1981-05-14
1984-07-10
Blix, Trygve M.
Ships
Fishing vessel
43 65, A01K 7100
Patent
active
044586213
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for harvesting animal life from a body of water, and relates particularly to improvements in fishing vessels.
Large scale net fishing is practised today in much the same way as it has been for years, with the only technological improvements being in some of the equipment used. It is still a generally ineffective way in which to `harvest` fish, as many fish escape from nets during the fishing operation, many fish are crushed, and many unwanted species of marine life are killed.
It is an object of this invention to provide improvements in fishing vessels, apparatus and methods which will assist fishing to become more efficient and cost effective.
Accordingly, the invention provides a method of harvesting material from a body of water, characterized in that said material is diverted from said body of water by capturing means (12) associated with a vessel (10), as said vessel travels relative to said body of water, said diverted material being subsequently processed.
The invention also provides apparatus for harvesting material from a body of water, characterized in that capturing means (12) are associated with a vessel (10), said capturing means (12) including a portion (74) allowing the material to enter the capturing means (12) when said vessel (10) is travelling relative to said body of water, said capturing means (12) being adapted to divert said material to a processing station.
Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a vessel embodying one form of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the vessel of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of portion of a second embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation on a third embodiment; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation of a fourth embodiment.
Dealing firstly with FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a vessel 10 having capturing means 12 secured thereto. The capturing means 12 consists of four telescopic booms, only three of which, 14, 16 and 18 are shown. The booms are pivotally connected to the hull 40of the vessel, preferably to an area near the bows which has been strengthened with additional plating. The telescopic booms are arranged as shown in FIG. 1, with telescopic portions 26, 28 and 30.
The booms 14, 16, 18 are in this embodiment arranged in a truncated right pyramid orientation, and apart from being telescopic, are capable of being raised from, and lowered into a body of water by means such as the hydraulic means 32, 34. The top booms 14, 16 may be provided with floats 22 which enable them to be retained on or near the surface of the body of water. The booms are covered with a net mesh 20 to complete the capturing means. Open-weave interlaced wire material (known in Australia as cyclone wire) has been used in a prototype arrangement.
The capture structure 12 has a large open end 74 and a smaller open end 76 the uses of which will be described hereinafter. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the hull 40 of the vessel 10 has a pass 42 extending therethrough, from stem to stern. Two grilles 44, 46 may be provided such that they may be moved from a position where they are located across the passage (as in the case of 44) to a position where they are not obstructing the passage.
The vessel is also provided with a marine life conveyor means 48, which includes an endless conveyor 50 provided with marine life engaging portions of a flexible nature. The upper end of conveyor means 48 is located near a processing station 52 which may be in the form of a sorting area. Marine life sorted at the station 52 may be packaged at a packaging station 54 which may take any suitable form. A second conveyor means 56 operates to return unwanted material to the body of water, laterally with regard to the directions of travel of the vessel.
To balance the vessel when the capturing means 12 is in the water, a weight cage 38 may be provided, movable between an extended position, when the means is
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Avila Stephen P.
Blix Trygve M.
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