US3661119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Larvae rearing tank and circulation system for fish culture
Assignee: OCEANOGRAPHY MARICULTURE IND
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Filing: 1970-09-11
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A larvae rearing tank and a water circulation and filtration system associated therewith which provides a high rate of water exchange in the larvae tank with minimum turbulence and water flow in the direction of the tank walls, thereby to provide optimum conditions within the tank for insuring survival of the fish larvae therein. The larvae tank includes a granular layer of filtrant material supported in spaced relation from its bottom end, an outlet pipe for discharging water from the bottom end, and an input reservoir for supplying water thereto above the level of the granular filtrant material. The reservoir is embodied in a container of smaller cross-sectional area than the larvae tank which is positioned within the tank and has a plurality of horizontally extending hollow rods which are sealed on the ends thereof and have a plurality of small holes therein through which the water is transferred from the reservoir to the larvae tank with an initial circular flow pattern. Water from the outlet of the larvae tank is pumped to a sump positioned at substantially the same level as the larvae tank, and from there it is pumped through a filter system and discharged into the top of the input reservoir, whereby the input rate of water being delivered to the larvae tank is determined by the pressure head in the input reservoir created by the height of the filtered water therein which, in turn, is controlled by a valved headrelief line leading to the output sump.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Hodge Sanders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:55
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/045; A01K61/00; A01K61/10; A01K63/10; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A circulation and filtration system comprising: a fish larvae rearing tank, a sump, fluid conduit means connecting the bottom of said larvae rearing tank and said sump, a vertically oriented substantially centrally located cylindrical container within said larvae rearing tank, means for pumping liquid from said sump into the top of said cylindrical container, fluid conduit means connecting said cylindrical container at a predetermined distance from the top thereof with said sump, and, means for feeding liquid from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank with an initial circular flow pattern concentric with said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A circulation and filtration system comprising: a fish larvae rearing tank, a sump, fluid conduit means connecting the bottom of said larvae rearing tank and said sump, a vertically oriented substantially centrally located cylindrical container within said larvae rearing tank, means for pumping liquid from said sump into the top of said cylindrical container, fluid conduit means connecting said cylindrical container at a predetermined distance from the top thereof with said sump, and, means for feeding liquid from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank with an initial circular flow pattern concentric with said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for feeding liquid from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed hollow tubular members, each of which is closed at one end and open at the other end into said cylindrical container, and each being further provided with a plurality of holes spaced along its length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2, further including a hollow sleeve member positioned on at least one of said plurality of hollow tubular members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further including filter means positioned between said sump and said cylindrical container for filtering liquid being pumped therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for use in fish culture comprising: a fish larvae rearing tank, a layer of granular filtrant material in said tank supported in spaced relation from the bottom end thereof, an outlet in the bottom of said tank, a sump, fluid conduit means connected between said tank outlet and said sump, a vertically oriented cylindrical container in and spaced from the side of said tank, a fluid inlet into said cylindrical container, fluid conduit means connected between said cylindrical container fluid inlet and said sump, means for pumping liquid from said sump through said conduit means connecting said cylindrical container inlet and said sump, filter means in said fluid conduit means connecting said cylindrical container inlet and said sump, at least one head relief conduit connecting said cylindrical container and said sump, and, a plurality of hollow tubular members extending horizontally from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank, being open at one end into said cylindrical container and closed at the other end and having a plurality of radial holes therein for delivering liquid from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank with an initial circular flow pattern around said cylindrical container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for use in fish culture comprising: a fish larvae rearing tank, a layer of granular filtrant material in said tank supported in spaced relation from the bottom end thereof, an outlet in the bottom of said tank, a sump, fluid conduit means connected between said tank outlet and said sump, a vertically oriented cylindrical container in and spaced from the side of said tank, a fluid inlet into said cylindrical container, fluid conduit means connected between said cylindrical container fluid inlet and said sump, means for pumping liquid from said sump through said conduit means connecting said cylindrical container inlet and said sump, filter means in said fluid conduit means connecting said cylindrical container inlet and said sump, at least one head relief conduit connecting said cylindrical container and said sump, and, a plurality of hollow tubular members extending horizontally from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank, being open at one end into said cylindrical container and closed at the other end and having a plurality of radial holes therein for delivering liquid from said cylindrical container into said larvae rearing tank with an initial circular flow pattern around said cylindrical container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5, further including valve means in said head relief conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 5, further including a hollow tubular sleeve positioned on at least one of said plurality of horizontally extending tubular rods.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of providing a continuous liquid flow in a fish tank comprising the steps of: maintaining a reservoir of filtered liquid for supplying liquid to said tank, feeding liquid into the tank from said reservoir in a circular flow pattern around said reservoir, Adjusting the rate of feeding by adjusting the pressure head in said reservoir, removing liquid froM the bottom of said tank and returning the same to said reservoir, and, filtering the liquid after removing it from said tank and before returning it to the reservoir.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of providing a continuous liquid flow in a fish tank comprising the steps of: maintaining a reservoir of filtered liquid for supplying liquid to said tank, feeding liquid into the tank from said reservoir in a circular flow pattern around said reservoir, Adjusting the rate of feeding by adjusting the pressure head in said reservoir, removing liquid froM the bottom of said tank and returning the same to said reservoir, and, filtering the liquid after removing it from said tank and before returning it to the reservoir.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |