated.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A fish pen for aquaculture comprising:
-
an elongate center spar buoy having an upper spar portion and a lower spar portion; a reserve buoyancy buoy attached to a top end of the center spar buoy; a lower connection plate attached to the lower spar portion; an upper connection plate adjustably attached to the upper spar portion; a lower rim having a plurality of flange members; an upper rim having a plurality of flange members; a plurality of first tension members having a first end attached to the lower connection plate and a second end attached to a corresponding one of the lower rim flange members; a plurality of second tension members having a first end attached to one of the plurality of lower rim flange members and a second end attached to a corresponding one of the upper rim flange members; a plurality of third tension members having a first end attached to one of the upper rim flange members and a second end attached to the upper connection plate; a netting assembly defining an enclosed volume and comprising (i) a floor portion attached to the lower rim and the center spar buoy, (ii) a wall portion extending up from the floor portion, and (iii) an upper portion extending inwardly from the wall portion and attached to the upper rim and the center spar buoy; a first interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge engaging the center spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the netting assembly wall portion; and a second interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge engaging the center spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the netting assembly wall portion; wherein the first and second interior panels are configured to define a smaller operable volume within the netting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A fish pen for aquaculture comprising:
-
an elongate spar buoy; a reserve buoyancy buoy attached to a top end of the spar buoy; a lower rim assembly; an upper rim assembly; a plurality of first tension members having a first end attached to a lower portion of the spar buoy and a second end attached to the lower rim assembly; a plurality of second tension members having a first end attached to the lower rim assembly and a second end attached to the upper assembly; a plurality of third tension members having a first end attached to the upper rim assembly and a second end attached to an upper portion of the spar buoy; a netting assembly defining an enclosed volume and comprising (i) a floor portion attached to the lower rim assembly and the spar buoy and (ii) a wall portion extending up from the floor portion and engaging the upper rim assembly; a first interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge attached to the spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the wall portion; and a second interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge attached to the spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the wall portion; wherein the outer edge of the second panel is pivotable about the spar buoy. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for retaining fish in open water comprising:
-
providing a fish pen comprising an elongate spar buoy;
a reserve buoyancy buoy attached to a top end of the spar buoy;
a lower rim assembly;
an upper rim assembly;
a plurality of tension members configured to attach the lower and upper rim assemblies to the spar buoy;
a netting assembly defining an enclosed volume and comprising (i) a floor portion attached to the lower rim assembly and the spar buoy, (ii) a wall portion extending up from the floor portion, and (iii) an upper portion attached to the upper rim assembly and the spar buoy;
a first interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge attached to the spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the wall portion; and
a second interior panel having a lower edge adjacent the floor portion, an inner edge attached to the spar buoy, and an outer edge adjacent the wall portion;docking a watercraft containing a plurality of live fish to the upper rim assembly; depositing the plurality of live fish into a volume defined by netting assembly; wherein the outer edge of the second panel is pivotable about the spar buoy such that the plurality of live fish can be crowded into a smaller portion of the volume defined by the netting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (31)
-
Specification