FR3039747A1 - ROTARY BASKET DEVICE FOR CULTIVATION OF MOLLUSCS - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for culturing molluscs comprises: a rotating basket (2) with an upper level and a lower level provided to accommodate the bags of molluscs to be cultivated and lockable doors on the upper and lower side of the basket allowing access to levels , the basket also includes pins located at each end of the latter to facilitate assembly and rotation on a stand; a stand (1) for the basket, said stand comprises a dockable base and a support means for an axis on which the rotating basket is mounted and can rotate; and locking means (3) for securing the basket in a given orientation.

Description

Rotating basket device for culturing molluscs.

Field of invention

This invention relates to the culture of molluscs at sea. This invention relates in particular to a new type of trestle equipped with a rotating basket.

Background

In conchyculture, the main objective of the project is to place as many shellfish as possible in the smallest area and to facilitate easy and quick access to them. Many conchycole operators use a system of pierced plastic bags or crates. These containers are mounted on trestles, fixed in column on the seabed.

In practice, there are two ways to attach containers to trestles. The first is to attach the containers to the trestles using elastic bands and two hooks. This method consists of wrapping the elastic bands around a rod and connecting two adjacent containers.

For the second way, the containers are mounted on trestles with elastic bands surrounded by short stems coming out of the trestles. The containers interlock on rods that exit the trestles and then the elastic bands are surrounded around the rods. The tightly stretched elastic bands prevent the bag from slipping on the rods.

A traditional trestle can receive 5 containers.

The systems currently available only make it possible to increase cultivation significantly by developing new areas on the seabed. As a result, it becomes necessary to search for suitable new sites on the seabed and obtain the necessary permits to establish a new farm. With the creation of a new farm, it is necessary to buy or lease new land for workshops and warehouses, equipment, employment and training of new employees.

Traditional trestles loaded with containers sink into the seabed. This is explained by the reduced surface bearing points on the seabed. Associated with the action of the marine currents, this makes sink the traditional trestles in the sea bottom except if they rest on the rock.

In conchycultural farms, workers often bent over their work. Shellfish containers are usually very close to the ground and can weigh up to 30 kg. Workers work in a bent position almost every day for long hours. This work posture causes many affections of the back.

Trestles with short stems for attaching containers pose another threat to the health and safety of people working on the farm. If a worker falls on a rod emerging vertically from the trestle, this can be fatal.

In addition, containers mounted on traditional trestles produce large amounts of impurities. Frequent fixation of containers on protruding stems naturally causes tears. Containers are also exposed to weather damage, such as storms.

The elastic bands used to secure the bags pose another problem. Poorly fastened or damaged, the bags may slip bars. In this situation, a poorly secured container can be carried away by the waves, pollute the sea and beaches and endanger marine life.

For all the reasons mentioned above, it is necessary to provide improved means for culturing molluscs. Declaration of invention

The present invention provides a device for culturing molluscs, this device comprises: a rotating basket comprising an upper level and a lower level intended to accommodate the bags of molluscs to be cultivated and lockable doors on the upper and lower face of the basket allowing to access the levels. The basket also includes pins located at each end of the latter to facilitate assembly and rotation on a stand; a stand for said basket, said stand comprises a dockable base and a support means for an axis on which the rotating basket is mounted and can rotate; turning means pivoting the basket on its axis, said axis passing through the main axis of the basket and defined by the pins at each end of the basket; and locking means for securing the basket in a given orientation. The advantage of the stand is that it is a simple structure that connects all elements of the device.

In one embodiment, the stand has a substantially rectangular solid base.

In one embodiment, spacers on the shorter sides of the base serve to support the weight of the basket and maintain its stability.

In one embodiment, the spacers of the supports can be made of corrosion-resistant steel sheets with reinforced steel rods.

In another embodiment, the supports may be made with plastic elements.

In another embodiment of the invention, the stand supports are profiled.

In one embodiment, the pins rest in a receiver at the top of the stand support struts.

In one embodiment, the pins are secured by a lockable lid placed thereon as they rest in the receptacles of the stand.

In another embodiment, the pins are secured by a locking bolt placed thereon as they rest in the receptacles of the stand.

In one embodiment, the anchors for attaching the base to the seabed are in the corners of the base of the stand.

In one embodiment, the size of the anchors is chosen according to the characteristics of the seabed at the location of the deployment.

In one embodiment, the locking means are fixed to the stand by means of a pivot axis.

In one embodiment, the locking system is mounted on the stand using a pivot pin which passes through two rings fixed to the structure of the stand and two rings attached to the lock.

In one embodiment, the pivot axis is protected against slippage by means of a cotter pin.

In one embodiment, the locking system protects the basket against inadvertent rotations.

In one embodiment, the locking system assists the basket in carrying static loads caused by the weight of shellfish in the basket and the dynamic loads caused by the waves.

In one embodiment, each level of the basket is divided into compartments, each of which is intended to receive a bag of molluscs.

In a preferred embodiment, each level has four compartments.

In another embodiment each level is divided into two compartments.

In one embodiment, the levels are accessed by sliding doors.

In another embodiment, access to the levels is via a liftable lid.

In one embodiment, the pivoting means comprises an imitated transmission with removable gear, attachable to the feet of the stand, said transmission unit incorporates a crank with + ratchet and shoe.

In one embodiment, the gear transmits the generated torque by turning the crank to one of the pins of the basket.

In one embodiment, the transmission unit is attachable to the stand feet on one side of the device to secure it during use.

In another embodiment, the workers can rotate the basket manually.

Brief description of the schemas

The following description of an embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of example, with reference to the appended diagrams, makes it possible to better understand it:

Figure 1 shows a front view of the rotating basket device.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the rotating basket device.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the rotating basket device.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the device stand.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the device stand.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the device stand.

Figure 7a shows a side view of the rotating basket of the device.

Figure 7b shows a front view of the rotating basket of the device.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the device with the sliding door closed.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the device with the sliding door closed.

Figure 10 illustrates the positional changes of the sliding doors. Side view.

Figure 11 shows the sliding doors in the open position. Plan view.

Figure 12 shows the basket locked by the lid.

Figure 13 shows the rotation of the basket.

Figure 14 shows how to clear the basket by lowering the locking system to the lower position. Side view.

Figure 15 shows how to clear the basket by lowering the locking system to the lower position. Front view.

Fig. 16 shows a plan view of the rotating basket device.

Figure 17 shows a front view of the rotating basket device.

Figure 18 shows a side view of the rotating basket device.

Figure 19 shows a method of fixing the basket in the stand using screws.

FIG. 20 shows a vertical section of the locking means through the spindle perpendicular to its axis indicated in FIG. 19.

Figure 21 shows a method of fixing the basket in the stand by bolt.

FIG. 22 shows a vertical section of the locking means through the spindle perpendicular to its axis indicated in FIG. 21.

Figure 23 shows a side view of the latch.

Figure 24 shows a method of attaching a locking system to the stand.

Figure 25 shows a locking mechanism.

Figure 26 shows a front view of the basket.

Figure 27 shows a side view of the basket.

Figure 28 shows a plan view of the basket.

Figure 29 shows a partial view of one end of the basket shown in Fig.28.

Fig. 30a shows a detail (12) shown in Fig. 29 in a vertical cross section parallel to the axis of sliding.

Figure 30b shows a detail (12) shown in FIG. 29 in a vertical cross section perpendicular to the sliding axis.

Fig. 31 shows a vertical cross section as defined by the axis B-B of Fig. 28.

Figure 32 shows a detail (13) shown in Figure 31.

Figure 33a shows a rear view of section C-C1-C2-C3 shown in Figure 28.

Fig. 33b shows a side view of the section C-C1-C2-C3 shown in Fig. 28.

Fig. 34a shows a detail (24) shown in Fig. 33a. Cross section.

Fig. 34b shows a detail (24) shown in Fig. 33a. Side view.

Figure 35 shows the stand. Front view.

Fig. 36 shows a side view of the detail (23) shown in Fig. 35.

Figure 36b shows a front view of the detail (23) shown in Figure 35.

Figure 37 shows the stand. Plan view.

Figure 38 shows the stand. Side view.

Figure 39 shows the sliding door. Plan view.

Figure 40 shows the sliding door. Front view.

Figure 41 shows the sliding door. Side view.

Figure 42 shows the pivot axis that mounts the locking system in the stand.

Figure 43 shows a plan view of the support.

Figure 44 shows a front view of the support.

Figure 45 shows a side view of the support.

Figure 46 shows the use of the deep water basket device.

Figure 47 shows a crank and a single gear transmission. Plan view.

detailed description

Figures 1 to 16 presented in simplified form.

Figures 1,2 and 3 are orthogonal projections of a rotating basket device for culturing molluscs.

Stand (1) supports the entire device. The basket (2) in which the molluscs will be placed is attached to the stand.

The basket is mounted on the stand with the possibility of a complete rotation in both directions.

A locking system (3) which keeps the basket in a certain orientation with respect to the stand is also attached to the stand.

The device is installed in several stages. First, the stand with its attached stands is put in position and anchored. The locking system is then installed. Finally, the basket is installed. The gear transmission unit is portable and can be installed when needed.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are orthogonal projections of the device stand. Plates (6) in the base prevent the device from sinking into the seabed because of its weight and the molluscs contained in the basket. The anchors (7) are attached to the stand permanently. Depressed into the seabed, they help the device maintain its designated position in the event of a storm. These rods may have a section identical to that of the elements of the stand.

The stands of the stand (8) receive the pins of the basket.

Figure 7 illustrates the basket of the device in two projections, front view (b) and side (a). The basket of the device is in two levels. In the front view, the Roman numerals I to IV consecutively indicate the compartments of the upper level of the basket. The numbers from V to VIII indicate the compartments of the lower level.

In a side view the levels of the basket are indicated in letters (a) and (b). Each level has its own mechanism for closing the basket (4). Pins (9) at each end of the basket are used to attach the basket to the stand and rotate the basket. Figures 8,9,10 and 11 illustrate the principle of operation of the sliding doors of the basket.

Figure 8 shows a schematic side view of the device with the sliding door (4) closed.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the device. The sliding door (4) is in the closed position. In FIG. 10 (side view), we observe how to open the upper sliding door. After opening the sliding doors, all the compartments of the upper level of the basket are accessible. Since the basket is rotating, access to the lower level compartments is done by rotating the basket 180 ° (see Fig. 13) and then performing the same operation as before. In Figure 11, we have a plan view of the basket when the sliding door (4) is open.

Figure 12 is another way to close the basket. In this case, the basket is closed with a lid.

Figure 13 shows the rotation of the basket (change of position of the compartments).

Figures 14 and 15. The rotation of the basket (2) is possible only after placing the locking system (3) in the lowered position.

Figures 16 to 47 are an exemplary embodiment of the rotating basket device. Figures 16,17,18 are orthogonal projections of a device according to the invention. Figure 16 is a plan view.

Figure 17 is a front view.

Figure 18 is a side view.

Figures 19,20,21 and 22 show two methods of fixing the basket at the stand. Pins attached to the ends of the basket lie in receivers on the support struts at each end of the stand. The pins can be fixed by means of a lockable lid (Fig. 20), which prevents any rising of water from lifting the basket from the stand and damaging the device or the molluscs it contains. Figure 19 is an external front view. Figure 20 is a vertical cross section of the fastening means, it intersects the pin perpendicular to its axis. The pins can also be placed in U-shaped receivers and a locking bolt through the top of each receiver prevents the pins from slipping or dislodging (Figures 21 and 22). Figure 21 is an external front view of the fastening means. Figure 22 is vertical cross section of the fastening means, it intersects the pin perpendicular to its axis. The two methods of mounting the basket allow its rotation. The removable attachment means means that the basket can be removed from the device, for example in case of maintenance of the device.

