US3701338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oyster setting method and apparatus
Assignee: Olympia Oyster Co
•
Filing: 1970-12-10
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1990-12-10
Abstract
Abstract Oyster shells are fed in bulk from a storage hopper and allowed to free-fall into a setting tank containing liquid and freeswimming oyster larvae. The shells land on their convex side on a moving open-mesh conveyer. The conveyer transports the shells through the liquid and out of the tank. As the shells are passed through the liquid the larvae set on the convex undersides. As the shells leave the setting tanks with the larvae attached they are utilized in open-mesh bags and then placed in a recovery tank for a few days until suitably conditioned for transporting and placing in natural oyster beds.
Inventors
- 👤 David C Mcmillin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:04
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K61/00; A01K61/50; A01K61/54; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
The method of setting oyster larvae on shells or other cuplike cultching material comprising: dispensing a flow of individual shells from a supply source, providing a tank containing a liquid and free-swimming oyster larvae and a conveyor passing through said liquid, permitting the dispensed shells to fall freely and be immersed in the liquid onto said conveyor, holding the immersed shells in the liquid for a time sufficient to obtain a set of larvae on the shells, transferring the shells with their set to a recovery area, holding the shells with their set in the recovery area for a time sufficient to reach young maturity, removing the shells with their set from the recovery area and depositing them in their natural habitat, and gathering the shells with their set in easily transportable quantities into containers for ease of transportation prior to depositing them in their natural habitat.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
The method of setting oyster larvae on shells or other cuplike cultching material comprising: dispensing a flow of individual shells from a supply source, providing a tank containing a liquid and free-swimming oyster larvae and a conveyor passing through said liquid, permitting the dispensed shells to fall freely and be immersed in the liquid onto said conveyor, holding the immersed shells in the liquid for a time sufficient to obtain a set of larvae on the shells, transferring the shells with their set to a recovery area, holding the shells with their set in the recovery area for a time sufficient to reach young maturity, removing the shells with their set from the recovery area and depositing them in their natural habitat, and gathering the shells with their set in easily transportable quantities into containers for ease of transportation prior to depositing them in their natural habitat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, said gathering step occuring prior to the step of transferring the shells and set to the recovery area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, the step of permitting the shells to fall freely includes allowing the shells to free-fall through the liquid for a distance sufficient to permit the shells to reach convex-side-down positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, said liquid temperature in the tank is between 72 80* F., said holding time to obtain a set is 5 - 15 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, said gathering step occurring prior to the step of transferring the shells and set to the recovery area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for commercially setting large quantities of oyster larvae on oyster shells comprising bulk storage means for holding a supply of shells, gate means for dispensing a plurality of individual oyster shells from said storage means into a setting tank, a setting liquid containing free-swimming oyster larvae in said tank, means in said tank for moving the shells through the liquid, said means for moving the shells through the liquid including an open-mesh conveyor spaced below the top surface of the setting liquid a distance sufficient to allow substantially all the shells to free-fall through the liquid into convex-side-down positions on the conveyor, and means for collecting the shells in containers of easily transportable size after the larvae have set thereon, and recovering means in proximity to the setting tank for temporarily storing the collected shells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for commercially setting large quantities of oyster larvae on oyster shells comprising bulk storage means for holding a supply of shells, gate means for dispensing a plurality of individual oyster shells from said storage means into a setting tank, a setting liquid containing free-swimming oyster larvae in said tank, means in said tank for moving the shells through the liquid, said means for moving the shells through the liquid including an open-mesh conveyor spaced below the top surface of the setting liquid a distance sufficient to allow substantially all the shells to free-fall through the liquid into convex-side-down positions on the conveyor, and means for collecting the shells in containers of easily transportable size after the larvae have set thereon, and recovering means in proximity to the setting tank for temporarily storing the collected shells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the conveyor is on an angle and has an upper discharge end and wherein the means for collecting the shells is at the upper discharge end of the conveyor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |