Other

Peter B Lindgren

Robert Allen Hood

Timothy Michael Pickett

A propeller assembly to facilitate the cleaning of aquaculture nets. The propeller assembly has a centrally disposed hub with a plurality of plastic composite blades extending outwardly to a perimeter ring. A plurality of triangular shaped rigid knuckles are coupled to the perimeter ring. A blade spacer is attached to a leading edge of each blade, the knuckle and blade spacer are constructed of a wear resistant non-ferrous material, ferrous material, or combination thereof. In operation, rotation of the blades provides thrust for positioning the knuckles against an aquaculture net, whereby the knuckles remove fouling from the aquaculture net by violently shaking the aquaculture net. The blade spacer positions the propeller assembly a predetermined distance from the aquaculture net to protect the leading edge by distance and/or use of the wear resistant material.

Propeller blade spacer for aquaculture net cleaning

A propeller assembly to facilitate the cleaning of aquaculture nets. The propeller assembly has a centrally disposed hub with a plurality of aluminum alloy blades extending outwardly to a perimeter ring. A plurality of triangular shaped rigid knuckles is coupled to the perimeter ring. A blade spacer is attached to a leading edge of each blade, the blade spacer constructed of a wear resistant material. In operation, rotation of the blades provides thrust for positioning the knuckles against an aquaculture net, whereby the knuckles remove fouling from the aquaculture net by violently shaking the aquaculture net. The blade spacer positions the propeller assembly a predetermined distance from the aquaculture net to protect the leading edge by distance and/or use of a wear resistant material.

A drive system for a net cleaner to produce efficient propulsion without damage to the cage net. The drive system includes flexible engagement stumps protruding from a base of a driving belt with tips or studs mounted on an end of the stumps. The tips or studs engage the net and propel the net cleaner. The stumps flex to insure that. if excessive pressure is applied to a stud, the stump will bend and the net will release without damage. A guard prevents the stump from directly engaging a cage net. A track belt produces efficient propulsion without damage to the cage net. The track belt includes flexible engagement stumps protruding from a base of a driving belt with tips or studs mounted on an end of the stumps.

Aquaculture net cleaner track belt

An apparatus for cleaning aquaculture nets underwater. The appartus employs a propeller housing with a centrally disposed axis with a plurality of propeller blades extending therefrom. An outer perimeter ring secured to an outer tip of each propeller blade with a plurality of knuckles secured to the outer perimeter ring. Each knuckle including a curved surface constructed and arranged to strike the aquaculture net upon rotation of the blades for removal of growth by impact and shaking of the aquaculture net.

Aquaculture net cleaning system

A position controller for electronically monitoring the position and speed of a dredge. The position controller consists of an electric powered line winding spool with an electric encoder to indicate line speed and position to a microprocessor. A drag control assembly with electric control is used to increase, decrease or set the drag at desired setting by microprocessor control. Touch screen microprocessor interface is the preferred method to enter settings into the system and allow display/control through multiple preexisting marine electronic devices throughout a fishing boat.

Dredge position controller

An apparatus for cleaning nets underwater formed from a propeller housing with a centrally disposed axis with a plurality of blades extending therefrom. An outer perimeter ring secured to an outer tip of each blade with a plurality of knuckles secured to the outer perimeter ring. Each knuckle including a curved surface constructed and arranged to be forcefully presented to the aquaculture net upon rotation of said blades for removal of growth by impact and shaking of the aquaculture net. An elastomeric hub prevents spike loads.

An apparatus for cleaning nets underwater comprising a cleaning head formed from at least one propeller having a perimeter rim available for receipt of knuckles. The cleaning head is positioned against the surface of an underwater net wherein the cleaning features are constructed and arranged to remove growth from the nets.

Submerged net cleaner

A flow balancer to reduce turbulence and achieve a laminar water flow system for fish while being pumped. The flow balancer having a tubular guide for the fish made from spaced apart blades having a width greater than a thickness of the spaced blades forming the tubular guide. The tubular guide is constructed and arranged to prevent turbulent and non-parallel water flow and allow fish to pass in a laminar water flow.