Figure 23 shows a locking system fixing the basket. The locking system is positioned in the middle of the base and folds flat when not deployed. When deployed, it surrounds the basket on three sides (the base, the front and the back). On the front, a locking spacer reaches the top level of the basket, where a slider fixes it in position. As the basket is rotatable, the rear locking spacer only reaches the lower level, since this is where the upper level slide rests when the basket is rotated 180 °.

Figure 24 illustrates how the locking system is attached to the base of the stand, by means of a pivot axis. This allows the locking system to go down to allow the handling of the basket, and to go up to fix the basket in position.

Figure 25 shows the locking ring. A side spacer of the basket has a sliding ring. When the locking system is in the up position, the ring is slid down over the locking system in the up position, thus preventing the basket from moving with respect to the locking system. The ring can also be replaced by two connected pipe sections, one sliding along the basket strut and the other sliding over the locking system in the raised position. This is the version shown in Figure 25.

Figures 26,27,28 are orthogonal projections of the basket seen from the front (Fig. 26) from the side (Fig. 27) and from the plane (Fig28). The basket is a cage, completely open to the sea to allow the molluscs it contains to feed. In FIG. 28, three sections are designated: A-A1-A2, B-B1 and C-C1-C2-C3. These cross sections give an overview of the construction of the basket.

FIG. 29 is a partial view of one of the ends of the basket as defined by the withdrawal of the section defined by the vertical sections of A-Al and Al-A2 of FIG. the sliding door (12) are located in the compartments, as well as the elements of the basket in a front view.

Figure 30a and b shows the elements of the sliding doors. Fig. 30a is a vertical cross section of a sliding element, parallel to the sliding axis. Figure 30b is a vertical cross section perpendicular to the sliding axis.

Figure 31 shows a vertical cross section as defined by the axis B-B1 of Figure 28. The arrangement of the elements of the basket and the sliding door is observed in a side view. The sliding elements extend widely above the basket, to facilitate access to the basket.

Figure 32 is a close-up of the marked portion (13) of Figure 31.

Figure 33 shows partial views defined by cutting vertically through the basket along the axes C-C1-C2-C3. Figure 33a is a rear view (from the inside of the basket) of the cutting front of the basket. Figure 33b is a side view of the same segment. The figures show the locking position limiters (19), the locking ring (20), the sliding door position limiter (14), the sliding door arm (16) and the bolts (21) which guide the sliding doors (14). sliding doors during the opening and closing of the basket.

The way the sliding doors move is determined by the rods shown in Figure 32, which are located between two bolts (21). The bolts are integrated into the sliding door.

Figure 34 a and b shows closeups of the marked area (24) in Figure 33a, showing the movement of the sliding doors.

Figure 34a shows the cross section of the bar between the two bolts. This bar opens the passage of the sliding door. The locking position limiters (19) prevent the basket from turning when it is rotated to the lower level, resting against a portion of the horizontal bar of the locking system. A cotter pin (22) with a spring prevents unintentional shifting of the sliding doors.

Figure 35 illustrates a front view of a stand according to the invention.

Fig. 36a and b illustrate a closeup side view (a) and side view (b) of the indicated area (23) in Fig. 35. This view is also shown in Figs. 19 and 20, which include elements of Figs. basket.

Figure 37 shows a plan view of a stand frame stripped of all its elements.

Figure 38 shows a side view of the same frame.

Figure 39 is a plan view of the sliding doors of the basket.

A structural rod (18) reinforces the structure. A number of rods (15) project perpendicularly from the structural rod and form the body of the door. These rods rest below the face of the basket, inside the compartments. The arm (16) acts during opening and closing to transfer force and motion to all the bars.

Figures 40 and 41 illustrate front views (Figure 40) and side views (Figure 41) of the sliding doors of the device. A handle (17) attached to the arm of the sliding doors (16) facilitates the opening and closing thereof. Two bolts attached to the upper side of the arm guide the sliding doors during opening and closing. As clearly indicated, the structural rod (18) rests beneath the door plane.

Figure 42 illustrates the pivot axis on which is mounted the locking system on the stand. At one end of the rod (11) a head prevents the axis from sliding, while at the other end an orifice allows the axis to fit and to be locked.

Figures 43,44,45 show orthogonal views in plan, front and side respectively, support plates (6) mounted on a stand (1), between the structural elements of the support (30). The plates increase the area of contact with the seabed, and thus prevent the device from sinking into the seabed under its own weight. Spreading the weight in this way can reduce the weight per square meter on the seabed by a factor of 13, thus greatly reducing the risk of sinkage, while facilitating a greater weight of cultured shellfish.

When the seabed is too deep for workers to work on, the stand can be modified. Figure 46 shows a modified stand for use in deeper waters where even at low tide the water level is too deep for a person to move safely on the seabed. The upper section (x) is essentially a standard device, while the lower section (y) includes additions to the frame to facilitate deep water deployment, which modifications essentially include raising the stand frame to take into account the extended distance. between the device itself and the stand base, which is anchored to the seabed. This modification allows the user to use the device by providing a platform (25) on which the user can stand to use the device.

The device can also be positioned in a tidal estuary or in freshwater, where freshwater molluscs are grown.

Although it is possible to rotate the basket manually, this is not always practical given the weight of the basket and the currents around the basket at any time. Fig. 47 illustrates a transmission unit that allows rotation of the basket by means of a crank, employing a geared transmission unit. To rotate the basket, the end of the basket spindle (9) must have the same section as that of the gear (26). After inserting the gear section onto the spindle, a projection on the side of the gear (29) can be inserted into a hole or cavity on the stand support struts to secure the unit during use. . A projection on the support spacer may also be received through an orifice or a cavity in the transmission unit for an identical effect. Once secured, the internal gear (27) transfers the generated torque of the imitated to the basket spindle by turning the crank (28) thereby providing rotary motion to the basket.

Claims (27)

claims 1. A device for culturing molluscs, the device comprises: a rotating basket comprising an upper level and a lower level intended to receive the bags of molluscs to be cultivated and lockable doors on the upper and lower face of the basket allowing access at the levels, the basket also includes pins located at each end of the latter to facilitate assembly and rotation on a stand; a stand for said basket, said stand comprises a dockable base and a support means for an axis on which the rotating basket is mounted and can rotate; turning means pivoting the basket on its axis, said axis passing through the main axis of the basket and defined by the pins at each end of the basket; and locking means for securing the basket in a given orientation. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stand has a substantially rectangular solid base. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that spacers on the shorter sides of the base serve to support the weight of the basket and maintain its stability 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the spacers of the supports can be made of corrosion-resistant steel sheets, with reinforced steel rods. 5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the supports can be manufactured with plastic elements 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the stand supports are profiled. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pins rest in a receiver at the top of the stand support struts. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pins are fixed by a lockable lid placed on the latter when they rest in the receptacles of the stand. 9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pins are fixed by a locking bolt placed on the latter when they rest in the receptacles of the stand. 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchors for fixing the base to the seabed are located in the corners of the base of the stand. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the size of the anchors is chosen according to the characteristics of the seabed at the location of the deployment. 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means are fixed to the stand by means of a pivot axis. 13. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking system is mounted on the stand using a pivot pin which passes through two rings fixed to the structure of the stand and two rings attached to the locking system. . 14. Device according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that the pivot axis is protected against slippage by means of a cotter pin. 15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking system protects the basket against involuntary rotations. 16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking system helps the basket to carry the static charges caused by the weight of shellfish placed in the basket and the dynamic loads caused by the waves. 17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each level of the basket is divided into compartments, each intended to receive a bag of molluscs. 18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that each level has four compartments. 19. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that each level is divided into two compartments. 20. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the levels are accessed by means of sliding doors. 21. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access to the levels is through a liftable lid. 22. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting means comprises a gear unit with detachable gear, attachable to the feet of the stand, said transmission unit incorporates a crank with ratchet and shoe. 23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the gear transmits the torque generated by turning the crank to one of the pins of the basket. 24. Device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the transmission unit is attachable to the stand feet on one side of the device to hold it during use. 25. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the basket is rotated manually. 26. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device can be used in deep water. 27. Method of culturing molluscs, a method characterized in that cultured molluscs are placed in a device according to any one of the preceding claims.