Flow balancer

An improved Coanda effect fish pump that allows for improved pump performance with enhanced and unsymmetrical-irregularities features in circumferential flow gaps and orifice flutes that improve water flow distribution and pump performance. Design features improve fish quality during pumping and can be designed to remove sea lice from salmon. The features reduce spinning in the pump, correct for unsymmetrical input water pressure distribution, and reshape water velocities to more effectively remove sea lice.

Coanda effect fish pump

A fish transfer apparatus for directional positioning of fish entering a fish transfer pump reducing injury, stress and enhancing sea lice removal when coupled to a Coanda effect fish transfer pump. The apparatus employs a collection structure constructed from a funnel shaped passageway made of spaced apart bars. A manifold is positioned along an outer surface of the spaced apart bars for directing a flow of water through the passageway at a predetermined position. Fish approaching the apparatus are naturally attracted to the outward flow of water past the ring frame and will enter the passageway as they will be swimming against the current. Once the fish passes the manifold, the fish is subject to the suction caused by the fish transfer pump and drawn into the suction pipe for transfer.

Apparatus for directional positioning of fish

An assembly designed to encourage fish to enter a Coanda effect fish pumping system to allow delousing through the pump. The process quickly decelerates the fish in a water tank to their original speed of between 1.5 to 3 feet/second depending on pumping lift for a 10 inch diameter SILKSTREAM&#x2122; pump. As the fish guiding tube enters the tank, it is surrounded by a smooth diverging cone slowing the water speed to the original fish speed. The fish are then guided by the tubular assembly away from the water and lice into a second SILKSTREAM&#x2122; intake. The current changes within the SILKSTREAM&#x2122; Coanda effect pump provide delousing of the fish by orientating the fish in a forward direction as the fish pass through the pump.

Sea lice double fish pump

The device includes a screen cleaning brush with multiple fibers or cleaning fingers made from a flexible material with a hook and barb shape. The hook is designed to trap the screen strand as it passes and rotates on a flexible arm to clean the adjacent and opposite side of the strand and then flexes to release the strand. The instant invention has a unique propulsion system and navigation system that enables automatic navigation of the cleaning apparatus on the screen of the aquaculture cage. Alternative the screen cleaning can be performed with a frame having fins to assist in the directional placement of the cleaning fingers against a submersed screen.

Fish cage screen and cleaning apparatus

A rod and reel assembly for deep water fishing. The rod employs a structure that eliminates the need for line guides along the length of the structure by use of a swivel guide that maintains the line between two rod members. The swivel roller is placed at the distal end of the structure allowing fishing line deployed from a mounted reel to the swivel roller to pass unobstructed through the structure. Also disclosed is an electric reel that includes a cantilever spool having an enlarged interior allowing hand control of free spooling. A two stage drag system employs a first set of springs to allow hands free spooling with minimal drag and a second set of springs for proper setting for the fish hauling.

Deep water fishing rod and electric reel

A fish cage formed from a molecularly oriented single strand filament that is crossed and welded at the intersections to make a net or screen configuration. The filament being molecularly oriented by stretching ratio of about 3:1 and has a cross section of the filament being at least 2 mm. The filament is an extruded thermoplastic material made from nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane or polypropylene having a preferred cross section in a D or oval shape to better facilitate welding the intersections. An antimicrobial or biocide may be added to the filament. The screen or net is preferably of a bright color such as yellow, green, white or a translucent white. The screen can also be formed by connecting small injection molded segments together thereby producing a larger screen.

Aquaculture cage screen

An improved liquid pump for transporting live fish or other products in an induced flow has secondary line with one end to be placed in a pool of liquid containing fish or other products. The other end of the line is connected to a housing having an internal pump chamber. A primary intake has one end connected to a reservoir of liquid and the other end connected to the housing concentrically about the secondary line. As liquid flows through the primary intake into the pump chamber and out the outlet, the Coanda effect results in a low pressure area in the pump chamber. The liquid in the secondary line is induced to fill the low pressure area. By shaping and directing the primary intake and the secondary intake within the pump chamber a more efficient pump is produced.

Growing community of inventors

Pompano Beach, FL, United States of America

Peter B Lindgren